Document:

Exhibit 10.1

 

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED REPLACEMENT CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

Dated as of May 15, 2017

 

among

 

ARGAN, INC. (the “Company”),

 

CERTAIN SUBSIDIARIES OF THE COMPANY,
 as Designated Borrowers,

 

and

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
 as the Lender

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
Page
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE I
    	
DEFINITIONS AND   ACCOUNTING TERMS
    	
1
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
1.01
    	
Defined Terms
    	
1
    
	
1.02
    	
Other Interpretive   Provisions
    	
26
    
	
1.03
    	
Accounting Terms
    	
26
    
	
1.04
    	
Rounding
    	
26
    
	
1.05
    	
Times of Day; Rates
    	
26
    
	
1.06
    	
Letter of Credit   Amounts
    	
27
    
	
1.07
    	
UCC Terms
    	
28
    
	
1.08
    	
Exchange Rates;   Currency Equivalents
    	
28
    
	
1.09
    	
Additional Alternative   Currencies
    	
28
    
	
1.10
    	
Change of Currency
    	
29
    
	
1.11
    	
Appointment of Agent
    	
29
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE II
    	
COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT   EXTENSIONS
    	
29
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
2.01
    	
Loans
    	
29
    
	
2.02
    	
Borrowings, Conversions   and Continuations of Loans
    	
30
    
	
2.03
    	
Letters of Credit
    	
31
    
	
2.04
    	
Reserved
    	
36
    
	
2.05
    	
Prepayments
    	
37
    
	
2.06
    	
Termination or   Reduction of Commitments
    	
38
    
	
2.07
    	
Repayment of Loan
    	
39
    
	
2.08
    	
Interest and Default   Rate
    	
39
    
	
2.09
    	
Fees
    	
40
    
	
2.10
    	
Computation of Interest   and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate
    	
40
    
	
2.11
    	
Payments Generally
    	
40
    
	
2.12
    	
Cash Collateral
    	
41
    
	
2.13
    	
Designated Borrowers
    	
41
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE III
    	
TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION   AND ILLEGALITY
    	
42
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
3.01
    	
Taxes
    	
42
    
	
3.02
    	
Illegality
    	
43
    
	
3.03
    	
Inability to Determine   Rates
    	
44
    
	
3.04
    	
Increased Costs;   Reserves on Eurocurrency Rate Loans
    	
44
    
	
3.05
    	
Compensation for Losses
    	
46
    
	
3.06
    	
Survival
    	
46
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE IV
    	
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO   CREDIT EXTENSIONS
    	
46
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
4.01
    	
Conditions of Initial   Credit Extension
    	
46
    
	
4.02
    	
Conditions to all   Credit Extensions
    	
49
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE V
    	
REPRESENTATIONS AND   WARRANTIES
    	
50
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
5.01
    	
Existence,   Qualification and Power
    	
50
    
	
5.02
    	
Authorization; No   Contravention
    	
50
    
	
5.03
    	
Governmental   Authorization; Other Consents
    	
50
    
	
5.04
    	
Binding Effect
    	
50
    
	
5.05
    	
Financial Statements;   No Material Adverse Effect
    	
51
    
	
5.06
    	
Litigation
    	
51
    
	
5.07
    	
No Default
    	
51
    

 

i

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

	
 
    	
 
    	
Page
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
5.08
    	
Ownership   of Property
    	
51
    
	
5.09
    	
Environmental   Compliance
    	
51
    
	
5.10
    	
Taxes
    	
52
    
	
5.11
    	
ERISA Compliance
    	
52
    
	
5.12
    	
Margin Regulations;   Investment Company Act
    	
53
    
	
5.13
    	
Disclosure
    	
53
    
	
5.14
    	
Solvency
    	
53
    
	
5.15
    	
Casualty, Etc.
    	
53
    
	
5.16
    	
Sanctions Concerns and   Anti-Corruption Laws
    	
54
    
	
5.17
    	
Responsible Officers
    	
54
    
	
5.18
    	
Subsidiaries; Equity   Interests; Loan Parties
    	
54
    
	
5.19
    	
Collateral   Representations
    	
55
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE VI
    	
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
    	
56
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
6.01
    	
Financial Statements
    	
56
    
	
6.02
    	
Certificates; Other   Information
    	
57
    
	
6.03
    	
Notices
    	
58
    
	
6.04
    	
Payment of Obligations
    	
59
    
	
6.05
    	
Preservation of   Existence, Etc.
    	
59
    
	
6.06
    	
Maintenance of   Properties
    	
59
    
	
6.07
    	
Maintenance of   Insurance
    	
59
    
	
6.08
    	
Compliance with Laws
    	
60
    
	
6.09
    	
Bank Accounts
    	
60
    
	
6.10
    	
Books and Records
    	
60
    
	
6.11
    	
Inspection Rights
    	
60
    
	
6.12
    	
Use of Proceeds
    	
61
    
	
6.13
    	
Material Contracts
    	
61
    
	
6.14
    	
Covenant to Guarantee   Obligations or to Join as Designated Borrower
    	
61
    
	
6.15
    	
Covenant to Give   Security
    	
61
    
	
6.16
    	
Further Assurances
    	
62
    
	
6.17
    	
Approvals and   Authorizations
    	
63
    
	
6.18
    	
Anti-Corruption Laws
    	
63
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE VII
    	
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
    	
63
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
7.01
    	
Liens
    	
63
    
	
7.02
    	
Indebtedness
    	
64
    
	
7.03
    	
Investments
    	
65
    
	
7.04
    	
Fundamental Changes
    	
66
    
	
7.05
    	
Dispositions
    	
67
    
	
7.06
    	
Restricted Payments
    	
67
    
	
7.07
    	
Change in Nature of   Business
    	
68
    
	
7.08
    	
Transactions with   Affiliates
    	
68
    
	
7.09
    	
Burdensome Agreements
    	
68
    
	
7.10
    	
Use of Proceeds
    	
68
    
	
7.11
    	
Financial Covenants
    	
68
    
	
7.12
    	
Amendments of   Organization Documents; Fiscal Year; Legal Name, State of Formation;   Form of Entity, Travelers Letter Agreement and Accounting Changes
    	
69
    
				

 

ii

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

	
 
    	
 
    	
Page
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
7.13
    	
Sale and Leaseback   Transactions
    	
69
    
	
7.14
    	
Sanctions
    	
69
    
	
7.15
    	
Anti-Corruption Laws
    	
69
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE VIII
    	
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND   REMEDIES
    	
69
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
8.01
    	
Events of Default
    	
69
    
	
8.02
    	
Remedies upon Event of   Default
    	
72
    
	
8.03
    	
Application of Funds
    	
72
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE IX
    	
CONTINUING GUARANTY
    	
72
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
9.01
    	
Guaranty
    	
72
    
	
9.02
    	
Rights of Lender
    	
73
    
	
9.03
    	
Certain Waivers
    	
73
    
	
9.04
    	
Obligations Independent
    	
74
    
	
9.05
    	
Subrogation
    	
74
    
	
9.06
    	
Termination;   Reinstatement
    	
74
    
	
9.07
    	
Stay of Acceleration
    	
74
    
	
9.08
    	
Condition of Borrowers
    	
74
    
	
9.09
    	
Appointment of Company
    	
75
    
	
9.10
    	
Right of Contribution
    	
75
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE X
    	
MISCELLANEOUS
    	
75
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
10.01
    	
Amendments, Etc.
    	
75
    
	
10.02
    	
Notices; Effectiveness;   Electronic Communications
    	
75
    
	
10.03
    	
No Waiver; Cumulative   Remedies; Enforcement
    	
76
    
	
10.04
    	
Expenses; Indemnity;   Damage Waiver
    	
76
    
	
10.05
    	
Payments Set Aside
    	
78
    
	
10.06
    	
Successors and Assigns;   Register
    	
78
    
	
10.07
    	
Treatment of Certain   Information; Confidentiality
    	
78
    
	
10.08
    	
Right of Setoff
    	
79
    
	
10.09
    	
Interest Rate   Limitation
    	
80
    
	
10.10
    	
Counterparts;   Integration; Effectiveness
    	
80
    
	
10.11
    	
Survival of   Representations and Warranties
    	
80
    
	
10.12
    	
Severability
    	
80
    
	
10.13
    	
Governing Law;   Jurisdiction; Etc.
    	
81
    
	
10.14
    	
Waiver of Jury Trial
    	
82
    
	
10.15
    	
Subordination
    	
82
    
	
10.16
    	
No Advisory or   Fiduciary Responsibility
    	
82
    
	
10.17
    	
Electronic Execution
    	
83
    
	
10.18
    	
USA PATRIOT Act Notice
    	
83
    
	
10.19
    	
Judgment Currency
    	
83
    

 

iii

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
Page
    
	
 
    
	
BORROWER   PREPARED SCHEDULES
    
	
 
    
	
Schedule 5.18(a)
    	
Subsidiaries, Joint   Ventures, Partnerships and Other Equity Investments
    
	
Schedule 5.18(b)
    	
Loan Parties
    
	
Schedule 5.19(b)
    	
Documents, Instrument,   and Tangible Chattel Paper
    
	
Schedule 5.19(c)(i)
    	
Deposit   Accounts & Securities Accounts
    
	
Schedule 5.19(c)(ii)
    	
Electronic Chattel   Paper & Letter-of-Credit Rights
    
	
Schedule 5.19(d)
    	
Commercial Tort Claims
    
	
Schedule 5.19(e)
    	
Pledged Equity   Interests
    
	
Schedule 5.19(f)(ii)
    	
Other Properties
    
	
Schedule 7.01
    	
Existing Liens
    
	
Schedule 7.02
    	
Existing Indebtedness
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
LENDER   PREPARED SCHEDULES
    
	
 
    
	
Schedule 1.01(a)
    	
Certain Addresses for   Notices
    
	
Schedule 1.01(c)
    	
Existing Letters of   Credit
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
EXHIBITS
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Exhibit A
    	
Form of Compliance   Certificate
    
	
Exhibit B
    	
Form of Joinder   Agreement
    
	
Exhibit C
    	
Form of Loan   Notice
    
	
Exhibit D
    	
Form of Permitted   Acquisition Certificate
    
	
Exhibit E
    	
Form of Solvency   Certificate
    
	
Exhibit F
    	
Form of Notice of   Loan Prepayment
    
	
Exhibit G
    	
Designated Borrower   Request and Assumption Agreement
    
				

 

iv

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED REPLACEMENT CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED REPLACEMENT CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of May 15, 2017 among ARGAN, INC., a corporation organized and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Company”), SOUTHERN MARYLAND CABLE, INC., a corporation organized and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, GEMMA POWER, INC., a corporation organized and in good standing under the laws of the State of Connecticut, GEMMA POWER SYSTEMS CALIFORNIA, INC., a corporation organized and in good standing under the laws of the State of California, GEMMA POWER SYSTEMS, LLC, a limited liability company organized and in good standing under the laws of the State of Connecticut, GEMMA POWER HARTFORD, LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Connecticut, GEMMA PLANT OPERATIONS, LLC, a limited liability company organized and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, ATLANTIC PROJECTS COMPANY, INC., a corporation organized and in good standing under the laws of the State of New York, GEMMA RENEWABLE POWER LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, TRC ACQUISITION, LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware and THE ROBERTS COMPANY, INC., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, together with certain other Subsidiaries of the Company that become party hereto pursuant to Section 2.13 (each a “Designated Borrower” and, together with the Company, the “Borrowers” and each a “Borrower”) and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as the Lender.

 

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS:

 

WHEREAS, certain of the Borrowers and the Lender are parties to a Replacement Credit Agreement dated as of August 10, 2015 (the same, as amended, modified, substituted, extended, and renewed from time to time prior to the Closing Date, the “Existing Credit Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, the Loan Parties (as hereinafter defined) have requested that the Lender amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement in its entirety and make loans and other financial accommodations to the Loan Parties in an aggregate amount of up to $50,000,000; and

 

WHEREAS, the Lender has agreed to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement in its entirety and make such loans and other financial accommodations to the Loan Parties on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

 

1.01                        Defined Terms.

 

As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

 

“Acquisition” means the acquisition, whether through a single transaction or a series of related transactions, of (a) a majority of the Voting Stock or other controlling ownership interest in another Person (including the purchase of an option, warrant or convertible or similar type security to acquire such a controlling interest at the time it becomes exercisable by the holder thereof), whether by purchase of such equity or other ownership interest or upon the exercise of an option or warrant for, or conversion

 

 

of securities into, such equity or other ownership interest, or (b) assets of another Person which constitute all or substantially all of the assets of such Person or of a division, line of business or other business unit of such Person.

 

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

 

“Agreement” means this Replacement Credit Agreement.

 

“Agreement Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 10.19.

 

“Alternative Currency” means each of the following currencies:  Euros, Pound Sterling, Swiss Francs, Yen, together with each other currency (other than Dollars) that is approved in accordance with Section 1.09; provided that for each Alternative Currency, such requested currency is an Eligible Currency.

 

“Alternative Currency Equivalent” means, at any time, with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, the equivalent amount thereof in the applicable Alternative Currency as determined by the Lender at such time on the basis of the Spot Rate (determined in respect of the most recent Revaluation Date) for the purchase of such Alternative Currency with Dollars.

 

“Alternative Currency Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of the Commitments and $50,000,000.  The Alternative Currency Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Commitments.

 

“Applicable Rate” means, for any day, the rate per annum set forth:

 

	
Eurocurrency Rate
   Revolving Loans
    	
 
    	
Base Rate
   Revolving Loans
    	
 
    	
Letters of Credit
    	
 
    	
Cash
   Collateralized
   Letters of Credit
    	
 
    	
Unused Fee
    	
 
    
	
2.00
    	
%
    	
1.00
    	
%
    	
2.00
    	
%
    	
0.80
    	
%
    	
0.25
    	
%
    

 

“Applicable Time” means, with respect to any borrowings and payments in any Alternative Currency, the local time in the place of settlement for such Alternative Currency as may be determined by the Lender to be necessary for timely settlement on the relevant date in accordance with normal banking procedures in the place of payment.

 

“Applicant Borrower” has the meaning specified in Section 2.13.

 

“Atlantic Projects Acquisition” means the stock acquisition described in that certain Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of May 11, 2015, as amended, among AGX International Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“AGX”) , Electrigen Limited, a private company limited by shares incorporated in Hong Kong (“Electrigen”), Atlantic Projects Holdings Limited, a private company limited by shares incorporated in Ireland (“AP Limited” and together with Electrigen, the “Sellers”), and Atlantic Projects Company Limited, a private company limited by shares incorporated in Ireland (“Atlantic Projects”) pursuant to which the Sellers sold to AGX one hundred percent (100%) of the issued and outstanding shares in Atlantic Projects.

 

2

 

“Attributable Indebtedness” means, on any date, (a) in respect of any Capitalized Lease of any Person, the capitalized amount thereof that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP, and (b) in respect of any Synthetic Lease Obligation, the capitalized amount of the remaining lease or similar payments under the relevant lease or other applicable agreement or instrument that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP if such lease or other agreement or instrument were accounted for as a Capitalized Lease.

 

“Audited Financial Statements” means the audited Consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2017, and the related Consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year of the Company and its Subsidiaries, including the notes thereto.

 

“Authorization to Share Insurance Information” means the authorization in form and substance satisfactory to the Lender (or such other form as required by each of the Loan Party’s insurance companies).

 

“Availability Period” means the period from and including the Closing Date to the earliest of (i) the Maturity Date, (ii) the date of termination of the Revolving Commitments pursuant to Section 2.06, and (iii) the date of termination of the Commitment of the Lender to make Revolving Loans and L/C Credit Extensions pursuant to Section 8.02.

 

“Bank of America” means Bank of America, N.A. and its successors.

 

“Base Rate” means for any day a fluctuating rate of interest per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus one-half of one percent (0.50%), (b) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by Bank of America as its “prime rate,” and (c) the Eurocurrency Rate plus one percent (1.00%); and if the Base Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed zero for purposes of this Agreement.  The “prime rate” is a rate set by Bank of America based upon various factors including Bank of America’s costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate.  Any change in such prime rate announced by Bank of America shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.

 

“Base Rate Loan” means a Revolving Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate.  All Base Rate Loans are only available to U.S. Borrowers and Loans denominated in Dollars.

 

“Borrower” and “Borrowers” each has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

“Borrowing” means a Revolving Borrowing.

 

“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the state where the Lender’s Office is located and, if such day relates to any Eurocurrency Rate Loan, means any such day that is also a London Banking Day:

 

(a)                                 if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in Dollars, any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in Dollars in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, or any other dealings in Dollars to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, means any such day that is also a London Banking Day;

 

3

 

(b)                                 if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in Euro, any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in Euro in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, or any other dealings in Euro to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, means a TARGET Day;

 

(c)                                  if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in a currency other than Dollars or Euro, means any such day on which dealings in deposits in the relevant currency are conducted by and between banks in the London or other applicable offshore interbank market for such currency; and

 

(d)                                 if such day relates to any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in a currency other than Dollars or Euro in respect of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in a currency other than Dollars or Euro, or any other dealings in any currency other than Dollars or Euro to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan (other than any interest rate settings), means any such day on which banks are open for foreign exchange business in the principal financial center of the country of such currency.

 

“Capital Expenditures” means, with respect to any Person for any period, any expenditure in respect of the purchase or other acquisition of any fixed or capital asset (excluding normal replacements and maintenance which are properly charged to current operations).

 

“Capitalized Leases” means all leases that have been or should be, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as capitalized leases.

 

“Cash Collateralize” means, to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Lender, as collateral for L/C Obligations or the Obligations, (a) cash or deposit account balances or Cash Equivalents held with the Lender, (b) backstop letters of credit entered into on terms, from issuers and in amounts satisfactory to the Lender, and/or (c) if the Lender shall agree, in its sole discretion, other credit support, in each case, in Dollars and pursuant to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to the Lender.  “Cash Collateral” shall have a meaning correlative to the foregoing and shall include the proceeds of such cash collateral and other credit support.

 

“Cash Equivalents” means any of the following types of Investments, to the extent owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens):

 

(a)                                 readily marketable obligations issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof having maturities of not more than three hundred sixty days (360) days from the date of acquisition thereof; provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support thereof;

 

(b)                                 time deposits with, or insured certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances of, any commercial bank that (i) (A) is the Lender or (B) is organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia or is the principal banking subsidiary of a bank holding company organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, and is a member of the Federal Reserve System, (ii) issues (or the parent of which issues) commercial paper rated as described in clause (c) of this definition and (iii) has combined capital and surplus of at least $1,000,000,000, in each case with maturities of not more than three hundred seventy five (375) days from the date of acquisition thereof;

 

(c)                                  commercial paper issued by any Person organized under the laws of any state of the United States and rated at least “Prime-1” (or the then equivalent grade) by Moody’s or at

 

4

 

least “A-1” (or the then equivalent grade) by S&P, in each case with maturities of not more than one hundred eighty (180) days from the date of acquisition thereof; and

 

(d)                                 Investments, classified in accordance with GAAP as current assets of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, in money market investment programs registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, which are administered by financial institutions that have the highest rating obtainable from either Moody’s or S&P, and the portfolios of which are limited solely to Investments of the character, quality and maturity described in clauses (a), (b) and (c) of this definition.

 

“Cash Management Agreement” means any agreement that is not prohibited by the terms hereof to provide treasury or cash management services, including deposit accounts, overnight draft, credit cards, debit cards, p-cards (including purchasing cards and commercial cards), funds transfer, automated clearinghouse, zero balance accounts, returned check concentration, controlled disbursement, lockbox, account reconciliation and reporting and trade finance services, foreign exchange, spot or forward transactions and other cash management services.

 

“CFC” means a Person that is a controlled foreign corporation under Section 957 of the Code.

 

“Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the Closing Date, of any of the following:  (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (ii) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.

 

“Change of Control” means an event or series of events which would result in addition or departure of shareholders having more than twenty five percent (25%) of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Borrower on a fully diluted basis (which for this purpose shall exclude all Equity Interests that have not yet vested).

 

“Closing Date” means the date hereof.

 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

 

“Collateral” means all of the “Collateral” referred to in the Collateral Documents and all of the other property that is or is intended under the terms of the Collateral Documents to be subject to Liens in favor of the Lender for the benefit of the Secured Parties, but excluding all Excluded Property.

 

“Collateral Documents” means, collectively, the Security Agreement, each Joinder Agreement, each of the collateral assignments, security agreements, pledge agreements or other similar agreements delivered to the Lender pursuant to Section 6.14, and each of the other agreements, instruments or documents that creates or purports to create a Lien in favor of the Lender for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

 

“Commitment” means the Revolving Commitment.

 

5

 

“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.

 

“Company” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

“Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit A.

 

“Consolidated” means, when used with reference to financial statements or financial statement items of the Company and its Subsidiaries or any other Person, such statements or items on a consolidated basis in accordance with the consolidation principles of GAAP.

 

“Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means as to the Company and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis for any period of determination the ratio of (a) EBITDA, minus (i) cash taxes, (ii) Capital Expenditures, and (iii) dividends, distributions and stock repurchases to (b) Fixed Charges, all in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Contractual Obligation” means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.

 

“Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise.  “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a Person shall be deemed to be Controlled by another Person if such other Person possesses, directly or indirectly, power to vote twenty five percent (25%) or more of the securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors, managing general partners or the equivalent.

 

“Credit Extension” means each of the following:  (a) a Borrowing and (b) an L/C Credit Extension.

 

“Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect.

 

“Default” means any event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that, with the giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default.

 

“Default Rate” means (a) with respect to any Obligation for which a rate is specified, a rate per annum equal to two percent (2%) in excess of the rate otherwise applicable thereto and (b) with respect to any Obligation for which a rate is not specified or available, a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate for Revolving Loans that are Base Rate Loans plus two percent (2%), in each case, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law.

 

“Designated Borrower” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

“Designated Borrower Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 2.13.

 

“Designated Borrower Request and Assumption Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 2.13.

 

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“Designated Borrower Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of the Commitments and $50,000,000.  The Designated Borrower Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Commitments.

 

“Designated Lender” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.02(b).

 

“Designated Jurisdiction” means any country or territory to the extent that such country or territory is the subject of any Sanction.

 

“Disposition” or “Dispose” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (including any Sale and Leaseback Transaction) of any property by any Loan Party or Subsidiary (or the granting of any option or other right to do any of the foregoing), 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, but excluding any Involuntary Disposition.

 

“Dollar” and “$” mean lawful money of the United States.

 

“Dollar Equivalent” means, at any time, (a) with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, such amount, and (b) with respect to any amount denominated in any Alternative Currency, the equivalent amount thereof in Dollars as determined by the Lender at such time on the basis of the Spot Rate (determined in respect of the most recent Revaluation Date) for the purchase of Dollars with such Alternative Currency.

 

“Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of any political subdivision of the United States.

 

“EBITDA” means as to the Company and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis for any period of determination thereof, the sum of (a) the net profit (or loss) (including, without limitation, all net income (loss) recognized by any Loan Party, all determined in accordance with GAAP consistently applied), plus (b) interest expense for such period, plus (c) income tax provisions for such period, plus (d) depreciation and amortization of assets for such period, plus (e) non-cash stock compensation expense for such period, and plus (f) the amount of any goodwill impairment for such period.

 

“Eligible Currency” means any lawful currency other than Dollars that is readily available, freely transferable and convertible into Dollars in the international interbank market available to the Lender in such market and as to which a Dollar Equivalent may be readily calculated. If, after the designation by the Lender of any currency as an Alternative Currency, any change in currency controls or exchange regulations or any change in the national or international financial, political or economic conditions are imposed in the country in which such currency is issued, result in, in the reasonable opinion of the Lender (in the case of any Loans or Letters of Credit to be denominated in an Alternative Currency), (a) such currency no longer being readily available, freely transferable and convertible into Dollars, (b) a Dollar Equivalent is no longer readily calculable with respect to such currency, (c) providing such currency is impracticable for the Lender or (d) no longer a currency in which the Lender is willing to make such Credit Extensions (each of (a), (b), (c), and (d) a “Disqualifying Event”), then the Lender shall promptly notify the Company, and such country’s currency shall no longer be an Alternative Currency until such time as the Disqualifying Event(s) no longer exist. Within, five (5) Business Days after receipt of such notice from the Lender, the Borrowers shall repay all Loans in such currency to which the Disqualifying Event applies or convert such Loans into the Dollar Equivalent of Loans in Dollars, subject to the other terms contained herein.

 

“Environmental Laws” means any and all federal, state, local, and foreign statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises,

 

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licenses, agreements or governmental restrictions relating to pollution and the protection of the environment or the release of any materials into the environment, including those related to hazardous substances or wastes, air emissions and discharges to waste or public systems.

 

“Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Company, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Subsidiaries directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release 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.

 

“Environmental Permit” means any permit, approval, identification number, license or other authorization required under any Environmental Law.

 

“EPC Contract” means any engineering, procurement and construction contract entered into by any Loan Party or any other Subsidiary (including, without limitation, any Foreign Subsidiary) in the ordinary course of its business.

 

“Equity Interests” means, with respect to any Person, all of the shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other interests), and all of the other ownership or profit interests in such Person (including partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such shares, warrants, options, rights or other interests are outstanding on any date of determination.

 

“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

 

“ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control with the Borrower within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code (and Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the Code).

 

“ERISA Event” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) the withdrawal of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which such entity was a “substantial employer” as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization; (d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate a Pension Plan or the treatment of a Pension Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 or 4041A of ERISA; (e) the institution by the PBGC of proceedings to terminate a Pension Plan; (f) any event or condition which constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan; (g) the determination that any Pension Plan is considered an at-risk plan or a plan in endangered or critical status within the meaning of Sections 430, 431 and 432 of the Code or Sections 303, 304 and 305 of ERISA; (h) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon  the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or (g) a failure by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate to meet all applicable requirements under the Pension Funding Rules in respect of a Pension Plan, whether

 

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or not waived, or the failure by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate to make any required contribution to a Multiemployer Plan.

 

“Euro” and “€” mean the single currency of the Participating Member States.

 

“Eurocurrency Rate” means:

 

(a)                                 for any Interest Period, with respect to any Credit Extension:

 

(i)                                     denominated in a LIBOR Quoted Currency, the rate per annum equal to the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), or a comparable or successor rate which rate is approved by the Lender, as published on the applicable Bloomberg screen page (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Lender from time to time) (in such case, the “LIBOR Rate”) at or about 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the Rate Determination Date, for deposits in the relevant currency, with a term equivalent to such Interest Period;

 

(ii)                                  with respect to any Credit Extension denominated in any other Non-LIBOR Quoted Currency, the rate per annum as designated with respect to such Alternative Currency at the time such Alternative Currency is approved by the Lender and the relevant Lenders pursuant to Section 1.09(a); and

 

(b)                                 for any interest rate calculation with respect to a Base Rate Loan on any date, the rate per annum equal to the LIBOR Rate, at or about 11:00 a.m. (London time) determined as of any Rate Determination Date for Dollar deposits being delivered in the London interbank market for deposits in Dollars with a term of one (1) month commencing that day;

 

provided that (i) to the extent a comparable or successor rate is approved by the Lender in connection with any rate set forth in this definition, the approved rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided, further that to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Lender, such approved rate shall be applied in a manner as otherwise reasonably determined by the Lender and (ii) if the Eurocurrency Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed zero for purposes of this Agreement.

 

“Eurocurrency Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on clause (a) of the definition of “Eurocurrency Rate”.  Eurocurrency Rate Loans may be denominated in Dollars or in an Alternative Currency.  All Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency or made to a Foreign Borrower must be Eurocurrency Rate Loans.

 

“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01.

 

“Excluded Accounts” means:  (a) deposit accounts established solely as payroll accounts, and (b) any other deposit account that does not have an account balance in excess of $100,000 (each a “Low Balance Account”) either individually or when combined with the balance in all other Low Balance Accounts.

 

“Excluded Property” means, with respect to any Loan Party, (a) any owned or leased real property, (b) unless requested by the Lender, any Intellectual Property for which a perfected Lien thereon is not effected either by filing of a Uniform Commercial Code financing statement or by appropriate evidence of such Lien being filed in either the United States Copyright Office or the United States Patent and Trademark Office, (c) the Equity Interests of any Foreign Subsidiary of any Loan Party to the extent

 

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not required to be pledged to secure the Secured Obligations pursuant to the Collateral Documents, (d) any permit or license or any contractual obligation entered into by any Loan Party (A) that prohibits or requires the consent of any Person other than a Loan Party which has not been obtained as a condition to the creation by such Loan Party of a lien on any right, title or interest in such permit, license or contractual obligation or any stock related thereto, or (B) to the extent that any applicable law prohibits the creation of a lien thereon, but only, with respect to the prohibition in (A) and (B), to the extent, and for as long as, such prohibition is not terminated or rendered unenforceable or otherwise deemed ineffective by the UCC or any other applicable law, and (e) “intent to use” trademark applications for which a statement of use has not been filed to the extent that, and solely during the period in which, the grant of a security interest therein would impair, under applicable federal law, the registerability of such applications or the validity or enforceability of registrations issued from such applications.

 

“Excluded Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Loan Party, any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the Guaranty of such Loan Party of, or the grant by such Loan Party of a Lien 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 thereof) by virtue of such Loan Party’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act (determined after giving effect to Section 9.10 and any other “keepwell, support or other agreement” for the benefit of such Loan Party and any and all guarantees of such Loan Party’s Swap Obligations by other Loan Parties) at the time the Guaranty of such Loan Party, or grant by such Loan Party of a Lien, becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation.  If a Swap Obligation arises under a Master Agreement governing more than one Swap Contract, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to Swap Contracts for which such Guaranty or Lien is or becomes excluded in accordance with the first sentence of this definition.

 

“Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to any Lender or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Lender, (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 Lender being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its Lending Office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, 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 or Commitment; and (c) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed pursuant to FATCA.

 

“Existing Letters of Credit” means those certain letters of credit set forth on Schedule 1.01(c).

 

“Facility” means the Revolving Facility.

 

“Facility Office” means the office designated by the Lender through which the Lender will perform its obligations under this Agreement.

 

“Facility Termination Date” means the date as of which all of the following shall have occurred:  (a) the Commitments have terminated, (b) all Obligations have been paid in full (other than contingent indemnification obligations), and (c) all Letters of Credit have terminated or expired (other than Letters of Credit as to which other arrangements with respect thereto satisfactory to the Lender shall have been made).

 

“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

 

10

 

comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof and any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code.

 

“FASB ASC” means the Accounting Standards Codification of the Financial Accounting Standards Board.

 

“Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day; provided that (a) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%) charged to Bank of America on such day on such transactions as determined by the Lender.

 

“Fixed Charges” means as to the Company and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis for any period of determination, the sum of all interest expense paid in cash, all scheduled principal payments (whether or not actually paid) and all payments under Capitalized Leases of the Company and its Subsidiaries made during the Measurement Period up to and including the date such covenant is being tested, all in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Foreign Entity” means any Person which is not organized under the laws of the United States or any state or territory thereof or the District of Columbia.

 

“Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

 

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

 

“Funding Indemnity Letter” means a funding indemnity letter in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Lender.

 

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth from time to time in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (or agencies with similar functions of comparable stature and authority within the accounting profession) including, without limitation, the FASB Accounting Standards Codification, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied and subject to Section 1.03.

 

“Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including, without limitation, the Financial Conduct Authority, the Prudential Regulation Authority and any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

 

“Guarantee” means, as to any Person, (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness of the kind described in clauses (a) through (g) of the definition thereof or other obligation payable or performable by another Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation

 

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of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance of such Indebtedness or other obligation, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity or level of income or cash flow of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation, or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any assets of such Person securing any Indebtedness of the kind described in clauses (a) through (g) of the definition thereof or other obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed or expressly undertaken by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness to obtain any such Lien).  The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith.  The term “Guarantee” as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

 

“Guaranteed Obligations” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.01.

 

“Guarantors” means, collectively, (a) the Subsidiaries of each Loan Party as are or may from time to time become parties to this Agreement pursuant to Section 6.14, and (b) each Borrower with respect to Secured Obligations owing by any Loan Party arising under Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements.

 

“Guaranty” means, collectively, the Guarantee made by the Guarantors under Article IX in favor of the Secured Parties, together with each other guaranty delivered pursuant to Section 6.14.

 

“Hazardous Materials” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, natural gas, natural gas liquids, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, toxic mold, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances, wastes, chemicals, pollutants, contaminants or compounds of any nature in any form regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.

 

“Honor Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(c).

 

“Indebtedness” means, as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all of the following, whether or not included as indebtedness or liabilities in accordance with GAAP:

 

(a)                                 all obligations of such Person for borrowed money and all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments;

 

(b)                                 the maximum amount of all direct or contingent obligations of such Person arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments;

 

(c)                                  net obligations of such Person under any Swap Contract;

 

(d)                                 all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business and not past due for more than one hundred twenty (120) days after the date on which such trade account was created);

 

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(e)                                  indebtedness (excluding prepaid interest thereon) secured by a Lien on property owned or being purchased by such Person (including indebtedness arising under conditional sales or other title retention agreements), whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse;

 

(f)                                   all Attributable Indebtedness in respect of Capitalized Leases and Synthetic Lease Obligations of such Person;

 

(g)                                  all obligations of such Person to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise make any payment in respect of any Equity Interest in such Person or any other Person or any warrant, right or option to acquire such Equity Interest, valued, in the case of a redeemable preferred interest, at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends; and

 

(h)                                 all Guarantees of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing.

 

For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to such Person.  The amount of any net obligation under any Swap Contract on any date shall be deemed to be the Swap Termination Value thereof as of such date.

 

“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 (a), Other Taxes.

 

“Indemnitees” has the meaning specified in Section 10.04(b).

 

“Information” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07.

 

“Intellectual Property” has the meaning set forth in the Security Agreement.

 

“Intercompany Debt” has the meaning specified in Section 7.02(d).

 

“Interest Payment Date” means, (a) as to any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date; provided, however, that if any Interest Period for a Eurocurrency Rate Loan exceeds three (3) months, the respective dates that fall every three (3) months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates; and (b) as to any Base Rate Loan, the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, and the Maturity Date.

 

“Interest Period” means, as to each Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such Eurocurrency Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Eurocurrency Rate Loan and ending on the date one (1), two (2), three (3) or six (6) months thereafter (in each case, subject to availability for the interest rate applicable to the relevant currency), as selected by the Company in its Loan Notice; provided that:

 

(a)                                 any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;

 

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(b)                                 any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and

 

(c)                                  no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date of the Facility under which such Loan was made.

 

“Investment” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect acquisition or investment by such Person, whether by means of (a) the purchase or other acquisition of Equity Interests of another Person, (b) a loan, advance or capital contribution to, Guarantee or assumption of debt of, or purchase or other acquisition of any other debt or interest in, another Person (including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person and any arrangement pursuant to which the investor guaranties Indebtedness of such other Person), or (c) the purchase or other acquisition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of assets of another Person which constitute all or substantially all of the assets of such Person or of a division, line of business or other business unit of such Person. For purposes of covenant compliance, the amount of any Investment shall be the amount actually invested, without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment.

 

“Involuntary Disposition” means any loss of, damage to or destruction of, or any condemnation or other taking for public use of, any property of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary.

 

“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

“ISP” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the “International Standby Practices 1998” published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice, Inc. (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).

 

“Issuer Documents” means with respect to any Letter of Credit, the Letter of Credit Application, and any other document, agreement and instrument entered into by the Lender and any Borrower (or any Subsidiary) or in favor of the Lender and relating to such Letter of Credit.

 

“Joinder Agreement” means a joinder agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit B executed and delivered in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.14.

 

“Joint Ventures” means: (a) the Joint Venture between Gemma Power Systems, LLC and The Lane Construction Corporation evidenced by the Joint Venture Agreement-Moxie Liberty, and (b) the Joint Venture between Gemma Power Systems, LLC and The Lane Construction Corporation evidenced by the Joint Venture Agreement- Moxie Patriot.

 

“Joint Venture Agreement-Moxie Liberty” means that certain Joint Venture Agreement dated as of May 9, 2013, as amended from time to time.

 

“Joint Venture Agreement-Moxie Patriot” means that certain Joint Venture Agreement dated as of September 30, 2013, as amended from time to time.

 

“Judgment Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 10.19.

 

“Laws” means, collectively, all international, foreign, federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the

 

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enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case whether or not having the force of law.

 

“L/C Credit Extension” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the issuance thereof or extension of the expiry date thereof, or the increase of the amount thereof.

 

“L/C Obligations” means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate amount available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all Unreimbursed Amounts.  For purposes of computing the amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.06.  For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the ISP, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” in the amount so remaining available to be drawn.

 

“Lender” means Bank of America, N.A. (or any of its designated branch offices or affiliates) and its successors and assigns.  The term “Lender” shall include any Designated Lender.

 

“Lender’s Office” means, with respect to any currency, the Lender’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 1.01(a) with respect to such currency, or such other address or account with respect to such currency as the Lender may from time to time notify the Company; which office may include any Affiliate of the Lender or any domestic or foreign branch of the Lender or such Affiliate.

 

“Letter of Credit” means any letter of credit issued hereunder and shall include the Existing Letters of Credit.  A Letter of Credit may be a commercial letter of credit or a standby letter of credit.  Letters of Credit may be issued in Dollars or in an Alternative Currency.

 

“Letter of Credit Application” means an application and agreement for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit in the form from time to time in use by the Lender.

 

“Letter of Credit Expiration Date” means the day that is twelve (12) months after the Maturity Date then in effect (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day).

 

“Letter of Credit Fee” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(g).

 

“Letter of Credit Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $30,000,000 and (b) the Revolving Facility.  The Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Revolving Facility.

 

“LIBOR” has the meaning specified in the definition of Eurocurrency Rate.

 

“LIBOR Quoted Currency” means Dollars, Euro, Sterling, Yen and Swiss Franc, in each case as long as there is a published LIBOR rate with respect thereto.

 

“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or otherwise), charge, or preference, priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement in the nature of a security interest of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any easement, right of way or other encumbrance on title to real property and any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

 

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“Liquidity” means as of the date of determination the sum of (a) unused availability under the Revolving Facility, plus (b) unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents of the Borrowers held with the Lender (excluding any Cash Collateral), minus (c) all billings in excess of costs.

 

“Loan” means an extension of credit by the Lender to the Borrower under Article II in the form of a Revolving Loan.

 

“Loan Documents” means, collectively, (a) this Agreement, (b) each Guaranty, (c) the Collateral Documents, (d) each Issuer Document, (e) each Joinder Agreement, (f) any agreement creating or perfecting rights in Cash Collateral pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.12, and (g) all other certificates, agreements, documents and instruments executed and delivered, in each case, by or on behalf of any Loan Party pursuant to the foregoing and (h) each Designated Borrower Request and Assumption Agreement (but specifically excluding any Secured Hedge Agreement or any Secured Cash Management Agreement).

 

“Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Borrowing, (b) a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit C or such other form as may be approved by the Lender (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Lender), appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Company.

 

“Loan Parties” means, collectively, the Company, each Designated Borrower and each Guarantor.

 

“London Banking Day” means any day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank eurodollar market.

 

“Master Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Swap Contract.”

 

“Material Adverse Effect” means (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the financial condition of the Company individually or of the Borrowers taken as a whole; or (b) a material impairment in the prospect of payment of any of the Obligations and/or the value of the Collateral.

 

“Material Contract” means, with respect to any Person, each contract or agreement (a) to which such Person is a party involving aggregate consideration payable to or by such Person of $35,000,000 or more in any year or (b) otherwise material to the business, condition (financial or otherwise), operations, performance, properties or prospects of such Person or (c) any other contract, agreement, permit or license, written or oral, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as to which the breach, nonperformance, cancellation or failure to renew by any party thereto, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

“Material Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Borrower that, together with its Subsidiaries, has total assets (including equity interests in other Subsidiaries and excluding investments that are eliminated in consolidation) of equal to or greater than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000), on a Consolidated basis as of the end of the most recent four (4) fiscal quarters; provided, however, that if at any time there are Domestic Subsidiaries which are not classified as “Material Subsidiaries” but which collectively (i)  have total assets (including equity interests in other Subsidiaries and excluding investments that are eliminated in consolidation) of equal to or greater than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) on a Consolidated basis, then the Company shall promptly designate one or more of such Domestic Subsidiaries as Material Subsidiaries and cause any such Domestic Subsidiaries to comply with the provisions of Section 6.13 such that, after such Domestic Subsidiaries become Guarantors hereunder,

 

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the Domestic Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors shall have total assets of less than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) on a Consolidated basis.

 

“Maturity Date” means May 31, 2021; provided, however, that if such date is not a Business Day, the Maturity Date shall be the next preceding Business Day.

 

“Measurement Period” means, at any date of determination, the most recently completed four (4) fiscal quarters of the Company.

 

“Minimum Collateral Amount” means, at any time, with respect to Cash Collateral consisting of cash or deposit account balances provided in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.12(a)(i) or (a)(ii), an amount equal to 105% of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, and otherwise, an amount determined by Lender and which are at all times held in an account maintained with Lender.

 

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.

 

“Multiemployer Plan” means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the preceding five (5) plan years, has made or been obligated to make contributions.

 

“Multiple Employer Plan” means a Plan which has two or more contributing sponsors (including the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate) at least two of whom are not under common control, as such a plan is described in Section 4064 of ERISA.

 

“Non-Extension Notice Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(b)(iii).

 

“Non-LIBOR Quoted Currency” means any currency other than a LIBOR Quoted Currency.

 

“Notice of Loan Prepayment” means a notice of prepayment with respect to a Loan, which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit F or such other form as may be approved by the Lender (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Lender), appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer.

 

“Obligations” means (a) all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Loan Party arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan, or Letter of Credit and (b) all costs and expenses incurred in connection with enforcement and collection of the foregoing, including the fees, charges and disbursements of counsel, in each case whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest, expenses and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof pursuant to any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest, expenses and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding; provided that Obligations of a Loan Party shall exclude any Excluded Swap Obligations with respect to such Loan Party.

 

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

 

“Organization Documents” means, (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of

 

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formation or organization and operating agreement or limited liability company agreement (or equivalent or comparable documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization (or equivalent or comparable documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction) and (d) with respect to all entities, any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization (or equivalent or comparable documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction).

 

“Other Connection Taxes” means, with respect to any Lender, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Lender and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Lender having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).

 

“Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment.

 

“Outstanding Amount” means (a) with respect to Revolving Loans on any date, the Dollar Equivalent amount of the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Revolving Loans occurring on such date; and (b) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date, the Dollar Equivalent amount of the aggregate outstanding amount of such L/C Obligations on such date after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension occurring on such date and any other changes in the aggregate amount of the L/C Obligations as of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements by the Borrowers of Unreimbursed Amounts.

 

“Participating Member State” means any member state of the European Union that adopts or has adopted the Euro as its lawful currency in accordance with legislation of the European Union relating to Economic and Monetary Union.

 

“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

 

“Pension Act” means the Pension Protection Act of 2006.

 

“Pension Funding Rules” means the rules of the Code and ERISA regarding minimum required contributions (including any installment payment thereof) to Pension Plans and set forth in, with respect to plan years ending prior to the effective date of the Pension Act, Section 412 of the Code and Section 302 of ERISA, each as in effect prior to the Pension Act and, thereafter, Section 412, 430, 431, 432 and 436 of the Code and Sections 302, 303, 304 and 305 of ERISA.

 

“Pension Plan” means any employee pension benefit plan (including a Multiple Employer Plan or a Multiemployer Plan) that is maintained or is contributed to by the Borrower and any ERISA Affiliate and is either covered by Title IV of ERISA or is subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Code.

 

“Permitted Acquisition” means an Acquisition by a Loan Party (the Person or division, line of business or other business unit of the Person to be acquired in such Acquisition shall be referred to herein

 

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as the “Target”), in each case that is a type of business (or assets used in a type of business) that is similar to the type engaged in by the Company and its Subsidiaries, in each case so long as:

 

(a)                                 no Default shall then exist or would exist after giving effect thereto;

 

(b)                                 the Loan Parties shall demonstrate to the reasonable satisfaction of the Lender that, after giving effect to the Acquisition on a Pro Forma Basis, the Borrowers’ ratio of Total Funded Debt to EBITDA shall be less than 2.00 to 1.00;

 

(c)                                  the Loan Parties shall demonstrate to the reasonable satisfaction of the Lender that, after giving effect to the Acquisition on a Pro Forma Basis, the Borrowers’ Liquidity shall be greater than $50,000,000;

 

(d)                                 the Lender shall have received (or shall receive in connection with the closing of such Acquisition) a first priority perfected security interest in all property (including, without limitation, Equity Interests) acquired with respect to the Target in accordance with the terms of Section 6.14 and the Target, if a Person, shall have executed a Joinder Agreement in accordance with the terms of Section 6.13;

 

(e)                                  the Lender shall have received at least ten (10) days prior to the consummation of such Acquisition (i) a description of the material terms of such Acquisition, (ii) audited financial statements of the Target, if available, for its most recent fiscal year and management prepared financial statements for any fiscal quarters ended within the fiscal year to date, (iii) evidence satisfactory to the Lender that the Borrowers shall be in Pro Forma Compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 7.11 after giving effect to such Acquisition, and (iv) not less than five (5) Business Days prior to the consummation of any Permitted Acquisition a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit D, executed by a Responsible Officer of the Company certifying that such Permitted Acquisition complies with the requirements of this Agreement and showing compliance with all financial covenants on a Pro Forma Basis;

 

(f)                                   (i) the Target shall have EBITDA for the four (4) fiscal quarter period prior to the date of such Acquisition, and after giving effect to any pro forma adjustments reasonably acceptable to the Lender, in an amount greater than $1.00, or (ii) with respect to any Target that does not satisfy the requirements of clause (i) above: (x) the Target shall have average EBITDA over the prior three fiscal years in an amount greater than $1.00  (such Targets herein referred to as, the “EBITDA Look Back Targets”) and (y) the aggregate amount of all Acquisitions  with respect to EBITDA Look Back Targets in such fiscal year shall not exceed $40,000,000; and

 

(g)                                  any earn-outs or similar deferred or contingent obligations of any Borrower in connection with such Acquisition shall be subordinated to the Secured Obligations in a manner and to the extent reasonably satisfactory to the Lender.

 

“Permitted Liens” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.01.

 

“Permitted Transfers” means (a) Dispositions of inventory in the ordinary course of business; (b) Dispositions of property to the Company or any Subsidiary; provided, that if the transferor of such property is a Loan Party then the transferee thereof must be a Loan Party; (c) Dispositions of accounts receivable in connection with the collection or compromise thereof; (d) licenses, sublicenses, leases or subleases granted to others not interfering in any material respect with the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries; and (e) the sale or disposition of Cash Equivalents for fair market value.

 

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

 

“Plan” means any employee benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA (including a Pension Plan but excluding a Multiemployer Plan), maintained for employees of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or any such Plan to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is required to contribute on behalf of any of its employees.

 

“Pledged Equity” has the meaning specified in the Security Agreement.

 

“Pro Forma Basis” and “Pro Forma Effect” means, for any Disposition of all or substantially all of a division or a line of business or for any Acquisition, whether actual or proposed, for purposes of determining compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 7.11, each such transaction or proposed transaction shall be deemed to have occurred on and as of the first day of the relevant Measurement Period, and the following pro forma adjustments shall be made:

 

(a)                                 in the case of an actual or proposed Disposition, all income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the line of business or the Person subject to such Disposition shall be excluded from the results of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such Measurement Period;

 

(b)                                 in the case of an actual or proposed Acquisition, income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the property, line of business or the Person subject to such Acquisition shall be included in the results of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such Measurement Period;

 

(c)                                  interest accrued during the relevant Measurement Period on, and the principal of, any Indebtedness repaid or to be repaid or refinanced in such transaction shall be excluded from the results of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such Measurement Period; and

 

(d)                                 any Indebtedness actually or proposed to be incurred or assumed in such transaction shall be deemed to have been incurred as of the first day of the applicable Measurement Period, and interest thereon shall be deemed to have accrued from such day on such Indebtedness at the applicable rates provided therefor (and in the case of interest that does or would accrue at a formula or floating rate, at the rate in effect at the time of determination) and shall be included in the results of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such Measurement Period.

 

“Pro Forma Compliance” means, with respect to any transaction, that such transaction does not cause, create or result in a Default after giving Pro Forma Effect, based upon the results of operations for the most recently completed Measurement Period to (a) such transaction and (b) all other transactions which are contemplated or required to be given Pro Forma Effect hereunder that have occurred on or after the first day of the relevant Measurement Period.

 

“Project” means any renewable energy or other power generation project to be developed, engineered or constructed by any Loan Party or any other Subsidiary (including, without limitation, any Foreign Subsidiary) in the ordinary course of its business.

 

“Qualifying Control Agreement” means an agreement, among a Loan Party, a depository institution or securities intermediary and the Lender, which agreement is in form and substance acceptable to the Lender and which provides the Lender with “control” (as such term is used in Article 9 of the UCC) over the deposit account(s) or securities account(s) described therein.

 

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“Rate Determination Date” means two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period (or such other day as is generally treated as the rate fixing day by market practice in such interbank market, as determined by the Lender); provided that to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Lender, then “Rate Determination Date” means such other day as otherwise reasonably determined by the Lender.

 

“Reduction Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(b)(ii).

 

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

 

“Reportable Event” means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than events for which the thirty (30) day notice period has been waived.

 

“Request for Credit Extension” means (a) with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Revolving Loans, a Loan Notice and (b) with respect to an L/C Credit Extension, a Letter of Credit Application.

 

“Responsible Officer” means those officers, managers and/or members of a Loan Party authorized to execute Loan Documents and other agreements on behalf of such Loan Party as certified to the Lender in the most recent incumbency certification provided by such Loan Party to the Lender and, solely for purposes of the delivery of incumbency certificates pursuant to Section 4.01, the secretary or any assistant secretary of a Loan Party.  Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Loan Party and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Loan Party and, solely for purposes of notices given pursuant to Article II, any other officer or employee of the applicable Loan Party so designated by any of the foregoing officers in a notice to the Lender or any other officer or employee of the applicable Loan Party designated in or pursuant to an agreement between the applicable Loan Party and the Administrative Agent.  To the extent requested by the Lender, each Responsible Officer will provide an incumbency certificate and to the extent requested by the Lender, appropriate authorization documentation, in form and substance satisfactory to the Lender.

 

“Restricted Payment” means (a) any dividend or other distribution, direct or indirect, on account of any shares (or equivalent) of any class of Equity Interests of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, now or hereafter outstanding, (b) any redemption, retirement, sinking fund or similar payment, purchase or other acquisition for value, direct or indirect, of any shares (or equivalent) of any class of Equity Interests of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, now or hereafter outstanding, and (c) any payment made to retire, or to obtain the surrender of, any outstanding warrants, options or other rights to acquire shares of any class of Equity Interests of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, now or hereafter outstanding.

 

“Revaluation Date” means (a) with respect to any Loan, each of the following:  (i) each date of a Borrowing of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in an Alternative Currency, (ii) each date of a continuation of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in an Alternative Currency pursuant to Section 2.02, and (iii) such additional dates as the Lender shall determine; and (b) with respect to any Letter of Credit, each of the following:  (i) each date of issuance, amendment and/or extension of a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, (ii) each date of any payment by the Lender under any Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, (iii) in the case of all Existing Letters of Credit

 

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denominated in Alternative Currencies, the Closing Date, and (iv) such additional dates as the Lender shall determine.

 

“Revolving Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Revolving Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period made by the Lender pursuant to Section 2.01.

 

“Revolving Commitment” means the Lender’s obligation to (a) make Revolving Loans to the Company or another Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01 and (b) issue Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.03, as the same be increased in accordance with Section 2.04 of this Agreement.  The Revolving Commitment on the Closing Date shall be $50,000,000.

 

“Revolving Facility” means, at any time, the aggregate amount of the Lender’s Revolving Commitments at such time.

 

“Revolving Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.

 

“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and any successor thereto.

 

“Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means, with respect to any Loan Party or any Subsidiary, any arrangement, directly or indirectly, with any Person whereby such Loan Party or such Subsidiary shall sell or transfer any property 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 being sold or transferred.

 

“Same Day Funds” means (a) with respect to disbursements and payments in Dollars, immediately available funds, and (b) with respect to disbursements and payments in an Alternative Currency, same day or other funds as may be determined by the Lender to be customary in the place of disbursement or payment for the settlement of international banking transactions in the relevant Alternative Currency.

 

“Sanction(s)” means any sanction administered or enforced by the United States Government (including, without limitation, OFAC), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury (“HMT”) or other relevant sanctions authority.

 

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

 

“Secured Cash Management Agreement” means any Cash Management Agreement between the any Loan Party and any of its Subsidiaries and the Lender or an Affiliate of the Lender.

 

“Secured Hedge Agreement” means any interest rate, currency, foreign exchange, or commodity Swap Contract required or not prohibited under Article VI or VII between any Loan Party and any of its Subsidiaries and the Lender or an Affiliate of the Lender.

 

“Secured Obligations” means (a) in the case of the Borrowers, (i) all Obligations, (ii) all obligations arising under Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements and (iii) all costs and expenses incurred in connection with enforcement and collection of the foregoing, including the fees, charges and disbursements of counsel, in each case whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or

 

22

 

hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding and (b) in the case of any Guarantor, such Guarantor’s Guaranteed Obligations; provided that Secured Obligations of a Loan Party shall exclude any Excluded Swap Obligations with respect to such Loan Party.

 

“Secured Parties” means, collectively, the Lender (including any Designated Lenders) the Affiliates of the Lender party to Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements and the Indemnitees.

 

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, including all amendments thereto and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

“Security Agreement” means the amended and restated security and pledge agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, executed in favor of the Lender by each of the Loan Parties.

 

“Solvency Certificate” means a solvency certificate in substantially in the form of Exhibit E.

 

“Solvent” and “Solvency” mean, with respect to any Person on any date of determination, that on such date (a) the fair value of the property of such Person is greater than the total amount of liabilities, including contingent liabilities, of such Person, (b) the present fair saleable value of the assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured, (c) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Person’s ability to pay such debts and liabilities as they mature, (d) such Person is not engaged in business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in business or a transaction, for which such Person’s property would constitute an unreasonably small capital, and (e) such Person is able to pay its debts and liabilities, contingent obligations and other commitments as they mature in the ordinary course of business.  The amount of contingent liabilities at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in the light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

 

“Special Notice Currency” means at any time an Alternative Currency, other than the currency of a country that is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development at such time located in North America or Europe.

 

“Spot Rate” for a currency means the rate determined by the Lender to be the rate quoted by the Person acting in such capacity as the spot rate for the purchase by such Person of such currency with another currency through its principal foreign exchange trading office at approximately 11:00 a.m. on the date two (2) Business Days prior to the date as of which the foreign exchange computation is made; provided that the Lender may obtain such spot rate from another financial institution designated by the Lender if the Person acting in such capacity does not have as of the date of determination a spot buying rate for any such currency; and provided further that the Lender may use such spot rate quoted on the date as of which the foreign exchange computation is made in the case of any Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency.

 

“Sterling” and “£” mean the lawful currency of the United Kingdom.

 

“Subordinated Debt” means Indebtedness incurred by any Loan Party which by its terms (a) is subordinated in right of payment pursuant to a written agreement acceptable to the Lender in its sole discretion to the prior payment of the Secured Obligations and (b) contains other terms, including without

 

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limitation, standstill, interest rate, maturity and amortization, and insolvency-related provisions, in all respects acceptable to the Lender in its sole discretion.

 

“Subsidiary” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of Voting Stock is at the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person.  Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Loan Parties.

 

“Swap Contract” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.

 

“Swap Obligations” means with respect to any Loan Party 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.

 

“Swap Termination Value” means, in respect of any one or more Swap Contracts, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Swap Contracts, (a) for any date on or after the date such Swap Contracts have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market value(s) for such Swap Contracts, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Swap Contracts (which may include the Lender or any Affiliate of the Lender).

 

“Synthetic Debt” means, with respect to any Person as of any date of determination thereof, all obligations of such Person in respect of transactions entered into by such Person that are intended to function primarily as a borrowing of funds but are not otherwise included in the definition of “Indebtedness” or as a liability on the Consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Synthetic Lease Obligation” means the monetary obligation of a Person under (a) a so-called synthetic, off-balance sheet or tax retention lease, or (b) an agreement for the use or possession of property (including Sale and Leaseback Transactions), in each case, creating obligations that do not appear on the balance sheet of such Person but which, upon the application of any Debtor Relief Laws to such Person, would be characterized as the indebtedness of such Person (without regard to accounting treatment).

 

“Target” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Permitted Acquisition.”

 

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“TARGET2” means the Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross Settlement Express Transfer payment system which utilizes a single shared platform and which was launched on November 19, 2007.

 

“TARGET Day” means any day on which TARGET2 (or, if such payment system ceases to be operative, such other payment system, if any, determined by the Lender to be a suitable replacement) is open for the settlement of payments in Euro.

 

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

 

“Total Funded Debt” means at any date, for Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis, whether secured or unsecured, the aggregate of all of the following:  (a) Indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money, including the Facility, or for the deferred purchase price of property or services, (b) any obligations of such Person in respect of letters of credit, banker’s or other acceptances or similar obligations issued or created for the account of such Person, (c) lease obligations of such Person with respect to capital leases, and (d) all liabilities secured by any lien on any property owned by such Person, to the extent attached to such Person’s interest in such property, even though such Person has not assumed or become personally liable for the payment thereof, but, (e) excluding all debt held by the Bank that is Cash Collateralized (including, Letters of Credit to the extent they continue to be Cash Collateralized).

 

“Total Revolving Outstandings” means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Revolving Loans and L/C Obligations.

 

“Travelers” means Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America.

 

“Travelers Letter Agreement” means that certain Letter Agreement between the Lender and Travelers dated December 11, 2006, as amended.

 

“Type” means, with respect to a Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a Eurocurrency Rate Loan.

 

“UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York; provided that, if perfection or the effect of perfection or non-perfection or the priority of any security interest in any Collateral is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in a jurisdiction other than the State of New York, “UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as 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.

 

“UCP” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, International Chamber of Commerce (“ICC”) Publication No. 600 (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).

 

“United States” and “U.S.” mean the United States of America.

 

“Unreimbursed Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(c).

 

“U.S. Loan Party” means any Loan Party that is organized under the laws of one of the states of the United States and that is not a CFC.

 

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“Voting Stock” means, with respect to any Person, Equity Interests issued by such Person the holders of which are ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, entitled to vote for the election of directors (or persons performing similar functions) of such Person, even though the right to so vote has been suspended by the happening of such contingency.

 

“Yen” and “¥” mean the lawful currency of Japan.

 

1.02                        Other Interpretive Provisions.

 

With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:

 

(a)                                 The 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 or other document (including the Loan Documents and any Organization Document) shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, amended and restated, modified, extended, restated, replaced or supplemented from time to time (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein or in any other Loan Document), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (iii) the words “hereto,” “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document, shall be construed to refer to such Loan Document in its entirety and not to any particular provision thereof, (iv) all references in a Loan Document to Articles, Sections, Preliminary Statements, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Preliminary Statements, Exhibits and Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory rules, regulations, orders and provisions consolidating, amending, replacing or interpreting such law and any reference to any law or regulation shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified, extended, restated, replaced or supplemented from time to time, and (vi) 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. Any and all references to “Borrower” regardless of whether preceded by the term a, any, each of, all, and/or, or any other similar term shall be deemed to refer, as the context requires, to each and every (and/or any one or all) parties constituting a Borrower, individually and/or in the aggregate.

 

(b)                                 In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including;” the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding;” and the word “through” means “to and including.”

 

(c)                                  Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

1.03                        Accounting Terms.

 

(a)                                 Generally.  All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP applied on a consistent basis, as in effect from time to time, applied in a manner consistent with

 

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that used in preparing the Audited Financial Statements, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance with any covenant (including the computation of any financial covenant) contained herein, Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and the effects of FASB ASC 825 on financial liabilities shall be disregarded.

 

(b)                                 Changes in GAAP.  If at any time any change in GAAP (including the adoption of IFRS) would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either the Company or Lender shall so request, the Lender and the Company shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP; provided that, until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Company shall provide to the Lender financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP.

 

(c)                                  Pro Forma Treatment.  Each Disposition of all or substantially all of a line of business, and each Acquisition, by the Company and its Subsidiaries that is consummated during any Measurement Period shall, for purposes of determining compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 7.11, be given Pro Forma Effect as of the first day of such Measurement Period.

 

1.04                        Rounding.

 

Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrowers pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).

 

1.05                        Times of Day; Rates.

 

Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).

 

The Lender does not warrant, nor accept responsibility, nor shall the Lender have any liability with respect to the administration, submission or any other matter related to the rates in the definition of “Eurocurrency Rate” or with respect to any comparable or successor rate thereto.

 

1.06                        Letter of Credit Amounts.

 

Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the Dollar Equivalent of the stated amount of such Letter of Credit in effect at such time; provided, however, that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any Issuer Document related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the Dollar Equivalent of the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at such time.

 

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1.07                        UCC Terms.

 

Terms defined in the UCC in effect on the Closing Date and not otherwise defined herein shall, unless the context otherwise indicates, have the meanings provided by those definitions.  Subject to the foregoing, the term “UCC” refers, as of any date of determination, to the UCC then in effect.

 

1.08                        Exchange Rates; Currency Equivalents.

 

(a)                                 The Lender shall determine the Spot Rates as of each Revaluation Date to be used for calculating Dollar Equivalent amounts of Credit Extensions and Outstanding Amounts denominated in Alternative Currencies.  Such Spot Rates shall become effective as of such Revaluation Date and shall be the Spot Rates employed in converting any amounts between the applicable currencies until the next Revaluation Date to occur.  Except for purposes of financial statements delivered by Loan Parties hereunder or calculating financial covenants hereunder or except as otherwise provided herein, the applicable amount of any currency (other than Dollars) for purposes of the Loan Documents shall be such Dollar Equivalent amount as so determined by the Lender.

 

(b)                                 Wherever in this Agreement in connection with a Borrowing, conversion, continuation or prepayment of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan or the issuance, amendment or extension of a Letter of Credit, an amount, such as a required minimum or multiple amount, is expressed in Dollars, but such Borrowing, Eurocurrency Rate Loan or Letter of Credit is denominated in an Alternative Currency, such amount shall be the relevant Alternative Currency Equivalent of such Dollar amount (rounded to the nearest unit of such Alternative Currency, with 0.5 of a unit being rounded upward), as determined by the Lender.

 

1.09                        Additional Alternative Currencies.

 

(a)                                 The Company and any Designated Borrower may from time to time request that Eurocurrency Rate Loans be made and/or Letters of Credit be issued in a currency other than those specifically listed in the definition of “Alternative Currency”; provided that (i) such requested currency is an Eligible Currency and (ii) such requested currency shall only be treated as a “LIBOR Quoted Currency” to the extent that there is published LIBOR rate for such currency.  In the case of any such request with respect to the making of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, such request shall be subject to the approval of the Lender, and in the case of any such request with respect to the issuance of Letters of Credit, such request shall be subject to the approval of the Lender.

 

(b)                                 Any such request shall be made to the Lender not later than 11:00 a.m., twenty (20) Business Days prior to the date of the desired Credit Extension (or such other time or date as may be agreed by the Lender in its sole discretion).

 

(c)                                  If the Lender consents to making Eurocurrency Rate Loans or Letters of Credit in such requested currency and the Lender reasonably determines that an appropriate interest rate is available to be used for such requested currency, the Lender shall so notify the Company and may amend the definition of Eurocurrency Rate for any Non-LIBOR Quoted Currency to the extent necessary to add the applicable Eurocurrency Rate for such currency and (i) to the extent the definition of Eurocurrency Rate reflects the appropriate interest rate for such currency or has been amended to reflect the appropriate rate for such currency, such currency shall thereupon be deemed for all purposes to be an Alternative Currency for purposes of any Borrowings of Eurocurrency Rate Loans or the issuance of Letters of Credit, as applicable.  Any specified currency of an Existing Letter of Credit that is neither Dollars nor one of the Alternative Currencies specifically listed in the definition of “Alternative Currency” shall be deemed an Alternative Currency with respect to such Existing Letter of Credit only.

 

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1.10                        Change of Currency.

 

(a)                                 Each obligation of the Borrowers to make a payment denominated in the national currency unit of any member state of the European Union that adopts the Euro as its lawful currency after the date hereof shall be redenominated into Euro at the time of such adoption.  If, in relation to the currency of any such member state, the basis of accrual of interest expressed in this Agreement in respect of that currency shall be inconsistent with any convention or practice in the London interbank market for the basis of accrual of interest in respect of the Euro, such expressed basis shall be replaced by such convention or practice with effect from the date on which such member state adopts the Euro as its lawful currency; provided that if any Borrowing in the currency of such member state is outstanding immediately prior to such date, such replacement shall take effect, with respect to such Borrowing, at the end of the then current Interest Period.

 

(b)                                 Each provision of this Agreement shall be subject to such reasonable changes of construction as the Lender may from time to time specify to be appropriate to reflect the adoption of the Euro by any member state of the European Union and any relevant market conventions or practices relating to the Euro.

 

(c)                                  Each provision of this Agreement also shall be subject to such reasonable changes of construction as the Lender may from time to time specify to be appropriate to reflect a change in currency of any other country and any relevant market conventions or practices relating to the change in currency.

 

1.11                        Appointment of Agent.  All requests for a Revolving Loan, Letters of Credit and other Credit Extensions shall be made by the Company on behalf of a Borrower and each Borrower hereby irrevocably appoints the Company as its agent and true and lawful attorney in fact and grants to the Company (i) full and exclusive power to execute this Agreement and any amendments hereto for and on its behalf or on behalf of any other Borrower, all other Loan Documents and all other documents and electronic platforms entered into in connection herewith and therewith, (ii) full power to request Revolving Loans, Letters of Credit and other Credit Extensions for an on its behalf or on behalf of any other Borrower, (iii) full power to prepare, or authorize the preparation of, any and all documents, certificates or disclosure materials reasonable and ordinarily prepared in connection with the issuance of Revolving Loans, Letters of Credit and other Credit Extensions under this Agreement, and to execute and deliver such items to the appropriate parties in connection therewith.  Each Borrower further agrees that (i) the Company may execute such documents on behalf of any Borrower as the Company deems appropriate in its sole discretion, (ii) and each Borrower shall be obligated by all of the terms of any such document executed on its behalf any notice or communication delivered by the Lender to the Company shall be deemed delivered to each Borrower and (iii) the Lender may accept, and be permitted to rely on, any document, instrument or agreement executed by the Company on behalf of each Loan Party.

 

ARTICLE II

 

COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS

 

2.01                        Loans.

 

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Lender agrees to make loans (each such loan, a “Revolving Loan”) to the Borrowers (as requested by the Company), in Dollars or in one or more Alternative Currencies, from time to time, on any Business Day during the Availability Period, in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of the Revolving Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Revolving Borrowing, (i) the Total Revolving Outstandings shall not exceed the Revolving Facility, (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans

 

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made to the Designated Borrowers shall not exceed the Designated Borrower Sublimit, and (iii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies shall not exceed the Alternative Currency Sublimit.  Within the limits of the Revolving Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrowers may borrow Revolving Loans, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.01.  Revolving Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurocurrency Rate Loans, as further provided herein; provided, however, any Revolving Borrowings made on the Closing Date or any of the three (3) Business Days following the Closing Date shall be made as Base Rate Loans unless the Company on behalf of each Borrower delivers a Funding Indemnity Letter not less than three (3) Business Days prior to the date of such Revolving Borrowing.

 

2.02                        Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans.

 

(a)                                 Notice of Borrowing.  Each Borrowing, each conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be made upon the Company’s irrevocable notice to the Lender, which may be given by (A) telephone or (B) a Loan Notice; provided that any telephonic notice must be confirmed immediately by delivery to the Lender of a Loan Notice.  Each such notice must be received by the Lender not later than 11:00 a.m. (i) three (3) Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars or of any conversion of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars to Base Rate Loans, (ii) four (4) Business Days (or five (5) Business Days in the case of a Special Notice Currency) prior to the requested date of any Borrowing or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies, and (iii) on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans; provided, however, that if the Company wishes to request Eurocurrency Rate Loans having an Interest Period other than one (1), two (2), three (3) or six (6) months in duration as provided in the definition of “Interest Period”, the applicable notice must be received by the Lender not later than 11:00 a.m. (i) four (4) Business Days prior to the requested date of such Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars, or (ii) five (5) Business Days (or six (6) Business Days in the case of a Special Notice Currency) prior to the requested date of such Company, conversion or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies.  Not later than 11:00 a.m., (i) three (3) Business Days before the requested date of such Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars, or (ii) four (4) Business Days (or five (5) Business Days in the case of a Special Notice Currency) prior to the requested date of such Borrower, conversion or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies, the Lender shall notify the Company (which notice may be by telephone) whether or not the requested Interest Period is available.  Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be, unless otherwise agreed by Lender, in a principal amount of the Dollar Equivalent of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of the Dollar Equivalent of $500,000 in excess thereof.  Except as provided in Sections 2.02(c), each Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be, unless otherwise agreed by Lender, in a principal amount of the Dollar Equivalent of $500,000 or a whole multiple of the Dollar Equivalent of $100,000 in excess thereof.  Each Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (A)  the applicable Facility and whether the Company is requesting a Borrowing, a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Loans, as the case may be, under such Facility, (B) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (C) the principal amount of Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (D) the Type of Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Loans are to be converted, (E) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto, (F) the currency of the Loans to be borrowed, and (G)  the applicable Borrower.  If the Company fails to specify a currency in a Loan Notice requesting a Borrowing, then the Loans so requested shall be made in Dollars.  If the Company fails to specify a Type of Loan in a Loan Notice or if the Company fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans; provided, however, that in the case of a failure to timely request a continuation of Loans denominated in

 

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an Alternative Currency, such Loans shall be continued as Eurocurrency Rate Loans in their original currency with an Interest Period of one (1) month.  Any such automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Eurocurrency Rate Loans.  If the Company requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans in any such Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one (1) month.  Excepted as permitted pursuant to Section 2.02(c), no Loan may be converted into or continued as a Loan denominated in a different currency, but instead must be repaid in the original currency of such Loan and reborrowed in the other currency.

 

(b)                                 Advances.  Following receipt of a Loan Notice for a Facility, upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (and, if such Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section 4.01), the Lender shall make the requested funds available to the applicable Borrower either by (i) crediting the account of the Company on the books of Bank of America with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Lender by the Company.

 

(c)                                  Eurocurrency Rate Loans.  Except as otherwise provided herein, a Eurocurrency Rate Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurocurrency Rate Loan.  During the existence of a Default, no Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as Eurocurrency Rate Loans without the consent of the Lender, and the Lender may demand that any or all of the outstanding Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars be converted immediately to Base Rate Loans and any or all of the then outstanding Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency be prepaid, or redenominated into Dollars in the amount of the Dollar Equivalent thereof, on the last day of the then current Interest Period with respect thereto.

 

(d)                                 Interest Periods.  After giving effect to all Revolving Borrowings, all conversions of Revolving Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Revolving Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than 6 Interest Periods in effect in respect of the Revolving Facility.

 

2.03                        Letters of Credit.

 

(a)                                 The Letter of Credit Commitment.

 

(i)                                     Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Lender agrees (A) from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date until the Maturity Date, to issue Letters of Credit denominated in Dollars or in one or more Alternative Currencies for the account of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or in the Lender’s sole and absolute discretion, any of its Foreign Subsidiaries, and to amend or extend Letters of Credit previously issued by it, in accordance with Section 2.03(b), and (B) to honor drawings under the Letters of Credit; provided that after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension with respect to any Letter of Credit, (x) the Total Revolving Outstandings shall not exceed the Revolving Facility and (y) the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations shall not exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit.  All requests for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit shall be made by the Company on behalf of a Loan Party and any Foreign Subsidiaries and each request by the Company for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be a representation by the Borrower that the L/C Credit Extension so requested complies with the conditions set forth in the proviso to the preceding sentence.  Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Company’s ability to obtain Letters of Credit for any Loan Party or any Foreign Subsidiary shall be fully revolving, and accordingly the Borrower may, during the foregoing period, obtain Letters of Credit to replace Letters of Credit that have expired or that 

 

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have been drawn upon and reimbursed.  All Existing Letters of Credit shall be deemed to have been issued pursuant hereto and deemed L/C Obligations, and from and after the Closing Date shall be subject to and governed by the terms and conditions hereof.

 

(ii)                                  The Lender shall not be under any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if:

 

(A)                               subject to Section 2.03(b)(iii), the expiry date of the requested Letter of Credit would occur more than twenty four (24) months after the date of issuance, unless the Lender has approved such expiry date; or

 

(B)                               the expiry date of the requested Letter of Credit would occur more than twelve (12) months after the Maturity Date, unless the Lender has approved such expiry date.

 

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

 

(D)                               the issuance of the Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of the Lender applicable to letters of credit generally;

 

(E)                                except as otherwise agreed by the Lender, the Letter of Credit is in an initial stated amount less than $10,000;

 

(F)                                 the Letter of Credit is to be denominated in a currency other than Dollars or an Alternative Currency;

 

(G)                               the Letter of Credit contains any provisions for automatic reinstatement of the stated amount after any drawing thereunder; or

 

(H)                              the Lender does not as of the issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit issue Letters of Credit in the requested currency.

 

(iii)                               The Lender shall be under no obligation to amend any Letter of Credit if (A) the Lender would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof, or (B) the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit does not accept the proposed amendment to the Letter of Credit.

 

(b)                                 Procedures for Issuance and Amendment of Letters of Credit; Auto-Extension Letters of Credit.

 

(i)                                     Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, upon the request of the Company delivered to the Lender in the form of a Letter of Credit Application, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Company, as required by the 

 

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L/C Issuer. Such Letter of Credit Application may be sent by fax transmission, by United States mail, by overnight courier, by electronic transmission using the system provided by the Lender, by personal delivery or by any other means acceptable to the Lender. Such Letter of Credit Application must be received by the Lender not later than 11:00 a.m. at least five (5) Business Days (or such later date and time as the Lender may agree in a particular instance in its sole discretion) prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be.  In the case of a request for an initial issuance of a Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the Lender:  (A) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (B) the amount and currency thereof and in the absence of specification of currency shall be deemed a request for a Letter of Credit denominated in Dollars; (C) the expiry date thereof; (D) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof; (E) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (F) the full text of any certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (G) the purpose and nature of the requested Letter of Credit; (H) whether the Letter of Credit will be Cash Collateralized and (I) such other matters as the Lender may require.  In the case of any Letter of Credit which is to be Cash Collateralized, prior to the issuance of such Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall deposit the Minimum Collateral Amount with respect to such Letter of Credit into a collateral account to be maintained with the Lender and execute and deliver to the Lender such documents as the Lender may require to cause such account to be pledged to the Lender as collateral for such Cash Collateralized Letter of Credit.  In the case of a request for an amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the Lender (1) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (2) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (3) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (4) such other matters as the Lender may require.  Additionally, the Company shall furnish to the Lender such other documents and information pertaining to such requested Letter of Credit issuance or amendment, including any Issuer Documents, as the Lender may require.

 

(ii)                                  Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit to an advising bank with respect thereto or to the beneficiary thereof, the Lender will also deliver to the Company a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.

 

(iii)                               If the Company so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the Lender may, in its sole discretion, agree to issue a standby Letter of Credit that has automatic extension provisions (each, an “Auto-Extension Letter of Credit”); provided that any such Auto-Extension Letter of Credit must permit the Lender to prevent any such extension at least once in each twelve (12) month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a day (the “Non-Extension Notice Date”) in each such twelve (12) month period to be agreed upon at the time such Letter of Credit is issued.  Unless otherwise directed by the Lender, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to the Lender for any such extension.  Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, the Lender shall permit the extension of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the Letter of Credit Expiration Date; provided, however, that the Lender shall not permit any such extension if (A) the Lender has determined that it would not be permitted, or would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its revised form (as extended) under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of clause (ii) or (iii) of Section 2.03(a) or otherwise), or (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is seven (7) Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date from the Company that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied, and directing the Lender not to permit such extension.

 

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(c)                                  Drawings and Reimbursements.  Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of any notice of a drawing under such Letter of Credit, the Lender shall notify the Company thereof.  In the case of a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, the Company shall reimburse the Lender in such Alternative Currency, unless (i) the Lender (at its option) shall have specified in such notice that it will require reimbursement in Dollars, or (ii) in the absence of any such requirement for reimbursement in Dollars, the Company shall have notified the Lender promptly following receipt of the notice of drawing that the Company will reimburse the Lender in Dollars.  In the case of any such reimbursement in Dollars of a drawing under a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, the Lender shall notify the Company of the Dollar Equivalent of the amount of the drawing promptly following the determination thereof.  Not later than 11:00 a.m. on the date of any payment by the Lender under a Letter of Credit to be reimbursed in Dollars, or the Applicable Time on the date of any payment by the Lender under a Letter of Credit to be reimbursed in an Alternative Currency (each such date, an “Honor Date”), the Company shall reimburse the Lender in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing and in the applicable currency.  In the event that (A) a drawing denominated in an Alternative Currency is to be reimbursed in Dollars pursuant to the second sentence in this Section 2.03(c) and (B) the Dollar amount paid by the Company, whether on or after the Honor Date, shall not be adequate on the date of that payment to purchase in accordance with normal banking procedures a sum denominated in the Alternative Currency equal to the drawing, the Company agrees, as a separate and independent obligation, to indemnify the Lender for the loss resulting from its inability on that date to purchase the Alternative Currency in the full amount of the drawing.  If the Borrowers fail to so reimburse the Lender by such time, the Company shall be deemed to have requested a Revolving Borrowing of Base Rate Loans to be disbursed on the Honor Date in an amount equal to the amount of the unreimbursed drawing (expressed in Dollars in the amount of the Dollar Equivalent thereof in the case of a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency) (the “Unreimbursed Amount”), without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in Section 2.02 for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans.  Any notice given by the Lender pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) may be given by telephone if immediately confirmed in writing; provided that the lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice.

 

(d)                                 Obligations Absolute.  The joint and several obligation of the Borrowers to reimburse the Lender for each drawing under each Letter of Credit shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all circumstances, including the following:

 

(i)                                     any lack of validity or enforceability of such Letter of Credit, this Agreement, or any other Loan Document;

 

(ii)                                  the existence of any claim, counterclaim, setoff, defense or other right that the Borrowers or any Subsidiary may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), the Lender or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement or by such Letter of Credit, the transactions contemplated hereby or any agreement or instrument relating thereto, or any unrelated transaction;

 

(iii)                               any draft, demand, endorsement, certificate or other document presented under or in connection with such Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under such Letter of Credit;

 

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(iv)                              waiver by the Lender of any requirement that exists for the Lender’s protection and not the protection of a Loan Party or any waiver by the Lender which does not in fact materially prejudice any Loan Party;

 

(v)                                 honor of a demand for payment presented electronically even if such Letter of Credit requires that demand be in the form of a draft;

 

(vi)                              any payment made by the Lender in respect of an otherwise complying item presented after the date specified as the expiration date of, or the date by which documents must be received under, such Letter of Credit if presentation after such date is authorized by the UCC, the ISP or the UCP, as applicable;

 

(vii)                           any payment by the Lender under such Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate that does not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or any payment made by the Lender under such Letter of Credit to any Person purporting to be a trustee in bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other representative of or successor to any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit, including any arising in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law;

 

(viii)                        any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, including any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; or

 

(ix)                              any adverse change in the relevant exchange rates or in the availability of the relevant Alternative Currency to the Company or any Subsidiary or in the relevant currency markets generally.

 

The Company shall promptly examine a copy of each Letter of Credit and each amendment thereto that is delivered to it and, in the event of any claim of noncompliance with the Company’s instructions or other irregularity, the Borrower will immediately notify the Lender.  The Borrower shall be conclusively deemed to have waived any such claim against the Lender and its correspondents unless such notice is given as aforesaid.

 

(e)                                  Role of the Lender.  The Lender and the Borrowers agree that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit, the Lender shall not have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than any sight or time draft, certificates and documents expressly required by the Letter of Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such document or the authority of the Person executing or delivering any such document.  The Borrowers hereby assume all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee with respect to its use of any Letter of Credit; provided, however, that this assumption is not intended to, and shall not, preclude the Borrowers’ pursuing such rights and remedies as it may have against the beneficiary or transferee at law or under any other agreement.  None of the Lender, any of its Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of the Lender shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in Section 2.03(d).  In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, the Lender may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, and the Lender shall not be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring, endorsing or assigning or purporting to transfer, endorse or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason.  The Lender may send a Letter of Credit or conduct any communication to or from the beneficiary via the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (“SWIFT”) 

 

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message or overnight courier, or any other commercially reasonable means of communicating with a beneficiary.

 

(f)                                   Applicability of ISP and UCP; Limitation of Liability.  Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the Lender and the Borrowers when a Letter of Credit is issued (including any such agreement applicable to an Existing Letter of Credit), (i) the rules of the ISP shall apply to each standby Letter of Credit, and (ii) the rules of the UCP shall apply to each commercial Letter of Credit.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Lender shall not be responsible to the Borrowers for, and the Lender’s rights and remedies against the Borrowers shall not be impaired by, any action or inaction of the Lender required or permitted under any law, order, or practice that is required or permitted to be applied to any Letter of Credit or this Agreement, including the Law or any order of a jurisdiction where the Lender or the beneficiary is located, the practice stated in the ISP or UCP, as applicable, or in the decisions, opinions, practice statements, or official commentary of the ICC Banking Commission, the Bankers Association for Finance and Trade - International Financial Services Association (BAFT-IFSA), or the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice, whether or not any Letter of Credit chooses such law or practice.

 

(g)                                  Letter of Credit Fees.  The Borrower shall pay to the Lender a Letter of Credit fee (the “Letter of Credit Fee”) for each Letter of Credit equal to the Applicable Rate times the Dollar Equivalent of the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit.  For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.06.  Letter of Credit Fees shall be (A) due and payable (i) on the first Business Day following each fiscal quarter end, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, (ii) on the Maturity Date, but only with respect to any outstanding Letters of Credit that will expire on or before the Maturity Date, (iii) on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, and thereafter (iv) on demand and (B) computed on a quarterly basis in arrears.  If there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the daily amount available to be drawn under each Letter of Credit shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.

 

(h)                                 Conflict with Issuer Documents.  In the event of any conflict between the terms hereof and the terms of any Issuer Document, the terms hereof shall control.

 

(i)                                     Letters of Credit Issued for Subsidiaries.  Notwithstanding that a Letter of Credit issued or outstanding hereunder is in support of any obligations of, or is for the account of, a Subsidiary, the Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the Lender hereunder for any and all drawings under such Letter of Credit.  The Borrower hereby acknowledges that the issuance of Letters of Credit for the account of Subsidiaries inures to the benefit of the Borrower, and that the Borrower’s business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of such Subsidiaries.

 

2.04                        Increase of Revolving Facility.

 

(a)                                 At any time during the period from and after the Closing Date through but excluding the Maturity Date, provided no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, Borrower may request, and at the option of the Borrower (but subject to the conditions set forth in clause (b) below), the Revolving Facility may be increased from time to time during the term of this Agreement by an aggregate amount not to exceed Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000) and in a minimum amount of not less than Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000)(each such increase, an “Increase”).

 

(b)                                 Each of the following shall be conditions precedent to any Increase of the Revolving Facility:

 

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(i)                                     Lender shall in its sole and absolute discretion, issued a commitment to increase the Revolving Facility,

 

(ii)                                  Lender shall have received from Borrower a certificate dated as of the date of the applicable Increase signed by an officer of Borrower certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by them approving or consenting to such increase,

 

(iii)                               Borrower shall have paid Lender a non refundable commitment fee for the Increase in the amount of thirty five basis points (0.0035%) of the amount of such Increase;

 

(iv)                              each of the conditions precedent set forth in Sections 4.01(b), (c), (e), (f), (g), (k), (l), (m) and (n) shall have been satisfied.

 

(c)                                  Unless otherwise specifically provided herein, all references in this Agreement and any other Loan Document to Loan shall be deemed, unless the context otherwise requires, to include Loans made pursuant to the increased Revolving Facility pursuant to this Section 2.04

 

(d)                                 The Loans and the Revolving Facility established pursuant to this Section 2.04 shall constitute Loans and the Revolving Facility under, and shall be entitled to all the benefits afforded by, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and shall, without limiting the foregoing, benefit equally and ratably from any guarantees and the security interests created by the Loan Documents.  Borrower shall take any actions reasonably required by Lender to ensure and demonstrate that the liens granted by the Loan Documents continue to be perfected under the UCC or otherwise after giving effect to the establishment of such increased Revolving Facility.

 

2.05                        Prepayments.

 

(a)                                 Optional.  The Company may, upon notice to the Lender pursuant to delivery to the Lender of a Notice of Loan Prepayment, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Revolving Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty subject to Section 3.05; provided that, unless otherwise agreed by the Lender (A) such notice must be received by Lender not later than 11:00 a.m. (1) three (3) Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars, (2) four (4) Business Days (or five (5), in the case of prepayment of Loans denominated in Special Notice Currencies) prior to any date of prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies, and (3) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Loans; (B) any prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof; (C) any prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies shall be in a minimum principal amount of $100,000 or a whole multiple of $50,000 in excess thereof; and (D) any prepayment of Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $100,000 or a whole multiple of $50,000 in excess thereof or, in each case, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding.  Each such notice shall specify the date, the currency and amount of such prepayment and the Type(s) of Loans to be prepaid and, if Eurocurrency Rate Loans are to be prepaid, the Interest Period(s) of such Loans.  If such notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein.  Any prepayment of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05.

 

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(b)                                 Mandatory.

 

(i)                                     Revolving Outstandings.  If for any reason the Total Revolving Outstandings at any time exceed the Revolving Facility at such time, the Borrower shall immediately prepay Revolving Loans (together with all accrued but unpaid interest thereon) and/or Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an aggregate amount equal to such excess; provided, however, that the Borrower shall not be required to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations pursuant to this Section 2.05(b) unless, after the prepayment of the Revolving Loans, the Total Revolving Outstandings exceed the Revolving Facility at such time.

 

(ii)                                  Application of Other Payments.  Prepayments of the Revolving Facility made pursuant to this Section 2.05(b), first, shall be applied to the outstanding Revolving Loans, and, second, shall be used to Cash Collateralize the remaining L/C Obligations; and, in the case of prepayments of the Revolving Facility required pursuant to clause (i) of this Section 2.05(b), the amount remaining, if any, after the prepayment in full of all Revolving Loans outstanding at such time and the Cash Collateralization of the remaining L/C Obligations in full (the sum of such prepayment amounts, cash collateralization amounts and remaining amount being, collectively, the “Reduction Amount”) may be retained by the Borrower for use in the ordinary course of its business.  Upon the drawing of any Letter of Credit that has been Cash Collateralized, the funds held as Cash Collateral shall be applied (without any further action by or notice to or from the Borrower or any other Loan Party that has provided Cash Collateral) to reimburse the Lender.

 

(iii)                               Alternative Currencies.  If the Lender notifies the Company at any time that the Outstanding Amount of all Loans and L/C Obligations denominated in Alternative Currencies at such time exceeds an amount equal to 105% of the Alternative Currency Sublimit then in effect, then, within two (2) Business Days after receipt of such notice, the Borrowers shall prepay Loans and/or Cash Collateralize Letters of Credit in an aggregate amount sufficient to reduce such Outstanding Amount as of such date of payment to an amount not to exceed 100% of the Alternative Currency Sublimit then in effect.

 

Within the parameters of the applications set forth above, prepayments pursuant to this Section 2.05(b) shall be applied first to Base Rate Loans and then to Eurocurrency Rate Loans in direct order of Interest Period maturities.  All prepayments under this Section 2.05(b) shall be subject to Section 3.05, but otherwise without premium or penalty, and shall be accompanied by interest on the principal amount prepaid through the date of prepayment.

 

2.06                        Termination or Reduction of Commitments.

 

(a)                                 Optional.  The Company may, upon notice to the Lender, terminate the Revolving Facility or the Letter of Credit Sublimit, or from time to time permanently reduce the Revolving Facility or the Letter of Credit Sublimit; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the Lender not later than 11:00 a.m. five (5) Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction, (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $1,000,000 or any whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof and (iii) the Company shall not terminate or reduce (A) the Revolving Facility if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Total Revolving Outstandings would exceed the Revolving Facility or (B) the Letter of Credit Sublimit if, after giving effect thereto, the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations not fully Cash Collateralized hereunder would exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit.

 

(b)                                 Mandatory.  If after giving effect to any reduction or termination of Revolving Commitments under this Section 2.06, the Letter of Credit Sublimit, the Alternative Currency Sublimit or 

 

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the Designated Borrower Sublimit exceeds the Revolving Facility at such time, the Letter of Credit Sublimit, the Alternative Currency Sublimit or the Designated Borrower Sublimit, as the case may be, shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such excess.

 

(c)                                  Payment of Fees.  All fees in respect of the Revolving Facility accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Revolving Facility shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.

 

2.07                        Repayment of Loan.

 

The Borrower shall repay to the Lender on the Maturity Date the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Loans outstanding on such date.

 

2.08                        Interest and Default Rate.

 

(a)                                 Interest.  Subject to the provisions of Section 2.08(b), (i) each Eurocurrency Rate Loan under the Facility shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Eurocurrency Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate for such Facility; and (ii) each Base Rate Loan under a Facility shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate for the Facility.  To the extent that any calculation of interest or any fee required to be paid under this Agreement shall be based on (or result in) a rate that is less than zero, such rate shall be deemed zero for purposes of this Agreement.

 

(b)                                 Default Rate.

 

(i)                                     If any amount of principal of any Loan is not paid when due (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

 

(ii)                                  If any amount (other than principal of any Loan) payable by the Borrowers under any Loan Document is not paid when due (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, then upon the request of the Lender such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

 

(iii)                               Upon the request of the Lender, while any Event of Default exists (including a payment default), all outstanding Obligations (including Letter of Credit Fees) may accrue at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

 

(iv)                              Accrued and unpaid interest on past due amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand.

 

(c)                                  Interest Payments.  Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein.  Interest hereunder shall be due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law.

 

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2.09                        Fees.

 

In addition to certain fees described in subsection (g) of Section 2.03:

 

(a)                                 Unused Fee.  The Borrowers shall pay to the Lender an unused fee in Dollars equal to the Applicable Rate times the actual daily amount by which the Revolving Facility exceeds the sum of (i) the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Loans and (ii) the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations.  The commitment fee shall accrue at all times during the Availability Period, including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Article IV is not met, and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and on the last day of the Availability Period for the Revolving Facility.

 

(b)                                 Upfront Fee.  The Borrowers shall pay to the Lender on the Closing Date an upfront fee in the amount of $175,000 (the “Upfront Fee”).  The Upfront Fee is considered earned when paid and is not refundable.

 

2.10                        Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate.

 

(a)                                 Computation of Interest and Fees.  All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans (including Base Rate Loans determined by reference to the Eurocurrency Rate) shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed.  All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365 day year), or, in the case of interest in respect of Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies as to which market practice differs from the foregoing, in accordance with such market practice.  Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid, provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.11, bear interest for one (1) day.  Each determination by the Lender of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

 

2.11                        Payments Generally.

 

All payments to be made by the Borrowers shall be made free and clear of and without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein and except with respect to principal of and interest on Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency, all payments by the Borrowers hereunder shall be made to the Lender at the Lender’s Office in Dollars and in Same Day Funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified herein.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrowers hereunder with respect to principal and interest on Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency shall be made to the Lender at the Lender’s Office in such Alternative Currency and in Same Day Funds not later than the Applicable Time specified by the Lender on the dates specified herein. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Lender may require that any payments due under this Agreement be made in the United States.  If, for any reason, any Borrower is prohibited by any Law from making any required payment hereunder in an Alternative Currency, such Borrower shall make such payment in Dollars in the Dollar Equivalent of the Alternative Currency payment amount.  All payments received by the Lender (i) after 2:00 p.m., in the case of payments in Dollars, or (ii) after the Applicable Time specified by the Lender, in the case of payments in an Alternative Currency, shall in each case be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue.  Except as otherwise specifically provided for in this Agreement, if any payment to be made by the Borrowers shall come due on a day

 

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other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.

 

2.12                        Cash Collateral.

 

(a)                                 Certain Credit Support Events.  If (i) any L/C Obligation for any reason remains outstanding as of the Maturity Date, or (ii) the Borrower shall be required to provide Cash Collateral pursuant to the terms hereof, the Borrower shall immediately following any request by the Lender, provide Cash Collateral in an amount not less than the applicable Minimum Collateral Amount.  Additionally, if the Lender notifies the Company at any time that the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations at such time exceeds 110% of the Letter of Credit Sublimit then in effect, then within two (2) Business Days after receipt of such notice, the Company shall provide Cash Collateral for the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations in an amount not less than the amount by which the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations exceeds the Letter of Credit Sublimit.

 

(b)                                 Grant of Security Interest.  The Borrowers hereby grant to (and subjects to the control of) the Lender and agrees to maintain, a first priority security interest in all such cash, deposit accounts and all balances therein, and all other property so provided as collateral pursuant hereto, and in all proceeds of the foregoing, all as security for the obligations to which such Cash Collateral may be applied pursuant to Section 2.12(c).  If at any time the Lender determines that Cash Collateral is subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Lender, or that the total amount of such Cash Collateral is less than the Minimum Collateral Amount, the Borrowers will, promptly upon demand by the Lender, pay or provide to the Lender additional Cash Collateral in an amount sufficient to eliminate such deficiency.  All Cash Collateral (other than credit support not constituting funds subject to deposit) shall be maintained in one or more blocked, non-interest bearing deposit accounts at Bank of America.  The Borrowers shall pay on demand therefor from time to time all customary account opening, activity and other administrative fees and charges in connection with the maintenance and disbursement of Cash Collateral.

 

(c)                                  Application.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Cash Collateral provided under any of this Section 2.12 or Sections 2.03, 2.05 or 8.02 in respect of Letters of Credit shall be held and applied to the satisfaction of the specific L/C Obligations and other obligations for which the Cash Collateral was so provided, prior to any other application of such property as may be provided for herein.

 

(d)                                 Release.  Cash Collateral (or the appropriate portion thereof) provided to secure obligations shall be released promptly following the determination by the Lender that there exists excess Cash Collateral; provided, however, (A) any such release shall be without prejudice to, and any disbursement or other transfer of Cash Collateral shall be and remain subject to, any other Lien conferred under the Loan Documents and the other applicable provisions of the Loan Documents, and (B) the Person providing Cash Collateral and the Lender may agree that Cash Collateral shall not be released but instead held to support future anticipated obligations.

 

2.13                        Designated Borrowers.

 

(a)                                 Designated Borrowers.  The Company may at any time, upon not less than fifteen (15) Business Days’ notice from the Company to the Lender (or such shorter period as may be agreed by the Lender in its sole discretion), request to designate any Subsidiary of the Company (an “Applicant Borrower”) as a Designated Borrower to receive Loans hereunder by delivering to the Lender a duly executed notice and agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit G (a “Designated Borrower Request and Assumption Agreement”).  The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that prior to any Applicant Borrower becoming entitled to utilize the credit facilities provided for herein (i) the Lender must agree to 

 

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such Applicant Borrower becoming a Designated Borrower and (ii) the Lender shall have received such supporting resolutions, incumbency certificates, opinions of counsel and other documents or information, in form, content and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Lender, as may be required by the Lender (the requirements in clauses (i) and (ii) hereof, the “Designated Borrower Requirements”).  If the Designated Borrower Requirements are met, the Lender shall so notify the Company and shall specify the effective date upon which the Applicant Borrower shall constitute a Designated Borrower for purposes hereof, whereupon the Lender agrees to permit such Designated Borrower to receive Loans hereunder, on the terms and conditions set forth herein, and each of the parties agrees that such Designated Borrower otherwise shall be a Borrower for all purposes of this Agreement; provided that no Loan Notice or Letter of Credit Application may be submitted by or on behalf of such Designated Borrower until the date five (5) Business Days after such effective date.

 

(b)                                 Obligations.  Except as specifically provided herein, the Secured Obligations of the Company and each of the Borrowers shall be joint and several in nature (unless such joint and several liability (i) shall result in adverse tax consequences to any such Designated Borrower or (ii) is not permitted by any Law applicable to such Designated Borrower, in which either such case, the liability of such Designated Borrower shall be several in nature) regardless of which such Person actually receives Credit Extensions hereunder or the amount of such Credit Extensions received or the manner in which the Lender accounts for such Credit Extensions on its books and records.  Notwithstanding anything contained to the contrary herein or in any Loan Document (including any Designated Borrower Request and Assumption Agreement), (A) no Designated Borrower that is a Foreign Subsidiary shall be obligated with respect to any Secured Obligations of the Company or of any Domestic Subsidiary, (B) the Secured Obligations owed by a Designated Borrower that is a Foreign Subsidiary shall be several and not joint with the Secured Obligations of the Company or of any Designated Borrower that is a Domestic Subsidiary, and (C) no Designated Borrower that is a Foreign Subsidiary shall be obligated as a Guarantor under Article IX with respect to the Secured Obligations of the Company or any Domestic Subsidiary.

 

(c)                                  Appointment.  Each Subsidiary of the Company that is or becomes a “Designated Borrower” pursuant to this Section 2.13 hereby irrevocably appoints the Company to act as its agent for all purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

 

ARTICLE III

 

TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

 

3.01                        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 Laws. If any applicable Laws (as determined in the good faith discretion of the Lender) require the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by a Loan Party, then such Loan Party shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding, where appropriate and, further, to the extent that the withholding or deduction is made on account of Indemnifiable Taxes, will also pay to the Lender, at the time interest is paid, any additional amount so that after any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.01)  the Lender receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such withholding or deduction been made.  As soon as practicable after any payment of taxes by any Loan Party to a Governmental Authority, as provided in this Section 3.01, the Borrower will deliver to the Lender the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of any return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to 

 

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the Lender.  The Company will confirm that it has paid such withheld Taxes by giving the Lender official tax receipts (or notarized copies) within thirty (30) days after the due date.

 

3.02                        Illegality.

 

(a)                                 If the Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for the Lender or its applicable Lender’s Office to perform any of its obligations hereunder or to make, maintain or fund or charge interest with respect to any Credit Extension or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurocurrency Rate, or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of the Lender to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, Dollars or any Alternative Currency in the applicable interbank market, then, on notice thereof by the Lender to the Company, (i) any obligation of the Lender to issue, make, maintain, fund or charge interest with respect to any such Credit Extension or continue Eurocurrency Rate Loans in the affected currency or currencies or, in the case of Eurocurrency Rate Loans in Dollars, to convert Base Rate Loans to Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be suspended, and (ii) if such notice asserts the illegality of the Lender making or maintaining Base Rate Loans the interest rate on which is determined by reference to the Eurocurrency Rate component of the Base Rate, the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of the Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Lender without reference to the Eurocurrency Rate component of the Base Rate, in each case until the Lender notifies the Company that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist.  Upon receipt of such notice, (A) the Company shall, upon demand from the Lender, prepay or, if applicable and such Loans are denominated in Dollars, convert all Eurocurrency Rate Loans to Base Rate Loans (the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Lender without reference to the Eurocurrency Rate component of the Base Rate), either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if the Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurocurrency Rate Loans to such day, or immediately, if the Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurocurrency Rate Loans and (B) if such notice asserts the illegality of the Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon the Eurocurrency Rate, the Lender shall during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate without reference to the Eurocurrency Rate component thereof until the Borrower is advised in writing by Lender that it is no longer illegal for the Lender to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurocurrency Rate.  Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Company shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.

 

(b)                                 Lender may at its option make any Credit Extension to any Borrower by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of Lender (a “Designated Lender”) to make such Credit Extension; provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the relevant Borrower to repay such Credit Extension in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; provided, however, if the Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for the Lender or its applicable Designated Lender to (i) perform any of its obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, (ii) to fund or maintain its participation in any Loan, or (iii) issue, make, maintain, fund or charge interest with respect to any Credit Extension to any Designated Borrower who is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States, a State thereof or the District of Columbia then, on notice thereof by the Lender to the Company, and until such notice by the Lender is revoked, any obligation of the Lender or its Designated Lender to issue, make, maintain, fund or charge interest with respect to any such Credit Extension shall be suspended, and to the extent required by applicable Law, cancelled.  Upon receipt of such notice, the Loan Parties shall, take all reasonable actions requested by the Lender to mitigate or avoid such illegality.  Any Designated Lender shall be considered a Lender.

 

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3.03                        Inability to Determine Rates.

 

If in connection with any request for a Eurocurrency Rate Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof, the Lender determines that (a) Dollar deposits (whether in Dollars or an Alternative Currency) are not being offered to banks in the applicable offshore interbank market for such currency for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, (b) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the Eurocurrency Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurocurrency Rate Loan (whether denominated in Dollars or an Alternative Currency) or in connection with an existing or proposed Base Rate Loan, (c) a fundamental change has occurred in the foreign exchange or interbank markets with respect to such Alternative Currency (including, without limitation, changes in national or international financial, political or economic conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls) or (d) the Eurocurrency Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurocurrency Rate Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to the Lender of funding such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the Lender will promptly so notify the Company.  Thereafter, (i) the obligation of the Lender to make or maintain Eurocurrency Rate Loans in the affected currency or currencies shall be suspended (to the extent of the affected Eurocurrency Rate Loans or Interest Periods), and (ii) in the event of a determination described in the preceding sentence with respect to the Eurocurrency Rate component of the Base Rate, the utilization of the Eurocurrency Rate component in determining the Base Rate shall be suspended, in each case until the Lender revokes such notice.  Upon receipt of such notice, the Company may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans in the affected currency or currencies (to the extent of the affected Eurocurrency Rate Loans or Interest Periods) or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of such pending request, the Lender, in consultation with the Company, may establish an alternative interest rate for funding Loans in the applicable currency and amount, and with the same Interest Period as the Loan requested to be made, converted or continued, as the case may be in which case, such alternative rate of interest shall apply with respect to such Loans.

 

3.04                        Increased Costs; Reserves on Eurocurrency Rate Loans.

 

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

 

(i)                                     impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, the Lender (except any reserve requirement contemplated by Section 3.04(e));

 

(ii)                                  subject the Lender to any taxes on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto; or

 

(iii)                               impose on the Lender or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or Eurocurrency Rate Loans made by the Lender or any Letter of Credit;

 

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to the Lender of making, converting to, continuing or maintaining any Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to increase the cost to the Lender of issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its obligation to issue any Letter of Credit), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by the Lender hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of the Lender, the Borrower will pay (or cause the applicable 

 

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Designated Borrower to pay) to the Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate the Lender for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

 

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

 

(c)                                  Reserved.

 

(d)                                 Certificates for Reimbursement.  A certificate of the Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate the Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in subsection (a) or (b) of this Section and delivered to the Company shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  The Company shall pay (or cause the applicable Designated Borrower to pay) the Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within fifteen (15) days after receipt thereof.

 

(e)                                  Reserves on Eurocurrency Rate Loans.  The Borrower shall pay (or cause the applicable Designated Borrower to pay) to the Lender, (i) as long as the Lender shall be required to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including eurocurrency funds or deposits (currently known as “Eurocurrency liabilities”), additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Eurocurrency Rate Loan equal to the actual costs of such reserves allocated to such Loan by the Lender (as determined by the Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive), and (ii) as long as the Lender shall be required to comply with any reserve ratio requirement or analogous requirement of any other central banking or financial regulatory authority imposed in respect of the maintenance of the Commitments or the funding of the Loans, such additional costs (expressed as a percentage per annum and rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest five decimal places) equal to the actual costs allocated to such Commitment or Loan by the Lender (as determined by the Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive), which in each case shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan, provided the Company shall have received at least fifteen (15) days’ prior notice of such additional interest or costs from the Lender.  If the Lender fails to give notice fifteen (15) days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date, such additional interest shall be due and payable fifteen (15) days from receipt of such notice.

 

(f)                                   Delay in Requests.  Failure or delay on the part of the Lender to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.04 shall not constitute a waiver of the Lender’s right to demand such compensation, provided that the Company shall not be required to compensate the Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than nine (9) months prior to the date that the Lender notifies the Company of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of the Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the nine (9) month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).

 

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3.05                        Compensation for Losses.

 

Upon demand of the Lender from time to time, the Borrower shall promptly compensate (or cause the applicable Designated Borrower to compensate) the Lender for and hold the Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense incurred by it as a result of:

 

(a)                                 any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise);

 

(b)                                 any failure by the Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of the Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on the date or in the amount notified by the Borrower or the applicable Designated Borrower; or

 

(c)                                  any failure by any Borrower to make payment of any Loan or drawing under any Letter of Credit (or interest due thereon) denominated in an Alternative Currency on its scheduled due date or any payment thereof in a different currency;

 

including any loss of anticipated profits, any foreign exchange losses and any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained or from the performance of any foreign exchange contract.  The Borrower shall also pay (or cause the applicable Designated Borrower to pay) any customary administrative fees charged by the Lender in connection with the foregoing.

 

For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower (or the applicable Designated Borrower) to the Lender under this Section 3.05, the Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Eurocurrency Rate Loan made by it at the Eurocurrency Rate for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the offshore interbank  market for such currency for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such Eurocurrency Rate Loan was in fact so funded.

 

3.06                        Survival.

 

All of the Borrowers’ obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Commitments, repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS

 

4.01                        Conditions of Initial Credit Extension.

 

The obligation of the Lender to make its initial Credit Extension hereunder is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)                                 Execution of Credit Agreement; Loan Documents.  The Lender shall have received (i) counterparts of this Agreement, executed by a Responsible Officer of each Loan Party, (ii) counterparts of the Security Agreement and each other Collateral Document, executed by a Responsible Officer of the applicable Loan Parties and a duly authorized officer of each other Person party thereto, as applicable and (iii) counterparts of any other Loan Document, executed by a Responsible Officer of the applicable Loan Party and a duly authorized officer of each other Person party thereto.

 

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(b)                                 Officer’s Certificate.  The Lender shall have received a certificate of a Responsible Officer dated the Closing Date, certifying as to the Organization Documents of each Loan Party (which, to the extent filed with a Governmental Authority, shall be certified as of a recent date by such Governmental Authority), the resolutions of the governing body of each Loan Party, the good standing, existence or its equivalent of each Loan Party and of the incumbency (including specimen signatures) of the Responsible Officers of each Loan Party.

 

(c)                                  Legal Opinions of Counsel.  The Lender shall have received an opinion or opinions (including, if requested by the Lender, local counsel opinions) of counsel for the Loan Parties, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Lender, in form and substance acceptable to the Lender.

 

(d)                                 Financial Statements.  The Lender shall have received copies of the financial statements referred to in Section 5.05, each in form and substance satisfactory to each of them.

 

(e)                                  Personal Property Collateral.  The Lender shall have received, in form and substance satisfactory to the Lender:

 

(i)                                     (A) searches of UCC filings in the jurisdiction of incorporation or formation, as applicable, of each Loan Party and each jurisdiction where a filing would need to be made in order to perfect the Lender’s security interest in the Collateral, copies of the financing statements on file in such jurisdictions and evidence that no Liens exist other than Permitted Liens and (B) tax lien, judgment and bankruptcy searches;

 

(ii)                                  completed UCC financing statements for each appropriate jurisdiction as is necessary, in the Lender’s sole discretion, to perfect the Lender’s security interest in the Collateral;

 

(iii)                               to the extent not delivered to Lender pursuant to the Existing Credit Agreement, stock or membership certificates, if any, evidencing the Pledged Equity and undated stock or transfer powers duly executed in blank; in each case to the extent such Pledged Equity is certificated;

 

(iv)                              to the extent not delivered to Lender pursuant to the Existing Credit Agreement, in the case of any personal property Collateral located at the headquarters of the Company, such consents and waivers from the landlord of such real property to the extent required to be delivered in connection with Section 6.14 (such consents and waivers shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the Lender);

 

(v)                                 to the extent required to be delivered by this Agreement and not already delivered pursuant to the Existing Credit Agreement, filed, registered or recorded pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Collateral Documents, all instruments, documents (including relevant page(s) of the share register book of the company showing the pledge registration) and chattel paper in the possession of any of the Loan Parties, together with allonges or assignments as may be necessary or appropriate to create and perfect the Lender’s security interest in the Collateral

 

(vi)                              to the extent not delivered to Lender pursuant to the Existing Credit Agreement, Qualifying Control Agreements satisfactory to the Lender to the extent required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.15; and

 

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(vii)                           such documentation as may be required by the Lender to comply with the Federal Assignment of Claims Act; and the Loan Parties shall take such actions as may be required by the Lender to file such documentation with the appropriate Governmental Authorities.

 

(f)                                   Liability, Casualty and Property Insurance.  The Lender shall have received copies of insurance policies, declaration pages, certificates, and endorsements of insurance or insurance binders evidencing liability, casualty and property insurance meeting the requirements set forth herein or in the Collateral Documents.  The Loan Parties shall have delivered to the Lender an Authorization to Share Insurance Information.

 

(g)                                  Solvency Certificate.  The Lender shall have received a Solvency Certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Company as to the financial condition, solvency and related matters of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, after giving effect to the initial borrowings under the Loan Documents and the other transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(h)                                 Financial Condition Certificate.  The Lender shall have received, in form and substance satisfactory to the Lender, a certificate or certificates executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower as of the Closing Date, as to certain financial matters.

 

(i)                                     Loan Notice.  The Lender shall have received a Loan Notice with respect to the Loans to be made on the Closing Date.

 

(j)                                    Existing Indebtedness of the Loan Parties.  All of the existing Indebtedness for borrowed money of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness permitted to exist pursuant to Section 7.02) shall be repaid in full and all security interests related thereto shall be terminated on or prior to the Closing Date.

 

(k)                                 Consents.  The Lender shall have received evidence that all members, boards of directors, governmental, shareholder and material third party consents and approvals necessary in connection with the entering into of this Agreement have been obtained.

 

(l)                                     Fees and Expenses.  The Lender shall have received all fees and expenses, if any, owing pursuant to Section 2.09.

 

(m)                             Other Documents.  All other documents provided for herein or which the  Lender may reasonably request or require.

 

(n)                                 Additional Information.  Such additional information and materials which the Lender shall reasonably request or require.

 

For purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4.01, the Lender’s execution and delivery of this Agreement shall be deemed to constitute the Lender’s agreement that the Borrower has complied, to the satisfaction of the Lender, with the conditions set forth in this Section 4.01 as of the Closing Date.

 

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4.02                        Conditions to all Credit Extensions.

 

The obligation of the Lender to honor any Request for Credit Extension (other than a Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans) is subject to the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)                                 Representations and Warranties.  The representations and warranties of the Company and each other Loan Party contained in Article II, Article V or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall (i) with respect to representations and warranties that contain a materiality qualification, be true and correct on and as of the date of such Credit Extension and (ii) with respect to representations and warranties that do not contain a materiality qualification, be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Credit Extension, and except that for purposes of this Section 4.02, the representations and warranties contained in Sections 5.05(a) and (b) shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to Sections 6.01(a) and (b), respectively.

 

(b)                                 Default.  No Default shall exist, or would result from such proposed Credit Extension or from the application of the proceeds thereof.

 

(c)                                  Request for Credit Extension.  The Lender shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.

 

(d)                                 Designated Borrower.  If the applicable Borrower is a Designated Borrower, then the conditions of Section 2.13 to the designation of such Borrower as a Designated Borrower shall have been met to the satisfaction of the Lender.  The Lender agrees and acknowledges that, with respect to the Designated Borrowers party to this Agreement as of the Closing Date, such conditions have been met to the satisfaction of the Lender.

 

(e)                                  Alternative Currency.  In the case of a Credit Extension to be denominated in an Alternative Currency, such currency remains an Eligible Currency.

 

(f)                                   Legal Impediment. There shall be no impediment, restriction, limitation or prohibition imposed under Law or by any Governmental Authority, as to the proposed financing under this Agreement or the repayment thereof or as to rights created under any Loan Document or as to application of the proceeds of the realization of any such rights.

 

Each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Loans to the other Type or a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans) submitted by the Company shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.

 

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ARTICLE V

 

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

Each Loan Party represents and warrants to the Lender, as of the date made or deemed made, that:

 

5.01                        Existence, Qualification and Power.

 

Each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries (a) is duly organized or formed, validly existing and, as applicable, in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority and all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to (i) own or lease its assets and carry on its business and (ii) execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and (c) is duly qualified and is licensed and, as applicable, in good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification or license; except in each case referred to in clause (b)(i) or (c), to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  The copy of the Organization Documents of each Loan Party provided to the Lender pursuant to the terms of this Agreement is a true and correct copy of each such document, each of which is valid and in full force and effect.

 

5.02                        Authorization; No Contravention.

 

The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is or is to be a party have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and do not and will not (a) contravene the terms of any of such Person’s Organization Documents; (b) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien under, or require any payment to be made under (i) any Contractual Obligation to which such Person is a party or affecting such Person or the properties of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Person or its property is subject; or (c) violate any Law.

 

5.03                        Governmental Authorization; Other Consents.

 

No approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is necessary or required in connection with (a) the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (b) the grant by any Loan Party of the Liens granted by it pursuant to the Collateral Documents, (c) the perfection or maintenance of the Liens created under the Collateral Documents (including the first priority nature thereof) or (d) the exercise by the Lender of its rights under the Loan Documents or the remedies in respect of the Collateral pursuant to the Collateral Documents, other than (i) authorizations, approvals, actions, notices and filings which have been duly obtained and (ii) filings to perfect the Liens created by the Collateral Documents.

 

5.04                        Binding Effect.

 

This Agreement has been, and each other Loan Document, when delivered hereunder, will have been, duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is party thereto.  This Agreement constitutes, and each other Loan Document when so delivered will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against each Loan Party that is party thereto in accordance with its terms,

 

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subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principals of equity.

 

5.05                        Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.

 

(a)                                 Audited Financial Statements.  The Audited Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; (ii) fairly present the financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis as of the date thereof and their results of operations, cash flows and changes in shareholder’s equity for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; and (iii) show all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis as of the date thereof, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness.

 

(b)                                 Reserved.

 

(c)                                  Material Adverse Effect.  Since the date of the balance sheet included in the Audited Financial Statements (and, in addition, after delivery of the most recent annual audited financial statements in accordance with the terms hereof, since the date of such annual audited financial statements), there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.06                        Litigation.

 

There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Loan Parties, threatened or contemplated, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against any Loan Party or any Subsidiary or against any of their properties or revenues that (a) purport to affect or pertain to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, or (b) either individually or in the aggregate could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.07                        No Default.

 

Neither any Loan Party nor any Subsidiary thereof is in default under or with respect to, or a party to, any Contractual Obligation that could, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  No Default has occurred and is continuing or could result from the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

5.08                        Ownership of Property.

 

Each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries has good record and marketable title in fee simple to, or valid leasehold interests in, all real property necessary or used in the ordinary conduct of its business, except for such defects in title as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.09                        Environmental Compliance.

 

(a)                                 The Loan Parties and their respective Subsidiaries conduct in the ordinary course of business a review of the effect of existing Environmental Laws and claims alleging potential liability or responsibility for violation of any Environmental Law on their respective businesses, operations and

 

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properties, and as a result thereof the Loan Parties have reasonably concluded that such Environmental Laws and claims could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)                                 Neither any Loan Party nor any of its Subsidiaries is undertaking, and has not completed, either individually or together with other potentially responsible parties, any investigation or assessment or remedial or response action relating to any actual or threatened release, discharge or disposal of Hazardous Materials at any site, location or operation, either voluntarily or pursuant to the order of any Governmental Authority or the requirements of any Environmental Law; and all Hazardous Materials generated, used, treated, handled or stored at, or transported to or from, any property currently or formerly owned or operated by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries have been disposed of in a manner not reasonably expected to result in material liability to any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

5.10                        Taxes.

 

Each Loan Party and its Subsidiaries have filed all federal, state and other material tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all federal, state and other material taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges levied or imposed upon them or their properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable, except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP.  There is no proposed tax assessment against any Loan Party or any Subsidiary that could, if made, have a Material Adverse Effect, nor is there any tax sharing agreement applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

5.11                        ERISA Compliance.

 

(a)                                 Each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other federal or state laws.  Each Pension Plan that is intended to be a qualified plan under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter or is subject to a favorable opinion letter from the IRS to the effect that the form of such Pension Plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code and the trust related thereto has been determined by the IRS to be exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(a) of the Code, or an application for such a letter is currently being processed by the IRS.  To the best knowledge of the Loan Parties, nothing has occurred that would prevent or cause the loss of such tax-qualified status.

 

(b)                                 There are no pending or, to the actual knowledge of the Loan Parties, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  There has been no prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c)                                  (i) No ERISA Event has occurred, and no Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate is aware of any fact, event or circumstance that could reasonably be expected to constitute or result in an ERISA Event with respect to any Pension Plan; (ii) the Borrower and each ERISA Affiliate has met all applicable requirements under the Pension Funding Rules in respect of each Pension Plan, and no waiver of the minimum funding standards under the Pension Funding Rules has been applied for or obtained; (iii) as of the most recent valuation date for any Pension Plan, the funding target attainment percentage (as defined in Section 430(d)(2) of the Code) is sixty percent (60%) or higher and no Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate knows of any facts or circumstances that could reasonably be expected to cause the funding target attainment percentage for any such plan to drop below sixty percent (60%) as of the most recent valuation date; (iv) no Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any liability to the PBGC other

 

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than for the payment of premiums, and there are no premium payments which have become due that are unpaid; (v) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or Section 4212(c) of ERISA; and (vi) no Pension Plan has been terminated by the plan administrator thereof nor by the PBGC, and no event or circumstance has occurred or exists that could  reasonably be expected to cause the PBGC to institute proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate any Pension Plan.

 

5.12                        Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act.

 

(a)                                 Margin Regulations.  No Borrower is engaged and no Borrower will engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock.  Following the application of the proceeds of each Borrowing or drawing under each Letter of Credit, not more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the value of the assets (either of the Company only or of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis) subject to the provisions of Section 7.01 or Section 7.05 or subject to any restriction contained in any agreement or instrument between any Borrower and the Lender or any Affiliate of the Lender relating to Indebtedness and within the scope of Section 8.01(e) will be margin stock.

 

(b)                                 Investment Company Act.  To the best of their knowledge, none of the Borrower, any Person Controlling the Borrower, or any Subsidiary is or is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

5.13                        Disclosure.

 

The Company has disclosed to the Lender all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which it or any of its Subsidiaries or any other Loan Party is subject, and all other matters known to it, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.  No report, financial statement, certificate or other information furnished (whether in writing or orally) by or on behalf of any Loan Party to the Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder or under any other Loan Document (in each case 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, each Loan Party represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time.

 

5.14                        Solvency.

 

Each Loan Party is, individually and together with its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis, Solvent.

 

5.15                        Casualty, Etc.

 

Neither the businesses nor the properties of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries are affected by any fire, explosion, accident, strike, lockout or other labor dispute, drought, storm, hail, earthquake, embargo, act of God or of the public enemy or other casualty (whether or not covered by insurance) that, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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5.16                        Sanctions Concerns and Anti-Corruption Laws.

 

(a)                                 Sanctions Concerns . No Loan Party, nor any Subsidiary, nor, to the knowledge of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, any director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or representative thereof, is an individual or entity  that is, or is owned or controlled by any individual or entity that is (i) currently the subject or target of any Sanctions, (ii) included on OFAC’s List of Specially Designated Nationals, HMT’s Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets and the Investment Ban List, or any similar list enforced by any other relevant sanctions authority, or (iii) located, organized or resident in a Designated Jurisdiction.

 

(b)                                 Anti-Corruption Laws.  The Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries have conducted their business in compliance with the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010 and other similar anti-corruption legislation in other jurisdictions applicable to them, and have instituted and maintained policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws.

 

5.17                        Responsible Officers.

 

The Responsible Officers are the duly elected and qualified officers of such Loan Party which are duly authorized to execute and deliver, on behalf of the respective Loan Party, this Agreement, and the other Loan Documents.

 

5.18                        Subsidiaries; Equity Interests; Loan Parties.

 

(a)                                 Subsidiaries, Joint Ventures, Partnerships and Equity Investments.  Set forth on Schedule 5.18(a), is the following information which is true and complete in all respects as of the Closing Date and as of the last date such Schedule was required to be updated in accordance with Section 6.02:  (i) a complete and accurate list of all Subsidiaries, joint ventures and partnerships and other equity investments of the Loan Parties as of the Closing Date and as of the last date such Schedule was required to be updated in accordance with Section 6.02, (ii) the number of shares of each class of Equity Interests in each Subsidiary outstanding, (iii) the number and percentage of outstanding shares of each class of Equity Interests owned by the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries and (iv) the class or nature of such Equity Interests (i.e. voting, non-voting, preferred, etc.).  The outstanding Equity Interests in all Subsidiaries are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and are owned free and clear of all Liens (other than liens in favor of Travelers which are junior to the Liens in favor or Lender’s).  There are no outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, rights or other agreements or commitments (other than stock options granted to employees or directors and directors’ qualifying shares) of any nature relating to the Equity Interests of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof, except as contemplated in connection with the Loan Documents.

 

(b)                                 Loan Parties.  Set forth on Schedule 5.18(b) is a complete and accurate list of all Loan Parties, showing as of the Closing Date, or as of the last date such Schedule was required to be updated in accordance with Section 6.02, (as to each Loan Party) (i) the exact legal name, (ii) any former legal names of such Loan Party in the four (4) months prior to the Closing Date, (iii) the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, as applicable, (iv) the type of organization, (v) the jurisdictions in which such Loan Party is qualified to do business, (vi) the address of its chief executive office, (vii) the address of its principal place of business, (viii) its U.S. federal taxpayer identification number or, in the case of any non-U.S. Loan Party that does not have a U.S. taxpayer identification number, its unique identification number issued to it by the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (ix) the organization identification number, (x) ownership information (e.g. publicly held or if private or

 

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partnership, the owners and partners of each of the Loan Parties), and (xi) the industry or nature of business of such Loan Party.

 

5.19                        Collateral Representations.

 

(a)                                 Collateral Documents.  The provisions of the Collateral Documents are effective to create in favor of the Lender a legal, valid and enforceable first priority Lien (subject to Permitted Liens) on all right, title and interest of the respective Loan Parties in the Collateral described therein.  Except for filings completed prior to the Closing Date and such others as contemplated hereby and by the Collateral Documents, no filing or other action will be necessary to perfect or protect such Liens.

 

(b)                                 Documents, Instrument, and Tangible Chattel Paper.  Set forth on Schedule 5.19(b), as of the Closing Date and as of the last date such Schedule was required to be updated in accordance with Section 6.02, is a description of all Documents, Instruments, and Tangible Chattel Paper of the Loan Parties (including the Loan Party owning such Document, Instrument and Tangible Chattel Paper and such other information as reasonably requested by the Lender).

 

(c)                                  Deposit Accounts, Electronic Chattel Paper, Letter-of-Credit Rights, and Securities Accounts.

 

(i)                                     Set forth on Schedule 5.19(c)(i), as of the Closing Date and as of the last date such Schedule was required to be updated in accordance with Section 6.02, is a description of all Deposit Accounts and Securities Accounts of the Loan Parties which are not maintained with the Lender, including the name of (A) the applicable Loan Party, (B) in the case of a Deposit Account, the depository institution and average amount held in such Deposit Account and whether such account is a zero balance account or a payroll account, and (C) in the case of a Securities Account, the Securities Intermediary or issuer and the average aggregate market value held in such Securities Account, as applicable.

 

(ii)                                  Set forth on Schedule 5.19(c)(ii), as of the Closing Date and as of the last date such Schedule was required to be updated in accordance with Section 6.02, is a description of all Electronic Chattel Paper (as defined in the UCC) and Letter-of-Credit Rights (as defined in the UCC) of the Loan Parties, including the name of (A) the applicable Loan Party, (B) in the case of Electronic Chattel Paper (as defined in the UCC), the account debtor, and (C) in the case of Letter-of-Credit Rights (as defined in the UCC), the issuer or nominated person, as applicable.

 

(d)                                 Commercial Tort Claims.  Set forth on Schedule 5.19(d, as of the Closing Date and as of the last date such Schedule was required to be updated in accordance with Section 6.02, is a description of all Commercial Tort Claims of the Loan Parties (detailing such Commercial Tort Claim in such detail as reasonably requested by the Lender).

 

(e)                                  Pledged Equity Interests.  Set forth on Schedule 5.19(e), as of the Closing Date and as of the last date such Schedule was required to be updated in accordance with Section 6.02, is a list of (i) all Pledged Equity and (ii) all other Equity Interests required to be pledged to the Lender pursuant to the Collateral Documents (in each case, detailing the Grantor (as defined in the Security Agreement), the Person whose Equity Interests are pledged, the number of shares of each class of Equity Interests, the certificate number and percentage ownership of outstanding shares of each class of Equity Interests and the class or nature of such Equity Interests (i.e. voting, non-voting, preferred, etc.).

 

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5.20                        Maintenance of Insurance.

 

The properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Borrower, in such amounts, with such deductibles and covering such risks as are customarily carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in localities where the applicable Loan Party or the applicable Subsidiary operates.  The general liability, casualty, property and business interruption insurance coverage of the Loan Parties as in effect on the Closing Date, and as of the last date such Schedule was required to be updated in accordance with Sections 6.02, 6.13 and 6.14, is outlined as to carrier, policy number, expiration date, type, amount and deductibles on Schedule 5.20 and such insurance coverage complies with the requirements set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

 

Each of the Loan Parties hereby covenants and agrees that on the Closing Date and thereafter until the Facility Termination Date, such Loan Party shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to:

 

6.01                        Financial Statements.

 

Deliver to the Lender, in form and detail satisfactory to the Lender:

 

(a)                                 Audited Financial Statements.  As soon as available, but in any event within one hundred twenty (120) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, a Consolidated and consolidating balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year, and the related Consolidated and consolidating statements of income or operations, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, (i) such Consolidated statements to be audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of an independent certified public accountant of nationally recognized standing reasonably acceptable to the Lender, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall not be subject to any “going concern” or like qualification or exception or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit, and (ii) such consolidating statements to be certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller that is a Responsible Officer of the Company to the effect that such statements are fairly stated in all material respects when considered in relation to the Consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

(b)                                 Quarterly Financial Statements.  As soon as available, but in any event within forty-five (45) days after the end of each of the first three (3) fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Company, a Consolidated and consolidating balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, and the related Consolidated and consolidating statements of income or operations, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the Company’s fiscal year then ended, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP such Consolidated statements to be certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller who is a Responsible Officer of the Company as fairly presenting the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes and such consolidating statements to be certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller that is a Responsible Officer of the Company to the effect

 

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that such statements are fairly stated in all material respects when considered in relation to the Consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

(c)                                  Budget.  As soon as available, but in any event within thirty (30) days prior to the end of each fiscal year of the Company, an annual budget of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis, including forecasts prepared by management of the Company, in form satisfactory to the Lender, of Consolidated balance sheets and statements of income or operations and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a quarterly basis for the immediately following fiscal year.

 

(d)                                 Financial Projections.  As to any information contained in materials furnished pursuant to Section 6.02(f), the Company shall not be separately required to furnish such information under Section 6.01(a) or (b) above, but the foregoing shall not be in derogation of the obligation of the Company to furnish the information and materials described in Sections 6.01(a) or (b) above at the times specified therein.

 

6.02                        Certificates; Other Information.

 

Deliver to the Lender, in form and detail satisfactory to the Lender:

 

(a)                                 Compliance Certificate.  Concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(a) or (b) a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller which is a Responsible Officer of the Company.  Unless the Lender requests executed originals, delivery of the Compliance Certificate may be by electronic communication including fax or email and shall be deemed to be an original and authentic counterpart thereof for all purposes.

 

(b)                                 Updated Schedules.  Concurrently with the delivery of the Compliance Certificate referred to in Section 6.02(a) which is required to be delivered by the Company concurrently with the delivery of the annual financial statements referred to in Section 6.01(a) unless requested more frequently by the Lender in its reasonable discretion, updated Schedules to this Agreement, to the extent permitted to be updated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, which may be attached to the Compliance Certificate, to the extent required to make the representation related to such Schedule true and correct as of the date of such Compliance Certificate.

 

(c)                                  Calculations.  Concurrently with the delivery of the Compliance Certificate referred to in Section 6.02(b) required to be delivered with the financial statements referred to in Section 6.01(a), a certificate (which may be included in such Compliance Certificate) including the amount of all Investments (including Permitted Acquisitions), and Dispositions in excess of $5,000,000, excluding: (i) Dispositions of publicly traded securities made in the ordinary course of business for fair market value that were made during the prior fiscal year, and (ii) Investments maintained with, or held in securities accounts maintained with, the Lender.

 

(d)                                 Audit Reports; Management Letters; Recommendations.  Promptly after any request by the Lender, copies of any detailed audit reports, management letters or recommendations submitted to the board of directors (or the audit committee of the board of directors) of any Loan Party by independent accountants in connection with the accounts or books of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, or any audit of any of them.

 

(e)                                  Annual Reports; Etc.  Promptly after the same are available, copies of each annual report, proxy or financial statement or other material report or communication sent to the stockholders of the Company, and copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which

 

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the Company may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or with any national securities exchange, and in any case not otherwise required to be delivered to the Lender pursuant hereto;.

 

(f)                                   Debt Securities Statements and Reports.  Promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any material statement or report furnished to any holder of debt securities of any Loan Party or of any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of any indenture, loan or credit or similar agreement and not otherwise required to be furnished to the Lender pursuant to Section 6.01 or any other clause of this Section.

 

(g)                                  Reserved.

 

(h)                                 Notices.  Not later than ten (10) Business Days after receipt thereof by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof, copies of all material notices, requests and other documents (including amendments, waivers and other modifications) so received under or pursuant to any instrument, indenture, loan or credit or similar agreement and, from time to time upon request by the Lender, such information and reports regarding such instruments, indentures and loan and credit and similar agreements as the Lender may reasonably request.

 

(i)                                     Environmental Notice.  Promptly after the assertion or occurrence thereof, notice of any action or proceeding against or of any noncompliance by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries with any Environmental Law or Environmental Permit that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(j)                                    Additional Information.  Promptly, such additional information regarding the business, financial, legal or corporate affairs of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as the Lender may from time to time reasonably request.

 

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) or Section 6.02(f) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (a) on which the Company posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Company’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 1.01(a); or (b) on which such documents are posted on the Company’s behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which the Lender has access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Lender); provided that:  (i) the Company shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Lender upon its request to the Company to deliver such paper copies until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Lender and (ii) the Company shall notify the Lender (by fax transmission or e-mail transmission) of the posting of any such documents, and upon request of the Lender, provide to the Lender by e-mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents.

 

6.03                        Notices.

 

Promptly, but in any event within five (5) Business Days, notify the Lender:

 

(a)                                 of the occurrence of any Default;

 

(b)                                 of any matter that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(c)                                  of the occurrence of any ERISA Event; and

 

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(d)                                 of any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof.

 

Each notice pursuant to this Section 6.03 shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Company setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and to the extent applicable, stating what action the Company has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto.  Each notice pursuant to Section 6.03(a) shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of this Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been breached.

 

6.04                        Payment of Obligations.

 

Pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable (after giving effect to any applicable grace or cure periods), all its obligations and liabilities, including (a) all tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it or its properties or assets, unless the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by the Company or such Subsidiary; (b) all lawful claims which, if unpaid, would by law become a Lien upon its property; and (c) all Indebtedness, as and when due and payable, but subject to any subordination provisions contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness.

 

6.05                        Preservation of Existence, Etc.

 

(a)                                 Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section 7.04 or 7.05;

 

(b)                                 take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges, permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(c)                                  preserve or renew all of its registered patents, trademarks, trade names and service marks, the non-preservation of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.06                        Maintenance of Properties.

 

(a)                                 Maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted; and

 

(b)                                 make all necessary repairs thereto and renewals and replacements thereof except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.07                        Maintenance of Insurance.

 

(a)                                 Maintenance of Insurance.  Maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Company or any Subsidiary, insurance with respect to its properties and business against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by Persons engaged in the same or similar business in the same or similar geographic areas, of such types and in such amounts as are customarily carried under similar circumstances by such other Persons.

 

(b)                                 Evidence of Insurance.  Cause the Lender to be named as lenders’ loss payable, loss payee, as its interest may appear, and/or additional insured with respect of any such insurance providing

 

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liability coverage or coverage in respect of any Collateral, and cause, unless otherwise agreed to by the Lender, each provider of any such insurance to agree, by endorsement upon the policy or policies issued by it or by independent instruments furnished to the Lender that it will give the Lender thirty (30) days prior written notice before any such policy or policies shall be altered or cancelled (or ten (10) days prior notice in the case of cancellation due to the nonpayment of premiums).  Annually, upon expiration of current insurance coverage, the Loan Parties shall provide, or cause to be provided, to the Lender, such evidence of insurance as required by the Lender, including, but not limited to:  (i) certified copies of such insurance policies, (ii) evidence of such insurance policies (including, without limitation and as applicable, ACORD Form 28 certificates (or similar form of insurance certificate), and ACORD Form 25 certificates (or similar form of  insurance certificate)), (iii) declaration pages for each insurance policy, and (iv) lender’s loss payable endorsement if the Lender for the benefit of the Secured Parties is not on the declarations page for such policy.  As requested by the Lender, the Loan Parties agree to deliver to the Lender an Authorization to Share Insurance Information.

 

6.08                        Compliance with Laws.

 

Comply with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted; or (b) the failure to comply therewith could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.09                        Bank Accounts.

 

Maintain all of each Borrower’s primary operating accounts with the Lender, other than with respect to operating accounts of The Roberts Company, Inc. , provided that and each Foreign Subsidiaries may maintain their primary operating accounts outside of the United States with Persons other than the Lender.

 

6.10                        Books and Records.

 

Maintain proper books of record and account, in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with GAAP consistently applied shall be made of all financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of such Loan Party or such Subsidiary, as the case may be.

 

6.11                        Inspection Rights.

 

(a)                                 Permit representatives and independent contractors of the Lender to visit and inspect any of its properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and independent public accountants, all at the expense of the Borrower and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice to the Company; provided, however, that: (i) unless there shall have occurred an Event of Default which is continuing, the Lender (or any of its representative or independent contractors) shall not exercise any of the foregoing rights more than one time during any twelve month period, and (ii) when an Event of Default exists the Lender (or any of its representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrower as often as necessary at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice.

 

(b)                                 If requested by the Lender in its sole discretion, permit the Lender and its representatives, upon reasonable advance written notice to the Company, to conduct, at the expense of the Borrower, an

 

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annual (i) personal property asset appraisal on personal property Collateral of the Company and its Subsidiaries, (ii) real estate appraisal on real estate Collateral of the Company and its Subsidiaries, if any, and (iii) field exam on the accounts receivable, inventory, payables, controls and systems of the Company and its Subsidiaries, provided, however, when an Event of Default exists the Lender (or any of its representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrower as often as necessary at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice.

 

6.12                        Use of Proceeds.

 

Use the proceeds of the Credit Extensions for Permitted Acquisitions and for general corporate purposes of the Company and its Subsidiaries not in contravention of any Law or of any Loan Document.

 

6.13                        Material Contracts.

 

Perform and observe all the terms and provisions of each Material Contract to be performed or observed by it, maintain each such Material Contract in full force and effect, enforce each such Material Contract in accordance with its terms, take all such action to such end as may be from time to time requested by the Lender and, upon request of the Lender, make to each other party to each such Material Contract such demands and requests for information and reports or for action as any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is entitled to make under such Material Contract, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to do so, except, in any case, where the failure to do so, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.14                        Covenant to Guarantee Obligations or to Join as Designated Borrower.

 

The Loan Parties will cause each of their Subsidiaries whether newly formed, after acquired or otherwise existing to promptly (and in any event within thirty (30) days after such Subsidiary is formed or acquired (or such longer period of time as agreed to by the Lender in its reasonable discretion)) become a Guarantor hereunder by way of execution of a Joinder Agreement (unless such Subsidiary has already been designated a Designated Borrower in accordance with the terms of Section 2.13 hereof); provided, however, no Foreign Subsidiary shall be required to become a Guarantor to the extent such Guaranty would result in a material adverse tax consequence for the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.  In connection therewith, the Loan Parties shall give notice to the Lender not less than three (3) days prior to creating a Subsidiary (or such shorter period of time as agreed to by the Lender in its reasonable discretion), or acquiring the Equity Interests of any other Person.  In connection with the foregoing, the Loan Parties shall deliver to the Lender, with respect to each new Guarantor to the extent applicable, substantially the same documentation required pursuant to Sections 4.01(b)—(f), (j) and 6.14 and such other documents or agreements as the Lender may reasonably request, including without limitation, updated Schedules to this Agreement.

 

6.15                        Covenant to Give Security.

 

Except with respect to Excluded Property:

 

(a)                                 Equity Interests and Personal Property.  Each Loan Party will cause the Pledged Equity and all of its tangible and intangible personal property now owned or hereafter acquired by it which does not constitute Excluded Property to be subject at all times to a first priority, perfected Lien (subject to Permitted Liens to the extent permitted by the Loan Documents) in favor of the Lender for the benefit of the Secured Parties to secure the Secured Obligations pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Collateral Documents.  Each Loan Party shall provide opinions of counsel and any filings and deliveries

 

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reasonably necessary in connection therewith to perfect the security interests therein, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Lender.

 

(b)                                 Real Property.  Each Loan Party hereby agrees that so long as this Agreement remains in effect, it shall not, without the Lender’s prior written consent, convey, or incur, create, assume, suffer or permit to exist any deed of trust, mortgage, lien, pledge, security interest, or other encumbrance on any of the real property now or hereafter owned by such Loan Party.

 

(c)                                  Landlord Waivers.  In the case of (i) each leased headquarter location of the Loan Parties, each other location where any significant administrative or governmental functions are performed and each other location where the Loan Parties maintain any books or records (electronic or otherwise) and (ii) any personal property Collateral located at any other premises leased by a Loan Party containing personal property Collateral with a value in excess of $250,000, the Loan Parties will provide the Lender with such consents and waivers from the landlords on such real property to the extent (A) requested by the Lender and (B) the Loan Parties are able to secure such consents and waivers after using commercially reasonable efforts (such consents and waivers shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the Lender).  To the extent any such locations are now or hereafter owned by a Loan Party, such Loan Party hereby agrees that the Lender or its agents may access such property in accordance with the terms of Section 6.11 of this Agreement.

 

(d)                                 Account Control Agreements. Each of the Loan Parties shall not open, maintain or otherwise have any deposit or other accounts (including securities accounts) at any bank or other financial institution, or any other account where money or securities are or may be deposited or maintained with any Person, other than the Lender, except for (i) deposit accounts that are maintained at all times with depositary institutions as to which the Lender shall have received a Qualifying Control Agreement, (ii) securities accounts that are maintained at all times with financial institutions  as to which the Lender shall have received a Qualifying Control Agreement, and (iii) Excluded Accounts; provided, however, that the Qualifying Control Agreements referred to in subsections (i) and (ii) above are not required for so long as the Borrowers collectively maintain not less than $50,000,000 of Liquidity in deposit accounts and/or securities accounts in one or more accounts maintained by the Borrower with the Lender.

 

(e)                                  Updated Schedules.  Concurrently with the delivery of any certificates, waivers, agreements or other documents pursuant to the terms of this Section, the Borrower shall provide the Lender with all applicable updated Schedules.

 

(f)                                   Further Assurances.  At any time upon request of the Lender, promptly execute and deliver any and all further instruments and documents and take all such other action (including promptly completing any registration or stamping of documents as may be applicable) as the Lender may deem necessary or desirable to maintain in favor of the Lender, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, Liens and insurance rights on the Collateral that are duly perfected in accordance with the requirements of, or the obligations of the Loan Parties under, the Loan Documents and all applicable Laws.

 

6.16                        Further Assurances.

 

Promptly upon request by the Lender, (a) correct any material defect or error that may be discovered in any Loan Document or in the execution, acknowledgment, filing or recordation thereof, and (b) do, execute, acknowledge, deliver, record, re-record, file, re-file, register and re-register any and all such further acts, deeds, certificates, assurances and other instruments as the Lender may reasonably require from time to time in order to (i) carry out more effectively the purposes of the Loan Documents, (ii) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, subject any Loan Party’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ properties, assets, rights or interests to the Liens now or hereafter intended to be covered by any of the

 

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Collateral Documents, (iii) perfect and maintain the validity, effectiveness and priority of any of the Collateral Documents and any of the Liens intended to be created thereunder, and (iv) assure, convey, grant, assign, transfer, preserve, protect and confirm more effectively unto the Secured Parties the rights granted or now or hereafter intended to be granted to the Secured Parties under any Loan Document or under any other instrument executed in connection with any Loan Document to which any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is or is to be a party, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to do so.

 

6.17                        Approvals and Authorizations.

 

Maintain all authorizations, consents, approvals and licenses from, exemptions of, and filings and registrations with, each Governmental Authority of the jurisdiction in which each Foreign Subsidiary is organized and existing, and all approvals and consents of each other Person in such jurisdiction, in each case that are required in connection with the Loan Documents.

 

6.18                        Anti-Corruption Laws.

 

Conduct its business in compliance with the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010 and other similar anti-corruption legislation in other jurisdictions and maintain policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

 

Each of the Loan Parties hereby covenants and agrees that on the Closing Date and thereafter until the Facility Termination Date, no Loan Party shall, nor shall it permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly:

 

7.01                        Liens.

 

Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, except for the following (the “Permitted Liens”):

 

(a)                                 Liens pursuant to any Loan Document and other Liens in favor of the Lender;

 

(b)                                 Liens existing on the Closing Date and listed on Schedule 7.01 and any renewals or extensions thereof, provided that (i) the property covered thereby is not changed, (ii) the amount secured or benefited thereby is not increased except as contemplated by Section 7.02(b), (iii) the direct or any contingent obligor with respect thereto is not changed, and (iv) any renewal or extension of the obligations secured or benefited thereby is permitted by Section 7.02(b);

 

(c)                                  Liens for taxes not yet due or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person in accordance with GAAP;

 

(d)                                 Statutory Liens such as carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business which are not overdue for a period of more than forty five (45) days or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person; provided that a reserve or other appropriate provision shall have been made therefor;

 

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(e)                                  pledges or deposits in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation, other than any Lien imposed by ERISA;

 

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

 

(g)                                  Liens securing judgments for the payment of money (or appeal or other surety bonds relating to such judgments) not constituting an Event of Default under Section 8.01(h);

 

(h)                                 Purchase money Liens in machinery and equipment securing Indebtedness not in excess of Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000) in the aggregate; provided that (i) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed by such Indebtedness and (ii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the cost or fair market value, whichever is lower, of the property being acquired on the date of acquisition;

 

(i)                                     Liens in favor of Travelers which are subject to the Travelers Letter Agreement;

 

(j)                                    Pledges of cash collateral in connection with any letter of credit issued for the account of, or on behalf of, any Foreign Subsidiary in connection with the performance of any EPC Contract or Project, provided that the aggregate amount of such pledged cash collateral does not exceed Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000) in the aggregate; and

 

(k)                                 Liens arising out of judgments or awards not resulting in an Event of Default; provided the applicable Loan Party or Subsidiary shall in good faith be prosecuting an appeal or proceedings for review.

 

7.02                        Indebtedness.

 

Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:

 

(a)                                 Indebtedness under the Loan Documents;

 

(b)                                 Indebtedness outstanding on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 7.02 and any refinancings, refundings, renewals or extensions thereof; provided that the amount of such Indebtedness is not increased at the time of such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension except by an amount equal to a reasonable premium or other reasonable amount paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such refinancing and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder and the direct or any contingent obligor with respect thereto is not changed, as a result of or in connection with such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension;

 

(c)                                  Indebtedness secured by Permitted Liens pursuant to Section 7.01(h) in an aggregate amount not to exceed Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000) at any time;

 

(d)                                 Unsecured Indebtedness of a Subsidiary of the Company owed to the Company or a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company or another Loan Party (“Intercompany Debt”);

 

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(e)                                  Unsecured guarantees of  the Company with respect to the contract performance under any EPC Contract or Project;

 

(f)                                   Unsecured Subordinated Debt incurred in the ordinary course of business and aggregating not more than $2,000,000 at any time;

 

(g)                                  Indebtedness of the Company or any other Loan Party arising out of the issuance of performance, surety or warranty bonds under the Travelers Letter Agreement;

 

(h)                                 Indebtedness of the Company or any other Loan Party relating to any EPC Contract or Project not subject to subsections (d), (e) or (g) above, provided that the aggregate amount of all such Indebtedness does not at any time exceed Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000) and further provided that the aggregate amount of all such Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries does not at any time of exceed Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000);

 

(i)                                     Indebtedness resulting from endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business; and

 

(j)                                    Any extensions, renewals or replacements of Indebtedness described in clauses (f) and (h) above, which do not increase the amount of such Indebtedness.

 

7.03                        Investments.

 

Make or hold any Investments, except:

 

(a)                                 Investments held by the Company and its Subsidiaries in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents;

 

(b)                                 advances to officers, directors and employees of the Company and Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount not to exceed $250,000 at any time outstanding, for travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes;

 

(c)                                  (i) Investments by the Company and its Subsidiaries in their respective Subsidiaries outstanding on the date hereof, (ii) additional Investments by the Company and its Subsidiaries in Loan Parties, and (iii) additional Investments by Subsidiaries of the Company that are not Loan Parties in other Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties;

 

(d)                                 Investments consisting of extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising from the grant of trade credit in the ordinary course of business, and Investments received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled account debtors to the extent reasonably necessary in order to prevent or limit loss;

 

(e)                                  Permitted Acquisitions;

 

(f)                                   Existing Investments in the Joint Ventures;

 

(g)                                  Guarantees permitted by Section 7.02;

 

(h)                                 Investments in any Person (including without limitation, any Foreign Entities and any wholly-owned Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties), provided the aggregate amount invested, loaned, or

 

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advanced does not exceed Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000) in any fiscal year and further provided that the aggregate amount invested, loaned, or advanced in any Persons which are Foreign Entities (including without limitation, any wholly-owned Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties) does not exceed Twenty Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000) in any fiscal year (each a “Permitted Investment”), and further, provided that each of the following conditions is satisfied at the time of, and after giving effect to, any Permitted Investment:

 

(i)                                     The Borrowers shall, on a consolidated Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to such Investment, have Liquidity of not less than Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000);

 

(ii)                                  The Borrowers ratio of Total Funded Debt to EBITDA, on a consolidated Pro Forma Basis, shall be less than 1.50 to 1.00;

 

(iii)                               No Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

 

(iv)                              Not less than five (5) Business Days prior to the closing of any Permitted Investment, Borrowers shall have provided the Lender written notice of such Permitted Investment, together with calculations and supporting materials which demonstrate that the Borrowers will satisfy each of the requirements for a Permitted Investment; and

 

(v)                                 To the extent not prohibited under the terms of the documents evidencing the Permitted Investment, if requested by the Lender, in its sole discretion, pledge any notes, stock or other instruments received in connection with each such Permitted Investment to the Lender as additional Collateral for the Obligations.

 

7.04                        Fundamental Changes.

 

Merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, or Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person, except that, so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom:

 

(a)                                 any Subsidiary may merge with (i) the Company; provided that the Company shall be the continuing or surviving Person, or (ii) any one or more other Subsidiaries, provided that when any Loan Party is merging with another Subsidiary, such Loan Party shall be the continuing or surviving Person;

 

(b)                                 any Loan Party may Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to the Company or to another Loan Party;

 

(c)                                  any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party may dispose of all or substantially all its assets (including any Disposition that is in the nature of a liquidation) to (i) another Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party or (ii) to a Loan Party;

 

(d)                                 in connection with any Permitted Acquisition, any Subsidiary of the Company may merge into or consolidate with any other Person or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it; provided that (i) the Person surviving such merger shall be a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company and (ii) in the case of any such merger to which any Loan Party (other than the Company) is a party and the other party is not a Loan Party, such Loan Party is the surviving Person;

 

(e)                                  each of the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries may merge into or consolidate with any other Person or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it; provided, however, that in

 

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each case, immediately after giving effect thereto (i) in the case of any such merger to which the Borrower is a party, the Borrower is the surviving Person and (ii) in the case of any such merger to which any Loan Party (other than the Borrower) is a party, such Loan Party is the surviving Person; and

 

(f)                                   each Subsidiary which is not a Material Subsidiary may be dissolved, liquidated, or consolidated with or into another Person.

 

7.05                        Dispositions.

 

Make any Disposition or enter into any agreement to make any Disposition, except:

 

(a)                                 Permitted Transfers;

 

(b)                                 Dispositions of obsolete or worn out property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business;

 

(c)                                  Dispositions of equipment or real property to the extent that (i) such property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property or (ii) the proceeds of such Disposition are reasonably promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement property;

 

(d)                                 Dispositions of real property of the Company or any Subsidiary that the Company has determined in is business judgment is no longer useful or desirable to be owned and which are made in arms length transactions for reasonably equivalent value;

 

(e)                                  Dispositions permitted by Section 7.04; and

 

(f)                                   other Dispositions so long as (i) the consideration paid in connection therewith shall be cash or Cash Equivalents paid contemporaneously with consummation of the transaction and shall be in an amount not less than the fair market value of the property disposed of, (ii) if such transaction is a Sale and Leaseback Transaction, such transaction is not prohibited by the terms of Section 7.13, (iii) such transaction does not involve the sale or other disposition of the Equity Interests in any Subsidiary, which are not otherwise permitted pursuant to Section 7.04 hereof, and (iv) such transaction does not involve a sale or other disposition of receivables other than receivables owned by or attributable to other property concurrently being disposed of in a transaction otherwise permitted under this Section.

 

7.06                        Restricted Payments.

 

Declare or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, or incur any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to do so, except that, so long as no Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of any action described below or would result therefrom:

 

(a)                                 The Loan Parties shall demonstrate to the reasonable satisfaction of the Lender that, after giving effect to the Restricted Payment on a Pro Forma Basis, the Borrowers’ shall be in compliance with all Financial Covenants set forth in Section 7.11 of this Agreement;

 

(b)                                 The Borrowers shall, on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to such Investment, have Liquidity of not less than Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000); and

 

(c)                                  the Loan Parties shall demonstrate to the reasonable satisfaction of the Lender that, after giving effect to the Restricted Payment on a Pro Forma Basis, the Borrowers’ ratio of Total Funded Debt to EBITDA shall be less than 1.50 to 1.00

 

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7.07                        Change in Nature of Business.

 

Engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the Company and its Subsidiaries on the date hereof or any business substantially related or incidental thereto.

 

7.08                        Transactions with Affiliates.

 

Enter into or permit to exist any transaction or series of transactions with any officer, director or Affiliate of such Person other than (a) advances of working capital to any Loan Party, (b) transfers of cash and assets to any Loan Party, (c) intercompany transactions expressly permitted by this Agreement, (d) normal and reasonable compensation and reimbursement of expenses of officers and directors, and (e) except as otherwise specifically limited in this Agreement, other transactions which are entered into in the ordinary course of such Person’s business on fair and reasonable terms and conditions substantially as favorable to such Person as would be obtainable by it in a comparable arms-length transaction with a Person other than an officer, director or Affiliate.

 

7.09                        Burdensome Agreements.

 

Enter into, or permit to exist, any Contractual Obligation (except for this Agreement and the other Loan Documents) that (a) encumbers or restricts the ability of any such Person to (i) to act as a Loan Party; (ii) make Restricted Payments to any Loan Party, (iii) pay any Indebtedness or other obligation owed to any Loan Party, (iv) make loans or advances to any Loan Party, or (v) create any Lien upon any of their properties or assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired (other than Permitted Liens).

 

7.10                        Use of Proceeds.

 

Use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U of the FRB) or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock or to refund indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose.

 

7.11                        Financial Covenants.

 

(a)                                 Total Funded Debt to EBITDA.  Permit the ratio of Total Funded Debt to EBITDA as of the end of any Measurement Period to exceed 2.0 to 1.0.  All Guaranties and other Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Sections 7.02(e), 7.02(g), and 7.02(h) shall be excluded from the calculation of this financial covenant at all times that such Indebtedness remains contingent and which are not letters of credit (including any Letters of Credit issued by the Lender) or reflected as liabilities on Borrower’s balance sheet in accordance with GAAP.

 

(b)                                 Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.  Permit the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio as of the end of any Measurement Period to be less than 1.25 to 1.00.  All Guaranties and other Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Sections 7.02(e), 7.02(g), and 7.02(h) shall be excluded from the calculation of this financial covenant at all times that such Indebtedness remains contingent and which are not letters of credit (including any Letters of Credit issued by the Lender) or reflected as liabilities on the Company’s Consolidated balance sheet in accordance with GAAP.

 

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7.12                        Amendments of Organization Documents; Fiscal Year; Legal Name, State of Formation; Form of Entity, Travelers Letter Agreement and Accounting Changes.

 

(a)                                 Amend any of its Organization Documents in any manner which could reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect any Loan Party’s ability to perform its obligations under any of the Loan Documents or hinder the Lender’s ability to enforce its rights under the Loan Documents;

 

(b)                                 change its fiscal year;

 

(c)                                  without providing ten (10) days prior written notice to the Lender (or such extended period of time as agreed to by the Lender), change its name, state of formation, form of organization or principal place of business;

 

(d)                                 amend the Travelers Letter Agreement; or

 

(e)                                  make any change in accounting policies or reporting practices, except as required by GAAP.

 

7.13                        Sale and Leaseback Transactions.

 

Enter into any Sale and Leaseback Transaction.

 

7.14                        Sanctions.

 

Directly or indirectly, use any Credit Extension or the proceeds of any Credit Extension, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such Credit Extension or the proceeds of any Credit Extension to any Person, to fund any activities of or business with any Person, or in any Designated Jurisdiction, that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of Sanctions, or in any other manner that will result in a violation by any Person of Sanctions.

 

7.15                        Anti-Corruption Laws. .

 

Directly or indirectly, use any Credit Extension or the proceeds of any Credit Extension for any purpose which would breach the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010 and other similar anti-corruption legislation in other jurisdictions.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

 

8.01                        Events of Default.

 

Any of the following shall constitute an Event of Default:

 

(a)                                 Non-Payment.  The Borrower or any other Loan Party fails to pay within five (5) days (i)  after the same is required to be paid herein and in the currency required hereunder, any amount of principal of any Loan or any L/C Obligation or deposit any funds as Cash Collateral in respect of L/C Obligations, or (ii) after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan or on any L/C Obligation, or any fee due hereunder, or (iii)  after the same becomes due, any other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document; or

 

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(b)                                 Specific Covenants.  Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 6.01, 6.02, 6.03, 6.05, 6.08, 6.11, 6.12, 6.13, Article VII or Article IX; or

 

(c)                                  Other Defaults.  Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in Section 8.01(a) or (b) above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for thirty (30) days; or

 

(d)                                 Representations and Warranties.  Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Company or any other Loan Party herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be materially incorrect or misleading when made or deemed made; or

 

(e)                                  Cross-Default.  (i) Any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof (A) fails to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) in respect of any Indebtedness (other than the Indebtedness described in subsection (B) below and Indebtedness under Swap Contracts) having an aggregate principal amount (including undrawn committed or available amounts and including amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit arrangement) of more than $5,000,000, (B) fails to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) in respect of any Indebtedness described in 7.02(e), 7.02(g), or 7.02(h), having an aggregate principal amount of more than $15,000,000, or (C) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or Guarantee or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event occurs, the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness or the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Guarantee (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness to be demanded or to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity, or such Guarantee to become payable or cash collateral in excess of $5,000,000 in respect thereof to be demanded; (ii) there occurs under any Swap Contract an Early Termination Date (as defined in such Swap Contract) resulting from (A) any event of default under such Swap Contract as to which a Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof is the Defaulting Party (as defined in such Swap Contract) or (B) any Termination Event (as so defined) under such Swap Contract as to which a Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof is an Affected Party (as so defined) and, in either event, the Swap Termination Value owed by such Loan Party or such Subsidiary as a result thereof is greater than the Threshold Amount; or

 

(f)                                   Insolvency Proceedings, Etc.  Any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or

 

(g)                                  Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment.  (i) Any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any

 

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material part of the property of any such Loan Party or Subsidiary which is not released, vacated or fully bonded within thirty (30) days after its issue or levy.

 

(h)                                 Judgments.  There is entered against any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof (i) one or more final judgments or orders for the payment of money in an aggregate amount (as to all such judgments and orders) exceeding $5,000,000 (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer is rated at least “A” by A.M. Best Company, has been notified of the potential claim and does not dispute coverage), or (ii) any one or more non-monetary final judgments that have, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and, in either case, (A) enforcement proceedings are commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order, or (B) there is a period of ten (10) consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect; or

 

(i)                                     ERISA.  (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in liability of any Loan Party under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of $5,000,000, or (ii) the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount; or

 

(j)                                    Invalidity of Loan Documents.  Any provision of any Loan Document, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder or satisfaction in full of all Obligations arising under the Loan Documents, ceases to be in full force and effect; or any Loan Party or any other Person contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any provision of any Loan Document; or any Loan Party denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under any provision of any Loan Document, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any provision of any Loan Document or it is or becomes unlawful for a Loan Party to perform any of its obligations under the Loan Documents; or

 

(k)                                 Collateral Documents.  Any Collateral Document after delivery thereof pursuant to the terms of the Loan Documents shall for any reason cease to create a valid and perfected first priority Lien (subject to Permitted Liens) on the Collateral purported to be covered thereby, or any Loan Party shall assert the invalidity of such Liens; or

 

(l)                                     Travelers Letter Agreement Default.  Any Borrower shall receive from Travelers any notice of the occurrence of a default under the Travelers Letter Agreement

 

(m)                             Change of Control.  There occurs any Change of Control.

 

If a Default shall have occurred under the Loan Documents, then such Default will continue to exist until it either is cured (to the extent specifically permitted) in accordance with the Loan Documents or is otherwise expressly waived by Lender as determined in accordance with Section 10.01; and once an Event of Default occurs under the Loan Documents, then such Event of Default will continue to exist until it is expressly waived by the Lender, as required hereunder in Section 10.01.

 

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8.02                        Remedies upon Event of Default.

 

If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Lender may take any or all of the following actions:

 

(a)                                 declare the Commitment of the Lender to make Loans and L/C Credit Extensions to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;

 

(b)                                 declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrowers;

 

(c)                                  require that the Borrowers Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to the Minimum Collateral Amount with respect thereto); and

 

(d)                                 exercise all rights and remedies available to it under the Loan Documents or applicable Law or equity;

 

provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to any Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the obligation of the Lender to make Loans and L/C Credit Extensions shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, and the obligation of the Borrowers to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations as aforesaid shall automatically become effective, in each case without further act of the Lender.

 

8.03                        Application of Funds.

 

After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable and the L/C Obligations have automatically been required to be Cash Collateralized as set forth in the proviso to Section 8.02) or if at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Lender to pay fully all Secured Obligations then due hereunder, any amounts received on account of the Secured Obligations shall, subject to the provisions of Section 2.12, be applied by the Lender in its sole discretion.  Excluded Swap Obligations with respect to any Loan Party shall not be paid with amounts received from such Loan Party or its assets.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

CONTINUING GUARANTY

 

9.01                        Guaranty.

 

Each Guarantor hereby absolutely and unconditionally, jointly and severally guarantees, as primary obligor and as a guaranty of payment and performance and not merely as a guaranty of collection, prompt payment when due, whether at stated maturity, by required prepayment, upon acceleration, demand or otherwise, and at all times thereafter, of any and all of the Secured Obligations, whether for principal, interest, premiums, fees, indemnities, damages, costs, expenses or otherwise, of the Borrowers to the Secured Parties, arising hereunder or under any other Loan Document, any Secured Cash Management Agreement or any Secured Hedge Agreement (including all renewals, extensions, amendments, refinancings and other modifications thereof and all costs, attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred by the Secured Parties in connection with the collection or enforcement thereof) (for each

 

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Guarantor, subject to the proviso in this sentence, its “Guaranteed Obligations”); provided that (a) the Guaranteed Obligations of a Guarantor shall exclude any Excluded Swap Obligations with respect to such Guarantor and (b) the liability of each Guarantor individually with respect to this Guaranty shall be limited to an aggregate amount equal to the largest amount that would not render its obligations hereunder subject to avoidance under Section 548 of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States or any comparable provisions of any applicable state law.  The Lender’s books and records showing the amount of the Obligations shall be admissible in evidence in any action or proceeding, and shall be binding upon each Guarantor, and conclusive for the purpose of establishing the amount of the Secured Obligations.  This Guaranty shall not be affected by the genuineness, validity, regularity or enforceability of the Secured Obligations or any instrument or agreement evidencing any Secured Obligations, or by the existence, validity, enforceability, perfection, non-perfection or extent of any collateral therefor, or by any fact or circumstance relating to the Secured Obligations which might otherwise constitute a defense to the obligations of the Guarantors, or any of them, under this Guaranty, and each Guarantor hereby irrevocably waives any defenses it may now have or hereafter acquire in any way relating to any or all of the foregoing.

 

9.02                        Rights of Lender.

 

Each Guarantor consents and agrees that the Secured Parties may, at any time and from time to time, without notice or demand, and without affecting the enforceability or continuing effectiveness hereof:  (a) amend, extend, renew, compromise, discharge, accelerate or otherwise change the time for payment or the terms of the Secured Obligations or any part thereof; (b) take, hold, exchange, enforce, waive, release, fail to perfect, sell, or otherwise dispose of any security for the payment of this Guaranty or any Secured Obligations; (c) apply such security and direct the order or manner of sale thereof as the Lender in its sole discretion may determine; and (d) release or substitute one or more of any endorsers or other guarantors of any of the Secured Obligations.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Guarantor consents to the taking of, or failure to take, any action which might in any manner or to any extent vary the risks of such Guarantor under this Guaranty or which, but for this provision, might operate as a discharge of such Guarantor.

 

9.03                        Certain Waivers.

 

Each Guarantor waives (a) any defense arising by reason of any disability or other defense of the Borrowers or any other guarantor, or the cessation from any cause whatsoever (including any act or omission of any Secured Party) of the liability of the Borrower or any other Loan Party; (b) any defense based on any claim that such Guarantor’s obligations exceed or are more burdensome than those of the Borrower or any other Loan Party; (c) the benefit of any statute of limitations affecting any Guarantor’s liability hereunder; (d) any right to proceed against the Borrower or any other Loan Party, proceed against or exhaust any security for the Secured Obligations, or pursue any other remedy in the power of any Secured Party whatsoever; (e) any benefit of and any right to participate in any security now or hereafter held by any Secured Party; and (f) to the fullest extent permitted by law, any and all other defenses or benefits that may be derived from or afforded by applicable Law limiting the liability of or exonerating guarantors or sureties.  Each Guarantor expressly waives all setoffs and counterclaims and all presentments, demands for payment or performance, notices of nonpayment or nonperformance, protests, notices of protest, notices of dishonor and all other notices or demands of any kind or nature whatsoever with respect to the Secured Obligations, and all notices of acceptance of this Guaranty or of the existence, creation or incurrence of new or additional Secured Obligations.

 

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9.04                        Obligations Independent.

 

The obligations of each Guarantor hereunder are those of primary obligor, and not merely as surety, and are independent of the Secured Obligations and the obligations of any other guarantor, and a separate action may be brought against each Guarantor to enforce this Guaranty whether or not the Borrowers or any other person or entity is joined as a party.

 

9.05                        Subrogation.

 

No Guarantor shall exercise any right of subrogation, contribution, indemnity, reimbursement or similar rights with respect to any payments it makes under this Guaranty until all of the Secured Obligations and any amounts payable under this Guaranty have been indefeasibly paid and performed in full and the Commitments and the Facility is terminated.  If any amounts are paid to a Guarantor in violation of the foregoing limitation, then such amounts shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Secured Parties and shall forthwith be paid to the Secured Parties to reduce the amount of the Secured Obligations, whether matured or unmatured.

 

9.06                        Termination; Reinstatement.

 

This Guaranty is a continuing and irrevocable guaranty of all Secured Obligations now or hereafter existing and shall remain in full force and effect until the Facility Termination Date.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Guaranty shall continue in full force and effect or be revived, as the case may be, if any payment by or on behalf of the Borrowers or a Guarantor is made, or any of the Secured Parties exercises its right of setoff, in respect of the Secured Obligations and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by any of the Secured Parties in their discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws or otherwise, all as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred and whether or not the Secured Parties are in possession of or have released this Guaranty and regardless of any prior revocation, rescission, termination or reduction.  The obligations of each Guarantor under this paragraph shall survive termination of this Guaranty.

 

9.07                        Stay of Acceleration.

 

If acceleration of the time for payment of any of the Secured Obligations is stayed, in connection with any case commenced by or against a Guarantor or a Borrower under any Debtor Relief Laws, or otherwise, all such amounts shall nonetheless be payable by each Guarantor, jointly and severally, immediately upon demand by the Secured Parties.

 

9.08                        Condition of Borrowers.

 

Each Guarantor acknowledges and agrees that it has the sole responsibility for, and has adequate means of, obtaining from the Borrowers and any other guarantor such information concerning the financial condition, business and operations of the Borrowers and any such other guarantor as such Guarantor requires, and that none of the Secured Parties has any duty, and such Guarantor is not relying on the Secured Parties at any time, to disclose to it any information relating to the business, operations or financial condition of the Borrowers or any other guarantor (each Guarantor waiving any duty on the part of the Secured Parties to disclose such information and any defense relating to the failure to provide the same).

 

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9.09                        Appointment of Company.

 

Each of the Loan Parties hereby appoints the Company to act as its agent for all purposes of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and all other documents and electronic platforms entered into in connection herewith and agrees that (a) the Company may execute such documents and provided such authorizations on behalf of such Loan Parties as the Company deems appropriate in its sole discretion and each Loan Party shall be obligated by all of the terms of any such document and/or authorization executed on its behalf, (b) any notice or communication delivered by the Lender to the Company shall be deemed delivered to each Loan Party and (c) the Lender may accept, and be permitted to rely on, any document, authorization, instrument or agreement executed by the Company on behalf of each of the Loan Parties.

 

9.10                        Right of Contribution.

 

The Guarantors agree among themselves that, in connection with payments made hereunder, each Guarantor shall have contribution rights against the other Guarantors as permitted under applicable Law.

 

ARTICLE X

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

10.01                 Amendments, Etc.

 

No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Borrower or any other Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Lender and the Borrower or the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given.

 

10.02                 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communications.

 

(a)                                 Notices Generally.  Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (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 fax transmission or e-mail transmission as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, to the address, fax number, e-mail address or telephone number specified for the Company or any other Loan Party or the Lender on Schedule 1.01(a).

 

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 fax transmission 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).

 

(b)                                 Electronic Communications.  Notices and other communications to the Lender hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail, FPML messaging and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Lender.  The Lender or the Company may each, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by

 

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electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

 

Unless the Lender otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), and (ii) notices and other communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received by the intended recipient upon the sender’s receipt  of an acknowledgement by the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return email address or other written acknowledgement) indicating that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; provided that, for both clauses (i) and (ii), if such notice, email or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice, email or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient.

 

(c)                                  Change of Address, Etc.  Each of the Loan Parties and the Lender may change its address, fax number or telephone number or e-mail address for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.

 

(d)                                 Reliance by Lender.  The Lender shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including, without limitation, telephonic or electronic notices, Loan Notices, Letter of Credit Applications and Notice of Loan Prepayment) purportedly given by or on behalf of any Loan Party even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof.  The Loan Parties shall indemnify the Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of a Loan Party.  All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Lender may be recorded by the Lender, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

 

10.03                 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement.

 

No failure by the Lender to exercise, and no delay by the Lender in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Loan Document preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege.  The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided, and provided under each other Loan Document, are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.

 

10.04                 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

 

(a)                                 Costs and Expenses.  The Loan Parties shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Lender and its Affiliates (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Lender), in connection with the preparation, negotiation, execution, and delivery of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Lender in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Lender (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Lender), in connection with the enforcement or protection of its

 

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rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or (B) in connection with 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.

 

(b)                                 Indemnification by the Loan Parties.  The Loan Parties shall indemnify the Lender and each Related Party (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), and shall indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee from all reasonable fees and time charges and disbursements for attorneys who may be employees of any Indemnitee, incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any Person (including the Company or any other Loan Party) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including in respect of any matters addressed in Section 3.01), (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by the Lender to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by a Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to a Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Company or any other Loan Party or any of the Company’s or such Loan Party’s directors, shareholders or creditors, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or (y) result from a claim brought by the Company or any other Loan Party against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if the Company or such Loan Party has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

(c)                                  Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc.  To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, no Loan Party shall assert, and each Loan Party hereby waives, and acknowledges that no other Person shall have, any claim against any Indemnitee, 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, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof.  No Indemnitee referred to in subsection (b) above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed to such unintended recipients by such Indemnitee through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby provided that such limitation of liability shall not apply if the unintended recipients received such information or other materials as a result of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee.

 

(d)                                 Payments.  All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than fifteen (15) Business Days after written demand therefor.

 

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(e)                                  Survival.  The agreements in this Section and the indemnity provisions of Section 10.02(d) shall survive the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Secured Obligations.

 

10.05                 Payments Set Aside.

 

To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of any Borrower is made to the Lender, or the Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred.

 

10.06                 Successors and Assigns; Register.

 

(a)                                 Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement is binding on each Loan Party’s and the Lender’s successors and assignees.  Each Loan Party agrees that it may not assign this Agreement without the Lender’s prior consent.  The Lender may sell participations in or assign the Loan, and may exchange information about the Loan Parties (including, without limitation, any information regarding any hazardous substances) with actual or potential participants or assignees.  If a participation is sold or the loan is assigned, the purchaser will have the right of set-off against the Borrower.

 

(b)                                 Register.  The Lender, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower (and such agency being solely for tax purposes), shall maintain at the U.S. office of the Lender a copy of each assignment and assumption delivered to it (or the equivalent thereof in electronic form) and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts (and stated interest) of the Loans and L/C Obligations owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”).  The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, absent manifest error, and the Borrower 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.  The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

10.07                 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality.

 

(a)                                 Treatment of Certain Information.  The Lender agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (i) to its Affiliates, its auditors and to its Related Parties (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), (ii) to the extent required or requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over such Person or its Related Parties (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (iii) to the extent required by applicable Laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (iv) to any other party hereto, (v) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document after the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder after the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing, (vi) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (A) any assignee of or participant in, or any prospective assignee of or participant in, any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement or (B) any actual or prospective party (or its

 

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Related Parties) to any swap, derivative or other transaction under which payments are to be made by reference to any Loan Party and its obligations, this Agreement or payments hereunder, (vii) on a confidential basis to any rating agency in connection with rating any Loan Party or its Subsidiaries or the credit facilities provided hereunder, (viii) with the consent of the Company or to the extent such Information (1) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (2) becomes available to the Lender or any of its Affiliates on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.  For purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from any Loan Party or any Subsidiary relating to any Loan Party or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary.  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.  In addition, the Lender may disclose the existence of this Agreement and information about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar service  providers to the lending industry and service providers of the Lender in connection with the administration of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and the Commitments.

 

(b)                                 Press Releases.  The Loan Parties and their Affiliates agree that they will not in the future issue any press releases or other public disclosure using the name of the Lender or its Affiliates or referring to this Agreement or any of the Loan Documents without the prior written consent of the Lender, unless (and only to the extent that) the Loan Parties or such Affiliate is required to do so under law.

 

(c)                                  Customary Advertising Material.  The Loan Parties consent to the publication by the Lender of customary advertising material relating to the transactions contemplated hereby using the name, product photographs, logo or trademark of the Loan Parties so long as the Lender shall have received the Company’s prior written consent to do so and so long as the Company shall have received an advance copy of any such advertising materials that the Lender proposes to publish.

 

10.08                 Right of Setoff.

 

If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Lender and each of its Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by the Lender or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower or any other Loan Party against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower or such Loan Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the Lender or its Affiliates, irrespective of whether or not the Lender or Affiliate shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrower or such Loan Party may be contingent or unmatured, secured or unsecured, or are owed to a branch, office or Affiliate of the Lender different from the branch, office or Affiliate holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness.  The rights of the Lender and its Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that the Lender or its Affiliates may have.  The Lender agrees to notify the Company promptly after any such setoff and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

 

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10.09                 Interest Rate Limitation.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “Maximum Rate”).  If the Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Company.  In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, the Lender may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.

 

10.10                 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness.

 

This Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract.  This Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Lender, 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 Lender and when the Lender shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any certificate delivered thereunder, by fax transmission or e-mail transmission (e.g. “pdf” or “tif”) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement or such other Loan Document or certificate.  Without limiting the foregoing, to the extent a manually executed counterpart is not specifically required to be delivered under the terms of any Loan Document, upon the request of any party, such fax transmission or e-mail transmission shall be promptly followed by such manually executed counterpart.

 

10.11                 Survival of Representations and Warranties.

 

All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof.  Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Lender or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force until the Facility Termination Date.

 

10.12                 Severability.

 

If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions.  The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

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10.13      Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

 

(a)           GOVERNING LAW.  THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS (EXCEPT, AS TO ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH THEREIN) AND ANY CLAIMS, CONTROVERSY, DISPUTE OR CAUSE OF ACTION (WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE) BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT (EXCEPT, AS TO ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH THEREIN) AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

(b)           SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION.  THE COMPANY AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT COMMENCE ANY ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING OF ANY KIND OR DESCRIPTION, WHETHER IN LAW OR EQUITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR IN TORT OR OTHERWISE, AGAINST THE LENDER OR ANY RELATED PARTY IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATING HERETO OR THERETO, IN ANY FORUM OTHER THAN THE COURTS 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, AND EACH  OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS  AND AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION, LITIGATION 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 IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE LENDER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST THE COMPANY OR ANY OTHER LOAN PARTY OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

 

(c)           WAIVER OF VENUE.  THE COMPANY AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY 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.  THE COMPANY AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

 

(d)           SERVICE OF PROCESS.  EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 10.02.  NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

 

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10.14      Waiver of Jury Trial.

 

EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY 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 OR 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, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON 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 AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

 

10.15      Subordination.

 

Each Loan Party (a “Subordinating Loan Party”) hereby subordinates the payment of all obligations and indebtedness of any other Loan Party owing to it, whether now existing or hereafter arising, including but not limited to any obligation of any such other Loan Party to the Subordinating Loan Party as subrogee of the Secured Parties or resulting from such Subordinating Loan Party’s performance under this Agreement, to the indefeasible payment in full in cash of all Secured Obligations.  If the Secured Parties so request, any such obligation or indebtedness of any such other Loan Party to the Subordinating Loan Party  shall be enforced and performance received by the Subordinating Loan Party as trustee for the Secured Parties and the proceeds thereof shall be paid over to the Secured Parties on account of the Secured Obligations, but without reducing or affecting in any manner the liability of the Subordinating Loan Party under this Agreement.  Without limitation of the foregoing, so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing, the Loan Parties may make and receive payments with respect to Intercompany Debt; provided, that in the event that any Loan Party receives any payment of any Intercompany Debt at a time when such  payment is prohibited by this Section, such payment shall be held by such Loan Party, in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid forthwith over and delivered, upon written request, to the Lender.

 

10.16      No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.

 

In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), the Company and each other Loan Party acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that:  (a) (i) the services regarding this Agreement provided by the Lender and any Affiliate thereof are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Company, each other Loan Party and their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Lender and its Affiliates, on the other hand, (ii) each of the Company and the other Loan Parties has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (iii) the Company and each other Loan Party is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (b) (i) the Lender and its Affiliates each is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary, for Company, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Affiliates, or any other Person and (ii) neither the Lender nor any of its Affiliates has any obligation to the Company, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (c) the Lender and its Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that

 

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involve interests that differ from those of the Company, the other Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates, and neither the Lender nor any of its Affiliates has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Company, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Affiliates.  To the fullest extent permitted by law, each of the Company and each other Loan Party hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Lender or any of its Affiliates with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transactions contemplated hereby.

 

10.17      Electronic Execution.

 

The words “execute,” “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in or related to any document to be signed in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (including without limitation, amendments or other modifications, Committed Loan Notices, waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, the electronic matching of assignment terms and contract formations on electronic platforms approved by the Lender, or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable Law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act; provided that notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Lender is under no obligation to agree to accept electronic signatures in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by the Lender pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided further without limiting the foregoing, upon the request of the Lender, any electronic signature shall be promptly followed by such manually executed counterpart.

 

10.18      USA PATRIOT Act Notice.

 

The Lender hereby notifies the Company and the other Loan Parties that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Act”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each Loan Party, which information includes the name and address of each Loan Party and other information that will allow the Lender to identify each Loan Party in accordance with the Act.  The Company and the Loan Parties agree to, promptly following a request by the Lender, provide all such other documentation and information that the Lender requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Act.

 

10.19      Judgment Currency.

 

If, for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court, it is necessary to convert a sum due hereunder or any other Loan Document in one currency into another currency, the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Lender could purchase the first currency with such other currency on the Business Day preceding that on which final judgment is given.  The obligation of each Borrower in respect of any such sum due from it to the Lender hereunder or under the other Loan Documents shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency (the “Judgment Currency”) other than that in which such sum is denominated in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Agreement (the “Agreement Currency”), be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by the Lender of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency, the Lender may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase the Agreement Currency with the Judgment Currency.  If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to the Lender from any Borrower in the Agreement Currency, such Borrower agrees, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the Lender against

 

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such loss.  If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is greater than the sum originally due to the Lender in such currency, the Lender agrees to return the amount of any excess to such Borrower (or to any other Person who may be entitled thereto under applicable law).

 

10.20      Amendment and Restatement of Existing Credit Agreement.

 

This Agreement is amends and restates in its entirety the Existing Credit Agreement and any Indebtedness outstanding thereunder shall be deemed to be outstanding under this Agreement.  Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to be a repayment or novation of the Indebtedness, or to release or otherwise adversely affect any lien, mortgage or security interest securing such indebtedness or any rights of the Lender against any guarantor, surety or other party primarily or secondarily liable for such Indebtedness.

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

	
BORROWER:
    	
ARGAN, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ David Watson
    	
(Seal)
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
David Watson
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Chief Financial Officer
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
DESIGNATED
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
BORROWERS:
    	
SOUTHERN MARYLAND   CABLE, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ David Watson
    	
(Seal)
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
David Watson
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Vice President and   Treasurer
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
GEMMA POWER, INC.
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ David Watson
    	
(Seal)
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
David Watson
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Chief Financial Officer
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
GEMMA POWER SYSTEMS   CALIFORNIA, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ David Watson
    	
(Seal)
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
David Watson
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Chief Financial Officer
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
GEMMA POWER SYSTEMS,   LLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Daniel Martin
    	
(Seal)
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Daniel Martin
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Manager
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
GEMMA POWER HARTFORD,   LLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Daniel Martin
    	
(Seal)
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Daniel Martin
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Manager
    	
 
    
					

 

 

	
 
    	
GEMMA   PLANT OPERATIONS, LLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Daniel Martin
    	
(Seal)
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Daniel Martin
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Manager
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
ATLANTIC   PROJECTS COMPANY, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Brian Sherras
    	
(Seal)
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Brian Sherras
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
President
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
GEMMA   RENEWABLE POWER, LLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ David Watson
    	
(Seal)
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
David Watson
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Chief Financial Officer
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
TRC ACQUISITION, LLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ John Roberts
    	
(Seal)
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
John Roberts
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Manager
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
THE   ROBERTS COMPANY, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ John Roberts
    	
(Seal)
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
John Roberts
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Chief Executive Officer
    	
 
    
					

 

 

	
 
    	
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,   as Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Colleen Landau
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Colleen Landau, Vice   PresidentEXHIBIT 10.1

RALPH LAUREN CORPORATION

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made this 11th day of May, 2017 (the “Effective Date”), by and between Ralph Lauren Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), and Patrice Louvet (the “Executive”).

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and premises contained herein, the parties hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

EMPLOYMENT

1.1          Employment Term.  The Corporation hereby agrees to employ the Executive, and the Executive hereby agrees to serve the Corporation, on the terms and conditions set forth herein, and in the Executive’s term sheet, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 1 (the “Term Sheet”).  The employment of the Executive by the Corporation shall be effective as of July 10, 2017 or such other date as the parties may agree (the “Start Date”) and shall continue until terminated in accordance with Article II hereof (the “Term”).

1.2          Position and Duties.

(a)          During the Term, the Executive shall faithfully perform the duties of his employment, and shall devote to the performance of such duties his full time and attention.  During the Term, the Executive shall serve in the position of President and Chief Executive Officer and shall have such duties, authorities and responsibilities commensurate with such positions at similarly situated public companies, reporting to Mr. Ralph Lauren in his capacity as the Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) (and only for so long as Mr. Ralph Lauren serves as the Executive Chairman) and the Board.  Subject to the following sentence, all employees of the Corporation (other than the Chairman and any other mutually agreed exceptions) shall report directly or indirectly to the Executive.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as Mr. Ralph Lauren retains the title of Chief Creative Officer, Mr. Ralph Lauren may exercise final executive decision-making authority over the creative direction and brand aesthetic of the Corporation and/or exercise joint authority with Executive in hiring and firing decisions regarding the senior executives that head the Corporation’s design and marketing functions.

(b)          As soon as practicable after the Start Date, the Executive shall be appointed to the Board, and thereafter during the Term, the Corporation shall cause the Executive to be nominated for re-election to the Board each time the Executive’s term on the Board would expire.

(c)          During the Term, the Executive may engage in outside activities provided those activities do not conflict with the duties and responsibilities enumerated hereunder, and provided further that the Executive receives written approval in advance from the Corporation for any outside business activity that may require significant expenditure of the 

 

Executive’s time in which the Executive plans to become involved, whether or not such activity is pursued for profit.  The Executive shall be excused from performing any services hereunder during periods of temporary incapacity in accordance with the Corporation’s disability policy.

1.3          Place of Performance.  The Executive shall be employed at the principal offices of the Corporation located in New York, New York, except for required travel on the Corporation’s business.

1.4          Compensation and Related Matters.

(a)          Base Compensation.  In consideration of his services during the Term, the Corporation shall pay the Executive cash compensation at an annual rate of not less than one million two hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($1,250,000) (as may be increased from time to time, “Base Compensation”), less applicable withholdings.  Executive’s Base Compensation shall be subject to such increases (but not decreases) as may be approved by the Board or any committee thereof.  The Base Compensation shall be payable as current salary, in installments not less frequently than monthly, and at the same rate for any fraction of a month unexpired at the end of the Term.

(b)          Bonus.  During the Term, the Executive shall have the opportunity to earn an annual bonus in accordance with any annual bonus program that the Corporation maintains that would be applicable to the Executive and that is in accordance with the Executive’s Term Sheet.  On or shortly after the Start Date, Executive shall receive the Sign-On Bonus specified in the Term Sheet.

(c)          Stock Awards.  During the Term, the Executive shall be eligible to participate in the Ralph Lauren Corporation 2010 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan, or any successor thereto (the “Incentive Plan”).  On the Start Date, Executive shall receive the One-Time Stock Award specified in the Term Sheet.  All grants to the Executive of stock options, restricted stock units, performance share units, and any other form of equity award, if any, are governed by the terms of the Incentive Plan and are subject, in all cases, to approval by the Compensation and Organizational Development Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Compensation Committee”) in its sole discretion.  In accordance with the Executive’s Term Sheet and with the terms of the Incentive Plan, the Executive shall receive, during the Term, annual grants of equity awards that are at least equivalent to the award amounts specified in the Executive’s Term Sheet, subject to Executive’s continued employment at the time of each such grant.  Such awards shall vest in accordance with the terms of the Incentive Plan or as otherwise expressly provided in the Term Sheet.

(d)          Car Allowance.  During the Term, the Corporation shall pay for travel by Executive to or from Executive’s office pursuant to a Corporation-approved car service.  Executive shall use reasonable efforts to maintain such records as are appropriate to document time devoted to business matters during such travel.  The Company will treat such payments as imputed income and include them on Executive’s IRS Form W-2, to the extent required by applicable law.

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(e)          Expenses.  During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred by the Executive in performing services hereunder, including all reasonable expenses of travel and living while away from home, provided that such expenses are incurred and accounted for in accordance with the policies and procedures established by the Corporation.  Executive shall be entitled to use the Corporation’s aircraft for business travel, in accordance with the policies and procedures established by the Corporation.

(f)          Vacations.  During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to the number of vacation days in each fiscal year, and to compensation in respect of earned but unused vacation days, determined in accordance with the Corporation’s vacation program, which shall in no event be less than six (6) weeks per year.  The Executive shall also be entitled to all paid holidays given by the Corporation to its employees.

(g)          Other Benefits.  The Executive shall be entitled to participate in all of the Corporation’s employee benefit plans and programs in effect during the Term as would by their terms be applicable to the Executive, including, without limitation, any pension and retirement plan, supplemental pension and retirement plan, deferred compensation plan, incentive plan, stock option plan, life insurance plan, medical insurance plan, dental care plan, accidental death and disability plan, and vacation, sick leave or personal leave program.  The Corporation shall not make any changes in such plans or programs that would adversely affect the Executive’s benefits thereunder, unless such change occurs pursuant to a program applicable to other similarly situated employees of the Corporation and does not result in a proportionately greater reduction in the rights or benefits of the Executive as compared with other similarly situated employees of the Corporation. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, nothing paid to the Executive under any plan or program presently in effect or made available in the future shall be in lieu of the Base Compensation or any bonus payable under Sections 1.4(a) and 1.4(b) hereof.

ARTICLE II

TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT

2.1          Termination of Employment.  The Executive’s employment will terminate under the following circumstances:

(a)          Without Cause.  The Executive’s employment may terminate upon the Corporation notifying the Executive in writing that his services will no longer be required.

(b)          Death.  The Executive’s employment shall terminate upon the Executive’s death.

(c)          Disability.  If, as a result of the Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness, the Executive shall have been absent and unable to perform the duties hereunder on a full-time basis for an entire period of six consecutive months, the Executive’s employment may be terminated by the Corporation following such six-month period while the Executive remains disabled.

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(d)          Cause.  The Corporation may terminate the Executive’s employment for Cause.  For purposes hereof, “Cause” shall mean: (1) the willful and continued failure by the Executive to substantially perform his duties hereunder after demand for substantial performance is delivered to him by the Corporation that specifically identifies the manner in which the Corporation believes the Executive has not substantially performed his duties hereunder, (2) Executive’s conviction of, or plea of nolo contendere to, a crime (whether or not involving the Corporation) constituting any felony, (3) the willful engaging by the Executive in gross misconduct relating to the Executive’s employment that is materially injurious to the Corporation, monetarily or otherwise (including, but not limited to, conduct that constitutes competitive activity, in violation of Article III), or which subjects or if generally known would subject the Corporation to public ridicule.  For purposes of this paragraph, no act, or failure to act, on the Executive’s part shall be considered “willful” unless done, or omitted to be done, by him not in good faith and without reasonable belief that his action or omission was in the best interest of the Corporation.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive’s employment may be terminated for Cause only by act of the Board and, in any event, the Executive’s employment shall not be deemed to have been terminated for Cause without (x) reasonable written notice to the Executive setting forth the reasons for the Corporation’s intention to terminate for Cause, (y) the opportunity to cure (if curable) within 30 days of such written notice and (z) an opportunity for the Executive, together with his counsel, to be heard by the Board.

(e)          Voluntary Termination.  The Executive may voluntarily terminate the Executive’s employment with the Corporation at any time, with or without Good Reason.  For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean a termination of employment by the Executive within one (1) year following the occurrence of (A) a material diminution in or material adverse alteration to Executive’s title as Chief Executive Officer, base salary, benefits, position, or duties (for the avoidance of doubt, the exercise by Mr. Ralph Lauren of any authority pursuant to the last sentence of Section 1.2(a) shall not constitute a material diminution in, or material adverse alteration to, the Executive’s “position” or “duties” for this purpose), (B) the relocation of the Executive’s principal office outside the area which comprises a fifty (50) mile radius from New York City, (C) a failure of the Corporation to comply with any material provision of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, any breach of the Company’s obligations under Section 1.2(b), or (D) the Corporation requires the Executive to report to any person other than the current Executive Chairman or to the Board; provided, that the events described in clauses (A), (B), (C) and (D) above shall not constitute Good Reason (1) until the Executive provides written notice to the Corporation of the existence of such diminution, change, reduction, relocation or failure within ninety (90) days of its occurrence and (2) unless such diminution, change, reduction or failure (as applicable) has not been cured within thirty (30) days after written notice of such noncompliance has been given by the Executive to the Corporation.

2.2          Date of Termination.  The date of termination shall be:

(a)          if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Executive’s death, the date of the Executive’s death;

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(b)          if the Executive’s employment is terminated by reason of Executive’s disability pursuant to Section 2.1(c) or by the Corporation pursuant to Sections 2.1(a) or 2.1(d), the date specified by the Corporation; and

(c)          if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Executive, the date on which the Executive notifies the Corporation of his termination.

2.3          Effect of Termination of Employment.

(a)          Except as provided in Section 2.3(b), if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Corporation Without Cause pursuant to Section 2.1(a), or if the Executive resigns for Good Reason pursuant to Section 2.1(e), the Corporation shall pay the Executive (x) within 30 days of the date of termination, unreimbursed business expenses and accrued but unpaid Base Compensation through the date of termination, (y) when amounts are payable to other executives, any earned but unpaid annual bonus for the fiscal year prior to the fiscal year that includes the year of Executive’s termination of employment and (z) amounts or benefits due under any benefit plan, program or arrangement or payroll practice in accordance with the terms of such plan, program, arrangement or payroll practice (such amounts, including the payment timing thereof, the “Accrued Benefits”).  The Executive shall also be entitled to the following:

(i)          Severance.  Subject to Section 4.1(a) hereof, the Corporation shall, beginning with the first payroll period following the 30th day following the date of termination of Executive’s employment, continue to pay the Executive, in accordance with the Corporation’s normal payroll practice, a monthly amount equal to one-twelfth (1/12th) of 400% of his Base Compensation, as in effect immediately prior to such termination of employment, for the two-year period commencing on the date of such termination (the “Severance Period”), provided that the initial payment shall include Base Compensation amounts for all payroll periods from the date of termination through the date of such initial payment.  Under no circumstances shall the Executive be entitled to any bonus payment for the fiscal year in which his employment is terminated.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in order to receive any severance benefits under this Section 2.3(a)(i), the Executive must sign and not timely revoke a release and waiver of claims against the Corporation, its successors, affiliates, and assigns, on or prior to the 30th day following the date of termination of Executive’s employment in a form reasonably acceptable to the Corporation having terms and conditions no less favorable to Executive than generally required by the Corporation in connection with the payment of severance to similarly-situated executives and which do not require Executive to agree to any additional material conditions to the receipt of such payment not otherwise specified herein.

(ii)          Stock Awards.  The Executive’s rights with respect to any equity award grants provided to the Executive by the Corporation shall be governed by the provisions of the Corporation’s Incentive Plan and the respective award agreements, if any, under which such awards were granted, or as otherwise provided in Section 4.1(a) or in the Term Sheet.

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(iii)          Welfare Plan Coverages.  The Executive shall continue to participate during the Severance Period in any group medical, dental or life insurance plan he participated in prior to the date of his termination, under substantially similar terms and conditions as an active employee (i.e., the Corporation will continue to pay the Corporation’s portion of the costs of such participation); provided, that participation in such group medical, dental or life insurance plan shall correspondingly cease at such time as the Executive becomes eligible for a future employer’s medical, dental and/or life insurance coverage (or would become eligible if the Executive did not waive coverage).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive may not continue to participate in such plans on a pre-tax or tax-favored basis.  The amount of premiums paid by the Corporation shall be treated as taxable income to the Executive if the provision of such benefits on a non-taxable basis would subject to the Executive to tax on the benefits received under Section 105(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and the Department of Treasury Regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder (collectively, the “Code”).

(iv)          Retirement Plans.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is specifically provided that the Executive shall not accrue additional benefits under any pension plan of the Corporation (whether or not qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code) during the Severance Period.

(b)          If the Executive’s employment is terminated by reason of the Executive’s death or disability, pursuant to Section 2.1(b) or 2.1(c), the Corporation shall pay the Executive the Accrued Benefits.  In addition, the Executive shall receive a Pro Rata Actual Annual Incentive Bonus, in a lump sum when bonuses would otherwise be paid, and the treatment of any then outstanding stock awards shall be as set forth in Section 2.3(a)(ii); provided, that any then outstanding stock options shall be exercisable by the Executive (or, in the case of death, his estate) until the earlier to occur of (I) the third anniversary of the date of such termination of employment and (II) the expiration date of such option term.  For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Pro Rata Actual Annual Incentive Bonus” means the annual bonus based on actual results for the fiscal year in which the Executive’s termination occurs, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days from the first day of the fiscal year in which such termination occurs until the date of termination and the denominator of which is 365.Except as provided in this Section 2.3(b), the Corporation will have no further obligations to the Executive under this Agreement following the Executive’s termination of employment under the circumstances described in this Section 2.3(b).

(c)          If the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Corporation for Cause or by the Executive without Good Reason, the Executive shall receive only the Accrued Benefits.  In such circumstances, the Executive’s rights with respect to any stock awards provided to the Executive by the Corporation shall be governed by the provisions of the Corporation’s Incentive Plan and the respective award agreements, if any, (including, as applicable, the Term Sheet), under which such stock awards were provided.

2.4          Retirement.  Effective as of July 1st, 2022, Executive shall be treated as eligible for early retirement under the Corporation’s Incentive Plan in connection with any termination of employment, other than a termination by the Corporation for Cause or a 

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resignation by Executive without Good Reason.  Effective July 1st, 2024, Executive shall also be treated as eligible for early retirement under the Incentive Plan if he resigns without Good Reason.  The provisions: (i) governing vesting upon retirement, including early retirement, contained in any PRSUs or PSUs (or any other equity awards with performance-based or time-based vesting conditions) granted to the Executive under the Incentive Plan prior to July 1, 2022, shall be not less favorable than the retirement provisions contained in the PRSUs and PSUs granted to the Corporation’s Named Executive Officers in May or June of 2017, and (ii) regarding vesting and exercisability after retirement, including early retirement, contained in any stock options granted to the Executive under the Incentive Plan prior to July 1, 2022, shall be not less favorable than those retirement provisions contained in the stock options most recently granted to the Corporation’s Named Executive Officers prior to the date of this Agreement.  For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing shall not preclude the Corporation from changing any aspect of the performance features of any award, changing the types or absolute or relative amount of awards granted, changing any other aspect of the awards that are unrelated to retirement or making generally applicable administrative changes under the Incentive Plan that do not adversely affect in any material respect the economic value of any such awards and/or the vesting thereof.

ARTICLE III

COVENANTS OF THE EXECUTIVE

3.1          Non-Compete.

(a)          The Corporation and the Executive acknowledge that: (i) the Corporation has a special interest in and derives significant benefit from the unique skills and experience of the Executive; (ii) the Executive will use and have access to proprietary and valuable Confidential Information (as defined in Section 3.2 hereof) during the course of the Executive’s employment; and (iii) the agreements and covenants contained herein are essential to protect the business and goodwill of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, affiliates or licensees.  Accordingly, except as hereinafter noted, the Executive covenants and agrees that during the Term and for the period of one (1) year following the termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, the Executive shall not provide any labor, work, services or assistance (whether as an officer, director, employee, partner, agent, owner, independent contractor, consultant, stockholder or otherwise) to a “Competing Business.”  For purposes hereof, “Competing Business” shall mean any business engaged in the designing, marketing or distribution of premium lifestyle products, including but not limited to apparel, home, accessories and fragrance products, which competes in any material respects with the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, affiliates or licensees (in the case of licensees, to the extent related to the Corporation’s products or marks).  Executive specifically acknowledges that Executive understands that he may not become employed by any Competing Business in any capacity during the time periods in which he is restricted herein, provided that the Executive may (i) own, solely as an investment, securities of any entity which are traded on a national securities exchange if the Executive is not a controlling person of, or a member of a group that controls such entity and does not, directly or indirectly, own 2% or more of any class of securities of such entity and (ii) own and invest up to 2% of any hedge funds, private equity funds or other pooled investment vehicles so long as he is not actively involved with them.

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(b)          It is acknowledged by the Executive that the Corporation has determined to relieve the Executive from any obligation of non-competition upon the expiration of one (1) year following the termination of Executive’s employment for any reason.  In consideration of that, and in consideration of all of the compensation provisions in this Agreement (including the potential for severance payments that may be provided to the Executive), Executive agrees to the provisions of Section 3.1(a) and also agrees that the non-competition obligations imposed herein are fair and reasonable under all the circumstances.

3.2          Confidential Information.

(a)          The Corporation owns and has developed and compiled, and will own, develop and compile, certain proprietary techniques and confidential information as described below which have great value to its business (referred to in this Agreement, collectively, as “Confidential Information”).  Confidential Information includes not only information disclosed by the Corporation and/or its affiliates, subsidiaries and licensees to Executive, but also information developed or learned by Executive during the course of, or as a result of, employment hereunder, which information Executive acknowledges is and shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Corporation.  Confidential Information includes all proprietary information that has or could have commercial value or other utility in the business in which the Corporation is engaged or contemplates engaging, and all proprietary information the unauthorized disclosure of which could be detrimental to the interests of the Corporation.  Whether or not such information is specifically labeled as Confidential Information by the Corporation is not determinative.  By way of example and without limitation, Confidential Information includes any and all information developed, obtained or owned by the Corporation and/or its subsidiaries, affiliates or licensees concerning trade secrets, techniques, know-how (including designs, plans, procedures, processes and research records), software, computer programs, innovations, discoveries, improvements, research, development, test results, reports, specifications, data, formats, marketing data and plans, business plans, strategies, forecasts, unpublished financial information, orders, agreements and other forms of documents, price and cost information, merchandising opportunities, expansion plans, designs, store plans, budgets, projections, customer, supplier and subcontractor identities, characteristics and agreements, and salary, staffing and employment information.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Confidential Information shall not in any event include (A) Executive’s personal knowledge and know-how relating to merchandising and business techniques which Executive has developed over his career and of which Executive was aware prior to his employment, or (B) information which (i) was generally known or generally available to the public prior to its disclosure to Executive; (ii) becomes generally known or generally available to the public subsequent to disclosure to Executive through no wrongful act of any person or (iii) which Executive is required to disclose by applicable law or regulation (provided that, subject to Section 3.2(e), Executive provides the Corporation with prior notice of the contemplated disclosure and reasonably cooperates with the Corporation at the Corporation’s expense in seeking a protective order or other appropriate protection of such information).

(b)          Executive acknowledges and agrees that in the performance of his duties hereunder the Corporation will from time to time disclose to Executive and entrust Executive with Confidential Information.  Executive also acknowledges and agrees that the 

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unauthorized disclosure of Confidential Information, among other things, may be prejudicial to the Corporation’s interests, and an improper disclosure of trade secrets.  Executive agrees that he shall not, directly or indirectly, use, make available, sell, disclose or otherwise communicate to any corporation, partnership, individual or other third party, other than in the course of his assigned duties and for the benefit of the Corporation, any Confidential Information, either during his Term of employment or thereafter.

(c)          The Executive agrees that upon leaving the Corporation’s employ, the Executive shall not take with the Executive any software, computer programs, disks, tapes, research, development, strategies, designs, reports, study, memoranda, books, papers, plans, information, letters, e-mails, or other documents or data reflecting any Confidential Information of the Corporation, its subsidiaries, affiliates or licensees, provided that the Executive shall be permitted to retain his personal address book to the extent it only contains contact information.

(d)          During the Term, Executive shall disclose to the Corporation all designs, inventions and business strategies or plans developed for the Corporation, including without limitation any process, operation, product or improvement.  Executive agrees that all of the foregoing are and shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Corporation and that Executive shall at the Corporation’s request and cost do whatever is necessary to secure the rights thereto, by patent, copyright or otherwise, to the Corporation.

(e)          Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to prohibit Executive from reporting possible violations of law or regulation to any governmental agency or regulatory body or making other disclosures that are protected under any law or regulation, or from filing a charge with or participating in any investigation or proceeding conducted by any governmental agency or regulatory body.  Executive does not need the prior authorization of the Corporation’s legal department to make any such reports or disclosures and Executive is not required to notify the Corporation that he has made such reports or disclosures.

3.3          Non-Solicitation of Employees.  The Executive covenants and agrees that during the Term, and for a period of two (2) years following the termination of Executive’s employment for any reason whatsoever hereunder, the Executive shall not directly or indirectly solicit or influence any other employee of the Corporation, or any of its subsidiaries, affiliates or licensees, to terminate such employee’s employment with the Corporation, or any of its subsidiaries, affiliates or licensees, as the case may be, or to become employed by a Competing Business.  As used herein, “solicit” shall include, without limitation, requesting, encouraging, enticing, assisting, or causing, directly or indirectly.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 3.3 shall prohibit Executive from (i) soliciting or hiring any individual who served at any time during the Term as Executive’s personal secretary and/or assistant or (ii) following Executive’s termination from employment with the Corporation, serving solely as a reference for any employee of the Corporation, but only with regard to entities with which he is not associated.

3.4          Nondisparagement. The parties agree that during the Term and thereafter  for the period set forth in this Section 3.4 (whether or not the Executive is receiving any amounts pursuant to Sections 2.3 and 4.1), the parties shall not make any statements or comments to the press or externally that that reasonably could be considered to shed an adverse light on the 

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Executive (in the case of statements by the Corporation) or the business or reputation of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, affiliates or licensees, the Board or any officer of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, affiliates or licensees (in the case of the Executive); provided, however, the foregoing limitation shall not apply to (i) compliance with legal process or subpoena, (ii) statements in response to an inquiry from a court or regulatory body, (iii) statements permitted under Section 3.2(e) of this Agreement, (iv) following the Executive’s subsequent employment, normal competitive-type statements (in the case of the Executive, in the course of Executive’s performance of his duties to a subsequent employer) and (v) rebutting false or misleading statements made by others protected by this provision.  The obligations in this Section 3.4 shall terminate seven years after the end of the Term, except that the obligation of the Executive shall continue indefinitely as they extend to statements or comments relating to Mr. Ralph Lauren or any family member.  The obligations of the Corporation under this Section 3.4 shall be limited to the direct or indirect actions of its directors and SEC named executive officers during the period in which they are directors and/or SEC named executive officers.  For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section is intended to confer on any person, other than the parties and their permitted successors, any right, remedy or obligation.

3.5          Remedies.

(a)          If the Executive breaches, or threatens to commit a breach of, any of the provisions of this Article III, the Corporation shall have the following rights and remedies, each of which rights and remedies shall be independent of the other and severally enforceable, and all of which rights and remedies shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights and remedies available to the Corporation under law or equity:

(i)          The right and remedy to have the obligations specifically enforced by any court having equity jurisdiction, it being acknowledged and agreed that any such breach or threatened breach of such obligations in this Article III will cause irreparable injury to the Corporation and that money damages will not provide an adequate remedy to the Corporation; and

(ii)          The right to discontinue, subject to challenge by the Executive, the payment of any amounts owing to the Executive under the Agreement; provided that the Corporation shall have secured a reasoned opinion of counsel that the Executive’s activities constitute a material breach of the obligations in this Article III and which shall have been provided to the Executive, the delivery of which shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any applicable privilege.

(b)          If any court or arbitrator determines that any of the obligations in this Article III, or any part thereof, is invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of the obligations in this Article III shall not thereby be affected and shall be given full effect, without regard to the invalid portion. In addition, if any court or arbitrator construes any of the obligations in this Article III, or any part thereof, to be unenforceable because of the duration of such provision or the area covered thereby, such court shall have the power to reduce the duration or area of such provision and, in its reduced form, such provision shall then be enforceable and shall be enforced.

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3.6          The provisions of this Article III shall survive the termination of this Agreement and Executive’s Term of employment.

ARTICLE IV

CHANGE IN CONTROL

4.1          Change in Control.

(a)          Effect of a Change in Control.  Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, if the Executive’s employment is terminated within twelve (12) months following a Change in Control (as defined in Section 4.1(c) hereof) during the Term by the Corporation for any reason other than Cause, or by the Executive for Good Reason, then the payments due to the Executive under Section 2.3(a)(i) shall be adjusted as follows:

(i) If such Change in Control is within the meaning of Section 1.409A-3(a)(i)(5) of the Treasury Regulations, the Corporation shall pay the Executive the amounts under Section 2.3(a)(i) in a lump sum.

(ii)          Stock Awards.  The Executive shall immediately become vested in all unvested stock options, if any, and time-based restricted stock units granted to the Executive by the Corporation prior to the Change in Control (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the One-Time Stock Awards described in the Term Sheet) and Executive will have one (1) year from the date of termination under this circumstance to exercise all vested options (but in no event later than the expiration date of such options).  In addition, any other outstanding equity awards (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the One-Time Stock Award described in the Term Sheet) that are unvested shall be deemed vested immediately prior to such Change in Control.  Payments to the Executive with respect to any PSUs or RPSUs (or other equity awards with performance-based vesting conditions) whose vesting accelerates as described in this Section 4.1(a)(ii) will be calculated as if any applicable performance goals had been achieved at the specified target level and made as per the terms of the Incentive Plan but in no event later than thirty (30) days after the applicable vesting date.  (This Section 4.1(a)(ii) also shall apply if Executive is terminated by the Corporation Without Cause pursuant to Section 2.1(a), in contemplation of a Change in Control and the Change in Control actually occurs.)

(b)          Section 280G.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, (A) in the event the Corporation (or its successor) and the Executive both determine, based upon the advice of the independent public accountants for the Corporation, that part or all of the consideration, compensation or benefits to be paid to the Executive under this Agreement constitute “parachute payments” under Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code, then, if the aggregate present value of such parachute payments, singularly or together with the aggregate present value of any consideration, compensation or benefits to be paid to the Executive under any other plan, arrangement or agreement which constitute “parachute payments” (collectively, the “Parachute Amount”) exceeds 2.99 times the Executive’s “base amount”, as defined in Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code (the “Executive Base Amount”), the amounts constituting “parachute payments” which would otherwise be payable to or for the benefit of the Executive shall be reduced to the extent necessary so that the Parachute Amount is equal to 2.99 times the Executive Base Amount (the 

11

“Reduced Amount”); provided that such amounts shall not be so reduced if the Executive determines, based upon the advice of an independent nationally recognized public accounting firm (which may, but need not be, the independent public accountants of the Corporation), that without such reduction the Executive would be entitled to receive and retain, on a net after tax basis (including, without limitation, any excise taxes payable under Section 4999 of the Code), an amount which is greater than the amount, on a net after tax basis, that the Executive would be entitled to retain upon his receipt of the Reduced Amount.

(B)          In the case of a reduction in the Parachute Amount pursuant to Section 4.1(b), the Parachute Amount shall be reduced in the following order: (i) payments that are payable in cash that are valued at full value under Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G-1, Q&A 24(a) will be reduced (if necessary, to zero), with amounts that are payable last reduced first; (ii) payments and benefits due in respect of any equity valued at full value under Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G-1, Q&A 24(a), with the highest values reduced first (as such values are determined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G-1, Q&A 24) will next be reduced; (iii) payments that are payable in cash that are valued at less than full value under Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G-1, Q&A 24, with amounts that are payable last reduced first, will next be reduced; (iv) payments and benefits due in respect of any equity valued at less than full value under Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G-1, Q&A 24, with the highest values reduced first (as such values are determined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G-1, Q&A 24) will next be reduced; and (v) all other non-cash benefits not otherwise described in clauses (ii) or (iv) will be next reduced pro-rata.  Within ten days following such determination hereunder, the Corporation shall pay or distribute to or for the benefit of the Executive such amounts as are then due to the Executive under this Agreement and shall promptly pay or distribute to or for the benefit of the Executive such amounts as become due to the Executive under, and in accordance with the terms of, this Agreement.

(C)          As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Section 280G of the Code at the time of a determination hereunder, it is possible that payments will be made by the Corporation which should not have been made under clause (A) of this Section 4.1(b) (“Overpayment”) or that additional payments which are not made by the Corporation pursuant to clause (A) of this Section 4.1(b) should have been made (“Underpayment”).  In the event that there is a final determination by the Internal Revenue Service, a final determination by a court of competent jurisdiction or a change in the provisions of the Code or regulations pursuant to which an Overpayment arises, any such Overpayment shall be treated for all purposes as a loan to the Executive which the Executive shall repay to the Corporation together with interest at the applicable Federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2) of the Code.  In the event that there is a final determination by the Internal Revenue Service, a final determination by a court of competent jurisdiction or a change in the provisions of the Code or regulations pursuant to which an Underpayment arises under this Agreement, any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the Corporation to or for the benefit of the Executive, together with interest at the applicable Federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2) of the Code, but in no event later than the Executive’s taxable year following the year in which such final determination or change is made.

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(c)          Definition.  For purposes hereof, a “Change in Control” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following:

(i)          the sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation to any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”)) other than Permitted Holders;

(ii)          any person or group is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Act, except that a person shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all shares that any such person has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of more than 50 percent of the total voting power of the voting stock of the Corporation, including by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise; provided, however, that for purposes of this Agreement, the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (I) any acquisition by the Corporation or any Affiliate, (II) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained by the Corporation or any Affiliate, (III) any acquisition by one or more of the Permitted Holders, or (IV) any acquisition which complies with clauses (A), (B) and (C) of subsection (v) below;

(iii)          during any period of twelve (12) consecutive months, Present and/or New Directors cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board;

(iv)          the Permitted Holders’ beneficial ownership of the total voting power of the voting stock of the Corporation falls below 30 percent and either Ralph Lauren is not nominated for a position on the Board of Directors, or he stands for election to the Board of Directors and is not elected;

(v)          the consummation of a reorganization, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar form of corporate transaction involving the Corporation that requires the approval of the Corporation’s stockholders, whether for such transaction or the issuance of securities in the transaction (a “Business Combination”), unless immediately following such Business Combination: (A) more than 50% of the total voting power of (x) the entity resulting from such Business Combination (the “Surviving Company”), or (y) if applicable, the ultimate parent entity that directly or indirectly has beneficial ownership of sufficient voting securities eligible to elect a majority of the members of the board of directors (or the analogous governing body) of the Surviving Company (the “Parent Company”), is represented by the shares of voting stock of the Corporation that were outstanding immediately prior to such Business Combination (or, if applicable, is represented by shares into which the shares of voting stock of the Corporation were converted pursuant to such Business Combination), and such voting power among the holders thereof is in substantially the same proportion as the voting power was among the holders of the shares of voting stock of the Corporation that were outstanding immediately prior to the Business Combination, (B) no person (other than any employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained by the Surviving Company or the Parent Company, or one or more Permitted Holders), is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 50% or more of the total voting power of the outstanding voting securities 

13

eligible to elect members of the board of directors of the Parent Company (or the analogous governing body) (or, if there is no Parent Company, the Surviving Company) and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors (or the analogous governing body) of the Parent Company (or, if there is no Parent Company, the Surviving Company) following the consummation of the Business Combination were Board members at the time of the Board’s approval of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such Business Combination; or

(vi)          the stockholders of the Corporation approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation.

For purposes of this Section 4.1(c), the following terms have the meanings indicated: “Permitted Holders” shall mean, as of the date of determination: (A) any and all of Ralph Lauren, his spouse, his siblings and their spouses, and descendants of them (whether natural or adopted) (collectively, the “Lauren Group”); and (B) any trust established and maintained primarily for the benefit of any member of the Lauren Group and any entity controlled by any member of the Lauren Group.  “Present Directors” shall mean individuals who at the beginning of any one year period were members of the Board.  “New Directors” shall mean any directors whose election by the Board or whose nomination for election by the shareholders of the Corporation was approved by a vote of a majority of the directors of the Corporation who, at the time of such vote, were either Present Directors or New Directors but excluding any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs solely as a result of an actual or threatened proxy contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a person other than the Board.

ARTICLE V

MISCELLANEOUS

5.1          Notice.  For the purposes of this Agreement, notices, demands and all other communications provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered by hand or by facsimile or mailed by United States registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

		If to the Executive:	at the last address on the books of the Corporation

		If to the Corporation:	Ralph Lauren Corporation

625 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10022

Attn:  General Counsel

Fax: (212) 705-8386

or to such other address as any party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.

5.2          Modification or Waiver; Entire Agreement; End of Term.  No provision of this Agreement may be modified or waived except in a document signed by the Executive and the Corporation.  This Agreement, along with the Term Sheet and any other documents 

14

incorporated herein by reference, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties regarding their employment relationship and supersedes all prior agreements, promises, covenants, representations or warranties.  To the extent that this Agreement is in any way inconsistent with any prior or contemporaneous stock award agreements between the parties, this Agreement shall control.  No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either party that are not set forth expressly in this Agreement.

5.3          Governing Law.  The validity, interpretation, construction, performance, and enforcement of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York without reference to New York’s choice of law rules.

5.4          Arbitration.  The Corporation and the Executive mutually agree that any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the breach thereof, or any other dispute between the parties arising from or related to Executive’s employment with the Corporation, shall be submitted to mediation before a mutually agreeable mediator.  In the event mediation is unsuccessful in resolving the claim or controversy, such claim or controversy shall be resolved by arbitration.  The Corporation and Executive agree that arbitration shall be held in New York, New York, before a mutually agreed upon single arbitrator licensed to practice law.  The arbitrator shall have authority to award or grant legal, equitable, and declaratory relief.  Such arbitration shall be final and binding on the parties and fees for any arbitration shall be paid by the losing party.  If the parties are unable to agree on an arbitrator, the matter may be submitted to JAMS Dispute Resolution solely for appointment of an arbitrator.  Any fees for mediation shall be split between the parties.  The provisions of this Section 5.4 shall not apply to any action by the Corporation seeking relief under Article III of this Agreement.

5.5          No Mitigation or Offset.  In the event the Executive’s employment with the Corporation terminates for any reason, the Executive shall not be obligated to seek other employment following such termination and there shall be no offset of the payments or benefits set forth herein.

5.6          Withholding.  All payments required to be made by the Corporation hereunder to the Executive or the Executive’s estate or beneficiaries shall be subject to the withholding of such amounts as the Corporation may reasonably determine it should withhold pursuant to any applicable law.

5.7          Attorney’s Fees.  Each party shall bear its own attorney’s fees and costs incurred in any action or dispute arising out of this Agreement and/or the employment relationship.  The Corporation shall pay or reimburse the Executive for his reasonable legal and other professional advisor fees incurred in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement (up to $75,000).

5.8          No Conflict.  Executive represents and warrants that, except as disclosed in writing to the Corporation before the Effective Date, he is not party to any agreement, contract, understanding, covenant, judgment or decree or under any obligation, contractual or otherwise, with any other party that in any way restricts or adversely affects his ability to act for the Corporation in all of the respects contemplated hereby, including but not limited to any 

15

obligations to comply with any non-compete or non-solicitation provisions.  Executive represents and warrants that he has not disclosed, will not disclose, and has no intention of disclosing any trade secrets or any confidential and/or proprietary business information of any other company to the Corporation or to any individual employed by or associated with the Corporation, nor has he used or will he use any such information for the Corporation’s or his benefit.

5.9          Enforceability.  Each of the covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement are separate and independent covenants, each of which has been separately bargained for and the parties hereto intend that the provisions of each such covenant shall be enforced to the fullest extent permissible.  Should the whole or any part or provision of any such separate covenant be held or declared invalid, such invalidity shall not in any way affect the validity of any other such covenant or of any part or provision of the same covenant not also held or declared invalid.  If any covenant shall be found to be invalid but would be valid if some part thereof were deleted or the period or area of application reduced, then such covenant shall apply with such minimum modification as may be necessary to make it valid and effective.  The failure of either party at any time to require performance by the other party of any provision hereunder will in no way affect the right of that party thereafter to enforce the same, nor will it affect any other party’s right to enforce the same, or to enforce any of the other provisions in this Agreement; nor will the waiver by either party of the breach of any provision hereof be taken or held to be a waiver of any prior or subsequent breach of such provision or as a waiver of the provision itself.

5.10        Miscellaneous.  No right or interest to, or in, any payments shall be assignable by the Executive; provided, however, that this provision shall not preclude the Executive from designating in writing one or more beneficiaries to receive any amount that may be payable after the Executive’s death and shall not preclude the legal representative of the Executive’s estate from assigning any right hereunder to the person or persons entitled thereto.  If the Executive should die while any amounts would still be payable to the Executive hereunder, all such amounts shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to the Executive’s written designee or, if there be no such designee, to the Executive’s estate.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, the Executive, the Executive’s heirs and legal representatives and the Corporation and its successors.  The Corporation may only assign this Agreement to any person or entity acquiring all or substantially all of the Corporation’s business or assets (or similar transaction) and only so long as such person or entity agrees in writing to assume this Agreement.  The section headings shall not be taken into account for purposes of the construction of any provision of this Agreement.

5.11        Meaning of Signing This Agreement.  By signing this Agreement, Executive expressly acknowledges and agrees that (a) he has carefully read it and fully understands what it means; (b) he has been advised in writing to discuss this Agreement with an independent attorney of his own choosing before signing it and has had a reasonable opportunity to confer with his attorney and has discussed and reviewed this Agreement with his attorney prior to executing it and delivering it to the Corporation; (c) he has had answered to his satisfaction any questions he has with regard to the meaning and significance of any of the provisions of this Agreement; and (d) he has agreed to this Agreement knowingly and voluntarily 

16

of his own free will and was not subjected to any undue influence or duress, and assents to all the terms and conditions contained herein with the intent to be bound hereby.

5.12        Indemnification; D&O Insurance.  To the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, the Corporation will indemnify the Executive and hold the Executive harmless against all losses, claims, expenses or other liabilities arising by reason of the fact that the Executive is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation.  The Executive is entitled to indemnification and advancement of costs to the extent permitted by the by-laws and charter of the Corporation as in effect on the Effective Date, or if greater, as amended thereafter.  The Corporation shall provide the Executive with director’s and officer’s indemnification insurance coverage in an amount and scope equal to that of the Corporation’s other officers and directors both during the Term and after termination of the Executive’s employment for so long as liability may exist.

5.13        Compliance with Section 409A.

(a)          The parties acknowledge and agree that, to the extent applicable, this Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with, and the parties agree to use their best efforts to achieve timely compliance with, or exemption from, Section 409A of the Code (“Section 409A”).  Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that the Corporation determines that any compensation or benefits payable or provided hereunder may be subject to Section 409A, the Corporation reserves the right (without any obligation to do so or to indemnify the Executive for failure to do so), after consulting with and securing the approval of the Executive (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), to adopt such limited amendments to this Agreement and appropriate policies and procedures, including amendments and policies with retroactive effect, that the Corporation reasonably determines are necessary or appropriate to (i) exempt the compensation and benefits payable under this Agreement from Section 409A and/or preserve the intended tax treatment of the compensation and benefits provided with respect to this Agreement or (ii) comply with the requirements of Section 409A.

(b)          Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, no amounts that become payable under this Agreement on account of the Executive’s termination of employment shall be payable unless the Executive’s termination of employment constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 1.409A-1(h) of the Department of Treasury Regulations.  If the Executive is determined to be a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, then any amount that becomes payable under this Agreement on account of the Executive’s “separation from service” (the “Severance Payment”) shall not be paid to the Executive until the first business day following the expiration of the six (6) month period immediately following the Executive’s “separation from service” (or if earlier, the date of the Executive’s death), but rather, all such payments shall be made on the date that is five business days after the expiration of that six month period, if and to the extent that the Severance Payment constitutes deferred compensation (or may be nonqualified deferred compensation, as mutually agreed by the Corporation and the Executive, such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed by the Executive) under Section 409A

17

of the Code and such deferral is required to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.  For the avoidance of doubt, no portion of the Severance Payment shall be delayed for six (6) months after the Executive’s “separation from service” if such portion (x) constitutes a “short term deferral” within the meaning of Section 1.409A-1(a)(4) of the Department of Treasury Regulations, or (y) (A) it is being paid due to the Corporation’s termination of the Executive’s employment without Cause or the Executive’s termination of employment for Good Reason; (B) it does not exceed two times the lesser of (1) the Executive’s annualized compensation from the Corporation for the calendar year prior to the calendar year in which the termination of the Executive’s employment occurs, or (2) the maximum amount that may be taken into account under a qualified plan pursuant to Section 401(a)(17) of the Code for the year in which the Executive’s employment terminates; and (C) the payment is required under this Agreement to be paid no later than the last day of the second calendar year following the calendar year in which the Executive incurs a “separation from service”.  For purposes of Section 409A of the Code, the Executive’s right to receive installment payments under this Agreement shall be treated as a right to receive a series of separate and distinct payments.  To the extent that any reimbursement of any expense under Section 1.4(e) or in-kind benefits provided under this Agreement are deemed to constitute taxable compensation to the Executive, such amounts will be reimbursed or provided no later than December 31 of the year following the year in which the expense was incurred.  The amount of any such expenses reimbursed or in-kind benefits provided in one year shall not affect the expenses or in-kind benefits eligible for reimbursement or payment in any subsequent year, and the Executive’s right to such reimbursement or payment of any such expenses will not be subject to liquidation or exchange for any other benefit.  The determination of whether the Executive is a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A as of the time of the Executive’s separation from service shall made by the Corporation in accordance with the terms of Section 409A.

 

 

18

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement effective as of the date and year first above written.

RALPH LAUREN CORPORATION

	/s/ Ralph Lauren	 	 /s/ Patrice Louvet	 
	
By:  Ralph Lauren

Title: Chief Creative Officer & Executive Chairman

 

	 	
PATRICE LOUVET

	 
	
Date: 5/13/17                                                   

	 	
Date: 5/13/17                            

	 

 

 

 

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Exhibit 1

Term Sheet

Patrice Louvet

	
Title:

	
President and Chief Executive Officer

	 	  
	
Start Date:

	
July 10, 2017 or such other date the parties may agree

	 	  
	
Reports to:

	
The Board of Directors

 

and

 

Ralph Lauren, Executive Chairman and Chief Creative Officer (but only for so long as he remains in the position of Executive Chairman)

	 	  
	
Base Salary:

	
$1,250,000 annually less all applicable taxes and other deductions.

	 	  
	
Executive 

Incentive Plan:

	
Eligible to participate in the Executive Officer Annual Incentive Plan (EOAIP). For Fiscal 2018, which began April 2, 2017, the bonus will be prorated based on the Start Date.

 

Bonus

	 	—	Under the EOAIP, eligible for a bonus opportunity with a target of 300% of fiscal year salary earnings.
	 	—	Total bonus opportunity will be based 100% on total Company performance.
	 	—	Calculation can flex up or down by -10% to +10% based on achievement of expense management (strategic) goals.
	 	—	The maximum bonus payable (including strategic goal adjustment) is capped at 450% of fiscal year salary earnings.
	 	 	 
	 	
(At all times the bonus opportunity will be governed by the terms of the Company’s EOAIP and nothing contained herein restricts the Company’s rights to alter, amend or terminate the EOAIP at any time.  Any reduction in the eligible opportunity to receive the bonus target percentage and/or the maximum percentage will nevertheless constitute Good Reason under Section 2.1(e)(A) of this Agreement)

	 	  
	
Annual Equity Award:

	
Beginning Fiscal 2018, target equity value of $7,500,000 to be granted annually at the same time as annual awards to other executives, normally in May but may be earlier or later, and under terms of the Ralph Lauren Corporation 2010 Long-

	 	 

 

 

20

 

 

	 	
Term Stock Incentive Plan, or any successor thereto (the “Plan”),  as approved each year by the Compensation and Organizational Development Committee of the Ralph Lauren Corporation Board of Directors (“Compensation Committee”), including grant structure, type of awards, conversion of value to actual number of shares, and other applicable factors as determined by the Committee in its discretion.

 

For Fiscal 2018 only, the award will be granted on the Start Date, and the performance criteria will be based on cumulative operating margin, as determined by the Compensation Committee by no later than June 30, 2017, for a three year performance period consisting of Fiscal Years 2018, 2019, and 2020, such award to vest and be paid out as soon as practicable and in accordance with the Company’s normal process after the results for the performance period are certified by the Compensation Committee.

	 	 
	
One-Time Sign-On 

Awards:

	
One-time cash sign-on bonus of $3,384,888 (“Sign-On Bonus”) to be paid within thirty (30) days following the Start Date.  If Executive terminates his employment other than for “Good Reason” (as defined in the Employment Agreement), or if the Company terminates his employment for “Cause,” (as defined in the Employment Agreement), in either case within 12 months of the Start Date, then Executive shall repay the Sign-On Bonus to the Company within 30 days of the date of termination of Executive’s employment.  If Executive does not repay the Sign-On Bonus within this time period, the Company has the right to immediately recover the Sign-On Bonus from him, as well as any attorneys’ fees and other costs incurred in recovering the Sign-On Bonus.

 

On the Start Date, Executive will receive a one-time stock award (“One-Time Stock Award”) with a value of approximately $9,193,000, to be granted as follows and with the following conditions:

 

	 	 	(1)	
$3,366,000 in the form of adjusted performance-based restricted stock units (“APRSUs”).

 

The APRSUs will be eligible to vest in three equal installments with each vesting date during May or June of 2018, 2019 and 2020, subject to the achievement of 50% of the same target one-year performance goal established by the Compensation Committee for Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units (“PRSUs”) granted to the Company’s other Named Executive Officers in May or June of 2017 (the “50% Threshold”), as well as to continued service to each vesting date (except as otherwise 

 

 

21

	 	 		
provided below).  If the 50% Threshold is not achieved in Fiscal Year 2018, the APRSUs will still be eligible to vest in two equal installments (subject to continued service), in May or June of 2019 and 2020 if the 50% Threshold is achieved in Fiscal Year 2019.  If the 50% Threshold is still not achieved in Fiscal Year 2019, the APRSUs will still be eligible to vest in one installment (subject to continued service), in May or June of 2020 if the 50% Threshold is achieved in Fiscal Year 2020.  If the 50% Threshold is not achieved in Fiscal Years 2018, 2019 and 2020, the APRSUs will be forfeited.  In all circumstances, vested shares shall be settled as soon as practicable, but not more than 30 days after the vesting date.

	 	 	 	 
	 	 	(2)	
$3,227,000, in the form of Performance Shares.

 

The performance criteria for the Performance Shares will be based on cumulative operating margin, as determined by the Compensation Committee by no later than June 30, 2017, for a three year performance period consisting of Fiscal Years 2018, 2019, and 2020, such award to vest and be paid out as soon as practicable and in accordance with the Company’s normal process after the results for the performance period are certified by the Compensation Committee.

	 	 	 	 
	 	 	(3)	
$2,600,000 in the form of time-based cliff restricted stock units (“Cliff Restricted Stock Units”).

 

The Cliff Restricted Stock Units will be eligible to vest in one installment on the five-year anniversary date of the grant in 2022 subject to continued service to the vesting date (except as otherwise set forth below), and such vested shares shall be settled as soon as practicable but not more than 30 days after the vesting date.

 

The One-Time Stock Award will become fully vested (but remain subject to the achievement of the performance objectives with regard to the portion of the One-Time Stock Award granted in APRSUs and Performance Shares) in the event Executive’s employment terminates at any time following the Start Date due to his death or Disability, or is terminated by Executive for Good Reason, or by the Company without Cause.  The One-Time Stock Award will be governed by the terms of the Plan and shall be granted on the Start Date.

 

 

22

 

	
Financial 

Counseling:

	
Executive will be eligible for one-on-one financial counseling.  Executive may choose the person or entity providing this service.  The annual fee is paid by the Company but will be treated as imputed income to Executive.

	 	  
	
Executive 

Physical:

	Executive will be eligible for an annual executive physical.
	 	 
	
Education 

Assistance:

	
Executive will receive an allowance of $30,000 total annually (paid bi-weekly) less all applicable deductions for his current school-aged children to attend school (pre-college only).

	 	  
	
COBRA 

Reimbursement:

	
Executive will be reimbursed for his actual out-of-pocket costs of COBRA coverage from the time his medical coverage ends at his prior employer until the time he is covered by the Company’s medical plan.

	 	  
	
Stock Ownership

Guidelines:

	
Executive will be subject to the Company’s stock ownership guidelines as directed by the Compensation Committee.

23

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