EX-10.1 2 tm2233561d1_ex10-1.htm EXHIBIT 10.1

Exhibit 10.1

FOURTH AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT AND LIMITED CONSENT AND WAIVER

THIS FOURTH AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT AND LIMITED CONSENT AND WAIVER (this “Amendment”), dated as of December 22, 2022, is entered into by and among HYDROFARM HOLDINGS GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Company”), HYDROFARM, LLC, a California limited liability company (“HYD”), FIELD 16, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“F16”), AURORA INNOVATIONS, LLC, an Oregon limited liability company “Aurora Innovations”, Innovative Growers Equipment, Inc., an Illinois corporation, (“IGE”), Manufacturing & Supply Chain Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“MSCSI”, and together with the Company, HYD, F16, Aurora Innovations, IGE, and any other Person incorporated under the laws of a jurisdiction located in the U.S. who is joined as a Borrower in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement referred to below is referred to hereinafter, each individually, as a “Borrower”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “Borrowers”), HYDROFARM INVESTMENT CORP., a Delaware corporation (“HIC”), HYDROFARM HOLDINGS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“HHL”), EHH HOLDINGS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“EHH”), SUNBLASTER LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Sunblaster”), HYDROFARM CANADA, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“HCL”), SUNBLASTER HOLDINGS ULC, an unlimited liability corporation existing under the laws of the Province of British Columbia (“SUN”), EDDI’S WHOLESALE GARDEN SUPPLIES LTD., a corporation organized under the laws of the Province of British Columbia (“EDDI”), HOUSE & GARDEN HOLDINGS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“H&G Holdings”), GOTHAM PROPERTIES LLC, an Oregon limited liability company (“Gotham”), AURORA INTERNATIONAL, LLC, an Oregon limited liability company (“Aurora International”), AURORA PEAT PRODUCTS ULC, an unlimited liability corporation existing under the laws of the Province of Alberta (“APP”), GREENSTAR PLANT PRODUCTS INC., a federal corporation organized under the laws of Canada (“GPP”), Innovative AG Installation, Inc., an Illinois corporation (“Innovative AG”), Innovative Racking Systems, Inc., an Illinois corporation (“Innovative Racking”), Innovative Shipping Solutions, Inc., an Illinois corporation (“Innovative Shipping”), Innovative Growers Equipment Canada, Inc., a corporation incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario (“Innovative Canada” and together with HIC, HHL, EHH, Sunblaster, HCL, SUN, EDDI, H&G Holdings, Gotham, Aurora International, APP, Innovative AG, Innovative Racking and Innovating Shipping, and any other Person who is joined as a Loan Guarantor in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement referred to below is referred to hereinafter, each individually, as a “Loan Guarantor”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “Loan Guarantors”, and the Borrowers and the Loan Guarantors are collectively referred to herein as the “Loan Parties” and each individually, a “Loan Party”), the Lenders (as defined below) party hereto, and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”).

RECITALS

A.            Reference is hereby made to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of March 29, 2021 (as amended by (i) that First Amendment and Joinder to Credit Agreement, dated as of August 31, 2021, (ii) that Second Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of October 25, 2021, (iii) that Third Amendment and Joinder to Credit Agreement dated as of August 23, 2022, and (iv) as may be further amended, amended and restated, restated, supplemented, modified or otherwise in effect from time to time prior to the date hereof, the “Existing Credit Agreement”; the Existing Credit Agreement as amended by this Amendment is hereinafter referred to as the “Credit Agreement”), by and among the Borrowers, the other Loan Parties from time to time party thereto, the Administrative Agent, and the financial institutions from time to time party thereto (collectively, the “Lenders”), pursuant to which the Lenders have made certain loans and financial accommodations available to Borrowers.

B.            The Loan Parties have informed the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that Gotham Properties LLC, an Oregon limited liability company (“Gotham”) intends to sell and leaseback its property located at 29441 W. Enid Road, Eugene, OR 97402 (the ”Property”) for a sale price of not less than $8,597,976.00 (the “Proposed Sale-Leaseback”), as more specifically described in that certain Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of December 22, 2022, between J & D Property, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company (“J&D”) and Gotham (the “P&S Agreement”). The Proposed Sale-Leaseback is not a permitted Sale and Leaseback Transaction under Sections 6.01(e) and 6.06 of the Existing Credit Agreement, and Sections 2.11(c) and 6.06 of the Existing Credit Agreement require the Loan Parties to apply the Net Proceeds received from the Proposed Sale-Leaseback to prepay the Obligations (the “Sale-Leaseback Prepayment”).

C.            The Loan Parties have requested that, notwithstanding any provisions of the Existing Credit Agreement to the contrary (including, without limitation, Sections 2.11(c), 6.01(e), 6.01(p), 6.05(e) and 6.06 of the Existing Credit Agreement), the Lenders consent to the Proposed Sale-Leaseback and waive the Sale-Leaseback Prepayment.

D.            As such, the Loan Parties have requested that the Administrative Agent and the Lenders: (1) notwithstanding any provisions of the Existing Credit Agreement to the contrary (including, without limitation, Sections 2.11(c), 6.01(e), 6.01(p), 6.05(e) and 6.06 of the Existing Credit Agreement), consent to the Proposed Sale-Leaseback and waive the Sale-Leaseback Prepayment, (2) amend the Existing Credit Agreement to reduce the Revolving Commitments to $75,000,000, and (3) make certain other amendments to the Existing Credit Agreement, and the Administrative Agent and the Lenders are willing to consent to the Proposed Sale-Leaseback, waive the Sale-Leaseback Prepayment and make such amendments, in each case subject to and pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth herein.

E.            The Loan Parties are entering into this Amendment with the understanding and agreement that, except as specifically provided herein, neither the Administrative Agent’s nor any Lender’s rights or remedies as set forth in the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents are being waived or modified by the terms of this Amendment.

AGREEMENT

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants herein contained, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:

1.            Defined Terms. Unless otherwise specifically defined herein, each capitalized term used herein has the meaning assigned to such term in the Credit Agreement.

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2.            Limited Consent and Waiver. Subject to the satisfaction of the conditions and terms set forth in Section 3 of this Amendment, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document (including, but not limited to, the provisions of Sections 2.11(c), 6.01(e), 6.01(p), 6.05(e) and 6.06 of the Existing Credit Agreement), the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereby (x) consent to the Proposed Sale-Leaseback, and (y) hereby agree that for all purposes under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents (a) (1) the Proposed Sale-Leaseback shall be deemed to constitute a Sale and Leaseback Transaction permitted by Section 6.06 of the Credit Agreement and (2) the Sale-Leaseback Prepayment in connection with the Proposed Sale-Leaseback shall not be required. The consent and waiver set forth herein are effective solely for the purposes set forth herein and shall be limited precisely as written. Except as expressly provided herein, this limited consent and waiver shall not be deemed to (i) be a consent to any amendment, waiver or modification of any other term or condition of the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, or (ii) operate as a waiver or otherwise prejudice any right, power or remedy that the Administrative Agent or Lenders may now have or may have in the future under or in connection with the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, except as specifically set forth herein.

3.            Amendments to Existing Credit Agreement. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Amendment, including, without limitation, the conditions to effectiveness set forth in Section 4 below,

a.the Existing Credit Agreement is hereby amended to delete the stricken text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: stricken text) and to add the double-underlined text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: double-underlined text) set forth in the pages of the amended Credit Agreement attached to this Amendment as Annex A. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, all Interest Periods (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) for Loans outstanding as of the date hereof that are Eurodollar Loans or any Loans based on the Adjusted LIBO Rate, Adjusted One Month LIBOR Rate, LIBO Rate or REVLIBOR30 Rate (as each such term is defined in the Existing Credit Agreement, the “Existing LIBOR Loans”) shall terminate and end on the Fourth Amendment Effective Date, and thereafter, all Existing LIBOR Loans shall either be Term Benchmark Loans or CBFR Loans as determined in accordance with the Credit Agreement as amended by this Amendment; provided, that, if, on the Fourth Amendment Effective Date, any Letters of Credit for which interest rate is based on Eurodollar Loans or any Loans based on the Adjusted LIBO Rate, Adjusted One Month LIBOR Rate, LIBO Rate or REVLIBOR30 Rate (the “Existing LIBOR LCs”) remain outstanding, such Existing LIBOR LCs shall, for the duration of the Interest Period (as such term was defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) be governed by the terms of the Existing Credit Agreement, immediately prior to the Fourth Amendment Effective Date); it being understood that, upon the expiration of such Interest Period, the Credit Agreement, giving effect to this Amendment, shall govern and control such Existing LIBOR LCs in all respects (and, for the avoidance of doubt, the interest rate for such Existing LIBOR LCs may not be based on Eurodollar Loans or any Loans based on the Adjusted LIBO Rate, Adjusted One Month LIBOR Rate, LIBO Rate or REVLIBOR30 Rate (as such term was defined in the Existing Credit Agreement)); and

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b.the Commitment Schedule to the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety by Annex B attached hereto.

4.            Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness of this Amendment. This Amendment shall become effective as of the date on which each of the following conditions precedent has been satisfied in full (the “Effective Date”):

a.            Amendment. Each of the Borrowers, the other Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have duly executed and delivered this Amendment, and the Administrative Agent shall have received a fully executed counterpart hereof.

b.            Proposed Sale-Leaseback Documents. Administrative Agent shall have received true, correct and complete executed copies of (i) the P&S Agreement, (ii) the Industrial Lease between J&D and Gotham, dated as of December 21, 2022, and (iii) the Landlord Waiver among J&D, the Administrative Agent and the Term Loan Agent, dated as of December 22, 2022, together with and all other material documents, agreements and/or instruments executed and/or delivered in connection therewith.

c.            No Default Certificate. The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, signed by a Financial Officer of each Borrower and each other Loan Party, dated as of the Effective Date (i) stating that no Default has occurred and is continuing, (ii) stating that the representations and warranties contained in this Amendment and the other Loan Documents are true and correct as of such date and (iii) certifying as to any other factual matters as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent.

d.            Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Loan Parties set forth herein and in the Loan Documents must be true and correct in all material respects with the same effect as though made on the date hereof (it being understood and agreed that any representation or warranty which by its terms is made as of a specified date shall be required to be true and correct in all material respects only as of such specified date, and that any representation or warranty which is subject to any materiality qualifier shall be required to be true and correct in all respects).

e.            Secretary’s Certificate. The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) a certificate of each Loan Party, dated the date hereof and executed by its Secretary, Assistant Secretary or other Responsible Officer, which shall (A) certify the resolutions of its Board of Directors, members or other body authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment and the other Loan Documents, as amended by this Amendment, to which it is a party, (B) identify by name and title and bear the signatures of the officers of such Loan Party authorized to sign this Amendment and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party and, in the case of each Borrower, its Financial Officers or certify that the officers whose signatures appear on the officer’s certificate most recently delivered to the Administrative Agent remain duly authorized and empowered to execute this Amendment and each other Loan Document, (C) contain either (x) appropriate attachments, including the certificate, constitution or articles of incorporation or organization (“Charter”) of each Loan Party certified by the relevant authority of the jurisdiction of organization or incorporation of such Loan Party and a true and correct copy of its memorandum and articles of association, bylaws, constitution or operating, management or partnership agreement, or other organizational or governing documents (“Bylaws”) or (y) certify that (x) no action for any amendment, modification or other change to the Charter of each Loan Party and all amendments thereto has been taken since the prior delivery of such Charter to the Administrative Agent, or is pending, and each Charter previously delivered by each Loan Party to the Lenders and Administrative Agent remains in full force and effect as of the date hereof and (y) no action for any amendment, modification or other change to the Bylaws of each Loan Party and all amendments thereto has been taken since the prior delivery of such Bylaws to the Administrative Agent, or is pending, and the Bylaws previously delivered by each Loan Party to the Lenders and Administrative Agent remain in full force and effect as of the date hereof; and (ii) a good standing certificate for each Loan Party from its jurisdiction of organization or the substantive equivalent available in the jurisdiction of organization for each Loan Party from the appropriate governmental officer in such jurisdiction.

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f.            Amendment Fee. Borrowers shall have paid to the Administrative Agent, for the pro rata benefit of the Lenders (including Administrative Agent in its capacity as a Lender), an amendment fee in an amount equal to $75,000, which amendment fee shall be fully earned as of and payable on the date hereof.

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

h.            Other Required Documentation. The Administrative Agent shall have received such other documents as the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, any Lender or their respective counsel may have reasonably requested.

5.            Representations and Warranties. Each Borrower and each other Loan Party represents and warrants as follows:

a.            Authority; Enforceability. The transactions contemplated by this Amendment are within each Loan Party’s corporate or other organizational powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational actions and approvals and, if required, actions and approvals by equity holders. This Amendment and each other Loan Document (as amended or modified hereby) to which each Loan Party is a party has been duly executed and delivered by such Loan Party and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable Insolvency Laws, examinership, 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.

b.            Representations and Warranties. After giving effect to this Amendment, the representations and warranties of the Loan Parties set forth in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects with the same effect as though made on and as of the date hereof (it being understood and agreed that any representation or warranty which by its terms is made as of a specified date shall be required to be true and correct in all material respects only as of such specified date, and that any representation or warranty which is subject to any materiality qualifier shall be required to be true and correct in all respects).

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c.            No Default. At the time of and immediately after giving to this Amendment, no Default has occurred and is continuing.

6.            Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial. This Amendment 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. The other terms of Section 9.09 and 9.10 of the Credit Agreement shall apply hereto as if fully set forth herein, mutatis mutandis.

7.            Counterparts; Electronic Execution. This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties and separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered, shall be deemed an original, and all of which, when taken together, shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Amendment by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that complies with the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, state enactments of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, or any other relevant and applicable electronic signatures law shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Amendment. Each party agrees that this Amendment may be electronically signed, and that any electronic signatures appearing on this Amendment are the same as handwritten signatures for the purposes of validity, enforceability, and admissibility. As used herein, “electronic signatures” mean any electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to or logically associated with a record and executed and adopted by a party with the intent to sign such record. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Loan Parties shall promptly deliver original signatures of this Amendment to the Administrative Agent.

8.            Reference to and Effect on the Loan Documents.

a.            Upon and after the effectiveness of this Amendment, each reference in the Credit Agreement to “this Agreement”, “hereunder”, “hereof” or words of like import referring to the Credit Agreement, and each reference in the other Loan Documents to “the Credit Agreement”, “hereunder”, “thereof” or words of like import referring to the Credit Agreement, shall mean and be a reference to the Credit Agreement as modified and amended hereby.

b.            Except as specifically set forth in this Amendment, the Credit Agreement and all other Loan Documents are and shall continue to be in full force and effect and are hereby in all respects ratified, and confirmed and shall constitute the legal, valid, binding, and enforceable obligations of the Borrowers and the other Loan Parties to Administrative Agent and the Lenders without defense, offset, claim, or contribution.

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c.            The execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Amendment shall not, except as expressly provided herein, operate as a waiver of any right, power, or remedy of Administrative Agent or any Lender under any of the Loan Documents, nor constitute a waiver of any provision of any of the Loan Documents.

9.              Ratification. Each Borrower and each other Loan Party hereby restates, ratifies and reaffirms each and every term and condition set forth in the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby, and the Loan Documents effective as of the date hereof.

10.            Release; Covenant Not to Sue.

a.            Each Loan Party hereby absolutely and unconditionally releases and forever discharges Administrative Agent and each Lender, and any and all participants, parent corporations, subsidiary corporations, affiliated corporations, insurers, indemnitors, successors and assigns thereof, together with all of the present and former directors, officers, agents and employees of any of the foregoing (each a “Released Party”), from any and all claims, demands or causes of action of any kind, nature or description, whether arising in law or equity or upon contract or tort or under any state or federal law or otherwise, which any Loan Party has had, now has or has made claim to have against any such person for or by reason of any act, omission, matter, cause or thing whatsoever arising under or related to the Loan Documents from the beginning of time to and including the date of this Amendment, whether such claims, demands and causes of action are matured or unmatured or known or unknown. It is the intention of each Loan Party in providing this release that the same shall be effective as a bar to each and every claim, demand and cause of action specified.

b.            Each Loan Party acknowledges that it may hereafter discover facts different from or in addition to those now known or believed to be true with respect to such claims, demands, or causes of action and agree that this instrument shall be and remain effective in all respects notwithstanding any such differences or additional facts. Each Loan Party understands, acknowledges and agrees that the release set forth above may be pleaded as a full and complete defense and may be used as a basis for an injunction against any action, suit or other proceeding which may be instituted, prosecuted or attempted in breach of the provisions of such release.

c.            Each Loan Party, on behalf of itself and its successors, assigns, and other legal representatives, hereby absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably, covenants and agrees with and in favor of each Released Party above that it will not sue (at law, in equity, in any regulatory proceeding or otherwise) any Released Party on the basis of any claim released, remised and discharged by Borrower pursuant to the above release. If any Loan Party or any of its successors, assigns or other legal representatives violates the foregoing covenant, each Loan Party for itself and its successors, assigns and legal representatives, agree to pay, in addition to such other damages as any Released Party may sustain as a result of such violation, all attorneys’ fees and costs incurred by such Released Party as a result of such violation.

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11.            Estoppel. To induce Administrative Agent and Lenders to enter into this Amendment and to induce Administrative Agent and the Lenders to continue to make advances to Borrowers under the Credit Agreement, each Borrower and each other Loan Party hereby acknowledges and agrees that, as of the date hereof, there exists no Default or Event of Default and no right of offset, defense, counterclaim, or objection in favor of any Borrower or any other Loan Party as against Administrative Agent or any Lender with respect to the Obligations.

12.            Integration. This Amendment, together with the other Loan Documents, incorporates all negotiations of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and is the final expression and agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.

13.            Entire Agreement. The Credit Agreement, as amended hereby, and the other Loan Documents constitute the entire agreement and understanding among the parties hereto and supersedes any and all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof.

14.            Severability. In case any provision in this Amendment shall be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, such provision shall be severable from the remainder of this Amendment and the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

15.            Submission of Amendment. The submission of this Amendment to the parties or their agents or attorneys for review or signature does not constitute a commitment by Administrative Agent or any Lender to waive any of their respective rights and remedies under the Loan Documents, and this Amendment shall have no binding force or effect until all of the conditions to the effectiveness of this Amendment have been satisfied as set forth herein.

[REMAINDER OF PAGE LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK; SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW.]

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

BORROWERS:
HYDROFARM HOLDINGS GROUP, INC.,
a Delaware corporation
By: /s/ B. John Lindeman
Name: B. John Lindeman
Title: Chief Financial Officer
HYDROFARM, LLC,
a California limited liability company
By: /s/ B. John Lindeman
Name: B. John Lindeman
Title: Chief Financial Officer
FIELD 16, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company
By: /s/ B. John Lindeman
Name: B. John Lindeman
Title: Chief Financial Officer
AURORA INNOVATIONS, LLC,
an Oregon limited liability company
By: /s/ B. John Lindeman
Name: B. John Lindeman
Title: Chief Financial Officer

[Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement]

BORROWERS (CONT’D):
Innovative Growers Equipment, Inc.,
an Illinois corporation
By: /s/ B. John Lindeman
Name: B. John Lindeman
Title: Chief Financial Officer
Manufacturing & Supply Chain Services, Inc.,
a Delaware corporation
By: /s/ B. John Lindeman
Name: B. John Lindeman
Title: Chief Financial Officer

[Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement]

LOAN GUARANTORS:
HYDROFARM INVESTMENT CORP.,
a Delaware corporation
By: /s/ B. John Lindeman
Name: B. John Lindeman
Title: Chief Financial Officer
HYDROFARM HOLDINGS LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company
By: /s/ B. John Lindeman
Name: B. John Lindeman
Title: Chief Financial Officer
EHH HOLDINGS, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company
By: /s/ B. John Lindeman
Name: B. John Lindeman
Title: Chief Financial Officer
SUNBLASTER LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company
By: /s/ B. John Lindeman
Name: B. John Lindeman
Title: Chief Financial Officer
HYDROFARM CANADA, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company
By: /s/ B. John Lindeman
Name: B. John Lindeman
Title: Chief Financial Officer

[Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement]

LOAN GUARANTORS (CONT’D):
SUNBLASTER HOLDINGS ULC,
an unlimited liability corporation existing under the laws of the Province of British Columbia
By: /s/ B. John Lindeman
Name: B. John Lindeman
Title: Chief Financial Officer
EDDI’S WHOLESALE GARDEN SUPPLIES LTD.,
a corporation organized under the laws of the province of British Columbia
By: /s/ B. John Lindeman
Name: B. John Lindeman
Title: Chief Financial Officer
HOUSE & GARDEN HOLDINGS, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company
By: /s/ B. John Lindeman
Name: B. John Lindeman
Title: Chief Financial Officer
GOTHAM PROPERTIES LLC,
an Oregon limited liability company
By: /s/ B. John Lindeman
Name: B. John Lindeman
Title: Chief Financial Officer

[Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement]

LOAN GUARANTORS (CONT’D):
AURORA INTERNATIONAL, LLC,
an Oregon limited liability company
By: /s/ B. John Lindeman
Name: B. John Lindeman
Title: Chief Financial Officer
AURORA PEAT PRODUCTS ULC,
an unlimited liability corporation existing under the laws of the Province of Alberta
By: /s/ B. John Lindeman
Name: B. John Lindeman
Title: Chief Financial Officer
GREENSTAR PLANT PRODUCTS INC.,
a federal corporation organized under the laws of Canada
By: /s/ B. John Lindeman
Name: B. John Lindeman
Title: Chief Financial Officer
Innovative AG Installation, Inc.,
an Illinois corporation
By: /s/ B. John Lindeman
Name: B. John Lindeman
Title: Chief Financial Officer

[Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement]

LOAN GUARANTORS (CONT’D):
Innovative Racking Systems, Inc.,
an Illinois corporation
By: /s/ B. John Lindeman
Name: B. John Lindeman
Title: Chief Financial Officer
Innovative Shipping Solutions, Inc.,
an Illinois corporation
By: /s/ B. John Lindeman
Name: B. John Lindeman
Title: Chief Financial Officer
Innovative Growers Equipment Canada, Inc.,
a corporation incorporated under the laws of Ontario, Canada
By: /s/ B. John Lindeman
Name: B. John Lindeman
Title: Chief Financial Officer

[Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement]

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as a Lender, Administrative Agent, Issuing Bank and Swingline Lender
By: /s/ Hashim Kamal
Name: Hashim Kamal
Title: Authorized Signer

[Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement]

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., Toronto Branch
By: /s/ Auggie Marchetti
Name: Auggie Marchetti
Title: Authorized Officer

[Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement]

ANNEX A

Composite Credit Agreement Redline

 

 

 

CONFORMED THROUGH THIRD AMENDMENT

Execution Version

Annex A

 

 

 

 

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

dated as of

 

March 29, 2021,

as amended on August 31, 2021,

as amended on October 25, 2021,

as amended on August 23, 2022,
and as further amended on December 22, 2022

 

among

 

HYDROFARM HOLDINGS GROUP, INC., and
HYDROFARM, LLC

 

as Borrowers,

 

The Other Loan Parties Party Hereto,

 

The Lenders Party Hereto,

 

and

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent

 

 

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Sole Bookrunner and Sole Lead Arranger

 

 

 

ASSET BASED LENDING

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Page 

     
Article I Definitions   1
     
Section 1.01 Defined Terms 1
Section 1.02 Classification of Loans and Borrowings 58
Section 1.03 Terms Generally 59
Section 1.04 Accounting Terms; GAAP 60
Section 1.05 Currency Translations; Currency Matters 60
Section 1.06 [Intentionally omitted] 61
Section 1.07 Interest Rates; LIBORBenchmark Notifications 62
Section 1.08 Letters of Credit 62
Section 1.09 Divisions 63
   
Article II The Credits   63
     
Section 2.01 Revolving Commitments 63
Section 2.02 Loans and Borrowings 63
Section 2.03 Requests for Revolving Borrowings 64
Section 2.04 Protective Advances 65
Section 2.05 Swingline Loans and Overadvances 66
Section 2.06 Letters of Credit 68
Section 2.07 Funding of Borrowings 73
Section 2.08 Interest Elections 74
Section 2.09

Termination of Revolving Commitments; Increase in Revolving Commitments  

76
Section 2.10 Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt 77
Section 2.11 Prepayment of Loans 79
Section 2.12 Fees 80
Section 2.13 Interest 81
Section 2.14 Alternate Rate of Interest; Illegality 82
Section 2.15 Increased Costs 87
Section 2.16 Break Funding Payments 88
Section 2.17 Withholding of Taxes; Gross-Up 89
Section 2.18 Payments Generally; Allocation of Proceeds; Sharing of Set-offs 89
Section 2.19 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders 93
Section 2.20 Defaulting Lenders 96
Section 2.21 Returned Payments 97
Section 2.22 Banking Services and Swap Agreements 100
     
Article III Representations and Warranties 101
   
Section 3.01 Organization; Powers 101
Section 3.02 Authorization; Enforceability 101
Section 3.03 Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts 101
Section 3.04 Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change 101
Section 3.05 Properties 102

 -i-

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

Page

 

Section 3.06 Litigation and Environmental Matters 102
Section 3.07 Compliance with Laws and Agreements; No Default 103
Section 3.08 Investment Company Status 103
Section 3.09 Taxes 103
Section 3.10 Intentionally Omitted 103
Section 3.11 No Filing or Stamp Taxes 103
Section 3.12 Intentionally Omitted 103
Section 3.13 ERISA; Foreign Benefit Arrangement; Canadian Pension Plan and Benefit Plans 104
Section 3.14 Disclosure 104
Section 3.15 Material Agreements 105
Section 3.16 Solvency 105
Section 3.17 Insurance 106
Section 3.18 Capitalization and Subsidiaries 106
Section 3.19 Security Interest in Collateral 106
Section 3.20 Employment Matters 106
Section 3.21 Margin Regulations 107
Section 3.22 Use of Proceeds 107
Section 3.23 No Burdensome Restrictions 107
Section 3.24 Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions 107
Section 3.25 Intentionally Omitted 107
Section 3.26 Common Enterprise 107
Section 3.27 EEAAffected Financial Institutions 108
Section 3.28 Plan Assets; Prohibited Transactions 108
     
Article IV Conditions   108
     
Section 4.01 Effective Date 108
Section 4.02 Each Credit Event 111
     
Article V Affirmative Covenants   112
     
Section 5.01 Financial Statements; Borrowing Base and Other Information 112
Section 5.02 Notices of Material Events 116
Section 5.03 Existence; Conduct of Business 117
Section 5.04 Payment of Obligations 118
Section 5.05 Maintenance of Properties 118
Section 5.06 Books and Records; Inspection Rights 118
Section 5.07 Compliance with Laws and Material Contractual Obligations 119
Section 5.08 Use of Proceeds 119
Section 5.09 Accuracy of Information 120
Section 5.10 Insurance 120
Section 5.11 Casualty and Condemnation 120

 -ii-

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)

 

Page

 

Section 5.12 Appraisals 120
Section 5.13 Depository Banks 121
Section 5.14 Additional Collateral; Further Assurances 121
Section 5.15 Post-Closing Matters 122
     
Article VI Negative Covenants 122
     
Section 6.01 Indebtedness 123
Section 6.02 Liens 126
Section 6.03 Fundamental Changes 128
Section 6.04 Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions 129
Section 6.05 Asset Sales 132
Section 6.06 Sale and Leaseback Transactions 132
Section 6.07 Swap Agreements 133
Section 6.08 Restricted Payments; Certain Payments of Indebtedness 133
Section 6.09 Transactions with Affiliates 134
Section 6.10 Restrictive Agreements 135
Section 6.11 Amendment of Material Documents 135
Section 6.12 Compliance with Laws 135
Section 6.13 Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio 135
     
Article VII Events of Default 136
     
Article VIII The Administrative Agent 140
     
Section 8.01 Authorization and Action 140
Section 8.02 Administrative Agent’s Reliance, LimitiationLimitation of Liability, Etc. 143
Section 8.03 Communications 145
Section 8.04 The Administrative Agent Individually 146
Section 8.05 Successor Administrative Agent 146
Section 8.06 Acknowledgements of Lenders and Issuing Bank 148
Section 8.07 Collateral Matters 150
Section 8.08 Credit Bidding 151
Section 8.09 Certain ERISA Matters 152
Section 8.10 Flood Laws 153
     
Article IX Miscellaneous   154
     
Section 9.01 Notices 154
Section 9.02 Waivers; Amendments 155
Section 9.03 Expenses; Limitation of Liability; Indemnity 158
Section 9.04 Successors and Assigns 161
Section 9.05 Survival 165

 -iii-

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

Page

 

Section 9.06 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution 165
Section 9.07 Severability 166
Section 9.08 Right of Setoff 167
Section 9.09 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process 167
Section 9.10 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL 168
Section 9.11 Headings 168
Section 9.12 Confidentiality 168
Section 9.13 Several Obligations; Nonreliance; Violation of Law 169
Section 9.14 USA PATRIOT Act; Canadian Anti-Money Laundering Legislation 170
Section 9.15 Disclosure 170
Section 9.16 Appointment for Perfection 170
Section 9.17 Interest Rate Limitation 171
Section 9.18 Marketing Consent 171
Section 9.19 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions 171
Section 9.20 No Fiduciary Duty, Etc. 172
Section 9.21 Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs 173
     
Article X Loan Guaranty   173
     
Section 10.01 Guaranty 173
Section 10.02 Guaranty of Payment 174
Section 10.03 No Discharge or Diminishment of Loan Guaranty 174
Section 10.04 Defenses Waived 175
Section 10.05 Rights of Subrogation 175
Section 10.06 Reinstatement; Stay of Acceleration 175
Section 10.07 Information 176
Section 10.08 Termination 176
Section 10.09 Taxes 176
Section 10.10 Maximum Liability 176
Section 10.11 Contribution 177
Section 10.12 Liability Cumulative 177
Section 10.13 Keepwell 178
     
Article XI The Borrower Representative 178
     
Section 11.01 Appointment; Nature of Relationship 178
Section 11.02 Powers 178
Section 11.03 Employment of Agents 179
Section 11.04 Notices 179
Section 11.05 Successor Borrower Representative 179

 -iv-

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

Page

 

Section 11.06 Execution of Loan Documents; Borrowing Base Certificate 179

 -v-

 

SCHEDULES:

 

Commitment Schedule 

Schedule 3.05 

Schedule 3.06 

Schedule 3.18 

Schedule 5.15 

Schedule 6.01 

Schedule 6.02 

Schedule 6.04 

Schedule 6.10 

–Properties 

–Disclosed Matters 

–Capitalization and Subsidiaries 

–Post-closing matters 

–Existing Indebtedness 

–Existing Liens 

–Existing Investments 

–Existing Restrictions 

 

EXHIBITS:

 

Exhibit A   –    Form of Assignment and Assumption
Exhibit B   –    Form of Borrowing Base Certificate
Exhibit C   –    Form of Compliance Certificate 
Exhibit D   –    Joinder Agreement

 i

 

CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of March 29, 2021, as amended on August 31, 2021, as amended on October 25, 2021, as amended on August 23, 2022, and as further amended on December 22, 2022 (as it may be amended or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Agreement”) by and among HYDROFARM HOLDINGS GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), HYDROFARM, LLC, a California limited liability company (“HYD”, and together with the Company and any other Person incorporated under the laws of a jurisdiction located in the U.S. who is joined as a Borrower in accordance with the terms hereof, each individually, as a “Borrower”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “Borrowers”), the other Loan Parties party hereto from time to time, the Lenders party hereto from time to time, and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

 

The parties hereto agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

Definitions

 

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

 

ABL Priority Collateral” has the meaning set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

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

 

Account Debtor” means any Person obligated on an Account.

 

Acquisition” means any transaction, or any series of related transactions, consummated on or after the Effective Date, by which any Loan Party (a) acquires any going business or all or substantially all of the assets of any Person, whether through purchase of assets, merger, amalgamation or otherwise or (b) directly or indirectly acquires (in one transaction or as the most recent transaction in a series of transactions) at least a majority (in number of votes) of the Equity Interests of a Person which has ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other similar management personnel of a Person (other than Equity Interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) or a majority of the outstanding Equity Interests of a Person.

 

“Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR” means an interest rate per annum equal to (a) the Daily Simple SOFR, plus (b) 0.10%; provided that if the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR as so determined would be less than the Floor, such rate shall be deemed to be equal to the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement.

  

“Adjusted REVSOFR30 Rate” (i) means an interest rate per annum equal to (a) the REVSOFR30 Rate plus (b) 0.10%; provided that (x) if the Adjusted REVSOFR30 Rate as so determined would be less than the Floor, such rate shall be deemed to be equal to the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement and (y) if the REVSOFR30 Rate shall not be available, then the Adjusted REVSOFR30 Rate shall be equal to the CB Floating Rate (unless an alternate rate is established in accordance with Section 2.14); and (ii) when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted REVSOFR30 Rate.

 1

 

Adjusted LIBO Rate” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period or for any CBFR 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.

 

Adjusted One Month LIBORTerm SOFR Rate” means, for any dayInterest Period, an interest rate per annum equal to (a) the sum of (i) 2.50% plus (ii) 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)Term SOFR Rate for such Interest Period, plus (b) 0.10%; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, if the Adjusted LIBO Rate for any day shall be based on the LIBO Screen Rate at approximately 11:00 a.m. London time on such day; providedfurther, that, if the LIBO Screen Rate at such time shallTerm SOFR Rate as so determined would be less than zerothe Floor, such rate shall be deemed to be zeroequal to the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement.

 

Administrative Agent” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent and collateral agent for the Lenders hereunder or, as applicable, such branches or affiliates of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as it shall from time to time designate for the purpose of performing its obligations hereunder in such capacities. References to the “Administrative Agent” shall include JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Toronto Branch (including but not limited to matters pertaining to the Canadian Loan Parties) and any other branch or affiliate of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. designated by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. for the purpose of performing its obligations in such capacity. 

 

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

 

Affected Financial Institution” means (a) any EEA Financial Institution or (b) any UK Financial Institution. 

 

Affiliate” means, with respect to 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 specified Person.

 

Agent-Related Person” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.03(d).

 

Aggregate Revolving Commitment” means, at any time, the aggregate of the Revolving Commitments of all of the Lenders, as increased or reduced from time to time pursuant to the terms and conditions hereof. As of the Fourth Amendment Effective Date, the Aggregate Revolving Commitment is $50,000,00075,000,000.

 

Aggregate Revolving Exposure” means, at any time, the aggregate Revolving Exposure of all the Lenders at such time.

 2

 

Alternative Currency” means Canadian Dollars and any additional currencies determined after the Effective Date by mutual agreement of the Borrowers, Lenders, Issuing Bank and Administrative Agent; provided, that each such currency is a lawful currency that is readily available, freely transferable and not restricted, able to be converted into Dollars and available in the Londonapplicable interbank deposit market.

 

Ancillary Document” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.06(b).

 

Anti-Corruption Laws” means all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to any Loan Party or any of its Affiliates from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption including the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act (Canada).

 

APP” means Aurora Peat Products ULC, an unlimited liability corporation existing under the laws of the Province of Alberta.

 

Applicable Parties” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 8.03(c).

 

Applicable Percentage” means, with respect to any Lender, (a) with respect to Revolving Loans, LC Exposure, Overadvances or Swingline Loans, 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 Exposure at that time) and (b) with respect to Protective Advances or with respect to the Aggregate Revolving Exposure, a percentage based upon its share of the Aggregate Revolving Exposure and the unused Revolving Commitments; provided that, in accordance with Section 2.20, so long as any Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender, such Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Commitment shall be disregarded in the calculations under clauses (a) and (b) above.

 

Applicable Rate” means (a) in the case of CBFR Borrowings, a per annum rate equal to if clause (y) to the proviso to the definition of REVLIBOR30Adjusted REVSOFR30 Rate is applicable, 0.00%, but if not, 1.95%, (b) 0.00% with respect to CPR Borrowings, and (c) 1.95% with respect to EurodollarTerm Benchmark Borrowings, RFR Borrowings and CDOR Borrowings.

 

Approved Electronic Platform” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 8.03(a).

 

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

 

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

 

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 Aggregate Revolving Exposure (calculated, with respect to any Defaulting Lender, as if such Defaulting Lender had funded its Applicable Percentage of all outstanding Borrowings).

 3

 

Availability Period” means the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the earlier of the Maturity Date and the date of termination of the Revolving Commitments.

 

Available Revolving Commitment” means, at any time, the Aggregate Revolving Commitment minus the Aggregate Revolving Exposure (calculated, with respect to any Defaulting Lender, as if such Defaulting Lender had funded its Applicable Percentage of all outstanding Borrowings).

 

Available Tenor” means, as of any date of determination and with respect to the then-currentthen-current Benchmark, as applicable, any tenor for such Benchmark (or component thereof) or payment period for interest calculated with reference to such Benchmark (or component thereof), as applicable, that is or may be used for determining the length of an Interest Period for any term rate or otherwise, for determining any frequency of making payments of interest calculated pursuant to this Agreement as of such date and not including, for the avoidance of doubt, any tenor for such Benchmark that is then-removedthen-removed from the definition of “Interest Period” pursuant to Section 2.14(b)(v).

 

Bail-In Action” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an Affected Financial Institution.

 

Bail-In Legislation” means, (a) with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law, regulation, rule or requirement for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 (as amended from time to time) and any other law, regulation or rule applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (other than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings). 

 

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, (d) treasury management services (including, without limitation, controlled disbursement, automated clearinghouse transactions, return items, any direct debit scheme or arrangement, overdrafts, cash pooling services, and interstate depository network services) and (e) foreign exchange and currency management services.

 

Banking Services Obligations” means any and all obligations of the Loan Parties and 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.

 4

 

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 Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code entitled “Bankruptcy”, as now and hereafter in effect, or any successor statute.

 

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

 

Benchmark” means, initially, LIBOwith respect to any (i) RFR Loan, the Daily Simple SOFR, (ii) Adjusted REVSOFR30 Rate Loan, the REVSOFR30 Rate or (iii) Term Benchmark Loan, the Term SOFR Rate; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Eventa Term SOFR Transition Event or an Early Opt-in Election, as applicable, and its and the related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to LIBOthe Daily Simple SOFR, REVSOFR30 Rate or Term SOFR Rate or the then-current Benchmark, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to Section 2.14(b)(i) or (b)(ii)

 

Benchmark Replacement” means, for any Available Tenor, the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Administrative Agent for the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date: 

(1) the sum of: (a) Term SOFR and (b) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;  

(2)  (1)  the sum of: (a)Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR and (b) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;

 

(3)           (2)            the sum of: (a) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower Representative as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a replacement benchmark rate or the mechanism for determining such a rate by the Relevant Governmental Body or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a benchmark rate as a replacement for the then-current Benchmark for Dollar-denominatedDollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time in the United States and (b) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;.

 5

 

provided that, in the case of clause (1), such Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement is displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion; provided further, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, upon the occurrence of a Term SOFR Transition Event, and the delivery of a Term SOFR Notice, on the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date the “Benchmark Replacement” shall revert to and shall be deemed to be the sum of (a) Term SOFR and (b) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment, as set forth in clause (1) of this definition (subject to the first proviso above).

 

If the Benchmark Replacement as determined pursuant to clause (1), or (2) or (3) above would be less than the Floor, the Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

 

Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” means, with respect to any replacement of the then-current Benchmark with an Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for any applicable Interest Period and Available Tenor for any setting of such Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement:

 

(1),  the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by for purposes of clauses (1) and (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement,” the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Administrative Agent:

  

(a)the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) as of the Reference Time such Benchmark Replacement is first set for such Interest Period that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for the applicable Corresponding Tenor;

 

(b)the spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) as of the Reference Time such Benchmark Replacement is first set for such Interest Period that would apply to the fallback rate for a derivative transaction referencing the ISDA Definitions to be effective upon an index cessation event with respect to such Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor; and

 

(2) for purposes of clause (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement,” the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by thethe Administrative Agent and the Borrower Representative for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement by the Relevant Governmental Body on the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date and/or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for Dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities; at such time.

 6

 

provided that, in the case of clause (1) above, such adjustment is displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such Benchmark Replacement Adjustment from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion.

  

Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement and/or any Term Benchmark Loan or Adjusted REVSOFR30 Rate Loan, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of “CB Floating RateBusiness Day,” the definition of “U.S. Government Securities Business Day,” the definition of “Interest Period,” timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices, length of lookback periods, the applicability of breakage provisions, and other technical, administrative or operational matters) that the Administrative Agent decides in its Permitted Discretion may be appropriate to reflect the adoption and implementation of such Benchmark Replacement and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Administrative Agent determines that no market practice for the administration of such Benchmark Replacement exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent decides is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents).

 

Benchmark Replacement Date” means, with respect to any Benchmark, the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to thesuch then-current Benchmark:

 

(1) (1) in the case of clause (1) or (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the later of (a) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (b) the date on which the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or

 

(2) (2) in the case of clause (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the first date of the publicon which such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) has been determined and announced by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) to be no longer representative; provided, that such non-representativeness will be determined by reference to the most recent statement or publication of information referenced therein;in such clause (3) and even if any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) continues to be provided on such date. 

(3)   in the case of a Term SOFR Transition Event, the date that is thirty (30) days after the date a Term SOFR Notice is provided to the Lenders and the Borrower Representative pursuant to Section 2.14(b)(ii); or

 7

 

(4)in the case of an Early Opt-in Election, the sixth (6th) Business Day after the date notice of such Early Opt-in Election is provided to the Lenders, so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date notice of such Early Opt-in Election is provided to the Lenders, written notice of objection to such Early Opt-in Election from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, (i) if the event giving rise to the Benchmark Replacement Date occurs on the same day as, but earlier than, the Reference Time in respect of any determination, the Benchmark Replacement Date will be deemed to have occurred prior to the Reference Time for such determination and (ii) the “Benchmark Replacement Date” will be deemed to have occurred in the case of clause (1) or (2) with respect to any Benchmark upon the occurrence of the applicable event or events set forth therein with respect to all then-current Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).

 

Benchmark Transition Event” means, with respect to any Benchmark, the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to thesuch then-current Benchmark:

 

(1) (1) a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof), permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof);

 

(2) (2) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof), the Federal Reserve Board, the NYFRB, the CME Term SOFR Administrator, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component) or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), in each case, which states that the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component) has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) permanently or indefinitely,; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or

 

(3) (3) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) are no longer, or as of a specified future date will no longer be, representative.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, a “Benchmark Transition Event” will be deemed to have occurred with respect to any Benchmark if a public statement or publication of information set forth above has occurred with respect to each then-current Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).

 

 8

 

 

Benchmark Unavailability Period” means, with respect to any Benchmark, the period (if any) (x) beginning at the time that a Benchmark Replacement Date pursuant to clauses (1) or (2) of that definition has occurred if, at such time, no Benchmark Replacement has replaced thesuch then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 2.14 and (y) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced thesuch then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 2.14.

 

Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership or control as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

 

Beneficial Ownership Regulation” means 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.

 

Benefit Plan” means any of (a) an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a “plan” as defined in Section 4975 of the Code to which Section 4975 of the Code applies, and (c) any Person whose assets include (for purposes of the Plan Asset Regulations or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) the assets of any such “employee benefit plan” or “plan”.

 

BHC Act Affiliate” of a party means an “affiliate” (as such term is defined under, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 1841(k)) of such party.

 

Board” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the U.S.

 

Borrower” or “Borrowers” have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Borrower Representative” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.01.

 

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

 

Borrowing Base” means, at any time, the sum of (a) 85% of the Eligible Accounts at such time, plus (b) the lesser of (i) 65% of the Eligible Inventory, at such time, valued at the lower of cost or market value, determined on a first-in-first-out basis, and (ii) the product of 85% 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 or market value, determined on a first-in-first-out basis, minus (c) 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; provided, that the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower Representative at least 2 Business Days prior to the date on which any such change is to be made; provided further, that (i) the Borrowers may not obtain any new Loans or Letters of Credit to the extent that such Loan or Letter of Credit would cause an Overadvance after giving effect to such change as set forth in such notice; (ii) no such prior notice shall be required for changes to any Reserves resulting solely by virtue of mathematical calculations of the amount of the Reserve in accordance with the methodology of calculation set forth in this Agreement or previously utilized; and (iii) no such prior notice shall be required during the continuance of any Event of Default (provided that, during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent shall endeavor to notify the Borrower Representative at or before any such change, but a non-willful failure of the Administrative Agent to so notify the Borrower Representative shall not be a breach of this Agreement and shall not cause such establishment or increase of any such change to be ineffective). The calculations in clause (b) above may be determined on a combined basis for Eligible Inventory or on a category by category basis for Eligible Inventory, as determined by the Administrative Agent from time to time in its Permitted Discretion based on its review of any appraisal and/or field examination of such Inventory.

 

 9

 

 

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

 

Borrowing Request” means a request by the Borrower Representative for a Revolving 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(other than a Saturday, or a Sunday or other day) on which commercial banks are open for business in New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided that (a) when used in connection with a Eurodollar Loan or a Loan accruing interest at REVLIBOR30 Rate (without giving effect to the proviso contained in the definition for “REVLIBOR30 Rate”) in any currency, the term “Business Day” shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open for general business in London and (b) when used in connection, in addition to the foregoing, a Business Day shall be (a) in relation to RFR Loans and any interest rate settings, fundings, disbursements, settlements or payments of any such RFR Loan, or any other dealings of such RFR Loan, (b) in relation to Loans referencing the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or Adjusted REVSOFR30 Rate and any interest rate settings, fundings, disbursements, settlements or payments of any such Loans referencing the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or Adjusted REVSOFR30 Rate or any other dealings of such Loans referencing the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or Adjusted REVSOFR30 Rate, any such day that is only a U.S. Government Securities Business Day and (c) when used in connection with any CPR Loan or CDOR Loan, the term “Business Day” shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open for general business in Toronto.

 

“CAML” means the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (Canada) and other anti-terrorism laws and “know your client” policies, regulations, laws or rules applicable in Canada, including any guidelines or orders thereunder.

 

 10

 

 

Canadian Anti-Money Laundering & Anti-Terrorism Legislation” means, collectively, the Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act, S.C. 2000, c. 17 and the United Nations Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. U-2 or any similar Canadian legislation, together with all rules, regulations and interpretations thereunder or related thereto including, without limitation, the Regulations Implementing the United Nations Resolutions on the Suppression of Terrorism and the United Nations Al Qaida and Taliban Regulations promulgated under the United Nations Act.

 

CAML” means the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (Canada) and other anti-terrorism laws and “know your client” policies, regulations, laws or rules applicable in Canada, including any guidelines or orders thereunder.

 

Canadian Benefit Plans” means any plan, fund, program, or policy, whether oral or written, formal or informal, funded or unfunded, insured or uninsured, providing employee benefits, including medical, hospital care, dental, sickness, accident, disability, life insurance, pension, retirement or savings benefits, under which any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party has any liability with respect to any employee or former employee, but excluding any Canadian Pension Plans, the Canada Pension Plan and the Quebec Pension Plan.

 

Canadian Blocked Person” means any Person that is a “designated person”, “politically exposed foreign person” or “terrorist group” as described in any Canadian Economic Sanctions and Export Control Laws.

 

Canadian Dollars” or “C$” refers to lawful money of Canada.

 

Canadian Dollar Loan” means  any Loan denominated in Canadian Dollars bearing interest at the Canadian Prime Rate or the CDOR Rate.

 

Canadian Economic Sanctions and Export Control Laws” means any Canadian laws, regulations or orders governing transactions in controlled goods or technologies or dealings with countries, entities, organizations, or individuals subject to economic sanctions and similar measures, including the Special Economic Measures Act (Canada), the United Nations Act (Canada), the Freezing Assets of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Canada), Part II.1 of the Criminal Code (Canada) and the Export and Import Permits Act (Canada), and any related regulations.

 

Canadian Guarantee” means, collectively, (a) the Loan Guaranty, and (b) the guarantee dated the date hereof governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario made by the Canadian Guarantors in favor of the Administrative Agent.

 

Canadian Guarantors” means the Canadian Loan Parties.

 

Canadian Loan Parties” means, collectively, SUN, EDD, APP, GPP, Innovative Canada and any other Person organized under applicable law of Canada or any province of Canada who becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to a Joinder Agreement and their successors and assigns, and the term “Canadian Loan Party” mean any one of them or all of them individually, as the context may require.

 

 11

 

 

Canadian Opcos” means, collectively, SUN, EDD, APP, GPP and Innovative Canada.

 

Canadian Pension Plans” means each pension plan required to be registered under Canadian federal or provincial law that is administered or contributed to by a Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party for its employees or former employees, but does not include the Canada Pension Plan or the Quebec Pension Plan as maintained by the Government of Canada or the Province of Quebec, respectively.

 

Canadian Prime Rate” means, on any day, the rate determined by the Administrative Agent to be the higher of (i) the rate equal to the PRIMCAN Index rate that appears on the Bloomberg screen at 10:15 a.m. Toronto time on such day (or, in the event that the PRIMCAN Index is not published by Bloomberg, any other information services that publishes such index from time to time, as selected by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion) and (ii) the average rate for thirty (30) day Canadian Dollar bankers’ acceptances that appears on the Reuters Screen CDOR Page (or, in the event such rate does not appear on such page or screen, on any successor or substitute page or screen that displays such rate, or on the appropriate page of such other information service that publishes such rate from time to time, as selected by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion) at 10:15 a.m. Toronto time on such day, plus 1% per annum; provided, that if any the above rates shall be less than 0.0%, such rate shall be deemed to be 0.0% for purposes of this Agreement. Any change in the Canadian Prime Rate due to a change in the PRIMCAN Index or the CDOR shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the PRIMCAN Index or CDOR, respectively.

 

Canadian Security Agreement” means collectively, that certain Canadian Pledge and Security Agreement (including any and all supplements thereto), dated as of the date hereof, among the Canadian Loan Parties party thereto and the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, together with any Quebec Security Documents, to the extent applicable.

 

Capital Expenditures” means, with respect to any Person and 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 such Person 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 or financing 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.

 

CB Floating Rate” means the Prime Rate; provided that the CB Floating Rate shall never be less than the Adjusted One Month LIBOR Rate on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) greater of the Prime Rate or 2.5%. Any change in the CB Floating Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate or the Adjusted One Month LIBOR Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate or the Adjusted One Month LIBOR Rate, respectively.

 

 12

 

 

CBFR”, when used in reference to: (a) a rate of interest, refers to the REVLIBOR30 RateAdjusted REVSOFR30 Rate, unless the REVSOFR30 Rate shall not be available at such time, then it refers to the CB Floating Rate (unless an Alternate Rate shall have been established in accordance with Section 2.14), and (b) any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, bear interest at a rate determined by reference to the REVLIBOR30Adjusted REVSOFR30 Rate or the CB Floating Rate.

 

CDOR”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, bear interest at a rate determined by reference to the CDOR Rate.

 

CDOR Rate” means on any day for the relevant Interest Period, the annual rate of interest equal to the average rate applicable to Canadian dollar Canadian bankers’ acceptances for the applicable period that appears on the “Reuters Screen CDOR Page” as defined in the International Swap Dealer Association, Inc. definitions, as modified and amended from time to time (or, in the event such rate does not appear on such page or screen, on any successor or substitute page or screen that displays such rate, or on the appropriate page of such other information service that publishes such rate from time to time, as selected by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion), rounded to the nearest 1/100th of 1% (with .005% being rounded up), as of 10:15 a.m. Toronto time on the first day of such Interest Period and, if such day is not a business day, then on the immediately preceding business day (as adjusted by Administrative Agent after 10:15 a.m. Toronto time to reflect any error in the posted rate of interest or in the posted average annual rate of interest). If the CDOR Screen Rate shall be less than 0.0%, the CDOR Screen Rate shall be deemed to be 0.0% for purposes of this Agreement.

 

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 SEC thereunder as in effect on the date hereof), of Equity Interests representing more than 35% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Company; (b) occupation at any time of a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of directors of the Company by Persons who were not (i) directors of the Company on the date of this Agreement, nominated, appointed or approved for consideration by shareholders for election by the board of directors of the Company (ii) approved by the board of directors of the Company as director candidates prior to their election, nor (iii) appointed by directors so nominated, appointed or approved; or (c) the Company shall cease to own, free and clear of all Liens or other encumbrances, directly or indirectly, at least 100% of the outstanding voting Equity Interests of each other Loan Party on a fully diluted basis.

 

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 of or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation, practice, concession or treaty; (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation, practice, concession or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority; or (c) compliance by any Lender or the Issuing Bank (or, for purposes of Section 2.15(b), by any lending office of such Lender or by such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any) with any request, guideline, requirement, directive, notice, ruling, statement or policy or practice statement (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 U.S. 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.

 

 13

 

 

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

 

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

 

“CME Term SOFR Administrator” means CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited as administrator of the forward-looking term SOFR (or a successor administrator).

 

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

 

Collateral” means any and all property or rights owned, leased or operated by a Person covered by the Collateral Documents and any and all other property or rights of any Loan Party, now existing or hereafter acquired, that may at any time be, become or be intended to be, subject to a security interest or Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent, on behalf of itself and the Lenders and other Secured Parties, to secure the Secured Obligations, other than Excluded Collateral.

 

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

 

Collateral Documents” means, collectively, each Security Agreement, the Mortgages (if any), and any other agreements, instruments and documents executed in connection with this Agreement that are intended to create, perfect or evidence Liens to secure the Secured Obligations, including, without limitation, all other security agreements, pledge agreements, mortgages, deeds of trust, hypothecs, debentures, share charges, loan agreements, notes, guarantees, subordination agreements, pledges, powers of attorney, consents, assignments, contracts, fee letters, notices, leases, financing statements and all other written matter whether theretofore, now or hereafter executed by any Loan Party and delivered to the Administrative Agent.

 

Collection Account” (a) with respect to the U.S. Loan Parties, has the meaning assigned to such term in the U.S. Security Agreement, (b) with respect to the Canadian Loan Parties, has the meaning assigned to such term in the Canadian Security Agreement and (c) with respect to any other Loan Parties, means each deposit account maintained by such other Loan Party into which all cash, checks or other similar payments relating to or constituting payments made in respect of Accounts will be deposited.

 

 14

 

 

Commercial LC Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding commercial Letters of Credit 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 Borrowers. The Commercial LC Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the aggregate Commercial LC Exposure at such time.

 

Commitment Schedule” means the Schedule attached hereto identified as such.

 

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).

 

Company” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Competitor” means those Persons who are a direct operating competitor of the Borrowers identified by the Borrower Representative to the Administrative Agent from time to time; provided, that (i) in no event shall the designation of any Person as a Competitor become effective until three (3) Business Days after such Person shall have been identified as a Competitor in writing from the Borrower Representative to the Administrative Agent via electronic mail submitted to JPMDQ_Contact@jpmorgan.com and such designation shall have been posted to the Lenders on an Approved Electronic Platform, (ii) any designation of a Person as a Competitor pursuant to this definition or that otherwise becomes a Competitor shall not have any retroactive effect to any prior assignment or participation to any Lender or Participant permitted under this Agreement, (iii) any Person that is a Lender or Participant and subsequently becomes a Competitor (but was not a Competitor at the time such Person became a Lender or Participant) shall be deemed to not be a Competitor hereunder, (iv) Competitors shall exclude any Person that Borrower Representative has designated as no longer being a Competitor by written notice delivered to Administrative Agent from time to time, and (v) in connection with any assignment or participation, the assignee or participant with respect to such proposed assignment or participation that is an investment bank, a commercial bank, a finance company, a fund, or other Person which merely has an economic interest in any such direct competitor, and is not itself such a direct competitor of the Borrowers, shall not be deemed to be a direct operating company competitor for the purposes of this definition.

 

Compliance Certificate” means a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower Representative in substantially the form of Exhibit C.

 

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.

 

 15

 

 

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

 

Corresponding Tenor” with respect to any Available Tenor means, as applicable, either a tenor (including overnight) or an interest payment period having approximately the same length (disregarding business day adjustment) as such Available Tenor.

 

Covenant Testing Trigger Period” means the period (a) commencing on any day after the FY2020 Date that Excess Availability is less than an amount equal to 10% of the Aggregate Revolving Commitment, and (b) continuing until Excess Availability has been greater than or equal to an amount equal to 10% of the Aggregate Revolving Commitment at all times for thirty (30) consecutive calendar days.

 

Covered Entity” means any of the following:

 

(i)a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);

 

(ii)a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or

 

(iii)a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

 

Covered Party” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.21.

 

CPR”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, bear interest at a rate determined by reference to the Canadian Prime Rate.

 

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

 

Currency of Payment” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.05(d).

 

Daily Simple SOFR” means, for any day(a “SOFR, with the conventions for this rate (which will include a lookback) being established by the Administrative Agent in accordance with the conventions for this rate selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for determining “Daily Simple SOFR” for business loans; provided, that if the Administrative Agent decides that any such convention is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, then the Administrative Agent may establish another convention in its Permitted Discretion. Rate Day”), a rate per annum equal to SOFR for the day (such day, a “SOFR Determination Date”) that is five (5) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to (i) if such SOFR Rate Day is a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, such SOFR Rate Day or (ii) if such SOFR Rate Day is not a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, the U.S. Government Securities Business Day immediately preceding such SOFR Rate Day, in each case, as such SOFR is published by the SOFR Administrator on the SOFR Administrator’s Website. Any change in Daily Simple SOFR due to a change in SOFR shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in SOFR without notice to the Borrowers.

 

 16

 

 

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

 

Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

 

Defaulting Lender” means any Lender that (a) has failed, within two 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 any 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 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 as of the date of certification) to fund prospective Loans and participations in then outstanding Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans under this Agreement, provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon such Credit Party’s receipt of such certification in form and substance satisfactory to it and the Administrative Agent, or (d) has become the subject of (i) a Bankruptcy Event, or (ii) a Bail-In Action.

 

Defined Benefit CPP” means any Canadian Pension Plan which contains a “defined benefit provision,” as defined in subsection 147.1(1) of the ITA.

 

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.

 

 17

 

 

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

 

Disposition” or “Dispose” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (in one transaction or in a series of transactions and whether effected pursuant to a Division or otherwise) of any property by any Person (including any sale and leaseback transaction and any issuance of Equity Interests by a Subsidiary of such Person), including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith.

 

Dividing Person” has the meaning assigned to it in the definition of “Division”.

 

Division” means the division of the assets, liabilities and/or obligations of a Person (the “Dividing Person”) among two or more Persons (whether pursuant to a “plan of division” or similar arrangement), which may or may not include the Dividing Person and pursuant to which the Dividing Person may or may not survive.

 

Division Successor” means any Person that, upon the consummation of a Division of a Dividing Person, holds all or any portion of the assets, liabilities and/or obligations previously held by such Dividing Person immediately prior to the consummation of such Division. A Dividing Person which retains any of its assets, liabilities and/or obligations after a Division shall be deemed a Division Successor upon the occurrence of such Division.

 

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

 

Dollar Equivalent” means, for any amount, at the time of determination thereof, (a) if such amount is expressed in Dollars, such amount, (b) if such amount is expressed in an Alternative Currency, the equivalent of such amount in Dollars determined by using the rate of exchange for the purchase of Dollars with the Alternative Currency last provided (either by publication or otherwise provided to the Administrative Agent by Reuters on the Business Day (New York City time)), immediately preceding the date of determination or if such service ceases to be available or ceases to provide a rate of exchange for the purchase of Dollars with the Alternative Currency, as provided by such other publicly available information service which provides that rate of exchange at such time in place of Reuters chosen by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion (or if such service ceases to be available or ceases to provide such rate of exchange, the equivalent of such amount in Dollars as determined by the Administrative Agent using any method of determination it deems appropriate in its sole discretion) and (c) if such amount is denominated in any other currency, the equivalent of such amount in Dollars as determined by the Administrative Agent using any method of determination it deems appropriate in its sole discretion.

 

Dollars” or “$” refers to lawful money of the U.S.

 

Dominion Period” means the period (a) commencing on any date at Administrative Agent’s or the Required Lenders’ election if (A) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing as of the date of such election or (B) Availability is less than 10% of the Aggregate Revolving Commitment as of the date of such election and (b) continuing until the Borrower Representative provides Administrative Agent with a written election to terminate such Dominion Period, so long as, at the proposed date of such termination, during the preceding thirty (30) consecutive calendar days, no Event of Default has existed and Availability has been greater than or equal to an amount equal to 10% of the Aggregate Revolving Commitment at all times.

 

 18

 

 

Early Opt-in Election” means, if the then-current Benchmark is LIBO Rate, the occurrence of:

 

(1)a notification by the Administrative Agent to (or the request by the Borrower Representative to the Administrative Agent to notify) each of the other parties hereto that at least five (5) currently outstanding Dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time contain (as a result of amendment or as originally executed) a SOFR-based rate (including SOFR, a term SOFR or any other rate based upon SOFR) as a benchmark rate (and such syndicated credit facilities are identified in such notice and are publicly available for review), and

 

(2)the joint election by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower Representative to trigger a fallback from LIBO Rate and the provision by the Administrative Agent of written notice of such election to the Lenders.

 

EBITDA” means, for any period, Net Income for such period plus (a) without duplication and to the extent deducted in determining Net Income for such period, the sum of (i) Interest Expense for such period, (ii) income tax expense for such period net of tax refunds, (iii) all amounts attributable to depreciation and amortization expense for such period, (iv) any extraordinary non-cash charges for such period, (v) any other non-cash charges for such period (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), (vi) reasonable and documented expenses and fees incurred in connection with any amendment, modification or waiver of this Agreement during such period, (vii) [reserved], (viii) expenses deducted in the determination of Net Income and covered by indemnification or other reimbursement provisions, or purchase price adjustments in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or other Investment permitted by Section 6.04, to the extent actually received in cash during such period, (ix) losses, charges or expenses deducted in the determination of Net Income but for which insurance or indemnity payments are actually received in cash during such period, (x) losses, charges or expenses deducted in the determination of Net Income and reimbursed by third parties to the extent such reimbursements are actually received in cash during such period, (xi) non-cash deductions or charges to Net Income attributable to purchase accounting adjustments made in accordance with GAAP during such period, (xii) fees and expenses of the board of directors permitted to be paid under the terms of this Agreement, to the extent identifiable, factually supportable, and reasonably satisfactory to AdminstrativeAdministrative Agent, during such period, (xiii) indemnification payments permitted to be paid under the terms of this Agreement made to the board of directors, to the extent identifiable, factually supportable, and reasonably satisfactory to AdminstrativeAdministrative Agent, during such period, (xiv) documented fees, costs and expenses incurred after the Effective Date and paid to the Administrative Agent during such period in connection with any amendment to or other modification of this Agreement and/or the Loan Documents, (xv) reasonable and customary transaction fees, costs and expenses paid in cash during such period in connection with any Investment permitted under Section 6.04 (including a Permitted Acquisition), the issuance of Equity Interests, or the Disposition of assets outside of the ordinary course of business, in each case, permitted hereunder, to the extent identifiable, factually supportable, and reasonably satisfactory (including in an aggregate amount) to AdminstrativeAdministrative Agent, (xvi) non-cash compensation expenses during such period, (xvii) non-cash share based compensation expenses (including withholding taxes) during such period, (xviii) non-recurring expenses for severance, recruitment and hiring of senior management and/or employees (including signing bonuses) during such period, in an aggregate amount not to exceed for any such period 10% of EBITDA for such period, and (xix) other one-time or non-recurring items during such period proposed by the Borrowers in good faith and approved by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion, minus (b) without duplication and to the extent included in Net Income, (i) any cash payments made during such period in respect of non-cash charges described in clause (a)(v) taken in a prior period, (ii) any extraordinary gains and any non-cash items of income for such period, and (iii) interest income for such period, all calculated for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

 19

 

 

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.

 

EDD” means EDDI’S WHOLESALE GARDEN SUPPLIES LTD., a corporation existing under the laws of the Province of British Columbia.

 

EEA Financial Institution” means (a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.

 

EEA Member Country” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

 

EEA Resolution Authority” means any public administrative authority or any Person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.

 

Effective Date” means the date on which the conditions specified in Section 4.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02)March 29, 2021.

 

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, web portal access for such Borrower 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.

 

 20

 

 

Eligible Accounts” means, at any time, the Accounts of an Eligible Loan Party which the Administrative Agent determines in its Permitted Discretion are eligible as the basis for the extension of Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans and the issuance of Letters of Credit; provided, that the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower Representative at least 2 Business Days prior to the date on which any such change to eligibility is to be made; provided further, that (i) the Borrowers may not obtain any new Loans or Letters of Credit to the extent that such Loan or Letter of Credit would cause an Overadvance after giving effect to such change as set forth in such notice; (ii) no such prior notice shall be required for changes to any elgibilityeligibility resulting solely by virtue of mathematical calculations of any relevant amount in accordance with the methodology of calculation set forth in this Agreement or previously utilized; and (iii) no such prior notice shall be required during the continuance of any Event of Default (provided that, during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent shall endeavor to notify the Borrower Representative at or before any such change, but a non-willful failure of the Administrative Agent to so notify the Borrower Representative shall not be a breach of this Agreement and shall not cause such establishment or increase of any such change to be ineffective). Without limiting the Administrative Agent’s Permitted Discretion provided herein, Eligible Accounts shall not include any Account of an Eligible Loan Party:

 

(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)           (i) which is unpaid more than 120 days after the date of the original invoice therefor or more than 60 days after the original due date therefor, or (ii) which has been written off the books of such Eligible Loan Party or otherwise designated as uncollectible;

 

(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 pursuant to clause (c) above;

 

(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 all Eligible Loan Parties exceeds (A) 25% in the case of Amazon.com, Inc. and its Affiliates, (B) 20% in the case of Nurseryland and its Affiliates or (C) 10% in the case of any other Account Debtor and its Affiliates, in each case, of the aggregate amount of Eligible Accounts of all Eligible Loan Parties;

 

(f)            with respect to which any covenant, representation or warranty contained in this Agreement or in any Security Agreement has been breached or is not true in any material respect (except that such materiality qualifier shall not be applicable to any covenant or representations and warranties that are already qualified or modified by materiality in the text thereof);

 

 21

 

 

(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 satisfactory to the Administrative Agent which has been sent to the Account Debtor, (iii) represents a progress billing, (iv) is contingent upon such Eligible 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 or (vi) relates to payments of interest, finance charges or late charges;

 

(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 Eligible 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 or similar official, (ii) had possession of all or a material part of its property taken by any receiver, interim receiver, monitor, custodian, trustee or liquidator, (iii) filed, or had filed against it, any assignment, application, request or petition for liquidation, reorganization, compromise, arrangement, adjustment of debts, stay of proceedings, adjudication as bankrupt, winding-up, or voluntary or involuntary case or proceeding under any Insolvency Laws (other than post-petition accounts payable of an Account Debtor that is a debtor-in-possession under applicable Insolvency Laws and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent), (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 substantially all of its assets;

 

(l)            which is owed by an Account Debtor which (i) does not maintain its chief executive office (or domicile for the purposes of the Quebec Civil Code) in the U.S. or Canada or (ii) is not organized under applicable law of the U.S., any state of the U.S., or the District of Columbia, Canada, or any province or territory of Canada unless, in any such case, such Account is (a) backed by a Letter of Credit reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent which is in the possession of, and is directly drawable by, the Administrative Agent, or (b) otherwise satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion;

 

(m)          which, for any Account Debtor, exceeds a credit limit determined by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion, to the extent of such excess;

 

(n)           which is owed in any currency other than Dollars or Canadian Dollars;

 

(o)           which is owed by (i) any Governmental Authority of any country other than the U.S. or Canada unless such Account is backed by a Letter of Credit reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent which is in the possession of, and is directly drawable by, the Administrative Agent, (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 or (iii) any Governmental Authority of Canada, or any department, agency, public corporation, or instrumentality thereof, unless the Financial Administration Act (Canada) or equivalent provincial statute, as applicable, 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 reasonable satisfaction;

 

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(p)          which is owed by one Loan Party to another Loan Party, or which is owed by any Affiliate of any Loan Party or any employee, officer, director or agent of any Loan Party or any of its Affiliates;

 

(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, deduction, defense, setoff or dispute but only to the extent of any 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 (i) located in any jurisdiction which requires filing of a “Notice of Business Activities Report” or other similar report in order to permit such Eligible Loan Party to seek judicial enforcement in such jurisdiction of payment of such Account, unless such Eligible Loan Party has filed such report or qualified to do business in such jurisdiction or (ii) which is a Sanctioned Person;

 

(u)          with respect to which such Eligible 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 Eligible 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, provincial, territorial 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 Eligible Loan Party has or has had an ownership interest in such goods, or which indicates any party other than such Eligible Loan Party as payee or remittance party;

 

 23

 

 

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

 

(y)           which the Administrative Agent determines in its Permitted Discretion may not be paid by reason of the Account Debtor’s inability to pay;

 

(z)           which, in respect of such Eligible Loan Party, is subject to any limitation on assignment or other restriction (whether arising by operation of law, by agreement or otherwise) which would, under the local governing law of the contract creating such Account, have the effect of restricting the assignment for or by way of security or the creation of security generally over such Account;

 

(aa)         as to which the contract or agreement underlying such Account is governed by (or, if no governing law is expressed therein, is deemed to be governed by) the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, Canada or any province or other political subdivision of Canada; or

 

(bb)       unless otherwise waived by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion, Accounts owned or generated by a target or business acquired in connection with an Acquisition until the completion of an appraisal and field examination with respect to such target or business, in each case, reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; provided, however, that Accounts and Inventory owned or generated by a target or business acquired in connection with a Permitted Acquisition shall not be deemed ineligible solely on account of this clause (bb) or clause (s) of the definition of Eligible Inventory so long as (A) (1) with respect to the New Borrowers (as defined in the First Amendment), APP and GPP, not more than 60 days has passed since the First Amendment Effective Date (or 90 days to the extent an appraisal and field examination has been commenced prior to the First Amendment Effective Date or during the initial 60 days since the First Amendment Effective Date), and (2) with respect to any other target or business acquired in connection with a Permitted Acquisition, not more than 60 days has passed since the consummation of such Permitted Acquisition (or 90 days to the extent an appraisal and field examination has been commenced during the initial 60 days since the consummation of such Permitted Acquisition), and (B) the advance rate against Eligible Accounts included in accordance with this proviso shall be deemed to be 70% and the advance rate against Eligible Inventory included in accordance with the proviso to clause (s) of the definition of Eligible Inventory shall be deemed to be 20% for clause (b)(i) of the definition of Borrowing Base and 40% for clause (b)(ii) of the definition of Borrowing Base, in each case, until such time as an appraisal and field examination with respect to the applicable target or business, reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, has been completed.

 

In the event that an Account of an Eligible Loan Party which was previously an Eligible Account ceases to be an Eligible Account hereunder, such Eligible Loan Party or the Borrower Representative 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 of an Eligible Loan Party, 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 such Eligible 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 such Eligible Loan Party to reduce the amount of such Account.

 

 24

 

 

Eligible Inventory” means, at any time, the Inventory of an Eligible Loan Party which the Administrative Agent determines in its Permitted Discretion is eligible as the basis for the extension of Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans and the issuance of Letters of Credit; provided, that the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower Representative at least 2 Business Days prior to the date on which any such change to eligibility is to be made; provided further, that (i) the Borrowers may not obtain any new Loans or Letters of Credit to the extent that such Loan or Letter of Credit would cause an Overadvance after giving effect to such change as set forth in such notice; (ii) no such prior notice shall be required for changes to any elgibilityeligibility resulting solely by virtue of mathematical calculations of any relevant amount in accordance with the methodology of calculation set forth in this Agreement or previously utilized; and (iii) no such prior notice shall be required during the continuance of any Event of Default (provided that, during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent shall endeavor to notify the Borrower Representative at or before any such change, but a non-willful failure of the Administrative Agent to so notify the Borrower Representative shall not be a breach of this Agreement and shall not cause such establishment or increase of any such change to be ineffective). Without limiting the Administrative Agent’s Permitted Discretion provided herein, Eligible Inventory of an Eligible Loan Party shall not include any Inventory:

 

(a)           which is not subject to a first priority perfected Lien governed by the applicable laws of the jurisdiction in which such Inventory is located 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 slow moving, obsolete, 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 in any Security Agreement has been breached in any material respect (except that such materiality qualifier shall not be applicable to any covenant or representations and warranties that are already qualified or modified by materiality in the text thereof) or is not true and which does not conform to all material standards imposed by any Governmental Authority;

 

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

 

 25

 

(f)            (i) which is not finished goods, raw materials or components, or (ii) which constitutes work-in-process, spare or replacement parts, packaging and shipping material, manufacturing supplies, samples, prototypes, displays or display items, bill-and-hold or ship-in-place goods, goods that are returned or marked for return, repossessed goods, defective or damaged goods, goods held on consignment, or with respect to finished goods, such finished goods are not of a type held for sale in the ordinary course of business;

 

(g)           with respect to any Borrower, which is not located in the United States or is in transit with a common carrier from vendors and suppliers, provided that, up to $10,000,000 of aggregate Availability generated at any time from Inventory of the Borrowers in transit from vendors and suppliers may be included as Eligible Inventory despite the foregoing provision of this clause (g) so long as:

 

(i) the Administrative Agent shall have received (1) a true and correct copy of the bill of lading and other shipping documents for such Inventory and (2) evidence of satisfactory casualty insurance naming the Administrative Agent as lender loss payee and otherwise covering such risks as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request,

 

(ii) if the bill of lading is non-negotiable, the Inventory must be in transit within the U.S., and the Administrative Agent shall have received, if requested, a duly executed Collateral Access Agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, from the applicable customs broker, freight forwarder or carrier for such Inventory,

 

(iii) if the bill of lading is negotiable, the Inventory must be in transit from outside the U.S. and Canada to the U.S., and the Administrative Agent shall have received (1) confirmation that the bill is issued in the name of such Borrower and consigned to the order of the Administrative Agent, and an acceptable agreement has been executed with such Borrower’s customs broker, in which the customs broker agrees that it holds the negotiable bill as agent for the Administrative Agent and has granted the Administrative Agent access to the Inventory, (2) confirmation that such Borrower has paid for the goods, and (3) an estimate from such Borrower of the customs duties and customs fees associated with the Inventory in order to establish an appropriate Reserve,

 

(iv) the common carrier is not an Affiliate of the applicable vendor or supplier, and

 

(v) the customs broker is not an Affiliate of any Loan Party;

 

 26

 

 

(h)           with respect to any Canadian Opco, which is not located in Canada or is in transit with a common carrier from vendors and suppliers, provided that, up to $5,000,000 of aggregate Availability generated at an any time from Inventory of the Canadian Opcos in transit from vendors and suppliers may be included as Eligible Inventory despite the foregoing provision of this clause (h) so long as:

 

(i) the Administrative Agent shall have received (1) a true and correct copy of the bill of lading and other shipping documents for such Inventory and (2) evidence of satisfactory casualty insurance naming the Administrative Agent as lender loss payee and otherwise covering such risks as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request,

 

(ii) if the bill of lading is non-negotiable, the Inventory must be in transit within Canada, and the Administrative Agent shall have received, if requested, a duly executed Collateral Access Agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, from the applicable customs broker, freight forwarder or carrier for such Inventory,

 

(iii) if the bill of lading is negotiable, the Inventory must be in transit from outside Canada and the U.S. to Canada, and the Administrative Agent shall have received (1) confirmation that the bill is issued in the name of such Canadian Opco and consigned to the order of the Administrative Agent, and an acceptable agreement has been executed with such Canadian Opco’s customs broker, in which the customs broker agrees that it holds the negotiable bill as agent for the Administrative Agent and has granted the Administrative Agent access to the Inventory, (2) confirmation that such Canadian Opco has paid for the goods, and (3) an estimate from such Canadian Opco of the customs duties and customs fees associated with the Inventory in order to establish an appropriate Reserve,

 

(iv) the common carrier is not an Affiliate of the applicable vendor or supplier, and

 

(v) the customs broker is not an Affiliate of any Loan Party;

 

(i)            which is located in any location leased by such Eligible Loan Party unless (A) (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 and (B) at least $100,000 of Inventory of the Eligible Loan Parties is located at such location;

 

(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 (other than bills of lading to the extent permitted pursuant to clause (g) or (h) above) delivered to Administrative Agent or its bailee, unless (A) (i) such warehouseman or bailee has delivered to the Administrative Agent a Collateral Access Agreement and such other documentation as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require or (ii) an appropriate Reserve has been established by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion and (B) at least $100,000 of Inventory of the Eligible Loan Parties is located at such third party warehouse or in possession of such bailee;

 

(k)           which is being processed offsite at a third party location or outside processor, or is in-transit to or from such third party location or outside processor, unless such processor has delivered to the Administrative Agent a Collateral Access Agreement and such other documentation as the Administrative Agent may require;

 

 27

 

 

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

 

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

 

(n)           which is perishable;

 

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

 

(p)          which is not reflected in a current perpetual inventory report of such Eligible Loan Party (unless such Inventory is reflected in a report to the Administrative Agent as “in transit” Inventory);

 

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

 

(r)            which has been acquired from a Sanctioned Person;

 

(s)           unless otherwise waived by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion, Inventory owned or generated by a target or business acquired in connection with an Acquisition until the completion of an appraisal and field examination with respect to such target or business, in each case, reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; provided, however, that Accounts and Inventory owned or generated by a target or business acquired in connection with a Permitted Acquisition shall not be deemed ineligible solely on account of this clause (s) or clause (bb) of the definition of Eligible Accounts so long as (A) (1) with respect to the New Borrowers (as defined in the First Amendment), APP and GPP, not more than 60 days has passed since the First Amendment Effective Date (or 90 days to the extent an appraisal and field examination has been commenced prior to the First Amendment Effective Date or during the initial 60 days since the First Amendment Effective Date), and (2) with respect to any other target or business acquired in connection with a Permitted Acquisition, not more than 60 days has passed since the consummation of such Permitted Acquisition (or 90 days to the extent an appraisal and field examination has been commenced during the initial 60 days since the consummation of such Permitted Acquisition), and (B) the advance rate against Eligible Inventory included in accordance with this proviso shall be deemed to be 20% for clause (b)(i) of the definition of Borrowing Base and 40% for clause (b)(ii) of the definition of Borrowing Base and the advance rate against Eligible Accounts included in accordance with the proviso to clause (bb) of the definition of Eligible Accounts shall be deemed to be 70%, in each case, until such time as an appraisal and field examination with respect to the applicable target or business, reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, has been completed; or

 

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

 

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

 

Eligible Loan Parties” means, collectively, (i) the Borrowers and (ii) Canadian Opcos, and the term “Eligible Loan Party” means any one of them or all of them individually, as the context may require.

 

Environmental Laws” means all laws, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, orders-in-council, 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 remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of any Borrower or Subsidiary directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) any violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) the presence of or any exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

 

Equity Interests” means shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, unlimited 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.

 

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with a Loan Party, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or Section 4001(14) of ERISA 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 any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (e) the receipt by any Loan Party 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 any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal of any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the receipt by any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition upon any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent, in critical status or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.

 

 29

 

 

EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor Person), as in effect from time to time.

 

Eurodollar”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether 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.

 

Excess Availability” means Availability minus the aggregate amount of all outstanding trade payables of the Loan Parties which have been unpaid for more than thirty (30) days after the due date therefor (other than trade payables being contested or disputed by any Loan Party in good faith), as determined by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion.

 

Excluded Collateral” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreements.

 

Excluded Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Loan Guarantor, any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the Guarantee of such Loan Guarantor of, or the grant by such Loan Guarantor of a security interest to secure, such 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 Loan Guarantor’s failure for any reason to constitute an ECP at the time the Guarantee of such Loan Guarantor or the grant of such security interest becomes or would become effective with respect to such Swap Obligation. If a Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to swaps for which such Guarantee or security interest is or becomes illegal.

 

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 Revolving 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 Revolving Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrowers 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, Letter of Credit or Revolving 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); (d) any U.S. Federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA; and (e) any withholding Tax under Part XIII of the ITA arising as a result of any Lender (i) not dealing at arm’s length (within the meaning of the ITA) with a Canadian Loan Party, or (ii) being a ''specified non-resident shareholder'' of a Canadian Loan Party or not dealing at arm'sarm’s length with any ''specified shareholder'' of a Canadian Loan Party (in each case within the meaning of the ITA), except where the non-arm’s length relationship arises or where the Lender is (or is deemed to be) a specified shareholder of any Canadian Loan Party or does not deal at arm'sarm’s length with a specified shareholder of any Canadian Loan Party, on account of the Lender having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, or enforced this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

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Extenuating Circumstance” means any period during which the Administrative Agent has determined in its sole discretion (a) that due to unforeseen and/or nonrecurring circumstances, it is impractical and/or not feasible to submit or receive a Borrowing Request or Interest Election Request by email or fax or through Electronic System, and (b) to accept a Borrowing Request or Interest Election Request telephonically.

 

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 and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention among Governmental Authorities and implementing such Sections of the Code.

 

Federal Funds Effective Rate” means, for any day, the rate calculated by the NYFRB based on such day’s federal funds transactions by depositary institutions (as determined in such manner as shall be set forth on the NYFRB’s Website from time to time) and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as the effective federal funds rate, provided that, if the Federal Funds Effective Rate as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement.

 

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

 

Financial Officer” means the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or controller of a Borrower.

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First Amendment” means that certain First Amendment and Joinder to the Credit Agreement, dated as of the First Amendment Effective Date, by and between the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent, and the Lenders party thereto.

 

First Amendment Effective Date” means August 31, 2021.

 

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, for any period, the ratio of (a) the result of EBITDA minus Unfinanced Capital Expenditures to (b) Fixed Charges, all calculated for such period for the Loan Parties on a standalone basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

Fixed Charges” means, for any period, without duplication, cash Interest Expense, plus scheduled principal payments on Indebtedness actually made, plus expenses for taxes paid in cash, plus Restricted Payments paid in cash, plus Capital Lease Obligation payments, plus cash contributions to any Plan, all calculated for the Loan Parties on a standalone basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

Fixtures” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreements.

 

Flood Laws” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.10.

 

Floor” means the benchmark rate floor, if any, provided in this Agreement initially (as of the execution of this Agreement, the modification, amendment or renewal of this Agreement or otherwise) with respect to LIBO Rate. the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, Adjusted REVSOFR30 Rate or the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR, as applicable. For the avoidance of doubt, the initial Floor for each of the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, Adjusted REVSOFR30 Rate or the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR shall be 0%.

 

Foreign Benefit Arrangement” means any employee benefit arrangement in existence at the date of this Agreement or at any time thereafter which is mandated by non-U.S. and non-Canadian law and that is maintained or contributed to by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

Foreign Benefit Arrangement Event” means (a) the failure of a Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries to make its required contributions in respect of any Foreign Benefit Arrangement or Canadian Pension Plan, as applicable, when such contributions are payable; (b) the failure of a Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries to administer any Foreign Benefit Arrangement or Canadian Pension Plan, as applicable, in accordance with its terms and all applicable laws, statutes, rules, regulations and orders (to the extent that any Loan Party or Subsidiary is required by law to administer); (c) the occurrence of an act or omission in respect of any Foreign Benefit Arrangement or Canadian Pension Plan, as applicable, which could give rise to the imposition on a Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries of fines, penalties or related charges under applicable laws, statutes, rules, regulations and orders; (d) the assertion of a material claim (other than a routine claim for benefits) against a Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of a Foreign Benefit Arrangement or Canadian Pension Plan, as applicable; (e) the imposition of a Lien affecting the assets of a Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of any Foreign Benefit Arrangement or Canadian Pension Plan, as applicable; (f) the whole or partial withdrawal of a Loan Party or a Subsidiary from a Foreign Benefit Arrangement or Canadian Pension Plan, as applicable; or (g) any event or condition which might constitute grounds for, or otherwise causes, the termination, in whole or in part, of any Foreign Benefit Arrangement or Canadian Pension Plan, as applicable, or the appointment of a trustee or other Person by a Governmental Authority to administer any Foreign Benefit Arrangement or Canadian Pension Plan, as applicable.

 32

 

Foreign Lender” means (a) if a Borrower is a U.S. Person, a Lender, with respect to such Borrower, that is not a U.S. Person, and (b) if a 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 such Borrower is resident for tax purposes.

 

Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary to the extent such Subsidiary is not organized under the laws of a jurisdiction located in the U.S.

 

“Fourth Amendment” means that certain Fourth Amendment to the Credit Agreement and Limited Consent and Waiver, dated as of the Fourth Amendment Effective Date, by and between the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent, and the Lenders party thereto.

 

“Fourth Amendment Effective Date” means December 22, 2022.

 

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

 

FY2020 Date” means the first date that all of the following have occurred: (i) Borrowers have delivered to the Administrative Agent the audited financial statements of the Loan Parties for the Company’s 2020 fiscal year (without a “going concern” or like qualification, commentary or exception and without any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit), in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion and (ii) the Administrative Agent has delivered notice to the Borrowers that the Administrative Agent has determined in its Permitted Discretion that such 2020 audited financial statements demonstrate materially consistent financial performance of the Loan Parties with the unaudited financial statements delivered to the Administrative Agent prior to the Effective Date for the same periods.

 

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S.

 

Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States of America, Canada, or any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state, provincial, territorial 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.

 

GPP” means Greenstar Plant Products Inc., a federal corporation organized under the laws of Canada.

 

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 any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation 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 such Indebtedness or other obligation 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 such Indebtedness or other obligation or (d) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness or obligation; provided, that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.

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

 

Hazardous Materials” means: (a) any substance, material, or waste that is included within the definitions of “hazardous substances,” “hazardous materials,” “hazardous waste,” “toxic substances,” “contaminants,” “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) or under other Environmental Law as applicable; 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.

 

IBA” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.07.

 

IGE” means Innovative Growers Equipment, Inc., an Illinois 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, (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 earn-out (which for all purposes of this Agreement shall be valued at the maximum potential amount payable with respect to such earn-out), (l) any other Off-Balance Sheet Liability and (m) obligations, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor), under (i) any and all Swap Agreements, and (ii) any and all cancellations, buy backs, reversals, terminations or assignments of any Swap Agreement transaction. 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’sPerson’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.

 34

 

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 the foregoing clause (a) hereof, 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.

 

Innovative AG” means Innovative AG Installation, Inc., an Illinois corporation.

 

Innovative Canada” means Innovative Growers Equipment Canada, Inc., a corporation incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario.

 

Innovative Racking” means Innovative Racking Systems, Inc., an Illinois corporation.

 

Innovative Shipping” means Innovative Shipping Solutions, Inc., an Illinois corporation.

 

Insolvency Laws” means, collectively, the Bankruptcy Code, the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada), the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada), and the Winding-Up and Restructuring Act (Canada), each as now and hereafter in effect, any successors to such statutes and any other applicable insolvency or other similar law of any jurisdiction, including any corporate law or other law of any jurisdiction solely to the extent it permits a debtor to obtain a stay or a compromise of the claims of its creditors against it.

 

Intercreditor Agreement” means that certain Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of October 25, 2021, by and among the Loan Parties party thereto, the Administrative Agent and the Term Loan Agent under the Term Loan Agreement, as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

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

 

Interest Expense” means, for any period, total interest expense (including that attributable to Capital Lease Obligations) of the Loan Parties for such period with respect to all outstanding Indebtedness of the Loan Parties (including all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances 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 standalone consolidated basis for the Loan Parties for such period in accordance with GAAP.

 35

 

 

Interest Payment Date” means (a) with respect to any CBFR Loan or CPR Loan (other than a Swingline Loan), the first day of each calendar month and the Maturity Date, and (b) with respect to any Eurodollar RFR Loan, each date that is on the numerically corresponding day in each calendar month that is one month after the Borrowing of such Loan (or, if there is no such numerically corresponding day in such month, then the last day of such month) and the Maturity Date, (c) with respect to any Term Benchmark Loan or CDOR Loan, the last day of theeach Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part (and, in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months’ duration, each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three months’ duration after the first day of such Interest Period) and the Maturity Date, and (d) with respect to any Swingline Loan, the day that such Swingline Loan is required to be repaid and the Maturity Date.

 

Interest Period” means, with respect to any EurodollarTerm Benchmark Borrowing or CDOR Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such EurodollarTerm Benchmark Borrowing or CDOR Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one, two, or three months thereafter (in each case, subject to the availability for the Benchmark applicable to the relevant Loan or Commitment), as the Borrower Representative may elect; provided, that (ia) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day and, (iib) any Interest Period that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period, and (c) no tenor that has been removed from this definition pursuant to Section 2.14(b)(v) shall be available for specification in such Borrowing Request or Interest Election Request. For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.

 

Interpolated Rate” means, at any time, with respect to any Eurodollar Loan for any Interest Period, the rate per annum (rounded to the same number of decimal places as the LIBO Screen Rate) 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; provided, that, in each case, if any Interpolated Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

 

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

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IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

ISDA Definitions” means the 2006 ISDA Definitions published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. or any successor thereto, as amended or supplemented from time to time, or any successor definitional booklet for interest rate derivatives published from time to time by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. or such successor thereto

 

Issuing Bank” means JPMCB, in its capacity as the issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder. 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.

 

ITA” means the Income Tax Act (Canada), as amended.

 

Joinder Agreement” means a Joinder Agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit D.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Lender-Related Person” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.03(b).

 

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

 37

 

Letters of Credit” means the letters of credit issued pursuant to this Agreement, and the term “Letter of Credit” means any one of them or each of them singularly, as the context may require.

 

Letter of Credit Agreement” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.06(b).

 

Liabilities” means any losses, claims (including intraparty claims), demands, damages or liabilities of any kind.

 

LIBO Rate” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any applicable Interest Period or for any CBFR Borrowing, 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, if the LIBO Screen Rate shall not be available at such time for such Interest Period (an “Impacted Interest Period”), then the LIBO Rate shall be the Interpolated Rate, 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). Notwithstanding the above, to the extent that “LIBO Rate” or “Adjusted LIBO Rate” is used in connection with a CBFR Borrowing, such rate shall be determined as modified by the definition of Adjusted One Month LIBOR Rate.

 

LIBO Screen Rate” means, for any day and time, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period or for any CBFR Borrowing, the London interbank offered rate as administered by 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 such day and time on pages LIBOR01 or LIBOR02 of the Reuters screen that displays such rate (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 from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion); provided that if the LIBO Screen Rate as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to zero for the purposes of this Agreement; provided further, that the foregoing shall not be applicable to determine the “Adjusted One Month LIBOR Rate” and the “CB Floating Rate”.

 

Lien” means, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, charge, assignment by way of security 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.

 

Loan Documents” means, collectively, this Agreement, any promissory notes issued pursuant to this Agreement, any Letter of Credit Agreement, the Collateral Documents, each Compliance Certificate, the Loan Guaranty, the Canadian Guarantee and all other agreements, instruments, documents and certificates executed and delivered to, or in favor of, the Administrative Agent or any Lender and including all other pledges, powers of attorney, consents, assignments, contracts, notices, letter of credit agreements, letter of credit applications and any agreements between the Borrower Representative and the Issuing Bank regarding the respective rights and obligations between the applicable Borrower and the Issuing Bank in connection with the issuance by the Issuing Bank of Letters of Credit, the Intercreditor Agreement 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 or any Lender in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. 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 this Agreement or such Loan Document as the same may be in effect at any and all times such reference becomes operative.

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Loan Guarantor” means each Loan Party.

 

Loan Guaranty” means Article X of this Agreement.

 

Loan Parties” means, collectively, the Borrowers, the Company’s Subsidiaries party hereto as of the date hereof, the Canadian Loan Parties, and any other Person who becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to a Joinder Agreement and their successors and assigns, and the term “Loan Party” shall mean any one of them or all of them individually, as the context may require.

 

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

 

Local Time” means, (a) local time in Toronto with respect to a Canadian Dollar denominated Loan, Letter of Credit, Borrowing or LC Disbursement made, repaid or requested, as applicable, by or on behalf of any Borrower, and (b) local time in California with respect to any Dollar denominated Loan, Letter of Credit, Borrowing or LC Disbursement made, repaid or requested, as applicable, by or on behalf of any Borrower.

 

Margin Stock” means margin stock within the meaning of Regulations T, U and X, as applicable.

 

Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, assets, operations or financial condition of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability of any Loan Party to perform its Obligations, (c) the Collateral, or the Administrative Agent’s Liens (on behalf of itself and other Secured Parties) on the Collateral or the priority of such Liens, or (d) the material rights of or benefits available to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Lenders under any of the Loan Documents

 

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 Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $1,000,000. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “principal amount” of the obligations of any Loan Party 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 such Loan Party or such Subsidiary would be required to pay if such Swap Agreement were terminated at such time.

 39

 

Material Real Estate Asset” means any individual Real Estate Asset owned in fee with a fair market value equal to or greater than $12,500,000.

 

Maturity Date” means March 29, 2024 or any earlier 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.

 

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

 

Mortgage” means any mortgage, deed of trust, deed of hypothec 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.

 

MSCSI” means Manufacturing & Supply Chain Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

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

 

Net Income” means, for any period, the consolidated net income (or loss) of the Loan Parties, determined on a standalone 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 any Loan Party, (b) the income (or deficit) of any Person (other than a Loan Party) in which any Loan Party has an ownership interest, except to the extent that any such income is actually received by such Loan Party in the form of dividends or similar distributions and (c) the undistributed earnings of any Loan Party to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Loan Party 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 Loan Party.

 

Net Orderly Liquidation Value” means, with respect to Inventory (or any category thereof) of any Person, the orderly liquidation value thereof as determined in a manner reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent by an appraiser reasonably 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, minus (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 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 of the Borrower Representative).

 40

 

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

 

NYFRB” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

 

NYFRB Rate” means, for any day, the greater of (a) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day and (b) the Overnight Bank Funding Rate in effect on such day (or for any day that is not a Business Day, for the immediately preceding Business Day); provided, that if none of such rates are published for any day that is a Business Day, the term “NYFRB Rate” means the rate for a federal funds transaction quoted at 11:00 a.m. on such day received by the Administrative Agent from a federal funds broker of recognized standing selected by it; providedfurther, that if any of the aforesaid rates as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

 

NYFRB’s Website” means the website of the NYFRB at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source.

 

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 and fees 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 any of the Loan Parties to any of the Lenders, the Administrative Agent, the 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.

 

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 sheet of such Person (other than operating leases).

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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, transfer 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).

 

Overnight Bank Funding Rate” means, for any day, the rate comprised of both overnight federal funds and overnight Eurodollar borrowingseurodollar transactions denominated in Dollars by U.S.-managed banking offices of depository institutions (as such composite rate shall be determined by the NYFRB as set forth on the NYFRB’s Website from time to time) and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as an overnight bank funding rate.

 

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

 

Paid in Full” or “Payment in Full” means, (a) the payment in full in cash of all outstanding Loans and LC Disbursements, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, (b) the termination, expiration, or 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 Permitted Discretion of the Administrative Agent a backup standby letter of credit satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank, in an amount equal to 105% of the LC Exposure as of the date of such payment), (c) the payment in full in cash of the accrued and unpaid fees, (d) the payment in full in cash of all reimbursable expenses and other Secured Obligations (other than Unliquidated Obligations for which no claim has been made and other obligations expressly stated to survive such payment and termination of this Agreement), together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, (e) the termination of all Commitments, and (f) the termination of the Swap Agreement Obligations and the Banking Services Obligations or entering into other arrangements satisfactory to the Secured Parties counterparties thereto.

 

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

 

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

 

“Payment” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.06(d).

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Payment Conditions” shall be deemed to be satisfied in connection with a Restricted Payment if:

 

(a)           no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result immediately after giving effect to such Restricted Payment;

 

(b)           the Borrowers shall have (A) Excess Availability calculated on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such Restricted Payment of not less than an amount equal to 15% of the Aggregate Revolving Commitment and (B) a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, calculated on a trailing 12 month pro forma basis after giving effect to such Restricted Payment recomputed for the most recent fiscal month for which financial statements have been or were required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent, of not less than 1.15 to 1.00; and

 

(c)           the Borrower Representative shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent certifying as to the items described in items (a) and (b) above and attaching calculations for item (b); and.

 

(d) the FY2020 Date has occurred.

 

“Payment Notice” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.06(d).

 

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 by any Loan Party in a transaction that satisfies each of the following requirements:

 

(a)           such Acquisition is not a hostile or contested acquisition;

 

(b)           (i) the assets being acquired (other than a de minimis amount of assets in relation to the assets being acquired) are located within the United States or Canada or the Person whose Equity Interests are being acquired is organized in a jurisdiction located within the United States or Canada and (ii) the business acquired in connection with such Acquisition is not engaged, directly or indirectly, in any line of business other than the businesses in which the Loan Parties are engaged on the Effective Date and any business activities that are substantially similar, related, or incidental thereto;

 

(c)           both before and after giving effect to such Acquisition and the Loans (if any) requested to be made in connection therewith, each of the representations and warranties in the Loan Documents is true and correct after giving effect to any updates to the disclosure schedules approved by the Administrative Agent (except any such representation or warranty which relates to a specified prior date) and no Default exists, will exist, or would result therefrom;

 

(d)           as soon as available, but not less than 15 days prior to such Acquisition (or as otherwise agreed to by the Administrative Agent), the Borrower Representative has provided the Administrative Agent (i) notice of such Acquisition and (ii) a copy of all business and financial information reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent including pro forma financial statements, statements of cash flow, and Availability projections;

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(e)           [reserved];

 

(f)            [reserved];

 

(g)           if such Acquisition is an acquisition of the Equity Interests of a Person, such Acquisition is structured so that the acquired Person shall become a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of a Loan Party pursuant to the terms of this Agreement;

 

(h)           if such Acquisition is an acquisition of assets, such Acquisition is structured so that a Borrower or another Loan Party shall acquire such assets;

 

(i)            if such Acquisition is an acquisition of Equity Interests, such Acquisition will not result in any violation of Regulation U;

 

(j)             if such Acquisition involves a merger or a consolidation involving a Borrower or any other Loan Party, such Borrower or such Loan Party, as applicable, shall be the surviving entity;

 

(k)           no Loan Party shall, as a result of or in connection with any such Acquisition, assume or incur any direct or contingent liabilities (whether relating to environmental, tax, litigation, or other matters) that could have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(l)            in connection with an Acquisition of the Equity Interests of any Person, all Liens on property of such Person shall be terminated unless such Lien is a Permitted Lien or the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in their sole discretion consent otherwise, and in connection with an Acquisition of the assets of any Person, all Liens (other than Permitted Liens) on such assets shall be terminated;

 

(m)           (i) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result immediately after giving effect to such Acquisition, (ii) the Borrowers shall have (A) Excess Availability calculated on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such Acquisition of not less than an amount equal to 15% of the Aggregate Revolving Commitment and (B) a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, calculated on a trailing 12 month pro forma basis after giving effect to such Acquisition recomputed for the most recent fiscal month for which financial statements have been or were required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent, of not less than 1.15 to 1.00 and (iii) the Borrower Representative shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent certifying as to the items described in items (i) and (ii) of this clause (m) and attaching calculations for item (ii) of this clause (m);

 

(n)           all actions required to be taken with respect to any newly acquired or formed Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of a Borrower or a Loan Party, as applicable, required under Section 5.14 shall have been taken, except for those actions that the Administrative Agent agrees can occur post-closing; and

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(o)           the Borrower Representative shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent (i) the substantially final form documentation relating to such Acquisition within three (3) days prior to the consummation thereof (or as otherwise agreed to by the Administrative Agent), and (ii) the final executed material documentation relating to such Acquisition within three (3) days following the consummation thereof.

 

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 and Liens imposed by law for normal course contributions to Canadian Pension Plans that are not yet due and payable;

 

(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 (o) of Article VII; and

 

(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 any Borrower or any Subsidiary;

 

provided, that the term “Permitted Encumbrances” shall not include any Lien securing Indebtedness, except with respect to clause (e) above.

 

Permitted Investments” means:

 

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

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(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, bankers’ 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 U.S. or Canada or any State, province or territory thereof which has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000;

 

(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; and

 

(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.

 

Permitted Liens” means Liens permitted under Section 6.02.

 

Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, unlimited 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 any Loan Party 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.

 

Plan Asset Regulations” means 29 CFR § 2510.3-101 et seq., as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA, as amended from time to time.

 

PPSA” means the Personal Property Security Act (Ontario), including the regulations thereto, provided that, if perfection or the effect of perfection or non-perfection or the priority of any Lien created hereunder on the Collateral is governed by the personal property security legislation or other applicable legislation with respect to personal property security in effect in a jurisdiction in Canada other than Ontario, “PPSA” means the Personal Property Security Act or such other applicable legislation (including without limitation the Quebec Civil Code) in effect from time to time in such other jurisdiction for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such perfection, effect of perfection or non-perfection or priority.

 

Prepayment Event” means:

 

(a)          any Disposition (including pursuant to a sale and leaseback transaction) of any ABL Priority Collateral (or, after the Term Loan Obligations Payment Date (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement), any Disposition of any Collateral of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary);

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(b)           any casualty or other insured damage to, or any taking under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding of, any ABL Priority Collateral (or, after the Term Loan Obligations Payment Date (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement), any property or asset of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary);

 

(c)           subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, the issuance by the Company of any Equity Interests, or the receipt by the Company of any capital contribution, except in connection with any Permitted Acquisition; or

 

(d)           subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, the incurrence by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Indebtedness, other than Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01.

 

Prime Rate” means the rate of interest last quoted by The Wall Street Journal as the “Prime Rate” in the U.S. or, if The Wall Street Journal ceases to quote such rate, the highest per annum interest rate published by the Federal Reserve Board in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) (Selected Interest Rates) as the “bank prime loan” rate or, if such rate is no longer quoted therein, any similar rate quoted therein (as determined by the Administrative Agent) or any similar release by the Federal Reserve Board (as determined by the Administrative Agent). Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced or quoted as being effective.

 

Priority Payables Reserve” means the reserves established in the Permitted Discretion of the Administrative Agent for amounts secured by any Liens, choate or inchoate, which rank or are capable of ranking in priority to the Administrative Agent’s Liens and/or for amounts which may represent costs relating to the enforcement of the Administrative Agent’s Liens including, without limitation, in the good faith credit discretion of the Administrative Agent, any such amounts due and not paid for wages, salaries, commission or compensation, including vacation pay; (including, as provided for, under the Wage Earners Protection Program Act (Canada)), amounts due and not paid under any legislation relating to workers’ compensation or to employment insurance, all amounts deducted or withheld and not paid and remitted when due under the Income Tax Act (Canada), amounts currently or past due and not paid for realty, municipal or similar taxes, any and all solvency deficiencies, unfunded liabilities on wind-up or wind-up deficiencies in regards to any Defined Benefit CPP (to the extent impacting personal or moveable property) and all amounts currently or past due and not contributed, remitted or paid to any Canadian Pension Plan or under the Canada Pension Plan, the Pension Benefits Act (Ontario) or any similar legislation.

 

Proceeding” means any claim, litigation, investigation, action, suit, arbitration or administrative, judicial or regulatory action or proceeding in any jurisdiction.

 

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

 

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

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PTE” means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.

 

Public-Sider” means a Lender whose representatives may trade in securities of any Loan Party or its controlling Person or any of its Subsidiaries while in possession of the financial statements provided by any Loan Party under the terms of this Agreement.

 

QFC” has the meaning assigned to the term “qualified financial contract” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 5390(c)(8)(D).

 

QFC Credit Support” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.21.

 

Qualified ECP Guarantor” means, in respect of any 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 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.

 

Quebec Security Documents” means, if applicable, a notarial deed of hypothec executed by any Loan Party from time to time required to perfect a Lien in favour of the Administrative Agent in the Province of Quebec.

 

Real Estate Asset” means, at any time of determination, any interest (fee, leasehold or otherwise) then owned by any Loan Party in any real property.

 

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

 

Reference Time” with respect to any setting of the then-currentthen-current Benchmark means (1a) if such Benchmark is LIBO Rate, 11:00 a.m. (Londonthe Term SOFR Rate or REVSOFR30 Rate, 5:00 a.m. (Chicago time) on the day that is two London banking days(2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days preceding the date of such setting, and (2b) if the RFR for such Benchmark is Daily Simple SOFR, then four (4) Business Days prior to such setting or (c) if such Benchmark is not LIBOthe Term SOFR Rate, REVSOFR30 Rate or Daily Simple SOFR, the time determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.

 

Refinance Indebtedness” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.01(f).

 

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

 

Regulation D” means Regulation D of the Federal Reserve Board, as in effect from time to time and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

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Regulation T” means Regulation T of the Federal Reserve Board, as in effect from time to time and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

 

Regulation U” means Regulation U of the Federal Reserve Board, as in effect from time to time and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

 

Regulation X” means Regulation X of the Federal Reserve Board, as in effect from time to time and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

 

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.

 

Relevant Governmental Body” means the Federal Reserve Board and/or the NYFRB, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board and/or the NYFRB or, in each case, any successor thereto.

 

“Relevant Rate” means (i) with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, (ii) with respect to any Adjusted REVSOFR30 Rate Borrowing, the Adjusted REVSOFR30 Rate or (iii) with respect to any RFR Borrowing, the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR, as applicable.

 

Report” means reports prepared by the Administrative Agent or another Person showing the results of appraisals, field examinations or audits pertaining to the assets of the Loan Parties from information furnished by or on behalf of the Loan Parties, 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.

 

Reporting Trigger Period” means the period (a) commencing on any day that Availability is less than an amount equal to 10% of the Aggregate Revolving Commitment, and (b) continuing until Availability has been greater than or equal to an amount equal to 10% of the Aggregate Revolving Commitment at all times for thirty (30) consecutive calendar days.

 

Required Lenders” means, subject to Section 2.20, Lenders having Revolving Exposures and unused Revolving Commitments representing at least 51% of the sum of the Aggregate Revolving Exposure and unused Revolving Commitments at such time; provided that, at any time there are two or more Lenders, Required Lenders must include at least two Lenders.

 

Requirement of Law” means, with respect to any Person, (a) the charter, articles or certificate of organization or incorporation and bylaws or operating, management or partnership agreement, constitution or other organizational or governing documents of such Person and (b) any statute, law (including common law), treaty, rule, direction, 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.

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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, Priority Payables Reserves, volatility reserves, reserves for rent at locations leased by any Loan Party and for consignee’s, warehousemen’s, mortgagee’s and bailee’s charges, reserves for dilution of Accounts, reserves for Inventory shrinkage, reserves for customs charges and shipping charges related to any Inventory in transit, reserves for Swap Agreement Obligations, reserves for contingent liabilities of any Loan Party, reserves for uninsured losses of any Loan Party, reserves for extended or extendable retention of title over Accounts, reserves for supplier repossession rights, reserves for uninsured, underinsured, un-indemnified or under-indemnified liabilities or potential liabilities with respect to any litigation and reserves for taxes, fees, assessments, and other governmental charges with respect to the Collateral or any Loan Party. The amount of any Reserve established by Administrative Agent shall have a reasonable relationship to the event, condition, other circumstance, or fact that is the basis for such reserve and shall not be duplicative of any other reserve established and currently maintained.

 

Resolution Authority” means an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.

 

Responsible Officer” means the president, Financial Officer or other executive officer of a Borrower.

 

Restricted Payment” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interests in any Loan Party 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 any Loan Party or any Subsidiary or any option, warrant or other right to acquire any such Equity Interests in any Loan Party or any Subsidiary.

 

Reuters” means, as applicable, Thomson Reuters Corp, Refinitiv, or any successor thereto.

 

Revaluation Date” shall mean (a) with respect to any Loan denominated in any Alternative Currency, each of the following: (i) the date of the Borrowing of such Loan and (ii) each date of a conversion into or continuation of such Loan pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; (b) with respect to any Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, each of the following: (i) the date on which such Letter of Credit is issued, (ii) the first Business Day of each calendar month and (iii) the date of any amendment of such Letter of Credit that has the effect of increasing the face amount thereof; and (c) any additional date as the Administrative Agent may determine at any time when an Event of Default exists.

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“REVLIBOR30 Rate” means the London interbank offered rate administered by ICE Benchmark Administration (or any other Person that takes over the administration of such rate for Dollars) for a one (1) month period as displayed on pages LIBOR01 or LIBOR02 of the Reuters screen that displays such rate (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 from time to time as shall be selected by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion; in each case the “REVLIBOR30 Screen Rate”) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two (2) Business Days prior to the first (1st) Business Day of each month, adjusted monthly on the first (1st) Business Day of each month; provided that, (x) if the REVLIBOR30 Screen Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement and (y) if the REVLIBOR30 Screen Rate shall not be available at such time for such a period, then the REVLIBOR30 Rate shall be equal to the CB Floating Rate.

 

Revolving Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the amount set forth on the Commitment Schedule opposite such Lender’s name, or in the Assignment and Assumption or other documentation or record (as such term is defined in Section 9-102(a)(70) of the New York Uniform Commercial Code) as provided in Section 9.04(b)(ii)(C) pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Revolving Commitment, as applicable, as such Revolving 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; provided, that at no time shall the Revolving Exposure of any Lender exceed its Revolving Commitment.

 

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, LC Exposure and Swingline Exposure at such time, plus (b) an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Overadvances outstanding at such time, plus (c) an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Protective Advances outstanding at such time.

 

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

 

“Revolving Borrowing” means Revolving Loans of the same Type, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Term Benchmark Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.

 

“REVSOFR30 Rate” means the Term SOFR Reference Rate for a one (1) month period, as such rate is published by the CME Term SOFR Administrator, at approximately 5:00 a.m., Chicago time, two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the first (1st) Business Day of each month, adjusted monthly on the first (1st) Business Day of each month. Any change in the REVSOFR30 Rate shall be effective from and include the effective date of such change.

 

“RFR Borrowing” means, as to any Borrowing, the RFR Loans comprising such Borrowing.

 

“RFR Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR.

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

 

Sale and Leaseback Transaction” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.06.

 

Sanctioned Country” means, at any time, a country, region or territory which is itself the subject or target of any Sanctions (at the time of this Agreement, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic, the Crimea Region of Ukraine, Cuba (only with respect to Loan Parties organized under the laws of the U.S. or any satestate thereof), 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 OFAC, the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member state, HerHis Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom, Canada (including Canadian Blocked Persons) or other relevant sanctions authority, (b) any Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country, (c) any Person owned or controlled by any such Person or Persons described in the foregoing clauses (a) or (b), or (d) any Person otherwise the subject of any Sanctions.

 

Sanctions” means all 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 OFAC or the U.S. Department of State, (b) the Canadian federal government, or (c) the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member state, HerHis Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom or other relevant sanctions authority.

 

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

 

“Second Amendment” means that certain Second Amendment to the Credit Agreement, dated as of the Second Amendment Effective Date, by and between the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent, and the Lenders party thereto.

 

Second Amendment Effective Date” means October 25, 2021.

 

Secured Obligations” means all Obligations, together with all (i) Banking Services Obligations and (ii) Swap Agreement 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 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.

 

Secured Parties” means (a) the Administrative Agent, (b) the Lenders, (c) the Issuing Bank, (d) each provider of Banking Services, to the extent the Banking Services Obligations in respect thereof constitute Secured Obligations, (e) each counterparty to any Swap Agreement, to the extent the obligations thereunder constitute Secured Obligations, (f) the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Loan Party under any Loan Document, and (g) the successors and assigns of each of the foregoing.

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Security Agreements” means, collectively, (i) U.S. Security Agreement, (ii) the Canadian Security Agreement, and (iii) 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, in each case, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

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).

 

SOFR” means, with respect to any Business Day, a rate per annum equal to the secured overnight financing rate for such Business Day publishedas administered by the SOFR Administrator on the SOFR Administrator’s Website at approximately 8:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the immediately succeeding Business Day..

 

SOFR Administrator” means the NYFRB (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).

 

SOFR Administrator’s Website” means the NYFRB’s Websitewebsite, currently at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source for the secured overnight financing rate identified as such by the SOFR Administrator from time to time.

 

“SOFR Determination Date” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Daily Simple SOFR”.

 

“SOFR Rate Day” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Daily Simple SOFR”.

 

Standby LC Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn amount of all standby Letters of Credit outstanding 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 Borrowers at such time. The Standby LC Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the aggregate Standby LC Exposure at such time.

 

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

 

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 Federal Reserve 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). Such reserve percentages shall include those imposed pursuant to 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 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 as determined 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 the Company or a Loan Party, as applicable. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Loan Documents to the contrary, ELTAC XXI S.L.U., an entity organized under the laws of Spain, shall not be deemed to be a Subsidiary under the terms of the Loan Documents and the calculation of EBITDA, Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, and any component thereof shall be calculated as if ELTAC XXI S.L.U. was not a Subsidiary even if required otherwise by GAAP.

 

Supported QFC” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.21.

 

SUN” means SUNBLASTER HOLDINGS ULC, an unlimited liability corporation existing under the laws of the Province of British Columbia.

 

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 the Borrowers or the Subsidiaries shall be a Swap Agreement.

 

Swap Agreement Obligations” means any and all obligations of the Loan Parties and 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), 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.

 

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.

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Swingline Exposure” means, at any time, the aggregate principal amount of all Swingline Loans outstanding 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 JPMCB, 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 JPMCB in its capacity as Administrative Agent or Issuing Bank shall be deemed given by JPMCB in its capacity as Swingline Lender.

 

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

 

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

 

“Term Benchmark” when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate.

 

Term Loan Agent” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.in its capacity as administrative agent and collateral agent under the Term Loan Agreement.

 

Term Loan Agreement” means that certain Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of October 25, 2021, by and among the Company, the Borrowers and the other Loan Parties from time to time party thereto as borrowers or guarantors, the lenders from time to time party thereto and the Term Loan Agent.

 

Term Loan Documents” means the Term Loan Agreement and the other Credit Documents (as defined therein), as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Term Loan Indebtedness” means the Indebtedness evidenced by the Term Loan Documents.

 

Term Loan Lenders” means lenders under the Term Loan Agreement.

 

Term Loan Priority Collateral” has the meaning set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Term SOFR” means, for the applicable Corresponding Tenor as of the applicable Reference Time, the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body.

  

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Term SOFR Notice” means a notification by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders and the Borrower Representative of the occurrence of a Term SOFR Transition Event. Determination Day” has the meaning assigned to it under the definition of Term SOFR Reference Rate.

 

Term SOFR Transition Event” means the determination by the Administrative Agent that (a) Term SOFR has been recommended for use by the Relevant Governmental Body, (b) the administration of Term SOFR is administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent and (c) a Benchmark Transition Event or an Early Opt-in Election, as applicable, has previously occurred resulting in a Benchmark Replacement in accordance with Section 2.14 that is not Term SOFR.Rate” means, with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing and for any tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period, the Term SOFR Reference Rate at approximately 5:00 a.m., Chicago time, two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the commencement of such tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period, as such rate is published by the CME Term SOFR Administrator.

 

Third Amendment” means that certain Third Amendment and Joinder to the Credit Agreement, dated as of the Third Amendment Effective Date, by and between the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent, and the Lenders party thereto.

 

“Term SOFR Reference Rate” means, for any day and time (such day, the “Term SOFR Determination Day”), and for any tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period, the rate per annum published by the CME Term SOFR Administrator and identified by the Administrative Agent as the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR. If by 5:00 pm (New York City time) on such Term SOFR Determination Day, the “Term SOFR Reference Rate” for the applicable tenor has not been published by the CME Term SOFR Administrator and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Term SOFR Rate has not occurred, then, so long as such day is otherwise a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, the Term SOFR Reference Rate for such Term SOFR Determination Day will be the Term SOFR Reference Rate as published in respect of the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which such Term SOFR Reference Rate was published by the CME Term SOFR Administrator, so long as such first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day is not more than five (5) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such Term SOFR Determination Day.

 

Third Amendment Effective Date” means August 23, 2022.

 

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 LIBOTerm SOFR Rate, the Adjusted REVSOFR30 Rate, the CB Floating Rate, the REVLIBOR30 Rate,Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR, the CBFR, the Canadian Prime Rate, or the CDOR Rate.

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

 

UK Financial Institutions” means any BRRD Undertaking (as such term is defined under the PRA Rulebook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority) or any person falling within IFPRU 11.6 of the FCA Handbook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which includes certain credit institutions and investment firms, and certain affiliates of such credit institutions or investment firms.

 

UK Resolution Authority” means the Bank of England or any other public administrative authority having responsibility for the resolution of any UK Financial Institution.

 

Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement excluding the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.

 

Unfinanced Capital Expenditures” means, for any period, Capital Expenditures made during such period by a Loan Party which are not financed from the proceeds of any Indebtedness (other than the Revolving Loans; it being understood and agreed that, to the extent any Capital Expenditures are financed with Revolving Loans, such Capital Expenditures shall be deemed Unfinanced Capital Expenditures); provided that, in the case of any event described in clauses (a) or (b) of the definition of the term “Prepayment Event” that results in the Loan Parties making a prepayment pursuant to Section 2.11(c), if the Borrower Representative shall deliver to the Administrative Agent written notice within 60 days of such prepayment, to the effect that the Loan Parties intend to apply the Net Proceeds from such event (or a portion thereof specified in such notice), within 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, then such Net Proceeds shall not constitute Unfinanced Capital Expenditures notwithstanding the fact that a subsequent Borrowing may have occurred, so long as such acquisition, replacement or rebuild actually occurs within 180 days after receipt of such Net Proceeds.

 

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. Government Securities Business Day” means any day except for (i) a Saturday, (ii) a Sunday or (iii) a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in United States government securities.

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U.S. Loan Party” means any Loan Party organized under the laws of a jurisdiction located in the U.S.

 

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

 

U.S. Security Agreement” means that certain U.S. Pledge and Security Agreement (including any and all supplements thereto), dated as of the date hereof, among the Loan Parties party thereto and the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, as the same may be amended or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

U.S. Special Resolution Regime” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.21.

 

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.

 

Write-Down and Conversion Powers” means, (a) with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule, and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, any powers of the applicable Resolution Authority under the Bail-In Legislation to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of any UK Financial Institution or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers.

 

SECTION 1.02        Classification of Loans and Borrowings. For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a “Revolving Loan”) or by Type (e.g., a “EurodollarTerm Benchmark Loan”, an “RFR Loan” or “an Adjusted REVSOFR30 Rate Loan”) or by Class and Type (e.g., a “EurodollarTerm Benchmark Revolving Loan”, an “ RFR Revolving Loan” or “an Adjusted REVSOFR30 Rate Revolving Loan”). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a “Revolving Borrowing”) or by Type (e.g., a “EurodollarTerm Benchmark Borrowing”, an “RFR Borrowing” or “an Adjusted REVSOFR30 Rate Borrowing”) or by Class and Type (e.g., a “EurodollarTerm Benchmark Revolving Borrowing”, an “RFR Revolving Borrowing” or “an Adjusted REVSOFR30 Rate Revolving Borrowing”).

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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.

 

For purposes of any Collateral located in the Province of Quebec or charged by any deed of hypothec (or any other Loan Document) and for all other purposes pursuant to which the interpretation or construction of a Loan Document may be subject to the laws of the Province of Quebec or a court or tribunal exercising jurisdiction in the Province of Québec, (q) “personal property” shall be deemed to include “movable property”, (r) “real property” shall be deemed to include “immovable property”, (s) “tangible property” shall be deemed to include “corporeal property”, (t) “intangible property” shall be deemed to include “incorporeal property”, (u) “security interest” and “mortgage” shall be deemed to include a “hypothec”, (v) all references to filing, registering or recording under the UCC or the PPSA shall be deemed to include publication under the Civil Code of Québec, (w) all references to “perfection” of or “perfected” Liens shall be deemed to include a reference to the “opposability” of such Liens to third parties, (x) any “right of offset”, “right of setoff” or similar expression shall be deemed to include a “right of compensation”, (y) “goods” shall be deemed to include “corporeal movable property” other than chattel paper, documents of title, instruments, money and securities, and (z) an “agent” shall be deemed to include a “mandatary”.

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SECTION 1.04      Accounting Terms; GAAP. (a) 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 Representative notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrowers request 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 Representative 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 any Loan Party or any Subsidiary at “fair value”, as defined therein and (ii) without giving effect to any treatment of Indebtedness under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 470-20 or 2105-032015-03 (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.

 

(b)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 1.04(a) or in the definition of “Capital Lease Obligations,” any change in accounting for leases pursuant to GAAP resulting from the adoption of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“FAS 842”), to the extent such adoption would require treating any lease (or similar arrangement conveying the right to use) as a capital lease where such lease (or similar arrangement) would not have been required to be so treated under GAAP as in effect on December 31, 2015, such lease shall not be considered a capital lease, and all calculations and deliverables under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be made or delivered, as applicable, in accordance therewith.

 

SECTION 1.05         Currency Translations; Currency Matters.

 

(a)       For purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, where the permissibility of a transaction or determinations of required actions or circumstances depend upon compliance with, or are determined by reference to, amounts stated in Dollars, such amounts shall be deemed to refer to Dollars or Dollar Equivalents. In particular, without limitation, for purposes of computations hereunder, unless expressly provided otherwise, where a reference is made to a Dollar amount, the amount is to be considered as the amount in Dollars and, therefore, each other currency shall be converted into the Dollar Equivalent thereof in Dollars, as applicable.

 

(b)       For purposes of all calculations and determinations under this Agreement, any amount in any currency other than Dollars shall be deemed to refer to Dollars or Dollar Equivalents, and all certificates delivered under this Agreement, shall express such calculations or determinations in Dollars or Dollar Equivalents.

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(c)       The Administrative Agent shall determine the Dollar Equivalent of (x) the Revolving Exposure and the Aggregate Revolving Exposure on each Revaluation Date and (y) any other amount to be converted into Dollars in accordance with the provisions hereof at the time of such conversion.

 

(d)       Each payment owing by any Loan Party hereunder shall be made in the relevant currency specified herein or, if not specified herein, specified in any other Loan Document executed by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders (the “Currency of Payment”) at the place specified herein (such requirements are of the essence to this Agreement). If, for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court, it is necessary to convert a sum due hereunder in a Currency of Payment into another currency, the parties hereto agree that the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Administrative Agent could purchase such Currency of Payment with such other currency on the Business Day preceding that on which final judgment is given. The obligations in respect of any sum due hereunder to any Secured Party shall, notwithstanding any adjudication expressed in a currency other than the Currency of Payment, be discharged only to the extent that, on the Business Day following receipt by such Secured Party of any sum adjudged to be so due in such other currency, such Secured Party may, in accordance with normal banking procedures, purchase the Currency of Payment with such other currency. Each Loan Party agrees that (i) if the amount of the Currency of Payment so purchased is less than the sum originally due to such Secured Party in the Currency of Payment, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding the result of any such adjudication, such Loan Party shall immediately pay the shortfall (in the Currency of Payment) to such Secured Party and (ii) if the amount of the Currency of Payment so purchased exceeds the sum originally due to such Secured Party, such Secured Party shall promptly pay the excess over to such Loan Party in the currency and to the extent actually received.

 

SECTION 1.06         [Intentionally omitted.]

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SECTION 1.07         Interest Rates; LIBORBenchmark Notifications. The interest rate on a Loan denominated in Dollars or an Alternative Currencydollars may be derived from an interest rate benchmark that may be discontinued or is, or may in the future become, the subject of regulatory reform. Regulators have signaled the need to use alternative benchmark reference rates for some of these interest rate benchmarks and, as a result, such interest rate benchmarks may cease to comply with applicable laws and regulations, may be permanently discontinued, and/or the basis on which they are calculated may change. The London interbank offered rate is intended to represent the rate at which contributing banks may obtain short-term borrowings from each other in the London interbank market. In July 2017, the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority announced that, after the end of 2021, it would no longer persuade or compel contributing banks to make rate submissions to the ICE Benchmark Administration (together with any successor to the ICE Benchmark Administrator, the “IBA”) for purposes of the IBA setting the London interbank offered rate. As a result, it is possible that commencing in 2022, the London interbank offered rate may no longer be available or may no longer be deemed an appropriate reference rate upon which to determine the interest rate on Eurodollar Loans. In light of this eventuality, public and private sector industry initiatives are currently underway to identify new or alternative reference rates to be used in place of the London interbank offered rate. Upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, a Term SOFR Transition Event or an Early Opt-in Election, SectionsSection 2.14(b)(i) and (b)(ii) provide the provides a mechanism for determining an alternative rate of interest. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower Representative, pursuant to Section 2.14(b)(iv), of any change to the reference rate upon which the interest rate on Eurodollar Loans is based. However, the Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept any responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to, the administration, submission, performance or any other matter related to the London interbank offered rate or other rates in the definition of “LIBO Rate”any interest rate used in this Agreement, or with respect to any alternative or successor rate thereto, or replacement rate thereof (including, without limitation, (a) any such alternative, successor or replacement rate implemented pursuant to Section 2.14(b)(i) or (b)(ii), whether upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, a Term SOFR Transition Event or an Early Opt-in Election, and (b) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes pursuant to Section 2.14(b)(iii)),, including without limitation, whether the composition or characteristics of any such alternative, successor or replacement reference rate will be similar to, or produce the same value or economic equivalence of, the LIBO Rateexisting interest rate being replaced or have the same volume or liquidity as did the London interbank offeredany existing interest rate prior to its discontinuance or unavailability. The Administrative Agent and its affiliates and/or other related entities may engage in transactions that affect the calculation of any interest rate used in this Agreement or any alternative, successor or replacement rate (including any Benchmark Replacement) and/or any relevant adjustments thereto, in each case, in a manner adverse to the Borrowers. The Administrative Agent may select information sources or services in its reasonable discretion to ascertain any interest rate used in this Agreement, any component thereof, or rates referenced in the definition thereof, in each case pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall have no liability to the Borrowers, any Lender or any other person or entity for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, costs, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise and whether at law or in equity), for any error or calculation of any such rate (or component thereof) provided by any such information source or service.

 

SECTION 1.08         Letters of Credit. Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the amount of such Letter of Credit available to be drawn at such time; provided that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any Letter of Credit Agreement related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the available amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the maximum amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum amount is available to be drawn at such time. For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Article 29(a) of the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 600 (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the applicable time) or Rule 3.13 or Rule 3.14 of the International Standby Practices, International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 590 (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the applicable time) or similar terms of the Letter of Credit itself, or if compliant documents have been presented but not yet honored, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” and “undrawn” in the amount so remaining available to be paid, and the obligations of the Borrowers and each Lender shall remain in full force and effect until the Issuing Bank and the Lenders shall have no further obligations to make any payments or disbursements under any circumstances with respect to any Letter of Credit.

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SECTION 1.09            Divisions. For all purposes under the Loan Documents, in connection with any Division or plan of division under Delaware law (or any comparable event under a different jurisdiction’s laws): (a) if any asset, right, obligation or liability of any Person becomes the asset, right, obligation or liability of a different Person, then it shall be deemed to have been transferred from the original Person to the subsequent Person, and (b) if any new Person comes into existence, such new Person shall be deemed to have been organized and acquired on the first date of its existence by the holders of its Equity Interests at such time.

 

ARTICLE II

 

THE CREDITS

 

SECTION 2.01            Revolving Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally (and not jointly) agrees to make Revolving Loans to the Borrowers in Dollars or Canadian Dollars from time to time during the Availability Period in an aggregate principal amount that, in each case, will not result in (i) such Lender’s Revolving Exposure exceeding such Lender’s Revolving Commitment, and (ii) the Aggregate Revolving Exposure exceeding the lesser of (x) the Aggregate Revolving Commitment and (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. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrowers may borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans.

 

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 Revolving 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 Revolving 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, (i) each Revolving Borrowing denominated in Dollars and made to the Borrowers shall be comprised entirely of CBFR Loans or EurodollarTerm Benchmark Loans, and (ii) each Revolving Borrowing denominated in Canadian Dollars and made to the Borrowers shall be comprised entirely of CPR Loans or CDOR Loans, in each case, as the Borrower Representative or applicable Borrower may request in accordance herewith; provided that all Borrowings made on the Effective Date must be made as CBFR Borrowings but may be converted into Eurodollar Borrowings in accordance with Section 2.08 and no CDOR Loans shall be made on the Effective Date. Each Swingline Loan made to the Borrowers shall be a CBFR Loan (if denominated in Dollars) or a CPR Loan (if denominated in Canadian Dollars). Each Lender at its option may make any Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan (and in the case of an Affiliate, the provisions of Sections 2.14, 2.15, 2.16 and 2.17 shall apply to such Affiliate to the same extent as to such Lender); provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrowers 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 EurodollarTerm Benchmark Revolving Borrowing or CDOR Revolving Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $100,000 (or C$100,000, as applicable) and not less than $1,000,000 (or C$1,000,000 as applicable). CBFR Revolving Borrowings and CPR Revolving 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 combined total of five (5) EurodollarTerm Benchmark Borrowings and CDOR Borrowings outstanding.

 

(d)        Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no Borrower shall be entitled to request, or to elect to convert or continue, any Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto would end after the Maturity Date.

 

SECTION 2.03               Requests for Revolving Borrowings.

 

To request a Revolving Borrowing, the Borrower Representative or applicable Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request either in writing (delivered by hand or fax) by delivering a Borrowing Request signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower Representative or through Electronic System if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the Administrative Agent (or if an Extenuating Circumstance shall exist, by telephone) not later than (i) in the case of a EurodollarTerm Benchmark Borrowing, 12:00 p.m., Local Time, three (3) U.S. Government Securities  Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing, (ii) in the case of a CDOR Borrowing, 1:00 p.m., Local Time, two (2) Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing, (iii) in the case of a CBFR Borrowing, 12:00 p.m., Local Time, on the date of the proposed Borrowing, or (iv) in the case of a CPR Borrowing, 1:00 p.m., Local Time, one (1) Business Day before the date of the proposed Borrowing; provided that any such notice of a Borrowing to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.06(e) may be given not later than 9:00 a.m., Local Time, on the date of such proposed Borrowing. Each such Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and each such telephonic Borrowing Request, if permitted, shall be confirmed immediately upon the cessation of the Extenuating Circumstance by hand delivery, facsimile or a communication through Electronic System to the Administrative Agent of a written Borrowing Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower Representative or applicable Borrower. Each such written (or if permitted, telephonic) Borrowing Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:

 

(A)          the name of the applicable Borrower(s);

 

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

 

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

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(D)          whether such Revolving Borrowing is to be a CBFR Borrowing, CPR Borrowing, EurodollarTerm Benchmark Borrowing or CDOR Borrowing;

 

(E)           in the case of a EurodollarTerm Benchmark Borrowing or CDOR Borrowing, the initial Interest Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”; and

 

(F)           the currency of the Loan comprising such Revolving Borrowing.

 

If no election as to the Type of Revolving Borrowing is specified, then the requested Revolving Borrowing shall be (x) a CBFR Borrowing in the case of a Revolving Borrowing requested in Dollars, and (y) a CPR Borrowing in the case of a Revolving Borrowing requested in Canadian Dollars. If no Interest Period is specified with respect to any requested EurodollarTerm Benchmark Revolving Borrowing or CDOR Revolving Borrowing, then the applicable Borrower(s) 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 Revolving Borrowing. If no election as to the currency of the Loan comprising a Revolving Borrowing is specified, then the Loans so requested shall be made in Dollars, except that if the Type of Revolving Borrowing specified is a CPR Borrowing or CDOR Borrowing then the Loans so requested shall be made in Canadian Dollars.

 

SECTION 2.04                   Protective Advances.

 

(a)       Subject to the limitations set forth below, the Administrative Agent is authorized by the Borrowers 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 Borrowers in Dollars or Canadian Dollars, 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 Loan Parties 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 Dollar Equivalent of the aggregate amount of Protective Advances and Overadvances outstanding at any time shall not at any time exceed an amount equal to 10% of the Aggregate Revolving Commitment; 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 CBFR Borrowings if made in Dollars and CPR Borrowings if made in Canadian Dollars. The making of a Protective Advance on any one occasion shall not obligate the Administrative Agent to make any Protective Advance on any other occasion. The Administrative Agent’s authorization to make Protective Advances may be revoked at any time by the Required Lenders. 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 require the Lenders to make a Revolving Loan to repay a Protective Advance. At any other time the Administrative Agent may require the 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 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 Lender is required to fund, in the currency in which the applicable Protective Advance was denominated, its participation in any Protective Advance 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 Protective Advance.

 

SECTION 2.05               Swingline Loans and Overadvances.

 

(a)     The Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender and the Lenders agree that in order to facilitate the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, promptly after the Borrower Representative requests a 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 Borrowers, on the date of the applicable Borrowing to the Funding Account(s) (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 Loans funded by the Lenders, except that all payments thereon shall be payable to the Swingline Lender solely for its own account. Each Swingline Loan shall be a CBFR Loan if made in Dollars and a CPR Loan if made in Canadian Dollars. In addition, the Borrowers hereby authorize 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., Local Time, on each Business Day, make available to the Borrowers by means of a credit to the Funding Account(s), the proceeds of a Swingline Loan to the extent necessary to pay items to be drawn on any Controlled Disbursement Account that Business Day; provided that, if on any Business Day there is insufficient borrowing capacity to permit the Swingline Lender to make available to the Borrowers a Swingline Loan in the amount necessary to pay all items to be so drawn on any such Controlled Disbursement Account on such Business Day, then the Borrowers shall be deemed to have requested a CBFR or CPR Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.03 in the amount of such deficiency to be made on such Business Day. The Dollar Equivalent of the aggregate amount of Swingline Loans outstanding at any time shall not exceed an amount equal to 10% of the Aggregate Revolving Commitment. The Swingline Lender shall not make any Swingline Loan if the requested Swingline Loan exceeds Availability (before or after giving effect to such Swingline Loan).

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(b)      Any provision of this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, at the request of the Borrower Representative, the Administrative Agent may in its sole discretion (but with absolutely no obligation), on behalf of the Lenders, (x) make Revolving Loans to the Borrowers, in amounts that exceed Availability (any such excess Revolving Loans are herein referred to collectively as “Overadvances”) or (y) deem the amount of Revolving Loans outstanding to the Borrowers that are in excess of Availability to be Overadvances; provided that, no Overadvance shall result in a Default due to Borrowers’ 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 to the Borrowers shall constitute CBFR Borrowings. All Overadvances in Dollars shall constitute CBFR Borrowings. All Overadvances in Canadian Dollars shall constitute CPR Borrowings. The making of an Overadvance on any one occasion shall not obligate the Administrative Agent to make any Overadvance on any other occasion. The authority of the Administrative Agent to make Overadvances is limited to the Dollar Equivalent of an aggregate amount not to exceed an amount equal to 10% of the Aggregate Revolving Commitment less the amount of any outstanding Protective Advances, no Overadvance may remain outstanding for more than thirty (30) days and no Overadvance shall cause any Lender’s Revolving Exposure to exceed its Revolving Commitment; provided that, the Required 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 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 Lenders to fund their participations. From and after the date, if any, on which any 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 Swingline Loan or Overadvance.

 

(d)      The Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Swingline Lender, shall request settlement (a “Settlement”) with the Lenders of all Loans on at least a weekly basis or on any date that the Administrative Agent elects, by notifying the Lenders of such requested Settlement by facsimile, telephone, or e-mail no later than 11:00 a.m. Local Time on the date of such requested Settlement (a “Settlement Date”). Each Lender (other than the Swingline Lender, in the case of the Swingline Loans) shall transfer the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the outstanding principal amount of the applicable Loan (in the same currency as such Loan was made) with respect to which Settlement is requested to the Administrative Agent, to such account of the Administrative Agent as the Administrative Agent may designate, not later than 1:00 p.m., Local 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 Lender on such Settlement Date, the Swingline Lender shall be entitled to recover from such Lender on demand such amount, together with interest thereon, as specified in Section 2.07

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SECTION 2.06              Letters of Credit.

 

(a)       General. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower Representative may request Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit for its own account or for the account of another Loan Party (denominated in Dollars or Canadian Dollars) as the applicant thereof for the support of its or another Loan Party’s obligations, in a form reasonably acceptable to Issuing Bank, at any time and from time to time during the Availability Period, and, subject to the provisions of Section 2.06, the Issuing Bank shall issue such Letters of Credit in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

(b)       Notice of Issuance, Amendment, Extension; Certain Conditions. To request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or the amendment or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the Borrower Representative shall deliver by hand or facsimile (or transmit through Electronic System, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the Issuing Bank) to the Issuing Bank (reasonably in advance of, but in any event no less than three (3) Business DayDays prior to the requested date of issuance, amendment or extension) a notice requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit, or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended or extended, and specifying the name of the applicable Borrower, the date of issuance, amendment or extension (which shall be a Business Day), the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with paragraph (c) of this Section), the amount of such Letter of Credit, the currency applicable thereto, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof and such other information as shall be necessary to prepare, amend or extend such Letter of Credit. In addition, as a condition to any such Letter of Credit issuance, the applicable Borrower shall have entered into a continuing agreement (or other letter of credit agreement) for the issuance of letters of credit and/or shall submit a letter of credit application in each case, as required by the Issuing Bank and using the Issuing Bank'sBank’s standard form (each, a “Letter of Credit Agreement”). In the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any Letter of Credit Agreement, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control. A Letter of Credit shall be issued, amended or extended only if (and upon issuance, amendment or extension of each Letter of Credit the Borrowers shall be deemed to represent and warrant that), after giving effect to such issuance, amendment or extension (i) the aggregate LC Exposure shall not exceed $5,000,000, (ii) no Lender’s Revolving Exposure shall exceed its Revolving Commitment and (iii) the Aggregate Revolving Exposure shall not exceed the lesser of the Aggregate Revolving Commitment and the Borrowing Base. 

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Issuing Bank shall not be under any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if:

 

(i)             any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain Issuing Bank from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any Requirement of Law relating to Issuing Bank or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over Issuing Bank shall prohibit, or request that Issuing Bank refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon Issuing Bank with respect to such Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which Issuing Bank is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Effective Date, or shall impose upon Issuing Bank any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Effective Date and which Issuing Bank in good faith deems material to it, or

 

(ii)            the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of Issuing Bank applicable to letters of credit generally.

 

(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 extension of the expiration thereof, including, without limitation, any automatic renewal provision, one year after such 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 the Issuing Bank or the Lenders, the Issuing Bank hereby grants to each Lender, and each Lender hereby acquires from the 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 Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Issuing Bank, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of each LC Disbursement (in the same currency as such LC Disbursement) made by the Issuing Bank and not reimbursed by the Borrowers on the date due as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section, or of any reimbursement payment required to be refunded to the Borrowers for any reason, including after the Maturity Date. Each 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, or extension of any Letter of Credit or the occurrence and continuance of a Default or termination of the Revolving Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.

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(e)        Reimbursement. If the Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, the Borrowers shall reimburse such LC Disbursement by paying to the Administrative Agent an amount equal to such LC Disbursement in the same currency as such LC Disbursement (i) not later than 11:00 a.m., Local Time, on the date that such LC Disbursement is made, if the Borrower Representative shall have received notice of such LC Disbursement prior to 9:00 a.m., Local Time, on such date, or, (ii) if such notice has not been received by the Borrower Representative prior to such time on such date, then not later than 11:00 a.m., Local Time, on (A) the Business Day that the Borrower Representative receives such notice, if such notice is received prior to 9:00 a.m., Local Time, on the day of receipt, or (B) the Business Day immediately following the day that the Borrower Representative receives such notice, if such notice is not received prior to such time on the day of receipt; provided that the Borrowers may, 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 a: (x) Swingline Loan, (y) to the extent such LC Disbursement was made in Dollars, a CBFR Borrowing, or (z) to the extent such LC Disbursement was made in Canadian Dollars, a CPR Borrowing, in each case, in an equivalent amount and, to the extent so financed, the Borrowers’ obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting Revolving Borrowing or Swingline Loan. If the Borrowers fail to make such payment when due, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the applicable LC Disbursement, the payment then due from the Borrowers in respect thereof and such Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof. Promptly following receipt of such notice, each Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent its Applicable Percentage of the payment then due from the Borrowers, 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 the Issuing Bank the amounts so received by it from the Lenders. Promptly following receipt by the Administrative Agent of any payment from the Borrowers pursuant to this paragraph, the Administrative Agent shall distribute such payment to the Issuing Bank or, to the extent that Lenders have made payments pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse the Issuing Bank, then to such Lenders and the Issuing Bank as their interests may appear. Any payment made by a Lender pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse the Issuing Bank for any LC Disbursement (other than the funding of Revolving Loans or a Swingline Loan as contemplated above) shall not constitute a Loan and shall not relieve the Borrowers of their obligation to reimburse such LC Disbursement.

 

(f)         Obligations Absolute. The Borrowers’ joint and several obligation to reimburse LC Disbursements as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under any and all circumstances whatsoever and irrespective of (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit, any Letter of Credit Agreement or this Agreement, or any term or provision therein 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) any payment by the 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 Borrowers’ obligations hereunder. None of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Issuing Bank or 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, any error in translation or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of the Issuing Bank; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse the Issuing Bank from liability to the Borrowers 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 Borrowers to the extent permitted by applicable law) suffered by any Borrower that are caused by the 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 the Issuing Bank (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), the Issuing Bank shall be deemed to have exercised care in each such determination. In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the parties agree that, with respect to documents presented which appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, the 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. The Issuing Bank shall, within the time allowed by applicable law or the specific terms of the Letter of Credit following its receipt thereof, examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit. The Issuing Bank shall promptly after such examination notify the Administrative Agent and the applicable Borrower by telephone (confirmed by facsimile or through Electronic Systems) of such demand for payment and whether the 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 Borrowers of their obligation to reimburse the Issuing Bank and the Lenders with respect to any such LC Disbursement.

 

(h)       Interim Interest. If the Issuing Bank for any Letter of Credit shall make any LC Disbursement, then, unless the Borrowers 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 Borrowers reimburse such LC Disbursement, at the rate per annum then applicable to: (i) if such LC Disbursement is denominated in Dollars, CBFR Revolving Loans, and (ii) if such LC Disbursement is denominated in Canadian Dollars, CPR Revolving Loans; and, in each case, such interest shall be due and payable on the date when such reimbursement is payable; provided that, if the Borrowers fail 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 the Issuing Bank, except that interest accrued on and after the date of payment by any Lender pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section to reimburse the Issuing Bank shall be for the account of such Lender to the extent of such payment.

 

(i)        Replacement of the Issuing Bank. The Issuing Bank may be replaced at any time by written agreement among the Borrower Representative, the Administrative Agent, the replaced Issuing Bank and the successor Issuing Bank. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of any such replacement of the Issuing Bank. At the time any such replacement shall become effective, the Borrowers 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 the 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 or extend or otherwise amend any existing Letter of Credit.

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(j)         Cash Collateralization. If any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, on the Business Day that the Borrower Representative receives notice from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders (or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated, Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 50% of the aggregate LC Exposure) demanding the deposit of cash collateral pursuant to this paragraph, the Borrowers shall deposit in one or more accounts with the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the Lenders (collectively, the “LC Collateral Account”), an amount in cash equal to 105% of the Dollar Equivalent of the amount (or of the actual amount in such currency, as elected by the Administrative Agent) 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 any Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of Article VII. Such Borrower also shall deposit cash collateral in accordance with this paragraph as and to the extent required by Sections 2.10(b), 2.11(b) or 2.20. Each such deposit shall be held by the Administrative Agent as collateral for the payment and performance of the Secured Obligations. In addition, and without limiting the foregoing or paragraph (c) of this Section, if any LC Exposure remains outstanding after the expiration date specified in said paragraph (c), the Borrowers shall immediately deposit in the LC Collateral Account an amount in cash equal to 105% of the Dollar Equivalent of the amount (or of the actual amount in such currency, as elected by the Administrative Agent) of the LC Exposure as of such date plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon. The Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over the LC Collateral Account and the Borrowers hereby grant the Administrative Agent a security interest in the LC Collateral Account and all money or other assets on deposit therein or credited thereto. Other than any interest earned on the investment of such deposits, which investments shall be made at the option and sole discretion of the Administrative Agent and at the risk and expense of the Borrowers, such deposits shall not bear interest. Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in the LC Collateral Account. Moneys in the LC Collateral Account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse the Issuing Bank for LC Disbursements for which it has not been reimbursed, together with related fees, costs, and customary processing charges, and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Borrowers for the LC Exposure at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated, be applied to satisfy other Secured Obligations. If the Borrowers are 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 Borrowers within three (3) Business Days after all such Events of Default have been cured or waived as confirmed in writing by the Administrative Agent.

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(k)[reserved].

 

(l)           Letters of Credit Issued for Account of Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding that a Letter of Credit issued or outstanding hereunder supports any obligations of, or is for the account of, a Subsidiary, or states that a Subsidiary is the “account party,” “applicant,” “customer,” “instructing party,” or the like of or for such Letter of Credit, and without derogating from any rights of the Issuing Bank (whether arising by contract, at law, in equity or otherwise) against such Subsidiary in respect of such Letter of Credit, the Borrowers (i) shall reimburse, indemnify and compensate the Issuing Bank hereunder for such Letter of Credit (including to reimburse any and all drawings thereunder) as if such Letter of Credit had been issued solely for the account of a Borrower and (ii) irrevocably waives any and all defenses that might otherwise be available to it as a guarantor or surety of any or all of the obligations of such Subsidiary in respect of such Letter of Credit. Each Borrower hereby acknowledges that the issuance of such Letters of Credit for its Subsidiaries inures to the benefit of the Borrowers, and that each Borrower’s business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of such Subsidiaries.

 

SECTION 2.07               Funding of Borrowings.

 

(a)         Each Lender shall make each Loan to be made by such Lender hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds by (i) 1:00 p.m., Local Time, in the case of EurodollarTerm Benchmark Loans, RFR Loans and CDOR Loans, and (ii) 3:00 p.m., Local Time, in the case of CBFR Loans and CPR Loans, 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 Representative by promptly crediting the amounts so received, in like funds, to the Funding Account designated by the Borrower Representative; provided that RevolvingCBFR Loans and CPR 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 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 applicable Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrowers 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 applicable Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of such Lender, the greater of the NYFRB Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation (including the Canadian Prime Rate in the case of Loans made in Canadian Dollars), or (ii) in the case of the Borrowers: (x) if such amount is a Borrowing made in Dollars, the interest rate applicable to CBFR Loans, and (y) if such amount is a Borrowing made in Canadian Dollars, the interest rate applicable to CPR Loans. If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing, provided, that any interest received from a Borrower by the Administrative Agent during the period beginning when Administrative Agent funded the Borrowing until such Lender pays such amount shall be solely for the account of the Administrative Agent. 

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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 EurodollarTerm Benchmark Borrowing or CDOR Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request (or, if not specified therein, an Interest Period of one month’s duration). Thereafter, the Borrower Representative or applicable Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a EurodollarTerm Benchmark Borrowing or CDOR Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section. The Borrower Representative or applicable 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. Notwithstanding any contrary provision herein, this Section shall not be construed to permit any Borrower, or Borrower Representative on its behalf, to (i) change the currency of any Borrowing, (ii) elect an Interest Period that does not comply with Section 2.02, or (iii) convert any Borrowing to a Borrowing of a Type not available under such Borrowing or to such Borrower as otherwise set forth herein.

 

(b)          To make an election either in writing (delivered by hand or fax) by delivering an Interest Election Request signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower Representative or through Electronic System if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the Administrative Agent (or if an Extenuating Circumstance shall exist, by telephone) by the time that a Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.03 if the Borrowers were requesting a Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election to be made on the effective date of such election. Each such Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable and each such telephonic Interest Election Request, if permitted, shall be confirmed immediately upon the cessation of the Extenuating Circumstance by hand delivery, Electronic System or facsimile to the Administrative Agent of a written Interest Election Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower Representative.

 

(c)          Each written (or if permitted, telephonic) Interest Election Request (including requests submitted through Electronic System) shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:

 

(i)            the name of the applicable Borrower and 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);

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(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, if in Dollars, is to be a CBFR Borrowing or Eurodollara Term Benchmark Borrowing or, if in Canadian Dollars, is to be a CPR Borrowing or CDOR Borrowing;

 

(iv)          the Funding Account into which the proceeds of the resulting Borrowing are to be deposited; and

 

(v)           if the resulting Borrowing is a EurodollarTerm Benchmark Borrowing or CDOR 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 EurodollarTerm Benchmark Borrowing or CDOR Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, then the Borrowers 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 Representative or applicable Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to a EurodollarTerm Benchmark Borrowing or CDOR 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 (x) converted to a CBFR Borrowing in the case of a EurodollarTerm Benchmark Borrowing in Dollars, and (y) converted to a CPR Borrowing in the case of a CDOR Borrowing in Canadian Dollars. 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 Representative, then, so long as an Event of Default is continuing (i) subject to clause (B) below, no outstanding Borrowing may be converted to or continued as a EurodollarTerm Benchmark Borrowing or CDOR Borrowing and (ii) unless repaid, (A) each EurodollarTerm Benchmark Borrowing in Dollars shall be converted to a CBFR Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period or Interest Payment Date applicable thereto, and (B) each CDOR Borrowing in Canadian Dollars shall be converted to a CPR Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.

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SECTION 2.09               Termination of Revolving Commitments; Increase in Revolving Commitments.

 

(a)Unless previously terminated, the Revolving Commitments shall terminate on the Maturity Date.

 

(b)          The Borrowers may at any time terminate the Revolving Commitments upon the Payment in Full of the Secured Obligations.

 

(c)[Reserved].

 

(d)          The Borrower Representative shall notify the Administrative Agent of any election to terminate the Revolving Commitments under paragraph (b) of this Section at least three (3) Business Days prior to the effective date of such termination, 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 Representative pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable; provided that a notice of termination of the Revolving Commitments delivered by the Borrower Representative 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 Representative (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Any termination of the Revolving Commitments shall be permanent.

 

(e)         The Borrowers shall have the right to increase the Revolving Commitments 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 Borrower Representative, on behalf of the Borrowers, may make a maximum of three (3) such requests, (iii) after giving effect thereto, the sum of the total of the additional Revolving Commitments does not exceed $50,000,000, (iv) the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank have approved the identity of any such new Lender, such approvals 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 Borrowers and each Lender being added or increasing its Revolving Commitment. As a condition precedent to such an increase or addition, the Borrowers 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 Borrowers, certifying that, before and after giving effect to such increase or addition, (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, (2) no Default exists and (3) if such increase or addition occurs during a Covenant Testing Trigger Period or on or prior to the FY2020 Date, the Borrowers are in compliance (on a pro forma basis) with the covenant contained in Section 6.13 and (ii) legal opinions and documents consistent with those delivered on the Effective Date, to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent.

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(g)         On the effective date of any such increase or addition, (i) any Lender increasing (or, in the case of any newly added Lender, extending) its Revolving Commitment shall make available to the Administrative Agent such amounts in immediately available funds as the Administrative Agent shall determine, for the benefit of the other Lenders, as being required in order to cause, after giving effect to such increase or addition and the use of such amounts to make payments to such other Lenders, each Lender’s portion of the outstanding Revolving Loans of all the Lenders to equal its revised Applicable Percentage of such outstanding Revolving Loans, and the Administrative Agent shall make such other adjustments among the Lenders with respect to the Revolving Loans then outstanding and amounts of principal, interest, commitment fees and other amounts paid or payable with respect thereto as shall be necessary, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent, in order to effect such reallocation and (ii) the Borrowers shall be deemed to have repaid and reborrowed such outstanding Revolving Loans as of the date of any increase (or addition) in the Revolving Commitments to the extent necessary to keep the then outstanding Revolving Loans ratable after giving effect to any change in each Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Revolving Commitments (with such reborrowing to consist of the Types of Revolving Loans, with related Interest Periods if applicable, specified in a notice delivered by the Borrower Representative, in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.03). The deemed payments made pursuant to clause (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence shall be accompanied by payment of all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, and in respect of each EurodollarTerm Benchmark Loan and CDOR Loan, shall be subject to indemnification by the Borrowers pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.16 if the deemed payment occurs other than on the last day of the related Interest Periods. Within a reasonable time after the effective date of any increase or addition, the Administrative Agent shall, and is hereby authorized and directed to, revise the Commitment Schedule to reflect such increase or addition and shall distribute such revised Commitment Schedule to each of the Lenders and the Borrower Representative, whereupon such revised Commitment Schedule shall replace the old Commitment Schedule and become part of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 2.10              Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt.

 

(a)       The Borrowers hereby unconditionally promise to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Loan, in the currency of such Loan, on the Maturity Date, (ii) to the Administrative Agent the then unpaid amount of each Protective Advance, in the currency of such Loan, on the earlier of the Maturity Date and demand by the Administrative Agent, (iii) to the Swingline Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Swingline Loan, in the currency of such Loan, on the earlier of the Maturity Date and the fifth Business Day after such Swingline Loan is made; provided that on each date that a Revolving Loan is made, the Borrowers shall repay all Swingline Loans then outstanding and the proceeds of any such Revolving Loan shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to repay any Swingline Loans outstanding, and (iv) to the Administrative Agent the then unpaid principal amount of each Overadvance, in the currency of such Loan, on the earlier of the Maturity Date and demand by the Administrative Agent.

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(b)       At all times during a Dominion Period, on each Business Day, the Administrative Agent shall apply all funds credited to a Collection Account on such Business Day or the immediately preceding Business Day (at the Permitted Discretion of the Administrative Agent, whether or not immediately available) first to prepay any Protective Advances and Overadvances that may be outstanding, pro rata, denominated in like currency to the currency of the monies in such Collection Account, and second to prepay the Revolving Loans (including Swingline Loans) and to cash collateralize outstanding LC Exposure denominated in like currency to the currency of the monies in such Collection Account. In the event and to the extent that any Protective Advances, Overadvances and Revolving Loans (including Swingline Loans) remain unapplied following such application as a result of a mismatch between the currencies of the amounts in the Collection Accounts and the currencies in which the outstanding Protective Advances, Overadvances, Revolving Loans and/or Swingline Loans are denominated, the Borrowers shall be deemed to have requested the Administrative Agent to convert any such excess funds to the currency or currencies of the outstanding Protective Advances, Overadvances, Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans and apply such converted amounts to such outstanding Protective Advances, Overadvances, Revolving Loans and/or Swingline Loans. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent any funds credited to a Collection Account constitute Net Proceeds, the application of such Net Proceeds shall be subject to Section 2.11(c).

 

(c)       Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the Indebtedness of the Borrowers 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, the currency 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 Borrowers 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 Borrowers to repay the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

(f)        Any Lender may request that Loans made by it be evidenced by a promissory note. In such event, the Borrowers 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. 

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SECTION 2.11               Prepayment of Loans.

 

(a)       The Borrowers 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 Aggregate Revolving Exposure exceeds (including on any Revaluation Date) the lesser of (A) the Aggregate Revolving Commitment and (B) the Borrowing Base, the Borrowers shall prepay the Revolving Loans, LC Exposure and/or Swingline Loans or cash collateralize LC Exposure in an account with the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.06(j), as applicable, in an aggregate amount equal to such excess.

 

(c)       In the event and on each occasion that any Net Proceeds are received by or on behalf of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary in respect of any Prepayment Event, the Borrowers shall, immediately after such Net Proceeds are received by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary, prepay the Obligations and cash collateralize the LC Exposure as set forth in Section 2.11(e) below in an aggregate amount equal to 100% of such Net Proceeds.

 

(d)       [Reserved].

 

(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, and second 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 Representative shall notify the Administrative Agent (and, in the case of prepayment of a Swingline Loan, the Swingline Lender) by telephone (confirmed by fax) or through Electronic System, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the Administrative Agent, of any prepayment hereunder not later than (i) 12:00 p.m., Local Time, (A)  in the case of prepayment of a EurodollarTerm Benchmark Revolving Borrowing or CDOR Borrowing, three (3) Business Days before the date of prepayment, or (B) in the case of prepayment of a CBFR Revolving Borrowing, CPR Revolving Borrowing, or Swingline Loan, no later than 12:00 p.m. Local Time on the date of prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid; provided that, if a notice of prepayment is given in connection with a conditional notice of termination 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 Revolving Borrowing shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of an advance of a Revolving 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. 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. 

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SECTION 2.12               Fees.

 

(a)       The Borrowers jointly and severally, agree to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a commitment fee, which shall accrue at a per annum rate equal to 0.25% on the average daily amount of the Available Revolving Commitment of such Lender during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate. Accrued commitment fees shall be payable in arrears on the first day of each calendar month and on the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate, commencing on the first such date to occur after the date hereof. All commitment 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).

 

(b)       The Borrowers, jointly and severally, agree to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a participation fee with respect to its participations in Letters of Credit, which shall accrue on the daily maximum amount then available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit at the same Applicable Rate used to determine the interest rate applicable to Eurodollar RevolvingTerm Benchmark Loans during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date on which such Lender’s Revolving Commitment terminates and the date on which such Lender ceases to have any LC Exposure, and (ii) to the Issuing Bank a fronting fee, which shall accrue at the rate or rates per annum separately agreed upon between the Borrowers and the Issuing Bank on the daily maximum amount then available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit 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 the Issuing Bank’s standard fees and commissions with respect to the issuance, amendment, cancellation, negotiation, transfer, presentment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit, processing of drawings thereunder and other processing fees and other standard costs and charges, of Issuing Bank relating to Letters of Credit as from time to time in effect. Participation fees and fronting fees accrued through and including the last day of each calendar month shall be payable on the first day of each calendar month 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 the 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 Borrowers agree to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own account, fees payable in the amounts and at the times separately agreed upon between the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent. 

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(d)         All fees payable hereunder shall be paid in Dollars (unless otherwise expressly provided in this Section 2.12) on the dates due, in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent (or to the Issuing Bank, in the case of fees payable to it) for distribution, in the case of commitment 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 CBFR Borrowing (including each Swingline Loan made in Dollars) shall bear interest at the REVLIBOR30Adjusted REVSOFR30 Rate plus the Applicable Rate.

 

(b)         The Loans comprising each CPR Borrowing (including each Swingline Loan made in Canadian Dollars) shall bear interest at the Canadian Prime Rate plus the Applicable Rate.

 

(c)         [Reserved].

 

(d)         The Loans comprising each EurodollarTerm Benchmark Borrowing shall bear interest at the Adjusted LIBOTerm SOFR Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Rate. Each RFR Loan shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR plus the Applicable Rate.

 

(e)         The Loans comprising each CDOR Borrowing shall bear interest at the CDOR Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Rate.

 

(f)          [Reserved].

 

(g)         Each Protective Advance and Overadvance in Dollars shall bear interest at the REVLIBOR30Adjusted REVSOFR30 Rate plus the Applicable Rate plus 2%. Each Protective Advance and Overadvance in Canadian Dollars shall bear interest at the Canadian Prime Rate plus the Applicable Rate plus 2%.

 

(h)         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 Representative (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 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, in each case, commencing as of the date such Event of Default first occurred.

 

(i)          Accrued interest on each Loan (for CBFR Loans and CPR 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 upon termination of the Revolving Commitments; provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to paragraph (h) 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 a CBFR Revolving Loan or CPR Revolving Loan prior to the end of the Availability Period), accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment and (iii) in the event of any conversion of any EurodollarTerm Benchmark Loan or CDOR 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.

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(j)          All interest hereunderInterest computed by reference to the Term SOFR Rate, REVSOFR30 Rate or Daily Simple SOFR shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, except that interest. Interest computed by reference to the CB Floating Rate, Canadian Prime Rate and CDOR Rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), and in. In each case interest shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). The All interest hereunder on any Loan shall be computed on a daily basis based upon the outstanding principal amount of such Loan as of the applicable date of determination. A determination of the applicable CB Floating Rate, Canadian Prime Rate, REVLIBOR30Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR, Daily Simple SOFR, Adjusted REVSOFR30 Rate, REVSOFR30 Rate, Adjusted LIBOTerm SOFR Rate, LIBOTerm SOFR Rate or CDOR Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

(k)         All interest hereunder shall be paid in the currency in which the Loan giving rise to such interest is denominated.

 

(l)          For purposes of disclosure pursuant to the Interest Act (Canada), the annual rates of interest or fees to which the rates of interest or fees provided in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (and stated herein or therein, as applicable, to be computed on the basis of 360 days or any other period of time less than a calendar year) are equivalent are the rates so determined multiplied by the actual number of days in the applicable calendar year and divided by 360 or such other period of time, respectively.

 

SECTION 2.14              Alternate Rate of Interest; Illegality.

 

(a)         CDOR Borrowing. If prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a CDOR Borrowing:

 

(i)          the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the CDOR Rate for such Interest Period; or

 

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

 

then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower Representative and the Lenders through Electronic System as provided in Section 9.01 as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower Representative and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (A) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a CDOR Borrowing shall be ineffective and any such CDOR Borrowing shall be repaid or converted to a CPR Borrowing on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable thereto, and (B) if any Borrowing Request requests a CDOR Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be made as a CPR Borrowing; provided that if such circumstances only affect one Class or Type of Borrowing or currency, then the foregoing will only be applicable to the affected Class or Type of Borrowing or currency. 

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(b)         EurodollarTerm Benchmark Borrowing. Subject to clauses (i) through (vi)  of this Section 2.14(b), if prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing:

 

(wx)      the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) (A) prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Term Benchmark Borrowing, that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate (including, without limitation, by means of an Interpolated Rate or because the LIBO ScreenTerm SOFR Reference Rate is not available or published on a current basis) the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable, for such Interest Period; provided that no Benchmark Transition Event shall have occurred at such time; or or (B) at any time, that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted REVSOFR30 Rate (including because the Term SOFR Reference Rate is not available or published on a current basis); or

 

(xy)     the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders that (A) prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Term Benchmark Borrowing, the Adjusted LIBOTerm SOFR Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable, for the applicablefor 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 or (B) at any time, the Adjusted REVSOFR30 Rate 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;

 

then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower Representative and the Lenders through Electronic System as provided in Section 9.01 as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until (x) the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower Representative and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist with respect to the relevant Benchmark and (y) the Borrowers deliver a new Interest Election Request in accordance with the terms of Section 2.08 or a new Borrowing Request in accordance with the terms of Section 2.03, (A1) 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 or converted to a CBFR Borrowing Term Benchmark Borrowing and any Borrowing Request that requests a Term Benchmark Borrowing shall instead be deemed to be an Interest Election Request or a Borrowing Request, as applicable, for (x) an RFR Borrowing so long as the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is not also the subject of Section 2.14(b)(x) or (y) above or (y) a CBFR Borrowing if the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR also is the subject of Section 2.14(b)(x) or (y) above and (2) any Borrowing Request that requests an Adjusted REVSOFR30 Rate Borrowing or an RFR Borrowing shall instead be deemed to be a Borrowing Request, as applicable, for a CBFR Borrowing; provided that if the circumstances giving rise to such notice affect only one Type of Borrowings, then all other Types of Borrowings shall be permitted. Furthermore, if any Term Benchmark Loan, Adjusted REVSOFR30 Rate Loan or RFR Loan is outstanding on the date of the Borrower Representative’s receipt of the notice from the Administrative Agent referred to in this Section 2.14(b) with respect to a Relevant Rate applicable to such Term Benchmark Loan, Adjusted REVSOFR30 Rate Loan or RFR Loan, then until (x) the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower Representative and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist with respect to the relevant Benchmark and (y) the Borrowers deliver a new Interest Election Request in accordance with the terms of Section 2.08 or a new Borrowing Request in accordance with the terms of Section 2.03, (1) any Term Benchmark Loan shall on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable thereto, and (B) if any Borrowing Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be made as a CBFR Borrowing; provided that if such circumstances only affect one Class or Type of Borrowing or currency, then the foregoing will only be applicable to the affected Class or Type of Borrowing or currency.to such Loan, be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and shall constitute, (x) an RFR Borrowing so long as the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is not also the subject of Section 2.14(b)(x) or (y) above, on such day, or (y) a CBFR Loan if the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR also is the subject of Section 2.14(b)(x) or (y) above, on such day, and (2) any Adjusted REVSOFR30 Rate Loan or any RFR Loan shall on and from such day be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and shall constitute a CBFR Loan.

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(i)                 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, if a Benchmark Transition Event or an Early Opt-in Election, as applicable, and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to the Reference Time in respect of any setting of the then-current Benchmark, then (x) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (1) or (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of such Benchmark setting and subsequent Benchmark settings without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document and (y) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (32) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of any Benchmark setting at or after 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date notice of such Benchmark Replacement is provided to the Lenders without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by such time, written notice of objection to such Benchmark Replacement from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders.

 

(ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document and subject to the proviso below in this paragraph, if a Term SOFR Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to the Reference Time in respect of any setting of the then-current Benchmark, then the applicable Benchmark Replacement will replace the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder or under any Loan Document in respect of such Benchmark setting and subsequent Benchmark settings, without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document; provided that, this clause (ii) shall not be effective unless the Administrative Agent has delivered to the Lenders and the Borrower Representative a Term SOFR Notice. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent shall not be required to deliver a Term SOFR Notice after a Term SOFR Transition Event and may do so in its sole discretion.

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(ii)         (iii) In connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement, Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

(iii)        (iv) The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower Representative and the Lenders of (Ai) any occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, a Term SOFR Transition Event or an Early Opt-in Election, as applicable, and its related Benchmark Replacement Date, (B(ii) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement, (C)iii) the effectiveness of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes, (D)iv) the removal or reinstatement of any tenor of a Benchmark pursuant to clause (vvi) below and (E)v) the commencement or conclusion of any Benchmark Unavailability Period. Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Administrative Agent or, if applicable, any Lender (or group of Lenders) pursuant to this Section 2.14, including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrencenon-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or any selection, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error and may be made in its or their sole discretion and without consent from any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section 2.14.

 

(iv)         (v) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, at any time (including in connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement), (Ai) if the then-current Benchmark is a term rate (including the Term SOFR or LIBORate or REVSOFR30 Rate) and either (1A) any tenor for such Benchmark is not displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretionreasonable discretion or (2B) the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark has provided a public statement or publication of information announcing that any tenor for such Benchmark is or will be no longer representative, then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” for any Benchmark settings at or after such time to remove such unavailable or non-representativenon-representative tenor and (Bii) if a tenor that was removed pursuant to clause (Ai) above either (1A) is subsequently displayed on a screen or information service for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement) or (2B) is not, or is no longer, subject to an announcement that it is or will no longer be representative for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement), then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” for all Benchmark settings at or after such time to reinstate such previously removed tenor.

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(v)         (vi) Upon the Borrower Representative’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, the Borrowers may revoke any request for a EurodollarTerm Benchmark Borrowing, Adjusted REVSOFR30 Rate Borrowing or RFR Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of EurodollarTerm Benchmark Loans to be made, converted or continued during any Benchmark Unavailability Period and, failing that, the Borrowers will be deemed to have converted (1) any such request for a Term Benchmark Borrowing into a request for a Borrowing of or conversion to CBFR Loans. During any Benchmark Unavailability Period or at any time that a tenor for the then-current Benchmark is not an Available Tenor, the component of CBFR based upon the then-current Benchmark or such tenor for such Benchmark, as applicable, will not be used in any determination of CBFR.(A) an RFR Borrowing so long as the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is not the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event or (B) a CBFR Borrowing if the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event and (2) any such request for an Adjusted REVSOFR30 Rate Borrowing or RFR Borrowing into a request for a CBFR Borrowing. Furthermore, if any Term Benchmark Loan, Adjusted REVSOFR30 Rate Loan or RFR Loan is outstanding on the date of the Borrower Representative’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period with respect to a Relevant Rate applicable to such Term Benchmark Loan, Adjusted REVSOFR30 Rate Loan or RFR Loan, then until such time as a Benchmark Replacement is implemented pursuant to this Section 2.14, (1) any Term Benchmark Loan shall on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan, be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and shall constitute, (x) an RFR Loan so long as the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is not the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event, on such day or (y) a CBFR Loan if the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event, on such day and (2) any Adjusted REVSOFR30 Rate Loan or RFR Loan shall on and from such day be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and shall constitute a CBFR Loan.

 

(c)  Illegality. If any Lender determines that any Requirement of Law has made it unlawful, or if any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable lending office to make, maintain, fund or continue any Eurodollar Borrowing or CDOR Borrowing, or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, Dollars in the London interbank market, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower Representative through the Administrative Agent, any obligations of such Lender to make, maintain, fund or continue Eurodollar Loans or CDOR Loans or to convert CBFR Borrowings to Eurodollar Borrowings or CPR Borrowings to CDOR Borrowings, as applicable, will be suspended until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower Representative that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrowers will upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), either convert or prepay all (i) Eurodollar Borrowings of such Lender in Dollars to the Borrowers to CBFR Borrowings, and (ii) CDOR Borrowings of such Lender to CPR Borrowings, either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Borrowings or CDOR Borrowing, as applicable, to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Loans. Upon any such conversion or prepayment, the Borrowers will also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted or prepaid.

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SECTION 2.15       Increased Costs.

 

(a)         If any Change in Law shall:

 

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

 

(ii)        impose on any Lender or the Issuing Bank or the Londonapplicable offshore 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 (e) 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 Borrowers 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 Revolving 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 Borrowers 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.

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(c)         A certificate of a Lender or the Issuing Bank setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or the 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 Representative and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrowers shall pay such Lender or the 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 the Issuing Bank to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrowers shall not be required to compensate a Lender or the Issuing Bank pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or reductions incurred more than 180 days prior to the date that such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower Representative of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or the 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 180-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.

 

SECTION 2.16              Break Funding Payments.

 

(a)          With respect to Loans that are not RFR Loans, in the event of (i) the payment of any principal of any Term Benchmark Loan or CDOR Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default or as a result of any prepayment pursuant to Section 2.11), (ii) the conversion of any Term Benchmark Loan or CDOR Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (iii) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Term Benchmark Loan or CDOR 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 (iv) the assignment of any Term Benchmark Loan or CDOR Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower Representative pursuant to Section 2.19 or 9.02(d), then, in any such event, the Borrowers shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower Representative and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrowers shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.

 

(b)         With respect to RFR Loans, in the event of (i) the payment of any principal of any RFR Loan other than on the Interest Payment Date applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default or as a result of any prepayment pursuant to Section 2.11), (ii) the failure to borrow or prepay any RFR Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice may be revoked under Section 2.09(d) and is revoked in accordance therewith) or (iii) the assignment of any RFR Loan other than on the Interest Payment Date applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.19 or 9.02(d), then, in any such event, the Borrowers shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower Representative and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrowers shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.

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SECTION 2.17           In the event of (a) the payment of any principal of any EurodollarTerm Benchmark Loan or CDOR 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 EurodollarTerm Benchmark Loan or CDOR Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (c) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any EurodollarTerm Benchmark Loan or CDOR 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 EurodollarTerm Benchmark Loan or CDOR Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower Representative pursuant to Section 2.19 or 9.02(d), then, in any such event, the Borrowers shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event. In the case of a Eurodollar Loan or CDOR 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 or CDOR Rate, as applicable, 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 or Canadian Dollar deposits, as applicable, of a comparable amount and period from other banks in the relevant 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 Representative and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrowers shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.

 

SECTION 2.18            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.

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(b)         Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrowers. 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 or (as applicable) any Secured Party 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.

 

(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 Representative and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower Representative or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower Representative 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 Representative or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower Representative or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrowers 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.

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

 

(A)        any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower Representative 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 Representative or the Administrative Agent), an executed copy 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 Representative 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 Representative or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:

 

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

 

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

 

(3)         in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) 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 a 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 and (y) an executed copy of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable; or

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(4)          to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, an executed copy of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate, 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 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 Representative 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 Representative or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. Federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit the Borrowers 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 Representative and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower Representative 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 Representative or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrowers 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.

 

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 Representative and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.

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(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 Revolving Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document (including the Payment in Full of the Secured Obligations).

 

(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 2.19            SECTION 2.18 Payments Generally; Allocation of Proceeds; Sharing of Set-offs.

 

(a)         Each Borrower shall make each payment or prepayment required to be made by them 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 2:00 p.m., Local Time, on the date when due or the date fixed for any prepayment hereunder, in immediately available funds, without set off, recoupment or counterclaim. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the Permitted 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, L2, Chicago, Illinois, except payments to be made directly to the 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. Unless otherwise provided for herein, 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, unless otherwise expressly required by the terms hereunder, be made in Dollars, except that all payments in respect of Loans (and interest thereon) shall be made in the same currency in which such Loan was made.

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(b)         All payments and 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 Borrowers), (B) a mandatory prepayment (which shall be applied in accordance with Section 2.11) or (C) amounts to be applied from a Collection Account when full cash dominion is in effect (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, shall be applied ratably:

 

first, to pay any fees, indemnities, or expense reimbursements including amounts then due to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank from the Borrowers (other than in connection with Banking Services Obligations or Swap Agreement Obligations),

 

second, to pay any fees, indemnities, or expense reimbursements then due to the Lenders from the Borrowers (other than in connection with Banking Services Obligations or Swap Agreement 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,

 

seventh, to pay an amount to the Administrative Agent equal to 105% of the aggregate LC Exposure, to be held as cash collateral for such Obligations,

 

eighth, to pay any amounts owing with respect to Swap Agreement Obligations up to and including the amount most recently provided to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.22 for which Reserves have been established ratably,

 

ninth, to payment of any amounts owing with respect to Banking Services Obligations and Swap Agreement Obligations up to and including the amount most recently provided to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.22, and to the extent not paid pursuant to clause eighth above, and

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tenth, to the payment of any other Secured Obligation due to the Administrative Agent or any Lender by the Borrowers.

 

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 Representative, or unless a Default is in existence, neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall apply any payment which it receives to any EurodollarTerm Benchmark Loan or CDOR Loan of a Class, except (a) on the expiration date of the Interest Period applicable thereto or (b) in the event, and only to the extent, that (x) in the case of payments in Dollars, there are no outstanding CBFR Loans of the same Class, or (y) in the case of payments in Canadian Dollars, there are no outstanding CPR Loans of the same Class, and, in any such event under either clause (x) or (y), the Borrowers 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 a Borrower pursuant to Section 2.03 or a deemed request as provided in this Section or may be deducted from any deposit account of any Borrower maintained with the Administrative Agent. The Borrowers hereby irrevocably authorize (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 Section 2.03, 2.04 or 2.05, as applicable, and (ii) the Administrative Agent to charge any deposit account of any 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.

 

(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 Borrowers 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 Borrowers or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this paragraph shall apply). Each Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against such Borrower rights of set-off and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of such Borrower in the amount of such participation. 

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

 

(f)          [reserved].

 

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

 

SECTION 2.20            SECTION 2.19 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

 

(a)         If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, or if the Borrowers are 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 Borrowers hereby agree to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

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(b)         If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, or if the Borrowers are 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 Borrowers may, at their 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 Borrowers 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 funded 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 Borrowers (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 Borrowers to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply. Each party hereto agrees that (x) an assignment required pursuant to this paragraph may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Borrower Representative, the Administrative Agent and the assignee (or, to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and such parties are participants), and (y) the Lender required to make such assignment need not be a party thereto in order for such assignment to be effective and shall be deemed to have consented to anand be bound by the terms thereof; provided that, following the effectiveness of any such assignment, the other parties to such assignment agree to execute and deliver such documents necessary to evidence such assignment as reasonably requested by the applicable Lender, provided that any such documents shall be without recourse to or warranty by the parties thereto.

 

SECTION 2.21           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:

 

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

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(b)        any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Section 2.18(b) or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 9.08 shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender hereunder; third, to cash collateralize the LC Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender in accordance with this Section; fourth, as the Borrower Representative may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; fifth, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower Representative, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to (x) satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement and (y) cash collateralize future LC Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to future Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement, in accordance with this Section; sixth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, the Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document; seventh, so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrowers as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender'sLender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document; and eighth, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or LC Disbursements in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (y) such Loans were made or the related Letters of Credit were issued at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and LC Disbursements owed to, all non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or LC Disbursements owed to, such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded and unfunded participations in the Borrowers’ obligations corresponding to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure and Swingline Loans are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Commitments without giving effect to clause (d) below. Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post cash collateral pursuant to this Section shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto;

 

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

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(d)         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 non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages but only to the extent that such reallocation does not, as to any non-Defaulting Lender, cause such non-Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Exposure to exceed its Revolving Commitment;

 

(ii)           if the reallocation described in clause (i) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrowers 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 Borrowers’ obligations corresponding to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure (after giving effect to any partial reallocation pursuant to clause (i) above) in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.06(j) for so long as such LC Exposure is outstanding;

 

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

 

(iv)         if the LC Exposure of the non-Defaulting Lenders is reallocated pursuant to clause (i) above, then the fees payable to the Lenders pursuant to 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

 

(e)          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 such Defaulting Lender’s then outstanding LC Exposure will be 100% covered by the Revolving Commitments of the non-Defaulting Lenders and/or cash collateral will be provided by the Borrowers in accordance with Section 2.20(d), and LC Exposure related to any newly issued or increased Letter of Credit shall be allocated among non-Defaulting Lenders in a manner consistent with Section 2.20(d)(i) (and such Defaulting Lender shall not participate therein). 

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(f)           If (i) a Bankruptcy Event or Bail-In Action 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 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 Issuing Bank shall not be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless the Issuing Bank shall have entered into arrangements with the Borrowers or such Lender, satisfactory to the Issuing Bank to defease any risk to it in respect of such Lender hereunder.

 

(g)          In the event that each of the Administrative Agent, the Borrowers and the Issuing Bank agrees that a Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused such Lender to be a Defaulting Lender, then 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 2.22          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 Permitted 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 2.23          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 Subsidiary 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 Agreement Obligations of such Loan Party or Subsidiary 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 Agreement 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 Agreement 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 Agreement Obligations will be placed. For the avoidance of doubt, so long as JPMCB or its Affiliate is the Administrative Agent, neither JPMCB nor any of its Affiliates providing Banking Services for, or having Swap Agreements with, any Loan Party or any Subsidiary shall be required to provide any notice described in this Section 2.22 in respect of such Banking Services or Swap Agreements.

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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 Loan Party and each Subsidiary is duly organized or formed, validly existing and, as applicable, in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has all requisite corporate or other organizational power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, is qualified to do business, and is in good standing, in every jurisdiction where such qualification is required.

 

SECTION 3.02            Authorization; Enforceability. The Transactions are within each Loan Party’s corporate or other organizational powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational actions and approvals and, if required, actions and approvals by equity holders. Each Loan Document to which each Loan Party is a party has been duly executed and delivered by such Loan Party and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable Insolvency Laws, examinership, 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 any Requirement of Law applicable to any Loan Party or any Subsidiary, (c) will not violate or result in a default under any indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon any Loan Party or any Subsidiary or the assets of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary, and (d) will not result in the creation or imposition of, or the requirement to create, any Lien on any asset of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary, except Liens created pursuant to the Loan Documents.

 

SECTION 3.04            Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change.

 

(a)     The Loan Parties have heretofore furnished to the Lenders its consolidated balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows (i) as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, prepared on by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent public accountants, and (ii) as of and for the fiscal month and the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, certified by its Financial Officer. Such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of the Loan Parties and their consolidated Subsidiaries as of such dates and for such periods in accordance with GAAP, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes in the case of the statements referred to in clause (ii) above.

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(b)      No event, change or condition has occurred that has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect, since December 31, 2019.

 

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 the Loan Parties’ 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 each of its Subsidiaries has good and marketable title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all of its real and personal property, free of all Liens other than those permitted by Section 6.02.

 

(b)      Each Loan Party and each Subsidiary 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 each Loan Party and each Subsidiary does not infringe in any material respect upon the rights of any other Person, except for infringements that could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and each Loan Party’s and each Subsidiary’s rights thereto are not subject to any licensing agreement or similar arrangement except those that do not (individually or in the aggregate) materially detract from the value of the affected intellectual property or interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Loan Parties. A correct and complete list of such registered trademarks, copyrights and patents, as of the date of this Agreement, is set forth on Schedule 3.05.

 

SECTION 3.06           Litigation and Environmental Matters.

 

(a)      There are no actions, suits or proceedings by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, threatened against or affecting any Loan Party or any Subsidiary (i) as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination and that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect (other than the Disclosed Matters) or (ii) that involve any Loan Document or the Transactions.

 

(b)      Except for the Disclosed Matters and except with respect to any matters that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (i) no Loan Party or any Subsidiary has received notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or knows of any basis for any Environmental Liability and (ii) no Loan Party or any Subsidiary (A) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law, (B) has become subject to any Environmental Liability, (C) has received notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or (D) knows of any basis for any Environmental Liability.

 

(c)      Since the date of this Agreement, there has been no change in the status of the Disclosed Matters that has resulted in a Material Adverse Effect.

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SECTION 3.07          Compliance with Laws and Agreements; No Default. Except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, each Loan Party and each Subsidiary is in compliance with (i) all Requirement of Law applicable to it or its property and (ii) all indentures, agreements and other instruments binding upon it or its property. No Event of Default has occurred and is continuing. No Loan Party nor any of their Subsidiaries, sells products, inventory or services directly to marijuana/cannabis growers operating in any country that prohibits the sale and use of marijuana/cannabis products other than in accordance with the applicable laws of such country. For the avoidance of doubt, neither Loan Party nor Subsidiaries, sells products, inventory or services directly to marijuana/cannabis growers in the United States.

 

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, or shall register as or conduct its business or take any action which shall require it to be authorized for the purposes of the European Communities (Markets in Financial Instruments) Regulations 2007 (as amended).

 

SECTION 3.09          Taxes. Each Loan Party and each Subsidiary has timely filed or caused to be filed all Tax returns and reports required to have been filed in any jurisdiction and has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes required to have been paid by it wherever they arise, except Taxes that are being (i) 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, and (ii) in the case of sales taxes, those being negotiated in good faith in the ordinary course of business and for which such Loan Party or such Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on its books adequate reserves. No tax liens have been filed and no claims are being asserted with respect to any such taxes. Each Canadian Loan Party or other Loan Party having employees in Canada has withheld all employee withholdings and has made all employer contributions to be withheld and made by it pursuant to applicable law on account of the Canada Pension Plan and Quebec Pension Plan, employment insurance and employee income taxes. No claims or investigations are being, or are reasonably likely to be, made or conducted against any of the Borrowers (or any Subsidiary) with respect to Taxes.

 

SECTION 3.10           Intentionally Omitted.

 

SECTION 3.11          No Filing or Stamp Taxes. Under the laws of the jurisdiction of each Loan Party’s and Subsidiary’s organization it is not necessary that the Loan Documents be filed, recorded or enrolled with any court or other authority in that jurisdiction or that any stamp, registration, notarial or similar Taxes or fees be paid on or in relation to the Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents, other than (a) customary UCC-1 filings with the Secretary of State of the State of incorporation in the case of the U.S. Loan Parties and (b) PPSA filings with respect to the Collateral of the Canadian Loan Parties in the applicable provincial or territorial personal property registries.

 

SECTION 3.12           Intentionally Omitted.

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SECTION 3.13           ERISA; Foreign Benefit Arrangement; Canadian Pension Plan and Benefit Plans.

 

(a)      No ERISA Event or Foreign Benefit Arrangement Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events and Foreign Benefit Arrangement Events for which liability is reasonably expected to occur, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The present value of all accumulated benefit obligations under each Plan (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed the fair market value of the assets of such Plan. The fair market value of the assets of each funded Foreign Benefit Arrangement or Canadian Pension Plan, as applicable, the liability of each insurer for any Foreign Benefit Arrangement or Canadian Pension Plan, as applicable, funded through insurance or the book reserve established for any Foreign Benefit Arrangement, or Canadian Pension Plan, as applicable, together with any accrued contributions, is sufficient to procure or provide for the accrued benefit obligations, as of the date hereof, with respect to all current and former participants in such Foreign Benefit Arrangements or Canadian Pension Plan, as applicable, according to the actuarial assumptions and valuations most recently used to account for such obligations in accordance with applicable generally accepted accounting principles except for any underfunding that could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)      The Canadian Pension Plans are duly registered under the ITA and all other applicable laws which require registration. As of the Effective Date, none of the Canadian Pension Plans is a Defined Benefit CPP. Each Loan Party and each of their Subsidiaries has complied with and performed in all of its obligations under and in respect of the Canadian Pension Plans and Canadian Benefit Plans under the terms thereof, any funding agreements and all applicable laws (including any fiduciary, funding, investment and administration obligations) except to the extent noncompliance could not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. All employer and employee payments, contributions or premiums to be remitted, paid to or in respect of each Canadian Pension Plan or Canadian Benefit Plan have been paid in a timely fashion in accordance with the terms thereof, any funding agreement and all applicable laws. There have been no improper withdrawals or applications of the assets of the Canadian Pension Plans or the Canadian Benefit Plans.

 

SECTION 3.14           Disclosure. (a) The Loan Parties have disclosed to the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which any Loan Party or any Subsidiary is subject, and all other matters known to it, that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. None of the reports, financial statements, certificates or other information furnished by or on behalf of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary 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) 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 Loan Parties 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.

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(b)      As of the Effective Date, to the best knowledge of any Borrower, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification provided on or prior to the Effective Date to any Lender in connection with this Agreement is true and correct in all respects.

 

SECTION 3.15          Material Agreements. All material agreements and contracts to which any Loan Party or any Subsidiary is a party or is bound as of the date of this Agreement, were disclosed to Administrative Agent prior to the Effective Date. Except as could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, no Loan Party or any Subsidiary 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.

 

SECTION 3.16           Solvency.

 

(a)      Upon and any time after the consummation of the Transactions to occur on the Effective Date, (A) (i) the fair value of the assets of the Loan Parties taken as a whole, at a fair valuation, will exceed their debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise; (ii) the present fair saleable value of the property of the Loan Parties 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) the Loan Parties will be able to pay their debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured; and (iv) the Loan Parties taken as whole will not have unreasonably small capital with which to conduct the business in which they are engaged as such business is now conducted and is proposed to be conducted after the Effective Date, (B) (i) the fair value of the assets of the Borrowers taken as a whole, at a fair valuation, will exceed their debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise; (ii) the present fair saleable value of the property of the Borrowers 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) the Borrowers will be able to pay their debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured; and (iv) the Borrowers taken as whole will not have unreasonably small capital with which to conduct the business in which they are engaged as such business is now conducted and is proposed to be conducted after the Effective Date and (C) no Canadian Loan Party is an ‘insolvent person’ as such term is defined in the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada).

 

(b)      No Loan Party intends to, nor will permit any Subsidiary to, and no Loan Party believes that it or any Subsidiary will, incur debts beyond the ability of (i) the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, and (ii) the Borrowers, take as a whole, in each case, to pay such debts as they mature, taking into account the timing of and amounts of cash to be received by the Loan Parties or any such Subsidiary and the timing of the amounts of cash to be payable on or in respect of the Indebtedness of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries.

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SECTION 3.17          Insurance. As of the Effective Date, all premiums in respect of such insurance have been paid. Each Borrower maintains, and has caused each Subsidiary to maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance on all their real and personal property in such amounts, subject to such deductibles and self-insurance retentions and covering such properties and risks as are adequate and customarily maintained by companies engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations. A true and complete listing of such insurance, including issuers, coverages and deductibles, has been provided to the Administrative Agent.

 

SECTION 3.18          Capitalization and Subsidiaries. Schedule 3.18 (as such Schedule may be updated from time to time by written notice to the Administrative Agent for transactions not otherwise prohibited hereunder) sets forth (a) a correct and complete list of the name and relationship to each Loan Party of each and all of its Subsidiaries, (b) a true and complete listing of each class of each Loan Party’s (other than the Company’s) authorized Equity Interests, all of which issued Equity Interests are validly issued, outstanding, fully paid and non-assessable, and owned beneficially and of record by the Persons identified on Schedule 3.18, and (c) the type of entity of each Loan Party 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 are fully paid and non-assessable. There are no outstanding commitments or other obligations of any Loan Party to issue, and no options, warrants or other rights of any Person to acquire, any Equity Interests of any Loan Party.

 

SECTION 3.19          Security Interest in Collateral. The provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents create legal and valid Liens on all of the Collateral in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and 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 or agreement, (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 and (c) Liens perfected only by control, filing or recording to the extent that, despite due authorization by the applicable Loan Party, the Administrative Agent has not obtained control or has not recorded such Lien.

 

SECTION 3.20           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 any Loan Party, threatened. The hours worked by and payments made to employees of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries have not been in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act or any other applicable Federal, state, provincial, territorial, local or foreign law dealing with such matters. All 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, vacation pay and employee health and welfare insurance and other benefits, including on account of the Canada Pension Plan and the Quebec Pension Plan, have been paid or accrued as a liability on the books of such Loan Party or such Subsidiary.

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SECTION 3.21          Margin Regulations. No Loan Party is engaged and will not engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock, or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock, and no part of the proceeds of any Borrowing or Letter of Credit hereunder will be used to buy or carry any Margin Stock. Following the application of the proceeds of each Borrowing or drawing under each Letter of Credit, not more than 25% of the value of the assets (either of any Loan Party only or of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis) will be Margin Stock.

 

SECTION 3.22          Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Loans have been used and will be used, whether directly or indirectly as set forth in Section 5.08.

 

SECTION 3.23          No Burdensome Restrictions. No Loan Party is subject to any Burdensome Restrictions except Burdensome Restrictions permitted under Section 6.10.

 

SECTION 3.24          Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions. Each Loan Party has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by such Loan Party, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions, and such Loan Party, its Subsidiaries and their respective officers and directors and, to the knowledge of such Loan Party, its employees and agents, are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects and are not knowingly engaged in any activity that would reasonably be expected to result in any Loan Party being designated as a Sanctioned Person. None of (a) any Loan Party, any Subsidiary or any of their respective directors, officers or, to the knowledge of any such Loan Party or Subsidiary, employees, or (b) to the knowledge of any such Loan Party or Subsidiary, any agent of such Loan Party or any Subsidiary that will act in any capacity in connection with or benefit from the credit facility established hereby, is a Sanctioned Person. No Borrowing or Letter of Credit, use of proceeds, Transaction or other transaction contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents will violate Anti-Corruption Laws or applicable Sanctions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the representations given in this Section 3.24 shall not be made by nor apply to any Person that qualifies as a corporation that is registered or incorporated under the laws of Canada or any province thereof and that carries on business in whole or in part in Canada within the meaning of Section 2 of the Foreign Extraterritorial Measures (United States) Order, 1992 passed under the Foreign Extraterritorial Measures Act (Canada) in so far as such representations would result in a violation of or conflict with the Foreign Extraterritorial Measures Act (Canada) or any similar law.

 

SECTION 3.25            Intentionally Omitted.

 

SECTION 3.26          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 Borrowers 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, in furtherance of its direct and/or indirect business interests, will be of direct and/or indirect benefit to such Loan Party, and is in its best interest.

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SECTION 3.27          EEAAffected Financial Institutions. No Loan Party is an EEAAffected Financial Institution.

 

SECTION 3.28         Plan Assets; Prohibited Transactions. No Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is an entity deemed to hold “plan assets” (within the meaning of the Plan Asset Regulations), and neither the execution, delivery nor performance of the transactions contemplated under this Agreement, including the making of any Loan and the issuance of any Letter of Credit hereunder, will give rise to a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

CONDITIONS.

 

SECTION 4.01           Effective Date. The effectiveness of this Agreement and the obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of the Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall not become effective until the date on which on the Effective Date was subject to the satisfaction by the Loan Parties or the waiver of each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02)precedent:

 

(a)      Credit Agreement and Other Loan Documents. The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received (i) from each party hereto a counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party (which, subject to Section 9.06(b), may include any Electronic Signatures transmitted by facsimile, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page), (ii) either (A) a counterpart of each other Loan Document signed on behalf of each party thereto or (B) written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include facsimile or other electronic transmission of a signed signature page thereof) that each such party has signed a counterpart of such Loan Document and (iii) 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 a written opinion of the Loan Parties’ counsel, addressed to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, the Lenders and the other Secured Parties, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.

 

(b)      Financial Statements and Projections. The Lenders shall have received (i) audited consolidated financial statements of the Loan Parties for the 2018 and 2019 fiscal years, (ii) unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of the Loan Parties for each fiscal month and quarter ended after the date of the latest applicable financial statements delivered pursuant to clause (i) of this paragraph as to which such financial statements are available, and such financial statements shall not, in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent, reflect any material adverse change in the consolidated financial condition of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, as reflected in the audited, consolidated financial statements described in clause (i) of this paragraph and (iii) satisfactory projections by month for fiscal year 2021.

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(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, Assistant Secretary or other Responsible Officer, 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 officers of such Loan Party authorized to sign the Loan Documents to which it is a party and, in the case of each Borrower, its Financial Officers, and (C) contain appropriate attachments, including the certificate, constitution or articles of incorporation or organization of each Loan Party certified by the relevant authority of the jurisdiction of organization or incorporation of such Loan Party and a true and correct copy of its memorandum and articles of association, bylaws, constitution or operating, management or partnership agreement, or other organizational or governing documents, and (ii) a good standing certificate for each Loan Party from its jurisdiction of organization or the substantive equivalent available in the jurisdiction of organization for each Loan Party from the appropriate governmental officer in such jurisdiction.

 

(d)      No Default Certificate. The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, signed by a Financial Officer of each Borrower and each other Loan Party, dated as of the Effective Date (i) stating that no Default has occurred and is continuing, (ii) stating that the representations and warranties contained in the Loan Documents are true and correct as of such date, and (iii) certifying as to 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 expenses for which invoices have been presented (including the reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel), on or before the Effective Date. All such amounts will be paid with proceeds of Loans made on the Effective Date and will be reflected in the funding instructions given by the Borrower Representative to the Administrative Agent on or before the Effective Date.

 

(f)       Lien Searches. The Administrative Agent shall have received the results of a recent lien search in each jurisdiction where the Loan Parties are organized and where the assets of 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)      Payoff Letter. The Administrative Agent shall have received satisfactory pay-off letters for all existing Indebtedness to be repaid from the proceeds of the initial Borrowings, confirming that all Liens upon any of the property of the Loan Parties constituting Collateral will be terminated concurrently with such payment and all letters of credit issued or guaranteed as part of such Indebtedness shall have been cash collateralized or supported by a Letter of Credit. 

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

 

(i)       [Reserved].

 

(j)       [Reserved].

 

(k)      Solvency. The Administrative Agent shall have received a solvency certificate signed by a Financial Officer dated the Effective Date.

 

(l)       Borrowing Base Certificate. The Administrative Agent shall have received a Borrowing Base Certificate which calculates the Borrowing Base as of a period specified by the Administrative Agent.

 

(m)     Closing Availability. After giving effect to all Borrowings to be made on the Effective Date, the issuance of any Letters of Credit on the Effective Date and the payment of all fees and expenses due hereunder, and with all of the Loan Parties’ indebtedness, liabilities, and obligations current, Excess Availability shall not be less than $10,000,000.

 

(n)      [Reserved].

 

(o)      Filings, Registrations and Recordings. Each document (including any Uniform Commercial Code and PPSA 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 itself, the Lenders and the other Secured Parties, a perfected Lien on the Collateral described therein, 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.

 

(p)      [Reserved].

 

(q)      [Reserved].

 

(r)       Tax Withholding. The Administrative Agent shall have received a properly completed and signed IRS Form W-8 or W-9, as applicable, for each Loan Party.

 

(s)      Corporate Structure. The corporate structure, capital structure and other material debt instruments, material accounts and governing documents of the Borrowers and their Affiliates shall be reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion.

 

(t)       Field Examination. The Administrative Agent or its designee shall have conducted a field examination of the Loan Parties’ Accounts, Inventory and related working capital matters and of the Loan Parties’ related data processing and other systems, the results of which shall be satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion.

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(u)      Legal Due Diligence. The Administrative Agent and its counsel shall have completed all legal due diligence, the results of which shall be satisfactory to Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion.

 

(v)      Appraisal. The Administrative Agent shall have received an appraisal of the applicable Loan Parties’ Inventory from one or more firms satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, which appraisal shall be satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion.

 

(w)     USA PATRIOT Act, Etc. (i) The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received all documentation and other information regarding the Loan Parties requested in connection with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act and the Canadian Anti-Money Laundering & Anti-Terrorism Legislation, for each Loan Party, and (ii) to the extent any Borrower qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, at least five (5) days prior to the Effective Date, any Lender that has requested, in a written notice to the Borrowers at least ten (10) days prior to the Effective Date, a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to each Borrower shall have received such Beneficial Ownership Certification (provided that, upon the execution and delivery by such Lender of its signature page to this Agreement, the condition set forth in this clause (ii) shall be deemed to be satisfied).

 

(x)      Approvals. All governmental and third party approvals necessary in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the continuing operations of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries (including shareholder approvals, if any) shall have been obtained on terms satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion and shall be in full force and effect.

 

(y)       Legal and Regulatory Matters. All legal and regulatory matters (including tax implications) shall be satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion and the Lenders, including, but not limited to, compliance with all applicable requirements of Regulations U, T and X of the Federal Reserve Board.

 

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

 

The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower Representative, the Lenders and the Issuing Bank 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 Bank to issue, amend 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 in all material respects with the same effect as though made on and as of the date of such Borrowing or the date of issuance, amendment or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable (it being understood and agreed that any representation or warranty which by its terms is made as of a specified date shall be required to be true and correct in all material respects only as of such specified date, and that any representation or warranty which is subject to any materiality qualifier shall be required to be true and correct in all respects).

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(b)      At the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing or the issuance, amendment 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.

 

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

 

Each Borrowing and each issuance, amendment or extension of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrowers on the date thereof as to the matters specified in paragraphs (a), (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 or extend, or cause to be issued, amended 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 or extending, or causing the issuance, amendment or extension of, any such Letter of Credit is in the best interests of the Lenders.

 

ARTICLE V

 

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.

 

Until all of the Secured Obligations have been Paid in Full, each Loan Party executing this Agreement covenants and agrees, jointly and severally with all of the other Loan Parties, with the Lenders that:

 

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

 

(a)      within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, its and the other Loan Parties’ and their Subsidiaries’ its audited consolidated and consolidating balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders' 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 independent public accountants reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion (without a “going concern” or like qualification, commentary or exception and without any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit) to the effect that such consolidated and consolidating financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Company, the other Loan Parties and their consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated and consolidating basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, accompanied by any management letter prepared by said accountants;

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(b)      within thirty (30) days after the end of each fiscal month (or forty five (45) days after the end of a fiscal month that is a fiscal quarter end) of the Company, its and the other Loan Parties’ and their Subsidiaries’ unaudited consolidated and consolidating balance sheet and related statements of operations, and with respect to a fiscal month that is a fiscal quarter end, cash flows, as of the end of and for such fiscal 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 a Financial Officer of the Borrower Representative as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Company, the other Loan Parties and their consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;

 

(c)      concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under clause (a) and (b) above, a Compliance Certificate (i) certifying, in the case of the financial statements delivered under clause (b), as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Company, the other Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries on a consolidated and consolidating 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 of EBITDA and the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio and demonstrating compliance with Section 6.13, and (iv) 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;

 

(d)      [reserved];

 

(e)      as soon as available but in any event no later than sixty (60) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, a copy of the plan and forecast (including a projected consolidated and consolidating balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement) of the Company and the other Loan Parties for each month of the upcoming fiscal year (the “Projections”) in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

 

(f)       as soon as available but in any event within thirty (30) days of the end of each calendar month (and within three (3) Business Days of the end of each calendar week which ends during a Reporting Trigger Period), and at such other times as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, as of the period then ended, a Borrowing Base Certificate which calculates the Borrowing Base, and supporting information in connection therewith, together with any additional reports with respect to the Borrowing Base as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request;

 

(g)      as soon as available but in any event within thirty (30) days of the end of each calendar month (and within three (3) Business Days of the end of each calendar week which ends during a Reporting Trigger Period) and at such other times as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, as of the period then ended, the following all delivered electronically in a text formatted file reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent:

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(i)         a detailed aging of the Eligible Loan Parties’ Accounts, including all invoices aged by invoice date and due date (with an explanation of the terms offered), 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 the Eligible Loan Parties’ 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 Representative are deemed by the Administrative Agent to be appropriate, and (2) including a report of any variances or other results of Inventory counts performed by the Eligible Loan Parties since the last Inventory schedule (including information regarding sales or other reductions, additions, returns, credits issued by the Eligible Loan Parties and complaints and claims made against the Eligible Loan Parties);

 

(iii)       a worksheet of calculations prepared by the Eligible Loan Parties to determine Eligible Accounts and Eligible Inventory, such worksheets detailing the Accounts and Inventory excluded from Eligible Accounts and Eligible Inventory and the reason for such exclusion;

 

(iv)       a reconciliation of the Eligible Loan Parties’ Accounts and Inventory between (A) the amounts shown in the Eligible Loan Parties’ general ledger and financial statements and the reports delivered pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above and (B) the amounts and dates shown in the reports delivered pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above and the Borrowing Base Certificate delivered pursuant to clause (f) above as of such date; and

 

(v)        a reconciliation of the loan balance per the Eligible Loan Parties’ general ledger to the loan balance under this Agreement;

 

(h)       as soon as available but in any event within thirty (30) days of the end of each calendar month and at such other times as may be requested by the Administrative Agent, as of the month then ended, a schedule and aging of the Borrowers’ accounts payable, delivered electronically in a text formatted file reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent;

 

(i)        [reserved];

 

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

 

(i)          copies of invoices issued by the Eligible Loan Parties in connection with any Accounts, credit memos, shipping and delivery documents, and other information related thereto;

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

 

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

 

(iv)         a current customer list of each Eligible Loan Party, which list shall state each such customer’s name, mailing address and phone number, delivered electronically in a text formatted file reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

(k)         as soon as available but in any event within thirty (30) days of the end of each calendar month and at such other times as may reasonably be requested by the Administrative Agent, as of the period then ended, the Eligible Loan Parties’ sales journal, cash receipts journal (identifying trade and non-trade cash receipts) and debit memo/credit memo journal;

 

(l)          as soon as possible and in any event within fifteen (15) days of filing thereof, copies of all tax returns filed by any Loan Party with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service or any other applicable Governmental Authority in respect of any Eligible Loan Party not incorporated in the U.S.;

 

(m)        promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary with the SEC, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all of the functions of the SEC, or with any national securities exchange, or distributed by any Loan Party to its shareholders generally, as the case may be;

 

(n)         promptly after any reasonable request therefor by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, copies of (i) any actuarial reports completed with respect to any Defined Benefit CPP, (ii) any documents described in Section 101(k)(1) of ERISA that any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate may request with respect to any Multiemployer Plan and (iii) any notices described in Section 101(l)(1) of ERISA that any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate may request with respect to any Multiemployer Plan; provided that if a Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate has not requested such documents or notices from the administrator or sponsor of the applicable Multiemployer Plan, the applicable Loan Party or the applicable ERISA Affiliate shall promptly make a request for such documents and notices from such administrator or sponsor and shall provide copies of such documents and notices promptly after receipt thereof;

 

(o)         promptly following any reasonable request therefor, (i) such other information regarding the operations, changes in ownership of Equity Interests, business affairs and financial condition of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of this Agreement, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request, and (ii) information and documentation reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for purposes of compliance with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act, CAML and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation;

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(p)         promptly after receipt thereof by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary, copies of each notice or other correspondence received from the SEC (or comparable agency in any applicable non-U.S. jurisdiction) concerning any investigation or possible investigation or other inquiry by the SEC or such other agency regarding financial or other operational results of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof; and

 

(q)         Each Loan Party represents and warrants that it, its controlling Person and any Subsidiary, in each case, if any, either (i) has no SEC registered or unregistered, publicly traded securities outstanding, or (ii) files its financial statements with the SEC and/or makes its financial statements available to potential holders of its securities, and, accordingly, each Loan Party hereby (A) authorizes the Administrative Agent to make the financial statements to be provided under Section 5.01(a) and, solely with respect to fiscal quarter financial statements, (b) above (collectively or individually, as the context requires, the “Financial Statements”), along with the Loan Documents, available to Public-Siders and (B) agree that at the time such Financial Statements are provided hereunder, they shall already have been made available to holders of any such securities. The Loan Parties will not request that any other material be posted to Public-Siders without expressly representing and warranting to the Administrative Agent in writing that such materials do not constitute material non-public information within the meaning of the federal securities laws or that the Loan Parties have no outstanding SEC registered or unregistered, publicly traded securities. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event shall the Company request that the Administrative Agent make available to Public-Siders budgets or any certificates, reports or calculations with respect to the Borrowers’ compliance with the covenants contained herein or with respect to the Borrowing Base.

 

The Loan Parties acknowledge that the Administrative Agent may order, at the Borrowers’ expense, periodic certificates of good standing or the substantive equivalent available in the jurisdiction of incorporation, formation or organization for each Loan Party from the appropriate governmental officer in such jurisdiction.

 

SECTION 5.02         Notices of Material Events. The Borrowers will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender prompt (but in any event within any time period that may be specified below) 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 or any Subsidiary that (i) seeks damages in excess of $500,000, (ii) seeks injunctive relief, (iii) is asserted or instituted against any Plan, Foreign Benefit Arrangement or Canadian Pension Plan, as applicable, its fiduciaries or its assets, (iv) alleges criminal misconduct by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary, (v) alleges the violation of, or seeks to impose remedies under, any Environmental Law or related Requirement of Law, or seeks to impose Environmental Liability, (vi) asserts liability on the part of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary in excess of $500,000 in respect of any tax, fee, assessment, or other governmental charge, or (vii) involves any product recall;

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

 

(d)         any loss, damage, or destruction to the Collateral in the amount of $500,000 or more, whether or not covered by insurance;

 

(e)         within two (2) Business Days of receipt thereof, any and all default notices received under or with respect to any leased location or public warehouse where Collateral is located;

 

(f)          all material amendments to any agreement constituting Material Indebtedness, with a copy of each such amendment;

 

(g)         within two (2) Business Days after the occurrence thereof, any Loan Party entering into a Swap Agreement or an amendment thereto, together with copies of all agreements evidencing such Swap Agreement or amendment;

 

(h)         the occurrence of any ERISA Event or Foreign Benefit Arrangement Event that, alone or together with any other ERISA Events or Foreign Benefit Arrangement Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding $500,000;

 

(i)          any material change in accounting or financial reporting practices by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary;

 

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

 

(k)         any change in the credit ratings from a credit rating agency, or the placement by a credit rating agency of any Loan Party on a “Credit Watch” or “WatchList” or any similar list, in each case with negative implications, or the cessation by a credit rating agency of, or its intent to cease, rating such Loan Party’s debt;

 

(l)          any change in the information provided in the Beneficial Ownership Certification delivered to such Lender that would result in a change to the list of beneficial owners identified in such certification;

 

(m)        the occurrence of any Default (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement).

 

Each notice delivered under this Section (i) shall be in writing, (ii) shall contain a heading or a reference line that reads “Notice under Section 5.02 of Credit Agreement dated as of March 29, 2021” and (iii) shall be accompanied by a statement of a Financial Officer or other executive officer of the Borrower Representative 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 to, (a) do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect (i) its legal existence and (ii) the rights, qualifications, licenses, permits, franchises, governmental authorizations, intellectual property rights, licenses and permits, and maintain all requisite authority to conduct its business in each jurisdiction in which its business is conducted, except in the case of this clause (ii) to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, amalgamation, 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.

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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 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; provided, however, that each Loan Party will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, remit withholding taxes and other payroll taxes to appropriate Governmental Authorities as and when claimed to be due, notwithstanding the foregoing exceptions.

 

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 RecordsInspection Rights. Each Loan Party will, and will cause each Subsidiary to (a) keep proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries are made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities and (b) permit any representatives designated by the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including employees of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any consultants, accountants, lawyers, agents and appraisers retained by the Administrative Agent), upon reasonable prior notice, to visit and inspect its properties, to conduct at such Loan Party’s premises field examinations of such Loan Party’s assets, liabilities, books and records, including examining and making extracts from its books and records, environmental assessment reports and Phase I or Phase II studies, and to discuss its affairs, finances and condition with its officers and independent accountants and to provide contact information for each bank where each Loan Party has a depository and/or securities account and each such Loan Party hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent and each Lender to contact the bank(s) in order to request bank statements and/or balances, all at such reasonable times and as often as reasonably requested. Each Loan Party acknowledges that the Administrative Agent, after exercising its rights of inspection, may prepare and distribute to the Lenders certain Reports pertaining to each Loan Party’s assets for internal use by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders. The Loan Parties shall be responsible for the costs and expenses of one (1) field examination during any 12-month period (excluding any field examinations conducted prior to the Effective Date or in connection with any Permitted Acquisition); provided, the Loan Parties shall be responsible for the costs and expenses of all field examinations conducted while an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

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SECTION 5.07          Compliance with Laws and Material Contractual Obligations.

 

(a)         Each Loan Party will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, (i) comply with each Requirement of Law applicable to it or its property (including without limitation Environmental Laws) except where any failure to comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (ii) perform in all material respects its obligations under material agreements to which it is a party. Each Loan Party will maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by such Loan Party, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions.

 

(b)         Each Loan Party will, in a timely fashion, comply with and perform in all material respects all of its obligations under and in respect of each Canadian Pension Plan or Canadian Benefit Plan, including under any funding agreements and all applicable laws (including any fiduciary, funding, investment and administration obligations); and no Loan Party shall contribute to or assume an obligation to contribute to or have any liability under any Defined Benefit CPP (whether as a result of acquisition, merger, amalgamation or otherwise).

 

(c)         In addition to and without limiting the generality of paragraph (a) and (b) each Loan Party will, and will cause each Subsidiary to (i) comply with all applicable laws, statutes, rules, regulations and orders (whether discretionary or otherwise) and published interpretations thereunder with respect to all Foreign Benefit Arrangements, except where the failure to comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) not take any action or fail to take action in respect of a Foreign Benefit Arrangement the result of which would result in a liability to a Governmental Authority in an amount that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (iii) furnish to the Lender upon the Lender’s request such additional information about any Foreign Benefit Arrangement concerning compliance with this covenant, and in respect of any Foreign Benefit Arrangement which is funded, information and applicable valuation reports about the funding of that Foreign Benefit Arrangement, as may be reasonably requested by the Lender.

 

SECTION 5.08     Use of Proceeds.

 

(a)          The proceeds of the Loans and the Letters of Credit will be used only for financing the working capital needs of the Loan Parties and for other general corporate purposes of the Loan Parties in the ordinary course of business permitted hereunder. 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.

 

(b)         No Borrower will request any Borrowing or Letter of Credit, and no Borrower shall use, and each Borrower shall procure that its Subsidiaries and its and 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, except to the extent permitted for a Person required to comply with Sanctions, or (c) in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to any party hereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the covenants given in this Section 5.08 shall not be made by nor apply to any Person that qualifies as a corporation that is registered or incorporated under the laws of Canada or any province thereof and that carries on business in whole or in part in Canada within the meaning of Section 2 of the Foreign Extraterritorial Measures (United States) Order, 1992 passed under the Foreign Extraterritorial Measures Act (Canada) in so far as such representations would result in a violation of or conflict with the Foreign Extraterritorial Measures Act (Canada) or any similar law.

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SECTION 5.09          Accuracy of Information. The Loan Parties will ensure that any information, including financial statements or other documents, furnished to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any amendment or modification hereof or thereof or waiver hereunder or thereunder contains no 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, and the furnishing of such information shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Borrowers on the date thereof as to the matters specified in this Section 5.09; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Loan Parties will only ensure that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time.

 

SECTION 5.10          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, without limitation: 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 Borrowers will furnish to the Lenders, upon reasonable request of the Administrative Agent, information in reasonable detail as to the insurance so maintained.

 

SECTION 5.11          Casualty and Condemnation. The Borrowers will (a) 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) 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 5.12          Appraisals. At any time that the Administrative Agent reasonably requests, each Loan Party will provide the Administrative Agent with appraisals or updates thereof of its 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 Requirement of Law. The Loan Parties shall be responsible for the costs of expenses of one appraisal in any twelve (12) month period (other than any appraisal obtained prior to the Effective Date or in connection with a Permitted Acquisition); provided, that, there shall be no limitation on the number or frequency of Inventory appraisals if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and the Loan Parties shall be responsible for the costs and expenses of any such appraisals conducted while an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

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SECTION 5.13          Depository Banks. Each Loan Party 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. Additionally, the Administrative Agent shall be the principal provider of other Banking Services to the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries.

 

SECTION 5.14          Additional Collateral; Further Assurances.

 

(a)         Subject to applicable Requirement of Law, each Loan Party will cause each Subsidiary (other than any Subsidiary that Administrative Agent elects to forego such Subsidiary becoming a Loan Party hereunder) formed or acquired after the date of this Agreement to become a Loan Party by executing a Joinder Agreement; provided, however, that no Foreign Subsidiary (or any Subsidiary thereof) shall be required to become a Loan Party hereunder to the extent (x) Administrative Agent elects to forego such Foreign Subsidiary becoming a Loan Party hereunder, or (y) if such Foreign Subsidiary is not organized under the applicable law of Canada or any province of Canada, doing so could reasonably be expected to result in material adverse tax consequences to the Loan Parties. In connection therewith, the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall have received shall have received all documentation and other information regarding such newly formed or acquired Subsidiaries as may be required to comply with the applicable “know your customer” rules and regulations, including the USA Patriot Act. 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 Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, in any property of such Loan Party which constitutes Collateral, including any parcel of real property owned by any Loan Party that is a Material Real Estate Asset.

 

(b)         Each Loan Party will cause (i) 100% of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of each of its directly owned Subsidiaries (other than Foreign Subsidiaries that are controlled foreign corporations and not organized under the applicable law of Canada or any province or territory of Canada), and (ii) 65% (or such greater percentage that could not reasonably be expected to cause any material adverse tax consequences to the Loan Parties) of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.956-2(c)(2)) and 100% of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests not entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.956-2(c)(2)) in each directly owned Subsidiary that is a Foreign Subsidiary that is a controlled foreign corporation and that is not organized under the applicable law of Canada or any province or territory of Canada (other than ELTAC XXI S.L.U., an entity organized under the laws of Spain) to, in each case, 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 other Secured Parties, subject to the rights of the Term Loan Agent and the Term Loan Lenders as set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement and pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Loan Documents or other security documents as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request.

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(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, and will take or cause to be taken such further actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements, fixture filings, mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents and such other actions or deliveries of the type required by Section 4.01, as applicable), which may be required by any Requirement of 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time after an Event of Default has occurred, each Loan Party will, upon the request of the Administrative Agent, cause each Foreign Subsidiary, that is not a Loan Party, to become a Loan Party and a Loan Guarantor and to grant Liens to the Administrative Agent on its assets and have the balance of its Equity Interests pledged (if not pledged at such time) to the Administrative Agent.

 

(d)         If any assets (including any real property or improvements thereto or any interest therein) are acquired by any Loan Party after the Effective Date (other than assets constituting Collateral under any Collateral Document that become subject to the Lien under such Collateral Document upon acquisition thereof), the Borrower Representative will (i) notify the Administrative Agent and the Lenders thereof and, if requested by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, cause such assets to be subjected to a Lien securing the Secured Obligations and (ii) take, and cause each applicable Loan Party 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 paragraph (c) of this Section, all at the expense of the Loan Parties.

 

SECTION 5.15         Post-Closing Matters. Each Loan Party, as applicable, shall execute and deliver and complete the tasks set forth on Schedule 5.15 attached hereto, in each case within the time limit specified on such Schedule (or such later times as the Administrative Agent may agree to in its sole discretion).

 

ARTICLE VI

 

NEGATIVE COVENANTS.

 

Until all of the Secured Obligations have been Paid in Full, each Loan Party executing this Agreement covenants and agrees, jointly and severally with all of the other Loan Parties, with the Lenders that:

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SECTION 6.01          Indebtedness. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume 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, refinancings and replacements of any such Indebtedness in accordance with clause (f) hereof;

 

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

 

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

 

(e)          Indebtedness of any Loan Party 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) below; provided that (i) such Indebtedness is incurred prior to or within ninety (90) days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of all such Indebtedness shall not exceed the greater of (x) $10,000,000 at any time outstanding and (y) 10% of EBITDA of the Loan Parties at any one time outstanding, calculated on a trailing 12 month pro forma basis after giving effect to any such Indebtedness recomputed for the most recent fiscal month for which financial statements have been or were required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.01(a)-(c);

 

(f)           Indebtedness which represents extensions, renewals, refinancing or replacements (such Indebtedness being so extended, renewed, refinanced or replaced being referred to herein as the “Refinance Indebtedness”) of any of the Indebtedness described in clauses (b) and (e) hereof (such Indebtedness being referred to herein as the “Original Indebtedness”); provided that (i) such Refinance Indebtedness does not increase the principal amount or interest rate of the Original Indebtedness, (ii) any Liens securing such Refinance Indebtedness are not extended to any additional property of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary, (iii) no Loan Party or any Subsidiary that is not originally obligated with respect to repayment of such Original Indebtedness is required to become obligated with respect to such Refinance Indebtedness, (iv) such Refinance Indebtedness does not result in a shortening of the average weighted maturity of such Original Indebtedness, (v) the terms of such Refinance Indebtedness other than fees and interest are not less favorable to the obligor thereunder than the original terms of such Original Indebtedness and (vi) if such Original Indebtedness was subordinated in right of payment to the Secured Obligations, then the terms and conditions of such Refinance 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 such Original Indebtedness;

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(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 any Loan Party 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 a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary of a Loan Party following the Effective Date, which Indebtedness is in existence at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary and is not created in connection with or in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary; provided that the aggregate principal amount of all such Indebtedness in the aggregate shall not exceed the greater of (x) $10,000,000 and (y) 10% of EBITDA of the Loan Parties for such period at any time outstanding, calculated on a trailing 12 month pro forma basis after giving effect to any such Indebtedness recomputed for the most recent fiscal month for which financial statements have been or were required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.01(a)-(c);

 

(j)           Indebtedness owed to any Person providing property, casualty, liability, or other insurance to Holdingsthe Company or any of its Subsidiaries, so long as the amount of such Indebtedness is not in excess of the amount of the unpaid cost of, and shall be incurred only to defer the cost of, such insurance for the year in which such Indebtedness is incurred and such Indebtedness is outstanding only during such year;

 

(k)          Indebtedness in connection with netting services, overdraft protections and other like services, in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices;

 

(l)           (i) Indebtedness of the Loan Parties associated with the deferred purchase price of Acquisitions consummated on or prior to the Second Amendment Effective Date and described in Schedule 6.01(l) and (ii) to the extent constituting Indebtedness, unsecured earnouts and seller Indebtedness issued in connection with any Permitted Acquisition not to exceed $30,000,000 at any time outstanding;

 

(m)         Subordinated Indebtedness;

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(n)         (i) Term Loan Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed 110% of the Term Loan Indebtedness existing on the Second Amendment Effective Date, plus (ii) Additional Term Loans (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement as in effect on the Second Amendment Effective Date) and Incremental Equivalent Debt (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement as in effect on the Second Amendment Effective Date) no greater in aggregate principal amount than the greater of $95,000,000 and 100% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement as in effect on the Second Amendment Effective Date) calculated on a trailing 12 month pro forma basis after giving effect to any such incurrence recomputed for the most recent fiscal month for which financial statements have been or were required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.01(a)-(c), plus (iii) Incremental Equivalent Debt and Additional Term Loans in an amount not to exceed clause (b) of the definition of Incremental Cap (each as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement as in effect on the date hereof, including without limitation, as to any component definitions included in such definition and with the First Lien Debt Ratio referenced therein calculated on a trailing 12 month pro forma basis after giving effect to any such incurrence recomputed for the most recent fiscal month for which financial statements have been or were required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.01(a)-(c)), minus (iv) all payments, prepayments and repayments of the principal of the Term Loan (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement) under the Term Loan Agreement, Additional Term Loans or Incremental Equivalent Debt other than Refinance Indebtedness; provided that the foregoing reduction shall apply only to the debt facility which shall have been so paid, prepaid, or repaid;

 

(o)         other Indebtedness of the Loan Parties in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of (x) $50,000,000 and (y) 50% of EBITDA of the Company for such period at any time outstanding, calculated on a trailing 12 month pro forma basis after giving effect to any such Indebtedness recomputed for the most recent fiscal month for which financial statements have been or were required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.01(a)-(c); and

 

(p)         Capital Leases of the Loan Parties entered into in connection with sale-leaseback transactions permitted by Section 6.06; provided, that (A) no such Indebtedness shall be refinanced for a principal amount in excess of the principal balance outstanding thereon at the time of such refinancing and (B) such Indebtedness shall be secured only by the facility which is the subject of such Capital Lease.; and

 

(q)         Indebtedness pursuant to the sale and leaseback by Gotham Properties LLC, an Oregon limited liability company (“Gotham”), pursuant to that certain Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of December 21, 2022, between J & D Property, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company (“JD”) and Gotham with respect to the property located at 29441 W. Enid Road, Eugene, OR 97402 which Indebtedness shall not exceed the lease obligations in accordance with the terms set forth in the Industrial Lease, dated as of December 22, 2022, between JD and Gotham (the “Lease”) (as in effect on the Fourth Amendment Effective Date) and any amendments to the Lease increasing the lease obligations shall require prior written consent of the Administrative Agent.

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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) 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 any Loan Party 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 such Borrower or Subsidiary or any other Borrower or Subsidiary 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)         Intentionally Omitted;

 

(e)         any Lien existing on any property or asset (other than Accounts and Inventory) prior to the acquisition thereof by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary or existing on any property or asset (other than Accounts and Inventory) of any Person that becomes a Loan Party after the date hereof prior to the time such Person becomes a Loan Party; provided that (i) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Person becoming a Loan Party, as the case may be, (ii) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or assets of the 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;

 

(f)          Liens of a collecting bank arising in the ordinary course of business under Section 4-210 of the UCC in effect in the relevant jurisdiction covering only the items being collected upon;

 

(g)         Liens arising out of Sale and Leaseback Transactions permitted by Section 6.06;

 

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

 

(i)          leases, licenses, subleases or sublicenses of real property or equipment granted to others in the ordinary course of business which do not (i) interfere in any material respect with the business of any Loan Party or its Subsidiaries or (ii) secure any Indebtedness;

 

(j)          Liens arising from filing Uniform Commercial Code or personal property security financing statements (or substantially equivalent filings outside of the United States) regarding operating leases covering solely the property leased pursuant to such operating lease;

 

(k)         non-exclusive licenses of the intellectual property of any Borrower or any Subsidiary entered into in the ordinary course of business so long as such licenses do not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect or interfere in any material respect with the ordinary course conduct of the business of any Borrower or any Subsidiary;

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(l)          rights of setoff, netting or bankers’ liens upon deposits of funds in favor of banks or other depository institutions, solely to the extent incurred in connection with the maintenance of such Deposit Accounts in the ordinary course of business;

 

(m)        Liens in the nature of the right of setoff in favor of counterparties to contractual agreements with Borrower or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

 

(n)         Liens granted in the ordinary course of business on the unearned portion of insurance premiums securing the financing of insurance premiums to the extent the financing is permitted under Section 6.01(j);

 

(o)         Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law which secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods in the ordinary course of business;

 

(p)         Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods entered into by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business; provided that no such Liens shall be permitted on any Inventory or Accounts included in the determination of the Borrowing Base;

 

(q)         Liens on cash collateral provided by GPP in an amount not to exceed an aggregate principal amount of $100,000 in favor of Bank of Montreal securing obligations of GPP under its corporate credit card program;

 

(r)          Liens securing the Term Loan Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01(n) as long as such Liens are subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, or, in the case of Incremental Equivalent Debt permitted under Section 6.01(n) provided by Persons other than the Term Loan Lenders, such Liens are subject to an intercreditor agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

 

(s)         Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01(i); provided that such Liens are of a type described in Section 6.01(i) and are not created in contemplation of or in connection with such Person becoming a Subsidiary, such Liens will not apply to any other property of any Loan Party, such Liens will secure only those obligations secured by such Liens on the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary and in the event such Liens are secured by ABL Priority Collateral, such Liens are subject to an intercreditor agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

 

(t)          Liens securing (i) Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 6.01(e), provided, any such Lien shall encumber only the asset acquired, constructed or improved with the proceeds of such Indebtedness and in the event such Liens are secured by ABL Priority Collateral, such Liens are subject to an intercreditor agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (ii) Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 6.01(p), provided any such Lien shall encumber only the facility that is the subject of such Capital Lease; and

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(u)         additional Liens so long as the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the obligations secured thereby at the time such Lien is incurred does not exceed the greater of (x) $50,000,000 and (y) 50% of EBITDA of the Company for such period at any time outstanding (calculated on a trailing 12 month pro forma basis after giving effect to any such Indebtedness recomputed for the most recent fiscal month for which financial statements have been or were required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.01(a)-(c)) and in the event such Liens are secured by ABL Priority Collateral, such Liens are subject to an intercreditor agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

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, other than those permitted under clause (a) of the definition of “Permitted Encumbrances” and clause (a) above and (2) Inventory, other than those permitted under clauses (a) and (b) of the definition of “Permitted Encumbrances” and clauses (a) above.

 

SECTION 6.03          Fundamental Changes.

 

(a)          No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, merge into or amalgamate or consolidate with any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into or amalgamate or consolidate with it, or otherwise Dispose of all or any substantial part of its assets, or all or substantially all of the stock of any of its Subsidiaries (in each case, whether now owned or hereafter acquired), 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 any Borrower may merge or amalgamate into a Borrower in a transaction in which such Borrower is the surviving entity, (ii) any Loan Party may merge into or amalgamate with any other Loan Party in a transaction in which the surviving entity is a Loan Party (provided, that (A) if such merger involves the Company, the Company must be the surviving entity and continue to own directly or indirectly 100% of the issued and outstanding voting Equity Interests of each other Loan Party and (B) if such merger involves a Borrower and a Loan Party that is not a Borrower, the Borrower must be the surviving entity), and (iii) any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party may liquidate or dissolve if the Loan Party which owns such Subsidiary determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of such Loan Party 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.

 

(b)         No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, consummate a Division as the Dividing Person, without the prior written consent of Administrative Agent. Without limiting the foregoing, if any Loan Party that is a limited liability company consummates a Division (with or without the prior consent of Administrative Agent as required above), each Division Successor shall be required to comply with the obligations set forth in Section 5.14 and the other further assurances obligations set forth in the Loan Documents and become a Loan Party under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

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(c)         No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, engage in any business other than businesses of the type conducted by the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries on the date hereof and businesses reasonably related thereto.

 

(d)         No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, change its fiscal year from the basis in effect on the Effective Date.

 

(e)         No Loan Party will change the accounting basis upon which its financial statements are prepared.

 

(f)          No Loan Party will change any entity classification election for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

SECTION 6.04          Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, form any subsidiary after the Effective Date, or 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 evidences of Indebtedness or Equity Interests 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 obligations 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 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 in existence on the date hereof and described in Schedule 6.04;

 

(c)         investments by the Loan Parties and their 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 a Security Agreement (other than Excluded Collateral and subject to the limitations applicable to Equity Interests of a Foreign Subsidiary referred to in Section 5.14),

 

(B)          the aggregate amount of investments (determined without regard to any write-downs or write-offs) by Loan Parties in Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties (other than Investments set forth on Schedule 6.04 in an aggregate amount as in effect on the Effective Date) shall not (together with loans permitted by Section 6.04(d)(B)) exceed $500,000 made in any fiscal year of the Borrowers; and

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(C)          no such investments into a non-Loan Party may be made while an Event of Default is continuing or would result therefrom (unless otherwise consented to by Administrative Agent);

 

(d)         loans or advances made by any (i) Loan Party to any Subsidiary and (ii) Subsidiary to a Loan Party or any other Subsidiary, provided that:

 

(A)         any such loans and advances made by a Loan Party to Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties shall be evidenced by a promissory note pledged pursuant to a Security Agreement,

 

(B)          the amount of such loans and advances (in each case determined without regard to any write-downs or write-offs) made by Loan Parties to Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties (other than Investments set forth on Schedule 6.04 in an aggregate amount as in effect on the Effective Date) shall not (together with investments permitted by Section 6.04(c)(B)) exceed $500,000 made in any fiscal year of the Borrowers, and

 

(C)          no such loans or advances into a non-Loan Party may be made while an Event of Default is continuing or would result therefrom (unless otherwise consented to by Administrative Agent);

 

(e)          Guarantees constituting Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01, provided that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness (without regard to any write-downs or write-offs) of Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties that are Guaranteed by any Loan Party shall not exceed $500,000 incurred in any fiscal year of the Borrowers;

 

(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 $2,500,000 in the aggregate at any one time outstanding;

 

(g)         notes payable, or stock or other securities issued by Account Debtors 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;

 

(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 of a Loan Party or consolidates or merges with a Loan Party or any of the 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 Dispositions permitted by Section 6.05;

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

 

(l)          Permitted Acquisitions;

 

(m)         investments in cash;

 

(n)         investments consisting of extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising from the grant of trade credit in the ordinary course of business;

 

(o)         investments received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of, or settlement of delinquent accounts and disputes with, customers and suppliers, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

 

(p)         strategic investments (other than Acquisitions) consistent with any line of business in which the Loan Parties are engaged on the Effective Date and subject to Administrative Agent’s approval in its sole discretion (including with respect to aggregate amounts outstanding, economic terms and the form and substance thereof);

 

(q)         other investments in an aggregate amount outstanding at any one time not in excess of $500,000; and

 

(r)          the following Investments so long as before and after giving effect to such Investment, Excess Availability calculated on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such Investment is not less than an amount equal to 15% of the Aggregate Revolving Commitment:

 

(i)            other Investments by a Loan Party in an aggregate amount not to exceed $75,000,000 since the Second Amendment Effective Date, if no Default or Event of Default has occurred or is continuing or would result therefrom;

 

(ii)           additional Investments by a Loan Party in an aggregate amount not to exceed the Available Amount (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement as in effect on the Second Amendment Effective Date, including, without limitation, as to any component definitions included in such definition) as of such date, if no Default or Event of Default has occurred or is continuing or would result therefrom; and

 

(iii)          additional Investments by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries if, after giving effect thereto, the Total Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement, as in effect on the Second Amendment Effective Date including, without limitation, as to any component definitions included in such definition) would be less than 3.00 to 1.00 (, calculated on a trailing 12 month pro forma basis after giving effect to any such Investment recomputed for the most recent fiscal month for which financial statements have been or were required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.01(a)-(c), if no Default or Event of Default has occurred or is continuing or would result therefrom.

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SECTION 6.05           Asset Sales. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, Dispose of any asset, including any Equity Interest owned by it, nor will any Loan Party permit any Subsidiary to issue any additional Equity Interest in such Subsidiary (other than to another Loan Party or another Subsidiary in compliance with Section 6.04), except:

 

(a)         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)         Dispositions of assets to any Loan Party or any Subsidiary, provided that any such Dispositions involving a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party shall be made in compliance with Section 6.09;

 

(c)         Dispositions of Accounts in connection with the compromise, settlement or collection thereof;

 

(d)         Dispositions of Permitted Investments;

 

(e)         Sale and Leaseback Transactions permitted by Section 6.06;

 

(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 Borrower or any Subsidiary;

 

(g)         [reserved]; and

 

(h)         Dispositions of assets (other than Equity Interests in a Subsidiary) that are not permitted by any other clause of this Section, provided that the aggregate fair market value of all assets Disposed of in reliance upon this paragraph (h) shall not exceed $500,000 during any fiscal year of the Company;

 

provided that all 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. 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 (a “Sale and Leaseback Transaction”), provided that the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries may become and remain liable as lessee, guarantor or other surety with respect to any such lease which is a Capital Lease permitted pursuant to Section 6.01(e); provided, further, that (A) the material terms and conditions of such sale-leaseback transaction (including any Capital Lease in connection with such transaction) shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (B) [reserved], (C) the lessor (or lenders under any Capital Lease) in connection with such transaction shall agree to provide the Administrative Agent access to the Collateral located at such facility pursuant to an agreement reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent (the terms of which shall include subordination and non-disturbance provisions with respect to any such Collateral, and other terms as may be reasonably required by Administrative Agent), (D) the amount of consideration payable to the Company or its Subsidiaries (and the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness in respect of any Capital Leases) in any such transaction shall not exceed the fair market value of any such facility (determined in good faith by the board of directors of the Company (or similar governing body)) and (E) the Net Proceeds with respect to any such Capital Lease shall be applied to repay Indebtedness to the extent required pursuant to Section 2.11(c).

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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 any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries), and (b) Swap Agreements entered into in order to effectively cap, collar or exchange interest rates (from floating to fixed 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 declare or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, or incur any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to do so, except (i) each of the Loan Parties 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) any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party may make a Restricted Payment to a Loan Party, any Loan Party may make a Restricted Payment to another Loan Party, and any Subsidiary which is not a Loan Party may make a Restricted Payment to another Subsidiary, (iii) each of the Loan Parties may declare and pay cash dividends with respect to, and redeem, its common stock and its preferred stock (and each Subsidiary may declare and pay cash dividends to the Loan Parties (or their respective parent) for the sole purpose of allowing the Loan Parties to pay such dividends or redemptions) so long as the Payment Conditions are satisfied with respect to any such Restricted Payment.

 

(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 permitted under Section 6.01, other than payments among Loan Parties and in respect of the Subordinated Indebtedness prohibited by the subordination provisions thereof;

 

(iii)         payments of Indebtedness owing by (A) one Loan Party to another Loan Party, and (B) a Subsidiary which is not a Loan Party to a Loan Party;

 

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

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(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 to the extent such sale or transfer is permitted by the terms of Section 6.05;

 

(vi)         payment of (i) Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries associated with the deferred purchase price of Acquisitions consummated on or prior to the Second Amendment Effective Date, and (ii) to the extent constituting Indebtedness, unsecured earnouts and seller Indebtedness issued in connection with any Permitted Acquisition not to exceed $30,000,000 at any time outstanding; provided that in each case of clauses (i) and (ii), the Payment Conditions shall have been satisfied with respect to any such payment; and provided further that, with respect to any deferred purchase price or earnouts or similar obligation due in connection with the Acquisition of APP permitted pursuant to clause (i) above, (x) the Payment Conditions (except for clause (b)(B) of the definition thereof) shall have been satisfied with respect to any such payment and (y) such payment shall not exceed $25,000,000; and

 

(vii)        with respect to any Term Loan Indebtedness, Additional Term Loans or Incremental Equivalent Debt permitted under Section 6.01(n) (A) any regularly scheduled principal or cash interest payments with respect to any Term Loan Indebtedness or (B) any mandatory prepayment resulting from, and with proceeds of, a Disposition of Term Loan Priority Collateral or resulting from, and with proceeds of insurance on Term Loan Priority Collateral, or (C) any mandatory prepayment resulting from Consolidated Excess Cash Flow (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement as in effect on the Second Amendment Effective Date), so long as no Event of Default is then in existence or would result from such payment, (D) other mandatory prepayments, or any optional or voluntary prepayment of principal (whether by set-off, redemption, defeasance, or other payment or distribution) with respect to any Term Loan ObligationsIndebtedness; provided, in each case under this clause (D), (x) there is no Event of Default then in existence or resulting from such payment, (y) Excess Availability is no less than 15% of the Aggregate Revolving Commitment after giving effect to any such payment and (z) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, calculated on a trailing 12 month pro forma basis after giving effect to any such payment recomputed for the most recent fiscal month for which financial statements have been or were required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.01 (a)-(c), is not less than 1.15 to 1.00.

 

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 such Loan Party or such Subsidiary than could be obtained on an arm’s-length basis from unrelated third parties, (b) transactions between or among Loan Parties not involving any other Affiliate, (c) any investment permitted by Sections 6.04(c), 6.04(d) or 6.04(e), (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 any Loan Party or any Subsidiary who are not employees of such Loan Party or Subsidiary, and compensation and employee benefit arrangements paid to, and indemnities provided for the benefit of, directors, officers or employees of the Loan Parties or their 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, stock options and stock ownership plans approved by a Loan Party’s 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 Subsidiary 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 any Loan Party or any other Subsidiary or to Guarantee Indebtedness of any Loan Party or any other Subsidiary; provided that (i) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions imposed by any Requirement of 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 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 pending such sale, provided that such restrictions and conditions apply only to the Subsidiary 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 and (v) clause (a) of the foregoing shall not apply to customary provisions in leases and other contracts restricting the assignment thereof.

 

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) any agreement relating to any Subordinated Indebtedness, (b) its charter, articles or certificate of incorporation or organization, by-laws, operating, management or partnership agreement or other organizational or governing documents, (c) any agreement constituting Material Indebtedness, to the extent any such amendment, modification or waiver would be adverse to the Lenders or (d) any Term Loan Document other than as permitted pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

SECTION 6.12         Compliance with Laws. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, sell products, inventory or services directly to marijuana/cannabis growers operating in any country that prohibits the sale and use of marijuana/cannabis products other than in accordance with the applicable laws of such country.

 

SECTION 6.13          Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.

 

(a)   On and prior to the FY2020 Date, the Borrowers will not permit the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, to be less than 1.10 to 1.0 when measured on a trailing twelve month basis, as of the end of each fiscal month of the Borrowers (for the avoidance of doubt, so long as the end of such period is on or prior to the FY2020 Date).

 

(b)   Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of a Covenant Testing Trigger Period, the Borrowers will not permit the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio to be less than 1.10 to 1.0 when measured, on a trailing twelve month basis, as of the end of: (a) the last fiscal month immediately preceding the occurrence of such Covenant Testing Trigger Period for which financial statements have most recently been or were required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01 and (b) each fiscal month for which financial statements are or are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01 during such Covenant Testing Trigger Period.

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ARTICLE VII

 

EVENTS OF DEFAULT.

 

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

 

(a)          the Borrowers 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 Borrowers 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 or any other Loan Document, when and as the same shall become due and payable and such failure shall continue for 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 other Loan Document or any amendment or modification hereof or thereof or waiver hereunder or thereunder, or in any report, certificate, financial statement or other document furnished pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any amendment or modification hereof or thereof or waiver hereunder or thereunder, shall prove to have been materially incorrect 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, in Article VI of this Agreement, in Article IV of the U.S. Security Agreement, in Article VII of the U.S. Security Agreement, in Article IV of the Canadian Security Agreement or in Article VII of the Canadian Security Agreement;

 

(e)          any Loan Party shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in any Loan Document (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 5.015.02 (other than Section 5.02(a)), 5.03 through 5.07, 5.10, 5.11, or 5.13 of this Agreement or (ii) 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 or any other Loan Document;

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(f)           any Loan Party or 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 to the extent such sale or transfer is permitted by Section 6.05;

 

(h)          an involuntary case or proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) winding up, dissolution, administration, liquidation, reorganization (including a scheme of arrangement), examinership or other relief in respect of a Loan Party or a Subsidiary or its debts, or of a substantial part of its assets, under any Insolvency Laws now or hereafter in effect or (ii) the appointment of a receiver, administrative receiver, interim receiver, receiver and manager, administrator, monitor, compulsory manager examiner, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for any Loan Party or any Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, and, in any such case, such proceeding, case or petition shall continue undismissed for sixty (60) days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;

 

(i)           Any Loan Party or any Subsidiary shall (i) suspend any payments, (ii) voluntarily commence any case or proceeding or file any petition seeking a moratorium of any indebtedness, winding-up, dissolution, administration, liquidation, reorganization, examinership or other relief under any Insolvency Laws now or hereafter in effect, (iii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any case, proceeding or petition described in clause (h) of this Article, (iv) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, interim receiver, receiver and manager, examiner, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for such Loan Party or such Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, (v) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such case or proceeding, (vi) enter into a composition, compromise, arrangement or make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors by reason of, or with a view to, avoiding actual or anticipated financial difficulties or (vii) take any action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing;

 

(j)           (i) the occurrence of any Default (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement) or the breach of any of the terms or provisions of any Term Loan Document, which default or breach continues beyond any period of grace therein provided, (ii) the termination or breach of the Intercreditor Agreement by any Loan Party, or (iii) the attempt by any Loan Party to terminate or challenge in writing the validity of its obligations under the Intercreditor Agreement;

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(k)         Any Loan Party or any Subsidiary shall become unable, admit in writing its inability, or publicly declare its intention not to, or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due;

 

(l)          (i) the Term Loan Agent or any Term Loan Lender fails to comply with the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement or (ii) the Intercreditor Agreement is no longer enforceable;

 

(m)        [reserved];

 

(n)         [reserved];

 

(o)         (i) one or more judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of $500,000 shall be rendered against any Loan Party, any Subsidiary or any combination thereof and the same shall remain undischarged for a period of 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 Subsidiary to enforce any such judgment (to the extent not covered by (i) third-party insurance as to which the insurer has been notified of such judgment and does not deny coverage, or (ii) indemnification escrow proceeds); or (ii) any Loan Party or Subsidiary shall fail within 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;

 

(p)         an ERISA Event or a Foreign Benefit Arrangement Event shall have occurred that, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent or Required Lenders, when taken together with all other ERISA Events and Foreign Benefit Arrangement Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding $500,000 for all periods;

 

(q)         a Change in Control shall occur;

 

(r)          the occurrence of any “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;

 

(s)         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, including, but not limited to notice of termination delivered pursuant to Section 10.08;

 

(t)          (i) except as permitted by the terms of any Collateral Document, (i) any Collateral Document shall for any reason fail to create a valid security interest in any Collateral purported to be covered thereby, or (ii) any Lien securing any Secured Obligation shall cease to be a perfected Lien having (x) with respect to any ABL Priority Collateral, a first priority interest and (y) with respect to any Term Loan Priority Collateral, a second priority interest;

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(u)         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;

 

(v)         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 that evidences its 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); or

 

(w)        any Loan Party is criminally indicted or convicted under any law that may reasonably be expected to lead to a forfeiture of any property of such Loan Party having a fair market value in excess of $500,000;

 

then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to the Loan Parties 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 Representative, take either or both of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate the Revolving Commitments, whereupon the Revolving Commitments shall terminate immediately, (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), whereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any break funding payments) and other obligations of the Borrowers accrued hereunder and under any other Loan Documents, 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 Borrowers and (iii) require cash collateral for the LC Exposure in accordance with Section 2.06(j) hereof; and in the case of any event with respect to the Loan Parties described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article, the Revolving Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding and the cash collateral for the LC Exposure, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any break funding payments) and other obligations of the Borrowers accrued hereunder and under any other Loan Documents, 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 Borrowers. 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 and the PPSA.

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ARTICLE VIII

 

THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT.

 

SECTION 8.01          Authorization and Action

 

(a)          Each Lender, on behalf of itself and any of its Affiliates that are Secured Parties and Issuing Bank hereby irrevocably appoints the entity named as Administrative Agent in the heading of this Agreement and its successors and assigns to serve as the administrative agent and collateral agent under the Loan Documents and each Lender and Issuing Bank authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as are delegated to the Administrative Agent under such agreements and to exercise such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. In addition, to the extent required under the laws of any jurisdiction other than within the United States, each Lender and Issuing Bank hereby grants to the Administrative Agent any required powers of attorney to execute and enforce any Collateral Document governed by the laws of such jurisdiction on such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s behalf. Without limiting the foregoing, each Lender and Issuing Bank hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, each of the Loan Documents to which the Administrative Agent is a party, and to exercise all rights, powers and remedies that the Administrative Agent may have under such Loan Documents.

 

(b)         As to any matters not expressly provided for herein and in the other Loan Documents (including enforcement or collection), the Administrative Agent shall not be required to exercise any discretion or take any action, but shall be required to act or to refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) upon the written instructions of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, pursuant to the terms in the Loan Documents), and, unless and until revoked in writing, such instructions shall be binding upon each Lender and Issuing Bank; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that (i) the Administrative Agent in good faith believes exposes it to liability unless the Administrative Agent receives an indemnification and is exculpated in a manner satisfactory to it from the Lenders and the Issuing Bank with respect to such action or (ii) is contrary to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or applicable law, including any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any requirement of law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any requirement of law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors; provided, further, that the Administrative Agent may seek clarification or direction from the Required Lenders prior to the exercise of any such instructed action and may refrain from acting until such clarification or direction has been provided. Except as expressly set forth in the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to any Borrower, any other Loan Party, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. Nothing in this Agreement shall require the Administrative Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

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(c)          In performing its functions and duties hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent is acting solely on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Bank (except in limited circumstances expressly provided for herein relating to the maintenance of the Register), and its duties are entirely mechanical and administrative in nature. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:

 

(i)             the Administrative Agent does not assume and shall not be deemed to have assumed any obligation or duty or any other relationship as the agent, fiduciary or trustee of or for any Lender, Issuing Bank, any other Secured Party or holder of any other obligation other than as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, regardless of whether a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing (and it is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” (or any similar term) herein or in any other Loan Document with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary duty or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law, and that such term is used as a matter of market custom and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties); additionally, each Lender agrees that it will not assert any claim against the Administrative Agent based on an alleged breach of fiduciary duty by the Administrative Agent in connection with this Agreement and/or the transactions contemplated hereby;

 

(ii)           nothing in this Agreement or any Loan Document shall require the Administrative Agent to account to any Lender for any sum or the profit element of any sum received by the Administrative Agent for its own account; and

 

(iii)          the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible or have any liability for, or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into, monitor or enforce, compliance with the provisions hereof relating to Competitors, and the Administrative Agent shall not (x) be obligated to ascertain, monitor or inquire as to whether any Lender or Participant or prospective Lender or Participant is a Competitor or (y) have any liability with respect to or arising out of any assignment or participation of Loans or Revolving Commitments to any Competitor. Furthermore, the Administrative Agent shall have the right, and the Borrowers hereby expressly authorize the Administrative Agent, to disclose the list of Competitors to each Lender requesting the same.

 

(d)          The Administrative Agent may perform any of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any of their respective duties and exercise their respective rights and powers through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities pursuant to this Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub agent except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and non-appealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agent.

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(e)         None of any Syndication Agent, any Co-Documentation Agent or any Arranger shall have obligations or duties whatsoever in such capacity under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and shall incur no liability hereunder or thereunder in such capacity, but all such persons shall have the benefit of the indemnities provided for hereunder.

 

(f)          In case of the pendency of any proceeding with respect to any Loan Party under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or any reimbursement obligation in respect of any LC Disbursement shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on any Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered (but not obligated) by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

 

(i)            to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, LC Disbursements and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent (including any claim under Sections 2.12, 2.13, 2.15, 2.17 and 9.03) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

 

(ii)           to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

 

and any custodian, receiver, interim receiver, receiver and manager, monitor, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender, Issuing Bank and each other Secured Party to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, the Issuing Bank or the other Secured Parties, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due to it, in its capacity as the Administrative Agent, under the Loan Documents (including under Section 9.03). Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender or Issuing Bank any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or Issuing Bank or to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender or Issuing Bank in any such proceeding.

 

(g)         The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Bank, and, except solely to the extent of the Borrowers’ right to consent pursuant to and subject to the conditions set forth in this Article, no Loan Party nor any Subsidiary, or any of their respective Affiliates, shall have any rights as a third party beneficiary under any such provisions. Each Secured Party, whether or not a party hereto, will be deemed, by its acceptance of the benefits of the Collateral and of the Guarantees of the Secured Obligations provided under the Loan Documents, to have agreed to the provisions of this Article.

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(h)          Without limiting the powers of the Administrative Agent, for the purposes of holding any hypothec granted to the Attorney (as defined below) pursuant to the laws of the Province of Québec to secure the prompt payment and performance of any and all Secured Obligations by any Loan Party, each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent and, to the extent necessary, ratifies the appointment and authorization of the Administrative Agent, to act as the hypothecary representative for the Secured Parties as contemplated under Article 2692 of the Civil Code of Québec (in such capacity, the “Attorney”), and to enter into, to take and to hold on their behalf, and for their benefit, any hypothec, and to exercise such powers and duties that are conferred upon the Attorney under any related deed of hypothec and applicable law. The Attorney shall: (a) have the sole and exclusive right and authority to exercise, except as may be otherwise specifically restricted by the terms hereof, all rights and remedies given to the Attorney pursuant to any such deed of hypothec and applicable law, and (b) benefit from and be subject to all provisions hereof with respect to the Administrative Agent mutatis mutandis, including all such provisions with respect to the liability or responsibility to and indemnification by the Secured Parties and Loan Parties. Any person who becomes a Secured Party shall be deemed to have consented to and confirmed the Administrative Agent as Attorney holding the aforesaid hypothecs as aforesaid and to have ratified, as of the date it becomes a Secured Party, all actions taken by the Attorney in such capacity. The substitution of the Administrative Agent pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement also constitute the substitution of the Attorney. In the event the Administrative Agent is replaced, each successor Administrative Agent appointed in accordance with the terms of this Agreement shall also act as hypothecary representative for the Secured Parties and shall automatically (and without any further action or formality) become the successor hypothecary representative for the purposes of each then existing deed of hypothec executed in connection with this Agreement. Upon such replacement becoming effective, notices of replacement will be registered in each applicable register, as contemplated by Article 2692 of the Civil Code of Québec.

 

SECTION 8.02           Administrative Agent’s Reliance, Limitation of Liability, Etc.

 

(a)          Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its Related Parties shall be (i) liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by such party, the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties under or in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (x) with the consent of or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith to be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in the Loan Documents) or (y) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct (such absence to be presumed unless otherwise determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and non-appealable judgment) or (ii) responsible in any manner to any of the Lenders for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties made by any Loan Party or any officer thereof contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Administrative Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document or for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (including, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with the Administrative Agent’s reliance on any Electronic Signature transmitted by facsimile, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page) or for any failure of any Loan Party to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder.

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(b)         The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any (i) notice of any of the events or circumstances set forth or described in Section 5.02 unless and until written notice thereof stating that it is a “notice under Section 5.02” in respect of this Agreement and identifying the specific clause under said Section is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower Representative, or (ii) notice of any Default or Event of Default unless and until written notice thereof (stating that it is a “notice of Default” or a “notice of an Event of Default”) is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower Representative, a Lender or the Issuing Bank. Further, the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with any Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered thereunder or in connection therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth in any Loan Document or the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, (iv) the sufficiency, validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere in any Loan Document, other than to confirm receipt of items (which on their face purport to be such items) expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent or satisfaction of any condition that expressly refers to the matters described therein being acceptable or satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (vi) the creation, perfection or priority of Liens on the Collateral. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Administrative Agent shall not be liable for, or be responsible for any Liabilities, costs or expenses suffered by any Borrower, any other Loan Party, any Subsidiary, any Lender or the Issuing Bank as a result of, any determination of the Revolving Exposure, any of the component amounts thereof or any portion thereof attributable to each Lender or Issuing Bank, or any exchange rate or Dollar Equivalent.

 

(c)          Without limiting the foregoing, the Administrative Agent (i) may treat the payee of any promissory note as its holder until such promissory note has been assigned in accordance with Section 9.04, (ii) may rely on the Register to the extent set forth in Section 9.04(b), (iii) may consult with legal counsel (including counsel to the Borrowers), independent public accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts, (iv) makes no warranty or representation to any Lender or Issuing Bank and shall not be responsible to any Lender or Issuing Bank for any statements, warranties or representations made by or on behalf of any Loan Party in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (v) in determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or an Issuing Bank, may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or Issuing Bank unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or Issuing Bank sufficiently in advance of the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit and (vi) shall be entitled to rely on, and shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by acting upon, any notice, consent, certificate or other instrument or writing (which writing may be a fax, any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) or any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper party or parties (whether or not such Person in fact meets the requirements set forth in the Loan Documents for being the maker thereof).

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SECTION 8.03           Communications.

 

(a)          The Loan Parties agree that the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make any Communications available to the Lenders and the Issuing Bank by posting the Communications on IntraLinks™, DebtDomain, SyndTrak, ClearPar or any other electronic system chosen by the Administrative Agent to be its electronic transmission system (the “Approved Electronic Platform”).

 

(b)          Although the Approved Electronic Platform and its primary web portal are secured with generally-applicable security procedures and policies implemented or modified by the Administrative Agent from time to time (including, as of the Effective Date, a user ID/password authorization system) and the Approved Electronic Platform is secured through a per-deal authorization method whereby each user may access the Approved Electronic Platform only on a deal-by-deal basis, each of the Lenders, the Issuing Bank and each Loan Party acknowledges and agrees that the distribution of material through an electronic medium is not necessarily secure, that the Administrative Agent is not responsible for approving or vetting the representatives or contacts of any Lender that are added to the Approved Electronic Platform, and that there may be confidentiality and other risks associated with such distribution. Each of the Lenders, the Issuing Bank and each Loan Party hereby approves distribution of the Communications through the Approved Electronic Platform and understands and assumes the risks of such distribution.

 

(c)         THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND THE COMMUNICATIONS ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE”. THE APPLICABLE PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE COMMUNICATIONS, OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND THE COMMUNICATIONS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY THE APPLICABLE PARTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS OR THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY ARRANGER, ANY CO-DOCUMENTATION AGENT, ANY SYNDICATION AGENT OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE RELATED PARTIES (COLLECTIVELY, “APPLICABLE PARTIES”) HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO ANY LOAN PARTY, ANY LENDER, ISSUING BANK OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT OR INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOSSES OR EXPENSES (WHETHER IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF ANY LOAN PARTY’S OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S TRANSMISSION OF COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH THE INTERNET OR THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM.

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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 Issuing Bank by means of electronic communications pursuant to this Section, including through an Approved Electronic Platform.

 

(d)          Each Lender and Issuing Bank agrees that notice to it (as provided in the next sentence) specifying that Communications have been posted to the Approved Electronic Platform shall constitute effective delivery of the Communications to such Lender for purposes of the Loan Documents. Each Lender and Issuing Bank agrees (i) to notify the Administrative Agent in writing (which could be in the form of electronic communication) from time to time of such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s (as applicable) email address to which the foregoing notice may be sent by electronic transmission and (ii) that the foregoing notice may be sent to such email address.

 

(e)          Each of the Lenders, Issuing Bank and each Loan Party agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but (except as may be required by applicable law) shall not be obligated to, store the Communications on the Approved Electronic Platform in accordance with the Administrative Agent’s generally applicable document retention procedures and policies.

 

(f)           Nothing herein shall prejudice the right of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or Issuing Bank to give any notice or other communication pursuant to any Loan Document in any other manner specified in such Loan Document.

 

SECTION 8.04          The Administrative Agent Individually. With respect to its Commitment, Loans (including Swingline Loans) and Letters of Credit, the Person serving as the Administrative Agent shall have and may exercise the same rights and powers hereunder and is subject to the same obligations and liabilities as and to the extent set forth herein for any other Lender or Issuing Bank, as the case may be. The terms “Issuing Bank”, “Lenders”, “Required Lenders” and any similar terms shall, unless the context clearly otherwise indicates, include the Administrative Agent in its individual capacity as a Lender, Issuing Bank or as one of the Required Lenders, as applicable. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust or other business with, any Loan Party, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing as if such Person was not acting as the Administrative Agent and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders or the Issuing Bank.

 

SECTION 8.05          Successor Administrative Agent.

 

(a)          The Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving 30 days’ prior written notice thereof to the Lenders, the Issuing Bank and the Borrower Representative, whether or not a successor Administrative Agent has been appointed. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Administrative Agent. If no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders, and shall have accepted such appointment, within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent’s giving of notice of resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Bank, appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which shall be a bank with an office in New York, New York or an Affiliate of any such bank. In either case, such appointment shall be subject to the prior written approval of the Borrower Representative (which approval may not be unreasonably withheld and shall not be required while an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing). Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Administrative Agent by a successor Administrative Agent, such successor Administrative Agent shall succeed to, and become vested with, all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent. Upon the acceptance of appointment as Administrative Agent by a successor Administrative Agent, the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Prior to any retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder as Administrative Agent, the retiring Administrative Agent shall take such action as may be reasonably necessary to assign to the successor Administrative Agent its rights as Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents.

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(b)          Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this Section, in the event no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its intent to resign, the retiring Administrative Agent may give notice of the effectiveness of its resignation to the Lenders, the Issuing Bank and the Borrowers, whereupon, on the date of effectiveness of such resignation stated in such notice, (i) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents; 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 continue to be entitled to the rights set forth in such Collateral Document and Loan Document, 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 Section (it being understood and agreed that the retiring Administrative Agent shall have no duty 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 (ii) the Required Lenders shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent; provided that (A) all payments required to be made hereunder or under any other Loan Document to the Administrative Agent for the account of any Person other than the Administrative Agent shall be made directly to such Person and (B) all notices and other communications required or contemplated to be given or made to the Administrative Agent shall directly be given or made to each Lender and Issuing Bank. Following the effectiveness of the Administrative Agent'sAgent’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 the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent and in respect of the matters referred to in the proviso under clause (a) above.

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SECTION 8.06          Acknowledgements of Lenders and Issuing Bank.

 

(a)          Each Lender and Issuing Bank represents and warrants that (i) the Loan Documents set forth the terms of a commercial lending facility, (ii) it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans and in providing other facilities set forth herein as may be applicable to such Lender or Issuing Bank, in each case in the ordinary course of business, and not for the purpose of purchasing, acquiring or holding any other type of financial instrument (and each Lender and Issuing Bank agrees not to assert a claim in contravention of the foregoing), (iii) it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, any Syndication Agent, any Co-Documentation Agent, or any other Lender or Issuing Bank, or any of the Related Parties of any of the foregoing, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement as a Lender, and to make, acquire or hold Loans hereunder and (iv) it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to make, acquire and/or hold commercial loans and to provide other facilities set forth herein, as may be applicable to such Lender or such Issuing Bank, and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to make, acquire and/or hold such commercial loans or to provide such other facilities, is experienced in making, acquiring or holding such commercial loans or providing such other facilities. Each Lender and Issuing Bank also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, any Syndication Agent, any Co-Documentation Agent, or any other Lender or Issuing Bank, or any of the Related Parties of any of the foregoing, and based on such documents and information (which may contain material, non-public information within the meaning of the United States securities laws concerning the Borrowers and their Affiliates) as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

 

(b)          Each Lender, by delivering its signature page to this Agreement on the Effective Date, or delivering its signature page to an Assignment and Assumption or any other Loan Document pursuant to which it shall become a Lender hereunder, shall be deemed to have acknowledged receipt of, and consented to and approved, each Loan Document and each other document required to be delivered to, or be approved by or satisfactory to, the Administrative Agent or the Lenders on the Effective Date or the effective date of any such Assignment and Assumption or any other Loan Document pursuant to which it shall have become a Lender hereunder.

 

(c)          Each Lender hereby agrees that (i) it has requested a copy of each Report prepared by or on behalf of the Administrative Agent; (ii) the Administrative Agent (A) 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 (B) shall not be liable for any information contained in any Report; (iii) 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; (iv) 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 (v) without limiting the generality of any other indemnification provision contained in this Agreement, (A) 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 a Borrower, or the indemnifying Lender’s participation in, or the indemnifying Lender’s purchase of, a Loan or Loans; and (B) 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.

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(d)          (i) Each Lender hereby agrees that (x) if the Administrative Agent notifies such Lender that the Administrative Agent has determined in its sole discretion that any funds received by such Lender from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates (whether as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, interest, fees or otherwise; individually and collectively, a “Payment”) were erroneously transmitted to such Lender (whether or not known to such Lender), and demands the return of such Payment (or a portion thereof), such Lender shall promptly, but in no event later than one (1) Business Day thereafter, return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made in same day funds, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at the greater of the NYFRB Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect, and (y) to the extent permitted by applicable law, such Lender shall not assert, and hereby waives, as to the Administrative Agent, any claim, counterclaim, defense or right of set-off or recoupment with respect to any demand, claim or counterclaim by the Administrative Agent for the return of any Payments received, including without limitation any defense based on “discharge for value” or any similar doctrine. A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender under this Section 8.06(d) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

 

(ii)    Each Lender hereby further agrees that if it receives a Payment from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates (x) that is in a different amount than, or on a different date from, that specified in a notice of payment sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) with respect to such Payment (a “Payment Notice”) or (y) that was not preceded or accompanied by a Payment Notice, it shall be on notice, in each such case, that an error has been made with respect to such Payment. Each Lender agrees that, in each such case, or if it otherwise becomes aware a Payment (or portion thereof) may have been sent in error, such Lender shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent of such occurrence and, upon demand from the Administrative Agent, it shall promptly, but in no event later than one (1) Business Day thereafter, return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made in same day funds, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at the greater of the NYFRB Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect.

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(iii)        Each Borrower and each other Loan Party hereby agrees that (x) in the event an erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) are not recovered from any Lender that has received such Payment (or portion thereof) for any reason, the Administrative Agent shall be subrogated to all the rights of such Lender with respect to such amount and (y) an erroneous Payment shall not pay, prepay, repay, discharge or otherwise satisfy any Obligations owed by any Borrower or any other Loan Party.

 

(iv)         Each party’s obligations under this Section 8.06(d) shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any transfer of rights or obligations by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments or the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all Obligations under any Loan Document.

 

SECTION 8.07          Collateral Matters.

 

(a)          Except with respect to the exercise of setoff rights in accordance with Section 9.08 or with respect to a Secured Party’s right to file a proof of claim in an insolvency proceeding, no Secured Party shall have any right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral or to enforce any Guarantee of the Secured Obligations, it being understood and agreed that all powers, rights and remedies under the Loan Documents may be exercised solely by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties in accordance with the terms thereof. 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 UCC and the PPSA, as applicable. 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.

 

(b)         In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation thereof, no arrangements in respect of Banking Services the obligations under which constitute Secured Obligations and no Swap Agreement the obligations under which constitute Secured Obligations, will create (or be deemed to create) in favor of any Secured Party that is a party thereto any rights in connection with the management or release of any Collateral or of the obligations of any Loan Party under any Loan Document. By accepting the benefits of the Collateral, each Secured Party that is a party to any such arrangement in respect of Banking Services or Swap Agreement, as applicable, shall be deemed to have appointed the Administrative Agent to serve as administrative agent and collateral agent under the Loan Documents and agreed to be bound by the Loan Documents as a Secured Party thereunder, subject to the limitations set forth in this paragraph.

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(c)          The Secured Parties irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion, to subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted by Section 6.02(d). The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have a duty to ascertain or inquire into any representation or warranty regarding the existence, value or collectability of the Collateral, the existence, priority or perfection of the Administrative Agent’s Lien thereon or any certificate prepared by any Loan Party in connection therewith, nor shall the Administrative Agent be responsible or liable to the Lenders or any other Secured Party for any failure to monitor or maintain any portion of the Collateral.

 

SECTION 8.08           Credit Bidding. The Secured Parties hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at the direction of the Required Lenders, to credit bid all or any portion of the Obligations (including by accepting some or all of the Collateral in satisfaction of some or all of the Obligations pursuant to a deed in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise) and in such manner purchase (either directly or through one or more acquisition vehicles) all or any portion of the Collateral (a) at any sale thereof conducted under the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code, including under Sections 363, 1123 or 1129 of the Bankruptcy Code, or any similar laws in any other jurisdictions to which a Loan Party is subject, or (b) at any other sale, foreclosure or acceptance of collateral in lieu of debt conducted by (or with the consent or at the direction of) the Administrative Agent (whether by judicial action or otherwise) in accordance with any applicable law. In connection with any such credit bid and purchase, the Obligations owed to the Secured Parties shall be entitled to be, and shall be, credit bid by the Administrative Agent at the direction of the Required Lenders on a ratable basis (with Obligations with respect to contingent or unliquidated claims receiving contingent interests in the acquired assets on a ratable basis that shall vest upon the liquidation of such claims in an amount proportional to the liquidated portion of the contingent claim amount used in allocating the contingent interests) for the asset or assets so purchased (or for the equity interests or debt instruments of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles that are issued in connection with such purchase). In connection with any such bid (i) the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to form one or more acquisition vehicles and to assign any successful credit bid to such acquisition vehicle or vehicles, (ii) each of the Secured Parties’ ratable interests in the Obligations which were credit bid shall be deemed without any further action under this Agreement to be assigned to such vehicle or vehicles for the purpose of closing such sale, (iii) the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to adopt documents providing for the governance of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles (provided that any actions by the Administrative Agent with respect to such acquisition vehicle or vehicles, including any disposition of the assets or equity interests thereof, shall be governed, directly or indirectly, by, and the governing documents shall provide for, control by the vote of the Required Lenders or their permitted assignees under the terms of this Agreement or the governing documents of the applicable acquisition vehicle or vehicles, as the case may be, irrespective of the termination of this Agreement and without giving effect to the limitations on actions by the Required Lenders contained in Section 9.02 of this Agreement), (iv) the Administrative Agent on behalf of such acquisition vehicle or vehicles shall be authorized to issue to each of the Secured Parties, ratably on account of the relevant Obligations which were credit bid, interests, whether as equity, partnership interests, limited partnership interests or membership interests, in any such acquisition vehicle and/or debt instruments issued by such acquisition vehicle, all without the need for any Secured Party or acquisition vehicle to take any further action, and (v) to the extent that Obligations that are assigned to an acquisition vehicle are not used to acquire Collateral for any reason (as a result of another bid being higher or better, because the amount of Obligations assigned to the acquisition vehicle exceeds the amount of Obligations credit bid by the acquisition vehicle or otherwise), such Obligations shall automatically be reassigned to the Secured Parties pro rata with their original interest in such Obligations and the equity interests and/or debt instruments issued by any acquisition vehicle on account of such Obligations shall automatically be cancelled, without the need for any Secured Party or any acquisition vehicle to take any further action. Notwithstanding that the ratable portion of the Obligations of each Secured Party are deemed assigned to the acquisition vehicle or vehicles as set forth in clause (ii) above, each Secured Party shall execute such documents and provide such information regarding the Secured Party (and/or any designee of the Secured Party which will receive interests in or debt instruments issued by such acquisition vehicle) as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request in connection with the formation of any acquisition vehicle, the formulation or submission of any credit bid or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by such credit bid.

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SECTION 8.09           Certain ERISA Matters.

 

(a)          Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, and each Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of any Borrower or any other Loan Party, that at least one of the following is and will be true:

 

(i)             such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of the Plan Asset Regulations) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments,

 

(ii)            the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement,

 

(iii)          (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, or

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(iv)           such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.

 

(b)           In addition, unless sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or such Lender has provided another representation, warranty and covenant as provided in sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, and each Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of any Borrower or any other Loan Party, that none of the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, any Syndication Agent, any Co-Documentation Agent, or any of their respective Affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to the Collateral or the assets of such Lender (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related to hereto or thereto).

 

(c)          The Administrative Agent and each Arranger, Syndication Agent and Co-Documentation Agent hereby informs the Lenders that each such Person is not undertaking to provide investment advice or to give advice in a fiduciary capacity, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and that such Person has a financial interest in the transactions contemplated hereby in that such Person or an Affiliate thereof (i) may receive interest or other payments with respect to the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments, this Agreement and any other Loan Documents, (ii) may recognize a gain if it extended the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments for an amount less than the amount being paid for an interest in the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments by such Lender or (iii) may receive fees or other payments in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, the Loan Documents or otherwise, including structuring fees, commitment fees, arrangement fees, facility fees, upfront fees, underwriting fees, ticking fees, agency fees, administrative agent or collateral agent fees, utilization fees, minimum usage fees, letter of credit fees, fronting fees, deal-away or alternate transaction fees, amendment fees, processing fees, term out premiums, banker’s acceptance fees, breakage or other early termination fees or fees similar to the foregoing.

 

SECTION 8.10          Flood Laws. JPMCB 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”). JPMCB, 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, JPMCB 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.

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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 the Borrower Representative at:

 

270 Canal Road

Fairless Hills, PA 19030

Attention: B. John Lindeman

 

With a copy to:

Perkins Coie LLP 

131 S. Dearborn Street, Suite 1700

Chicago, IL 60603

Attention: Teri Lindquist, Esq.

 

(ii)if to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender, to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. at:

 

3 Park Plaza, Suite 900

Irvine, California 92614

Attention: ABL Account Executive

Facsimile No: (949) 471-9872

 

with a copy to:

 

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

300 South Grand Avenue, 22nd Floor

Los Angeles, California 90071-3132

Attention: Marshall Stoddard, Jr., Esq.

Facsimile No: (212) 309-6001

 

(iii)if to any other Lender, to it at its address or facsimile 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 or Approved Electronic Platforms, as applicable, to the extent provided in paragraph (b) below shall be effective as provided in such paragraph.

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(b)          Notices and other communications to any Borrower, any Loan Party, the Lenders and the Issuing Bank hereunder may be delivered or furnished by using Electronic Systems or Approved Electronic Platforms, as applicable, or pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices pursuant to Article II or to Compliance Certificates delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(c) unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lender. Each of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower Representative (on behalf of the Loan Parties) may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by Electronic Systems or Approved Electronic Platforms, as applicable, 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, such notice or communication 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.

 

SECTION 9.02           Waivers; Amendments.

 

(a)          No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent, the 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 Bank 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 the 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) subject to Sections 2.14(b)(i), 2.14(b)(ii), 2.14(b)(iii), 2.14(b)(iv) and 9.02(e), neither this Agreement nor any other Loan Document nor any provision hereof or thereof may be waived, amended or modified except (x) in the case of this Agreement, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrowers and the Required Lenders or (y) in the case of any other Loan Document, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Administrative Agent and the Loan Party or Loan Parties that are parties thereto, with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided that no such agreement shall (i)    increase the Revolving Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender (including any such Lender that is a Defaulting Lender), (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 (provided that any amendment or modification of the financial covenants in this Agreement (or any defined term used therein) 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, 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 Revolving Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender (including any such Lender that is a Defaulting Lender) directly affected thereby, (iv) change Sections 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” or any other provision of any Loan Document specifying the number or percentage of Lenders (or Lenders of any Class) 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), or (ix) except as provided in clause (c) of this Section or in any Collateral Document, release all or substantially all of the Collateral, without the written consent of each Lender (other than any Defaulting Lender); provided, further, that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender, as the case may be (it being understood that any amendment to Section 2.20 shall require the consent of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender); provided further that no such agreement shall amend or modify the provisions of Section 2.06 without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank. The Administrative Agent may also amend the Commitment Schedule to reflect assignments entered into pursuant to Section 9.04. 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 Borrowers 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)          The Lenders and the Issuing Bank 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 Payment in Full of all Secured Obligations, and the cash collateralization of all Unliquidated Obligations in a manner satisfactory to each affected Lender, (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), (iii) constituting property leased to a Loan Party under a lease which has expired or been terminated in a transaction permitted under this Agreement, or (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. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, 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 Permitted Discretion, release its Liens on Collateral 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 agreed that the Administrative Agent may rely conclusively on one or more certificates of the Borrowers 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.

 

(d)         If, in connection with any proposed amendment, waiver or consent requiring the consent of “each Lender” or “each Lender 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 has not been obtained being referred to herein as a “Non-Consenting Lender”), then the Borrowers 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 Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank 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 Borrowers 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 Borrowers 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. Each party hereto agrees that an assignment required pursuant to this paragraph may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Borrower Representative, the Administrative Agent and the assignee (or, to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and such parties are participants), and the Lender required to make such assignment need not be a party thereto in order for such assignment to be effective and shall be deemed to have consented to an be bound by the terms thereof; provided that, following the effectiveness of any such assignment, the other parties to such assignment agree to execute and deliver such documents necessary to evidence such assignment as reasonably requested by the applicable Lender, provided that any such documents shall be without recourse to or warranty by the parties thereto.

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(e)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein the Administrative Agent may, with the consent of the Borrower Representative 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; Limitation of Liability; Indemnity.

 

(a)          Expenses. 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 syndication and distribution (including, without limitation, via the internet or through any Electronic System or Approved Electronic Platform) 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, fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with:

 

(A)          appraisals (subject to the limitations set forth in Section 5.12) and insurance reviews;

 

(B)           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 (subject to the limitations set forth in Section 5.06);

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

 

(D)          Taxes, fees and other charges for (1) lien and title searches and title insurance and (2) recording the Mortgages, filing financing statements and continuations, and other actions to perfect, protect, and continue the Administrative Agent’s Liens;

 

(E)           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

 

(F)           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 Borrowers as Revolving Loans or to another deposit account, all as described in Section 2.18(c).

 

(b)         Limitation of Liability. To the extent permitted by applicable law (i) neither any Borrower nor any Loan Party shall assert, and each Borrower and each Loan Party hereby waives, any claim against the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, any Syndication Agent, any Co-Documentation Agent, the Issuing Bank and any Lender, and any Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called a “Lender-Related Person”) for any Liabilities arising from the use by others of information or other materials (including, without limitation, any personal data) obtained through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems (including the Internet), and (ii) no party hereto shall assert, and each such party hereby waives, any Liabilities against any other party hereto, 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 Section 9.03(b) shall relieve any Borrower or any Loan Party of any obligation it may have to indemnify an Indemnitee, as provided in Section 9.03(c), against any special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages asserted against such Indemnitee by a third party.

 

(c)          Indemnity. The Loan Parties shall, jointly and severally, indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Arranger, each Syndication Agent, each Co-Documentation Agent, the 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 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, (ii) the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated hereby, (iiiii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by the 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), (iiiiv) any actual or alleged presence or Release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by a Loan Party or a Subsidiary, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to a Loan Party or a Subsidiary, (ivv) the failure of a Loan Party to deliver to the Administrative Agent the required receipts or other required documentary evidence with respect to a payment made by a Loan Party for Taxes pursuant to Section 2.17, or (v) any actual or prospective Proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether or not such Proceeding is brought by any Loan Party or their respective equity holders, Affiliates, creditors or any other third Person and whether based on contract, tort or any other theory and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such Liabilities or related expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and non-appealable judgment to have resulted primarily from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee. This Section 9.03(c) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses or damages arising from any non-Tax claim.

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(d)          Lender Reimbursement. Each Lender severally agrees to pay any amount required to be paid by any Loan Party under paragraphs (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 9.03 to the Administrative Agent, Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each, an “Agent-Related Person”) (to the extent not reimbursed by a Loan Party and without limiting the obligation of any Loan Party to do so), ratably according to their respective Applicable Percentage in effect on the date on which such payment is sought under this Section (or, if such payment is sought after the date upon which the Commitments shall have terminated and the Loans shall have been paid in full, ratably in accordance with such Applicable Percentage immediately prior to such date), from and against any and all Liabilities and related expenses, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any kind whatsoever that may at any time (whether before or after the payment of the Loans) be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against such Agent-Related Person in any way relating to or arising out of the Commitments, this Agreement, any of the other Loan Documents or any documents contemplated by or referred to herein or therein or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or any action taken or omitted by such Agent-Related Person under or in connection with any of the foregoing; provided that the unreimbursed expense or Liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against such Agent-Related Person in its capacity as such; provided, further, that no Lender shall be liable for the payment of any portion of such Liabilities, costs, expenses or disbursements that are found by a final and non-appealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted primarily from such Agent-Related Person’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. The agreements in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the Payment in Full of the Secured Obligations.

 

(e)          Payments. All amounts due under this Section shall be payable promptly after written demand therefor.

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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 Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), except that (i) no Loan Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by any Loan Party 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 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 Bank 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 Revolving Commitment, participations in Letters of Credit and the Loans at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) of:

 

(A)         the Borrower Representative, provided that the Borrower Representative shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within 5 Business Days after having received notice thereof, and provided further that no consent of the Borrower Representative 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;

 

(C)         the Issuing Bank; and

 

(D)         the Swingline Lender.

 

(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 Revolving Commitment or Loans of any Class, the amount of the Revolving 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 unless each of the Borrower Representative and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent, provided that no such consent of the Borrower Representative shall be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; 

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(B)         each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement;

 

(C)        the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption or (y) to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to a an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and the parties to the Assignment and Assumption are participants, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500; 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 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 or its Parent, (c) 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 company, investment vehicle or trust shall not constitute an Ineligible Institution if it (i) has not been established for the primary purpose of acquiring any Loans or Revolving Commitments, (ii) 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 (iii) 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, (d) a Loan Party or a Subsidiary or other Affiliate of a Loan Party or (e) so long as no Event of Default exists, any Competitor.

 

(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.

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(iv)        The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrowers, 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 Revolving Commitment of, and principal amount of the Loans and LC Disbursements owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrowers, the Issuing Bank and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

(v)         Upon its receipt of (x) a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, or (y) to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and the parties to the Assignment and Assumption are participants, the assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section and any written consent to such assignment required by paragraph (b) of this Section, the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register; provided that if either the assigning Lender or the assignee shall have failed to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.05, 2.06(d), 2.06(e), 2.07(b), 2.18(d) or 9.03(d), 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)          Any Lender may, without the consent of, or notice to, the Loan Parties, 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 Revolving 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 Borrowers, 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 Loan Parties agree 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 Borrowers 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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Each Lender that sells a participation agrees, at the Borrowers’ request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrowers 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(b) as though it were a Lender. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fidicuarynon-fiduciary agent of the Borrowers, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under 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 Revolving 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 Revolving 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.

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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, the 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 Revolving 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 Revolving Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any provision hereof or thereof.

 

SECTION 9.06            Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution.

 

(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.

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(b)          Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of (x) this Agreement, (y) any other Loan Document and/or (z) any document, amendment, approval, consent, information, notice (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any notice delivered pursuant to Section 9.01), certificate, request, statement, disclosure or authorization related to this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or the transactions contemplated hereby and/or thereby (each an “Ancillary Document”) that is an Electronic Signature transmitted by facsimile, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement, such other Loan Document or such Ancillary Document, as applicable. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document shall be deemed to include Electronic Signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in any electronic form (including deliveries by facsimile, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page), each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be; provided that nothing herein shall require the Administrative Agent to accept Electronic Signatures in any form or format without its prior written consent and pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided, further, without limiting the foregoing, (i) to the extent the Administrative Agent has agreed to accept any Electronic Signature, the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders shall be entitled to rely on such Electronic Signature purportedly given by or on behalf of any Borrower or any other Loan Party without further verification thereof and without any obligation to review the appearance or form of any such Electronic Signature and (ii) upon the request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, any Electronic Signature shall be promptly followed by a manually executed counterpart. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Borrower and each Loan Party hereby (A) agrees that, for all purposes, including without limitation, in connection with any workout, restructuring, enforcement of remedies, bankruptcy proceedings or litigation among the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Borrowers and the Loan Parties, Electronic Signatures transmitted by facsimile, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page and/or any electronic images of this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as any paper original, (B) the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders may, at its option, create one or more copies of this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document in the form of an imaged electronic record in any format, which shall be deemed created in the ordinary course of such Person’s business, and destroy the original paper document (and all such electronic records shall be considered an original for all purposes and shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a paper record), (C) waives any argument, defense or right to contest the legal effect, validity or enforceability of this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document based solely on the lack of paper original copies of this Agreement, such other Loan Document and/or such Ancillary Document, respectively, including with respect to any signature pages thereto and (D) waives any claim against any Lender-Related Person for any Liabilities arising solely from the Administrative Agent’s and/or any Lender’s reliance on or use of Electronic Signatures and/or transmissions by facsimile, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page, including any Liabilities arising as a result of the failure of any Borrower and/or any Loan Party to use any available security measures in connection with the execution, delivery or transmission of any Electronic Signature.

 

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. 

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SECTION 9.08           Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, the Issuing Bank and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held, and other obligations at any time owing, by such Lender, the Issuing Bank or any such Affiliate, to or for the credit or the account of any Loan Party against any and all of the Secured Obligations held by such Lender, the Issuing Bank or their respective Affiliates, irrespective of whether or not such Lender, the Issuing Bank or their respective Affiliates shall have made any demand under the Loan Documents and although such obligations may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch office or Affiliate of such Lender or the Issuing Bank different from the branch office or Affiliate holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness; provided that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.20 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Secured Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. The applicable Lender, the Issuing Bank or such Affiliate shall notify the Borrower Representative and the Administrative Agent of such setoff or application, provided that any failure to give or any delay in giving such notice shall not affect the validity of any such setoff or application under this Section. The rights of each Lender, the Issuing Bank and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, the Issuing Bank or their respective Affiliates 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.

 

(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 court 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. 

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(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 OR 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 Bank 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 Governmental Authority (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by any 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 Representative, (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, the Issuing Bank or any Lender on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Loan Parties or (i) on a confidential basis to (1) any rating agency in connection with rating any Loan Party or its Subsidiaries or the credit facilities provided for herein or (2) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of identification numbers with respect to the credit facilities provided for herein. For the purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Borrowers relating to the Borrowers or their business, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender on a non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrowers and other than information pertaining to this Agreement provided by arrangers to data service providers, including league table providers, that serve the lending industry; provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrowers 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. 

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EACH LENDER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT INFORMATION AS DEFINED IN THIS SECTION 9.12 FURNISHED TO IT PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY INCLUDE MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION CONCERNING THE COMPANY, AND ITS AFFILIATES, THE OTHER LOAN PARTIES 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 BORROWERS OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT PURSUANT TO, OR IN THE COURSE OF ADMINISTERING, THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE SYNDICATE-LEVEL INFORMATION, WHICH MAY CONTAIN MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY, THE LOAN PARTIES AND THEIR RELATED PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE SECURITIES. ACCORDINGLY, EACH LENDER REPRESENTS TO THE BORROWERS 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 Borrowers in violation of any Requirement of Law.

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SECTION 9.14             USA PATRIOT Act; Canadian Anti-Money Laundering Legislation.

 

(a)          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.

 

(b)          If the Administrative Agent has ascertained the identity of any Loan Party or any authorized signatories of any Loan Party for the purposes of CAML, then the Administrative Agent:

 

(i)          shall be deemed to have done so as an agent for each Lender and this Agreement shall constitute a “written agreement” in such regard between each Lender and the Administrative Agent within the meaning of the applicable CAML; and

 

(ii)         shall provide to the Lenders, copies of all information obtained in such regard without any representation or warranty as to its accuracy or completeness.

 

Notwithstanding the preceding sentence and except as may otherwise be agreed in writing, each Lender agrees that the Administrative Agent has no obligation to ascertain the identity of the Loan Parties or any authorized signatories of the Loan Parties on behalf of any Lender, or to confirm the completeness or accuracy of any information it obtains from any Loan Party or any such authorized signatory in doing so.

 

SECTION 9.15            Disclosure. Each Loan Party, each Lender and the Issuing Bank 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. 

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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 NYFRB Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing provisions of Section 9.17, if any provision of any of the Loan Documents would obligate any Canadian Loan Party to make any payment of interest with respect to the Obligations in an amount or calculated at a rate which would be prohibited by applicable law or would result in the receipt of interest with respect to the Obligations of the Canadian Loan Party at a criminal rate (as such terms are construed under the Criminal Code (Canada)), then notwithstanding such provision, such amount or rates shall be deemed to have been adjusted with retroactive effect to the maximum amount or rate of interest, as the case may be, as would not be so prohibited by law or so result in a receipt by the applicable recipient of interest with respect to the Obligations at a criminal rate, such adjustment to be effected, to the extent necessary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and after giving effect to all adjustments contemplated thereby, if the applicable recipient shall have received an amount in excess of the maximum permitted by that section of the Criminal Code (Canada), then Canadian Loan Parties shall be entitled, by notice in writing to Administrative Agent, to obtain reimbursement from the applicable recipient in an amount equal to such excess, and pending such reimbursement, such amount shall be deemed to be an amount payable by the applicable recipient to the applicable Canadian Loan Party.

 

SECTION 9.18           Marketing Consent. The Loan Parties hereby authorize JPMCB and its affiliates (collectively, the “JPMCB Parties”), at their respective sole expense, and without any prior approval by the Loan Parties, to include any Loan Party’s name and logo in advertising, marketing, tombstones, case studies and training materials, and to give such other publicity to this Agreement as the JPMCB Parties may from time to time determine in their sole discretion. The foregoing authorization shall remain in effect unless and until the Borrower Representative notifies JPMCB in writing that such authorization is revoked.

 

SECTION 9.19            Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any Affected Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

 

(a)          the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an Affected Financial Institution; and

 

(b)          the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:

 

(i)          a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;

 

(ii)         a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such Affected Financial Institution, its parent entity, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or

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(iii)        the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority.

 

SECTION 9.20             No Fiduciary Duty, Etc.

 

(a)            Each Loan Party acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Subsidiaries’ understanding, that no Credit Party will have any obligations except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents and each Credit Party is acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length contractual counterparty to each Loan Party with respect to the Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated herein and therein and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to, or an agent of, any Loan Party or any other person. Each Loan Party agrees that it will not assert any claim against any Credit Party based on an alleged breach of fiduciary duty by such Credit Party in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. Additionally, each Loan Party acknowledges and agrees that no Credit Party is advising any Loan Party as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting, regulatory or any other matters in any jurisdiction. Each Loan Party shall consult with its own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making its own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated herein or in the other Loan Documents, and the Credit Parties shall have no responsibility or liability to any Loan Party with respect thereto.

 

(b)            Each Loan Party further acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Subsidiaries’ understanding, that each Credit Party, together with its Affiliates, is a full service securities or banking firm engaged in securities trading and brokerage activities as well as providing investment banking and other financial services. In the ordinary course of business, any Credit Party may provide investment banking and other financial services to, and/or acquire, hold or sell, for its own accounts and the accounts of customers, equity, debt and other securities and financial instruments (including bank loans and other obligations) of, any Loan Party and other companies with which any Loan Party may have commercial or other relationships. With respect to any securities and/or financial instruments so held by any Credit Party or any of its customers, all rights in respect of such securities and financial instruments, including any voting rights, will be exercised by the holder of the rights, in its sole discretion.

 

(c)            In addition, each Loan Party acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Subsidiaries’ understanding, that each Credit Party and its affiliates may be providing debt financing, equity capital or other services (including financial advisory services) to other companies in respect of which a Loan Party may have conflicting interests regarding the transactions described herein and otherwise. No Credit Party will use confidential information obtained from any Loan Party by virtue of the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents or its other relationships with such Loan Party in connection with the performance by such Credit Party of services for other companies, and no Credit Party will furnish any such information to other companies. Each Loan Party also acknowledges that no Credit Party has any obligation to use in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents, or to furnish to any Loan Party, confidential information obtained from other companies. 

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SECTION 9.21           Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs. To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for Swap Agreements or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support “QFC Credit Support” and each such QFC a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the “U.S. Special Resolution Regimes”) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Loan Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States):

 

In the event a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a “Covered Party”) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Loan Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Loan Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Defaulting Lender shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support.

 

ARTICLE X

 

LOAN GUARANTY

 

SECTION 10.01         Guaranty. Each Loan Guarantor 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, any 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 (i) 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, and (ii) create any guarantee by any Loan Guarantor of any obligation for which it is a primary obligor (other than pursuant to this Article X)). 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.

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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 any 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 Payment in Full 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 any Borrower or any other Obligated Party liable for any of the Guaranteed Obligations; (iii) any insolvency, bankruptcy, winding-up, examinership, 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.

 

(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 any 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 Payment in Full of the Guaranteed Obligations).

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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 any 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 any Borrower, any Loan Guarantor or any other Obligated Party, other than the Payment in Full 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 Paid in Full. 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 Bank 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 any 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 any 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 Borrowers’ 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 Borrowers 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, Uniform Voidable Transactions 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. 

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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 Payment in Full of the Guaranteed Obligations and the termination of this Agreement, 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.

 

(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. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision contained herein or in any other Loan Document, if a “secured creditor” (as that term is defined under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada)) is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction not to include a Person to whom obligations are owed on a joint and several basis, then such Person’s Secured Obligations (and the Secured Obligations of each other Canadian Loan Party or any other applicable Loan Party) shall be several obligations and not joint and several obligations.

 

(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 Payment in Full of the Guaranteed Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

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.

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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 Party to honor all of its obligations under this Loan Guaranty in respect of a Swap Obligation (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). Except as otherwise provided herein, the obligations of each Qualified ECP Guarantor under this Section 10.13 shall remain in full force and effect until the termination of all Swap Obligations. 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 Party for all purposes of Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

ARTICLE XI

 

THE BORROWER REPRESENTATIVE.

 

SECTION 11.01          Appointment; Nature of Relationship. The Company is hereby appointed by each of the Borrowers as its contractual representative (herein referred to as the “Borrower Representative”) hereunder and under each other Loan Document, and each of the Borrowers irrevocably authorizes the Borrower Representative to act as the contractual representative of such Borrower with the rights and duties expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents. The Borrower Representative agrees to act as such contractual representative upon the express conditions contained in this Article XI. Additionally, the Borrowers hereby appoint the Borrower Representative as their agent to receive all of the proceeds of the Loans in the Funding Account(s), at which time the Borrower Representative shall promptly disburse such Loans to the appropriate Borrower(s). The Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and their respective officers, directors, agents or employees, shall not be liable to the Borrower Representative or any Borrower for any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Borrower Representative or the Borrowers pursuant to this Section 11.01.

 

SECTION 11.02          Powers. The Borrower Representative shall have and may exercise such powers under the Loan Documents as are specifically delegated to the Borrower Representative by the terms of each thereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The Borrower Representative shall have no implied duties to the Borrowers, or any obligation to the Lenders to take any action thereunder except any action specifically provided by the Loan Documents to be taken by the Borrower Representative.

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SECTION 11.03          Employment of Agents. The Borrower Representative may execute any of its duties as the Borrower Representative hereunder and under any other Loan Document by or through authorized officers.

 

SECTION 11.04          Notices. Each Borrower shall immediately notify the Borrower Representative of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default hereunder referring to this Agreement describing such Default or Event of Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of default”. In the event that the Borrower Representative receives such a notice, the Borrower Representative shall give prompt notice thereof to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders. Any notice provided to the Borrower Representative hereunder shall constitute notice to each Borrower on the date received by the Borrower Representative.

 

SECTION 11.05          Successor Borrower Representative. Upon the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, the Borrower Representative may resign at any time, such resignation to be effective upon the appointment of a successor Borrower Representative. The Administrative Agent shall give prompt written notice of such resignation to the Lenders.

 

SECTION 11.06          Execution of Loan Documents; Borrowing Base Certificate. The Borrowers hereby empower and authorize the Borrower Representative, on behalf of the Borrowers, to execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders the Loan Documents and all related agreements, certificates, documents, or instruments as shall be necessary or appropriate to effect the purposes of the Loan Documents, including, without limitation, the Borrowing Base Certificate and the Compliance Certificates. Each Borrower agrees that any action taken by the Borrower Representative or the Borrowers in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, and the exercise by the Borrower Representative of its powers set forth therein or herein, together with such other powers that are reasonably incidental thereto, shall be binding upon all of the Borrowers.

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ANNEX B

Commitment Schedule

to

Credit Agreement

Lenders Amount of Revolving Commitment
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. $ 75,000,000
TOTAL $ 75,000,000