EX-10.25 21 d93452dex1025.htm EX-10.25 EX-10.25

Exhibit 10.25

FIRST LIEN PARI PASSU INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT

dated as of July 31, 2020

among

SOTERA HEALTH HOLDINGS, LLC

as the Company

SOTERA HEALTH TOPCO, INC.,

as Holdings,

the other GRANTORS party hereto,

JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC,

as First Lien Credit Agreement Collateral Agent for the Credit Agreement Secured Parties,

JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC,

as Authorized Representative for the Credit Agreement Secured Parties,

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as the Initial Additional First Lien Collateral Agent,

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as the Initial Additional Authorized Representative and

each ADDITIONAL FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT AND ADDITIONAL SENIOR CLASS DEBT

REPRESENTATIVE from time to time party hereto

 

 

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FIRST LIEN PARI PASSU INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT, dated as of July 31, 2020 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Agreement”), among SOTERA HEALTH TOPCO, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Holdings”), SOTERA HEALTH HOLDINGS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), the other Grantors (as defined below) from time to time party hereto, JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC (“Jefferies”), as collateral agent for the Credit Agreement Secured Parties (as defined below) (in such capacity and together with its successors in such capacity, the “Credit Agreement Collateral Agent”), Jefferies, as First Lien Administrative Agent and Authorized Representative for the Credit Agreement Secured Parties (as each such term is defined below), WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as First Lien Collateral Agent under the Initial Additional First Lien Agreement (as defined below) for the Initial Additional First Lien Secured Parties (as defined below) (in such capacity and together with its successors in such capacity, the “Initial Additional First Lien Collateral Agent”), WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, in its capacity as Trustee under the Initial Additional First Lien Agreement, as Authorized Representative for the Initial Additional First Lien Secured Parties (as defined below) (in such capacity and together with its successors in such capacity, the “Initial Additional Authorized Representative”), and each additional Collateral Agent and Authorized Representative from time to time party hereto for the other Additional First Lien Secured Parties of the Series (as defined below) with respect to which it is acting in such capacity.

In consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Credit Agreement Collateral Agent, the First Lien Administrative Agent (for itself and on behalf of the Credit Agreement Secured Parties), the Initial Additional Authorized Representative (for itself and on behalf of the Initial Additional First Lien Secured Parties), the Initial Additional First Lien Collateral Agent and each additional Authorized Representative (for itself and on behalf of the Additional First Lien Secured Parties of the applicable Series) and additional Collateral Agent agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01. Certain Defined Terms. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement or, if defined in the New York UCC, the meanings specified therein. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

Additional First Lien Collateral Agent” means, with respect to the Shared Collateral (x) for so long as the Initial Additional First Lien Obligations are the only Series of Additional First Lien Obligations outstanding, the Initial Additional First Lien Collateral Agent and (y) thereafter, the Collateral Agent for the Series of Additional First Lien Obligations that constitutes the largest outstanding aggregate principal amount of any then outstanding Series of First Lien Obligations with respect to such Shared Collateral.

 

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Additional First Lien Documents” means, with respect to the Initial Additional First Lien Obligations or any Series of Additional Senior Class Debt, the notes, credit agreement, indentures, security documents and other operative agreements evidencing or governing such indebtedness and liens securing such indebtedness, including the Initial Additional First Lien Documents and the Additional First Lien Security Documents and each other agreement entered into for the purpose of securing the Initial Additional First Lien Obligations or any Series of Additional Senior Class Debt; provided that, in each case, the Indebtedness thereunder (other than the Initial Additional First Lien Obligations) has been designated as Additional First Lien Obligations pursuant to Section 5.13 hereto.

Additional First Lien Obligations” means all amounts owing to any Additional First Lien Secured Party (including the Initial Additional First Lien Secured Parties) pursuant to the terms of any Additional First Lien Document (including the Initial Additional First Lien Documents), including, without limitation, all amounts in respect of any principal, premium, interest, fees, expenses (including any interest, fees, and expenses accruing subsequent to the commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding at the rate provided for in the respective Additional First Lien Document, whether or not such interest, fees, and expenses are an allowed claim under any such proceeding or under applicable state, federal or foreign law), penalties, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities, and guarantees of the foregoing amounts.

Additional First Lien Secured Party” means the holders of any Additional First Lien Obligations and any Authorized Representative and the Collateral Agent with respect thereto, and shall include the Initial Additional First Lien Secured Parties and the Additional Senior Class Debt Parties.

Additional First Lien Security Documents” means any collateral agreement, security agreement or any other document now existing or entered into after the date hereof that create Liens on any assets or properties of any Grantor to secure the Additional First Lien Obligations.

Additional Senior Class Debt” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.13.

Additional Senior Class Debt Collateral Agent” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.13.

Additional Senior Class Debt Parties” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.13.

Additional Senior Class Debt Representative” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.13.

Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

Applicable Authorized Representative” means, with respect to any Shared Collateral, (i) until the earlier of (x) the Discharge of Credit Agreement Obligations and (y) the Non-Controlling Authorized Representative Enforcement Date, the First Lien Administrative Agent and (ii) from and after the earlier of (x) the Discharge of Credit Agreement Obligations and (y) the Non-Controlling Authorized Representative Enforcement Date, the Major Non-Controlling Authorized Representative.

 

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Applicable Collateral Agent” means (i) until the earlier of (x) the Discharge of Credit Agreement Obligations and (y) the Non-Controlling Authorized Representative Enforcement Date, the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent and (ii) from and after the earlier of (x) the Discharge of Credit Agreement Obligations and (y) the Non-Controlling Authorized Representative Enforcement Date, the Additional First Lien Collateral Agent.

Authorized Representative” means, at any time, (i) in the case of any Credit Agreement Obligations or the Credit Agreement Secured Parties, the First Lien Administrative Agent, (ii) in the case of the Initial Additional First Lien Obligations or the Initial Additional First Lien Secured Parties, the Initial Additional Authorized Representative, and (iii) in the case of any other Series of Additional First Lien Obligations or Additional First Lien Secured Parties that become subject to this Agreement after the date hereof, the Additional Senior Class Debt Representative named for such Series in the applicable Joinder Agreement.

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

Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended.

Bankruptcy Law” means the Bankruptcy Code and any similar federal, state or foreign law for the relief of debtors.

Collateral” means all assets and properties subject to Liens created pursuant to any First Lien Security Document to secure one or more Series of First Lien Obligations.

Collateral Agent” means (i) in the case of any Credit Agreement Obligations, the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent, (ii) in the case of the Initial Additional First Lien Obligations, the Initial Additional First Lien Collateral Agent and (iii) in the case of any other Series of Additional First Lien Obligations that become subject to this Agreement after the date hereof, the Additional Senior Class Debt Collateral Agent for such Series named in the applicable Joinder Agreement.

Collateral Agreement” means that certain First Lien Collateral Agreement, dated as of December 13, 2019, among Holdings, the Company, the other Grantors party thereto and the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent, as amended, restated, amended and restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Company” has the meaning assigned to such term in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

Controlling Secured Parties” means, with respect to any Shared Collateral, (i) at any time when the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent is the Applicable Collateral Agent, the Credit Agreement Secured Parties and (ii) at any other time, the Series of First Lien Secured Parties whose Authorized Representative is the Applicable Authorized Representative for such Shared Collateral.

Credit Agreement” means that certain First Lien Credit Agreement, dated as of December 13, 2019, among Holdings, the Company, the lenders from time to time party thereto, Jefferies, as administrative agent (in such capacity and together with its successors in such capacity, the “First Lien Administrative Agent”), and the other parties thereto, as amended, restated, amended and restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

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Credit Agreement Collateral Agent” has the meaning assigned to such term in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

Credit Agreement Collateral Documents” means the Collateral Agreement, the other Security Documents (as defined in the Credit Agreement) and each other agreement entered into in favor of the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent for the purpose of securing any Credit Agreement Obligations.

Credit Agreement Obligations” means all “Secured Obligations” as defined in the Credit Agreement.

Credit Agreement Secured Parties” means the “Secured Parties” as defined in the Collateral Agreement.

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

DIP Financing Liens” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05(b).

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

Discharge” means, with respect to any Shared Collateral and any Series of First Lien Obligations, the date on which such Series of First Lien Obligations is no longer secured by such Shared Collateral pursuant to the terms of the documentation governing such Series of First Lien Obligations. The term “Discharged” shall have a corresponding meaning.

Discharge of Credit Agreement Obligations” means, with respect to any Shared Collateral, the Discharge of the Credit Agreement Obligations with respect to such Shared Collateral; provided that the Discharge of Credit Agreement Obligations shall not be deemed to have occurred in connection with a Refinancing of such Credit Agreement Obligations with additional First Lien Obligations secured by such Shared Collateral under an Additional First Lien Document which has been designated in writing by the First Lien Administrative Agent (under the Credit Agreement so Refinanced) to the Additional First Lien Collateral Agent and each other Authorized Representative as the “Credit Agreement” for purposes of this Agreement.

Event of Default” means an “Event of Default” (or similarly defined term) as defined in any Secured Credit Document.

First Lien Administrative Agent” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Credit Agreement”.

First Lien Debt Document” means the Credit Agreement, the other Loan Documents (as such term is defined in the Credit Agreement) and the Additional First Lien Documents.

First Lien Obligations” means, collectively, (i) the Credit Agreement Obligations and (ii) each Series of Additional First Lien Obligations.

 

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First Lien Secured Parties” means (i) the Credit Agreement Secured Parties and (ii) the Additional First Lien Secured Parties with respect to each Series of Additional First Lien Obligations.

First Lien Security Documents” means collectively, (i) the Credit Agreement Collateral Documents and (ii) the Additional First Lien Security Documents.

Grantors” means the Company and each of the Guarantors (as defined in the Credit Agreement), each Intermediate Parent and each other Subsidiary of the Company which has granted a security interest pursuant to any First Lien Security Document to secure any Series of First Lien Obligations (including any Subsidiary which becomes a party to this Agreement as contemplated by Section 5.16). The Grantors existing on the date hereof are set forth in Schedule I hereto.

Holdings” has the meaning assigned to such term in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

Impairment” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.03.

Initial Additional Authorized Representative” has the meaning assigned to such term in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

Initial Additional First Lien Agreement” mean that certain Indenture, dated as of July 31, 2020, among the Company, the Guarantors identified therein and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as collateral agent, calculation agent and trustee, as amended, restated, amended and restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Initial Additional First Lien Collateral Agent” has the meaning assigned to such term in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

Initial Additional First Lien Documents” means the Initial Additional First Lien Agreement, the debt securities, if any, issued thereunder, the Initial Additional First Lien Security Agreement and any security documents and other operative agreements evidencing or governing the Indebtedness thereunder, and the Liens securing such Indebtedness, including any agreement entered into for the purpose of securing the Initial Additional First Lien Obligations.

Initial Additional First Lien Obligations” means the “Notes Obligations” as such term is defined in the Initial Additional First Lien Security Agreement.

Initial Additional First Lien Secured Parties” means the Initial Additional First Lien Collateral Agent, the Initial Additional Authorized Representative and the holders of the Initial Additional First Lien Obligations issued pursuant to the Initial Additional First Lien Agreement.

Initial Additional First Lien Security Agreement” means the First Lien Collateral Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among the Company, the Initial Additional First Lien Collateral Agent and the other Grantors party thereto, as amended, restated, amended and restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

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Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding” means:

(1) any case or proceeding commenced by or against the Company or any other Grantor under any Bankruptcy Law, any other case or proceeding for the reorganization, recapitalization or adjustment or marshalling of the assets or liabilities of the Company or any other Grantor, any receivership or assignment for the benefit of creditors relating to the Company or any other Grantor or any similar case or proceeding relative to the Company or any other Grantor or its creditors, as such, in each case whether or not voluntary;

(2) any liquidation, dissolution, marshalling of assets or liabilities or other winding up of or relating to the Company or any other Grantor, in each case whether or not voluntary and whether or not involving bankruptcy or insolvency; or

(3) any other case or proceeding of any type or nature in which substantially all claims of creditors of the Company or any other Grantor are determined and any payment or distribution is or may be made on account of such claims.

Intermediate Parent” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Credit Agreement.

Intervening Creditor” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.01(a).

Jefferies” has the meaning assigned to such term in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

Joinder Agreement” means a joinder to this Agreement in the form of Annex II hereto required to be delivered by an Additional Senior Class Debt Representative and the related Additional Senior Class Debt Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 5.13 hereof in order to establish an additional Series of Additional Senior Class Debt and add Additional First Lien Secured Parties hereunder.

Lien” means, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, charge or security interest in, on or of such asset and (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.

Major Non-Controlling Authorized Representative” means, with respect to any Shared Collateral, the Authorized Representative of the Series of Additional First Lien Obligations that constitutes the largest outstanding principal amount of any then outstanding Series of First Lien Obligations with respect to such Shared Collateral.

New York UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as from time to time in effect in the State of New York.

Non-Controlling Authorized Representative” means, at any time with respect to any Shared Collateral, any Authorized Representative that is not the Applicable Authorized Representative at such time with respect to such Shared Collateral.

 

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Non-Controlling Authorized Representative Enforcement Date” means, with respect to any Non-Controlling Authorized Representative, the date which is 120 days (throughout which 120-day period such Non-Controlling Authorized Representative was the Major Non-Controlling Authorized Representative) after the occurrence of both (i) an Event of Default (under and as defined in the Additional First Lien Document under which such Non-Controlling Authorized Representative is the Authorized Representative) and (ii) receipt by each of the Applicable Collateral Agent, each other Collateral Agent, the Applicable Authorized Representative, and each other Authorized Representative of written notice from such Non-Controlling Authorized Representative certifying that (x) such Non-Controlling Authorized Representative is the Major Non-Controlling Authorized Representative and that an Event of Default (under and as defined in the Additional First Lien Document under which such Non-Controlling Authorized Representative is the Authorized Representative) has occurred and is continuing and (y) the Additional First Lien Obligations of the Series with respect to which such Non-Controlling Authorized Representative is the Authorized Representative are currently due and payable in full (whether as a result of acceleration thereof or otherwise) in accordance with the terms of the applicable Additional First Lien Document; provided that, such Event of Default (under and as defined in the Additional First Lien Document under which such Non-Controlling Authorized Representative is the Authorized Representative) shall be continuing at the end of such 120-day period; provided, further that the Non-Controlling Authorized Representative Enforcement Date shall be stayed and shall not occur and shall be deemed not to have occurred with respect to any Shared Collateral (1) at any time the First Lien Administrative Agent or the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent has commenced and is diligently pursuing any enforcement action with respect to such Shared Collateral or (2) at any time the Grantor which has granted a security interest in such Shared Collateral is then a debtor under or with respect to (or otherwise subject to) any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

Non-Controlling Secured Parties” means, at any time with respect to any Shared Collateral, the First Lien Secured Parties which are not Controlling Secured Parties at such time with respect to such Shared Collateral.

Possessory Collateral” means any Shared Collateral in the possession of a Collateral Agent (or its agents or bailees), to the extent that possession thereof perfects a Lien thereon under the Uniform Commercial Code of any applicable jurisdiction. Possessory Collateral includes, without limitation, any Certificated Securities, Promissory Notes, Instruments and Chattel Paper, in each case, delivered to or in the possession of the Collateral Agent under the terms of the First Lien Security Documents.

Post-Petition Interest” means any interest or entitlement to fees or expenses or other charges that accrue after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, whether or not allowed or allowable as a claim in any such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

Proceeds” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.01(a).

Refinance” means, in respect of any Indebtedness, to refinance, extend, renew, defease, amend, increase, modify, supplement, restructure, refund, replace, repay, prepay, purchase, redeem or retire, or to issue other indebtedness or enter alternative financing arrangements, in each case in exchange or replacement for such indebtedness (in whole or in part), including by adding or replacing lenders, creditors, agents, borrowers or guarantors, and including in each case, but not limited to, after the original instrument giving rise to such indebtedness has been terminated and including, in each case, through any credit agreement, indenture or other agreement. “Refinanced” and “Refinancing” have correlative meanings.

 

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Secured Credit Document” means (i) the Credit Agreement and each First Lien Loan Document (as defined in the Credit Agreement), (ii) each Initial Additional First Lien Document, and (iii) each Additional First Lien Document.

Series” means (a) with respect to the First Lien Secured Parties, each of (i) the Credit Agreement Secured Parties (in their capacities as such), (ii) the Initial Additional First Lien Secured Parties (in their capacities as such), and (iii) the Additional First Lien Secured Parties that become subject to this Agreement after the date hereof that are represented by a common Authorized Representative (in its capacity as such for such Additional First Lien Secured Parties) and (b) with respect to any First Lien Obligations, each of (i) the Credit Agreement Obligations, (ii) the Initial Additional First Lien Obligations, and (iii) the Additional First Lien Obligations incurred pursuant to any Additional First Lien Document, which pursuant to any Joinder Agreement are to be represented hereunder by a common Authorized Representative (in its capacity as such for such Additional First Lien Obligations).

Shared Collateral” means, at any time, Collateral in which the holders of two or more Series of First Lien Obligations hold a valid and perfected security interest at such time. If more than two Series of First Lien Obligations are outstanding at any time and the holders of less than all Series of First Lien Obligations hold a valid and perfected security interest in any Collateral at such time, then such Collateral shall constitute Shared Collateral for those Series of First Lien Obligations that hold a valid and perfected security interest in such Collateral at such time and shall not constitute Shared Collateral for any Series which does not have a valid and perfected security interest in such Collateral at such time.

Section 1.02. Terms Generally. The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.” The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.” Unless the context requires otherwise, (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument, other document, statute or regulation herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument, other document, statute or regulation as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, but shall not be deemed to include the subsidiaries of such Person unless express reference is made to such subsidiaries, (iii) 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, (iv) all references herein to Articles, Sections and Annexes shall be construed to refer to Articles, Sections and Annexes of this Agreement, (v) unless otherwise expressly qualified herein, 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, and (vi) the term “or” is not exclusive.

 

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Section 1.03. Impairments. It is the intention of the First Lien Secured Parties of each Series that the holders of First Lien Obligations of such Series (and not the First Lien Secured Parties of any other Series) bear the risk of (i) any determination by a court of competent jurisdiction that (x) any of the First Lien Obligations of such Series are unenforceable under applicable law or are subordinated to any other obligations (other than another Series of First Lien Obligations), (y) any of the First Lien Obligations of such Series do not have an enforceable security interest in any of the Collateral securing any other Series of First Lien Obligations or (z) any intervening security interest exists securing any other obligations (other than another Series of First Lien Obligations) on a basis ranking prior to the security interest of such Series of First Lien Obligations but junior to the security interest of any other Series of First Lien Obligations or (ii) the existence of any Collateral for any other Series of First Lien Obligations that is not Shared Collateral for such Series (any such condition referred to in the foregoing clause (i) or (ii) with respect to any Series of First Lien Obligations, an “Impairment” of such Series). In the event of any Impairment with respect to any Series of First Lien Obligations, the results of such Impairment shall be borne solely by the holders of such Series of First Lien Obligations, and the rights of the holders of such Series of First Lien Obligations (including, without limitation, the right to receive distributions in respect of such Series of First Lien Obligations pursuant to Section 2.01) set forth herein shall be modified to the extent necessary so that the effects of such Impairment are borne solely by the holders of the Series of such First Lien Obligations subject to such Impairment.

Additionally, in the event the First Lien Obligations of any Series are modified pursuant to applicable law (including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 1129 of the Bankruptcy Code), any reference to such First Lien Obligations or the First Lien Security Documents governing such First Lien Obligations shall refer to such obligations or such documents as so modified.

ARTICLE II

PRIORITIES AND AGREEMENTS WITH RESPECT TO SHARED COLLATERAL

Section 2.01. Priority of Claims.

(a) Anything contained herein or in any of the Secured Credit Documents to the contrary notwithstanding (but subject to Section 1.03 and the following sentence), if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and the Applicable Collateral Agent or any First Lien Secured Party is taking action to enforce rights or remedies in respect of any Shared Collateral, or any distribution is made in respect of any Shared Collateral in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding of the Company or any other Grantor (including any adequate protection payments) or any First Lien Secured Party receives any payment or distribution pursuant to any intercreditor agreement (other than this Agreement) with respect to any Shared Collateral, the proceeds of any sale, collection or other liquidation of any such Shared Collateral by any First Lien Secured Party on account of such enforcement rights or remedies or received by the Applicable Collateral Agent or any First Lien Secured Party pursuant to any such intercreditor agreement with respect to such Shared Collateral and any such distribution (subject, in the case of any such distribution, proceeds, or payments to the sentence immediately following) to which the First Lien Obligations are entitled under any intercreditor agreement (other than this Agreement) (all such payments, distributions, proceeds of any sale, collection or other liquidation of any Shared Collateral and all proceeds or payments of any such distribution being collectively referred to as “Proceeds”) shall be applied (i)

 

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FIRST, to the payment of all amounts owing to each Collateral Agent (in its capacity as such) on a ratable basis pursuant to the terms of the applicable Secured Credit Documents, (ii) SECOND, subject to Section 1.03, to the payment in full of the First Lien Obligations of each Series secured by a valid and perfected lien on such Shared Collateral on a ratable basis, with such Proceeds from Shared Collateral to be applied to the First Lien Obligations of a given Series in accordance with the terms of the applicable Secured Credit Documents; provided that following the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding with respect to the Company or any other Grantor, solely as among the First Lien Secured Parties and solely for purposes of this clause SECOND and not any Secured Credit Documents, in the event the value of the Shared Collateral is not sufficient for the entire amount of Post-Petition Interest on the First Lien Obligations to be allowed under Section 506(a) and (b) of the Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable provision of the Bankruptcy Code or other Bankruptcy Law in such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, the amount of First Lien Obligations of each Series of First Lien Obligations shall include only the maximum amount of Post-Petition Interest on the First Lien Obligations allowable under Section 506(a) and (b) of the Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable provision of the Bankruptcy Code or other Bankruptcy Law in such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding; and (iii) THIRD, after payment of all First Lien Obligations, to the Company and the other Grantors or their successors or assigns, as their interests may appear, or to whosoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct. If, despite the provisions of the Section 2.01(a), any First Lien Secured Party shall receive any payment or other recovery in excess of its portion of payments on account of the First Lien Obligations to which it is then entitled in accordance with this Section 2.01(a), such First Lien Secured Party shall hold such payment or recovery in trust for the benefit of all First Lien Secured Parties for distribution in accordance with this Section 2.01(a). Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Shared Collateral upon which a third party (other than a First Lien Secured Party) has a lien or security interest that is junior in priority to the security interest of any Series of First Lien Obligations but senior (as determined by appropriate legal proceedings in the case of any dispute) to the security interest of any other Series of First Lien Obligations (such third party, an “Intervening Creditor”), the value of any Shared Collateral or Proceeds which are allocated to such Intervening Creditor shall be deducted on a ratable basis solely from the Shared Collateral or Proceeds to be distributed in respect of the Series of First Lien Obligations with respect to which such Impairment exists.

(b) It is acknowledged that the First Lien Obligations of any Series may, subject to the limitations set forth in the then extant Secured Credit Documents, be increased, extended, renewed, replaced, restated, supplemented, restructured, repaid, refunded, Refinanced or otherwise amended or modified from time to time, all without affecting the priorities set forth in Section 2.01(a) or the provisions of this Agreement defining the relative rights of the First Lien Secured Parties of any Series.

(c) Notwithstanding the date, time, method, manner or order of grant, attachment or perfection of any Liens securing any Series of First Lien Obligations granted on the Shared Collateral and notwithstanding any provision of the Uniform Commercial Code of any jurisdiction, or any other applicable law or the Secured Credit Documents or any defect or deficiencies in the Liens securing the First Lien Obligations of any Series or any other circumstance whatsoever (but, in each case, subject to Section 1.03), each First Lien Secured Party hereby agrees that the Liens securing each Series of First Lien Obligations on any Shared Collateral shall be of equal priority.

 

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(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any other First Lien Security Documents to the contrary, Collateral consisting of cash and cash equivalents pledged to secure Credit Agreement Obligations consisting of reimbursement obligations in respect of letters of credit or otherwise held by the First Lien Administrative Agent or the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 2.05(j), 2.11(b), 2.18(e) or 2.22 of the Credit Agreement (or any equivalent successor provision) shall be applied as specified in the Credit Agreement and will not constitute Shared Collateral.

Section 2.02. Actions with Respect to Shared Collateral; Prohibition on Contesting Liens.

(a) Only the Applicable Collateral Agent shall act or refrain from acting with respect to any Shared Collateral (including with respect to any intercreditor agreement with respect to any Shared Collateral). At any time when the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent is the Applicable Collateral Agent, no Additional First Lien Secured Party shall, or shall instruct any Collateral Agent to, and neither the Initial Additional First Lien Collateral Agent nor any other Collateral Agent that is not the Applicable Collateral Agent shall, commence any judicial or nonjudicial foreclosure proceedings with respect to, seek to have a trustee, receiver, liquidator or similar official appointed for or over, attempt any action to take possession of, exercise any right, remedy or power with respect to, or otherwise take any action to enforce its security interest in or realize upon, or take any other action available to it in respect of, any Shared Collateral (including with respect to any intercreditor agreement with respect to any Shared Collateral), whether under any Additional First Lien Security Document, applicable law or otherwise, it being agreed that only the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent, acting in accordance with the Credit Agreement Collateral Documents (or any Person authorized by it), shall be entitled to take any such actions or exercise any such remedies with respect to Shared Collateral at such time.

(b) With respect to any Shared Collateral at any time when the Additional First Lien Collateral Agent is the Applicable Collateral Agent, (i) the Applicable Collateral Agent shall act only on the instructions of the Applicable Authorized Representative, (ii) the Applicable Collateral Agent shall not follow any instructions with respect to such Shared Collateral (including with respect to any intercreditor agreement with respect to any Shared Collateral) from any Non-Controlling Authorized Representative (or any other First Lien Secured Party other than the Applicable Authorized Representative) and (iii) no Non-Controlling Authorized Representative or other First Lien Secured Party (other than the Applicable Authorized Representative) shall, or shall instruct the Applicable Collateral Agent to, commence any judicial or non-judicial foreclosure proceedings with respect to, seek to have a trustee, receiver, liquidator or similar official appointed for or over, attempt any action to take possession of, exercise any right, remedy or power with respect to, or otherwise take any action to enforce its security interest in or realize upon, or take any other action available to it in respect of, any Shared Collateral (including with respect to any intercreditor agreement with respect to any Shared Collateral), whether under any First Lien Security Document, applicable law or otherwise, it being agreed that only the Applicable Collateral Agent, acting on the instructions of the Applicable Authorized Representative and in accordance with the Additional First Lien Security Documents, shall be entitled to take any such actions or exercise any such remedies with respect to Shared Collateral.

 

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(c) Notwithstanding the equal priority of the Liens securing each Series of First Lien Obligations with respect to the Shared Collateral, the Applicable Collateral Agent (in the case of the Additional First Lien Collateral Agent, acting on the instructions of the Applicable Authorized Representative) may deal with the Shared Collateral as if such Applicable Collateral Agent had a senior Lien on such Collateral. No Non-Controlling Authorized Representative or Non-Controlling Secured Party will contest, protest or object to any foreclosure proceeding or action brought by the Applicable Collateral Agent, the Applicable Authorized Representative or the Controlling Secured Party or any other exercise by the Applicable Collateral Agent, the Applicable Authorized Representative or the Controlling Secured Party of any rights and remedies relating to the Shared Collateral, or to cause the Applicable Collateral Agent to do so. The foregoing shall not be construed to limit the rights and priorities of any First Lien Secured Party, the Applicable Collateral Agent or any Authorized Representative with respect to any Collateral not constituting Shared Collateral.

(d) Each of the First Lien Secured Parties agrees that it will not (and hereby waives any right to) question or contest or support any other Person in contesting, in any proceeding (including any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding), the creation, perfection, priority, validity, attachment or enforceability of a Lien held by or on behalf of any of the First Lien Secured Parties on all or any part of the Collateral, or the provisions of this Agreement; provided that nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent or impair the rights of any Collateral Agent or any Authorized Representative to enforce this Agreement.

Section 2.03. No Interference; Payment Over.

(a) Each First Lien Secured Party agrees that (i) it will not challenge or question in any proceeding (including any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding) the validity, allowability or enforceability of any First Lien Obligations of any Series or any First Lien Security Document or the validity, attachment, perfection or priority of any Lien under any First Lien Security Document or the validity or enforceability of the priorities, rights or duties established by or other provisions of this Agreement, (ii) it will not take or cause to be taken any action the purpose or intent of which is, or could be, to interfere, hinder or delay, in any manner, whether by judicial proceedings or otherwise, any sale, transfer or other disposition of the Shared Collateral by the Applicable Collateral Agent, (iii) except as provided in Section 2.02, it shall have no right to (A) direct the Applicable Collateral Agent or any other First Lien Secured Party to exercise, and shall not exercise, any right, remedy or power with respect to any Shared Collateral (including pursuant to any intercreditor agreement) or (B) consent to the exercise by the Applicable Collateral Agent or any other First Lien Secured Party of any right, remedy or power with respect to any Shared Collateral, (iv) it will not institute any suit or assert in any suit, Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or other proceeding any claim against the Applicable Collateral Agent or any other First Lien Secured Party seeking damages from or other relief by way of specific performance, instructions or otherwise with respect to any Shared Collateral, and none of the Applicable Collateral Agent, any Applicable Authorized Representative or any other First Lien Secured Party shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Applicable Collateral Agent, such Applicable Authorized Representative or other First Lien Secured Party with respect to any Shared Collateral in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, (v) it will not seek, and hereby waives any right, to have any Shared Collateral or any part thereof marshalled upon any foreclosure or other disposition of such Collateral and (vi) it will not attempt, directly or indirectly, whether by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to challenge the enforceability of any provision of this Agreement; provided that nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent or impair the rights of the Applicable Collateral Agent or any other First Lien Secured Party to enforce this Agreement.

 

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(b) Each First Lien Secured Party hereby agrees that if it shall obtain possession of any Shared Collateral or shall realize any proceeds or payment in respect of any such Shared Collateral, pursuant to any First Lien Security Document or by the exercise of any rights available to it under applicable law or in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or through any other exercise of remedies (including pursuant to any intercreditor agreement), at any time prior to the Discharge of each of the First Lien Obligations, then it shall hold such Shared Collateral, proceeds or payment in trust for the other First Lien Secured Parties and promptly transfer such Shared Collateral, proceeds or payment, as the case may be, to the Applicable Collateral Agent, to be distributed in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.01.

Section 2.04. Automatic Release of Liens.

(a) If at any time the Applicable Collateral Agent forecloses upon or otherwise exercises remedies against any Shared Collateral resulting in a sale or disposition thereof, then (whether or not any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding is pending at the time) the Liens in favor of the other Collateral Agents for the benefit of each Series of First Lien Secured Parties upon such Shared Collateral will automatically be released and discharged as and when, but only to the extent, such Liens of the Applicable Collateral Agent on such Shared Collateral are released and discharged; provided that any proceeds of any Shared Collateral realized therefrom shall be applied pursuant to Section 2.01.

(b) Each Collateral Agent and Authorized Representative agrees to execute and deliver (at the sole cost and expense of the Grantors) all such authorizations and other instruments as shall reasonably be requested by the Applicable Collateral Agent to evidence and confirm any release of Shared Collateral provided for in this Section.

Section 2.05. Certain Agreements with Respect to Bankruptcy or Insolvency or Liquidation Proceedings.

(a) This Agreement shall continue in full force and effect notwithstanding the commencement and continuance of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding by or against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. The relative rights as to the Shared Collateral and proceeds thereof shall continue after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding on the same basis as prior to the date of the petition therefor. All references herein to any Grantor shall include such Grantor as a debtor-in-possession and any receiver or trustee for such Grantor.

(b) If the Company or any other Grantor shall become subject to a case (a “Bankruptcy Case”) under the Bankruptcy Code or other Bankruptcy Law and shall, as debtor(s)-in-possession, move for approval of financing (“DIP Financing”) to be provided by one or more lenders (the “DIP Lenders”) under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code or any equivalent provision of any other Bankruptcy Law or the use of cash collateral under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code or any equivalent provision of any other Bankruptcy Law, each First Lien Secured Party (other than any Controlling Secured Party or Authorized Representative of any Controlling Secured Party) agrees that it will not raise, join or support any objection to any such financing or to the Liens on the

 

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Shared Collateral securing the same (“DIP Financing Liens”) or to any use of cash collateral that constitutes Shared Collateral, unless an Authorized Representative of any Controlling Secured Party shall then oppose or object (or join in any objection) to such DIP Financing or such DIP Financing Liens or use of cash collateral (and (i) to the extent that such DIP Financing Liens are senior to the Liens on any such Shared Collateral for the benefit of the Controlling Secured Parties, each Non-Controlling Secured Party will subordinate its Liens with respect to such Shared Collateral on the same terms as the Liens of the Controlling Secured Parties (other than any Liens of any First Lien Secured Parties constituting DIP Financing Liens) are subordinated thereto, and (ii) to the extent that such DIP Financing Liens rank pari passu with the Liens on any such Shared Collateral granted to secure the First Lien Obligations of the Controlling Secured Parties, each Non-Controlling Secured Party will confirm the priorities with respect to such Shared Collateral as set forth herein), in each case so long as (A) the First Lien Secured Parties of each Series retain the benefit of their Liens on all such Shared Collateral pledged to the DIP Lenders, including proceeds thereof arising after the commencement of such proceeding, with the same priority vis-à-vis all the other First Lien Secured Parties (other than any Liens of the First Lien Secured Parties constituting DIP Financing Liens) as existed prior to the commencement of the Bankruptcy Case, (B) the First Lien Secured Parties of each Series are granted Liens on any additional or replacement collateral pledged to any First Lien Secured Parties as adequate protection or otherwise in connection with such DIP Financing or use of cash collateral, with the same priority vis-à-vis the First Lien Secured Parties (other than any Liens of the First Lien Secured Parties constituting DIP Financing Liens) as set forth in this Agreement, (C) if any amount of such DIP Financing or cash collateral is applied to repay any of the First Lien Obligations, such amount is applied pursuant to Section 2.01, and (D) if any First Lien Secured Parties are granted adequate protection with respect to the First Lien Obligations, including in the form of periodic payments, in connection with such DIP Financing or use of cash collateral, the proceeds of such adequate protection are applied pursuant to Section 2.01; provided that the First Lien Secured Parties of each Series shall have a right to object to the grant of a Lien to secure the DIP Financing over any Collateral subject to Liens in favor of the First Lien Secured Parties of such Series or their Authorized Representative that shall not constitute Shared Collateral; and provided, further, that the First Lien Secured Parties receiving adequate protection with respect to the First Lien Obligations shall not object to any other First Lien Secured Party receiving adequate protection with respect to the First Lien Obligations comparable to any adequate protection granted to such First Lien Secured Parties in connection with a DIP Financing or use of cash collateral.

(c) Each of the First Lien Secured Parties agrees that, in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or otherwise, none of them will oppose any sale or disposition of any Shared Collateral of any Grantor that is supported by the Controlling Secured Parties or the Applicable Authorized Representative (at the direction of the Controlling Secured Parties); provided that any Proceeds of any Shared Collateral realized therefrom shall be applied pursuant to Section 2.01.

Section 2.06. Reinstatement. In the event that any of the First Lien Obligations shall be paid in full and such payment or any part thereof shall subsequently, for whatever reason (including an order or judgment for disgorgement or avoidance of a preference, fraudulent transfer, or other avoidance action under the Bankruptcy Code, other applicable Bankruptcy Law, or any similar law, or the settlement of any claim in respect thereof), be required to be returned or repaid, the terms and conditions of this Article II shall be fully applicable thereto until all such First Lien Obligations shall again have been paid in full in cash.

 

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Section 2.07. Insurance. As between the First Lien Secured Parties, the Applicable Collateral Agent (and in the case of the Additional First Lien Collateral Agent, acting at the direction of the Applicable Authorized Representative) shall have the right to adjust or settle any insurance policy or claim covering or constituting Shared Collateral in the event of any loss thereunder and to approve any award granted in any condemnation or similar proceeding affecting the Shared Collateral.

Section 2.08. Refinancings. The First Lien Obligations of any Series may be Refinanced, in whole or in part, in each case, without notice to, or the consent (except to the extent a consent is otherwise required to permit the Refinancing transaction under any Secured Credit Document) of, any First Lien Secured Party of any other Series, all without affecting the priorities provided for herein or the other provisions hereof; provided that the Authorized Representative and Collateral Agent of the holders of any such Refinancing indebtedness shall have executed a Joinder Agreement on behalf of the holders of such Refinancing indebtedness.

Section 2.09. Possessory Collateral Agent as Gratuitous Bailee for Perfection.

(a) The Possessory Collateral shall be delivered to the Applicable Collateral Agent and the Applicable Collateral Agent agrees to hold any Shared Collateral constituting Possessory Collateral that is part of the Shared Collateral in its possession or control (or in the possession or control of its agents or bailees) as gratuitous bailee for the benefit of each other First Lien Secured Party and any assignee solely for the purpose of perfecting the security interest granted in such Possessory Collateral, if any, pursuant to the applicable First Lien Security Documents, in each case, subject to the terms and conditions of this Section 2.09; provided that at any time a Collateral Agent ceases to be the Applicable Collateral Agent, such former Applicable Collateral Agent shall, at the request of the new Applicable Collateral Agent, promptly deliver all such Possessory Collateral to the new Applicable Collateral Agent together with any necessary endorsements (or otherwise allow such new Applicable Collateral Agent to obtain control of such Possessory Collateral). If any Applicable Collateral Agent or Applicable Authorized Representative shall at any time obtain any landlord waiver or bailee’s letter or any similar agreement or arrangement granting it rights or access to Shared Collateral, the Applicable Collateral Agent and Applicable Authorized Representative shall also hold such Shared Collateral, or take such actions, at the expense of the Grantors, with respect to such landlord waiver, bailee’s letter or similar agreement or arrangement, as agent or gratuitous bailee for the other First Lien Secured Parties, in each case solely for the purpose of perfecting the Liens granted under the relevant First Lien Security Documents. The Company shall take such further action as is required to effectuate the transfer contemplated hereby and shall indemnify each Collateral Agent for loss or damage suffered by such Collateral Agent as a result of such transfer except for loss or damage suffered by such Collateral Agent as a result of its own willful misconduct or gross negligence as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and nonappealable judgment.

(b) The Applicable Collateral Agent agrees to hold any Shared Collateral constituting Possessory Collateral, from time to time in its possession, as gratuitous bailee for the benefit of each other First Lien Secured Party and any assignee, solely for the purpose of perfecting the security interest granted in such Possessory Collateral, if any, pursuant to the applicable First Lien Security Documents, in each case, subject to the terms and conditions of this Section 2.09.

 

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(c) The duties or responsibilities of each Collateral Agent under this Section 2.09 shall be limited solely to holding any Shared Collateral constituting Possessory Collateral as gratuitous bailee for the benefit of each other First Lien Secured Party for purposes of perfecting the Lien held by such First Lien Secured Parties thereon.

Section 2.10. Amendments to Security Documents.

(a) Without the prior written consent of the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent, each Additional First Lien Secured Party agrees that no Additional First Lien Security Document may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified or entered into to the extent such amendment, supplement or modification, or the terms of any new Additional First Lien Security Document, would be prohibited by, or would require any Grantor to act or refrain from acting in a manner that would violate, any of the terms of this Agreement.

(b) Without the prior written consent of the Additional First Lien Collateral Agent, the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent agrees that no Credit Agreement Collateral Document may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified or entered into to the extent such amendment, supplement or modification, or the terms of any new Credit Agreement Collateral Document, would be prohibited by, or would require any Grantor to act or refrain from acting in a manner that would violate, any of the terms of this Agreement.

(c) In making determinations required by this Section 2.10, each Collateral Agent may conclusively rely on an officer’s certificate of the Company, and in the case of the Initial Additional First Lien Collateral Agent, an opinion of counsel, if so requested by the Initial Additional First Lien Collateral Agent.

Section 2.11 No New Liens

The parties hereto, and each of the Grantors, agree that, so long as the Discharge of Credit Agreement Obligations has not occurred, other than cash collateral granted to secure the Credit Agreement Obligations in accordance with the terms of any Loan Document, none of the Grantors shall grant or permit any additional Liens on any asset or property of any Grantor to secure any Credit Agreement Obligation or Additional First Lien Obligation unless it has granted, or concurrently therewith grants, or permits the grant of, a Lien on such asset or property of such Grantor to secure each other Series of First Lien Obligations. If any Authorized Representative or any First Lien Secured Party shall hold any Lien on any assets or property of any Grantor securing any Credit Agreement Obligation or Additional First Lien Obligation, as applicable, other than cash collateral granted to secure the First Lien Obligations in accordance with the terms of any Secured Credit Document, that are not also subject to Liens securing all other First Lien Obligations under the applicable First Lien Security Documents (the “Undersecured Obligations”), subject to Section 1.03, (A) such Authorized Representative or First Lien Secured Party shall be deemed to hold and have held such Lien for the benefit of each Authorized Representative and the other First Lien Secured Parties in respect of Undersecured Obligations as security for such Person’s First Lien Obligations and (B) the Grantors shall notify the Authorized Representative for the Undersecured Obligations promptly upon becoming aware of any Undersecured Obligations and shall promptly grant a similar Lien with the same priority on such assets or property to each Authorized Representative as security for the applicable First Lien Obligations.

 

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ARTICLE III

EXISTENCE AND AMOUNTS OF LIENS AND OBLIGATIONS

Section 3.01. Determinations with Respect to Amounts of Liens and Obligations.

Whenever a Collateral Agent or any Authorized Representative shall be required, in connection with the exercise of its rights or the performance of its obligations hereunder, to determine the existence or amount of any First Lien Obligations of any Series, or the Shared Collateral subject to any Lien securing the First Lien Obligations of any Series, it may request that such information be furnished to it in writing by each other Authorized Representative or Collateral Agent and shall be entitled to make such determination or not make any determination on the basis of the information so furnished; provided, however, that if an Authorized Representative or a Collateral Agent shall fail or refuse reasonably promptly to provide the requested information, the requesting Collateral Agent or Authorized Representative shall be entitled to make any such determination by such method as it may, in the exercise of its good faith judgment, determine, including by reliance upon an officer’s certificate of the Company. Each Collateral Agent and each Authorized Representative may rely conclusively, and shall be fully protected in so relying, on any determination made by it in accordance with the provisions of the preceding sentence (or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction) and shall have no liability to any Grantor, any First Lien Secured Party or any other Person as a result of such determination.

ARTICLE IV

THE APPLICABLE COLLATERAL AGENT

Section 4.01. Authority.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, nothing herein shall be construed to impose any fiduciary or other duty on any Applicable Collateral Agent to any Non-Controlling Secured Party or give any Non-Controlling Secured Party the right to direct any Applicable Collateral Agent, except that each Applicable Collateral Agent shall be obligated to distribute proceeds of any Shared Collateral in accordance with Section 2.01.

(b) In furtherance of the foregoing, each Non-Controlling Secured Party acknowledges and agrees that the Applicable Collateral Agent shall be entitled, for the benefit of the First Lien Secured Parties, to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of or deal with any Shared Collateral as provided herein and in the First Lien Security Documents, as applicable, pursuant to which the Applicable Collateral Agent is the collateral agent for such Shared Collateral, without regard to any rights to which the Non-Controlling Secured Parties would otherwise be entitled as a result of the First Lien Obligations held by such Non-Controlling Secured Parties. Without limiting the foregoing, each Non-Controlling Secured Party agrees that none of the Applicable Collateral Agent, the Applicable Authorized Representative or any other First Lien Secured Party shall have any duty or obligation first to marshal or realize upon any type of Shared Collateral (or any other

 

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Collateral securing any of the First Lien Obligations), or to sell, dispose of or otherwise liquidate all or any portion of such Shared Collateral (or any other Collateral securing any First Lien Obligations), in any manner that would maximize the return to the Non-Controlling Secured Parties, notwithstanding that the order and timing of any such realization, sale, disposition or liquidation may affect the amount of proceeds actually received by the Non-Controlling Secured Parties from such realization, sale, disposition or liquidation. Each of the First Lien Secured Parties waives any claim it may now or hereafter have against any Collateral Agent or the Authorized Representative of any other Series of First Lien Obligations or any other First Lien Secured Party of any other Series arising out of (i) any actions which any Collateral Agent, Authorized Representative or the First Lien Secured Parties take or omit to take (including actions with respect to the creation, perfection or continuation of Liens on any Collateral, actions with respect to the foreclosure upon, sale, release or depreciation of, or failure to realize upon, any of the Collateral and actions with respect to the collection of any claim for all or any part of the First Lien Obligations from any account debtor, guarantor or any other party) in accordance with the First Lien Security Documents or any other agreement related thereto or to the collection of the First Lien Obligations or the valuation, use, protection or release of any security for the First Lien Obligations, (ii) any election by any Applicable Authorized Representative or any holders of First Lien Obligations, in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, of the application of Section 1111(b) of the Bankruptcy Code or any equivalent provision of any other Bankruptcy Law or (iii) subject to Section 2.05, any borrowing by, or grant of a security interest or administrative expense priority under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code or any equivalent provision of any other Bankruptcy Law, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as debtor-in-possession. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Applicable Collateral Agent shall not accept any Shared Collateral in full or partial satisfaction of any First Lien Obligations pursuant to Section 9-620 of the Uniform Commercial Code of any jurisdiction, without the consent of each Authorized Representative representing holders of First Lien Obligations for which such Collateral constitutes Shared Collateral.

Section 4.02. Exculpatory Provisions. The Applicable Collateral Agent shall not have any duties or obligations to any First Lien Secured Party except those expressly set forth herein and in the Secured Credit Documents for such Series for which the Applicable Collateral Agent is the Authorized Representative. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Applicable Collateral Agent:

(a) shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;

(b) shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby; provided that the Applicable Collateral Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Applicable Collateral Agent to liability or that is contrary to this Agreement or applicable law;

(c) shall not, except as expressly set forth herein, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to a Grantor or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Applicable Collateral Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity;

 

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(d) shall not, except as expressly set forth herein, be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (1) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction or (2) in reliance on an officer’s certificate of the Company stating that such action is permitted by the terms of this Agreement (which certificate Company may issue and deliver, or decline to issue or deliver, in its sole discretion). The Applicable Collateral Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Event of Default under any Series of First Lien Obligations unless and until written notice describing such Event of Default and referencing the applicable First Lien Debt Documents is received by the Applicable Collateral Agent;

(e) shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (1) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other First Lien Security Document, (2) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (3) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, (4) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other First Lien Security Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, or the creation, perfection or priority of any Lien purported to be created by the First Lien Security Documents, (5) the value or the sufficiency of any Collateral for any Series of First Lien Obligations, or (6) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in any First Lien Debt Document, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Applicable Collateral Agent; and

(f) need not segregate money held hereunder from other funds except to the extent required by law and shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed in writing.

ARTICLE V MISCELLANEOUS

Section 5.01. Notices. All notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopy, as follows:

(a) if to the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent or the First Lien Administrative Agent, to it at:

Jefferies Finance LLC

520 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10022

Attention: Account Officer – Sotera

Facsimile: (212) 284-3444

With a copy to:

Milbank LLP

55 Hudson Yards

New York, NY 10001

Attention: Michael Bellucci

Facsimile: (212) 822-5410;

 

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(b) if to the Initial Additional First Lien Collateral Agent or the Initial Additional Authorized Representative, to it at:

Wilmington Trust, National Association

1100 North Market Street

Wilmington, Delaware 19890

Attention: Sotera Health Holdings, LLC Administrator

Facsimile: (302) 636-4145;

With a copy to:

Shipman & Goodwin LLP

One Constitution Plaza

Hartford, CT 06103

Attention: Marie C. Pollio

Facsimile: (860) 251-5212

(c) if to any other Additional Authorized Representative, to it at the address set forth in the applicable Joinder Agreement; and

(d) if to Holdings, the Company or any of the Grantors, to the applicable party at

c/o Sotera Health Holdings, LLC

9100 South Hills Blvd, Suite 300

Broadview Heights, OH 44147

Attention: Scott Leffler

With a copy to:

Sotera Health LLC

9100 South Hills Blvd, Suite 300

Broadview Heights, OH 44147

Attention: Matthew Klaben

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

One Liberty Plaza

New York, NY 10006

Attention: Katherine Reaves

Facsimile: (212) 225-3999.

 

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Any party hereto may change its address or telecopy number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Notices and other communications sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices and other communications sent by telecopier shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient). Notices and other communications delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in subsection (b) below shall be effective as provided in such subsection (b).

Section 5.02. Waivers; Amendment; Joinder Agreements.

(a) No failure or delay on the part of any party hereto in exercising any right or power hereunder 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 parties hereto are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by any party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by Section 5.01(b), and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. No notice or demand on any party hereto in any case shall entitle such party to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

(b) Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be terminated, waived, amended or modified (other than pursuant to any Joinder Agreement) except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by each Authorized Representative and each Collateral Agent (and with respect to any such termination, waiver, amendment or modification which by the terms of this Agreement requires the Company’s consent or which adversely affects the Company or any other Grantor, with the consent of the Company).

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of any First Lien Secured Party, any Authorized Representative and Collateral Agent may become a party hereto by execution and delivery of a Joinder Agreement in accordance with Section 5.13 and upon such execution and delivery, such Authorized Representative and Collateral Agent and the Additional First Lien Secured Parties and Additional First Lien Obligations of the Series for which such Authorized Representative and Collateral Agent is acting shall be subject to the terms hereof and the terms of the Additional First Lien Security Documents applicable thereto.

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of any other Authorized Representative or First Lien Secured Party, the Collateral Agents may, at the expense of the Grantors, effect amendments and modifications to this Agreement to the extent necessary to reflect any incurrence of any Additional First Lien Obligations in compliance with the Credit Agreement and the other Secured Credit Documents.

Section 5.03. Parties in Interest. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, as well as the other First Lien Secured Parties, all of which are intended to be bound by, and to be third party beneficiaries of, this Agreement.

 

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Section 5.04. Survival of Agreement. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by any party in this Agreement shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

Section 5.05. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the parties to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts, and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or other electronic transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.

Section 5.06. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement 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 hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction. The parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

Section 5.07. GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Section 5.08. Submission to Jurisdiction Waivers; Consent to Service of Process. Each party hereto, on behalf of itself and, as applicable, the First Lien Secured Parties of the Series for which it is acting, irrevocably and unconditionally:

(a) submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, 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 shall be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement or the Secured Credit Documents shall affect any right that any Representative may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to any Secured Credit Document against any Grantor or its respective properties in the courts of any jurisdiction;

(b) waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection that 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 in any court referred to in paragraph (a) 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;

(c) agrees that service of process in any such action or proceeding may be effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to such Person (or its Authorized Representative) at the address set forth in Section 5.01;

 

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(d) as it relates to any Grantor, such Grantor designates, appoints and empowers the Company as its designee, appointee and agent to receive, accept and acknowledge for and on its behalf, and in respect of its property, service of any and all legal process, summons, notices and documents that may be served in any such action or proceeding and the Company hereby accepts such designation and appointment; and

(e) waives, to the maximum extent not prohibited by law, any right it may have to claim or recover in any legal action or proceeding referred to in this Section 5.08 any special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages.

Section 5.09. 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 ANY SECURED CREDIT DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 5.09.

Section 5.10. Headings. Article, Section and Annex headings used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and are not to affect the construction of, or to be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

Section 5.11. Conflicts. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of any of the First Lien Security Documents or any of the other Secured Credit Documents, the provisions of this Agreement shall control.

Section 5.12. Provisions Solely to Define Relative Rights. The provisions of this Agreement are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the First Lien Secured Parties in relation to one another. None of the Company, any other Grantor or any creditor thereof shall have any rights or obligations hereunder, except as expressly provided in this Agreement, and none of the Company or any other Grantor may rely on the terms hereof (other than Sections 2.04, 2.05, 2.09, 5.02(b), 5.03 and 5.12). Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary (other than Sections 2.04, 2.05, 2.09, 5.02(b), 5.03 and 5.12), nothing in this Agreement is intended to or will amend, waive or otherwise modify the provisions of the Credit Agreement, any other First Lien Security Document, or permit the Company or any Grantor to take any action, or fail to take any action, to the extent such action or failure would otherwise constitute a breach of, or default under, the Credit Agreement or any other First Lien Security Document or obligate the Company or any Grantor to take any action, or fail to take any action, that would otherwise constitute a breach of, or default under, the Credit Agreement or any other First Lien Security Document. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to or shall impair the obligations of any Grantor, which are absolute and unconditional, to pay the First Lien Obligations as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms.

 

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Section 5.13. Additional Senior Debt. To the extent, but only to the extent, permitted by the provisions of the then-existing Credit Agreement and the Additional First Lien Documents, the Company may incur additional indebtedness after the date hereof that is permitted by the Credit Agreement and the Additional First Lien Documents to be incurred and secured on an equal and ratable basis by the Liens securing the First Lien Obligations (such indebtedness referred to as “Additional Senior Class Debt”). Any such Additional Senior Class Debt may be secured by a Lien and may be Guaranteed by the Grantors on a senior basis, in each case under and pursuant to the Additional First Lien Documents, if and subject to the condition that the Authorized Representative of any such Additional Senior Class Debt (each, an “Additional Senior Class Debt Representative”), and the collateral agent, collateral trustee or similar representative for the holders of such Additional Senior Class Debt (each, an “Additional Senior Class Debt Collateral Agent” and, together with the Additional Senior Class Debt Representative, the “Additional Senior Class Debt Parties”), in each case, acting on behalf of the holders of such Additional Senior Class Debt becomes a party to this Agreement by satisfying the conditions set forth in clauses (i) through (iv) of the immediately succeeding paragraph.

In order for an Additional Senior Class Debt Representative and the related Additional Senior Class Debt Collateral Agent to become a party to this Agreement,

(i) such Additional Senior Class Debt Representative and Additional Senior Class Debt Collateral Agent and each Grantor shall have executed and delivered a Joinder Agreement substantially in the form of Annex II (with such changes as may be reasonably approved by the Authorized Representatives and such Additional Senior Class Debt Representative) and provided a copy of such executed Joinder Agreement to each Authorized Representative pursuant to which such Additional Senior Class Debt Representative becomes an “Authorized Representative” hereunder, such Additional Senior Class Debt Collateral Agent becomes a “Collateral Agent” hereunder and the Additional Senior Class Debt in respect of which such Additional Senior Class Debt Representative is the Authorized Representative and the related Additional Senior Class Debt Parties become subject hereto and bound hereby;

(ii) the Company shall have (x) delivered to each Authorized Representative true and complete copies of each of the Additional First Lien Documents relating to such Additional Senior Class Debt, certified as being true and correct by a Responsible Officer of the Company, and (y) identified in a certificate of an authorized officer the obligations to be designated as Additional First Lien Obligations and the initial aggregate principal amount or face amount thereof and stating that such obligations are permitted to be incurred and secured on a pari passu basis with the Liens securing the then-existing First Lien Obligations and by the terms of the then-existing Secured Credit Documents;

 

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(iii) all filings, recordations or amendments or supplements to the First Lien Security Documents necessary or desirable in the reasonable judgment of such Additional Senior Class Debt Representative to confirm and perfect the Liens securing the relevant obligations relating to such Additional Senior Class Debt shall have been made, executed or delivered (or, with respect to any such filings or recordations, acceptable provisions to perform such filings or recordations shall have been taken in the reasonable judgment of such Additional Senior Class Debt Representative), and all fees and taxes in connection therewith shall have been paid (or acceptable provisions to make such payments shall have been taken in the reasonable judgment of such Additional Senior Class Debt Representative); and

(iv) the Additional First Lien Documents, as applicable, relating to such Additional Senior Class Debt shall provide, in a manner reasonably satisfactory to each Collateral Agent, that each Additional Senior Class Debt Party with respect to such Additional Senior Class Debt will be subject to and bound by the provisions of this Agreement in its capacity as a holder of such Additional Senior Class Debt.

Section 5.14. Agent Capacities. Except as expressly provided herein or in the Credit Agreement Collateral Documents, Jefferies is acting in the capacities of First Lien Administrative Agent and Credit Agreement Collateral Agent solely for the Credit Agreement Secured Parties. Except as expressly provided herein or in the Additional First Lien Security Documents, Wilmington Trust, National Association is acting in the capacity of Initial Additional First Lien Collateral Agent and Initial Additional Authorized Representative solely for the Initial Additional First Lien Secured Parties. Except as expressly set forth herein, each of the First Lien Administrative Agent, the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent, the Additional First Lien Collateral Agent and the Initial Additional Authorized Representative shall be entitled to all of the rights, privileges, immunities and indemnities under the applicable Secured Credit Documents and shall not have any duties or obligations in respect of any of the Collateral, all of such duties and obligations, if any, being subject to and governed by the applicable Secured Credit Documents.

Section 5.15. Integration. This Agreement together with the other Secured Credit Documents and the First Lien Security Documents represents the agreement of each of the Grantors and the First Lien Secured Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and there are no promises, undertakings, representations or warranties by any Grantor, the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent or any other First Lien Secured Party relative to the subject matter hereof not expressly set forth or referred to herein or in the other Secured Credit Documents or the First Lien Security Documents.

SECTION 5.16 Additional Grantors. Each of Holdings and the Company agrees that, if any Subsidiary or other Person shall become a Grantor after the date hereof, it will promptly cause such Subsidiary or other Person to become party hereto by executing and delivering an instrument in the form of Annex I. Upon such execution and delivery, such Subsidiary or other Person will become a Grantor hereunder with the same force and effect as if originally named as a Grantor herein. The execution and delivery of such instrument shall not require the consent of any other party hereunder, and will be acknowledged by the Applicable Authorized Representative and the Applicable Collateral Agent. The rights and obligations of each Grantor hereunder shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the addition of any new Grantor as a party to this Agreement.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]

 

 

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

 

JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC,
as Credit Agreement Collateral Agent
By:  

/s/ Paul Chisholm

Name:   Paul Chisholm
Title:   Managing Director
JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC,
as Authorized Representative for the Credit Agreement Secured Parties
By:  

/s/ Paul Chisholm

Name:   Paul Chisholm
Title:   Managing Director

 

[Signature Page to the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement]


WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
solely in its capacity as Initial Additional First Lien Notes Collateral Agent
By:  

/s/ W. Thomas Morris II

Name:   W. Thomas Morris II
Title:   Vice President
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
solely in its capacity as Initial Additional Authorized Representative
By:  

/s/ W. Thomas Morris II

Name:   W. Thomas Morris II
Title:   Vice President

 

[Signature Page to the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement]


SOTERA HEALTH TOPCO, INC.,
as Holdings
By:  

/s/ Scott. J. Leffler

Name:   Scott J. Leffler
Title:   Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer
SOTERA HEALTH HOLDINGS, LLC,
as the Company
By:  

/s/ Scott. J. Leffler

Name:   Scott J. Leffler
Title:   Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer
NELSON LABORATORIES, LLC
SOTERA HEALTH LLC
STERIGENICS U.S., LLC

SOTERA HEALTH SERVICES, LLC,

 

each as a Guarantor

By:  

/s/ Scott. J. Leffler

Name:   Scott J. Leffler
Title:   Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer

 

[Signature Page to the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement]


STERIGENICS RADIATION TECHNOLOGIES HOLDINGS, LLC,
as a Guarantor
By:  

/s/ Matthew D. Shimkus

Name:   Matthew D. Shimkus
Title:   Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary

 

[Signature Page to the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement]


STERIGENICS RADIATION TECHNOLOGIES, LLC,
as a Guarantor
By:  

/s/ Matthew D. Shimkus

Name:   Matthew D. Shimkus
Title:   Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary

 

[Signature Page to the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement]


NELSON LABORATORIES

HOLDINGS, LLC, as a Guarantor

By:  

/s/ Bruce T. Krarup

Name:   Bruce T. Krarup
Title:   Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary

 

[Signature Page to the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement]


NELSON LABORATORIES FAIRFIELD HOLDINGS, LLC,
as a Guarantor
By:  

/s/ Bruce T. Krarup

Name:   Bruce T. Krarup
Title:   Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary

 

[Signature Page to the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement]


IOTRON INDUSTRIES USA INC.,
as a Guarantor
By:  

/s/ Matthew D. Shikmus

Name:   Matthew D. Shikmus
Title:   Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary

 

[Signature Page to the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement]