Document:

Exhibit 10.2

 

[ Use for Incentive Stock Option or Nonstatutory Stock Option ]

 

STERLING BANCORP, INC.

2017 OMNIBUS EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

NOTICE OF GRANT OF

STOCK OPTION AND

STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

 

You have been granted an option to purchase Common Stock of the Corporation, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement, as follows:

 

	
Optionee:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Grant Date:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Number of Shares:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Expiration Date:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Exercise Price Per   Share:
    	
$
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Type of Option:
    	
Incentive Stock Option /   Nonstatutory Stock Option
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Vesting Schedule:
    	
See Paragraph 2
    

 

This STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT is executed and delivered in duplicate, as of the       day of            , 201   by and between Sterling Bancorp, Inc., a Michigan corporation (the “Corporation”), and the employee named above (the “Optionee”).

 

In consideration of the mutual covenants of the parties set forth below, the parties agree as follows:

 

1.                                      Grant of Option.  The Corporation, pursuant to the Sterling Bancorp, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time (the “Plan”), and subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, grants to the Optionee an [Incentive] [Nonstatutory] Stock Option (the “Option”) to purchase the above-designated number of shares of Common Stock of the Corporation at the exercise price per share designated above.  The number of shares and exercise price per share of the Option shall be proportionately adjusted in the event the Corporation changes the number of shares of its outstanding Common Stock by reason of a stock dividend or stock split issued to shareholders, and is otherwise subject to adjustment as provided in the Plan.

 

 

2.                                      Exercisability of Option.  The Option shall become first exercisable in accordance with the Vesting Schedule below, and shall in no event be exercisable after the close of business on the above-designated Expiration Date.  Further, the Committee may in its discretion, at any time accelerate the vesting of the Option on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate.

 

	
Completed Years of
   Employment/Service
   From Date of Grant
    	
 
    	
Cumulative
   Vesting Percentage
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
1
    	
 
    	
[  ]
    	
%
    
	
2
    	
 
    	
[  ]
    	
%
    
	
3
    	
 
    	
[  ]
    	
%
    
	
4 Years or more
    	
 
    	
[  ]
    	
%
    

 

3.                                      Time to Exercise Option.

 

(a)                                 General.  If Optionee ceases to be an Employee or a Consultant terminates Service for any reason other than Optionee’s death, Disability or termination for Cause, Optionee may exercise the Option in accordance with its terms for a period of three months after such termination of employment, but only to the extent Optionee was entitled to exercise the Option on the date of termination.

 

(b)                                 Death.  If Optionee dies while an Employee or Consultant, the Option shall be automatically 100% vested and shall be exercisable in accordance with its terms by the personal representative of Optionee or other successor to the interest of Optionee for one year after Optionee’s death, but not beyond the Expiration Date of the Option.  If Optionee dies after the termination of employment or termination of Service other than for Cause but during the time when Optionee could have exercised the Option, the Option shall be exercisable in accordance with its terms by the personal representative of Optionee or other successor to the interest of Optionee for one year after Optionee’s death, but only to the extent that Optionee was entitled to exercise the Option on the date of death or termination of Service, whichever first occurred, and not beyond the Expiration Date of the Option.

 

(c)                                  Disability.  If Optionee ceases to be an Employee or Consultant of the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries due to Optionee’s Disability, the Option shall be automatically 100% vested and Optionee may exercise the Option in accordance with its terms for one year following such termination of Service, but not beyond the Expiration Date of the Option.

 

(d)                                 Termination for Cause.  If Optionee’s Service is terminated for Cause, Optionee shall have no further right to exercise this Option and all of Optionee’s outstanding Options shall automatically be forfeited and returned to the Corporation.  The Committee or officers designated by the Committee shall have absolute discretion to determine whether a termination is for Cause.

 

2

 

4.                                      Method of Exercise.  Optionee, from time to time during the period when the Option may by its terms be exercised, may exercise the Option in whole or in part by delivering to the Corporation:

 

(a)                                 A written notice signed by Optionee in substantially the form attached as Exhibit A stating the number of shares that Optionee has elected to purchase at that time from the Corporation; and

 

(b)                                 Cash, a check, bank draft, money order or wire of funds payable to the Corporation in an amount equal to the purchase price of the shares then to be purchased; or

 

(c)                                  Through the delivery of shares of Common Stock of the Corporation owned by Optionee for more than six months with a Fair Market Value equal to the exercise price, provided, however, that shares of Common Stock acquired by Optionee through the exercise of an incentive stock option may not be used for payment prior to the expiration of holding periods prescribed by the Internal Revenue Code; or

 

(d)                                 Consideration received by the Corporation under a cashless exercise program implemented by the Corporation in connection with the Plan; or

 

(e)                                  By a combination of any one or more of (b), (c) and (d) above aggregating the purchase price of the shares then to be purchased.

 

The value of the shares of the Common Stock delivered to Optionee shall be the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock as defined in Section 2.19 of the Plan.  If the Committee deems it necessary or desirable for any reason connected with any law or regulation of any governmental authority relating to the regulation of securities, the Committee may require Optionee to execute and file with it such evidence as it may deem necessary that Optionee is acquiring such shares for investment and not with a view to their distribution.

 

5.                                      Non-Transferability of Option.  The Option shall, during the lifetime of Optionee, be exercisable only by Optionee in accordance with the terms of the Plan and shall not be assignable or transferable except by Will or by the laws of descent and distribution.

 

6.                                      Change in Control.  The Option is subject to the accelerated vesting in the discretion of the Committee upon a Change in Control in accordance with Section 6 of the Plan.

 

7.                                      Notices.  Any notice by Optionee to the Corporation under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given only upon receipt of the notice by the Corporation at its principal executive offices addressed to its Secretary or Chief Financial Officer.  Any notice by the Corporation to Optionee shall be in writing or by electronic transmission and shall be deemed duly given if mailed or sent by electronic

 

3

 

transmission to Optionee at the address specified below by Optionee, or to Optionee’s email address at the Corporation, or to such other address as Optionee may later designate by notice given to the Corporation.

 

8.                                      Acceptance of the Terms and Conditions of the Plan.  The Option and this Agreement are subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.  The Plan is incorporated in this Agreement by reference and all capitalized terms used in this Agreement have the meaning set forth in the Plan, unless this Agreement specifies a different meaning.  By signing this Agreement, Optionee accepts the Option, acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and the prospectus covering the Plan and acknowledges that the Option is subject to all the terms and provisions of the Plan and this Agreement.  Optionee further agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions and interpretations by the Committee upon any questions arising under the Plan.

 

9.                                      Continued Employment.  Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to create any employment or guaranty of continued employment or limit in any way the Corporation’s right to terminate Optionee’s employment at any time.

 

10.                               Early Disposition of Stock — Incentive Stock Options.  Optionee understands that if Optionee disposes of any shares of Common Stock received under an Incentive Stock Option within two years after the date of grant or within one year after such shares of Common Stock were transferred to Optionee, Optionee may be treated for federal and state income tax purposes as having received ordinary income at the time of such disposition as determined in accordance with the Internal Revenue Code and applicable state law.  Optionee agrees to notify the Corporation in writing within thirty days after the date of any such disposition.  Optionee authorizes the Corporation to withhold tax from Optionee’s current compensation with respect to any income recognized as a result of any such disposition.

 

11.                               Governing Law.  The validity, construction and effect of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Michigan.

 

[Signatures on following page]

 

4

 

The Corporation has caused this Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized officer, and Optionee has executed this Agreement, as of the Grant Date.

 

 

	
 
    	
STERLING BANCORP, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Its:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
OPTIONEE
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Optionee acknowledges   having received, read and understood the Plan and this Agreement, and agrees   to all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
(Signature)
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
(Please print your   residence address)
    

 

5

 

Exhibit A

 

NOTICE OF EXERCISE OF

STOCK OPTION

 

The undersigned hereby gives notice to Sterling Bancorp, Inc. (the “Corporation”) of the desire to purchase shares of Common Stock of the Corporation pursuant to the Sterling Bancorp, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan.

 

1.                                      Exercise of Option.

 

	
Name:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Date:
    	
 
    	
 
    

 

Shares to be Exercised:                  Incentive Stock Options / Nonstatutory Stock Options

 

Per-Share Exercise Price:  $

 

Aggregate Exercise Price:  $            (for all shares being purchased)

 

2.                                      Delivery of Payment.  Indicate below how the full option exercise price for the shares is to be paid:

 

o                                    Cash in the form of check, bank draft, money order, or wire of funds payable to “Sterling Bancorp, Inc.”

 

o                                    By surrender to the Corporation of shares of Common Stock owned and held for more than six months with a value of $         represented by certificate number(s):

 

o                                    Pursuant to a cashless exercise program implemented by the Corporation

 

o                                    A combination of the above (please provide details, for example, describe the number of shares to be purchased with cash and the number of shares to be purchased with previously owned shares of Common Stock):

 

	
 
    	
 
    
	
Signature
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Dated:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Address:sfm-ex101_150.htm

Exhibit 10.1

EXECUTION COPY

	

	
AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

dated as of

March 27, 2018

among

SPROUTS FARMERS MARKET, INC., as Holdings

 

SPROUTS FARMERS MARKETS HOLDINGS, LLC,
as the Borrower

The Lenders Party Hereto

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
as Administrative Agent

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. 
as Syndication Agent

and

BMO HARRIS BANK N.A., COÖPERATIEVE CENTRALE RAIFFEISEN – BOERENLEENBANK, B.A. “RABOBANK NEDERLAND,” NEW YORK BRANCH, WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., and SUNTRUST BANK
as Documentation Agents

	

	
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. and MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED
as Joint Bookrunners and Joint Lead Arrangers

 

 

Table of Contents

	
 
	
Page

	
 
	
 

	
ARTICLE I Definitions
	
1

	
SECTION 1.01.
	
Defined Terms
	
1

	
SECTION 1.02.
	
Classification of Loans and Borrowings
	
38

	
SECTION 1.03.
	
Terms Generally
	
38

	
SECTION 1.04.
	
Accounting Terms; GAAP
	
39

	
SECTION 1.05.
	
Currency Equivalents
	
39

	
SECTION 1.06.
	
Status of Obligations
	
39

	
SECTION 1.07.
	
Interest Rates
	
40

	
SECTION 1.08.
	
Amendment and Restatement of Existing Credit Agreement
	
40

	
ARTICLE II The Credits
	
41

	
SECTION 2.01.
	
Commitments
	
41

	
SECTION 2.02.
	
Loans and Borrowings
	
41

	
SECTION 2.03.
	
Requests for Revolving Borrowings
	
41

	
SECTION 2.04.
	
Intentionally Omitted
	
42

	
SECTION 2.05.
	
Swingline Loans
	
42

	
SECTION 2.06.
	
Letters of Credit
	
43

	
SECTION 2.07.
	
Funding of Borrowings
	
48

	
SECTION 2.08.
	
Interest Elections
	
48

	
SECTION 2.09.
	
Termination and Reduction of Commitments
	
49

	
SECTION 2.10.
	
Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt
	
50

	
SECTION 2.11.
	
Prepayment of Loans
	
51

	
SECTION 2.12.
	
Fees
	
51

	
SECTION 2.13.
	
Interest
	
52

	
SECTION 2.14.
	
Alternate Rate of Interest
	
53

	
SECTION 2.15.
	
Increased Costs
	
54

	
SECTION 2.16.
	
Break Funding Payments
	
55

	
SECTION 2.17.
	
Taxes
	
55

	
SECTION 2.18.
	
Payments Generally; Allocations of Proceeds; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs
	
59

	
SECTION 2.19.
	
Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders
	
61

	
SECTION 2.20.
	
Expansion Option
	
61

	
SECTION 2.21.
	
Defaulting Lenders
	
63

	
SECTION 2.22.
	
Extension of Maturity Date
	
65

	
ARTICLE III Representations and Warranties
	
67

	
SECTION 3.01.
	
Organization; Powers
	
67

	
SECTION 3.02.
	
Authorization
	
67

	
SECTION 3.03.
	
Enforceability
	
68

	
SECTION 3.04.
	
Governmental Approvals
	
68

	
SECTION 3.05.
	
Financial Statements
	
68

	
SECTION 3.06.
	
No Material Adverse Effect
	
68

	
SECTION 3.07.
	
Title to Properties; Possession Under Leases
	
69

	
SECTION 3.08.
	
Subsidiaries
	
69

	
SECTION 3.09.
	
Litigation; Compliance with Laws
	
69

	
SECTION 3.10.
	
Federal Reserve Regulations
	
70

i

Table of Contents
(continued)

	
 
	
Page

	
 
	
 

	
SECTION 3.11.
	
Investment Company Act
	
70

	
SECTION 3.12.
	
Use of Proceeds
	
70

	
SECTION 3.13.
	
Tax Returns
	
70

	
SECTION 3.14.
	
No Material Misstatements
	
71

	
SECTION 3.15.
	
Employee Benefit Plans
	
71

	
SECTION 3.16.
	
Environmental Matters
	
71

	
SECTION 3.17.
	
Collateral Documents
	
72

	
SECTION 3.18.
	
Location of Real Property and Leased Premises
	
72

	
SECTION 3.19.
	
Solvency
	
73

	
SECTION 3.20.
	
Labor Matters
	
73

	
SECTION 3.21.
	
Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.
	
74

	
SECTION 3.22.
	
Senior Debt
	
74

	
SECTION 3.23.
	
Insurance
	
74

	
SECTION 3.24.
	
Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions
	
74

	
SECTION 3.25.
	
EEA Financial Institutions
	
74

	
ARTICLE IV Conditions
	
74

	
SECTION 4.01.
	
Effective Date
	
74

	
SECTION 4.02.
	
Each Credit Event
	
75

	
ARTICLE V Affirmative Covenants
	
76

	
SECTION 5.01.
	
Existence; Businesses and Properties
	
76

	
SECTION 5.02.
	
Insurance
	
77

	
SECTION 5.03.
	
Taxes
	
77

	
SECTION 5.04.
	
Financial Statements, Reports, etc
	
78

	
SECTION 5.05.
	
Litigation and Other Notices
	
80

	
SECTION 5.06.
	
Compliance with Laws
	
80

	
SECTION 5.07.
	
Maintaining Records; Access to Properties and Inspections
	
80

	
SECTION 5.08.
	
Use of Proceeds
	
80

	
SECTION 5.09.
	
Compliance with Environmental Laws
	
81

	
SECTION 5.10.
	
Further Assurances; Additional Collateral
	
81

	
ARTICLE VI Negative Covenants
	
83

	
SECTION 6.01.
	
Indebtedness
	
83

	
SECTION 6.02.
	
Liens
	
87

	
SECTION 6.03.
	
Sale and Lease-Back Transactions
	
91

	
SECTION 6.04.
	
Investments, Loans and Advances
	
91

	
SECTION 6.05.
	
Mergers, Consolidations, Sales of Assets and Acquisitions
	
95

	
SECTION 6.06.
	
Restricted Payments
	
96

	
SECTION 6.07.
	
Transactions with Affiliates
	
98

	
SECTION 6.08.
	
Business of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries
	
100

	
SECTION 6.09.
	
Limitation on Payments and Modifications of Indebtedness; Modifications of Certificate of Incorporation, By-Laws and Certain Other Agreements; etc
	
100

	
SECTION 6.10.
	
Changes in Fiscal Year
	
103

	
SECTION 6.11.
	
Financial Performance Covenants
	
103

ii

Table of Contents
(continued)

	
 
	
Page

	
 
	
 

	
ARTICLE VII Events of Default
	
104

	
ARTICLE VIII The Administrative Agent
	
106

	
SECTION 8.01.
	
Authorization and Action
	
106

	
SECTION 8.02.
	
Administrative Agent’s Reliance, Indemnification, Etc.
	
109

	
SECTION 8.03.
	
Posting of Communications.
	
110

	
SECTION 8.04.
	
The Administrative Agent Individually.
	
111

	
SECTION 8.05.
	
Successor Administrative Agent
	
111

	
SECTION 8.06.
	
Acknowledgements of Lenders and Issuing Banks
	
112

	
SECTION 8.07.
	
Collateral Matters
	
112

	
SECTION 8.08.
	
Credit Bidding
	
113

	
SECTION 8.09.
	
Certain ERISA Matters
	
114

	
ARTICLE IX Miscellaneous
	
116

	
SECTION 9.01.
	
Notices
	
116

	
SECTION 9.02.
	
Waivers; Amendments
	
117

	
SECTION 9.03.
	
Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver
	
120

	
SECTION 9.04.
	
Successors and Assigns
	
121

	
SECTION 9.05.
	
Survival
	
125

	
SECTION 9.06.
	
Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution
	
125

	
SECTION 9.07.
	
Severability
	
125

	
SECTION 9.08.
	
Right of Setoff
	
126

	
SECTION 9.09.
	
Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process
	
126

	
SECTION 9.10.
	
WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL
	
127

	
SECTION 9.11.
	
Headings
	
127

	
SECTION 9.12.
	
Confidentiality
	
127

	
SECTION 9.13.
	
USA PATRIOT Act
	
128

	
SECTION 9.14.
	
Appointment for Perfection
	
128

	
SECTION 9.15.
	
Releases of Subsidiary Loan Parties
	
129

	
SECTION 9.16.
	
Interest Rate Limitation
	
129

	
SECTION 9.17.
	
No Fiduciary Duty, etc
	
129

	
SECTION 9.18.
	
Agency of the Borrower for the Loan Parties
	
130

	
SECTION 9.19.
	
Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions
	
130

 

iii

Table of Contents
(continued)

	
	
	
SCHEDULES:

	
 

Schedule 1.01A--Certain Subsidiaries

Schedule 1.01C--Adjusted EBITDA

Schedule 1.01D--Immaterial Subsidiaries

Schedule 1.01E--Subsidiary Loan Parties

Schedule 1.01F--Unrestricted Subsidiaries

Schedule 2.01A--Commitments

Schedule 2.01B      --     Letter of Credit Commitments

Schedule 2.06--Existing Letters of Credit

Schedule 3.01--Organization and Good Standing

Schedule 3.04--Governmental Approvals

Schedule 3.08(a)--Subsidiaries

Schedule 3.08(b)--Subscriptions

Schedule 3.09(a)--Litigation

Schedule 3.09(b)--Compliance with Laws

Schedule 3.13--Taxes

Schedule 3.16--Environmental Matters

Schedule 3.20--Labor Matters

Schedule 3.21--Intellectual Property

Schedule 3.23--Insurance

Schedule 5.10(h)--Certain Collateral Matters

Schedule 6.01--Indebtedness

Schedule 6.02(a)--Liens

Schedule 6.04--Investments

Schedule 6.07--Transactions with Affiliates

 

	
EXHIBITS:

	
 

	
Exhibit A – Form of Assignment and Assumption

	
Exhibit B – Form of Intercompany Subordination Terms

	
Exhibit C – Form of Increasing Lender Supplement

	
Exhibit D – Form of Augmenting Lender Supplement

	
Exhibit E – List of Closing Documents

	
Exhibit F-1 – Form of U.S. Tax Certificate (Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships)

	
Exhibit F-2 – Form of U.S. Tax Certificate (Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships)

	
Exhibit F-3 – Form of U.S. Tax Certificate (Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships)

	
Exhibit F-4 – Form of U.S. Tax Certificate (Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships)

	
Exhibit G-1 – Form of Borrowing Request

	
Exhibit G-2 – Form of Interest Election Request

	
Exhibit H – Form of Note

 

 

iv

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) dated as of March 27, 2018 among SPROUTS FARMERS MARKET, INC. (f/k/a Sprouts Farmers Markets, LLC), a Delaware corporation (“Holdings”), SPROUTS FARMERS MARKETS HOLDINGS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Borrower”), the LENDERS from time to time party hereto, the DEPARTING LENDERS (if any) party hereto, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent, BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Syndication Agent, and BMO HARRIS BANK N.A., COÖPERATIEVE CENTRALE RAIFFEISEN – BOERENLEENBANK, B.A. “RABOBANK NEDERLAND,” NEW YORK BRANCH, WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., and SUNTRUST BANK, as Documentation Agents.

	

	
WHEREAS, Holdings, the Borrower, certain of the Lenders, the Departing Lenders and the Administrative Agent are currently party to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of April 17, 2015 (as amended prior to the date hereof, the “Existing Credit Agreement”);

	

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

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

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

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

Article I
Definitions

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

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

 

 

“Acquisition-Related Incremental Term Loans” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20.

“Additional Commitment Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.22(d).

“Adjusted Covenant Period” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.11(a).

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

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

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

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

“Agent Indemnitee” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.03(c).

“Aggregate Commitment” means the aggregate of the Commitments of all of the Lenders, as reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to the terms and conditions hereof.  As of the Effective Date, the Aggregate Commitment is $700,000,000.

“Alternate Base Rate” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the NYFRB Rate in effect on such day plus 1⁄2 of 1% and (c) the Adjusted LIBO Rate for a one month Interest Period in Dollars on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) plus 1%, provided that for the purpose of this definition, the Adjusted LIBO Rate for any day shall be based on the LIBO Rate (or if the LIBO Rate is not available for such one month Interest Period, the Interpolated Rate) at approximately 11:00 a.m. London time on such day.  Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate, respectively.  If the Alternate Base Rate is being used as an alternate rate of interest pursuant to Section 2.14 hereof, then the Alternate Base Rate shall be the greater of clauses (a) and (b) above and shall be determined without reference to clause (c) above.  For the avoidance of doubt, if the Alternate Base Rate as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

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

“Applicable Percentage” means, with respect to any Lender, the percentage of the Aggregate Commitment represented by such Lender’s Commitment; provided that, in the case of Section 2.21 when a Defaulting Lender shall exist, “Applicable Percentage” shall mean the percentage of the Aggregate Commitment (disregarding any Defaulting Lender’s Commitment) represented by such Lender’s Commitment.  If the Commitments have terminated or expired, the Applicable Percentages shall 

2

 

be determined based upon the Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments and to any Lender’s status as a Defaulting Lender at the time of determination.

“Applicable Rate” means, for any day, with respect to any Eurodollar Loan or any ABR Loan or with respect to the commitment fees payable hereunder, as the case may be, the applicable rate per annum set forth below under the caption “Eurodollar Spread”, “ABR Spread” or “Commitment Fee Rate”, as the case may be, based upon the Total Net Leverage Ratio applicable on such date:

					
	
 
	
Total Net
Leverage Ratio:
	
Eurodollar
Spread
	
ABR
Spread
	
Commitment Fee Rate

	
Category 1:
	
< 1.00 to 1.00
	
1.25%

 
	
0.25%

 
	
0.15%

	
Category 2:
	
> 1.00 to 1.00 but 
< 2.00 to 1.00

	
1.50%
	
0.50%
	
0.20%

	
Category 3:
	
> 2.00 to 1.00 but 
< 3.00 to 1.00

	
1.75%

 
	
0.75%

 
	
0.25%

	
Category 4:
	
> 3.00 to 1.00 

 
	
2.00%

 
	
1.00%

 
	
0.30%

 

For purposes of the foregoing,

	
(i)
	
if at any time the Borrower fails to deliver the Financials or compliance certificates on or before the date the Financials or compliance certificates, as applicable, are due pursuant to Section 5.01, Category 4 shall be deemed applicable for the period commencing three (3) Business Days after the required date of delivery and ending on the date which is three (3) Business Days after the Financials or compliance certificates, as applicable, are actually delivered, after which the Category shall be determined in accordance with the table above as applicable;

	
(ii)
	
adjustments, if any, to the Category then in effect shall be effective three (3) Business Days after the Administrative Agent has received the applicable Financials (it being understood and agreed that each change in Category shall apply during the period commencing on the effective date of such change and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change); and

	
(iii)
	
notwithstanding the foregoing, Category 2 shall be deemed to be applicable until the Administrative Agent’s receipt of the applicable Financials for the Borrower’s first fiscal quarter ending after the Effective Date (unless such Financials demonstrate that Category 3 or 4 should have been applicable during such period, in which case such other Category shall be deemed to be applicable during such period) and adjustments to the Category then in effect shall thereafter be effected in accordance with the preceding paragraphs.

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

“Approved Fund” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(b).

 

3

 

“Arrangers” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (or any other registered broker-dealer wholly-owned by Bank of America Corporation to which all or substantially all of Bank of America Corporation’s or any of its subsidiaries’ investment banking, commercial lending services or related businesses may be transferred following the date of this Agreement), in their capacities as joint bookrunners and joint lead arrangers hereunder.

“Asset Sale” means any loss, damage, destruction or condemnation of, or any Disposition (including any sale and leaseback of assets and any mortgage or lease of Real Property) to any person of any asset or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

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

“Augmenting Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20.

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

“Available Revolving Commitment” means, at any time with respect to any Lender, the Commitment of such Lender then in effect minus the Revolving Credit Exposure of such Lender at such time; it being understood and agreed that any Lender’s Swingline Exposure shall not be deemed to be a component of the Revolving Credit Exposure for purposes of calculating the commitment fee under Section 2.12(a).

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

“Bail-In Legislation” means, with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

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

“Banking Services Agreement” means any agreement entered into by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with Banking Services.

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

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

4

 

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

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

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

“Board of Directors” means, as to any person, the board of directors or other governing body of such person, or if such person is owned or managed by a single entity, the board of directors or other governing body of such entity.

“Borrower” means Sprouts Farmers Markets Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

“Borrower Materials” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.17.

“Borrowing” means (a) Revolving Loans of the same Type, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect or (b) a Swingline Loan.

“Borrowing Request” means a request by the Borrower for a Revolving Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03 in the form attached hereto as Exhibit G-1.

“Budget” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.04(e).

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

“Capital Lease Obligations” of any Person means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other similar arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP and, for purposes hereof, the amount

5

 

 of such obligations at any time shall be the capitalized amount thereof at such time determined in accordance with GAAP. 

“Capitalized Software Expenditures” means, for any period, the aggregate of all expenditures (whether paid in cash or accrued as liabilities) by a Person during such period in respect of licensed or purchased software or internally developed software and software enhancements that, in accordance with GAAP, are or are required to be reflected as capitalized costs on the consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its subsidiaries.

“Cash Collateralize” means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the relevant Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender (as applicable) and the Lenders, as collateral for LC Exposures, Obligations in respect of Swingline Loans, or obligations of Lenders to fund participations in respect of either thereof (as the context may require), cash or deposit account balances or, if the relevant Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender benefitting from such collateral shall agree in its sole discretion, other credit support, in each case pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to (a) the Administrative Agent and (b) the relevant Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender, as applicable (which documents are hereby consented to by the Lenders).  “Cash Collateral” shall have a meaning correlative to the foregoing and shall include the proceeds of such cash collateral and other credit support.

“Cash Interest Expense” means, with respect to the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for any period, Interest Expense for such period to the extent such amounts are paid in cash or cash equivalents for such period; provided, that Cash Interest Expense shall exclude any one time financing fees, including those paid in connection with the Transactions or any amendment of this Agreement.

“CFC” shall mean a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of section 957(a) of the Code.

A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to occur if:

	
(a)
	
any person, entity or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person, entity or “group” and its subsidiaries and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) shall at any time have acquired direct or indirect beneficial ownership (as defined in Rules 13(d)-3 and 13(d)-5 under the Exchange Act) of voting power of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Borrower having more than 35% of the ordinary voting power for the election of directors of the Borrower; or

	
(b)
	
during any period of twelve (12) consecutive months, a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the Board of Directors of the Borrower shall be occupied by individuals who were neither (1) nominated by the Board of Directors of the Borrower nor (2) appointed by directors so nominated; or

	
(c)
	
Holdings shall fail to own, directly or indirectly, beneficially and of record, 100% of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Borrower.

“Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement (or with respect to any Lender, if later, the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender), 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 

6

 

Governmental Authority, or (c) compliance by any Lender or Issuing Bank (or, for purposes of Section 2.15(b), by any lending office of such Lender or by such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any) with the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline, requirement or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided however, that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements and directives thereunder, issued in connection therewith or in the implementation thereof, and (ii) all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements and directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall, in each case, be deemed to be a “Change in Law” regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued or implemented.

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

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

“Collateral” means all the “Collateral” (or equivalent term) as defined in any Collateral Document and shall also include all property that is subject to any Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties pursuant to any Collateral Documents.

“Collateral Documents” means, collectively, the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and all other agreements, instruments and documents executed in connection with this Agreement that are intended to create, perfect or evidence Liens to secure the Secured Obligations, including all other documents and instruments executed by the Borrower or any other Loan Party pursuant to any of the foregoing or pursuant to Section 4.01 or Section 5.10, in each case delivered to the Administrative Agent and as may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.

“Collateral Requirement” means the requirement that (in each case subject to Section 5.10(d), (e) and (g) and Schedule 5.10(h)):

	
(a)
	
on the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received from Holdings, the Borrower and each Subsidiary Loan Party, a counterpart of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement duly executed and delivered on behalf of such person;

	
(b)
	
on the Effective Date, (i) the Administrative Agent shall have received (A) a pledge of all the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of (x) the Borrower and (y) each Domestic Subsidiary (other than any such subsidiary that is an FSHCO) owned on the Effective Date directly by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party and (B) a pledge of 65% of the outstanding voting Equity Interests and 100% of the outstanding non-voting Equity Interests of each “first tier” Wholly-Owned Foreign Subsidiary or FSHCO directly owned by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party on the Effective Date (other than, in each case, Subsidiaries listed on Schedule 1.01A and any other Excluded Securities) and (ii) the Administrative Agent shall have received all certificates or other instruments (if any) representing such Equity Interests, together with stock powers or other instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank;

	
(c)
	
(i) on the Effective Date, all Indebtedness of the Borrower and each Subsidiary having, in the case of each instance of Indebtedness, an aggregate principal amount in excess of $5,000,000 (other than (A) intercompany current liabilities in connection with the cash management operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, (B) to the extent that a pledge of such promissory note or instrument would violate applicable law or (C) any Excluded Securities) that is owing to the Borrower or 

7

 

a Subsidiary Loan Party that is evidenced by a promissory note or an instrument shall have been pledged pursuant to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement (or other applicable Collateral Document as reasonably required by the Administrative Agent), and (ii) the Administrative Agent shall have received all such promissory notes or instruments, together with note powers or other instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank;

	
(d)
	
in the case of any person that becomes a Subsidiary Loan Party after the Effective Date, subject to Section 5.10(g), the Administrative Agent shall have received (i) a supplement to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and (ii) supplements to the other Collateral Documents, if applicable, in the form specified therein or otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Subsidiary Loan Party;

	
(e)
	
after the Effective Date, (i) all the outstanding Equity Interests of (A) any person that becomes a Subsidiary Loan Party after the Effective Date and (B) subject to Section 5.10(g), all the Equity Interests that are directly acquired by the Borrower or a Subsidiary Loan Party after the Effective Date (other than Excluded Securities), shall have been pledged pursuant to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement (or other applicable Collateral Document as reasonably required by the Administrative Agent); provided, that in no event shall more than 65% of the issued and outstanding voting Equity Interests of any “first tier” Foreign Subsidiary or FSHCO directly owned by the Borrower or such Subsidiary Loan Party be pledged to secure the Secured Obligations, and in no event shall any of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of any Foreign Subsidiary that is not a “first tier” Foreign Subsidiary of the Borrower or a Subsidiary Loan Party be pledged to secure the Secured Obligations, and (ii) the Administrative Agent shall have received all certificates or other instruments (if any) representing such Equity Interests, together with stock powers or other instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank;

	
(f)
	
on the Effective Date and at all times thereafter, except as otherwise contemplated by any Collateral Document, all documents and instruments, including UCC financing statements and filings with the United States Copyright Office and the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and all other actions required by law or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to be delivered, filed, registered or recorded to create the Liens intended to be created by the Collateral Documents (in each case, including any supplements thereto) and perfect such Liens to the extent required by, and with the priority required by, the Collateral Documents, shall have been delivered, filed, registered or recorded or delivered to the Administrative Agent for filing, registration or the recording concurrently with, or promptly following, the execution and delivery of each such Collateral Document;

	
(g)
	
[Intentionally Omitted];

	
(h)
	
[Intentionally Omitted];

	
(i)
	
[Intentionally Omitted];

	
(j)
	
[Intentionally Omitted];

	
(k)
	
on the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received evidence of the insurance required by Section 5.02; and

	
(l)
	
after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received (i) such other Collateral Documents as may be required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.10, and (ii) upon

 

8

 

reasonable request by the Administrative Agent, evidence of compliance with any other requirements of Section 5.10.

“Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make Revolving Loans and to acquire participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum aggregate amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure hereunder, as such commitment may be (a) reduced or terminated from time to time pursuant to Section 2.09, (b) increased from time to time pursuant to Section 2.20 and (c) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 9.04.  The initial amount of each Lender’s Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01A, or in the Assignment and Assumption or other documentation or record (as such term is defined in Section 9-102(a)(70) of the New York Uniform Commercial Code) as provided in Section 9.04(b)(ii)(C), pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Commitment, as applicable.

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

“Communications” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.03(c).

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

“Consolidated Debt” at any date means, if and to the extent the same would constitute indebtedness or a liability in accordance with GAAP, the sum of (without duplication) all Indebtedness (other than letters of credit or bank guarantees, to the extent undrawn) consisting of Capital Lease Obligations, Indebtedness for borrowed money (including letters of credit and bank guarantees, to the extent drawn and not reimbursed) and Disqualified Stock of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis on such date.

“Consolidated Net Income” means, with respect to any person for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such person and its subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis; provided, however, that, without duplication, 

	
(i)
	
any net after tax extraordinary, nonrecurring or unusual gains or losses or income or expense or charge (less all fees and expenses relating thereto), including store closing costs and store opening costs, in each case, shall be excluded; provided that, the aggregate amount of any such losses, expenses and charges (other than non-cash losses, expenses or charges) from store closing costs and store opening costs that are excluded during any four consecutive fiscal quarter period pursuant to this clause (i) shall not exceed $25,000,000,

	
(ii)
	
any net after-tax income or loss from Disposed of, abandoned, closed or discontinued operations and any net after-tax gain or loss on Disposed of, abandoned, closed or discontinued operations shall be excluded,

	
(iii)
	
any net after-tax gain or loss (less all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) attributable to business Dispositions or asset Dispositions other than in the ordinary course of business (as determined in good faith by the management of the Borrower) shall be excluded,

	
(iv)
	
any net after-tax income or loss (less all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) attributable to the early extinguishment of indebtedness, Swap Agreements or other derivative instruments shall be excluded,

9

 

	
(v)
	
(A) the Net Income for such period of any person that is not a subsidiary of such person, or is an Unrestricted Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting, shall be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) to the referent person or a subsidiary thereof (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary of such referent person) in respect of such period and (B) the Net Income for such period shall include any dividend, distribution or other payment in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) received from any person in excess of the amounts included in clause (A),

	
(vi)
	
any deductions attributable to minority interests shall be excluded,

	
(vii)
	
Consolidated Net Income for such period shall not include the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles during such period,

	
(viii)
	
effects of purchase accounting adjustments (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to such person and its subsidiaries) in component amounts required or permitted by GAAP, resulting from the application of purchase accounting in relation to any consummated acquisition or the amortization or write-off of any amounts thereof, net of taxes, shall be excluded,

	
(ix)
	
any impairment charges or asset write-offs, in each case pursuant to GAAP, and the amortization of intangibles and other fair value adjustments arising pursuant to GAAP, shall be excluded,

	
(x)
	
any non-cash compensation charge or expenses realized or resulting from stock option plans, employee benefit plans or post-employment benefit plans, or grants or sales of stock, stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock, preferred stock or other rights to officers, directors, employees and consultants of such person or any of its Subsidiaries shall be excluded,

	
(xi)
	
[reserved],

	
(xii)
	
non-cash gains, losses, income and expenses resulting from fair value accounting required by the applicable standard under GAAP and related interpretations shall be excluded,

	
(xiii)
	
any currency translation gains and losses related to currency re-measurements of Indebtedness, and any net loss or gain resulting from Swap Agreements for currency exchange risk, shall be excluded,

	
(xiv)
	
[reserved],

	
(xv)
	
(A) to the extent covered by insurance and actually reimbursed, or, so long as such person has made a determination that there exists reasonable evidence that such amount will in fact be reimbursed by the insurer and only to the extent that such amount is (i) not denied by the applicable carrier in writing within 180 days and (ii) in fact reimbursed within 365 days of the date of such evidence (with a deduction for any amount so added back to the extent not so reimbursed within such 365 days), expenses with respect to liability or casualty events or business interruption shall be excluded; and (B) amounts estimated in good faith to be received from insurance in respect of lost revenues or earnings in respect of liability or casualty events or business interruption shall be included (with a deduction for amounts actually received up to such estimated amount to the extent included in Net Income in a future period),

	
(xvi)
	
non-cash charges for deferred tax asset valuation allowances shall be excluded,

 

10

 

	
(xvii)
	
[reserved], and

(xviii) without duplication, an amount equal to the amount of distributions actually made to any parent or equity holder of such person in respect of such period in accordance with Section 6.06(b)(y) shall be included as though such amounts had been paid as income taxes directly by such person for such period. 

“Consolidated Rent Expense” means, with reference to any period, the aggregate rent expense of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries under any operating leases and the aggregate ground rents expensed with respect to any capital or financing leases, calculated for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for such period in accordance with GAAP.

“Consolidated Total Assets” means, as of any date, the total assets of the Borrower and the consolidated Subsidiaries without giving effect to any impairment of the amount of intangible assets since the Effective Date (or with respect to assets acquired after the Effective Date, the date such assets were acquired by the Borrower or a consolidated Subsidiary), determined in accordance with GAAP, as set forth on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower as of the last day of the fiscal quarter most recently ended for which financial statements have been (or were required to be) delivered pursuant to Section 5.04(a) or 5.04(b), as applicable, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to any acquisition or Disposition of a person or assets that may have occurred on or after the last day of such fiscal quarter.

“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 ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and “Controlling” and “Controlled” shall have meanings correlative thereto.

“Credit Event” means a Borrowing, the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit, an LC Disbursement or any of the foregoing.

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

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

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

11

 

Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon such Credit Party’s receipt of such certification in form and substance satisfactory to it and the Administrative Agent, or (d) has become the subject of (A) a Bankruptcy Event or (B) a Bail-In Action.

“Departing Lender” means each lender under the Existing Credit Agreement that executes and delivers to the Administrative Agent a Departing Lender Signature Page.

“Departing Lender Signature Page” means each signature page to this Agreement on which it is indicated that the Departing Lender executing the same shall cease to be a party to the Existing Credit Agreement on the Effective Date.

“Designated Non-Cash Consideration” means the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) of non-cash consideration received by the Borrower or one of its Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated as Designated Non-Cash Consideration pursuant to a certificate of a Responsible Officer, setting forth the basis of such valuation, less the amount of cash or cash equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale of such Designated Non-Cash Consideration.

“Disinterested Director” means, with respect to any person and transaction, a member of the Board of Directors of such person who does not have any material direct or indirect financial interest in or with respect to such transaction.

“Dispose” or “Disposed of” shall mean to convey, sell, lease, sell and leaseback, assign, farm-out, transfer or otherwise dispose of any property, business or asset.  The term “Disposition” shall have a correlative meaning to the foregoing.

“Disqualified Stock” means, with respect to any person, any Equity Interests of such person that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security or other Equity Interests into which it is convertible or for which it is redeemable or exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event or condition (a) mature or are mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests), pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise (except as a result of a change of control or asset sale so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale event shall be subject to the prior repayment in full in cash of the Loans and all other Obligations that are accrued and payable and the termination of the Commitments), (b) are redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than (x) solely for Qualified Equity Interests or (y) upon the occurrence of a change of control sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, subject, in each case of this clause (y), to the prior payment in full in cash of the Obligations that are accrued and payable and the termination of the Commitments) in whole or in part, (c) provides for the scheduled payments of dividends in cash or (d) at the option of the holders thereof, is or becomes convertible into or exchangeable for Indebtedness or any other Equity Interests that would constitute Disqualified Stock, in each case of clauses (a) through (d), prior to the date that is ninety-one (91) days after the Maturity Date in effect at the time of issuance thereof; provided, however, that only the portion of the Equity Interests that so mature or are mandatorily redeemable, are so convertible or exchangeable or are so redeemable at the option of the holder thereof prior to such date shall be deemed to be Disqualified Stock; provided further, however, that if such Equity Interests are issued to any employee or to any plan for the benefit of employees of the Borrower or the Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Equity Interests shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because they may be required to be repurchased by the Borrower in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s termination, death or disability; provided further, however, that any class of Equity Interests of such person that by its terms authorizes such person to satisfy its obligations thereunder by delivery of Equity Interests that are not Disqualified Stock shall not be deemed 

12

 

to be Disqualified Stock; provided, further, however, with respect to clause (d) above, Equity Interests constituting Qualified Equity Interests when issued shall not cease to constitute Qualified Equity Interests as a result of the subsequent extension of the date on which the Loans and all other Obligations that are accrued and payable are repaid in full in cash and the Commitments are terminated.

“Documentation Agent” means each of BMO Harris Bank N.A., Coöperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen – Boerenleenbank, B.A. “Rabobank Nederland,” New York Branch, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., and SunTrust Bank, in its capacity as documentation agent for the credit facility evidenced by this Agreement.

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

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

“EBITDA” means, with respect to the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for any period, the Net Income of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for such period plus to the extent deducted in determining such Net Income, without duplication, (a) the sum of:

	
(i)
	
without duplication, (x) an amount equal to the amount of distributions actually made to any parent or equity holder of such person in respect of such period in accordance with Section 6.06(b)(y), and (y) provision for Taxes based on income, profits or capital of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries for such period, including, without limitation, state, franchise and similar taxes and foreign withholding taxes (including penalties and interest related to taxes or arising from tax examinations);

	
(ii)
	
Interest Expense (and to the extent not included in Interest Expense, (x) all cash dividend payments (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any series of preferred stock or Disqualified Stock and (y) costs of surety bonds in connection with financing activities) of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries for such period;

	
(iii)
	
depreciation and amortization expenses of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries for such period including, without limitation, (x) the amortization of intangible assets, deferred financing fees and Capitalized Software Expenditures and (y) amortization of unrecognized prior service costs and actuarial gains and losses related to pensions and other post- employment benefits;

	
(iv)
	
any expenses or charges (other than depreciation or amortization expense as described in clause (iii) above) related to any issuance of Equity Interests or debt securities, Investment, acquisition, New Project, Disposition, recapitalization or the incurrence, modification or repayment of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by this Agreement (including a refinancing thereof) (whether or not successful), including (x) such fees, expenses or charges related to the offering of the Obligations and (y) any amendment or other modification of the Obligations or other Indebtedness;

	
(v)
	
[reserved];

	
(vi)
	
any other non-cash charges; provided, that, for purposes of this clause (vi), any non-cash charges or losses shall be treated as cash charges or losses in any subsequent period during which cash disbursements attributable thereto are made (but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, amortization of a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period);

	
(vii)
	
any costs or expense incurred pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or any stock subscription or shareholder agreement, to the extent that such cost or expenses are funded with cash proceeds contributed 

13

 

		
by Holdings or any other Parent Entity to the capital of the Borrower or a Subsidiary Loan Party or net cash proceeds of an issuance of Equity Interests of the Borrower (other than Disqualified Stock);

	
(viii)
	
[reserved];

	
(ix)
	
[reserved];

	
(x)
	
non-operating expenses;

	
(xi)
	
with respect to any joint venture that is not a Subsidiary and solely to the extent relating to any net income referred to in clause (v) of the proviso to this definition, an amount equal to the proportion of those items described in clauses (i)(y) and (ii) above relating to such joint venture corresponding to the Borrower’s and the Subsidiaries’ proportionate share of such joint venture’s Consolidated Net Income (determined as if such joint venture were a Subsidiary); and

	
(xii)
	
[reserved];

minus, to the extent included in determining Net Income of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for such period, without duplication, (b) the sum of non-cash items for such period (but excluding any such items (A) in respect of which cash was received in a prior period or will be received in a future period or (B) which represent the reversal of any accrual of, or cash reserve for, anticipated cash charges that reduced EBITDA in any prior period);

provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of calculating “EBITDA” for the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis of any period:

	
(i)
	
any extraordinary, nonrecurring or unusual gains or losses or income or expense or charge (less all fees and expenses relating thereto), including store closing costs and store opening costs, in each case, shall be excluded; provided that, the aggregate amount of any such losses, expenses and charges (other than non-cash losses, expenses or charges) from store closing costs and store opening costs that are excluded during any four consecutive fiscal quarter period pursuant to this clause (i) shall not exceed $25,000,000,

	
(ii)
	
any net after-tax income or loss from Disposed of, abandoned, closed or discontinued operations and any net after-tax gain or loss on Disposed of, abandoned, closed or discontinued operations shall be excluded,

	
(iii)
	
any net after-tax gain or loss (less all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) attributable to business Dispositions or asset Dispositions other than in the ordinary course of business (as determined in good faith by the management of the Borrower) shall be excluded,

	
(iv)
	
any net after-tax income or loss (less all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) attributable to the early extinguishment of indebtedness, Swap Agreements or other derivative instruments shall be excluded,

	
(v)
	
(A) the Net Income for such period of any person that is not a subsidiary of such person, or is an Unrestricted Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting, shall be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) to the referent person or a subsidiary thereof (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary of such referent person) in respect of such period and (B) the Net Income for such 

14

 

		
period shall include any dividend, distribution or other payment in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) received from any person in excess of the amounts included in clause (A),

	
(vi)
	
any deductions attributable to minority interests shall be excluded,

	
(vii)
	
the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles during such period shall be excluded,

	
(viii)
	
effects of purchase accounting adjustments (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to such person and its subsidiaries) in component amounts required or permitted by GAAP, resulting from the application of purchase accounting in relation to any consummated acquisition or the amortization or write-off of any amounts thereof, net of taxes, shall be excluded,

	
(ix)
	
any impairment charges or asset write-offs, in each case pursuant to GAAP, and the amortization of intangibles and other fair value adjustments arising pursuant to GAAP, shall be excluded,

	
(x)
	
any non-cash compensation charge or expenses realized or resulting from stock option plans, employee benefit plans or post-employment benefit plans, or grants or sales of stock, stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock, preferred stock or other rights to officers, directors, employees and consultants of such person or any of its Subsidiaries shall be excluded,

	
(xi)
	
[reserved],

	
(xii)
	
non-cash gains, losses, income and expenses resulting from fair value accounting required by the applicable standard under GAAP and related interpretations shall be excluded,

	
(xiii)
	
any currency translation gains and losses related to currency re-measurements of Indebtedness, and any net loss or gain resulting from Swap Agreements for currency exchange risk, shall be excluded,

	
(xiv)
	
[reserved],

	
(xv)
	
(A) to the extent covered by insurance and actually reimbursed, or, so long as such person has made a determination that there exists reasonable evidence that such amount will in fact be reimbursed by the insurer and only to the extent that such amount is (i) not denied by the applicable carrier in writing within 180 days and (ii) in fact reimbursed within 365 days of the date of such evidence (with a deduction for any amount so added back to the extent not so reimbursed within such 365 days), expenses with respect to liability or casualty events or business interruption shall be excluded; and (B) amounts estimated in good faith to be received from insurance in respect of lost revenues or earnings in respect of liability or casualty events or business interruption shall be included (with a deduction for amounts actually received up to such estimated amount to the extent included in Net Income in a future period),

	
(xvi)
	
non-cash charges for deferred tax asset valuation allowances shall be excluded,

	
(xvii)
	
[reserved], and

	
(xviii) 
	
without duplication, an amount equal to the amount of distributions actually made to any parent or equity holder of such person in respect of such period in accordance with Section 

15

 

6.06(b)(y) shall be included as though such amounts had been paid as income taxes directly by such person for such period.

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Environment” means ambient and indoor air, surface water and groundwater (including potable water, navigable water and wetlands), the land surface or subsurface strata, natural resources such as flora and fauna, the workplace or as otherwise defined in any Environmental Law.

“Environmental Laws” means all applicable laws (including common law), rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, binding agreements, orders, decrees , injunctions or judgments, promulgated or entered into by or with any Governmental Authority, relating in any way to the Environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources, the generation, management, disposal, Release or threatened Release of, or exposure to, any Hazardous Material or to human health and safety (to the extent relating to the Environment or Hazardous Materials).

“Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Borrower or any Subsidiary 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.

“Equity Interests” of any person means any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase or otherwise acquire, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) equity or ownership of such person, including any preferred stock, any limited or general partnership interest and any limited liability company membership interest, and any securities or other rights or interests convertible into or exchangeable for any of the foregoing.

16

 

“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as the same may be amended from time to time and any final regulations promulgated and the rulings issued thereunder.

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

“ERISA Event” means (a) any Reportable Event or the requirements of Section 4043(b) of ERISA apply with respect to a Plan; (b) the failure to meet the minimum funding standard under Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA with respect to a Plan, whether or not waived; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(c) of the Code or Section 302(c) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan, the failure to make by its due date a required installment under Section 412 of the Code with respect to any Plan or the failure to make any required contribution to a Multiemployer Plan; (d) the incurrence by a Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (e) the receipt by a Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan under Section 4042 of ERISA; (f) the incurrence by a Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (g) the receipt by a Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from a Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the impending imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in critical or endangered status, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA; or has been determined to be in “endangered” or “critical” status within the meaning of Section 432 of the Code or Section 305 of ERISA; (h) the conditions for imposition of a lien under Section 303(k) of ERISA shall have been met with respect to any Plan; or (i) a determination that any Plan is in “at risk” status (within the meaning of Section 303 of ERISA).

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

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

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

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

“Excluded Property” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.10.

“Excluded Securities” shall mean any of the following:

	
(a)
	
any Equity Interests or Indebtedness with respect to which the Administrative Agent and the Borrower reasonably agree that the cost or other consequences of pledging such Equity Interests or Indebtedness in favor of the Secured Parties under the Collateral Documents are likely to be excessive in relation to the value to be afforded thereby;

	
(b)
	
in the case of any pledge of voting Equity Interests of any Foreign Subsidiary (in each case, that is owned directly by the Borrower or a Subsidiary Loan Party) to secure the Secured

17

 

 Obligations, any voting Equity Interest of such Foreign Subsidiary in excess of 65% of the outstanding Equity Interests of such class;

	
(c)
	
in the case of any pledge of voting Equity Interests of any FSHCO (in each case, that is owned directly by the Borrower or a Subsidiary Loan Party) to secure the Secured Obligations, any voting Equity Interest of such FSHCO in excess of 65% of the outstanding Equity Interests of such class;

	
(d)
	
any Equity Interests or Indebtedness to the extent the pledge thereof would be prohibited by any Requirement of Law;

	
(e)
	
any Equity Interests of any person that is not a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary to the extent (A) that a pledge thereof to secure the Secured Obligations is prohibited by (i) any applicable organizational documents, joint venture agreement or shareholder agreement or (ii) any other contractual obligation with an unaffiliated third party not in violation of Section 6.09(c) (other than, in this subclause (A)(ii), customary non-assignment provisions which are ineffective under Article 9 of the UCC or other applicable Requirements of Law), (B) any organizational documents, joint venture agreement or shareholder agreement (or other contractual obligation referred to in subclause (A)(ii) above) prohibits such a pledge without the consent of any other party; provided, that this clause (B) shall not apply if (1) such other party is a Loan Party or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary or (2) consent has been obtained to consummate such pledge (it being understood that the foregoing shall not be deemed to obligate the Borrower or any Subsidiary to obtain any such consent) and for so long as such organizational documents, joint venture agreement or shareholder agreement or replacement or renewal thereof is in effect, or (C) a pledge thereof to secure the Secured Obligations would give any other party (other than a Loan Party or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary) to any organizational documents, joint venture agreement or shareholder agreement governing such Equity Interests (or other contractual obligation referred to in subclause (A)(ii) above) the right to terminate its obligations thereunder (other than, in the case of other contractual obligations referred to in subclause (A)(ii), customary non-assignment provisions which are ineffective under Article 9 of the UCC or other applicable Requirement of Law);

	
(f)
	
any Equity Interests of any Immaterial Subsidiary and any Unrestricted Subsidiary;

	
(g)
	
any Equity Interests of any Subsidiary of, or other Equity Interests owned by, a Foreign Subsidiary;

	
(h)
	
any Equity Interests of any Subsidiary to the extent that the pledge of such Equity Interests could reasonably be expected to result in material adverse tax consequences to the Borrower or any Subsidiary as determined in good faith by the Borrower;

	
(i)
	
any Equity Interests that are set forth on Schedule 1.01(A) to this Agreement or that have been identified on or prior to the Effective Date in writing to the Administrative Agent by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower and agreed to by the Administrative Agent;

	
(j)
	
(x) any Equity Interests owned by Holdings, other than Equity Interests in the Borrower, and (y) any Indebtedness owned by Holdings; and

	
(k)
	
any Margin Stock.

18

 

“Excluded Subsidiary” shall  mean  any of the following (except  as  otherwise provided in clause (b) of the definition of Subsidiary Loan Party):

	
(a)
	
each Immaterial Subsidiary,

	
(b)
	
each Domestic Subsidiary that is not a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary (for so long as such Subsidiary remains a non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiary),

	
(c)
	
each Domestic Subsidiary that is prohibited from guaranteeing or granting Liens to secure the Secured Obligations by any Requirement of Law or that would require consent, approval, license or authorization of a Governmental Authority to guarantee or grant Liens to secure the Secured Obligations (unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received),

	
(d)
	
each Domestic Subsidiary that is prohibited by any applicable contractual requirement from guaranteeing or granting Liens to secure the Secured Obligations on the Effective Date or at the time such Subsidiary becomes a Subsidiary not in violation of Section 6.09(c) (and for so long as such restriction or any replacement or renewal thereof is in effect),

	
(e)
	
any Foreign Subsidiary,

	
(f)
	
any Domestic Subsidiary (i) that is an FSHCO or (ii) that is a Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary that is a CFC,

	
(g)
	
any other Domestic Subsidiary with respect to which, (x) the Administrative Agent and the Borrower reasonably agree that the cost or other consequences of providing a Guarantee of or granting Liens to secure the Secured Obligations are likely to be excessive in relation to the value to be afforded thereby or (y) providing such a Guarantee or granting such Liens could reasonably be expected to result in material adverse tax consequences as determined in good faith by the Borrower, and

	
(h)
	
each Unrestricted Subsidiary.

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

“Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable lending office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, U.S. Federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan, Letter of Credit or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan, Letter of Credit or Commitment (other 

19

 

than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 2.19(b)) or (ii) such Lender changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 2.17, amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender acquired the applicable interest in a Loan, Letter of Credit or Commitment or to such Lender immediately before it changed its lending office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 2.17(f) and (d) any withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.

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

“Existing Letters of Credit” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(a).

“Existing Maturity Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.22(a).

“Extending Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.22(b).

“Extension Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.22(a).

“FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof and any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code or any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices, in each case, adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement entered into in connection with the implementation of such Section of the Code.

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

“Financial Officer” of any Person means the Chief Financial Officer, principal accounting officer, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer or Controller of such Person.

“Financial Performance Covenants” means the covenants of the Borrower set forth in Section 6.11.

“Financials” means the annual or quarterly financial statements, and accompanying certificates and other documents, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.04(a) or 5.04(b).

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

“Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary (together with its successors) that is incorporated or organized under the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia.

20

 

“FSHCO” shall mean any Subsidiary that owns no material assets other than the Equity Interests of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries that are CFCs and/or of one or more FSHCOs.

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in effect from time to time in the United States, applied on a consistent basis, subject to the provisions of Section 1.02; provided that any reference to the application of GAAP in Sections 3.13(b), 3.20, 5.03, 5.07, 6.02(d) and 6.02(e) to a Foreign Subsidiary (and not as a consolidated Subsidiary of the Borrower) means generally accepted accounting principles in effect from time to time in the jurisdiction of organization of such Foreign Subsidiary.

“Governmental Authority” means any federal, state, provincial, local or foreign court or governmental agency, authority, instrumentality or regulatory or legislative body.

“Guarantee” of or by any person (the “guarantor”) means (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other monetary obligation payable or performable by another person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, 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 owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the holders of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof or to protect such holders against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any assets of the guarantor securing any Indebtedness (or any existing right, contingent or otherwise, of the holder of Indebtedness to be secured by such a Lien) of any other person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed by the guarantor; provided, however, the term “Guarantee” shall not include endorsements for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business or customary and reasonable indemnity obligations in effect on the Effective Date or entered into in connection with any acquisition or Disposition of assets permitted by this Agreement (other than such obligations with respect to Indebtedness).  The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the Indebtedness 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 such person in good faith.

“Guarantee and Collateral Agreement” means the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, dated as of April 17, 2015, among Holdings, the Borrower, each Subsidiary Loan Party and the Administrative Agent, as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

“Hazardous Materials” means all pollutants, contaminants, wastes, chemicals, materials, substances and constituents, including, without limitation, explosive or radioactive substances or petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls or radon gas, of any nature subject to regulation, or which can give rise to liability under, any Environmental Law.

“Holdings” means Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. (f/k/a Sprouts Farmers Markets, LLC), a Delaware corporation.

“Immaterial Subsidiary” means any subsidiary that (a) did not, as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Borrower most recently ended for which financial statements have been (or were

21

 

required to be) delivered pursuant to Section 5.04(a) or 5.04(b), have assets with a value in excess of 5.0% of the Consolidated Total Assets or EBITDA (on an individual basis) representing in excess of 5.0% of EBITDA (for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis) as of such date for the Test Period most recently ended and (b) taken together with all Immaterial Subsidiaries as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Borrower most recently ended for which financial statements have been (or were required to be) delivered pursuant to Section 5.04(a) or 5.04(b), did not have assets with a value in excess of 10.0% of Consolidated Total Assets or EBITDA representing in excess of 10.0% of EBITDA (for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis) as of such date for the Test Period most recently ended; provided, that the Borrower may elect in its sole discretion to exclude as an Immaterial Subsidiary any Subsidiary that would otherwise meet the definition thereof.  Each Immaterial Subsidiary as of the Effective Date shall be set forth in Schedule 1.01D, and the Borrower shall update such Schedule from time to time after the Effective Date as necessary to reflect all Immaterial Subsidiaries at such time (the selection of Subsidiaries to be added to or removed from such Schedule to be made as the Borrower may determine).

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

“Increasing Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20.

“Incremental Term Loan” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20.

“Incremental Term Loan Amendment” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20.

“Indebtedness” of any person means, if and to the extent (other than with respect to clause (h)) the same would constitute indebtedness or a liability in accordance with GAAP, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than such obligations accrued in the ordinary course), to the extent the same would be required to be shown as a long-term liability on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, (d) all Capital Lease Obligations of such person, (e) all net payments that such person would have to make in the event of an early termination, on the date Indebtedness of such person is being determined, in respect of outstanding Swap Agreements, (f) the principal component of all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such person as an account party in respect of letters of credit, (g) the principal component of all obligations of such person in respect of bankers’ acceptances, (h) all Guarantees by such person of Indebtedness described in clauses (a) to (g) above and (i) the amount of all obligations of such person with respect to the redemption, repayment or other repurchase of any Disqualified Stock (excluding accrued dividends that have not increased the liquidation preference of such Disqualified Stock); provided, that Indebtedness shall not include (A) trade and other ordinary course payables, accrued expenses and intercompany liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business, (B) prepaid or deferred revenue, (C) purchase price holdbacks arising in the ordinary course of business in respect of a portion of the purchase prices of an asset to satisfy unperformed obligations of the seller of such asset, (D) earn-out obligations until such obligations become a liability on the balance sheet of such person in accordance with GAAP or (E) in the case of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, (I) all intercompany Indebtedness having a term not exceeding 364 days (inclusive of any roll-over or extensions of terms) and made in the ordinary course of business and (II) intercompany liabilities in connection with the cash management, tax and accounting operations of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries.  The Indebtedness of any person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership in which such person is a general partner, other than to the extent that the instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness limits the liability of such person in respect thereof.

22

 

“Indemnified Taxes” means (a) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in clause (a) hereof, Other Taxes.

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

“Information” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.14(a).

“Intellectual Property” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

“Interest Coverage Ratio” means, on any date, the ratio of (a) the sum of EBITDA plus Consolidated Rent Expense to (b) the sum of Cash Interest Expense plus Consolidated Rent Expense, in each case for the Test Period most recently ended as of such date, all determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that the Interest Coverage Ratio shall be determined for the relevant Test Period on a Pro Forma Basis.

“Interest Election Request” means a request by the Borrower to convert or continue a Revolving Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.08 in the form attached hereto as Exhibit G-2.

“Interest Expense” means, with respect to any person for any period, the sum of (a) gross interest expense of such person for such period on a consolidated basis, including (i) the amortization of debt discounts, (ii) the amortization of all fees (including fees with respect to Swap Agreements) payable in connection with the incurrence of Indebtedness to the extent included in interest expense and (iii) the portion of any payments or accruals with respect to Capital Lease Obligations allocable to interest expense, and (b) capitalized interest of such person whether paid or accrued, and (c) commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges incurred for such period in connection with any receivables financing of such person or any of its subsidiaries that are payable to persons other than Holdings, the Borrower or a Subsidiary Loan Party.  For purposes of the foregoing, gross interest expense shall be determined after giving effect to any net payments made or received and costs incurred by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries with respect to Swap Agreements, and interest on a Capital Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by the Borrower to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capital Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP.

“Interest Payment Date” means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan (other than a Swingline Loan), the last day of each March, June, September and December and the applicable Maturity Date, (b) with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months’ duration, each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three months’ duration after the first day of such Interest Period and the applicable Maturity Date and (c) with respect to any Swingline Loan, the day that such Loan is required to be repaid and the applicable Maturity Date.

“Interest Period” means with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one, two, three or six months thereafter or, if agreed to by each applicable Lender, twelve months thereafter, in each case as the Borrower may elect; provided, that (i) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day and (ii) any Interest Period pertaining to a Eurodollar Borrowing that commences on the last Business Day of a 

23

 

calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period.  For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.

“Interpolated Rate” means, at any time, for any Interest Period, the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) to be equal to the rate that results from interpolating on a linear basis between: (a) the LIBOR Screen Rate for the longest period (for which the LIBOR Screen Rate is available for the applicable currency) that is shorter than the Impacted Interest Period and (b) the LIBOR Screen Rate for the shortest period (for which the LIBOR Screen Rate is available for the applicable currency) that exceeds the Impacted Interest Period, in each case, at such time; provided that if any Interpolated Rate as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement. When determining the rate for a period which is less than the shortest period for which the LIBOR Screen Rate is available, the LIBOR Screen Rate for purposes of clause (a) above shall be deemed to be the overnight rate for U.S. dollars determined by the Administrative Agent from such service as the Administrative Agent may select.

“Investment” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.04.

“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

“Issuing Bank” means each of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Bank of America, N.A. and each other Lender designated by the Borrower as an “Issuing Bank” hereunder that has agreed to such designation (and is reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent), each in its capacity as the issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, and its successors in such capacity as provided in Section 2.06(i).  Any Issuing Bank may, in its reasonable discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates of such Issuing Bank, in which case the term “Issuing Bank” shall include any such Affiliate with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate. 

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

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

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

“Lender Notice Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.22(b).

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

“Lenders” means the Persons listed on Schedule 2.01A and any other Person that shall have become a Lender hereunder pursuant to Section 2.20, 2.22 or pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption or other documentation contemplated hereby, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption or other documentation contemplated hereby.  

 

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Unless the context otherwise requires, the term “Lenders” includes the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Banks. For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Lenders” excludes the Departing Lenders.

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

“Letter of Credit Commitment” means, with respect to each Issuing Bank, the commitment of such Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit hereunder. The initial amount of each Issuing Bank’s Letter of Credit Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01B, or if any Issuing Bank has entered into an Assignment and Assumption, the amount set forth for such Issuing Bank as its Letter of Credit Commitment in the Register maintained by the Administrative Agent.

“LIBO Rate” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any applicable Interest Period, the London interbank offered rate as administered by ICE Benchmark Administration (or any other Person that takes over the administration of such rate) for Dollars for a period equal in length to such Interest Period as displayed on pages LIBOR01 or LIBOR02 of the Reuters screen that displays such rate or, in the event such rate does not appear on a Reuters page or screen, on any successor or substitute page on such screen that displays such rate, or on the appropriate page of such other information service that publishes such rate as shall be selected by the Administrative Agent from time to time in its reasonable discretion (in each case the “LIBOR Screen Rate”) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period; provided that, if the LIBOR Screen Rate as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement; provided, further, that if a LIBOR Screen Rate shall not be available at such time for such Interest Period (the “Impacted Interest Period”), then the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period shall be the Interpolated Rate; provided, that, if any Interpolated Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement.  It is understood and agreed that all of the terms and conditions of this definition of “LIBO Rate” shall be subject to Section 2.14.

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

“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, hypothecation, pledge, charge, security interest or similar monetary encumbrance in or on such asset and (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset; provided that in no event shall an operating lease or an agreement to sell be deemed to constitute a Lien.

“Limited Conditionality Acquisition” means any acquisition by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of all or substantially all of the equity or assets or business of another Person or assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division of such Person (a) that is permitted by this Agreement and (b) for which the Borrower has determined, in good faith, that limited conditionality is reasonably necessary.

“Limited Conditionality Acquisition Agreement” means, with respect to any Limited Conditionality Acquisition, the definitive acquisition documentation in respect thereof.

“Loan Documents” means this Agreement, any promissory notes issued pursuant to Section 2.10(e), any Letter of Credit applications, the Collateral Documents and all other agreements, instruments, documents and certificates identified in Section 4.01 executed and delivered to, or in favor of, the Administrative Agent or any Lenders and including all other pledges, powers of attorney, consents, contracts, notices and letter of credit agreements (including any agreements between the Borrower and an 

25

 

Issuing Bank regarding such Issuing Bank’s Letter of Credit Commitment or the respective rights and obligations between the Borrower and such Issuing Bank in connection with the issuance of Letters of Credit), now or hereafter executed by or on behalf of any Loan Party and delivered to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with this Agreement.  Any reference in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to a Loan Document shall include all appendices, exhibits or schedules thereto, and all amendments, restatements, supplements or other modifications thereto, and shall refer to this Agreement or such Loan Document as the same may be in effect at any and all times such reference becomes operative.

“Loan Parties” means, collectively, Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiary Loan Parties.

“Loans” means the loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement.

“Margin Stock” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Regulation U.

“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on the business, property, operations or financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or the validity and enforceability of any of the material Loan Documents or the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders thereunder.

“Material Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (other than Loans and Letters of Credit) of any one or more of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $20,000,000.

“Material Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary other than Immaterial Subsidiaries.

“Maturity Date” means March 27, 2023 subject to extension (in the case of each Lender consenting thereto) as provided in Section 2.22.

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

“Multiemployer Plan” means a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which a Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate (other than one considered an ERISA Affiliate only pursuant to subsection (m) or (o) of Code Section 414) is making or accruing an obligation to make contributions, or has within any of the preceding six plan years made or accrued an obligation to make contributions.

“Net Income” means, with respect to any person, the net income (loss) of such person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of preferred stock dividends.

“Net Proceeds” means 100% of the cash proceeds actually received by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party (including any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or purchase price adjustment receivable or otherwise and including casualty insurance settlements and condemnation awards, but only as and when received) from any Asset Sale under Section 6.05(d) (solely with respect to Sale and Leaseback Transactions pursuant to clause (c)(ii) of the proviso contained in Section 6.03), net of (i) attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, investment banking fees, survey costs, title insurance premiums, and related search and recording charges, transfer taxes, deed or mortgage recording taxes, required debt payments and required payments of other obligations relating to the applicable asset to the extent such debt or obligations are secured by 

26

 

a Lien permitted hereunder (other than pursuant to the Loan Documents) on such asset, other customary expenses and brokerage, consultant and other customary fees actually incurred in connection therewith, (ii) Taxes paid or payable as a result thereof, and (iii) the amount of any reasonable reserve established in accordance with GAAP against any adjustment to the sale price or any liabilities (other than any taxes deducted pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above) (x) related to any of the applicable assets and (y) retained by the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries including, without limitation, pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations (however, the amount of any subsequent reduction of such reserve (other than in connection with a payment in respect of any such liability) shall be deemed to be cash proceeds of such Asset Sale occurring on the date of such reduction).

“New Project” shall mean (x) each plant, facility or branch which is either a new plant, facility or branch or an expansion of an existing plant, facility or branch owned by the Borrower or the Subsidiaries which in fact commences operations and (y) each creation (in one or a series of related transactions) of a business unit to the extent such business unit commences operations or each expansion (in one or a series of related transactions) of business into a new market.

“Non-Extending Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.22(a).

“NYFRB” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

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

“Obligations” means (a) all unpaid principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans, (b) all LC Exposure and (c) all accrued and unpaid fees and all expenses, reimbursements, indemnities and other obligations and indebtedness (including interest and fees accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), obligations and liabilities of any of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to any of the Lenders, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any indemnified party, individually or collectively, existing on the Effective Date or arising thereafter, direct or indirect, joint or several, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, secured or unsecured, arising by contract, operation of law or otherwise, in each case of this clause (c), arising or incurred under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents.

“OFAC” means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

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

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“Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 2.19).

“Outstanding LC Amount” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(b).

“Overnight Bank Funding Rate” means, for any day, the rate comprised of both overnight federal funds and overnight eurodollar borrowings by U.S.-managed banking offices of depository institutions, as such composite rate shall be determined by the NYFRB as set forth on its public website from time to time, and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as an overnight bank funding rate.

“Parent Entity” means any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower.

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

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

“Patriot Act” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.13.

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

“Perfection Certificate” means the Perfection Certificate with respect to Holdings, the Borrower and the other Loan Parties in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, as the same may be supplemented from time to time to the extent required by Section 5.04(f).

“Permitted Business Acquisition” means any acquisition of all or substantially all the assets of, or all or substantially all the Equity Interests (other than directors’ qualifying shares) not previously held by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in, or merger, consolidation or amalgamation with, a person or division or line of business of a person (or any subsequent investment made in a person, division or line of business previously acquired in a Permitted Business Acquisition), if immediately after giving effect thereto:  (i) all transactions related thereto shall be consummated in accordance with applicable laws; (ii) any acquired or newly formed Subsidiary shall not be liable for any Indebtedness except for Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01; (iii) to the extent required by Section 5.10, any person acquired in such acquisition, if acquired by the Borrower or a Subsidiary Loan Party, shall be merged into the Borrower or a Subsidiary Loan Party or become, following the consummation of such acquisition in accordance with Section 5.10, a Subsidiary Loan Party; and (iv) at the time of and after giving effect (including giving effect thereto on a Pro Forma Basis) to such acquisition, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom.

“Permitted Investments” means:

	
(a)
	
direct obligations of the United States of America or any member of the European Union or any agency thereof or obligations guaranteed by the United States of America or any member of the European Union or any agency thereof, in each case with maturities not exceeding two years;

 

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(b)
	
time deposit accounts, certificates of deposit and money market deposits maturing within 180 days of the date of acquisition thereof issued by a bank or trust company that is organized under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or any foreign country recognized by the United States of America having capital, surplus and undivided profits in excess of $250,000,000 and whose long-term debt, or whose parent holding company’s long-term debt, is rated A (or such similar equivalent rating or higher by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization (as defined in Rule 436 under the Securities Act));

	
(c)
	
repurchase obligations with a term of not more than 180 days for underlying securities of the types described in clause (a) above entered into with a bank meeting the qualifications described in clause (b) above;

	
(d)
	
commercial paper, maturing not more than one year after the date of acquisition, issued by a corporation (other than an Affiliate of the Borrower) organized and in existence under the laws of the United States of America or any foreign country recognized by the United States of America with a rating at the time as of which any investment therein is made of P-1 (or higher) according to Moody’s, or A-1 (or higher) according to S&P (or such similar equivalent rating or higher by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization (as defined in Rule 436 under the Securities Act));

	
(e)
	
securities with maturities of two years or less from the date of acquisition, issued or fully guaranteed by any State, commonwealth or territory of the United States, or by any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof, and rated at least A by S&P or A by Moody’s (or such similar equivalent rating or higher by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization (as defined in Rule 436 under the Securities Act));

	
(f)
	
shares of mutual funds whose investment guidelines restrict 95% of such funds’ investments to those satisfying the provisions of clauses (a) through (e) above;

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

	
(h)
	
time deposit accounts, certificates of deposit and money market deposits in an aggregate face amount not in excess of 0.5% of the total assets of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, as of the end of the Borrower’s most recently completed fiscal year; and

	
(i)
	
instruments equivalent to those referred to in clauses (a) through (h) above denominated in any foreign currency comparable in credit quality and tenor to those referred to above and commonly used by corporations for cash management purposes in any jurisdiction outside the United States to the extent reasonably required in connection with any business conducted by any Subsidiary organized in such jurisdiction.

“Permitted Liens” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.02.

“Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund (collectively, to “Refinance”), the Indebtedness being Refinanced (or previous refinancings thereof constituting Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness) (and, in the case of revolving Indebtedness being Refinanced, to effect a corresponding reduction in the commitments with respect to such revolving Indebtedness being Refinanced); provided, that with respect to any Indebtedness being Refinanced:  (a) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal 

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amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness so Refinanced (plus unpaid accrued interest and premium (including tender premiums) thereon and underwriting discounts, defeasance costs, fees, commissions and expenses, plus an amount equal to any existing commitment unutilized thereunder and letters of credit undrawn thereunder), (b) except with respect to Section 6.01(i), the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is greater than or equal to the shorter of (i) the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness being Refinanced and (ii) the Maturity Date, (c) if the Indebtedness being Refinanced is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations under this Agreement, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall be subordinated in right of payment to such Obligations on terms in the aggregate not materially less favorable to the Lenders as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being Refinanced, (d) no Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall have obligors that are not (or would not have been) obligated with respect to the Indebtedness being Refinanced (except that a Loan Party may be added as an additional obligor) and (e) if the Indebtedness being Refinanced is secured by any Collateral, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness may be secured by such Collateral (including any Collateral pursuant to after-acquired property clauses to the extent any such Collateral secured (or would have secured) the Indebtedness being Refinanced) on terms in the aggregate not materially less favorable to the Secured Parties than those contained in the documentation (including any intercreditor agreement) governing the Indebtedness being Refinanced or on terms otherwise permitted by Section 6.02.

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

“Plan” means any employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) that is, (i) subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, (ii) sponsored or maintained (at the time of determination or at any time within the five years prior thereto) by a Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate, and (iii) in respect of which a Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

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

“Pledged Collateral” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

“Pre-Opening Expenses” means, with respect to any fiscal period, the amount of expenses (other than interest expense) incurred with respect to stores which are classified as “pre-opening expenses” or “store opening costs” (or any similar or equivalent caption) on the applicable financial statements of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries for such period, prepared in accordance with GAAP.

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

“Pro Forma Basis” means, as to any person, for any events as described below that occur subsequent to the commencement of a period for which the financial effect of such events is being calculated, and giving effect to the events for which such calculation is being made, such calculation as will 

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give pro forma effect to such events as if such events occurred on the first day of the four consecutive fiscal quarter period ended on or before the occurrence of such event (the “Reference Period”):  (i) pro forma effect shall be given to any Asset Sale, any acquisition, Investment, capital expenditure, construction, repair, replacement, improvement, development, Disposition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation (including the Transactions) (or any similar transaction or transactions not otherwise permitted under Section 6.04 or 6.05 that require a waiver or consent of the Required Lenders and such waiver or consent has been obtained), any dividend, distribution or other similar payment, any designation of any Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary and any Subsidiary Redesignation, New Project, and any restructurings of the business of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries has determined to make and/or made and are expected to have a continuing impact and are factually supportable, which would include cost savings resulting from head count reduction, closure of facilities and similar operational and other cost savings, which adjustments the Borrower determines are reasonable as set forth in a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower (the foregoing, together with any transactions related thereto or in connection therewith, the “relevant transactions”), in each case that occurred during the Reference Period (or, in the case of determinations made pursuant to the definition of the term “Pro Forma Compliance” or pursuant to Article VI (other than Section 6.11), occurring during the Reference Period or thereafter and through and including the date upon which the respective Permitted Business Acquisition or relevant transaction is consummated), (ii) in making any determination on a Pro Forma Basis, (x) all Indebtedness (including Indebtedness issued, incurred or assumed as a result of, or to finance, any relevant transactions and for which the financial effect is being calculated, whether incurred under this Agreement or otherwise, but excluding normal fluctuations in revolving Indebtedness incurred for working capital purposes, in each case not to finance any acquisition) issued, incurred, assumed or permanently repaid during the Reference Period (or, in the case of  determinations made pursuant to the definition of the term “Pro Forma Compliance” or pursuant to Article VI (other than Section 6.11), occurring during the Reference Period or thereafter and through and including the date upon which the respective Permitted Business Acquisition or relevant transaction is consummated) shall be deemed to have been issued, incurred, assumed or permanently repaid at the beginning of such period, and (y) Interest Expense of such person attributable to interest on any Indebtedness, for which pro forma effect is being given as provided in the preceding clause (x), bearing floating interest rates shall be computed on a pro forma basis as if the rates that would have been in effect during the period for which pro forma effect is being given had been actually in effect during such periods, and (z) in giving effect to clause (i) above with respect to each New Project which commences operations and records not less than one full fiscal quarter’s operations during the Reference Period, the operating results of such New Project shall be annualized on a straight line basis during such period, taking into account any seasonality adjustments determined by the Borrower in good faith and (iii) (A) any Subsidiary Redesignation then being designated, effect shall be given to such Subsidiary Redesignation and all other Subsidiary Redesignations after the first day of the relevant Reference Period and on or prior to the date of the respective Subsidiary Redesignation then being designated, collectively, and (B) any designation of a Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, effect shall be given to such designation and all other designations of Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries after the first day of the relevant Reference Period and on or prior to the date of the then applicable designation of a Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, collectively.

Pro forma calculations made pursuant to the definition of the term “Pro Forma Basis” shall be determined in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower and may include, adjustments to reflect (1) operating expense reductions and other operating improvements, synergies or cost savings (net of continuing associated expenses) reasonably expected to result from any actions taken or to be taken in connection with any relevant pro forma event (including, to the extent applicable, the Transactions), to the extent such actions are taken within eighteen (18) months after the date of such relevant pro forma event and such adjustments would (x) be permitted to be reflected in financial statements prepared in compliance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act or (y) 

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constitute such other adjustments that, when taken together with all other additional adjustments pursuant to this clause (1)(y) for any Reference Period, shall not exceed an amount equal to 15% of EBITDA for such Reference Period (without giving effect to any adjustments pursuant to this clause (1)); and (2) all adjustments of the type used in connection with the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA as set forth in Schedule 1.01C to the extent such adjustments, without duplication, continue to be applicable.  The Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower setting forth such demonstrable or additional operating expense reductions and other operating improvements, synergies or cost savings and information and calculations supporting them in reasonable detail.

For purposes of this definition, any amount in a currency other than Dollars will be converted to Dollars based on the average exchange rate for such currency for the most recent twelve month period immediately prior to the date of determination in a manner consistent with that used in calculating EBITDA for the applicable period.

“Pro Forma Compliance” means, at any date of determination, that the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be in compliance, on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect on a Pro Forma Basis to the relevant transactions (including the assumption, the issuance, incurrence and permanent repayment of Indebtedness), with the Financial Performance Covenants recomputed as at the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for which the financial statements and certificates required pursuant to Section 5.04 have been or were required to have been delivered (provided, that prior to delivery of financial statements for the first full fiscal quarter ended after the Effective Date, such covenant shall be deemed to have applied to the Borrower’s most recently completed fiscal quarter).

“Projections” means the projections of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries and any forward-looking statements (including statements with respect to booked business) of such entities furnished to the Lenders or the Administrative Agent by or on behalf of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries prior to the Effective Date.

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

“Qualified Equity Interests” means any Equity Interests of Holdings or any Parent Entity other than Disqualified Stock.

“Real Property” means, collectively, all right, title and interest (including, without limitation, any leasehold estate) in and to any and all parcels of or interests in real property owned in fee or leased by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party, together with, in each case, all easements, hereditaments and appurtenances relating thereto, all improvements, and appurtenant fixtures and equipment, incidental to the ownership, lease or operation thereof.

“Recipient” means (a) the Administrative Agent, (b) any Lender and (c) any Issuing Bank, as applicable.

“Reference Period” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of the term “Pro Forma Basis.”

“Refinance” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of the term “Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness,” “Refinancing” and “Refinanced” shall have a meaning correlative thereto.

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Related Sections” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.04.

“Release” means any spilling, leaking, seepage, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, disposing, depositing, emanating or migrating in, into, onto or through the Environment.

“Reportable Event” means any reportable event as defined in Section 4043(c) of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder, other than those events as to which the 30-day notice period referred to in Section 4043(c) of ERISA has been waived, with respect to a Plan (other than a Plan maintained by an ERISA Affiliate that is considered an ERISA Affiliate only pursuant to subsection (m) or (o) of Section 414 of the Code).

“Required Lenders” means, subject to Section 2.21, at any time, Lenders having Revolving Credit Exposures and unused Commitments representing more than 50% of the sum of the total Revolving Credit Exposures and unused Commitments at such time; provided that for purposes of declaring the Loans to be due and payable pursuant to Article VII, and for all purposes after the Loans become due and payable pursuant to Article VII or the Commitments expire or terminate, then, as to each Lender, clause (a) of the definition of Swingline Exposure shall only be applicable for purposes of determining its Revolving Credit Exposure to the extent such Lender shall have funded its participation in the outstanding Swingline Loans to the extent required under Section 2.05(c).

“Requirement of Law” means, as to any Person, the Certificate of Incorporation and By Laws or other organizational or governing documents of such Person, and any law, treaty, rule or regulation or determination of an arbitrator or a court or other Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.

“Responsible Officer” of any person means any executive officer or Financial Officer of such person and any other officer or similar official thereof responsible for the administration of the obligations of such person in respect of this Agreement.

“Restricted Payments” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.06.

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“Revolving Credit Exposure” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the sum of the outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s Revolving Loans, its LC Exposure and its Swingline Exposure at such time.

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

“S&P” means S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global Inc.

“Sale and Lease-Back Transaction” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.03.

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

“Sanctioned Person” means, at any time, (a) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by OFAC, the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member state, Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom or other relevant sanctions authority, (b) any Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country or (c) any Person owned or controlled by any such Person or Persons described in the foregoing clauses (a) or (b).

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

“SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Secured Obligations” means all Obligations, together with all Swap Obligations and Banking Services Obligations owing to one or more Persons who are Lenders (or Affiliates of any Lenders) on the Effective Date or when entering into the relevant Swap Agreements or Banking Services Agreements; provided that the definition of “Secured Obligations” shall not create or include any guarantee by any Loan Party of (or grant of security interest by any Loan Party to support, as applicable) any Excluded Swap Obligations of such Loan Party for purposes of determining any obligations of any Loan Party.

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

“Securities Act” means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

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“Similar Business” means a business, the majority of whose revenues are derived from (i) the activities of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the Effective Date, (ii) any business or activity that is a natural outgrowth of, is reasonably similar or complementary thereto or a reasonable extension, development or expansion of any such business or any business similar, reasonably related, incidental, complementary or ancillary to any of the foregoing or (iii) any business that in the Borrower’s good faith business judgment constitutes a reasonable diversification of businesses conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

“Special Flood Hazard Area” means an area identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (or any successor agency) as a special flood hazard area.

 “Specified Swap Obligation” 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 or any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.

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

“Subordinated Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary the payment of which is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations.

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

“Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Borrower.  Notwithstanding the foregoing (and except for purposes of the definition of Unrestricted Subsidiary contained herein and for the purposes of Sections 3.09, 3.13, 3.15, 3.16, 3.24, 5.03, 5.09 and clause (k) of Article VII), an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be deemed not to be a Subsidiary of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries for purposes of this Agreement.

“Subsidiary Loan Party” means (a) each Wholly-Owned Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not an Excluded Subsidiary and (b) any other Subsidiary of the Borrower that may be designated by the Borrower (by way of delivering to the Administrative Agent a supplement to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, duly executed by such Subsidiary) in its sole discretion from time to time to be a guarantor in respect of the Secured Obligations and the obligations in respect of the Loan Documents, whereupon such Subsidiary shall be obligated to comply with the other requirements of Section 

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5.10(d) as if it were newly acquired.  The Subsidiary Loan Parties on the Effective Date are set forth on Schedule 1.01E.

“Subsidiary Redesignation” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” contained in this Section 1.01.

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

“Swap Obligations” means any and all obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor), under (a) any and all Swap Agreements permitted hereunder with Persons who are Lenders (or Affiliates of any Lenders) on the Effective Date or when entering into the relevant Swap Agreements, and (b) any and all cancellations, buy backs, reversals, terminations or assignments of any such Swap Agreement transaction.

“Swingline Exposure” means, at any time, the aggregate principal amount of all Swingline Loans outstanding at such time.  The Swingline Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be the sum of (a) its Applicable Percentage of the total Swingline Exposure at such time  other than with respect to any Swingline Loans made by such Lender in its capacity as a Swingline Lender and (b) the aggregate principal amount of all Swingline Loans made by such Lender as a Swingline Lender outstanding at such time (less the amount of participations funded by the other Lenders in such Swingline Loans).

“Swingline Lender” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as lender of Swingline Loans hereunder.

“Swingline Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.05.

“Syndication Agent” means Bank of America, N.A., in its capacity as syndication agent for the credit facility evidenced by this Agreement.

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

“Test Period” means, on any date of determination, the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower then most recently ended (taken as one accounting period) for which financial statements have been (or were required to be) delivered pursuant to Section 5.04(a) or 5.04(b) and, initially, the four fiscal quarter period ended December 31, 2017.

“Total Net Leverage Ratio” means, on any date, the ratio of (a) (i) the aggregate principal amount of Consolidated Debt of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries outstanding as of the last day of the Test Period most recently ended as of such date less (ii) to the extent in excess of $50,000,000, the aggregate amount of Unrestricted Cash and unrestricted Permitted Investments of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the last day of such Test Period to (b) EBITDA for the Test Period most recently ended as of such 

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date, all determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that the Total Net Leverage Ratio shall be determined for the relevant Test Period on a Pro Forma Basis.

“Total Revolving Credit Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of the outstanding principal amount of all Lenders’ Revolving Loans, their LC Exposure and their Swingline Exposure at such time; provided, that clause (a) of the definition of Swingline Exposure shall only be applicable to the extent Lenders shall have funded their respective participations in the outstanding Swingline Loans to the extent required under Section 2.05(c).

“Transactions” means the execution, delivery and performance by the Loan Parties of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the creation of the Liens pursuant to the Collateral Documents, the borrowing of Loans and other credit extensions, the use of the proceeds thereof, the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder and the payment of all fees and expenses to be paid in connection with the foregoing.

 

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

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

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

“Unrestricted Cash” shall mean cash of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that would not appear as “restricted” on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means (1) any Subsidiary of the Borrower identified on Schedule 1.01F, (2) any other Subsidiary of the Borrower, whether now owned or acquired or created after the Effective Date, that is designated by the Borrower as an Unrestricted Subsidiary hereunder by written notice to the Administrative Agent; provided, that the Borrower shall only be permitted to so designate a new Unrestricted Subsidiary after the Effective Date so long as (a) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, (b) such Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be capitalized (to the extent capitalized by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries) through Investments as permitted by, and in compliance with, Section 6.04, and (c) without duplication of clause (b), any assets owned by such Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time of the initial designation thereof shall be treated as Investments pursuant to Section 6.04 and (3) any subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.  The Borrower may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Subsidiary for purposes of this Agreement (each, a “Subsidiary Redesignation”); provided, that (i) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom and (ii) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an officer’s certificate executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, certifying to the best of such officer’s knowledge, compliance with the requirements of preceding clause (i).

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

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

“Voting Stock” shall mean, with respect to any person, such person’s Equity Interests having the right to vote for the election of directors of such person under ordinary circumstances.

“Weighted Average Life to Maturity” when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, means the number of years obtained by dividing (1) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payment of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment by (2) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.

“Wholly-Owned Domestic Subsidiary” of any person means a Domestic Subsidiary of such person that is a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary.

“Wholly-Owned Foreign Subsidiary” of any person means a Foreign Subsidiary of such person that is a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary.

“Wholly-Owned Subsidiary” of any person means a subsidiary of such person, all of the Equity Interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares or nominee or other similar shares required pursuant to applicable law) are owned by such person or another Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of such person.  Unless the context otherwise requires, “Wholly-Owned Subsidiary” shall mean a Subsidiary of the Borrower that is a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower.

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

“Write-Down and Conversion Powers” means, with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

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

SECTION 1.03.Terms Generally.  The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined.  Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms.  The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”.  The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”.  The word “law” shall be construed as referring to all statutes, rules, regulations, codes and other laws (including official rulings and interpretations thereunder having the force of law or with which affected Persons customarily comply), and all judgments, orders and decrees, of all Governmental Authorities.  Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, 

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restatements, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any definition of or reference to any statute, rule or regulation shall be construed as referring thereto as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (including by succession of comparable successor laws), (c) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns (subject to any restrictions on assignment set forth herein) and, in the case of any Governmental Authority, any other Governmental Authority that shall have succeeded to any or all functions thereof, (d) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (e) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement and (f) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

SECTION 1.04.Accounting Terms; GAAP.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided that, if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the date hereof in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision  amended in accordance herewith.  Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, (a) all terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made (i) without giving effect to any election under Accounting Standards Codification 825-10-25 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of the Borrower or any Subsidiary at “fair value”, as defined therein and (ii) without giving effect to any treatment of Indebtedness in respect of convertible debt instruments under Accounting Standards Codification 470-20 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any such Indebtedness in a reduced or bifurcated manner as described therein, and such Indebtedness shall at all times be valued at the full stated principal amount thereof and (b) any obligations relating to a lease that was accounted for by such Person as an operating lease or a financing lease as of the Effective Date and any similar lease entered into after the Effective Date by such Person shall be deemed to be obligations relating to an operating lease or a financing lease, as applicable, and not as Capital Lease Obligations under this Agreement.

SECTION 1.05.Currency Equivalents.  For purposes of determining compliance as of any date with Sections 6.01, 6.02, 6.03, 6.04, 6.05, 6.06, 6.07 or 6.09, amounts incurred or outstanding in currencies other than U.S. Dollars shall be translated into Dollars at the exchange rates in effect on the first Business Day of the fiscal quarter in which such determination occurs or in respect of which such determination is being made, as such exchange rates shall be determined in good faith by the Borrower.  No Default or Event of Default shall arise as a result of any limitation or threshold set forth in U.S. Dollars in Sections 6.01, 6.02, 6.03, 6.04, 6.05, 6.06, 6.07 or 6.09 or paragraph (f) or (j) of Article VII being exceeded solely as a result of changes in currency exchange rates from those applicable on the first day of the fiscal quarter in which such determination occurs or in respect of which such determination is being made.

SECTION 1.06.Status of Obligations.  In the event that the Borrower or any other Loan Party shall at any time issue or have outstanding any Subordinated Indebtedness, the Borrower shall 

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

SECTION 1.07.Interest Rates.  The Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to, the administration, submission or any other matter related to the rates in the definition of “LIBO Rate” or with respect to any comparable or successor rate thereto, or replacement rate therefor.

SECTION 1.08.Amendment and Restatement of Existing Credit Agreement.  The parties to this Agreement agree that, on the Effective Date, the terms and provisions of the Existing Credit Agreement shall be and hereby are amended, superseded and restated in their entirety by the terms and provisions of this Agreement. This Agreement is not intended to and shall not constitute a novation. All loans made and obligations incurred under the Existing Credit Agreement which are outstanding on the Effective Date shall continue as Loans and Secured Obligations under (and shall be governed by the terms of) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Without limiting the foregoing, upon the effectiveness hereof: (a) all references in the “Loan Documents” (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) to the “Administrative Agent,” the “Credit Agreement” and the “Loan Documents” shall be deemed to refer to the Administrative Agent, this Agreement and the Loan Documents, (b) Letters of Credit which remain outstanding on the Effective Date shall continue as Letters of Credit under (and shall be governed by the terms of) this Agreement, (c) all obligations constituting “Obligations” with any Lender or any Affiliate of any Lender which are outstanding on the Effective Date shall continue as Obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (d) the liens and security interests in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties securing payment of the Secured Obligations (and all filings with any Governmental Authority in connection therewith) are in all respects continuing and in full force and effect with respect to all Secured Obligations, (e) the Administrative Agent shall, in consultation with the Borrower, make such reallocations, sales, assignments or other relevant actions in respect of each Lender’s credit and loan exposure under the Existing Credit Agreement as are necessary in the judgment of the Administrative Agent in order that each such Lender’s outstanding Revolving Loans hereunder reflect such Lender’s ratable share of the outstanding Revolving Loans on the Effective Date, (f) the Obligors hereby agree to compensate each Lender (including each Departing Lender) for any and all losses, costs and expenses incurred by such Lender in connection with the sale and assignment of any Eurodollar Loans and such reallocation described above, in each case on the terms and in the manner set forth in Section 2.16 of the Existing Credit Agreement, (g) the outstanding “Loans” under the Existing Credit Agreement of each Departing Lender shall be repaid in full (accompanied by any accrued and unpaid interest and fees thereon), each Departing Lender’s “Commitment” under the Existing Credit Agreement shall be terminated and each Departing Lender shall not be a Lender hereunder and (h) each of the Obligors reaffirms the terms and conditions of the “Loan Documents” (as referred to and defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) executed by it, as modified and/or restated by the Loan Documents, and acknowledges and agrees that each “Loan Document” (as referred to and defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) executed by it, as modified and/or restated by the Loan Documents, remains in full force and effect and is hereby ratified, reaffirmed and confirmed.

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Article II
The Credits

SECTION 2.01.Commitments.  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender (severally and not jointly) agrees to make Revolving Loans to the Borrower in Dollars from time to time during the Availability Period in an aggregate principal amount that will not result (after giving effect to any application of proceeds of such Borrowing to any Swingline Loans outstanding pursuant to Section 2.10(a)) in (a) such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding such Lender’s Commitment or (b) the Total Revolving Credit Exposures exceeding the Aggregate Commitment.  Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans.

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

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

(c)At the commencement of each Interest Period for any Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $500,000 and not less than $1,000,000.  At the time that each ABR Revolving Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $500,000 and not less than $1,000,000; provided that an ABR Revolving Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount that is equal to the entire unused balance of the Aggregate Commitment or that is required to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.06(e).  Each Swingline Loan shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $100,000 and not less than $1,000,000.  Borrowings of more than one Type and Class may be outstanding at the same time; provided that there shall not at any time be more than a total of ten (10) Eurodollar Borrowings outstanding.

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

SECTION 2.03.Requests for Revolving Borrowings.  To request a Revolving Borrowing, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by telephone (a) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, three (3) Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing or (b) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, one (1) Business Day before the date of the proposed Borrowing; provided that any such notice of an ABR Revolving Borrowing to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.06(e) may be given not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City

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time, on the date of the proposed Borrowing.  Each such telephonic Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery, facsimile or electronic mail to the Administrative Agent of a written Borrowing Request signed by the Borrower.  Each such telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:

(i)the aggregate principal amount of the requested Borrowing;

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

(iii)whether such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing;

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

(v)the location and number of the Borrower’s account to which funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of Section 2.07.

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

SECTION 2.04.Intentionally Omitted.

SECTION 2.05.Swingline Loans.  (a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swingline Lender agrees to make Swingline Loans in Dollars to the Borrower from time to time during the Availability Period, in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding that will not result in (i) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Swingline Loans exceeding $15,000,000, (ii) the Swingline Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding its Commitment or (iii) the Total Revolving Credit Exposures exceeding the Aggregate Commitment; provided that the Swingline Lender shall not be required to make a Swingline Loan to refinance an outstanding Swingline Loan.  Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Swingline Loans.

(b)To request a Swingline Loan, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by telephone (confirmed by facsimile or electronic mail), not later than 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the day of a proposed Swingline Loan.  Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the requested date (which shall be a Business Day) and amount of the requested Swingline Loan.  The Administrative Agent will promptly advise the Swingline Lender of any such notice received from the Borrower.  The Swingline Lender shall make each Swingline Loan available to the Borrower by means of a credit to the general deposit account of the Borrower with the Swingline Lender (or, in the case of a Swingline Loan made to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.06(e), by remittance to the relevant Issuing Bank) by 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the requested date of such Swingline Loan.

(c)The Swingline Lender may by written notice given to the Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on any Business Day require the Lenders to acquire participations on such Business Day in all or a portion of the Swingline Loans outstanding.  Such notice shall specify the aggregate amount of Swingline Loans in which Lenders will participate.  Promptly upon 

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receipt of such notice, the Administrative Agent will give notice thereof to each  Lender, specifying in such notice such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans.  Each Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees, upon receipt of notice as provided above, to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Swingline Lender, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans.  Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations in Swingline Loans pursuant to this paragraph is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.  Each Lender shall comply with its obligation under this paragraph by wire transfer of immediately available funds, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.07 with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.07 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Lenders), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the Swingline Lender the amounts so received by it from the Lenders.  The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower of any participations in any Swingline Loan acquired pursuant to this paragraph, and thereafter payments in respect of such Swingline Loan shall be made to the Administrative Agent and not to the Swingline Lender.  Any amounts received by the Swingline Lender from the Borrower (or other party on behalf of the Borrower) in respect of a Swingline Loan after receipt by the Swingline Lender of the proceeds of a sale of participations therein shall be promptly remitted to the Administrative Agent; any such amounts received by the Administrative Agent shall be promptly remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders that shall have made their payments pursuant to this paragraph and to the Swingline Lender, as their interests may appear; provided that any such payment so remitted shall be repaid to the Swingline Lender or to the Administrative Agent, as applicable, if and to the extent such payment is required to be refunded to the Borrower for any reason.  The purchase of participations in a Swingline Loan pursuant to this paragraph shall not relieve the Borrower of any default in the payment thereof.

(d)The Swingline Lender may be replaced at any time by written agreement among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the replaced Swingline Lender and the successor Swingline Lender.  The Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of any such replacement of the Swingline Lender.  At the time any such replacement shall become effective, the Borrower shall pay all unpaid interest accrued for the account of the replaced Swingline Lender pursuant to Section 2.13(a).  From and after the effective date of any such replacement, (i) the successor Swingline Lender shall have all the rights and obligations of the replaced Swingline Lender under this Agreement with respect to Swingline Loans made thereafter and (ii) references herein to the term “Swingline Lender” shall be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous Swingline Lender, or to such successor and all previous Swingline Lenders, as the context shall require.  After the replacement of a Swingline Lender hereunder, the replaced Swingline Lender shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of a Swingline Lender under this Agreement with respect to Swingline Loans made by it prior to its replacement, but shall not be required to make additional Swingline Loans.

(e)Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Swingline Lender, the Swingline Lender may resign as a Swingline Lender at any time upon thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and the Lenders, in which case, such Swingline Lender shall be replaced in accordance with Section 2.05(d) above.

SECTION 2.06.Letters of Credit.  (a) General.  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may request the issuance of Letters of Credit denominated in Dollars as the applicant thereof for the support of its or its Subsidiaries’ obligations, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the relevant Issuing Bank, at any time and from time to time during the Availability Period.  In the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any form of letter of credit application or other agreement submitted by the Borrower to, or entered into by the Borrower with, the relevant Issuing Bank relating to 

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any Letter of Credit, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the relevant Issuing Bank shall have no obligation hereunder to issue, and shall not issue, any Letter of Credit the proceeds of which would be made available to any Person (i) to fund any activity or business of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of any Sanctions, (ii) in any manner that would result in a violation of any Sanctions by any party to this Agreement or (iii) in any manner that would result in a violation of one or more policies of such Issuing Bank applicable to letters of credit generally.  The Borrower unconditionally and irrevocably agrees that, in connection with any Letter of Credit issued for the support of any Subsidiary’s obligations as provided in the first sentence of this paragraph, the Borrower will be fully responsible for the reimbursement of LC Disbursements in accordance with the terms hereof, the payment of interest thereon and the payment of fees due under Section 2.12(b) to the same extent as if it were the sole account party in respect of such Letter of Credit (the Borrower hereby irrevocably waiving any defenses that might otherwise be available to it as a guarantor or surety of the obligations of such a Subsidiary that is an account party in respect of any such Letter of Credit).  The letters of credit identified on Schedule 2.06 (the “Existing Letters of Credit”) shall be deemed to be “Letters of Credit” issued on the Effective Date for all purposes of the Loan Documents.

(b)Notice of Issuance, Amendment, Renewal, Extension; Certain Conditions.  To request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or the amendment, renewal or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the Borrower shall hand deliver or facsimile (or transmit by electronic communication, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the relevant Issuing Bank) to an Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent (reasonably in advance of the requested date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension) a notice requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit, or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended, renewed or extended, and specifying the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (which shall be a Business Day), the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with paragraph (c) of this Section), the amount of such Letter of Credit, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof and such other information as shall be necessary to prepare, amend, renew or extend such Letter of Credit.  If requested by an Issuing Bank, the Borrower also shall submit a letter of credit application on the relevant Issuing Bank’s standard form in connection with any request for a Letter of Credit.  A Letter of Credit shall be issued, amended, renewed or extended only if (and upon issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of each Letter of Credit the Borrower shall be deemed to represent and warrant that), after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (i) the amount of the LC Exposure shall not exceed $75,000,000, (ii) the Total Revolving Credit Exposures shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitment, (iii) each Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment, (iv) the sum of (x) the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit issued by any Issuing Bank at such time plus (y) the aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements made by such Issuing Bank that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower at such time (such sum for any Issuing Bank at any time of determination, its “Outstanding LC Amount”) shall not exceed such Issuing Bank’s Letter of Credit Commitment (provided that, notwithstanding this clause (iv) but at all times subject to the immediately preceding clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) and the immediately succeeding clause (v), an Issuing Bank may, in its sole discretion, agree to issue, amend, renew or extent a Letter of Credit if such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension would cause such Issuing Bank’s Outstanding LC Amount to exceed its Letter of Credit Commitment) and (v) the aggregate face amount of all Letters of Credit issued by any Issuing Bank shall not exceed such Issuing Bank’s Letter of Credit Commitment.  The Borrower may, at any time and from time to time, reduce the Letter of Credit Commitment of any Issuing Bank with the consent of such Issuing Bank; provided that the Borrower shall not reduce the Letter of Credit Commitment of any Issuing Bank if, after giving effect to such reduction, the conditions set forth in the immediately preceding clauses (i) through (v) shall not be satisfied.

 

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(c)Expiration Date.  Except to the extent Cash Collateralized or backstopped pursuant to arrangements reasonably acceptable to the relevant Issuing Bank, each Letter of Credit shall expire (or be subject to termination by notice from the relevant Issuing Bank to the beneficiary thereof) at or prior to the close of business on the earlier of (i) the date one year after the date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any renewal or extension thereof, one year after such renewal or extension) and (ii) the date that is five (5) Business Days prior to the Maturity Date.  For the avoidance of doubt, if the Maturity Date shall be extended pursuant to Section 2.22, “Maturity Date” as referenced in this clause (c) shall refer to the Maturity Date as extended pursuant to Section 2.22; provided that, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement (including Section 2.22 hereof) or any other Loan Document to the contrary, the Maturity Date, as such term is used in reference to any Issuing Bank or any Letter of Credit issued thereby, may not be extended without the prior written consent of such Issuing Bank.

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

(e)Reimbursement.  If any Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement by paying to the Administrative Agent in Dollars the amount equal to such LC Disbursement, calculated as of the date such Issuing Bank made such LC Disbursement not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the Business Day immediately following the date that the Borrower receives notice that such LC Disbursement is made; provided that, if such LC Disbursement is not less than $1,000,000, the Borrower may, subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section 2.03 or 2.05 that such payment be financed with an ABR Revolving Borrowing or Swingline Loan in an equivalent amount of such LC Disbursement and, to the extent so financed, the Borrower’s obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting ABR Revolving Borrowing or Swingline Loan.  If the Borrower fails to make such payment when due, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the applicable LC Disbursement, the payment then due from the Borrower in respect thereof and such Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof.  Promptly following receipt of such notice, each Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent its Applicable Percentage of the payment then due from the Borrower, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.07 with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.07 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Lenders), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the relevant Issuing Bank the amounts so received by it from the Lenders.  Promptly following receipt by the Administrative Agent of any payment from the Borrower pursuant to this paragraph, the Administrative Agent shall distribute such payment to the relevant Issuing Bank or, to the extent that Lenders have made payments pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse such Issuing Bank, then to such Lenders and such Issuing Bank as their interests may appear.  Any payment made by a Lender pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse an Issuing Bank for any LC Disbursement (other than the funding of Revolving Loans or a Swingline Loan as contemplated above) 

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shall not constitute a Loan and shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation to reimburse such LC Disbursement.

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

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

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

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Interest accrued pursuant to this paragraph shall be for the account of such Issuing Bank, except that interest accrued on and after the date of payment by any Lender pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section to reimburse such Issuing Bank shall be for the account of such Lender to the extent of such payment.

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

(B) Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Issuing Bank, the Issuing Bank may resign as the Issuing Bank at any time upon thirty days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and the Lenders, in which case, the Issuing Bank shall be replaced in accordance with Section 2.06(i)(A) above.

(j)Cash Collateralization.  If any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, on the Business Day that the Borrower receives notice from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders (or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated, Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 50% of the total LC Exposure) demanding the deposit of Cash Collateral pursuant to this paragraph, the Borrower shall either deposit cash in an account with the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the Lenders (the “LC Collateral Account”) or provide other form(s) of Cash Collateral, in an aggregate amount equal to 105% of the amount of the LC Exposure as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon; provided that the obligation to deposit such Cash Collateral shall become effective immediately, and such Cash Collateral shall become immediately due and payable, without demand or other notice of any kind, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default with respect to the Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of Article VII.  Such deposit shall be held by the Administrative Agent as collateral for the payment and performance of the Secured Obligations.  The Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over such account and the Borrower hereby grants the Administrative Agent a security interest in the LC Collateral Account.  Other than any interest earned on the investment of such deposits, which investments shall be made at the option and sole discretion of the Administrative Agent and at the Borrower’s risk and expense, such deposits shall not bear interest.  Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in such account.  Moneys in such account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse the relevant Issuing Bank for LC Disbursements for which it has not been reimbursed and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Borrower for the LC Exposure at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated (but subject to the consent of Lenders with LC Exposure  representing greater than 50% of the total LC Exposure), be applied to satisfy other Secured Obligations.  If the Borrower is required to provide an amount of Cash Collateral hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default, such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Borrower within three (3) Business Days after all Events of Default have been cured or waived.

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(k)Issuing Bank Agreements.  Each Issuing Bank agrees that, unless otherwise requested by the Administrative Agent, such Issuing Bank shall report in writing to the Administrative Agent (i) on or prior to each Business Day on which such Issuing Bank expects to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit, the date of such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension, and the aggregate face amount of the Letters of Credit to be issued, amended, renewed or extended by it and outstanding after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (and whether the amount thereof changed), it being understood that such Issuing Bank shall not permit any issuance, renewal, extension or amendment resulting in an increase in the amount of any Letter of Credit to occur without first obtaining written confirmation from the Administrative Agent that it is then permitted under this Agreement, (ii) on each Business Day on which such Issuing Bank pays any amount in respect of one or more drawings under Letters of Credit, the date of such payment(s) and the amount of such payment(s), (iii) on any Business Day on which the Borrower fails to reimburse any amount required to be reimbursed by such Issuing Bank on such day, the date of such failure and the amount of such payment in respect of Letters of Credit and (iv) on any other Business Day, such other information as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request.

SECTION 2.07.Funding of Borrowings.  (a) Each Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds by 12:00 noon, New York City time, to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders; provided that Swingline Loans shall be made as provided in Section 2.05.  Except in respect of the provisions of this Agreement covering the reimbursement of Letters of Credit, the Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Borrower by promptly crediting the funds so received in the aforesaid account of the Administrative Agent to an account of the Borrower maintained with the Administrative Agent in New York City or Chicago and designated by the Borrower in the applicable Borrowing Request; provided that ABR Revolving Loans made to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.06(e) shall be remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Issuing Bank.

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

SECTION 2.08.Interest Elections.  (a)  Each Revolving Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request and, in the case of a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request.  Thereafter, the Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section.  The Borrower may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a 

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separate Borrowing.  This Section shall not apply to Swingline Borrowings, which may not be converted or continued.

(b)To make an election pursuant to this Section, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such election by telephone by the time that a Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.03 if the Borrower were requesting a Revolving Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election to be made on the effective date of such election.  Each such telephonic Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery, facsimile or electronic mail to the Administrative Agent of a written Interest Election Request signed by the Borrower.  Notwithstanding any contrary provision herein, this Section shall not be construed to permit the Borrower to elect an Interest Period for Eurodollar Loans that does not comply with Section 2.02(d).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SECTION 2.09.Termination and Reduction of Commitments.  (a) Unless previously terminated, the Commitments shall terminate on the Maturity Date.

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(b)The Borrower may at any time terminate, or from time to time reduce, the Commitments; provided that (i) each reduction of the Commitments shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000 and (ii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the Loans in accordance with Section 2.11, the Total Revolving Credit Exposures would exceed the Aggregate Commitment.

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

SECTION 2.10.Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt.  (a) The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Loan on the Maturity Date and (ii) to the Swingline Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Swingline Loan on the earlier of the Maturity Date and the fifth (5th) Business Day after such Swingline Loan is made; provided that on each date that a Revolving Borrowing is made, the Borrower shall repay all Swingline Loans then outstanding and the proceeds of any such Borrowing shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to repay any Swingline Loans outstanding.

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

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

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

(e)Any Lender may request that Loans made by it be evidenced by a promissory note.  In such event, the Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns) and in the form attached hereto as Exhibit H.  Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 9.04) be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form.

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SECTION 2.11.Prepayment of Loans.  The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing in whole or in part, subject to prior notice in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.11.  The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent (and, in the case of prepayment of a Swingline Loan, the Swingline Lender) by written notice (promptly followed by telephonic confirmation of such request) of any prepayment hereunder (i) in the case of prepayment of a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, three (3) Business Days before the date of prepayment, (ii) in the case of prepayment of an ABR Revolving Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, one (1) Business Day before the date of prepayment or (iii) in the case of prepayment of a Swingline Loan, not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the date of prepayment.  Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid; provided that, if a notice of prepayment is given in connection with a conditional notice of termination or reduction of the Commitments as contemplated by Section 2.09, then such notice of prepayment may be revoked if such notice of termination is revoked in accordance with Section 2.09.  Promptly following receipt of any such notice relating to a Revolving Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof.  Each partial prepayment of any Revolving Borrowing shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of an advance of a Revolving Borrowing of the same Type as provided in Section 2.02.  Each prepayment of a Revolving Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing.  Prepayments shall be accompanied by (i) accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.13 and (ii) break funding payments pursuant to Section 2.16.  If at any time the Total Revolving Credit Exposures exceed the Aggregate Commitment, the Borrower shall immediately repay Borrowings or Cash Collateralize LC Exposure in an account with the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.06(j), as applicable, in an aggregate principal amount sufficient to cause the aggregate principal amount of the Total Revolving Credit Exposures to be less than or equal to the Aggregate Commitment.

SECTION 2.12.Fees.  (a) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a commitment fee, which shall accrue at the Applicable Rate on the daily amount of the Available Revolving Commitment of such Lender during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the date on which such Lender’s Commitment terminates; provided that, if such Lender continues to have any Revolving Credit Exposure after its Commitment terminates, then such commitment fee shall continue to accrue on the daily amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure from and including the date on which its Commitment terminates to but excluding the date on which such Lender ceases to have any Revolving Credit Exposure.  Accrued commitment fees shall be payable in arrears on the fifteenth Business Day following the last day of March, June, September and December of each year and on the date on which the Commitments terminate, commencing on the first such date to occur after the date hereof; provided that any commitment fees accruing after the date on which the Commitments terminate shall be payable on demand.  All commitment fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).

(b)The Borrower agrees to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a participation fee with respect to its participations in Letters of Credit, which shall accrue at the same Applicable Rate used to determine the interest rate applicable to Eurodollar Revolving Loans on the average daily amount of such Lender’s LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date on which such Lender’s Commitment terminates and the date on which such Lender ceases to have any LC Exposure and (ii) to the relevant Issuing Bank for its own account a fronting fee, which shall accrue at the rate of 0.125% per annum on the average daily amount of the LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) attributable to Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank during the period from and including the Effective Date to

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but excluding the later of the date of termination of the Commitments and the date on which there ceases to be any LC Exposure, as well as such Issuing Bank’s standard fees and commissions with respect to the issuance, amendment, cancellation, negotiation, transfer, presentment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or processing of drawings thereunder.  Participation fees and fronting fees accrued through and including the last day of March, June, September and December of each year shall be payable on the fifteenth Business Day following such last day, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Effective Date; provided that all such fees shall be payable on the date on which the Commitments terminate and any such fees accruing after the date on which the Commitments terminate shall be payable on demand.  Any other fees payable to any Issuing Bank pursuant to this paragraph shall be payable within ten (10) days after demand.  All participation fees and fronting fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).

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

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

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

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

(c)Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any principal of or interest on any Loan or any fee or other amount payable by the Borrower hereunder is not paid when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, unless waived by the Required Lenders pursuant to Section 9.02, such overdue amount shall bear interest, after as well as before judgment, at a rate per annum equal to (i) in the case of overdue principal of any Loan, 2% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loans as provided in the preceding paragraphs of this Section or (ii) in the case of any other amount, 2% plus the rate applicable to ABR Loans as provided in paragraph (a) of this Section.

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

(e)All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, except that interest computed by reference to the Alternate Base Rate at times when the Alternate Base Rate is based on the Prime Rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).  The applicable Alternate Base Rate, Adjusted LIBO Rate or LIBO Rate shall 

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be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

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

(i)the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable (including, without limitation, because the LIBOR Screen Rate is not available or published on a current basis), for such Interest Period; or

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

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

(b)If at any time the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that (i) the circumstances set forth in clause (a)(i) have arisen and such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary or (ii) the circumstances set forth in clause (a)(i) have not arisen but the supervisor for the administrator of the LIBOR Screen Rate or a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which the LIBOR Screen Rate shall no longer be used for determining interest rates for loans, then the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall endeavor to establish an alternate rate of interest to the LIBO Rate that gives due consideration to the then prevailing market convention for determining a rate of interest for syndicated loans in the United States at such time, and shall enter into an amendment to this Agreement to reflect such alternate rate of interest and such other related changes to this Agreement as may be applicable (but for the avoidance of doubt, such related changes shall not include a reduction of the Applicable Rate); provided that, if such alternate rate of interest as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 9.02, such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement so long as the Administrative Agent shall not have received, within five (5) Business Days of the date notice of such alternate rate of interest is provided to the Lenders, a written notice from the Required Lenders stating that such Required Lenders object to such amendment.  Until an alternate rate of interest shall be determined in accordance with this clause (b) (but, in the case of the circumstances described in clause (ii) of the first sentence of this Section 2.14(b), only to the extent the LIBOR Screen Rate for such Interest Period is not available or published at such time on a current basis), (x) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Eurodollar Borrowing shall be ineffective and (y) if any Borrowing Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing.

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

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

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

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

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender or such other Recipient of making, continuing, converting into or maintaining any Loan or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan or to increase the cost to such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such other Recipient of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such other Recipient hereunder, whether of principal, interest or otherwise, then the Borrower will pay to such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such other Recipient, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such other Recipient, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such Issuing Bank (which determination shall be made in good faith (and not on an arbitrary or capricious basis) and generally consistent with similarly situated customers of the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as applicable, under agreements having provisions similar to this Section 2.15, after consideration of such factors as the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as applicable, then reasonably determines to be relevant).

(b)If any Lender or any Issuing Bank determines that any Change in Law regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank, to a level below that which such Lender or such Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s holding company for any such reduction suffered as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such Issuing Bank (which determination shall be made in good faith (and not on an arbitrary or capricious basis) and generally consistent with similarly situated customers of the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as applicable, under agreements having provisions similar to this Section 2.15, after consideration of such factors as the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as applicable, then reasonably determines to be relevant).

 

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

(d)Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or any Issuing Bank to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or an Issuing Bank pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or reductions incurred more than 180 days prior to the date that such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided further that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 180-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

(4) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed copies of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit F-2 or Exhibit F-3, IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit F-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;

(C)any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be 

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

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

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

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

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

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

SECTION 2.18.Payments Generally; Allocations of Proceeds; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs.

(a)The Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest, fees or reimbursement of LC Disbursements, or of amounts payable under Section 2.15, 2.16 or 2.17, or otherwise) prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without set-off or counterclaim.  Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon.  All such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent at its offices at 10 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603, except payments to be made directly to an Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender as expressly provided herein and except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto.  The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof.  If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension.  All payments hereunder shall be made in Dollars.

(b)Any proceeds of Collateral received by the Administrative Agent (i) not constituting a specific payment of principal, interest, fees or other sum payable under the Loan Documents (which shall be applied as specified by the Borrower) or (ii) after an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent so elects or the Required Lenders so direct, such funds shall be applied ratably first, to pay any fees, indemnities, or expense reimbursements including amounts then due to the Administrative Agent and any Issuing Bank from the Borrower, second, to pay any fees, indemnities or expense reimbursements then due to the Lenders from the Borrower, third, to pay interest then due and payable on the Loans ratably, fourth, to prepay principal on the Loans and unreimbursed LC Disbursements and any other amounts owing with respect to Banking Services Obligations and Swap Obligations and to pay an amount to the Administrative Agent equal to one hundred five percent (105%) of the aggregate undrawn face amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit and the aggregate amount of any unpaid LC Disbursements, to be held as Cash Collateral for such Obligations, ratably among the Secured Parties in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause fourth held by them, and fifth, to the payment of any other Secured Obligation due to the Administrative Agent or any Lender by the Borrower.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, amounts received from any Loan Party shall not be applied to any Excluded Swap Obligation of such Loan Party.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, unless so directed by the Borrower, or unless a Default is in existence, none of the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall apply any payment which it receives to any Eurodollar Loan of a Class, except (a) on the expiration date of the Interest Period applicable to any such Eurodollar Loan or (b) in the event, and only to the extent, that there are no outstanding ABR Loans of the same Class and, in any event, the Borrower shall pay the break funding payment required in accordance with Section 2.16.  The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have the continuing and exclusive right to apply and reverse and reapply any and all such proceeds and payments to any portion of the Secured Obligations.

(c)At the election of the Administrative Agent, all payments of principal, interest, LC Disbursements, fees, premiums, reimbursable expenses (including, without limitation, all reimbursement for fees and expenses pursuant to Section 9.03), and other sums payable under the Loan Documents, may be paid from the proceeds of Borrowings made hereunder whether made following a 

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request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.03 or a deemed request as provided in this Section or may be deducted from any deposit account of the Borrower maintained with the Administrative Agent.  The Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes (i) the Administrative Agent to make a Borrowing for the purpose of paying each payment of principal, interest and fees as it becomes due hereunder or any other amount due under the Loan Documents and agrees that all such amounts charged shall constitute Loans (including Swingline Loans) and that all such Borrowings shall be deemed to have been requested pursuant to Section 2.03 or 2.05, as applicable and (ii) the Administrative Agent to charge any deposit account of the Borrower maintained with the Administrative Agent for each payment of principal, interest and fees as it becomes due hereunder or any other amount due under the Loan Documents.

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

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

(f)If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.05(c), 2.06(d) or (e), 2.07(b), 2.18(e) or 9.03(c), then the Administrative Agent may, in its reasonable discretion (notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), (i) apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender and for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender or the Issuing Banks to satisfy such Lender’s obligations to it under such Section until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid and/or (ii) hold any such amounts 

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in a segregated account over which the Administrative Agent shall have exclusive control as Cash Collateral for, and application to, any future funding obligations of such Lender under any such Section; in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii) above, in any order as determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.

SECTION 2.19.Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.  (a) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, or the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or Affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.15 or 2.17, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender.  The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

(b)If (i) any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, (ii) the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17 or (iii) any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 9.04), all its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Sections 2.15 or 2.17) and obligations under the Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (i) the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (and if a Commitment is being assigned, the Issuing Banks and the Swingline Lender), which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts) and (iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.15 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.17, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments.  A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such  assignment and delegation cease to apply.  Each party hereto agrees that (a) an assignment required pursuant to this paragraph may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the assignee (or, to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and such parties are participants), and (b) the Lender required to make such assignment need not be a party thereto in order for such assignment to be effective and shall be deemed to have consented to and be bound by the terms thereof. Nothing in this Section 2.19(b) shall be deemed to prejudice any rights that the Borrower may have against any Lender that is a Defaulting Lender.

SECTION 2.20.Expansion Option.  The Borrower may from time to time elect to increase the Commitments or enter into one or more tranches of term loans (each an “Incremental Term Loan”), in each case in minimum increments of $10,000,000 so long as, after giving effect thereto, the aggregate amount of such increases and all such Incremental Term Loans does not exceed the sum of (a) $350,000,000 plus (b) additional amounts, so long as in the case of this clause (b), after giving effect on a Pro Forma Basis to the increase in the Revolving Commitments and/or the entrance into a tranche of Incremental Term Loans, the Total Net Leverage Ratio is no greater than 3.25 to 1.00 (which calculation 

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shall assume that all such Indebtedness is fully drawn).  The Borrower may arrange for any such increase or tranche to be provided by one or more Lenders (each Lender so agreeing to an increase in its Commitment, or to participate in such Incremental Term Loans, an “Increasing Lender”), or by one or more new banks, financial institutions or other entities (each such new bank, financial institution or other entity, an “Augmenting Lender”; provided that no Ineligible Institution may be an Augmenting Lender), which agree to increase their existing Commitments, or to participate in such Incremental Term Loans, or provide new Commitments, as the case may be; provided that (i) each Augmenting Lender, shall be subject to the approval of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and (ii) (x) in the case of an Increasing Lender, the Borrower and such Increasing Lender execute an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto or such other form as may be agreed to among the Borrower, such Increasing Lender and the Administrative Agent, and (y) in the case of an Augmenting Lender, the Borrower and such Augmenting Lender execute an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto or such other form as may be agreed to among the Borrower, such Augmenting Lender and the Administrative Agent.  No consent of any Lender (other than the Lenders participating in the increase or any Incremental Term Loan) shall be required for any increase in Commitments or Incremental Term Loan pursuant to this Section 2.20.  Increases and new Commitments and Incremental Term Loans created pursuant to this Section 2.20 shall become effective on the date agreed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the relevant Increasing Lenders or Augmenting Lenders, and the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender thereof.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no increase in the Commitments (or in the Commitment of any Lender) or tranche of Incremental Term Loans shall become effective under this paragraph unless, (i) on the proposed date of the effectiveness of such increase or Incremental Term Loans, (A) the conditions set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 4.02 shall be satisfied or waived by the Required Lenders and the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate to that effect dated such date and executed by a Financial Officer of the Borrower and (B) the Borrower shall be in compliance (on a pro forma basis) with the Financial Performance Covenants and (ii) the Administrative Agent shall have received documents and opinions substantially consistent with those delivered on the Effective Date as to the organizational power and authority of the Borrower to borrow hereunder after giving effect to such increase; provided that, with respect to any Incremental Term Loans incurred for the primary purpose of financing a Limited Conditionality Acquisition (“Acquisition-Related Incremental Term Loans”), clause (i)(A) of this sentence shall be deemed to have been satisfied so long as (1) as of the date of effectiveness of the related Limited Conditionality Acquisition Agreement, no Default is in existence or would result from entry into such documentation, (2) as of the date of the borrowing of such Acquisition-Related Incremental Term Loans, no Event of Default under clause (b), (c), (h) or (i) of Article VII is in existence immediately before or after giving effect (including on a Pro Forma Basis) to such borrowing and to any concurrent transactions and any substantially concurrent use of proceeds thereof, (3) the representations and warranties set forth in Article III shall be true and correct in all material respects (or in all respects if qualified by materiality) as of the date of effectiveness of the applicable Limited Conditionality Acquisition Agreement and (4) as of the date of the borrowing of such Acquisition-Related Incremental Term Loans, customary “Sungard” representations and warranties (with such representations and warranties to be reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders providing such Acquisition-Related Incremental Term Loans) shall be true and correct in all material respects (or in all respects if qualified by materiality) immediately prior to, and after giving effect to, the incurrence of such Acquisition-Related Incremental Term Loans.  On the effective date of any increase in the Commitments or any Incremental Term Loans being made, (i) each relevant Increasing Lender and Augmenting Lender shall make available to the Administrative Agent such amounts in immediately available funds as the Administrative Agent shall determine, for the benefit of the other Lenders, as being required in order to cause, after giving effect to such increase and the use of such amounts to make payments to such other Lenders, each Lender’s portion of the outstanding Revolving Loans of all the Lenders to equal its Applicable Percentage of such outstanding Revolving Loans, and (ii) except in the case of any Incremental Term Loans, the Borrower shall be deemed to have repaid and reborrowed all outstanding Revolving Loans as of the date of any increase in the Commitments (with such reborrowing to consist of 

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the Types of Revolving Loans, with related Interest Periods if applicable, specified in a notice delivered by the Borrower, in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.03).  The deemed payments made pursuant to clause (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence shall be accompanied by payment of all accrued interest on the amount prepaid and, in respect of each Eurodollar Loan, shall be subject to indemnification by the Borrower pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.16 if the deemed payment occurs other than on the last day of the related Interest Periods.  The Incremental Term Loans (a) shall rank pari passu in right of payment with the Revolving Loans, (b) shall not mature earlier than the latest Maturity Date in effect on the date of incurrence of such Incremental Term Loans (but may have amortization prior to such date) and (c) shall have terms as agreed between the Borrower and the Lenders providing such Incremental Term Loans and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent; provided that (i) the terms and conditions applicable to any tranche of Incremental Term Loans maturing after the latest Maturity Date in effect on the date of incurrence of such Incremental Term Loans may provide for material additional or different financial or other covenants or prepayment requirements applicable only during periods after the latest Maturity Date in effect on the date of incurrence of such Incremental Term Loans and (ii) the Incremental Term Loans may be priced differently than the Revolving Loans.  Incremental Term Loans may be made hereunder pursuant to an amendment or restatement (an “Incremental Term Loan Amendment”) of this Agreement and, as appropriate, the other Loan Documents, executed by the Borrower, each Increasing Lender participating in such tranche, each Augmenting Lender participating in such tranche, if any, and the Administrative Agent.  The Incremental Term Loan Amendment may, without the consent of any other Lenders, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.20.  Nothing contained in this Section 2.20 shall constitute, or otherwise be deemed to be, a commitment on the part of any Lender to increase its Commitment hereunder, or provide Incremental Term Loans, at any time.

SECTION 2.21.Defaulting Lenders.  Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the following provisions shall apply for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender:

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

(b)any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Section 2.18(b) or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 9.08 shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows:  first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to any Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender hereunder; third, to cash collateralize the Issuing Banks’ LC Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender in accordance with this Section; fourth, as the Borrower may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; fifth, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to (x) satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement and (y) cash collateralize the Issuing Banks’ future LC Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to future Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement, in accordance with this Section; sixth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks or Swingline Lenders as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, the Issuing Banks or Swingline Lenders against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document;

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seventh, so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender's breach of its obligations under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document; and eighth, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or LC Disbursements in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (y) such Loans were made or the related Letters of Credit were issued at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and LC Disbursements owed to, all non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or LC Disbursements owed to, such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded and unfunded participations in the Borrower’s obligations corresponding to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure and Swingline Loans are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Commitments without giving effect to clause (d) below.  Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post cash collateral pursuant to this Section shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

(c)the Commitment and Revolving Credit Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether the Required Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment, waiver or other modification pursuant to Section 9.02); provided, that any amendment, waiver or other modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or all Lenders directly affected thereby shall, except as otherwise provided in Section 9.02, require the consent of such Defaulting Lender in accordance with the terms hereof;

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

(i)all or any part of the Swingline Exposure and LC Exposure of such Defaulting Lender (other than the portion of such Swingline Exposure referred to in clause (b) of the definition of such term) shall be reallocated among the non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages but only to the extent that the sum of all non-Defaulting Lenders’ Revolving Credit Exposures plus such Defaulting Lender’s Swingline Exposure and LC Exposure does not exceed the total of all non-Defaulting Lenders’ Commitments;

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

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

(iv)if the LC Exposure of the non-Defaulting Lenders is reallocated pursuant to clause (i) above, then the fees payable to the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.12(a) and

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 Section 2.12(b) shall be adjusted in accordance with such non-Defaulting Lenders’ Applicable Percentages; and

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

(e)so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender, the Swingline Lender shall not be required to fund any Swingline Loan and the Issuing Banks shall not be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless it is satisfied that the related exposure and the Defaulting Lender’s then outstanding LC Exposure will be 100% covered by the Commitments of the non-Defaulting Lenders and/or Cash Collateral will be provided by the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.21(d), and participating interests in any such newly made Swingline Loan or any newly issued or increased Letter of Credit shall be allocated among non-Defaulting Lenders in a manner consistent with Section 2.21(d)(i) (and such Defaulting Lender shall not participate therein).

If (i) a Bankruptcy Event or a Bail-In Action with respect to a Lender Parent shall occur following the date hereof and for so long as such event shall continue or (ii) the Swingline Lender or any Issuing Bank has a good faith belief that any Lender has defaulted in fulfilling its obligations under one or more other agreements in which such Lender commits to extend credit, the Swingline Lender shall not be required to fund any Swingline Loan and no Issuing Bank shall be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless the Swingline Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, shall have entered into arrangements with the Borrower or such Lender, satisfactory to the Swingline Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, to defease any risk to it in respect of such Lender hereunder.

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

SECTION 2.22.Extension of Maturity Date.

(a)Requests for Extension.  The Borrower may, by notice to the Administrative Agent (who shall promptly notify the Lenders) at any time (each such date, an “Extension Date”), request that each Lender extend such Lender’s Maturity Date to the date that is one year after the Maturity Date then in effect for such Lender (the “Existing Maturity Date”); provided that any such request shall be made no later than 30 days prior to the applicable Existing Maturity Date.

(b)Lender Elections to Extend.  Each Lender, acting in its sole and individual discretion, shall, by notice to the Administrative Agent given not later than the date that is 15 days after the date on which the Administrative Agent received the Borrower’s extension request (the “Lender Notice Date”), advise the Administrative Agent whether or not such Lender agrees to such extension (each Lender that determines to so extend its Maturity Date, an “Extending Lender”).  Each Lender that determines not to so extend its Maturity Date (a “Non-Extending Lender”) shall notify the Administrative 

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Agent of such fact promptly after such determination (but in any event no later than the Lender Notice Date), and any Lender that does not so advise the Administrative Agent on or before the Lender Notice Date shall be deemed to be a Non-Extending Lender.  The election of any Lender to agree to such extension shall not obligate any other Lender to so agree, and it is understood and agreed that no Lender shall have any obligation whatsoever to agree to any request made by the Borrower for extension of the Maturity Date.

(c)Notification by Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower of each Lender’s determination under this Section no later than the date that is 15 days prior to the applicable Extension Date (or, if such date is not a Business Day, on the next preceding Business Day).

(d)Additional Commitment Lenders.  The Borrower shall have the right, but shall not be obligated, on or before the applicable Maturity Date for any Non-Extending Lender to replace such Non-Extending Lender with, and add as “Lenders” under this Agreement in place thereof, one or more financial institutions that are not Ineligible Institutions (each, an “Additional Commitment Lender”) approved by the Administrative Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) in accordance with the procedures provided in Section 2.19(b), each of which Additional Commitment Lenders shall have entered into an Assignment and Assumption (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 9.04, with the Borrower or replacement Lender obligated to pay any applicable processing or recordation fee) with such Non-Extending Lender, pursuant to which such Additional Commitment Lenders shall, effective on or before the applicable Maturity Date for such Non-Extending Lender, assume a Commitment (and, if any such Additional Commitment Lender is already a Lender, its Commitment shall be in addition to such Lender’s Commitment hereunder on such date).  Prior to any Non-Extending Lender being replaced by one or more Additional Commitment Lenders pursuant hereto, such Non-Extending Lender may elect, in its sole discretion, by giving irrevocable notice thereof to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (which notice shall set forth such Lender’s new Maturity Date), to become an Extending Lender.  The Administrative Agent may effect such amendments to this Agreement as are reasonably necessary to provide for any such extensions with the consent of the Borrower but without the consent of any other Lenders.

(e)Effective Date of Extension.  Effective as of the applicable Extension Date, the Maturity Date of each Extending Lender and of each Additional Commitment Lender shall be extended to the date that is one year after the Existing Maturity Date (except that, if such date is not a Business Day, such Maturity Date as so extended shall be the next preceding Business Day) and each Additional Commitment Lender shall thereupon become a “Lender” for all purposes of this Agreement and shall be bound by the provisions of this Agreement as a Lender hereunder and shall have the obligations of a Lender hereunder.

(f)Conditions to Effectiveness of Extension.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) no more than two (2) extensions of the Maturity Date shall be permitted hereunder and (y) any extension of any Maturity Date pursuant to this Section 2.22 shall not be effective with respect to any Extending Lender unless:

(i)no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the applicable Extension Date and immediately after giving effect thereto;

(ii)representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects (or in all respects in the case of any representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect) on and as of the applicable Extension Date and after giving effect thereto as though made on and as of such date, except to 

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the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date (in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects (or in all respects in the case of any representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect) as of such earlier date); and

(iii)the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate from the Borrower signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, delivered on behalf of the Borrower, (A) certifying the accuracy of the foregoing clause (i) and (B) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by each Borrower approving or consenting to such extension (or to the extent the resolutions delivered on the Effective Date approve such matters, a certification from the Borrowers that the resolutions delivered on the Effective Date remain in full force and effect and have not been amended or otherwise modified since the adoption thereof).

(g)Maturity Date for Non-Extending Lenders.  On the Maturity Date of each Non-Extending Lender, (i) the Commitment of each Non-Extending Lender shall automatically terminate and (ii) the Borrower shall repay such Non-Extending Lender in accordance with Section 2.10 (and shall pay to such Non-Extending Lender all of the other Obligations owing to it under this Agreement) and after giving effect thereto shall prepay any Revolving Loans outstanding on such date (and pay any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 2.16) to the extent necessary to keep outstanding Revolving Loans ratable with any revised Applicable Percentages of the respective Lenders effective as of such date, and the Administrative Agent shall administer any necessary reallocation of the Revolving Credit Exposures (without regard to any minimum borrowing, pro rata borrowing and/or pro rata payment requirements contained elsewhere in this Agreement).

(h)Conflicting Provisions.  This Section shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.18 or Section 9.02 to the contrary. 

Article III
Representations and Warranties

The Borrower (and, solely in the case of representations and warranties relating to Holdings, Holdings) represent and warrant to the Lenders that:

SECTION 3.01.Organization; Powers.  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.01, each of Holdings, the Borrower and each of the Material Subsidiaries (a) is a partnership, limited liability company, unlimited liability company or corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing (or, if applicable in a foreign jurisdiction, enjoys the equivalent status under the laws of any jurisdiction of organization outside the United States) under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority to own its property and assets and to carry on its business as now conducted, (c) is qualified to do business in each jurisdiction where such qualification is required, except where the failure so to qualify would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (d) has the power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under each of the Loan Documents and each other agreement or instrument contemplated thereby to which it is or will be a party and, in the case of the Borrower, to borrow and otherwise obtain credit hereunder.

SECTION 3.02.Authorization.  The execution, delivery and performance by Holdings, the Borrower and each of the Subsidiary Loan Parties of each of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and the borrowings hereunder and the transactions forming a part of the Transactions (a) have been duly authorized by all corporate, stockholder, partnership, limited liability company or other organizational action required to be obtained by Holdings, the Borrower and such Subsidiary Loan Parties 

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and (b) will not (i) violate (A) any provision of law, statute, rule or regulation applicable to Holdings, the Borrower or any such Subsidiary Loan Party, or of the certificate or articles of incorporation or other constitutive documents (including any partnership, limited liability company or operating agreements) or by-laws of Holdings, the Borrower or any such Subsidiary Loan Party, (B) any applicable order of any court or any rule, regulation or order of any Governmental Authority or (C) any provision of any indenture, certificate of designation for preferred stock, agreement or other instrument to which Holdings, the Borrower or any such Subsidiary Loan Party is a party or by which any of them or any of their property is or may be bound, (ii) result in a breach of or constitute (alone or with due notice or lapse of time or both) a default under, give rise to a right of or result in any cancellation or acceleration of any right or obligation (including any payment) under any such indenture, certificate of designation for preferred stock, agreement or other instrument, where any such conflict, violation, breach or default referred to in clause (i) or (ii) of this Section 3.02(b), would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, or (iii) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon or with respect to (x) any property or assets now owned or hereafter acquired by the Borrower or any such Subsidiary Loan Party, other than the Liens created by the Loan Documents and Permitted Liens, or (y) any Equity Interests of the Borrower now owned or hereafter acquired by Holdings, other than Liens created by the Loan Documents or Liens permitted by Article VIA.

SECTION 3.03.Enforceability.  This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Holdings and the Borrower and constitutes, and each other Loan Document when executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is party thereto will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party enforceable against each such Loan Party in accordance with its terms, subject to (i) the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), (iii) implied covenants of good faith and fair dealing and (iv) any foreign laws, rules and regulations as they relate to pledges of Equity Interests in Foreign Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties.

SECTION 3.04.Governmental Approvals.  No action, consent or approval of, registration or filing with or any other action by any Governmental Authority is or will be required for the execution, delivery or performance of each Loan Document, except for (a) the filing of UCC financing statements, (b) filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, (c) [Intentionally Omitted], (d) such as have been made or obtained and are in full force and effect, (e) such actions, consents and approvals the failure of which to be obtained or made would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (f) filings or other actions listed on Schedule 3.04 and any other filings or registrations required by the Collateral Documents.

SECTION 3.05.Financial Statements.  The audited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, cash flows and owners’ equity of Holdings as of and for its fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 (including comparative information for its fiscal years ended January 1, 2017 and January 3, 2016) that are delivered to the Administrative Agent, including in each case the notes thereto, if applicable, present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position of Holdings and its Subsidiaries as of the dates and for the periods referred to therein and the results of operations and, if applicable, cash flows for the periods then ended, and were prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby, except, in the case of interim period financial statements, for the absence of notes and for normal year-end adjustments and except as otherwise noted therein.

SECTION 3.06.No Material Adverse Effect.  Since December 31, 2017, there has been no event, development or circumstance that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

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SECTION 3.07.Title to Properties; Possession Under Leases.

(a)Each of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries has valid title in fee simple to, or valid leasehold interests in, or easements or other limited property interests in, all its Real Properties and has valid title to its personal property and assets, in each case, except for Permitted Liens and except for defects in title that do not materially interfere with its ability to conduct its business as currently conducted or to utilize such properties and assets for their intended purposes and except where the failure to have such title would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.  All such properties and assets are free and clear of Liens, other than Permitted Liens.  The Equity Interests of the Borrower owned by Holdings are free and clear of Liens, other than Liens permitted by Article VIA.

(b)None of the Borrower or their Subsidiaries are in default under any leases to which it is a party, except for such defaults as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.  All of the Borrower’s or Subsidiaries’ leases are in full force and effect, except leases in respect of which the failure to be in full force and effect would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(c)[Intentionally Omitted].

(d)[Intentionally Omitted]. 

SECTION 3.08.Subsidiaries.  

(a)Schedule 3.08(a) sets forth as of the Effective Date the name and jurisdiction of incorporation, formation or organization of each subsidiary of the Borrower and, as to each such subsidiary, the percentage of each class of Equity Interests owned by the Borrower or by any such subsidiary.

(b)As of the Effective Date, there are no outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, rights or other agreements or commitments (other than stock options granted to employees or directors (or entities controlled by directors) and shares held by directors (or entities controlled by directors)) of any nature relating to any Equity Interests of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries, except rights of employees to purchase Equity Interests in connection with the Transactions or as set forth on Schedule 3.08(b). 

SECTION 3.09.Litigation; Compliance with Laws.  

(a)As of the Effective Date, there are no actions, suits or proceedings at law or in equity or, to the knowledge of Holdings or the Borrower, investigations by or on behalf of any Governmental Authority or in arbitration now pending, or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened in writing against or affecting Holdings or the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries or any business, property or rights of any such person (i) that involve any Loan Document or the Transactions or (ii) could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect or materially adversely affect the Transactions.  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.09(a), there are no actions, suits or proceedings at law or in equity or by or on behalf of any Governmental Authority or in arbitration now pending, or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened in writing against or affecting the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries or any business, property or rights of any such person which would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

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(b)Except as set forth on Schedule 3.09(b), none of the Borrower, the Subsidiaries and their respective properties or assets is in violation of (nor will the continued operation of their material properties and assets as currently conducted violate) any law, rule or regulation (including any zoning, building, ordinance, code or approval or any building permit, but excluding any Environmental Laws, which are subject to Section 3.16), or is in default with respect to any judgment, writ, injunction or decree of any Governmental Authority, where such violation or default would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.10.Federal Reserve Regulations.  

(a)None of Holdings, the Borrower or the Subsidiaries is engaged principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock.

(b)No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that entails a violation of the provisions of the Regulations of the Board, including Regulation T, Regulation U or Regulation X. 

SECTION 3.11.Investment Company Act.  None of Holdings, the Borrower or the Subsidiaries is required to be registered as an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

SECTION 3.12.Use of Proceeds.  The Borrower will use the proceeds of the Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans, and may request the issuance of Letters of Credit, solely for general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, for Permitted Business Acquisitions and paying the fees and expenses associated with the foregoing and other related transactions and, in the case of Letters of Credit, for the back-up or replacement of existing letters of credit) and, in the case of Revolving Loans made on the Effective Date, to refinance certain existing indebtedness.  The Borrower will not request any Borrowing or Letter of Credit, and the Borrower and Holdings shall not use, and shall procure that their respective Subsidiaries and its or their respective directors, officers, employees and agents shall not use, the proceeds of any Borrowing or Letter of Credit (i) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws, (ii) for the purpose of funding, financing or facilitating any activities, business or transaction of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country, to the extent such activities, businesses or transaction would be prohibited by Sanctions if conducted by a corporation incorporated in the United States or in a European Union member state or (iii) in any manner that would result in the violation of  any Sanctions applicable to any party hereto.

SECTION 3.13.Tax Returns.  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.13:

(a)Each of Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries (i) has timely filed or caused to be timely filed all U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. Tax returns required to have been filed by it that are material to such companies taken as a whole and each such Tax return is true, complete and correct in all material respects, including, without limitation, relating to all periods or portions thereof ending on or prior to the Effective Date; and (ii) has timely paid or caused to be timely paid all Taxes required to be paid (whether or not shown thereon to be due and payable by it) and all other material Taxes or assessments, except Taxes or assessments, including, without limitation, relating to all periods or portions thereof ending on or prior to the Effective Date that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings in accordance with Section 5.03 and for which Holdings, the Borrower or any of 

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the Subsidiaries, as the case may be, has set aside on its books adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP; and

(b)Other than as would not be, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect:  as of the Effective Date, with respect to each of Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, (i) there are no claims being asserted in writing with respect to any Taxes, (ii) no presently effective waivers or extensions of statutes of limitation with respect to Taxes have been given or requested and (iii) no Tax returns are being examined by, and no written notification of intention to examine has been received from, the Internal Revenue Service or any other Taxing authority. 

SECTION 3.14.No Material Misstatements.  

(a)All written factual information (other than the Projections, forward-looking information, estimates and information of a general economic nature or general industry nature) (the “Information”) concerning Holdings, the Borrower, the Subsidiaries, the Transactions and any other transactions contemplated hereby or prepared by or on behalf of the foregoing or their representatives and made available to any Lenders or the Administrative Agent in connection with the Transactions or the other transactions contemplated hereby, when taken as a whole, was true and correct in all material respects, as of the date such Information was furnished to the Lenders and as of the Effective Date and did not, taken as a whole, contain any untrue statement of a material fact as of any such date or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained therein, taken as a whole, not materially misleading in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made (giving effect to all supplements and updates provided thereto).

(b)The Projections, forward-looking information and estimates and information of a general economic nature prepared by or on behalf of the Borrower or any of its representatives and that have been made available to any Lenders or the Administrative Agent in connection with the Transactions or the other transactions contemplated hereby (i) have been prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed by the Borrower to be reasonable as of the date thereof (it being understood that actual results may vary materially from the Projections), as of the date such Projections and estimates were furnished to the Lenders and as of the Effective Date, and (ii) as of the Effective Date, have not been modified in any material respect by the Borrower. 

SECTION 3.15.Employee Benefit Plans.  Except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect:  (i) no Reportable Event has occurred during the past five years as to which Holdings, the Borrower, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate was required to file a report with the PBGC, other than reports that have been filed; (ii) no ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur.

SECTION 3.16.Environmental Matters.  Except as set forth in Schedule 3.16 and except as to matters that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect:  (i) no written notice; request for information, order, complaint or penalty has been received by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, and there are no judicial, administrative or other actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the Borrower’s knowledge, threatened which allege a violation of or liability under any Environmental Laws, in each case relating to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and their respective operations and properties are, and for the past three (3) years have been, in compliance with, and each of them has and for the past three (3) years has maintained all environmental permits, licenses and other approvals necessary for its operations to comply with, all applicable Environmental Laws and is, and during the term of all applicable statutes of limitation, has been, in compliance with the terms of such permits, licenses and other approvals and with all other applicable Environmental Laws, (iii) there has been no Release or threat of Release of 

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any Hazardous Material at, on , under or from any property currently owned, operated or leased or, to the Borrower’s knowledge, formerly owned, operated or leased, by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that would reasonably be expected to give rise to any cost, liability or obligation of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries under any Environmental Laws, and no Hazardous Material has been generated, owned, treated, stored, handled, disposed of or controlled by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and transported to or Released at any location in a manner that would reasonably be expected to give rise to any cost, liability or obligation of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries under any Environmental Laws and (iv) neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party or subject to any order, decree or agreement that imposes any obligation or liability under any Environmental Laws.

SECTION 3.17.Collateral Documents.

(a)Each Collateral Document is effective to create in favor of the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) a legal, valid and enforceable security interest in the Collateral described therein and proceeds thereof to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law. As of the Effective Date, in the case of the Pledged Collateral described in a Collateral Document, when certificates or promissory notes, as applicable, representing such Pledged Collateral and required to be delivered under the applicable Collateral Document are delivered to the Administrative Agent, and in the case of the other Collateral described in such Collateral Document (other than the Intellectual Property), when financing statements and other filings specified in the Perfection Certificate are filed in the offices specified in the Perfection Certificate, the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) shall have a perfected Lien on, and security interest in, all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties in such Collateral and, subject to Section 9-315 of the UCC, the proceeds thereof, as security for the Secured Obligations to the extent perfection in such Collateral can be obtained by filing UCC financing statements, in each case prior and superior in right to the Lien of any other person (except for Permitted Liens).

(b)When the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or an ancillary document thereunder is properly filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, and, with respect to Collateral in which a security interest cannot be perfected by such filings, upon the proper filing of the financing statements referred to in clause (a) above, the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) shall have a fully perfected (subject to exceptions arising from defects in the chain of title, which defects in the aggregate do not constitute a Material Adverse Effect hereunder) Lien on, and security interest in, all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties thereunder in the material domestic Intellectual Property included in the Collateral, in each case prior and superior in right to the Lien of any other person, except for Permitted Liens (it being understood that subsequent recordings in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office may be necessary to perfect a Lien on material registered trademarks and patents, trademark and patent applications and registered copyrights acquired by the Loan Parties after the Effective Date).

(c)[Intentionally Omitted.]

(d)Notwithstanding anything herein (including this Section 3.17) or in any other Loan Document to the contrary, neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party makes any representation or warranty as to the effects of perfection or non-perfection, the priority or the enforceability of any pledge of or security interest in any Equity Interests of any Foreign Subsidiary, or as to the rights and remedies of the Agents or any Lender with respect thereto, under foreign law. 

SECTION 3.18.Location of Real Property and Leased Premises.  

 

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(a)[Intentionally Omitted.]

(b)The Perfection Certificate lists correctly in all material respects, as of the Effective Date, all material Real Property that is leased by the Borrower and the Subsidiary Loan Parties as the lessee and the addresses thereof.  As of the Effective Date, the Borrower and the Subsidiary Loan Parties have in all material respects valid leases in all the Real Property set forth as being leased by them as the lessee in the Perfection Certificate except to the extent set forth therein. 

SECTION 3.19.Solvency.  

(a)On the Effective Date, immediately after giving effect to the Transactions that occur on the Effective Date, (i) the fair value of the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, at a fair valuation, will exceed the debts and liabilities, direct, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis; (ii) the present fair saleable value of the property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis will be greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis on their debts and other liabilities, direct, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured; (iii) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis will be able to pay their debts and liabilities, direct, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured; and (iv) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis will not have unreasonably small capital with which to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged as such businesses are now conducted and are proposed to be conducted following the Effective Date.  For purposes of this definition, “debt” means any liability on a claim, and “claim” means (i) a right to payment, whether or not such right is reduced to judgment, liquidated, unliquidated, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, legal, equitable, secured, or unsecured or (ii) a right to an equitable remedy for breach of performance to the extent such breach gives rise to a payment, whether or not such right to an equitable remedy is reduced to judgment, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, secured, or unsecured.  With respect to any such contingent liabilities, such liabilities shall be computed at the amount which, in light of all the facts and circumstances existing at the time, represents the amount which can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

(b)On the Effective Date, immediately after giving effect to the consummation of the Transactions, the Borrower does not intend to, and the Borrower does not believe that it or any of its Subsidiaries will, incur debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature, taking into account the timing and amounts of cash to be received by it or any such Subsidiary and the timing and amounts of cash to be payable on or in respect of its Indebtedness or the Indebtedness of any such Subsidiary.

SECTION 3.20.Labor Matters.  Except as, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect:  (a) there are no strikes or other labor disputes pending or threatened against Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries; (b) the hours worked and payments made to employees of Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries have not been in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act or any other applicable law dealing with such matters; and (c) all payments due from Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries or for which any claim may be made against Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries, on account of wages and employee health and welfare insurance and other benefits have been paid or accrued as a liability on the books of Holdings, the Borrower or such Subsidiary to the extent required by GAAP.  Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or as set forth on Schedule 3.20, the consummation of the Transactions will not give rise to a right of termination or right of renegotiation on the part of any union under any material collective bargaining agreement to which Holdings, the 

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Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries (or any predecessor) is a party or by which Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries (or any predecessor) is bound.

SECTION 3.21.Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.  Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or as set forth in Schedule 3.21, (a) the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries owns, or possesses the right to use, all Intellectual Property that is used or held for use in or is otherwise necessary for the present conduct of their respective businesses, (b) to the knowledge of the Borrower, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are not interfering with, infringing upon, misappropriating or otherwise violating the Intellectual Property of any person, and (c)(i) no claim or litigation regarding any of the Intellectual Property owned by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, is pending or, to the Borrower’s knowledge, threatened and (ii) to the knowledge of the Borrower, no claim or litigation regarding the Intellectual Property described in the foregoing clauses (a) and (b) is pending or threatened.

SECTION 3.22.Senior Debt.  The Obligations constitute “Senior Debt” (or the equivalent thereof) and “Designated Senior Debt” (or the equivalent thereof, if any) under the documentation governing any Material Indebtedness of any Loan Party permitted to be incurred hereunder (including any Junior Financing) or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof constituting Indebtedness that is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations.

SECTION 3.23.Insurance.  Schedule 3.23 sets forth a true, complete and correct description, in all material respects, of all material insurance (excluding any title insurance) maintained by the Borrower as of the Effective Date.  As of such date, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, all such insurance is in full force and effect. 

SECTION 3.24.Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions.  Holdings and the Borrower have implemented and maintain in effect policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by Holdings, the Borrower, their respective Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions, and Holdings, the Borrower, their respective Subsidiaries and their respective officers and employees and to the knowledge of Holdings or the Borrower their respective directors and agents, are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects.  None of (a) Holdings, the Borrower, any Subsidiary or to the knowledge of Holdings or the Borrower or such Subsidiary any of their respective directors, officers or employees, or (b) to the knowledge of Holdings or the Borrower, any agent of Holdings or the Borrower or any Subsidiary that will act in any capacity in connection with or benefit from the credit facility established hereby, is a Sanctioned Person.  No Borrowing or Letter of Credit, use of proceeds or other Transactions will violate any Anti-Corruption Law or applicable Sanctions.

SECTION 3.25.EEA Financial Institutions.  No Loan Party is an EEA Financial Institution.

Article IV
Conditions

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

(a)The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received (i) from each party hereto either (A) a counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party or (B) written 

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evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include fascimile or electronic transmission of a signed signature page of this Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement and (ii) duly executed copies of the Loan Documents and such other certificates, documents, instruments and agreements as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request in connection with the Transactions, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel and as further described in the list of closing documents attached as Exhibit E.

(b)The Administrative Agent shall have received favorable written opinions (addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and dated the Effective Date) of (i) Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, counsel to the Loan Parties, and (ii) Locke Lord LLP, local counsel to the applicable Loan Parties, in each case covering such matters relating to the Loan Parties, the Loan Documents or the Transactions as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request.  The Borrower hereby requests such counsels to deliver such opinions.

(c)Without duplicating the items required by clause (a)(ii) above, the Administrative Agent shall have received such documents and certificates as the Administrative Agent or its counsel may reasonably request relating to the organization, existence and good standing of the initial Loan Parties, the authorization of the Transactions and any other legal matters relating to such Loan Parties, the Loan Documents or the Transactions, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel and as further described in the list of closing documents attached as Exhibit E.

(d)Without duplicating the items required by clause (a)(ii) above, the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, dated the Effective Date and signed by the Chief Executive Officer, President, a Vice President or a Financial Officer of the Borrower, certifying (i) that the representations and warranties contained in Article III are true and correct in all material respects (or in all respects in the case of any representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect) on and as of such date with the same effect as though made on and as of such date, except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date (in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects (or in all respects in the case of any representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect) as of such earlier date) and (ii) that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing as of such date.

(e)The Administrative Agent shall have received all fees (including upfront fees payable to the Lenders) and other amounts due and payable on or prior to the Effective Date, including, to the extent invoiced at least one (1) Business Day prior to the Effective Date, reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower hereunder.

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

SECTION 4.02.Each Credit Event.  Subject, solely in the case of Acquisition-Related Incremental Term Loans, to the proviso in Section 2.20 related thereto, the obligation of each Lender to make a Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing, and of each Issuing Bank to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit, is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

(a)The representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects (or in all respects in the case of any representation 

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or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect) on and as of the date of such Borrowing or the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit (other than an amendment, extension or renewal of a Letter of Credit without any increase in the stated amount of such Letter of Credit), as applicable, except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date (in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects (or in all respects in the case of any representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect) as of such earlier date).

(b)At the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing or the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit (other than an amendment, extension or renewal of a Letter of Credit without any increase in the stated amount of such Letter of Credit), as applicable, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

Each Borrowing and each issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower on the date thereof as to the matters specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section (subject, solely in the case of Acquisition-Related Incremental Term Loans, to the proviso in Section 2.20 related thereto).

Article V
Affirmative Covenants

Until the Commitments have expired or been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder shall have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit shall have expired or terminated, in each case, without any pending draw, and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lenders that the Borrower will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to (and, to the extent relating to Holdings, Holdings covenants and agrees with the Lenders that it will, solely in the case of each of the covenants set forth in Sections 5.01, 5.02, 5.03, 5.05, 5.06, 5.08, 5.09 and 5.10):

SECTION 5.01.Existence; Businesses and Properties. 

(a)Do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence, except, in the case of a Subsidiary of the Borrower, where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and except as otherwise permitted under Section 6.05; provided that the Borrower may liquidate or dissolve one or more Subsidiaries if the assets of such Subsidiaries (to the extent they exceed estimated liabilities) are acquired by the Borrower or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower in such liquidation or dissolution, except that Subsidiary Loan Parties may not be liquidated into Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties and Domestic Subsidiaries may not be liquidated into Foreign Subsidiaries (except in each case as otherwise permitted under Section 6.05).

(b)Except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, do or cause to be done all things necessary to (i) lawfully obtain, preserve, renew, extend and keep in full force and effect the permits, franchises, authorizations, Intellectual Property, licenses and rights with respect thereto necessary to the normal conduct of its business, and (ii) at all times maintain, protect and preserve all property necessary to the normal conduct of its business and keep such property in good repair, working order and condition (ordinary wear and tear excepted) and from time to time make, or cause to be made, all needful and proper repairs, renewals, additions, improvements and replacements thereto necessary in order that the business 

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carried on in connection therewith, if any, may be properly conducted at all times (in each case except as permitted by this Agreement).

SECTION 5.02.Insurance.

(a)Maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance (subject to customary deductibles and retentions) in such amounts and against such risks as are customarily maintained by similarly situated companies engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations and cause the Borrower and the Subsidiary Loan Parties to be listed as insured and the Administrative Agent to be listed as a co-loss payee on property and casualty policies and as an additional insured on liability policies.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries may self-insure with respect to such risks with respect to which companies of established reputation engaged in the same general line of business in the same general area usually self-insure.

(b)[Intentionally Omitted.]

(c)[Intentionally Omitted.]

(d)In connection with the covenants set forth in this Section 5.02, it is understood and agreed that:

(i)none of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and their respective agents or employees shall be liable for any loss or damage insured by the insurance policies required to be maintained under this Section 5.02, it being understood that (A) the Loan Parties shall look solely to their insurance companies or any other parties other than the aforesaid parties for the recovery of such loss or damage and (B) such insurance companies shall have no rights of subrogation against the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Issuing Banks or their agents or employees.  If, however, the insurance policies, as a matter of the internal policy of such insurer, do not provide waiver of subrogation rights against such parties, as required above, then each of Holdings and the Borrower, on behalf of itself and behalf of each of its Subsidiaries, hereby agrees, to the extent permitted by law, to waive, and further agrees to cause each of their Subsidiaries to waive, its right of recovery, if any, against the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and their agents and employees;

(ii)the designation of any form, type or amount of insurance coverage by the Administrative Agent under this Section 5.02 shall in no event be deemed a representation, warranty or advice by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders that such insurance is adequate for the purposes of the business of Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries or the protection of their properties; and

(iii)the amount and type of insurance that the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has in effect as of the Effective Date satisfies for all purposes the requirements of this Section 5.02. 

SECTION 5.03.Taxes.  Pay and discharge promptly when due all material Taxes imposed upon it or upon its income or profits or in respect of its property, before the same shall become delinquent or in default; provided, however, that such payment and discharge shall not be required with respect to any such Tax, assessment, charge, levy or claim so long as (a) the validity or amount thereof shall be contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings (b) Holdings, the Borrower or the affected Subsidiary, as applicable, shall have set aside on its books adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP with respect 

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thereto and (c) the failure to make such payment and discharge could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.04.Financial Statements, Reports, etc.  Furnish to the Administrative Agent (which will promptly furnish such information to the Lenders):

(a)within ninety (90) days following the end of each fiscal year, a consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, cash flows and owners’ equity showing the financial position of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the close of such fiscal year and the consolidated results of its operations during such year and setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the prior fiscal year, which consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, cash flows and owners’ equity shall be audited by independent public accountants of recognized national standing and accompanied by an opinion of such accountants (which opinion shall not be qualified as to scope of audit or as to the status of the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary as a going concern, other than solely with respect to, or resulting solely from an upcoming maturity date under any series of Indebtedness occurring within one year from the time such opinion is delivered) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements fairly present, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (it being understood that the delivery by Holdings or the Borrower of annual reports on Form 10-K of Holdings and its consolidated Subsidiaries (including delivery by way of providing to the Administrative Agent the URL link to Holdings’ website or SEC’s website where such reports are posted) shall satisfy the requirements of this Section 5.04(a) to the extent such annual reports include the information specified herein);

(b)within sixty (60) days following the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year), a consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations and cash flows showing the financial position of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the close of such fiscal quarter and the consolidated results of its operations during such fiscal quarter and the then-elapsed portion of the fiscal year and setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the corresponding periods of the prior fiscal year, all of which shall be in reasonable detail and which consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations and cash flows shall be certified by a Financial Officer of the Borrower on behalf of the Borrower as fairly presenting, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes) (it being understood that the delivery by Holdings or the Borrower of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q of Holdings and its consolidated Subsidiaries (including delivery by way of providing to the Administrative Agent the URL link to Holdings’ website or SEC’s website where such reports are posted) shall satisfy the requirements of this Section 5.04(b) to the extent such quarterly reports include the information specified herein);

(c)(x) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under paragraphs (a) or (b) above, a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower (i) certifying that no Event of Default or Default has occurred or, if such an Event of Default or Default has occurred, specifying the nature and extent thereof and any corrective action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto, (ii) commencing with the first fiscal quarter ending after the Effective Date, setting forth computations in reasonable detail satisfactory to the Administrative Agent demonstrating compliance with the Financial Performance Covenants, (iii) certifying a list of names of all Immaterial Subsidiaries, that each Subsidiary set forth on such list individually qualifies as an Immaterial Subsidiary and that all such Subsidiaries in the aggregate do not exceed the limitations set forth in clause (b) of the definition of the term “Immaterial Subsidiary” and (iv) setting forth the calculation of the Total Net Leverage Ratio for the fiscal period then ended for purposes of determining the Applicable Rate, (y) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under paragraph (a) above, if the accounting firm is not restricted from providing such a 

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certificate by its policy office, a certificate of the accounting firm opining on or certifying such statements stating whether they obtained knowledge during the course of their examination of such statements of any Default or Event of Default (which certificate may be limited to accounting matters and disclaim responsibility for legal interpretations) and (z) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under paragraphs (a) or (b) above, a copy of a customary management’s discussion and analysis with respect to such financial statements (it being understood that the delivery by Holdings or the Borrower of reports on Form 10-Q or Form 10-K of Holdings or the Borrower and their respective consolidated Subsidiaries shall satisfy the requirements of this Section 5.04(c)(z) to the extent such reports include such management’s discussion and analysis);

(d)promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other publicly available reports, proxy statements and, to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent, other materials filed by Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries with the SEC, or after an initial public offering, distributed to its stockholders generally, as applicable; provided, however, that such reports, proxy statements, filings and other materials required to be delivered pursuant to this paragraph (d) shall be deemed delivered for purposes of this Agreement when posted to the website of the Borrower or the website of the SEC and written notice of such posting has been delivered to the Administrative Agent;

(e)within 90 days after the beginning of each fiscal year (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree), a reasonably detailed consolidated annual budget for such fiscal year consisting of a projected consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the end of the following fiscal year, and the related consolidated statements of projected cash flow and projected income, including a description of underlying assumptions with respect thereto (collectively, the “Budget”), which Budget shall in each case be accompanied by the statement of a Financial Officer of the Borrower to the effect that, the Budget is based on assumptions believed by such Financial Officer to be reasonable as of the date of delivery thereof;

(f)upon the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent not more frequently than once a year, an updated Perfection Certificate (or, to the extent such request relates to specified information contained in the Perfection Certificate, such information) reflecting all changes since the date of the information most recently received pursuant to this paragraph (f) or Section 5.10(f);

(g)promptly, from time to time, such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries or compliance with the terms of any Loan Document, as in each case the Administrative Agent may reasonably request (for itself or on behalf of the Lenders);

(h)in the event that Holdings or any Parent Entity, as the case may be, is not engaged in any business or activity, and does not own any assets or have other liabilities, other than those incidental to its ownership directly or indirectly of the Equity Interests of the Borrower and the incurrence of Indebtedness for borrowed money (and, without limitation on the foregoing, does not have any subsidiaries other than the Borrower and the Subsidiaries and any direct or indirect parent companies of the Borrower that are not engaged in any other business or activity and do not hold any other assets or have any liabilities except as indicated above) such consolidated reporting at such Parent Entity’s level in a manner consistent with that described in clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 5.04 for the Borrower (together with a reconciliation showing the adjustments necessary to determine compliance by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries with the Financial Performance Covenants) will satisfy the requirements of such paragraphs; and 

 

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(i)in the event that any set of consolidated financial statements delivered pursuant to clause (a) or clause (b) of this Section 5.04 contains the financial position or results of any Unrestricted Subsidiaries, then concurrently with the delivery of such set of financial statements, the related consolidating financial statements reflecting adjustments necessary to eliminate the financial position and results of such Unrestricted Subsidiaries from such consolidated financial statements.

SECTION 5.05.Litigation and Other Notices.  Furnish to the Administrative Agent (which will promptly thereafter furnish to the Lenders) written notice of the following promptly after any Responsible Officer of Borrower obtains actual knowledge thereof:

(a)any Event of Default or Default, specifying the nature and extent thereof and the corrective action (if any) proposed to be taken with respect thereto;

(b)the filing or commencement of, or any written threat or notice of intention of any person to file or commence, any action, suit or proceeding, whether at law or in equity or by or before any Governmental Authority or in arbitration, against Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries as to which an adverse determination is reasonably probable and which, if adversely determined, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(c)any other development specific to Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries that is not a matter of general public knowledge and that has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect; and

(d)the occurrence of any ERISA Event that, together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. 

SECTION 5.06.Compliance with Laws.  Comply with all laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; provided that this Section 5.06 shall not apply to Environmental Laws, which are the subject of Section 5.09, or to laws related to Taxes, which are the subject of Section 5.03.  Holdings and the Borrower will maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by Holdings, the Borrower, their respective Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with  Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions.

SECTION 5.07.Maintaining Records; Access to Properties and Inspections.  Maintain all financial records in accordance with GAAP and permit any persons designated by the Administrative Agent or, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, any Lender to visit and inspect the financial records and the properties of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries at reasonable times, upon reasonable prior notice to the Borrower, and as often as reasonably requested and to make extracts from and copies of such financial records, and permit any persons designated by the Administrative Agent or, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, any Lender upon reasonable prior notice to the Borrower to discuss the affairs, finances and condition of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries with the officers thereof and independent accountants therefor (so long as the Borrower has the opportunity to participate in any such discussions with such accountants), in each case, subject to reasonable requirements of confidentiality, including requirements imposed by law or by contract.

SECTION 5.08.Use of Proceeds.  Use the proceeds of the Loans made and Letters of Credit issued in the manner contemplated by Section 3.12.

SECTION 5.09.Compliance with Environmental Laws.  Comply, and make reasonable efforts to cause all lessees and other persons 

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occupying its properties to comply, with all Environmental Laws applicable to its operations and properties; and obtain and renew all material authorizations and permits required pursuant to Environmental Law for its operations and properties, in each case in accordance with Environmental Laws, except, in each case with respect to this Section 5.09, to the extent the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.10.Further Assurances; Additional Collateral.

(a)Execute any and all further documents, financing statements, agreements and instruments, and take all such further actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements and other documents), that the Administrative Agent may reasonably request (including, without limitation those required by applicable law), to satisfy the Collateral Requirement and to cause the Collateral Requirement to be and remain satisfied, all at the expense of the Loan Parties and provide to the Administrative Agent, from time to time upon reasonable request, evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent as to the perfection and priority of the Liens created or intended to be created by the Collateral Documents, subject in each case to paragraph (g) below.

(b)If any asset that has an individual fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) in an amount greater than $5,000,000 is acquired by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party after the Effective Date or owned by an entity at the time it becomes a Subsidiary Loan Party (in each case other than (x) assets constituting Collateral under a Collateral Document that become subject to the Lien of such Collateral Document upon acquisition thereof and (y) assets that are not required to become subject to Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.10(g) or the Collateral Documents) will (i) promptly as practicable notify the Administrative Agent thereof and (ii) take or cause the Subsidiary Loan Parties to take such actions as shall be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to grant and perfect such Liens, including actions described in paragraph (a) of this Section 5.10, all at the expense of the Loan Parties, subject to paragraph (g) below.

(c)[Intentionally Omitted.]

(d)If any additional direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Borrower is formed or acquired after the Effective Date (with any Subsidiary Redesignation resulting in an Unrestricted Subsidiary becoming a Subsidiary being deemed to constitute the acquisition of a Subsidiary) and if such Subsidiary is a Subsidiary Loan Party, within fifteen (15) Business Days after the date such Subsidiary is formed or acquired (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree), notify the Administrative Agent thereof and, within twenty (20) Business Days after the date such Subsidiary is formed or acquired or such longer period as the Administrative Agent shall agree (or, with respect to clauses (g), (h), (i), (j) and (m) of the definition of “Collateral Requirement”, within 90 days after such formation or acquisition or such longer period as set forth therein or as the Administrative Agent may agree, as applicable), cause the Collateral Requirement to be satisfied with respect to such Domestic Subsidiary and with respect to any Equity Interest in or Indebtedness of such Domestic Subsidiary owned by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party, subject in each case to paragraph (g) below.

(e)If any additional Foreign Subsidiary of the Borrower is formed or acquired after the Effective Date (with any Subsidiary Redesignation resulting in an Unrestricted Subsidiary becoming a Subsidiary being deemed to constitute the acquisition of a Subsidiary) and if such Subsidiary is a “first tier” Foreign Subsidiary directly owned by the Borrower or a Subsidiary Loan Party, within fifteen (15) Business Days after the date such Foreign Subsidiary is formed or acquired (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree), notify the Administrative Agent thereof and, within fifty (50) Business Days after the date such Foreign Subsidiary is formed or acquired or such longer period as the Administrative Agent shall agree, cause the Collateral Requirement to be satisfied with respect to any 

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Equity Interest in such Foreign Subsidiary directly owned by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party, subject in each case to paragraph (g) below.

(f)(i) Furnish to the Administrative Agent promptly (and in any event within 30 days after such change or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree) written notice of any change (A) in any Loan Party’s corporate or organization name, (B) in any Loan Party’s identity or organizational structure, (C) in any Loan Party’s organizational identification number, (D) in any Loan Party’s jurisdiction of organization or (E) in the location of the chief executive office of any Loan Party that is not a registered organization; provided, that the Borrower shall not effect or permit any such change unless all filings have been made, or will have been made within any statutory period (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree), under the UCC that are required in order for the Administrative Agent to continue at all times following such change to have a valid, legal and perfected security interest in all the Collateral in which a security interest may be perfected by such filing, for the benefit of the Secured Parties with the same priority as prior to such change and (ii) promptly notify the Administrative Agent if any material portion of the Collateral is damaged or destroyed.

(g)The Collateral Requirement and the other provisions of this Section 5.10 and the other provisions of the Loan Documents with respect to Collateral need not be satisfied with respect to any of the following (collectively, the “Excluded Property”):  (i) all fee-owned real property and any leasehold interests in real property, (ii) any vehicle and other assets subject to certificates of title and letter of credit rights (in each case, other than to the extent a Lien on such assets or such rights can be perfected by the filing of customary financing statements) and commercial tort claims with a value reasonably estimated to be less than $5,000,000, (iii) cash, deposit accounts and securities accounts (it being understood and agreed (1) that the Lien of the Administrative Agent may extend to such assets pursuant to the terms of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, but that such Lien need not be perfected to the extent perfection requires any action other than the filing of customary financing statements (and all representations, warranties, covenants and other terms of the Loan Documents with respect to Collateral shall be construed accordingly) and (2) that there shall be no lockbox arrangements nor any control agreements relating to any deposit accounts, securities accounts, commodities accounts or any other bank accounts), (iv) any Excluded Securities, (v) pledges and security interests prohibited by applicable law, rule, regulation or contractual obligation not in violation of Section 6.09(c) (in each case, except to the extent such prohibition is unenforceable after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of Article 9 of the UCC), (vi) those assets as to which the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall reasonably agree that the costs or other consequence of pledging, obtaining or perfecting such a security interest are excessive in relation to the value of the security to be afforded thereby, (vii) assets to the extent a security interest in such assets could reasonably be expected to result in material adverse tax consequences as determined in good faith by the Borrower, (viii) any lease, license or other agreement to the extent that a grant of a security interest therein would violate or invalidate such lease, license or agreement or create a right of termination in favor of any other party thereto (other than the Borrower or any other Loan Party) (after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of Article 9 of the UCC), (ix) any governmental licenses or state or local franchises, charters and authorizations, to the extent security interests in such licenses, franchises, charters or authorizations are prohibited or restricted thereby (after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of Article 9 of the UCC), (x) pending United States “intent-to-use” trademark or service mark applications filed pursuant to Section 1(b) of the Lanham Act 15 U.S.C. §1051 unless and until a verified statement of use or an amendment to allege use under Sections 1(c) and 1(d) of the Lanham Act has been filed with and accepted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, (xi) all assets of Holdings other than Equity Interests in the Borrower and other related assets pledged pursuant to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, (xii) other customary exclusions under applicable local law or in applicable local jurisdictions and (xiii) any other exceptions mutually agreed upon between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent; provided, that the Borrower may in its sole discretion elect to exclude any property from the definition of Excluded Property.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this 

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Agreement, the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, or any other Loan Document, (i) the Administrative Agent may grant extensions of time or waiver of requirement for the creation or perfection of security interests in or the obtaining of insurance (including title insurance) or surveys with respect to particular assets (including extensions beyond the Effective Date for the perfection of security interests in the assets of the Loan Parties on such date) where it reasonably determines, in consultation with the Borrower, that perfection or obtaining of such items cannot be accomplished by the time or times at which it would otherwise be required by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, (ii) no foreign law governed security documents shall be required and (iii) Liens required to be granted from time to time pursuant to, or any other requirements of, the Collateral Requirement and the Collateral Documents shall be subject to exceptions and limitations set forth in the Collateral Documents and, to the extent appropriate in the applicable jurisdiction or in light of applicable law, regulation, prevailing industry practices or availability on commercially reasonable terms, as otherwise agreed between the Administrative Agent and the Borrower.

(h)The Borrower shall or shall cause the applicable Subsidiary Loan Party to take such actions set forth on Schedule 5.10(h) within the timeframes set forth for the taking of such actions on Schedule 5.10(h) (or within such longer timeframes as the Administrative Agent shall permit in its reasonable discretion) (it being understood and agreed that all representations, warranties and covenants of the Loan Documents with respect to the taking of such actions are qualified by the non-completion of such actions until such time as they are completed or required to be completed in accordance with this Section 5.10(h)).

Article VI
Negative Covenants

Until the Commitments have expired or terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees  payable hereunder have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit have expired or terminated, in each case, without any pending draw, and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lenders that the Borrower will not, and will not permit any of the Subsidiaries to:

SECTION 6.01.Indebtedness.  The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness, except:

(a)Indebtedness existing on the Effective Date (provided that any Indebtedness that is (x) not intercompany Indebtedness and (y) in excess of $5,000,000 shall only be permitted under this clause (a)(i) to the extent such Indebtedness is set forth on Schedule 6.01) and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness (other than intercompany indebtedness Refinanced with Indebtedness owed to a person not affiliated with the Borrower or any Subsidiary);

(b)the Secured Obligations;

(c)Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary pursuant to Swap Agreements not entered into for speculative purposes;

 

(d)Indebtedness owed to (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees or similar instruments for the benefit of) any person providing workers’ compensation, 

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health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance to the Borrower or any Subsidiary, pursuant to reimbursement or indemnification obligations to such person, in each case in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or industry practices;

(e)Indebtedness of the Borrower to Holdings or any Subsidiary and of any Subsidiary to Holdings, the Borrower or any other Subsidiary; provided, that (i) Indebtedness of any Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Loan Party owing to the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party shall be subject to Section 6.04 and (ii) Indebtedness owed by any Loan Party to any Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Loan Party shall be subordinated in right of payment to the Secured Obligations under this Agreement on subordination terms substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto or on other subordination terms reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower;

(f)Indebtedness in respect of performance bonds, bid bonds, appeal bonds, surety bonds and completion guarantees and similar obligations of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, in each case, reasonably required in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or industry practices, including those incurred to secure health, safety and environmental obligations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and otherwise as permitted by the Loan Documents;

(g)Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business or other cash management services, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(h)(i) Indebtedness incurred or assumed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with the acquisition of assets or Equity Interests (including a Permitted Business Acquisition), where such acquisition, merger or consolidation is not prohibited by this Agreement and such Indebtedness is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition, in each case so long as at the time of any such incurrence or assumption and immediately after giving effect (including giving effect on a Pro Forma Basis) thereto the Borrower is in compliance with the Financial Performance Covenants, and (ii) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred in respect thereof;

(i)(x) Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings and other Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower or any Subsidiary prior to or within 270 days after the acquisition, lease, construction, repair, replacement or improvement of the respective property (real or personal, and whether through the direct purchase of property or the Equity Interests of any person owning such property) permitted under this Agreement in order to finance such acquisition, lease, construction, repair, replacement or improvement, in each case so long as at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect (including giving effect on a Pro Forma Basis) thereto the Borrower is in compliance with the Financial Performance Covenants, and (y) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof;

(j)Capital Lease Obligations incurred by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction that is permitted under Section 6.03, and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof;

(k)[reserved];

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(l)Guarantees (i) by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party of any Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party permitted to be incurred under this Agreement, (ii) by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of any Subsidiary that is not the Borrower or a Subsidiary Loan Party to the extent such Guarantees are permitted by Section 6.04 (other than Section 6.04(v)), (iii) by any Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Loan Party of Indebtedness of another Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Loan Party, and (iv) by the Borrower of Indebtedness of Subsidiaries that are not Subsidiary Loan Parties incurred for working capital purposes in the ordinary course of business on ordinary business terms so long as such Indebtedness is permitted to be incurred under Section 6.01(y) to the extent such Guarantees are permitted by Section 6.04 (other than Section 6.04(v)); provided, that Guarantees by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party under this Section 6.01(l) of any other Indebtedness of a person that is subordinated in right of payment to other Indebtedness of such person shall be subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations to at least the same extent such other Indebtedness is so subordinated;

(m)Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Borrower or any Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase or acquisition price or similar obligations (including earn-outs), in each case, incurred or assumed in connection with the Transactions, any Permitted Business Acquisition, other Investments or the disposition of any business, assets or a Subsidiary not prohibited by this Agreement;

(n)Indebtedness in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees, warehouse receipts or similar instruments issued to support performance obligations and trade letters of credit (other than obligations in respect of other Indebtedness) in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or industry practice;

(o)Indebtedness supported by a Letter of Credit, in a principal amount not in excess of the stated amount of such Letter of Credit;

(p)Indebtedness consisting of (i) the financing of insurance premiums or (ii) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;

(q)(i) secured Indebtedness in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not to exceed $10,000,000, and (ii) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof;

(r)[reserved];

(s)(i) unsecured Indebtedness of the Borrower or a Subsidiary Loan Party so long as immediately after giving effect (including giving effect on a Pro Forma Basis) to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof (but without netting any of the proceeds thereof), the Borrower is in compliance with the Financial Performance Covenants and (ii) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof;

(t)Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of business in respect of the obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to pay the deferred purchase price of goods or services or progress payments in connection with such goods and services; provided, that such obligations are incurred in connection with open accounts extended by suppliers on customary trade terms in the ordinary course of business and not in connection with the borrowing of money or any Swap Agreements;

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(u)Indebtedness representing deferred compensation to employees, consultants or independent contractors of the Borrower (or, to the extent such work is done for the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, any direct or indirect parent thereof) or any Subsidiary incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(v)obligations in respect of Banking Services Agreements;

(w)[reserved];

(x)[reserved];

(y)Indebtedness of Subsidiaries that are not Subsidiary Loan Parties in an aggregate principal amount outstanding that, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence thereof, together with the aggregate principal amount of any other Indebtedness outstanding pursuant to this Section 6.01(y), would not exceed the greater of $75,000,000 and 5.0% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the end of the fiscal quarter immediately prior to the date of such incurrence for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.04(a) or 5.04(b), and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof;

(z)[reserved];

(aa)[reserved];

(bb)Indebtedness consisting of obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary under deferred compensation or other similar arrangements incurred by such person in connection with Permitted Business Acquisitions or any other Investment permitted hereunder;

(cc)Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to or on behalf of any joint venture (regardless of the form of legal entity) that is not a Subsidiary arising in the ordinary course of business in connection with the cash management operations (including with respect to intercompany self-insurance arrangements) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;

(dd)[reserved]; and

(ee)all premium (if any, including tender premiums), expenses, defeasance costs, interest (including post-petition interest), fees, expenses, charges and additional or contingent interest on obligations described in paragraphs (a) through (cc) of this Section 6.01 above or refinancings thereof.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 6.01, the amount of any Indebtedness denominated in any currency other than Dollars shall be calculated based on customary currency exchange rates in effect, in the case of such Indebtedness incurred (in respect of term Indebtedness) or committed (in respect of revolving Indebtedness) on or prior to the Effective Date, on the Effective Date and, in the case of such Indebtedness incurred (in respect of term Indebtedness) or committed (in respect of revolving Indebtedness) after the Effective Date, on the date that such Indebtedness was incurred (in respect of term Indebtedness) or committed (in respect of revolving Indebtedness); provided that if such Indebtedness is incurred to refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a currency other than Dollars (or in a different currency from the Indebtedness being refinanced), and such refinancing would cause the applicable Dollar- denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such Dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed (i) the outstanding or 

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committed principal amount, as applicable, of such Indebtedness being refinanced plus (ii) the aggregate amount of fees, underwriting discounts, premiums (including tender premiums), defeasance costs and other costs and expenses incurred in connection with such refinancing.  Further, for purposes of determining compliance with this Section 6.01, Indebtedness resulting solely from the accretion of accreted value, the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness or the amortization of original issue discount, in each case with respect to other Indebtedness permitted under this Section 6.01, shall be permitted under this Section 6.01.

Further, for purposes of determining compliance with this Section 6.01, (A) Indebtedness need not be permitted solely by reference to one category of permitted Indebtedness described in Sections 6.01(a) through (ee) but may be permitted in part under any combination thereof and (B) in the event that an item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of one or more of the categories of permitted Indebtedness described in Sections 6.01(a) through (ee), the Borrower shall, in its sole discretion, classify or reclassify, or later divide, classify or reclassify, such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this Section 6.01 and will only be required to include the amount and type of such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) in one of the above clauses and such item of Indebtedness shall be treated as having been incurred or existing pursuant to only one of such clauses; provided, that all Indebtedness outstanding on the Effective Date under this Agreement shall at all times be deemed to have been incurred pursuant to clause (b) of this Section 6.01.

SECTION 6.02.Liens.  Create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or assets (including stock or other securities of any person, including any Subsidiary) at the time owned by it or on any income or revenues or rights in respect of any thereof, except the following (collectively, “Permitted Liens”):

(a)Liens on property or assets of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries existing on the Effective Date (or created following the Effective Date pursuant to agreements in existence on the Effective Date requiring the creation of such Liens) and, to the extent securing Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $5,000,000, set forth on Schedule 6.02(a)), and any modifications, replacements, renewals or extensions thereof; provided, that such Liens shall secure only those obligations that they secure on the Effective Date (and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of such obligations permitted by Section 6.01(a)) and shall not subsequently apply to any other property or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary other than (A) after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien, and (B) proceeds and products thereof;

(b)any Lien created under the Loan Documents (including, without limitation, Liens created under the Collateral Documents securing obligations in respect of Swap Agreements and Banking Services Agreements);

(c)any Lien on any property or asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary securing Indebtedness or Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01(h); provided, that such Lien (i) does not apply to any other property or assets of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries not securing such Indebtedness at the date of the acquisition of such property or asset and accessions and additions thereto and proceeds and products thereof (other than after acquired property required to be subjected to such Lien pursuant to the terms of such Indebtedness (and refinancings thereof), it being understood that such requirement shall not be permitted to apply to any property to which such requirement would not have applied but for such acquisition) and (ii) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition;

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(d)Liens for Taxes, assessments or other governmental charges or levies not yet delinquent by more than 30 days or that are being contested in compliance with Section 5.03, and in each case for which adequate reserves are maintained in accordance with GAAP;

(e)Liens imposed by law, such as landlord’s, carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s, supplier’s, construction or other like Liens, securing obligations that are not overdue by more than 30 days or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and in respect of which, if applicable, the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall have set aside on its books reserves in accordance with GAAP;

(f)(i) pledges and deposits and other Liens made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with the Federal Employers Liability Act or any other workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations and deposits securing liability to insurance carriers under insurance or self-insurance arrangements in respect of such obligations and (ii) pledges and deposits and other Liens securing liability for reimbursement or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or liability insurance to the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

(g)deposits and other Liens to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts (other than for Indebtedness), leases (other than Capital Lease Obligations), statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance and return of money bonds, bids, leases, government contracts, trade contracts, agreements with utilities, and other obligations of a like nature (including letters of credit in lieu of any such bonds or to support the issuance thereof) incurred in the ordinary course of business, including those incurred to secure health, safety and environmental obligations in the ordinary course of business;

(h)zoning restrictions, easements, survey exceptions and such matters as an accurate survey would disclose, easements, trackage rights, leases (other than Capital Lease Obligations), licenses, special assessments, rights-of-way, covenants, conditions, restrictions and declarations on or with respect to the use of Real Property, servicing agreements, development agreements, site plan agreements and other similar encumbrances incurred in the ordinary course of business and title defects or irregularities that, in the aggregate, do not interfere in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

(i)Liens securing Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01(i); provided, that such Liens do not apply to any property or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary other than the property or assets acquired, leased, constructed, replaced, repaired or improved with such Indebtedness (or the Indebtedness Refinanced thereby), and accessions and additions thereto, proceeds and products thereof and related property and customary security deposits; provided, further, that individual financings provided by one lender may be cross-collateralized to other financings provided by such lender (and its Affiliates);

(j)Liens on any amounts held by a trustee or lender under any indenture or other debt agreement issued in escrow pursuant to customary escrow arrangements pending the release thereof, or under any indenture or other debt agreement pursuant to customary discharge, redemption or defeasance provisions;

 

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(k)Liens arising out of capitalized lease transactions permitted under Section 6.03, so long as such Liens attach only to the property sold and being leased in such transaction and any accessions and additions thereto or proceeds and products thereof and related property;

(l)Liens securing judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default under paragraph (j) of Article VII; 

(m)Liens disclosed by the title insurance policies delivered on or subsequent to the Effective Date and any replacement, extension or renewal of any such Lien; provided, that such replacement, extension or renewal Lien shall not cover any property other than the property that was subject to such Lien prior to such replacement, extension or renewal; provided, further, that the Indebtedness and other obligations secured by such replacement, extension or renewal Lien are permitted by this Agreement;

(n)any interest or title of a lessor or sublessor under any leases or subleases entered into by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

(o)Liens that are contractual rights of set-off (i) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks and other financial institutions not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness, (ii) relating to pooled deposits, sweep accounts, reserve accounts or similar accounts of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, including with respect to credit card chargebacks and similar obligations or (iii) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers, suppliers or service providers of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

(p)Liens (i) arising solely by virtue of any statutory or common law provision relating to banker’s liens, rights of set-off or similar rights, (ii) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other commodity brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business or (iii) encumbering reasonable customary initial deposits and margin deposits and similar Liens attaching to brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

(q)Liens securing obligations in respect of trade-related letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar obligations permitted under Section 6.01(f) or (n) and covering the property (or the documents of title in respect of such property) financed by such letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar obligations and the proceeds and products thereof;

(r)leases or subleases, licenses or sublicenses (including with respect to Intellectual Property) granted to others in the ordinary course of business not interfering in any material respect with the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(s)Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods;

(t)Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement in respect of any Investment permitted hereunder;

(u)Liens with respect to property or assets of any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party securing obligations of a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party permitted under Section 6.01;

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(v)[reserved];

(w)[reserved];

(x)[reserved];

(y)the prior rights of consignees and their lenders under consignment arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(z)Liens arising from precautionary UCC financing statements or consignments entered into in connection with any transaction otherwise permitted under this Agreement;

(aa)Liens on Equity Interests in joint ventures (i) securing obligations of such joint ventures or (ii) pursuant to the relevant joint venture agreement or arrangement;

(bb)(i) Liens on securities that are the subject of repurchase agreements constituting Permitted Investments under clause (c) of the definition thereof and (ii) Liens in respect of non-recourse receivables sales or factoring transactions that extend only to the receivables and associated ancillary rights subjected thereto;

(cc)Liens on goods or inventory the purchase, shipment or storage price of which is financed by a documentary letter of credit, bank guarantee or bankers’ acceptance issued or created for the account of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business; provided that such Lien secures only the obligations of the Borrower or such Subsidiaries in respect of such letter of credit, bank guarantee or banker’s acceptance to the extent permitted under Section 6.01;

(dd)Liens securing insurance premiums financing arrangements, provided, that such Liens are limited to the applicable unearned insurance premiums;

(ee)Liens in favor of the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party; provided, that any such Lien shall not cover any Collateral;

(ff)other Liens with respect to property or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary securing obligations in an aggregate principal amount outstanding not in excess of $10,000,000;

(gg)Liens on cash and Permitted Investments on deposit with Lenders and Affiliates of Lenders securing obligations owing to such Persons under any treasury, depository, overdraft or other cash management services agreements or arrangements with the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;

(hh)agreements to subordinate any interest of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in any accounts receivable or other proceeds arising from inventory consigned by the Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries pursuant to an agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(ii)in the case of Real Property that constitutes a leasehold interest, any Lien to which the fee simple interest (or any superior leasehold interest) is subject;

(jj)[reserved]; and

 

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(kk)Liens on not more than $15,000,000 of deposits securing hedge agreements entered into for non-speculative purposes.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 6.02, (A) a Lien securing an item of Indebtedness need not be permitted solely by reference to one category of permitted Liens described in Sections 6.02(a) through (kk) but may be permitted in part under any combination thereof and (B) in the event that a Lien securing an item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of one or more of the categories of permitted Liens described in Sections 6.02(a) through (kk), the Borrower shall, in its sole discretion, classify or reclassify, or later divide, classify or reclassify, such Lien securing such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this covenant and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Lien or such item of Indebtedness secured by such Lien in one of the above clauses and such Lien securing such item of Indebtedness will be treated as being incurred or existing pursuant to only one of such clauses.  In addition, with respect to any Lien securing Indebtedness that was permitted to be secured at the time of incurrence thereof, additional Indebtedness resulting solely from the accrual of interest, accretion of accreted value, the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness or in the form of common stock of the Borrower, or the amortization of original issue discount, the accretion of original issue discount or liquidation preference and increases in the amount of Indebtedness outstanding solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies, in each case with respect to such permitted secured Indebtedness, shall also be permitted to be secured by such Lien.

 

SECTION 6.03.Sale and Lease-Back Transactions.  Enter into any arrangement, directly or indirectly, with any person whereby it shall sell or transfer any property, real or personal, used or useful in its business, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and thereafter, as part of such transaction, 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 (a “Sale and Lease-Back Transaction”); provided that a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction shall be permitted (a) with respect to Excluded Property, (b) with respect to property owned (i) by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party that is acquired after the Effective Date so long as such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction is consummated within 365 days of the acquisition of such property or (ii) by any Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Loan Party regardless of when such property was acquired and (c) with respect to any other property owned by the Borrower or any Subsidiary if at the time the lease in connection therewith is entered into, (i) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom and (ii) with respect to any such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction with Net Proceeds in excess of $50,000,000, the Borrower shall be in Pro Forma Compliance immediately after giving effect to the entering into of such lease; provided, further, that the Borrower or the applicable Subsidiary Loan Party shall receive at least fair market value (as determined by the Borrower in good faith) for any property disposed of in any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction pursuant to clause (b)(i) or (c) of this Section 6.03 (as approved by the Board of Directors of the Borrower in any case of any property with a fair market value in excess of $20,000,000).

SECTION 6.04.Investments, Loans and Advances.  (i) Purchase or acquire (including pursuant to any merger, consolidation or amalgamation with a person that is not a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary immediately prior to such merger, consolidation or amalgamation) any Equity Interests, evidences of Indebtedness or other securities of any other person, (ii) make any loans or advances to or Guarantees of the Indebtedness of any other person (other than loans or advances in respect of (A) intercompany current liabilities incurred in connection with the cash management operations of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries and (B) intercompany loans, advances or Indebtedness having a term not exceeding 364 days (inclusive of any roll-overs or extensions of terms) and made in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practices), or (iii) purchase or otherwise acquire, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, (x) all or substantially all of the property and assets or business of another person or (y) assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division of such person (each of the foregoing, an “Investment”), except:

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(a)[reserved];

(b)(i) Investments by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in the Equity Interests of the Borrower or any Subsidiary; (ii) intercompany loans from the Borrower or any Subsidiary to the Borrower or any Subsidiary; and (iii) Guarantees by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of the Borrower or any Subsidiary; provided, that as at any date of determination, the aggregate amount of (A) Investments (valued at the time of the making thereof and without giving effect to any write-downs or write-offs thereof) made after the Effective Date by the Loan Parties pursuant to subclause (i) in Subsidiaries that are not Subsidiary Loan Parties, plus (B) net outstanding intercompany loans made after the Effective Date by the Loan Parties to Subsidiaries that are not Subsidiary Loan Parties pursuant to subclause (ii), plus (C) outstanding Guarantees by the Loan Parties of Indebtedness after the Effective Date of Subsidiaries that are not Subsidiary Loan Parties pursuant to subclause (iii), shall not exceed the sum of (X) the greater of (1) $55,000,000 and (2) 5.0% of Consolidated Total Assets as at the end of the fiscal quarter ended immediately prior to the date of such Investment for which financial statements have been (or were required to be) delivered pursuant to Section 5.04(a) or 5.04(b) plus (Y) an amount equal to any returns (including dividends, interest, distributions, returns of principal, profits on sale, repayments, income and similar amounts) actually received in respect of any such Investment;

(c)Permitted Investments and Investments that were Permitted Investments when made;

(d)Investments arising out of the receipt by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of noncash consideration for the sale of assets permitted under Section 6.05;

(e)loans and advances to officers, directors, employees or consultants of Holdings, Borrower or any Subsidiary (i) in the ordinary course of business, (ii) in respect of payroll payments and expenses in the ordinary course of business and (iii) in connection with such person’s purchase of Equity Interests of Holdings or any Parent Entity solely to the extent that the amount of such loans and advances shall be contributed to the Borrower in cash as common equity;

(f)accounts receivable, security deposits and prepayments arising and trade credit granted in the ordinary course of business and any assets or securities received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled account debtors to the extent reasonably necessary in order to prevent or limit loss and any prepayments and other credits to suppliers made in the ordinary course of business;

(g)Swap Agreements that are not entered into for speculative purposes;

(h)Investments existing on, or contractually committed as of, the Effective Date and set forth on Schedule 6.04 and any extensions, renewals or reinvestments thereof, so long as the aggregate amount of all Investments pursuant to this paragraph (h) is not increased at any time above the amount of such Investment existing or committed on the Effective Date (other than pursuant to an increase as required by the terms of any such Investment as in existence on the Effective Date);

(i)Investments resulting from pledges and deposits under Sections 6.02(f), (g), (p), (s), (t), (ff) and (kk);

 

 

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(j)[reserved];

(k)other Investments by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in an aggregate amount (valued at the time of the making thereof, and without giving effect to any write-downs or write-offs thereof) not to exceed the sum of (X) 15.0% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the end of the fiscal quarter ended immediately prior to the date of such Investment for which financial statements have been (or were required to be) delivered pursuant to Section 5.04(a) or 5.04(b) plus (Y) an amount equal to any returns (including dividends, interest, distributions, returns of principal, profits on sale, repayments, income and similar amounts) actually received in respect of any such Investment pursuant to clause (X); provided, that if any Investment pursuant to this Section 6.04(k) is made in any person that was not a Subsidiary on the date on which such Investment was made but becomes a Subsidiary thereafter, then such Investment may, at the option of the Borrower, upon such person becoming a Subsidiary and so long as such person remains a Subsidiary, be deemed to have been made pursuant to Section 6.04(b) (to the extent permitted by the proviso thereto, in the case of any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party) and not in reliance on this Section 6.04(k);

(l)Investments constituting Permitted Business Acquisitions;

(m)Investments received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of, or settlement of delinquent accounts and disputes with or judgments against, customers and suppliers, in each case in the ordinary course of business or Investments acquired by the Borrower or a Subsidiary as a result of a foreclosure by the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investments or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default;

(n)Investments of a Subsidiary acquired after the Effective Date or of an entity merged into the Borrower or merged into or consolidated with a Subsidiary after the Effective Date, in each case, (i) to the extent such acquisition, merger or consolidation was or is permitted under this Section 6.04 or Section 6.05 and (ii) to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition, merger, consolidation or amalgamation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger, consolidation or amalgamation;

(o)acquisitions by the Borrower of obligations of one or more officers or other employees of Holdings, any Parent Entity, the Borrower or its Subsidiaries in connection with such officer’s or employee’s acquisition of Equity Interests of Holdings or any Parent Entity, so long as no cash is actually advanced by the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries to such officers or employees in connection with the acquisition of any such obligations;

(p)Guarantees by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of operating leases (other than Capital Lease Obligations) or of other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness, in each case entered into by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

(q)Investments to the extent that payment for such Investments is made with Equity Interests of the Borrower, Holdings or any Parent Entity;

(r)Investments in the Equity Interests of one or more newly formed persons that are received in consideration of the contribution by Holdings, the Borrower or the applicable Subsidiary of assets (including Equity Interests and cash) to such person or persons; provided, that (i) the fair market value of such assets, determined in good faith by the Borrower, so contributed pursuant to this clause (r) shall not in the aggregate exceed $15,000,000 and (ii) in respect of each such contribution, a Responsible Officer of the Borrower shall certify, in a form to be agreed upon by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (x) after giving effect to such contribution, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, (y) the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the 

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Borrower) of the assets so contributed and (z) that the requirements of clause (i) of this proviso remain satisfied;

(s)Investments consisting of Restricted Payments permitted by Section 6.06;

(t)Investments in the ordinary course of business consisting of UCC Article 3 endorsements for collection or deposit and UCC Article 4 customary trade arrangements with customers;

(u)[reserved];

(v)Guarantees permitted under Section 6.01 (except to the extent such Guarantee is expressly subject to Section 6.04);

(w)advances in the form of a prepayment of expenses, so long as such expenses are being paid in accordance with customary trade terms of the Borrower or such Subsidiary;

(x)Investments by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including loans and advances to any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower, if the Borrower or any other Subsidiary would otherwise be permitted to make a Restricted Payment in such amount (provided that the amount of any such Investment shall also be deemed to be a Restricted Payment under the appropriate paragraph of Section 6.06 for all purposes of this Agreement);

(y)Investments consisting of the licensing or contribution of Intellectual Property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other persons;

(z)purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, materials and equipment or purchases of contract rights or licenses or leases of intellectual property in each case in the ordinary course of business, to the extent such purchases and acquisitions constitute Investments;

(aa)Investments received substantially contemporaneously in exchange for Qualified Equity Interests of Holdings or any Parent Entity;

(bb)Investments in joint ventures in an aggregate amount not to exceed the sum of (X) the greater of $35,000,000 and 3.0% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the end of the fiscal quarter immediately prior to the date of such Investment for which financial statements have been (or were required to be) delivered pursuant to Section 5.04(a) or 5.04(b), plus (Y) an aggregate amount equal to any returns (including dividends, interest, distributions, returns of principal, profits on sale, repayments, income and similar amounts) actually received by the respective investor in respect of investments theretofore made by it pursuant to this Section 6.04(bb); provided that if any Investment pursuant to this Section 6.04(bb) is made in any person that was not a Subsidiary on the date on which such Investment was made but becomes a Subsidiary thereafter, then such Investment may, at the option of the Borrower, upon such person becoming a Subsidiary and so long as such person remains a Subsidiary, be deemed to have been made pursuant to Section 6.04(b) (to the extent permitted by the proviso thereto in the case of any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party) and not in reliance on this Section 6.04(bb); and

(cc)Investments in any Unrestricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount (valued at the time of the making thereof, and without giving effect to any write downs or write offs thereof) not to exceed the sum of (X) the greater of $35,000,000 and 3.0% of Consolidated Total Assets as at the end of the fiscal quarter ended immediately prior to the date of such Investment for which financial statements have been (or were required to be) delivered pursuant to Section 5.04(a) or 5.04(b) plus (Y) an amount equal to any returns (including dividends, interest, distributions, returns of principal, profits on sale, repayments, income 

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and similar amounts) actually received in respect of any such Investment; provided, that if any Investment pursuant to this Section 6.04(cc) is made in any person that was not a Subsidiary on the date on which such Investment was made but becomes a Subsidiary thereafter, then such Investment may, at the option of the Borrower, upon such person becoming a Subsidiary and so long as such person remains a Subsidiary, be deemed to have been made pursuant to Section 6.04(b) (to the extent permitted by the proviso thereto in the case of any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party) and not in reliance on this Section 6.04(cc).

The amount of Investments that may be made at any time pursuant to Section 6.04(b) or 6.04(k) (such Sections, the “Related Sections”) may, at the election of the Borrower, be increased by the amount of Investments that could be made at such time under the other Related Section; provided, that the amount of each such increase in respect of one Related Section shall be treated as having been used under the other Related Section.

 

Any Investment in any person other than the Borrower or a Subsidiary Loan Party that is otherwise permitted by this Section 6.04 may be made through intermediate Investments in Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties and such intermediate Investments shall be disregarded for purposes of determining the outstanding amount of Investments pursuant to any clause set forth above.  The amount of any Investment made other than in the form of cash or cash equivalents shall be the fair market value thereof (as determined by the Borrower in good faith) valued at the time of the making thereof, and without giving effect to any subsequent write-downs or write-offs thereof. 

SECTION 6.05.Mergers, Consolidations, Sales of Assets and Acquisitions.  Merge into, or consolidate or amalgamate with any other person, or permit any other person to merge into or consolidate with it, or Dispose of (in one transaction or in a series of related transactions) all or any part of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired), or Dispose of any Equity Interests of any Subsidiary, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) all of the assets of any other person or division or line of business of a person, except that this Section 6.05 shall not prohibit:

(a)(i) (x) the purchase and Disposition of inventory, or (y) the sale of receivables pursuant to non-recourse factoring arrangements, in each case in the ordinary course of business by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, (ii) the acquisition or lease (pursuant to an operating lease) of any other asset in the ordinary course of business by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or, with respect to operating leases, otherwise for fair market value on market terms (as determined in good faith by the Borrower), (iii) the Disposition of surplus, obsolete, damaged or worn out equipment or other property in the ordinary course of business by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or (iv) the Disposition of Permitted Investments in the ordinary course of business;

(b)if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, (i) the merger, consolidation or amalgamation of any Subsidiary into or with the Borrower in a transaction in which the Borrower is the survivor, (ii) the merger, consolidation or amalgamation of any Subsidiary into or with any Subsidiary Loan Party in a transaction in which the surviving or resulting entity is or becomes a Subsidiary Loan Party and, in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii), no person other than the Borrower or a Subsidiary Loan Party receives any consideration (unless otherwise permitted by Section 6.04), (iii) the merger, consolidation or amalgamation of any Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Loan Party into or with any other Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Loan Party, (iv) the liquidation or dissolution or change in form of entity of any Subsidiary if the Borrower determines in good faith that such liquidation, dissolution or change in form is in the best interests of the Borrower and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders or (v) any Subsidiary may merge, consolidate or amalgamate into or with any other person in order to effect an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 6.04 so long as the continuing or surviving person shall be a Subsidiary (unless otherwise permitted by Section 6.04), which shall be a Loan Party if the merging, 

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consolidating or amalgamating Subsidiary was a Loan Party and which together with each of its Subsidiaries shall have complied with the requirements of Section 5.10;

(c)Dispositions to the Borrower or a Subsidiary (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise); provided, that any Dispositions by a Loan Party to a Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Loan Party in reliance on this clause (c) shall be made either (i) on terms that are substantially no less favorable to such Loan Party, as applicable, than would be obtained in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a person that is not an Affiliate, as determined by the Board of Directors of such Loan Party in good faith or (ii) be counted as an Investment to the extent of any shortfall below fair market value and permitted to the extent permitted by Section 6.04;

(d)Sale and Lease-Back Transactions permitted by Section 6.03;

(e)Investments permitted by Section 6.04, Permitted Liens, and Restricted Payments permitted by Section 6.06;

(f)the Disposition of defaulted receivables in the ordinary course of business and not as part of an accounts receivables financing transaction;

(g)Dispositions of assets not otherwise permitted by this Section 6.05 so long as (i) the fair market value of such assets shall not exceed, in any fiscal year of the Borrower, 15.0% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the end of the fiscal quarter ended immediately prior to the date of such Disposition for which financial statements have been (or were required to be) delivered pursuant to Section 5.04(a) or 5.04(b) and (ii) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom;

(h)Permitted Business Acquisitions (including any merger, consolidation or amalgamation in order to effect a Permitted Business Acquisition); provided, that following any such merger, consolidation or amalgamation involving the Borrower, the Borrower is the surviving entity;

(i)leases, licenses, or subleases or sublicenses of any real or personal property in the ordinary course of business; and

(j)Dispositions of inventory or Dispositions or abandonment of Intellectual Property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries determined in good faith by the management of the Borrower to be no longer useful or necessary in the operation of the business of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries.

SECTION 6.06.Restricted Payments.  Declare or pay any dividend or make any other distribution (by reduction of capital or otherwise), whether in cash, property, securities or a combination thereof, with respect to any of its Equity Interests (other than dividends and distributions on Equity Interests payable solely by the issuance of additional Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the person paying such dividends or distributions) or directly or indirectly redeem, purchase, retire or otherwise acquire for value (or permit any Subsidiary to purchase or acquire) any of the Borrower’s Equity Interests or set aside any amount for any such purpose (other than through the issuance of additional Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the person redeeming, purchasing, retiring or acquiring such shares) (all of the foregoing, “Restricted Payments”); provided, however, that:

 

 

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(a)Restricted Payments may be made to the Borrower or to any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower (or, in the case of non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries, to the Borrower or any Subsidiary that is a direct or indirect parent of such Subsidiary and to each other owner of Equity Interests of such Subsidiary on a pro rata basis (or more favorable basis from the perspective of the Borrower or such Subsidiary) based on their relative ownership interests);

(b)(x) Restricted Payments may be made in respect of (i) overhead, legal, accounting and other professional fees and expenses of Holdings or any Parent Entity, (ii) fees and expenses related to any public offering or private placement of debt or equity securities of Holdings or any Parent Entity whether or not consummated, (iii) franchise and similar taxes and other fees and expenses in connection with the maintenance of its (and any Parent Entity’s) existence and its (or any Parent Entity’s indirect) ownership of the Borrower, (iv) payments permitted by Section 6.07(b) (other than clause (vii) thereof), and (v) customary salary, bonus and other benefits payable to, and indemnities provided on behalf of, officers, directors and employees of Holdings or any Parent Entity, in each case in order to permit Holdings or any Parent Entity to make such payments; provided, that in the case of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), the amount of such Restricted Payments shall not exceed the portion of any amounts referred to in such clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) that are allocable to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and (y) the Borrower may make Restricted Payments to any direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower that files a consolidated, combined unitary, or any other U.S. federal, state or local tax return that includes the Borrower and/or their respective subsidiaries, in each case in an amount not to exceed the amount that the Borrower and its subsidiaries would have been required to pay in respect of federal, state or local taxes (as the case may be) if the Borrower and its subsidiaries paid such taxes directly as a stand-alone taxpayer (or stand-alone group), as reduced by any such taxes directly paid by the Borrower or any subsidiary thereof; provided that, any payment of such federal, state or local taxes attributable to any Unrestricted Subsidiary for any taxable period shall be limited to the amount actually received by the Borrower or a subsidiary thereof from such Unrestricted Subsidiary for the purposes of paying such taxes within the taxable period; provided, further, that in the case of subclauses (i) and (iii), the amount of such Restricted Payments shall not exceed the portion of any amounts referred to in such subclauses (i) and (iii) that are allocable to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (which shall be 100% at any time that, as the case may be, (x) Holdings owns no material assets other than the Equity Interests in the Borrower and assets incidental to such equity ownership and (y) any Parent Entity owns directly or indirectly no material assets other than Equity Interests in Holdings and any other Parent Entity and assets incidental to such equity ownership);

(c)[reserved];

(d)any person may make noncash repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options;

(e)[reserved];

(f)[reserved];

(g)Restricted Payments may be made to pay, or to allow Holdings or any Parent Entity to make payments in cash, in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares, upon the exercise of warrants or upon the conversion or exchange of Equity Interests of any such person;

(h)[reserved];

 

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(i)Restricted Payments may be made to Holdings or any Parent Entity to finance any Investment that if made by the Borrower or any Subsidiary directly would be permitted to be made pursuant to Section 6.04; provided, that (A) such dividend or distribution shall be made substantially concurrently with the closing of such Investment and (B) such parent shall, immediately following the closing thereof, cause (1) all property acquired (whether assets or Equity Interests) to be contributed to the Borrower or a Subsidiary or (2) the merger, consolidation or amalgamation (to the extent permitted in Section 6.05) of the person formed or acquired into the Borrower or a Subsidiary in order to consummate such Permitted Business Acquisition or Investment, in each case, in accordance with the requirements of Section 5.10;

(j)[reserved];

(k)the payment of any dividend or distribution or the consummation of any irrevocable redemption within 60 days after the date of declaration of the dividend or distribution or the giving of the redemption notice, or the payment of any other Restricted Payment within 60 days after the making of a binding commitment in respect thereof, if at the date of declaration or the giving of notice of such irrevocable redemption or the making of such commitment, as applicable, such payment would have complied with the provisions of this Section 6.06; and

(l)other Restricted Payments so long as (i) at the time of and after giving effect (including giving effect thereto on a Pro Forma Basis) to such Restricted Payment no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom and (ii) the aggregate amount of all such Restricted Payments made pursuant to this paragraph (l) do not exceed $50,000,000 during any fiscal year of the Borrower; provided that, in the case of this clause (ii), if at the time of and after giving effect (including giving effect thereto on a Pro Forma Basis) to such Restricted Payment, the Total Net Leverage Ratio does not exceed 2.50 to 1.00, there shall be no Dollar limitation on such Restricted Payment made pursuant to this paragraph (l). 

SECTION 6.07.Transactions with Affiliates.  

(a)Sell or transfer any property or assets to, or purchase or acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transaction with, any of its Affiliates (other than the Borrower, Holdings and the Subsidiaries or any person that becomes a Subsidiary as a result of such transaction) in a transaction involving aggregate consideration in excess of $5,000,000, unless such transaction is (i) otherwise permitted (or required) under this Agreement or (ii) upon terms that are substantially no less favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as applicable, than would be obtained in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a person that is not an Affiliate.  For purposes of this Section 6.07, any transaction with any Affiliate shall be deemed to have satisfied the standard set forth in clause (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence if such transaction is approved by a majority of the Disinterested Directors of the Board of Directors of Holdings or the Borrower.

(b)The foregoing clause (a)  shall not prohibit, to the extent otherwise permitted under this Agreement:

(i)any issuance of securities, or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, equity purchase agreements, stock options and stock ownership plans approved by the Board of Directors of Holdings or of the Borrower;

(ii)loans or advances to employees or consultants of Holdings, any Parent Entity, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries in accordance with Section 6.04(e);

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(iii)transactions among the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any entity that becomes a Subsidiary as a result of such transaction (including via merger, consolidation or amalgamation in which a Subsidiary is the surviving entity);

(iv)the payment of fees, reasonable out-of-pocket costs and indemnities to directors, officers, consultants and employees of Holdings any Parent Entity, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business (limited, in the case of any Parent Entity, to the portion of such fees and expenses that are allocable to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries) (which (x) shall be 100% for so long as Holdings or such Parent Entity, as the case may be, owns no assets other than the Equity Interests in the Borrower, Holdings or another Parent Entity and assets incidental to the ownership of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries; and (y) in all other cases shall be determined in good faith by management of the Borrower);

(v)the Transactions and permitted transactions, agreements and arrangements in existence on the Effective Date and, to the extent involving aggregate consideration in excess of $5,000,000, set forth on Schedule 6.07 or any amendment thereto or replacement thereof or similar arrangement to the extent such amendment, replacement or arrangement is not adverse to the Lenders when taken as a whole in any material respect (as determined in good faith by the Borrower);

(vi)(A) any employment agreements entered into by the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, (B) any subscription agreement or similar agreement pertaining to the repurchase of Equity Interests pursuant to put/call rights or similar rights with employees, officers or directors, and (C) any employee compensation, benefit plan or arrangement, any health, disability or similar insurance plan which covers employees, and any reasonable employment contract and transactions pursuant thereto;

(vii)Restricted Payments permitted under Section 6.06, including payments to Holdings (and any Parent Entity), and Investments permitted under Section 6.04;

(viii)any purchase by Holdings of the Equity Interests of the Borrower; provided, that any Equity Interests of the Borrower purchased by Holdings shall be pledged to the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders to the extent required by the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement;

(ix)[reserved];

(x)transactions for the purchase or sale of goods, products, parts and services entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(xi)any transaction in respect of which the Borrower delivers to the Administrative Agent (for delivery to the Lenders) a letter addressed to the Board of Directors of the Borrower from an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm, in each case of nationally recognized standing that is (A) in the good faith determination of the Borrower qualified to render such letter and (B) reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, which letter states that (i) such transaction is on terms that are no less favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as applicable, than would be obtained in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a person that is not an Affiliate or (ii) such transaction is fair to the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as applicable, from a financial point of view;

(xii)[reserved];

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(xiii)transactions with joint ventures for the purchase or sale of goods, equipment and services entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(xiv)the issuance, sale, transfer of Equity Interests of the Borrower to Holdings (or another Parent Entity) in connection with capital contributions by Holdings or such Parent Entity to the Borrower;

(xv)[reserved];

(xvi)payments by Holdings (and any Parent Entity), the Borrower and the Subsidiaries pursuant to a tax sharing agreement or arrangement (whether written or as a matter of practice) that complies with Section 6.06(b)(y);

(xvii)payments, loans (or cancellation of loans) or advances to employees or consultants that are (i) approved by a majority of the Disinterested Directors of Holdings or the Borrower in good faith, (ii) made in compliance with applicable law and (iii) otherwise permitted under this Agreement;

(xviii)transactions with customers, clients, suppliers, or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Agreement that are fair to the Borrower or the Subsidiaries;

(xix)transactions between the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries and any person, a director of which is also a director of the Borrower or any direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower, provided, however, that (A) such director abstains from voting as a director of the Borrower or such direct or indirect parent company, as the case may be, on any matter involving such other person and (B) such person is not an Affiliate of the Borrower for any reason other than such director’s acting in such capacity; and

(xx)transactions undertaken in good faith (as certified by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower) for the purpose of improving the consolidated tax efficiency of the Borrower, Holdings and the Subsidiaries and not for the purpose of circumventing any covenant set forth herein.

SECTION 6.08.Business of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries

.  Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, engage at any time to any material respect in any business or business activity substantially different from any business or business activity substantially different conducted by any of them on the Effective Date or any Similar Business.

SECTION 6.09.Limitation on Payments and Modifications of Indebtedness; Modifications of Certificate of Incorporation, By-Laws and Certain Other Agreements; etc.  

(a)Amend or modify in any manner materially adverse to the Lenders taken as a whole (as determined in good faith by the Borrower), or grant any waiver or release under or terminate in any manner (if such granting or termination shall be materially adverse to the Lenders taken as a whole (as determined in good faith by the Borrower)), the articles or certificate of incorporation, by-laws, limited liability company operating agreement, partnership agreement or other organizational documents of the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party.

(b)(i) Make, directly or indirectly, any payment or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) of or in respect of principal of or interest on the loans under any Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary that is expressly subordinated in right of payment 

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to the Obligations (“Junior Financing”), or any payment or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination in respect of any Junior Financing except for:

(A)Refinancings with any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under Section 6.01, 

(B)payments of regularly scheduled interest and fees due thereunder, other non-principal payments thereunder, any mandatory prepayments of principal, interest and fees thereunder, scheduled payments thereon necessary to avoid the Junior Financing from constituting “applicable high yield discount obligations” within the meaning of Section 163(i)(1) of the Code and to the extent this Agreement is then in effect, principal on the scheduled maturity date of any Junior Financing (or within ninety (90) days thereof),

(C)payments or distributions in respect of all or any portion of the Junior Financing with the proceeds contributed to the Borrower by Holdings from the issuance, sale or exchange by Holdings or any Parent Entity of Qualified Equity Interests made within eighteen months prior thereto,

(D)the conversion or exchange of any Junior Financing to Equity Interests of Holdings or any Parent Entity,

(E)[reserved],

(F)[reserved], and

(G)other payments and distributions in an aggregate amount not to exceed $25,000,000; or

(ii)Amend or modify, or permit the amendment or modification of, any provision of Junior Financing that constitutes Material Indebtedness or any agreement, document or instrument evidencing or relating thereto, other than amendments or modifications that (A) are not materially adverse to Lenders taken as a whole (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) and that do not affect the subordination or payment provisions thereof (if any) in a manner adverse to the Lenders taken as a whole (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) or (B) otherwise comply with the definition of “Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness”. 

(c)Permit any Material Subsidiary to enter into any agreement or instrument that by its terms restricts (i) the payment of dividends or distributions or the making of cash advances to the Borrower or any Subsidiary that is a direct or indirect parent of such Subsidiary or (ii) the granting of Liens by the Borrower or such Material Subsidiary that is a Loan Party pursuant to the Collateral Documents, in each case other than those arising under any Loan Document and except, in each case, restrictions existing by reason of:

(A)restrictions imposed by applicable law;

(B)contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Effective Date under Indebtedness existing on the Effective Date and set forth on Schedule 6.01 or any agreements related to any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of any such 

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Indebtedness that does not materially expand the scope of any such encumbrance or restriction (as determined in good faith by the Borrower);

(C)any restriction on a Subsidiary imposed pursuant to an agreement entered into for the sale or disposition of the Equity Interests or assets of a Subsidiary;

(D)customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(E)any restrictions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement to the extent that such restrictions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness;

(F)any restrictions imposed by any agreement relating to Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 6.01 or Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof, to the extent such restrictions are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than the restrictions contained herein (as determined in good faith by the Borrower);

(G)customary provisions contained in leases or licenses of Intellectual Property and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(H) customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest;

(I)customary provisions restricting assignment of any agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(J)customary restrictions and conditions contained in any agreement relating to the sale, transfer, lease or other disposition of any asset permitted under Section 6.05 pending the consummation of such sale, transfer, lease or other disposition;

(K)customary restrictions and conditions contained in the document relating to any Lien, so long as (1) such Lien is a Permitted Lien and such restrictions or conditions relate only to the specific asset subject to such Lien and (2) such restrictions and conditions are not created for the purpose of avoiding the restrictions imposed by this Section 6.09;

(L)customary net worth provisions contained in Real Property leases entered into by Subsidiaries of the Borrower, so long as the Borrower has determined in good faith that such net worth provisions would not reasonably be expected to impair the ability of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to meet their ongoing obligations;

(M)any agreement in effect at the time such subsidiary becomes a Subsidiary, so long as such agreement was not entered into in contemplation of such person becoming a Subsidiary;

(N)restrictions in agreements representing Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01 of a Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Subsidiary Loan Party;

 

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(O)customary restrictions on leases, subleases, licenses or Equity Interests or asset sale agreements otherwise permitted hereby as long as such restrictions relate to the Equity Interests and assets subject thereto;

(P)restrictions on cash or other deposits imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business; or

(Q)any encumbrances or restrictions of the type referred to in Sections 6.09(c)(i) and 6.09(c)(ii) above imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of or similar arrangements to the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (A) through (P) above; provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings or similar arrangements are, in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, no more restrictive with respect to such dividend and other payment restrictions than those contained in the dividend or other payment restrictions prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement, refinancing or similar arrangement.

SECTION 6.10.Changes in Fiscal Year.  Permit the fiscal year of the Borrower to end on a day other than on or about December 31; provided, however, that the Borrower may, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent, change its fiscal year to (a) end on or about March 31 or (b) end on any other day, in which either case the Borrower, and the Administrative Agent will, and are hereby authorized by the Lenders to, make any adjustments to this Agreement that are necessary to reflect such change in fiscal year.

SECTION 6.11.Financial Performance Covenants.  

(a)Maximum Total Net Leverage Ratio.  Permit the Total Net Leverage Ratio on a Pro Forma Basis on the last day of any fiscal quarter (beginning with the first fiscal quarter ended after the Effective Date) to exceed 3.25 to 1.00; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall be permitted to allow the maximum Total Net Leverage Ratio permitted under this Section 6.11(a) to be increased to 3.75 to 1.00 for a period of four consecutive fiscal quarters (such period, an “Adjusted Covenant Period”) in connection with a Permitted Business Acquisition occurring during the first of such four fiscal quarters if the aggregate consideration paid or to be paid in respect of such Permitted Business Acquisition exceeds $100,000,000 (and in respect of which the Borrower shall provide notice in writing to the Administrative Agent (for distribution to the Lenders) of such increase and a transaction description of such Permitted Business Acquisition (regarding the name of the Person or summary description of the assets being acquired and the approximate purchase price)), so long as the Borrower is in compliance on a Pro Forma Basis with the maximum Total Net Leverage Ratio of 3.75 to 1.00 on the closing date of such Permitted Business Acquisition immediately after giving effect (including pro forma effect) to such Permitted Business Acquisition; provided, further, that it is understood and agreed that (x) the Borrower may not elect a new Adjusted Covenant Period for at least two (2) consecutive fiscal quarters following the end of an Adjusted Covenant Period and (y) at the end of an Adjusted Covenant Period, the maximum Total Net Leverage Ratio permitted under this Section 6.11(a) shall revert to 3.25 to 1.00 as of the end of such Adjusted Covenant Period and thereafter until another Adjusted Covenant Period (if any) is elected pursuant to the terms and conditions described in this Section 6.11(a).

(b)Minimum Interest Coverage Ratio.  Permit the Interest Coverage Ratio on a Pro Forma Basis on the last day of any fiscal quarter (beginning with the first fiscal quarter ended after the Effective Date) to be less than 1.75 to 1.00. 

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ARTICLE VI Holdings Covenant

 

Holdings hereby covenants and agrees with each Lender that, until the Maturity Date, unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise consent in writing, (a) Holdings will not create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien other than (i) Liens created under the Loan Documents and (ii) Liens on any Equity Interests of the Borrower held by Holdings to the extent such Liens would not be prohibited by Section 6.02 if such Section were applicable to Holdings in the same manner applicable to the Borrower and (b) Holdings shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence; provided, that so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, Holdings may merge with any other person (and if it is not the survivor of such merger, the survivor shall assume Holdings’ obligations, as applicable, under the Loan Documents).

 

Article VII
Events of Default

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

(a)any representation or warranty made or deemed made by any Loan Party herein or in any other Loan Document or any certificate or document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto shall prove to have been false or misleading in any material respect when so made or deemed made;

(b)default shall be made in the payment of any principal of any Loan when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment thereof or by acceleration thereof or otherwise;

(c)default shall be made in the payment of (i) any reimbursement obligation in respect to any L/C Disbursement when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of two Business Days or (ii) any interest on any Loan or in the payment of any fee or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in clause (b) or (c)(i) above) due under any Loan Document, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of five Business Days;

(d)default shall be made in the due observance or performance by the Borrower of any covenant, condition or agreement contained in 5.01(a) (with respect to the Borrower), 5.05(a) or 5.08 or in Article VI;

(e)default shall be made in the due observance or performance by Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party of any covenant, condition or agreement contained in any Loan Document (other than those specified in paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) above) and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 days (or 60 days if such default results solely from the failure of a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party to duly observe or perform any such covenant, condition or agreement) after notice thereof from the Administrative Agent to the Borrower;

(f)(i) any event or condition occurs that (A) results in any Material Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or (B) enables or permits (with all applicable grace periods having expired) the holder or holders of any Material Indebtedness or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause any Material Indebtedness to become due, or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity; or (ii) the Borrower or any of the Material Subsidiaries shall fail to pay the principal of any Material Indebtedness at the stated final maturity thereof; 

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provided that this clause (f) shall not apply to secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness if such sale or transfer is permitted hereunder and under the documents providing for such Indebtedness;

(g)there shall have occurred a Change in Control;

(h)an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed in a court of competent jurisdiction seeking (i) relief in respect of Holdings, the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary, or of a substantial part of the property or assets of Holdings, the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary, under Title 11 of the United States Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended, or any other federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law, (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for Holdings, the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary or for a substantial part of the property or assets of Holdings, the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary or (iii) the winding-up or liquidation of Holdings, the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary (other than as permitted hereunder); and such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed for 60 days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;

(i)Holdings, the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking relief under Title 11 of the United States Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended, or any other federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or the filing of any petition described in paragraph (h) above, (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for Holdings, the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary or for a substantial part of the property or assets of Holdings, the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or (vi) become unable or admit in writing its inability or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due;

(j)the failure by the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary to pay one or more final judgments aggregating in excess of $20,000,000 (to the extent not covered by unaffiliated third party insurance that has not denied coverage), which judgments are not discharged or effectively waived or stayed for a period of 45 consecutive days, or any action shall be legally taken by a judgment creditor to levy upon assets or properties of the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary to enforce any such judgment;

(k)(i) an ERISA Event or ERISA Events shall have occurred with respect to any Plan or Multiemployer Plan, (ii) the PBGC shall institute proceedings (including giving notice of intent thereof) to terminate any Plan or Plans, or (iii) the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall engage in any “prohibited transaction” (as defined in Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) involving any Plan that would subject the Borrower or any Subsidiary to tax; and in each case in clauses (i) through (iii) above, such event or condition, together with all other such events or conditions, if any, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

(l)(i) any Loan Document shall for any reason be asserted in writing by Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party not to be a legal, valid and binding obligation of any party thereto, (ii) any security interest purported to be created by any Collateral Document and to extend to assets that constitute a material portion of the Collateral shall cease to be, or shall be asserted in writing by the Borrower or any other Loan Party not to be, a valid and perfected security interest (perfected as or having the priority required by this Agreement or the relevant Collateral Document and subject to such limitations and restrictions as are set forth herein and therein) in the securities, assets or properties covered thereby, except to the extent that any such loss of perfection or priority results from the limitations of foreign laws, rules and regulations as they apply to pledges of Equity Interests in Foreign Subsidiaries or the application 

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thereof, or except from the failure of the Administrative Agent to maintain possession of certificates actually delivered to it representing securities pledged under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or to file UCC continuation statements or take the actions described on Schedule 3.04 and except to the extent that such loss is covered by a lender’s title insurance policy and the Administrative Agent shall be reasonably satisfied with the credit of such insurer, or (iii) a material portion of the Guarantees pursuant to the Collateral Documents by Holdings or the Subsidiary Loan Parties guaranteeing the Obligations shall cease to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with the terms thereof), or shall be asserted in writing by Holdings or any Subsidiary Loan Party not to be in effect or not to be legal, valid and binding obligations (other than in accordance with the terms thereof); provided, that no Event of Default shall occur under this paragraph (l) if the Loan Parties cooperate with the Administrative Agent to replace or perfect such security interest and Lien, such security interest and Lien is replaced and the rights, powers and privileges of the Secured Parties are not materially adversely affected by such replacement;

then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to the Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrower, take any or all of the following actions, at the same or different times:  (i) terminate the Commitments (and the Letter of Credit Commitments), and thereupon the Commitments (and the Letter of Credit Commitments) shall terminate immediately, (ii) declare the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), and thereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other Secured Obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower, and (iii) require Cash Collateral for the LC Exposure in accordance with Section 2.06(j); and in case of any event with respect to the Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article, the Commitments (and the Letter of Credit Commitments) shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding and Cash Collateral for the LC Exposure, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other Secured Obligations accrued hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower.  Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, exercise any rights and remedies provided to the Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents or at law or equity, including all remedies provided under the UCC. 

 

Article VIII
The Administrative Agent

SECTION 8.01.Authorization and Action. (a) Each Lender and each Issuing Bank hereby irrevocably appoints the entity named as Administrative Agent in the heading of this Agreement and its successors and assigns to serve as the administrative agent and collateral agent under the Loan Documents and each Lender and each Issuing Bank authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as are delegated to the Administrative Agent under such agreements and to exercise such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Without limiting the foregoing, each Lender and each Issuing

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Bank hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, each of the Loan Documents to which the Administrative Agent is a party, to exercise all rights, powers and remedies that the Administrative Agent may have under such Loan Documents.

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(g) The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, and, except solely to the extent of the Borrower’s rights to consent pursuant to and subject to the conditions set forth in this Article, none of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any of their respective Affiliates, shall have any rights as a third party beneficiary under any such provisions. Each Secured Party, whether or not a party hereto, will be deemed, by its acceptance of the benefits of the 

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Collateral and of the Guarantees of the Obligations provided under the Loan Documents, to have agreed to the provisions of this Article.

 

SECTION 8.02.Administrative Agent’s Reliance, Indemnification, Etc. (a) Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its Related Parties shall be (i) liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it under or in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (x) with the consent of or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith to be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in the Loan Documents) or (y) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct (such absence to be presumed unless otherwise determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment) or (ii) responsible in any manner to any of the Lenders for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties made by any Loan Party or any officer thereof contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Administrative Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document or for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or for any failure of any Loan Party to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder.

(b) The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until written notice thereof (stating that it is a “notice of default”) is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, a Lender or an Issuing Bank, and the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with any Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered thereunder or in connection therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth in any Loan Document or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the sufficiency, validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere in any Loan Document, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent or satisfaction of any condition that expressly refers to the matters described therein being acceptable or satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, or (vi) the creation, perfection or priority of Liens on the Collateral. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Administrative Agent shall not be liable for, or be responsible for any loss, cost or expense suffered by the Borrower, any Subsidiary, any Lender or any Issuing Bank as a result of, any determination of the Revolving Credit Exposure, any of the component amounts thereof or any portion thereof attributable to each Lender or Issuing Bank.

 

(c) Without limiting the foregoing, the Administrative Agent (i) may treat the payee of any promissory note as its holder until such promissory note has been assigned in accordance with Section 9.04, (ii) may rely on the Register to the extent set forth in Section 9.04(b), (iii) may consult with legal counsel (including counsel to the Borrower), independent public accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts, (iv) makes no warranty or representation to any Lender or Issuing Bank and shall not be responsible to any Lender or Issuing Bank for any statements, warranties or representations made by or on behalf of any Loan Party in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (v) in determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or an Issuing Bank, may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or Issuing Bank unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or Issuing Bank sufficiently in advance of the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit and (vi) shall be entitled to rely on, and shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by acting upon, any notice, consent, certificate or other instrument or writing (which writing 

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may be a fax, any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) or any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper party or parties (whether or not such Person in fact meets the requirements set forth in the Loan Documents for being the maker thereof).

 

SECTION 8.03.Posting of Communications. (a) The Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make any Communications available to the Lenders and the Issuing Banks by posting the Communications on IntraLinksTM, DebtDomain, SyndTrak, ClearPar or any other electronic platform chosen by the Administrative Agent to be its electronic transmission system (the “Approved Electronic Platform”).

(b) Although the Approved Electronic Platform and its primary web portal are secured with generally-applicable security procedures and policies implemented or modified by the Administrative Agent from time to time (including, as of the Effective Date, a user ID/password authorization system) and the Approved Electronic Platform is secured through a per-deal authorization method whereby each user may access the Approved Electronic Platform only on a deal-by-deal basis, each of the Lenders, each of the Issuing Banks and the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that the distribution of material through an electronic medium is not necessarily secure and that there are confidentiality and other risks associated with such distribution. Each of the Lenders, each of the Issuing Banks and the Borrower hereby approves distribution of the Communications through the Approved Electronic Platform and understands and assumes the risks of such distribution.

 

(c) THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND THE COMMUNICATIONS ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE”. THE APPLICABLE PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE COMMUNICATIONS, OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND THE COMMUNICATIONS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY THE APPLICABLE PARTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS OR THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY ARRANGER, ANY DOCUMENTATION AGENT, THE SYNDICATION AGENT OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE RELATED PARTIES (COLLECTIVELY, “APPLICABLE PARTIES”) HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO ANY LOAN PARTY, ANY LENDER, ANY ISSUING BANK OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT OR INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOSSES OR EXPENSES (WHETHER IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF ANY LOAN PARTY’S OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S TRANSMISSION OF COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH THE INTERNET OR THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM.

 

“Communications” means, collectively, any notice, demand, communication, information, document or other material provided by or on behalf of any Loan Party pursuant to any Loan Document or the transactions contemplated therein which is distributed by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank by means of electronic communications pursuant to this Section, including through an Approved Electronic Platform.

 

(d) Each Lender and each Issuing Bank agrees that notice to it (as provided in the next sentence) specifying that Communications have been posted to the Approved Electronic Platform shall constitute effective delivery of the Communications to such Lender for purposes of the Loan Documents. Each Lender 

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and Issuing Bank agrees (i) to notify the Administrative Agent in writing (which could be in the form of electronic communication) from time to time of such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s (as applicable) email address to which the foregoing notice may be sent by electronic transmission and (ii) that the foregoing notice may be sent to such email address.

 

(e) Each of the Lenders, each of the Issuing Banks and the Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but (except as may be required by applicable law) shall not be obligated to, store the Communications on the Approved Electronic Platform in accordance with the Administrative Agent’s generally applicable document retention procedures and policies.

 

(f) Nothing herein shall prejudice the right of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank to give any notice or other communication pursuant to any Loan Document in any other manner specified in such Loan Document.

 

SECTION 8.04.The Administrative Agent Individually. With respect to its Commitment, Loans and Letters of Credit, the Person serving as the Administrative Agent shall have and may exercise the same rights and powers hereunder and is subject to the same obligations and liabilities as and to the extent set forth herein for any other Lender or Issuing Bank, as the case may be. The terms “Issuing Banks”, “Lenders”, “Required Lenders” and any similar terms shall, unless the context clearly otherwise indicates, include the Administrative Agent in its individual capacity as a Lender, Issuing Bank or as one of the Required Lenders, as applicable. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust or other business with, the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing as if such Person was not acting as the Administrative Agent and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders or the Issuing Banks.

SECTION 8.05.Successor Administrative Agent. (a) The Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving 30 days’ prior written notice thereof to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Borrower, whether or not a successor Administrative Agent has been appointed. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrower, to appoint a successor Administrative Agent. If no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders, and shall have accepted such appointment, within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent’s giving of notice of resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which shall be a bank with an office in New York, New York or an Affiliate of any such bank. In either case, such appointment shall be subject to the prior written approval of the Borrower (which approval may not be unreasonably withheld and shall not be required while an Event of Default under clause (b), (c), (h) or (i) of Article VII has occurred and is continuing). Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Administrative Agent by a successor Administrative Agent, such successor Administrative Agent shall succeed to, and become vested with, all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent. Upon the acceptance of appointment as Administrative Agent by a successor Administrative Agent, the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Prior to any retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder as Administrative Agent, the retiring Administrative Agent shall take such action as may be reasonably necessary to assign to the successor Administrative Agent its rights as Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents.

(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this Section, in the event no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its intent to resign, the retiring Administrative Agent may give notice of the effectiveness of its resignation to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Borrower, whereupon, on the date of effectiveness of such resignation stated in such notice, (i) the retiring Administrative Agent shall 

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be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents; provided that, solely for purposes of maintaining any security interest granted to the Administrative Agent under any Collateral Document for the benefit of the Secured Parties, the retiring Administrative Agent shall continue to be vested with such security interest as collateral agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and continue to be entitled to the rights set forth in such Collateral Document and Loan Document, and, in the case of any Collateral in the possession of the Administrative Agent, shall continue to hold such Collateral, in each case until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed and accepts such appointment in accordance with this Section (it being understood and agreed that the retiring Administrative Agent shall have no duty or obligation to take any further action under any Collateral Document, including any action required to maintain the perfection of any such security interest), and (ii) the Required Lenders shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent; provided that (A) all payments required to be made hereunder or under any other Loan Document to the Administrative Agent for the account of any Person other than the Administrative Agent shall be made directly to such Person and (B) all notices and other communications required or contemplated to be given or made to the Administrative Agent shall directly be given or made to each Lender and each Issuing Bank. Following the effectiveness of the Administrative Agent’s resignation from its capacity as such, the provisions of this Article and Section 9.03, as well as any exculpatory, reimbursement and indemnification provisions set forth in any other Loan Document, shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent and in respect of the matters referred to in the proviso under clause (i) above.

 

SECTION 8.06.Acknowledgements of Lenders and Issuing Banks. (a) Each Lender represents that it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans in the ordinary course of its business and that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or any other Lender, or any of the Related Parties of any of the foregoing, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement as a Lender, and to make, acquire or hold Loans hereunder. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or any other Lender, or any of the Related Parties of any of the foregoing, and based on such documents and information (which may contain material, non-public information within the meaning of the United States securities laws concerning the Borrower and its Affiliates) as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

(b) Each Lender, by delivering its signature page to this Agreement on the Effective Date, or delivering its signature page to an Assignment and Assumption or any other Loan Document pursuant to which it shall become a Lender hereunder, shall be deemed to have acknowledged receipt of, and consented to and approved, each Loan Document and each other document required to be delivered to, or be approved by or satisfactory to, the Administrative Agent or the Lenders on the Effective Date.

 

SECTION 8.07.Collateral Matters. (a) Except with respect to the exercise of setoff rights in accordance with Section 9.08 or with respect to a Secured Party’s right to file a proof of claim in an insolvency proceeding, no Secured Party shall have any right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral or to enforce any Guarantee of the Obligations, it being understood and agreed that all powers, rights and remedies under the Loan Documents may be exercised solely by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

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(b) In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation thereof, no Banking Services Agreement or Swap Agreement will create (or be deemed to create) in favor of any Secured Party that is a party thereto any rights in connection with the management or release of any Collateral or of the obligations of any Loan Party under any Loan Document. By accepting the benefits of the Collateral, each Secured Party that is a party to any such  Banking Services Agreement or Swap Agreement, as applicable, shall be deemed to have appointed the Administrative Agent to serve as administrative agent and collateral agent under the Loan Documents and agreed to be bound by the Loan Documents as a Secured Party thereunder, subject to the limitations set forth in this paragraph.

 

(c) The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have a duty to ascertain or inquire into any representation or warranty regarding the existence, value or collectability of the Collateral, the existence, priority or perfection of the Administrative Agent’s Lien thereon or any certificate prepared by any Loan Party in connection therewith, nor shall the Administrative Agent be responsible or liable to the Lenders or any other Secured Party for any failure to monitor or maintain any portion of the Collateral.

 

SECTION 8.08.Credit Bidding. The Secured Parties hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at the direction of the Required Lenders, to credit bid all or any portion of the Secured Obligations (including by accepting some or all of the Collateral in satisfaction of some or all of the Secured Obligations pursuant to a deed in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise) and in such manner purchase (either directly or through one or more acquisition vehicles) all or any portion of the Collateral (a) at any sale thereof conducted under the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code, including under Sections 363, 1123 or 1129 of the Bankruptcy Code, or any similar laws in any other jurisdictions to which a Loan Party is subject, or (b) at any other sale, foreclosure or acceptance of collateral in lieu of debt conducted by (or with the consent or at the direction of) the Administrative Agent (whether by judicial action or otherwise) in accordance with any applicable law. In connection with any such credit bid and purchase, to the extent permitted by any Requirement of Law, the Secured Obligations owed to the Secured Parties shall be entitled to be, and shall be, credit bid by the Administrative Agent at the direction of the Required Lenders on a ratable basis (with Secured Obligations with respect to contingent or unliquidated claims receiving contingent interests in the acquired assets on a ratable basis that shall vest upon the liquidation of such claims in an amount proportional to the liquidated portion of the contingent claim amount used in allocating the contingent interests) for the asset or assets so purchased (or for the equity interests or debt instruments of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles that are issued in connection with such purchase). In connection with any such bid, (i) the Administrative Agent is hereby authorized by the Secured Parties to form one or more acquisition vehicles and to assign any successful credit bid to such acquisition vehicle or vehicles, (ii) each of the Secured Parties’ ratable interests in the Secured Obligations which were credit bid shall be deemed without any further action under this Agreement to be assigned to such vehicle or vehicles for the purpose of closing such sale, (iii) the Administrative Agent is hereby authorized by the Secured Parties to adopt documents providing for the governance of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles (provided that any actions by the Administrative Agent with respect to such acquisition vehicle or vehicles, including any disposition of the assets or equity interests thereof, shall be governed, directly or indirectly, by, and the governing documents shall provide for, control by the vote of the Required Lenders or their permitted assignees under the terms of this Agreement or the governing documents of the applicable acquisition vehicle or vehicles, as the case may be, irrespective of the termination of this Agreement and without giving effect to the limitations on actions by the Required Lenders contained in Section 9.02 of this Agreement), (iv) the Administrative Agent on behalf of such acquisition vehicle or vehicles is hereby authorized by the Secured Parties to issue to each of the Secured Parties, ratably on account of the relevant Secured Obligations which were credit bid, interests, whether as equity, partnership, limited partnership interests or membership interests, in any such acquisition vehicle and/or debt instruments issued by such acquisition vehicle, all without the need for any Secured Party or acquisition vehicle to take any further action, and (v) to the extent that Secured Obligations that are assigned to an acquisition vehicle are not used to acquire Collateral for any reason (as a result of another bid being higher or better, because the amount of Secured Obligations 

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assigned to the acquisition vehicle exceeds the amount of Secured Obligations credit bid by the acquisition vehicle or otherwise), such Secured Obligations shall automatically be reassigned to the Secured Parties pro rata with their original interest in such Secured Obligations and the equity interests and/or debt instruments issued by any acquisition vehicle on account of such Secured Obligations shall automatically be cancelled, without the need for any Secured Party or any acquisition vehicle to take any further action. Notwithstanding that the ratable portion of the Secured Obligations of each Secured Party are deemed assigned to the acquisition vehicle or vehicles as set forth in clause (ii) above, each Secured Party shall execute such documents and provide such information regarding the Secured Party (and/or any designee of the Secured Party which will receive interests in or debt instruments issued by such acquisition vehicle) as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request in connection with the formation of any acquisition vehicle, the formulation or submission of any credit bid or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by such credit bid.

SECTION 8.09.Certain ERISA Matters. (a) Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, and each Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that at least one of the following is and will be true:

(i) such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of the Plan Asset Regulations) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments, 

 

(ii) the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, and the conditions for exemptive relief thereunder are and will continue to be satisfied in connection therewith, 

 

(iii) (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, or

 

(iv) such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.

 

 

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(b) In addition, unless sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or such Lender has not provided another representation, warranty and covenant as provided in sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, and each Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that: 

 

(i) none of the Administrative Agent, or any Arranger or any of their respective Affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related hereto or thereto),

 

(ii) the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement is independent (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-21, as amended from time to time) and is a bank, an insurance carrier, an investment adviser, a broker-dealer or other person that holds, or has under management or control, total assets of at least $50,000,000, in each case as described in 29 CFR § 2510.3-21(c)(1)(i)(A)-(E),

 

(iii) the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement is capable of evaluating investment risks independently, both in general and with regard to particular transactions and investment strategies (including in respect of the obligations), 

 

(iv) the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement is a fiduciary under ERISA or the Code, or both, with respect to the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement and is responsible for exercising independent judgment in evaluating the transactions hereunder, and

 

(v) no fee or other compensation is being paid directly to the Administrative Agent, or any Arranger or any their respective Affiliates for investment advice (as opposed to other services) in connection with the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments or this Agreement.

 

(c) The Administrative Agent and each Arranger hereby informs the Lenders that each such Person is not undertaking to provide impartial investment advice, or to give advice in a fiduciary capacity, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and that such Person has a financial interest in the transactions contemplated hereby in that such Person or an Affiliate thereof (i) may receive interest or other payments with respect to the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, (ii) may recognize a gain if it extended the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments for an amount less than the amount being paid for an interest in the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments by such Lender or (iii) may receive fees or other payments in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, the Loan Documents or otherwise, including structuring fees, commitment fees, arrangement fees, facility fees, upfront fees, underwriting fees, ticking fees, agency fees, administrative agent or collateral agent fees, utilization fees, minimum usage fees, letter of credit fees, fronting fees, deal-away or alternate transaction fees, amendment fees, processing fees, term out premiums, banker’s acceptance fees, breakage or other early termination fees or fees similar to the foregoing.

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Article IX
Miscellaneous

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

(i)if to the Borrower, to it at Sprouts Farmers Markets Holdings, LLC, 5455 East High Street, Suite III, Phoenix, Arizona 85054, Attention of Chief Legal Officer (Facsimile No. (480) 814-8017; Telephone No. (480) 814-8016);

(ii)if to the Administrative Agent, to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 10 South Dearborn, Floor L2, Chicago, Illinois 60603, Attention of Stacy Slaton (Facsimile No. (888) 303-9732), with a copy to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 201 North Central Avenue, Floor 21, Phoenix, Arizona 85004, Attention of Brendan Kelly (Facsimile No. (602) 221-1502);

(iii)if to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as an Issuing Bank, to it at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 10 South Dearborn Street, Floor L2, Chicago, Illinois 60603, Attention of Bindu Devegowda (Facsimile No. (888) 303-9732);

(iv)if to the Swingline Lender, to it at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 10 South Dearborn, Floor L2, Chicago, Illinois 60603, Attention of Stacy Slaton (Facsimile No. (888) 303-9732), with a copy to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 201 North Central Avenue, Floor 21, Phoenix, Arizona 85004, Attention of Brendan Kelly (Facsimile No. (602) 221-1502); and

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

Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by facsimile 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 delivered through Approved Electronic Platforms, to the extent provided in paragraph (b) below, shall be effective as provided in said paragraph (b).

(b)Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the Issuing Banks hereunder may be delivered or furnished by using Approved Electronic Platforms pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices pursuant to Article II unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lender.  The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its reasonable discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

(c)Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient, at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i), of notification that such notice or 

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communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; provided that, for both clauses (i) and (ii) above, if such notice, email or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient.

(d)Any party hereto may change its address or facsimile number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.

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

(b)Except as provided in Section 2.20 with respect to an Incremental Term Loan Amendment or as provided in Section 2.14(b) or as provided in Section 2.22 with respect to the extension of the Maturity Date and subject to Section 9.02(f), neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower and the Required Lenders or by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided that no such agreement shall (i) increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender, (ii) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby (except that (x) any amendment or modification of the financial covenants in this Agreement (or defined terms used in the financial covenants in this Agreement) shall not constitute a reduction in the rate of interest or fees for purposes of this clause (ii) and (y) only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the provisions of Section 2.13(c) or to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest or any other amount at the interest rate prescribed in such Section), (iii) postpone the scheduled date of payment of the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement, or any interest thereon, or any fees payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date of expiration of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby (in each case, other than with respect to the matters set forth in clauses (ii)(x) and (ii)(y) above), (iv) change Section 2.09(c) or 2.18(b) or (d) in a manner that would alter the ratable reduction of Commitments or the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby, without the written consent of each Lender, (v) change the payment waterfall provisions of Section 2.18(b) or 2.21(b) without the written consent of each Lender, or (vi) change any of the provisions of this Section or the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender (it being understood that, solely with the consent of the parties prescribed by Section 2.20 to be parties to an Incremental Term Loan Amendment, Incremental Term Loans may be included in the determination of Required Lenders on substantially the same basis as the Commitments and the Revolving Loans are included on the Effective Date), (vi) (x) release the Borrower from its obligations under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, or (y) release Holdings from its obligations under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or (z) release all or 

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substantially all of the Subsidiary Loan Parties from their obligations under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, in each case, without the written consent of each Lender, or (vii) except as provided in clause (d) of this Section or in any Collateral Document, release all or substantially all of the Collateral, without the written consent of each Lender; provided further that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, such Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender, as the case may be (it being understood that any change to Section 2.21 shall require the consent of the Administrative Agent, such Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, (A) no consent with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification of this Agreement shall be required of any Defaulting Lender, except with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification referred to in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of the first proviso of this paragraph and then only in the event such Defaulting Lender shall be directly affected by such amendment, waiver or other modification and (B) as to any amendment, amendment and restatement or other modification otherwise approved in accordance with this Section, it shall not be necessary to obtain the consent or approval of any Lender that, upon giving effect to such amendment, amendment and restatement or other modification, would have no Commitment or outstanding Loans, so long as such Lender receives payment in full of the principal of and interest on each Loan made by, and all other amounts owing to, such Lender or accrued for the account of such Lender under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents at the time such amendment, amendment and restatement or other modification becomes effective.  Payments made pursuant to clause (B) of the immediately preceding sentence shall not be subject to the provisions of Section 2.18(d).

(c)Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement and any other Loan Document may be amended (or amended and restated) (1) with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (x) to add one or more credit facilities (in addition to the Incremental Term Loans pursuant to an Incremental Term Loan Amendment) to this Agreement and to permit extensions of credit from time to time outstanding thereunder and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof to share ratably in the benefits of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with the Revolving Loans, Incremental Term Loans and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof and (y) to include appropriately the Lenders holding such credit facilities in any determination of the Required Lenders and Lenders (it being understood and agreed that any such amendment in connection with any extension in accordance with Section 2.22 shall, in any such case, require solely only the consent of the parties prescribed by such Section and shall not require the consent of the Required Lenders), and (2) to effect an increase of the Commitments and/or any Incremental Term Loans permitted under Section 2.20, as the case may be, solely with the written consent of the Increasing Lenders and/or Augmenting Lenders, as applicable, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower.

 

(d)The Lenders hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its sole discretion, to release any Liens granted to the Administrative Agent by the Loan Parties on any Collateral (i) upon the termination of all the Commitments, payment and satisfaction in full in cash of all Secured Obligations (other than Unliquidated Obligations), and the Cash Collateralization of all Unliquidated Obligations in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (ii) constituting property being sold or disposed of if the Borrower certifies to the Administrative Agent that the sale or disposition is made in compliance with the terms of this Agreement (and the Administrative Agent may rely conclusively on any such certificate, without further inquiry), (iii) constituting property leased to the Borrower or any Subsidiary under a lease which has expired or been terminated in a transaction permitted under this Agreement, or (iv) as required to effect any sale or other disposition of such Collateral in connection with any exercise of remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant to Article VII.  Any such release shall not in any manner discharge, affect, or impair the Obligations or any Liens (other than those expressly being released) upon (or obligations of the Loan Parties in respect of) all interests retained by the Loan Parties, including the proceeds of any sale, all of which shall continue to constitute part of the Collateral.  In addition, each of the Lenders, on behalf of itself and any of its Affiliates 

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that are Secured Parties, irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its reasonable discretion, (i) to subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted by clause (f), (g), (h), (o), (p), (r) or (s) of Section 6.02, (ii) to subordinate or release any Lien on any assets granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted by clause (i), (j), (k), (q), (t), (bb), (cc), (dd) or (gg) of Section 6.02 or (iii) in the event that the Borrower shall have advised the Administrative Agent that, notwithstanding the use by the Borrower of commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the consent of such holder (but without the requirement to pay any sums to obtain such consent) to permit the Administrative Agent to retain its liens (on a subordinated basis as contemplated by clause (ii) above), the holder of such other Indebtedness requires, as a condition to the extension of such credit, that the Liens on such assets granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document be released, to release the Administrative Agent’s Liens on such assets.  

 

(e)If, in connection with any proposed amendment, waiver or consent  requiring the consent of “each Lender” or “each Lender directly affected thereby,” the consent of the Required Lenders is obtained, but the consent of other necessary Lenders is not obtained (any such Lender whose consent is necessary but not obtained being referred to herein as a “Non-Consenting Lender”), then the Borrower may elect to replace a Non-Consenting Lender as a Lender party to this Agreement, provided that, concurrently with such replacement, (i) another bank or other entity which is reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall agree, as of such date, to purchase for cash the Loans and other Obligations due to the Non-Consenting Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption and to become a Lender for all purposes under this Agreement and to assume all obligations of the Non‐Consenting Lender to be terminated as of such date and to comply with the requirements of clause (b) of Section 9.04, and (ii) the Borrower shall pay to such Non-Consenting Lender in same day funds on the day of such replacement (1) the outstanding principal amount of its Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and all interest, fees and other amounts then accrued but unpaid to such Non‐Consenting Lender by the Borrower hereunder to and including the date of termination, including without limitation payments due to such Non-Consenting Lender under Sections 2.15 and 2.17, and (2) an amount, if any, equal to the payment which would have been due to such Lender on the day of such replacement under Section 2.16 had the Loans of such Non-Consenting Lender been prepaid on such date rather than sold to the replacement Lender.  Payments made pursuant to this clause (e) shall not be subject to the provisions of Section 2.18(d).  Each party hereto agrees that (a) an assignment required pursuant to this paragraph may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the assignee (or, to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and such parties are participants), and (b) the Lender required to make such assignment need not be a party thereto in order for such assignment to be effective and shall be deemed to have consented to and be bound by the terms thereof; provided that, following the effectiveness of any such assignment, the other parties to such assignment agree to execute and deliver such documents necessary to evidence such assignment as reasonably requested by the applicable Lender, provided that any such documents shall be without recourse to or warranty by the parties thereto.

 

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

 

 

 

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SECTION 9.03.Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.  (a)  The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates, including the reasonable and documented fees, charges and disbursements of one primary counsel for the Administrative Agent and, if necessary, one local counsel per jurisdiction, in connection with the syndication and distribution (including, without limitation, via the internet or through a service such as Intralinks) of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation and administration 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 and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by any Issuing Bank in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender, including the reasonable and documented fees, charges and disbursements of a single counsel for the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders, taken as a whole (and, in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest where such Person affected by such conflict informs the Borrower of such conflict and thereafter retains its own counsel with the Borrower’s prior written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld), of another firm of such for such affected Person), in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with this Agreement and any other Loan Document, including its rights under this Section, or in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during  any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit.

(b)The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Arranger, each Issuing Bank and each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (excluding the allocated costs of in house counsel and limited to not more than one counsel for all such Indemnitees, taken as a whole, and, if necessary, a single local counsel in each appropriate jurisdiction for all such Indemnitees, taken as a whole (and, in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest where the Indemnitee affected by such conflict informs the Borrower of such conflict and thereafter retains its own counsel, with the Borrower’s prior written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld) of another firm of counsel for such affected Indemnitee)) incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of any Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by any Issuing Bank to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation, arbitration or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether or not such claim, litigation, investigation, arbitration or proceeding is brought by the Borrower or any other Loan Party or its or their respective equity holders, Affiliates, creditors or any other third Person and whether based on contract, tort or any other theory and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from (x) the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or any of its Related Parties (other than advisors), (y) any material breach of any Loan Document by such Indemnitee, as determined pursuant to a claim initiated by the Borrower or (z) any claim, actions, suits, inquiries, litigation, investigation or proceeding that does not involve an act or omission of the Borrower or any of its Affiliates and is brought by an Indemnitee against another Indemnitee (other than any claim, actions, suits, inquiries, litigation, investigation or proceeding against any of the Administrative Agent, the 

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Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender, the Syndication Agent, any Documentation Agent or the lead arrangers and bookrunners in respect of the credit facilities evidenced hereby, in each case in its capacity as such)).  This Section 9.03(b) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims or damages arising from any non-Tax claim.

(c)Each Lender severally agrees to pay any amount required to be paid by the Borrower under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 9.03 to the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank and each Swingline Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each, an “Agent Indemnitee”) (to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so), ratably according to their respective Applicable Percentage in effect on the date on which indemnification is sought under this Section (or, if indemnification is sought after the date upon which the Commitments shall have terminated and the Loans shall have been paid in full, ratably in accordance with such Applicable Percentage immediately prior to such date), from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any kind whatsoever that may at any time (whether before or after the payment of the Loans) be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against such Agent Indemnitee in any way relating to or arising out of the Commitments, this Agreement, any of the other Loan Documents or any documents contemplated by or referred to herein or therein or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or any action taken or omitted by such Agent Indemnitee under or in connection with any of the foregoing; provided that (i) the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), such Issuing Bank or such Swingline Lender in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), such Issuing Bank or any such Swingline Lender in connection with such capacity and (ii) no Lender shall be liable for the payment of any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements that are found by a final and nonappealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from such Agent Indemnitee’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.  The agreements in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

(d)To the extent permitted by applicable law, (i) neither the Borrower nor Holdings shall assert, and each hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee for any damages arising from the use by others of information or other materials obtained through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems (including the Internet), and (ii) no party hereto shall assert, and each such party hereby waives, any claim against any other party hereto, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the Transactions, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof; provided that, nothing in this clause (d)(ii) shall relieve the Borrower of any obligation it may have to indemnify an Indemnitee against special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages asserted against such Indemnitee by a third party.

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

SECTION 9.04.Successors and Assigns.  (a)  The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of any Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), except that (i) the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or 

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obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section.  Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of any Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit),  Participants (to the extent provided in paragraph (c) of this Section) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

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

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

(B)the Administrative Agent;

(C)the Issuing Banks; and

(D)the Swingline Lender.

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

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

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

(C)the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent (x) an Assignment and Assumption or (y) to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and the parties to the Assignment and Assumption are participants, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500, such fee to be paid by either the assigning Lender or the assignee Lender or shared between such Lenders; and

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

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

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

“Ineligible Institution” means (a) a natural person, (b) a Defaulting Lender or its Lender Parent, (c) the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its Affiliates, or (d) a company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural person or relative(s) thereof.

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

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

(v)Upon its receipt of (x) a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee or (y) to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and the parties to the Assignment and Assumption are participants, the assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section and any written consent to such assignment required by paragraph (b) of this Section, the Administrative 

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Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register; provided that if either the assigning Lender or the assignee shall have failed to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.05(c), 2.06(d) or (e), 2.07(b), 2.18(e) or 9.03(c), the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information therein in the Register unless and until such payment shall have been made in full, together with all accrued interest thereon.  No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph.

(c)Any Lender may, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks or the Swingline Lender, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (a “Participant”), other than an Ineligible Institution, in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans owing to it); provided that (A) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged; (B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations; and (C) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.  Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in the first proviso to Section 9.02(b) that affects such Participant.  The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16 and 2.17 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 2.17(f) (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 2.17(f) shall be delivered to the participating Lender)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section; provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Sections 2.18 and 2.19 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this Section; and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 2.15 or 2.17, with respect to any participation, than its participating Lender would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation.  Each Lender that sells a participation agrees, at the Borrower's request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrower to effectuate the provisions of Section 2.19(b) with respect to any Participant.  To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 9.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.18(d) as though it were a Lender.  Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any Commitments, Loans, Letters of Credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such Commitment, Loan, Letter of Credit or other obligation is in registered form under the Treasury Regulations Section 5f.103-1(c) and Proposed Treasury Regulations Section 1.163-5(b) (or any amended or successor version).  The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

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(d)Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank, and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

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

SECTION 9.06.Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract.  This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any separate letter agreements with respect to (i) fees payable to the Administrative Agent and (ii) the reductions of the Letter of Credit Commitment of any Issuing Bank constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof.  Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile, e-mailed.pdf or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of the actual executed signature page shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.  The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to any  document to be signed in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be deemed to include Electronic Signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

SECTION 9.07.Severability.  Any provision of any Loan Document held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the 

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extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions thereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.

SECTION 9.08.Right of Setoff.  If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, each Issuing Bank, and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final and in whatever currency denominated) at any time held, and other obligations at any time owing, by such Lender, such Issuing Bank or any such Affiliate, to or for the credit or the account of Holdings or the Borrower against any and all of the obligations of Holdings or the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or such Issuing Bank or their respective Affiliates, irrespective of whether or not such Lender, Issuing Bank or Affiliate shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of Holdings or the Borrower may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch office or Affiliate of such Lender or such Issuing Bank different from the branch office or Affiliate holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness; provided, that no amounts set off with respect to any Loan Party shall be applied to any Excluded Swap Obligations of such Loan Party; provided, further, that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.21 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks, and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff.  The rights of each Lender, each Issuing Bank and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, such Issuing Bank or their respective Affiliates may have.  Each Lender and Issuing Bank agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

SECTION 9.09.Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process.  (a) This Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York.

(b)Each of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that, notwithstanding the governing law provisions of any applicable Loan Document, any claims brought against the Administrative Agent by any Secured Party relating to this Agreement, any other Loan Document, the Collateral or the consummation or administration of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York.

(c)Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York sitting in the Borough of Manhattan (or if such court lacks subject matter jurisdiction, the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in the  Borough of Manhattan), and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions relating hereto or thereto, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may (and any such claims, cross-claims or third party claims brought against the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties may only) be heard and determined in such Federal (to the extent permitted by law) or New York State court.  Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final 

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judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.  Nothing in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document against the Borrower, any Loan Party or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

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

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

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

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

SECTION 9.12.Confidentiality.  Each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Confidential Information (as defined below), except that Confidential Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors on a need-to-know basis (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Confidential Information and instructed to keep such Confidential Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any Governmental Authority (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party to this Agreement, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (1) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (2) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Borrower and its obligations, (g) on a confidential basis to (1) any rating agency in connection with rating the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or the credit facilities provided for herein or (2) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection 

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with the issuance and monitoring of identification numbers with respect to the credit facilities provided for herein, (h) with the consent of the Borrower or (i) to the extent such Confidential Information (1) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (2) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower.  For the purposes of this Section, “Confidential Information” means all information received from the Borrower or its Affiliates relating to the Borrower or its business, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower and other than information pertaining to this Agreement routinely provided by arrangers to data service providers, including league table providers, that serve the lending industry; provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential.  Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Confidential 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 Confidential Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

EACH LENDER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AS DEFINED IN THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING PARAGRAPH FURNISHED TO IT PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY INCLUDE MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION CONCERNING THE BORROWER AND  ITS RELATED PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE SECURITIES, AND CONFIRMS THAT IT HAS DEVELOPED COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES REGARDING THE USE OF MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION AND THAT IT WILL HANDLE SUCH MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THOSE PROCEDURES AND APPLICABLE LAW, INCLUDING FEDERAL AND STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

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

SECTION 9.13.USA PATRIOT Act.  Each Lender that is subject to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 (the “Patriot Act”) hereby notifies each Loan Party that pursuant to the requirements of the Patriot Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies such Loan Party, which information includes the name and address of such Loan Party and other information that will allow such Lender to identify such Loan Party in accordance with the Patriot Act.

SECTION 9.14.Appointment for Perfection.  Each Lender hereby appoints each other Lender as its agent for the purpose of perfecting Liens, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties, in assets which, in accordance with Article 9 of the UCC or any other applicable law can be perfected only by possession or control.  Should any Lender (other than the Administrative Agent) obtain possession or control of any such Collateral, such Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent thereof, and, promptly upon the Administrative Agent’s request therefor shall deliver such Collateral to the 

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Administrative Agent or otherwise deal with such Collateral in accordance with the Administrative Agent’s instructions.

SECTION 9.15.Releases of Subsidiary Loan Parties.

(a)A Subsidiary Loan Party shall automatically be released from its obligations under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement upon the consummation of any transaction permitted by this Agreement as a result of which such Subsidiary Loan Party ceases to be a Subsidiary.  In connection with any termination or release pursuant to this Section, the Administrative Agent shall (and is hereby irrevocably authorized by each Lender to) execute and deliver to any Loan Party, at such Loan Party’s expense, all documents that such Loan Party shall reasonably request to evidence such termination or release.  Any execution and delivery of documents pursuant to this Section shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Administrative Agent.

(b)Further, the Administrative Agent may (and is hereby irrevocably authorized by each Lender to), upon the request of the Borrower, release any Subsidiary Loan Party from its obligations under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement if such Subsidiary no longer constitutes a Subsidiary Loan Party pursuant to the definition thereof.

(c)At such time as the principal and interest on the Loans, all LC Disbursements, the fees, expenses and other amounts payable under the Loan Documents and the other Secured Obligations (other than Banking Services Obligations, Swap Obligations, and other Obligations expressly stated to survive such payment and termination) shall have been paid in full in cash, the Commitments shall have been terminated and no Letters of Credit shall be outstanding, the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and all obligations (other than those expressly stated to survive such termination) of each Loan Party thereunder shall automatically terminate, all without delivery of any instrument or performance of any act by any Person.

SECTION 9.16.Interest Rate Limitation.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan, together with all fees, charges and other amounts which are treated as interest on such Loan under applicable law (collectively the “Charges”), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the “Maximum Rate”) which may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the Lender holding such Loan in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan hereunder, together with all Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect of such Loan but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender in respect of other Loans or periods shall be increased (but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the NYFRB Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.

SECTION 9.17.No Fiduciary Duty, etc.  The Borrower acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Subsidiaries’ understanding, that no Credit Party will have any obligations except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents and each Credit Party is acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length contractual counterparty to the Borrower with respect to the Loan Documents and the transaction contemplated therein and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to, or an agent of, the Borrower or any other person.  The Borrower agrees that it will not assert any claim against any Credit Party based on an alleged breach of fiduciary duty by such Credit Party in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.  Additionally, the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that no Credit Party is advising the Borrower as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting, regulatory or any other matters in any jurisdiction.  The Borrower shall consult with its own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making its own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions 

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contemplated hereby, and the Credit Parties shall have no responsibility or liability to the Borrower with respect thereto.

The Borrower further acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Subsidiaries’ understanding, that each Credit Party, together with its Affiliates, is a full service securities or banking firm engaged in securities trading and brokerage activities as well as providing investment banking and other financial services.  In the ordinary course of business, any Credit Party may provide investment banking and other financial services to, and/or acquire, hold or sell, for its own accounts and the accounts of customers, equity, debt and other securities and financial instruments (including bank loans and other obligations) of, the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and other companies with which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries may have commercial or other relationships.  With respect to any securities and/or financial instruments so held by any Credit Party or any of its customers, all rights in respect of such securities and financial instruments, including any voting rights, will be exercised by the holder of the rights, in its sole discretion.

In addition, the Borrower acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Subsidiaries’ understanding, that each Credit Party and its affiliates may be providing debt financing, equity capital or other services (including financial advisory services) to other companies in respect of which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries may have conflicting interests regarding the transactions described herein and otherwise.  No Credit Party will use confidential information obtained from the Borrower by virtue of the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents or its other relationships with the Borrower in connection with the performance by such Credit Party of services for other companies, and no Credit Party will furnish any such information to other companies.  The Borrower also acknowledges that no Credit Party has any obligation to use in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents, or to furnish to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, confidential information obtained from other companies.

SECTION 9.18.Agency of the Borrower for the Loan Parties.  Each of the other Loan Parties hereby appoints the Borrower as its agent for all purposes relevant to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including the giving and receipt of notices and the execution and delivery of all documents, instruments and certificates contemplated herein and therein and all modifications hereto and thereto.

SECTION 9.19.Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any EEA Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of an EEA Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

(a)the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by an EEA Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an EEA Financial Institution; and

(b)the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:

(i)a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;

(ii)a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such EEA Financial Institution, its parent entity, or a bridge 

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institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or

(iii)the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of any EEA Resolution Authority.

 

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

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

SPROUTS FARMERS MARKETS HOLDINGS, LLC,
as the Borrower

	
 
	
By 
	
/s/ Bradley Lukow
Name:  Bradley Lukow
Title:    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

SPROUTS FARMERS MARKET, INC.,
as Holdings

	
 
	
By 
	
/s/ Bradley Lukow
Name:  Bradley Lukow
Title:    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
Sprouts Farmers Markets Holdings, LLC

 

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

	
 
	
By 
	
/s/ Brendan Kelly
Name:  Brendan Kelly
Title:    Authorized Signer

  

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
Sprouts Farmers Markets Holdings, LLC

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender and as Syndication Agent

	
 
	
By 
	
/s/ Alain Pelanne
Name:  Alain Pelanne
Title:    Vice President

   

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
Sprouts Farmers Markets Holdings, LLC

 

BMO HARRIS BANK N.A., as a Lender and as a Documentation Agent

	
 
	
By 
	
/s/ Katherine K. Robinson
Name:  Katherine K. Robinson
Title:    Director

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
Sprouts Farmers Markets Holdings, LLC

 

COÖPERATIEVE RABOBANK U.A., 

NEW YORK BRANCH

 

	
 
	
By 
	
/s/ Andre Baladi
Name:  Andre Baladi
Title:    Executive Director

	
 
	
By 
	
/s/ Gillian Dickson 
Name:  Gillian Dickson
Title:    Executive Director

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
Sprouts Farmers Markets Holdings, LLC

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, National Association, as a Lender and as a Documentation Agent

	
 
	
By 
	
/s/ Ekta Patel
Name:  Ekta Patel
Title:    Director

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
Sprouts Farmers Markets Holdings, LLC

 

SUNTRUST BANK, as a Lender and as a 

Documentation Agent

 

 

	
 
	
By 
	
/s/ Christian Sumulong
Name:  Christian Sumulong
Title:    Vice President

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
Sprouts Farmers Markets Holdings, LLC

 

BRANCH BANKING & TRUST COMPANY, as a Lender 

	
 
	
By 
	
/s/ Vicount Cornwall
Name: Vicount Cornwall
Title:   Senior Vice President

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
Sprouts Farmers Markets Holdings, LLC

 

BANK OF THE WEST, as a Lender 

	
 
	
By 
	
/s/ Kevin R. Gillette
Name: Kevin R. Gillette
Title:   Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
Sprouts Farmers Markets Holdings, LLC

 

The undersigned Departing Lender hereby acknowledges and agrees that, from and after the Effective Date, it is no longer a party to the Existing Credit Agreement or any of the “Loan Documents” (as defined therein) and is not a party to this Agreement other than for the sole purpose of provisions of Section 1.08 expressly applicable to it.

 

CITIZENS BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

	
 
	
By 
	
/s/ Stephen A. Maenhout
Name:  Stephen A. Maenhout
Title:    Senior Vice President

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
Sprouts Farmers Markets Holdings, LLC

 

The undersigned Departing Lender hereby acknowledges and agrees that, from and after the Effective Date, it is no longer a party to the Existing Credit Agreement or any of the “Loan Documents” (as defined therein) and is not a party to this Agreement other than for the sole purpose of provisions of Section 1.08 expressly applicable to it.

 

COMPASS BANK

	
 
	
By 
	
/s/ Khoa Duong
Name:  Khoa Duong
Title:    Senior Vice President

 

 

 

 

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
Sprouts Farmers Markets Holdings, LLC

 

SCHEDULE 2.01A

COMMITMENTS

	
LENDER
	
COMMITMENT

	
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
	
$115,000,000

	
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
	
$115,000,000

	
BMO HARRIS BANK N.A.
	
$95,000,000

	
COÖPERATIEVE CENTRALE RAIFFEISEN –

BOERENLEENBANK, B.A. “RABOBANK NEDERLAND,” NEW

YORK BRANCH

 
	
$95,000,000

	
WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.
	
$95,000,000

	
SUNTRUST BANK
	
$95,000,000

	
BRANCH BANKING & TRUST COMPANY
	
$45,000,000

	
BANK OF THE WEST
	
$45,000,000

	
AGGREGATE COMMITMENT
	
$700,000,000

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 2.01B

LETTER OF CREDIT COMMITMENTS

	
LENDER
	
COMMITMENT

	
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
	
$37,500,000

	
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
	
$37,500,000

	
TOTAL LETTER OF CREDIT COMMITMENTS
	
$75,000,000

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

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

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

	
1.
	
Assignor:

	
2.
	
Assignee:
[and is an Affiliate/Approved Fund of [identify Lender]1]

	
3.
	
Borrower(s):Sprouts Farmers Markets Holdings, LLC

	
4.
	
Administrative Agent:JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the administrative agent under the Credit Agreement

	
5.
	
Credit Agreement:The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of March 27, 2018 among Sprouts Farmers Markets Holdings, LLC, Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc., the Lenders parties thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the other agents parties thereto

	
	 

	
1 
	
 Select as applicable.

 

 

	
6.
	
Assigned Interest:

	
Aggregate Amount of
Commitment/Loans for
all Lenders
	
Amount of Commitment/Loans
Assigned
	
Percentage
Assigned of
Commitment/Loans2

	
$
	
$
	
%

	
$
	
$
	
%

	
$
	
$
	
%

 

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

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

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

ASSIGNOR

[NAME OF ASSIGNOR]

	
 
	
By:
	

Title:

ASSIGNEE

[NAME OF ASSIGNEE]

	
 
	
By:
	

Title:

Consented to and Accepted:

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

	
By:
	

Title:

[OTHER ISSUING BANKS]

	
	 

	
2 
	
 Set forth, so at least 9 decimals, as a percentage of the Commitment/Loans of all Lenders thereunder.

2

 

[Consented to:]3

SPROUTS FARMERS MARKETS HOLDINGS, LLC

	
By:
	

Title:

 

	
	 

	
3 
	
 To be added only if the consent of the Borrower is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement.

3

 

ANNEX I

STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

1.  Representations and Warranties.

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

1.2  Assignee.  The Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it satisfies the requirements, if any, specified in the Credit Agreement and under applicable law that are required to be satisfied by it in order to acquire the Assigned Interest and become a Lender, (iii) from and after the Effective Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement as a Lender thereunder and, to the extent of the Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder, (iv) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.04 thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase the Assigned Interest on the basis of which it has made such analysis and decision independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or any other Lender and their respective Related Parties, and (v) attached to the Assignment and Assumption is any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by the Assignee; and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, the Assignor or any other Lender and their respective Related Parties, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan Documents, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

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

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

 

 

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

 

2

 

EXHIBIT B

FORM OF INTERCOMPANY SUBORDINATION TERMS

SUBORDINATED INTERCOMPANY NOTE

[_], 20[_] 

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, each of the undersigned listed on the signature page hereto that is a Loan Party (each, in such capacity, a “Payor”), to the extent a borrower from time to time from any other Person listed on the signature page hereto that is a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party (each, in such capacity, a “Payee”), hereby promises to pay to the order of such Payee, in lawful money of the United States of America, or in such other currency as agreed to by such Payor and such Payee, in immediately available funds, at such location as such Payee shall from time to time designate, the unpaid principal amount of all Indebtedness of such Payor to such Payee on such date or dates as shall be agreed upon from time to time by such Payor and such Payee (or, if no such dates are specified, on demand).  Each Payor promises also to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of all such loans and advances in like money at said location from the date of such loans and advances until paid at such rate per annum as shall be agreed upon from time to time by such Payor and such Payee.

 

Reference is hereby made to that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of March 27, 2018 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. (“Holdings”), Sprouts Farmers Markets Holdings, LLC (the “Borrower”), the lenders party thereto from time to time and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (the “Administrative Agent”).  Capitalized terms used in this intercompany promissory note (this “Note”) but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.  For all purposes herein, the term “Applicable Administrative Agent” shall mean the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the holders of Senior Indebtedness (as defined below), subject to any applicable intercreditor agreement, until and unless another applicable agent is appointed pursuant to such intercreditor agreement.

 

The Indebtedness evidenced by this Note owed by any Payor to any Payee shall be subordinate and junior in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, to (a) all Secured Obligations of such Payor, (b) any senior secured Indebtedness that renews, refunds, restructures or refinances any of the Indebtedness specified in clause (a) to the extent by its terms expressly requiring the subordination thereto of the Indebtedness evidenced by this Note, (c) any other senior secured Indebtedness of such Payor that by its terms expressly requires the subordination thereto of the Indebtedness evidenced by this Note and (d) interest on any of the foregoing, accruing after the commencement of any proceedings referred to in clause (i) below, whether or not such interest is an

 

 

 

 

 

allowed claim in such proceeding (the Indebtedness specified in clauses (a) through (d) being hereinafter collectively referred to as “Senior Indebtedness”), until the latest to occur of (x) such time as the principal and interest on the Loans, all LC Disbursements, the fees, expenses and other amounts payable under the Loan Documents and the other Secured Obligations (other than Banking Services Obligations, Swap Obligations and Obligations expressly stated to survive the termination of the Loan Documents) shall have been paid in full in cash, the Commitments shall have been terminated and no Letters of Credit shall be outstanding and (y) the date of payment in full in cash of any other Senior Indebtedness (other than contingent obligations as to which no claim has been made) (such latest date to occur, the “Payoff Date”); provided that each such Payor may make payments to the applicable Payee unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and such Payor shall have received notice from the Applicable Administrative Agent (provided that no such notice shall be required to be given in the case of any Event of Default arising under clause (h) or (i) of Article VII of the Credit Agreement).

 

(i)In the event of any insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings, and any receivership, liquidation, reorganization or other similar proceedings in connection therewith, relating to any Payor or to its property, and in the event of any proceedings for involuntary liquidation, dissolution or other winding up of any Payor, or any voluntary liquidation, dissolution or other winding up of any Payor that violates the terms of the Credit Agreement, whether or not involving insolvency or bankruptcy, then, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (x) the Payoff Date shall be required to have occurred before any Payee shall be entitled to receive (whether directly or indirectly), or make any demand for, any payment from such Payor on account of any Indebtedness evidenced by this Note owed by such Payor to such Payee and (y) until the Payoff Date shall have occurred, any such payment or distribution to which such Payee would otherwise be entitled, whether in cash, property or securities (other than a payment of debt securities of such Payor that are subordinated and junior in right of payment to the Senior Indebtedness to at least the same extent as the Indebtedness evidenced by this Note is subordinated and junior in right of payment to the Senior Indebtedness then outstanding (such securities being hereinafter referred to as “Restructured Debt Securities”)) shall instead be made to the Applicable Administrative Agent.

 

(ii) If any Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and after notice from the Applicable Administrative Agent (provided that no such notice shall be required to be given in the case of any Event of Default arising under clause (h) or (i) of Article VII of the Credit Agreement), then until the earliest to occur of (x) the Payoff Date, (y) the date on which such Event of Default shall have been 

 

 

cured or waived and (z) the date on which the Applicable Administrative Agent shall have rescinded such notice, no payment or distribution of any kind or character shall be made by or on behalf of any Payor, or any other Person on its behalf, with respect to any amounts evidenced by this Note.

 

(iii) If any payment or distribution of any character, whether in cash, securities or other property (other than Restructured Debt Securities), and whether directly, by purchase, redemption, exercise of any right of setoff or otherwise, with respect to any amounts evidenced by this Note shall (despite these subordination provisions) be received by any Payee in violation of clause (i) or (ii) above prior to the occurrence of the Payoff Date, such payment or distribution shall be held by such Payee in trust (segregated from other property of such Payee) for the benefit of the Applicable Administrative Agent, and shall be paid over or delivered to the Applicable Administrative Agent promptly upon receipt.

 

(iv)Each Payee agrees to file all claims against each relevant Payor in any bankruptcy or other proceeding in which the filing of claims is required by law in respect of any Senior Indebtedness, and the Applicable Administrative Agent shall be entitled to all of such Payee’s rights thereunder.  If for any reason a Payee fails to file such claim at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the last date on which such claim should be filed, such Payee hereby irrevocably appoints the Applicable Administrative Agent as its true and lawful attorney-in-fact and the Applicable Administrative Agent is hereby authorized to act as attorney-in-fact in such Payee’s name to file such claim or, in the Applicable Administrative Agent’s discretion, to assign such claim to and cause proof of claim to be filed in the name of the Applicable Administrative Agent or its nominee.  In all such cases, whether in administration, bankruptcy or otherwise, the Person or Persons authorized to pay such claim shall pay to the Applicable Administrative Agent the full amount payable on the claim in the proceeding, and, to the full extent necessary for that purpose, each Payee hereby assigns to the Applicable Administrative Agent all of such Payee’s rights to any payments or distributions to which such Payee otherwise would be entitled.  If the amount so paid is greater than such Payee’s liability hereunder, the Applicable Administrative Agent shall pay the excess amount to the party entitled thereto.

 

(v) Each Payee waives the right to compel that any property of any Payor or any property of any guarantor of any Senior Indebtedness or any other Person be applied in any particular order

 

 

to discharge such Senior Indebtedness.  Each Payee expressly waives the right to require the Applicable Administrative Agent or any other holder of Senior Indebtedness to proceed against any Payor, any guarantor of any Senior Indebtedness or any other Person, or to pursue any other remedy in its or their power that such Payee cannot pursue and that would lighten such Payee’s burden, notwithstanding that the failure of the Applicable Administrative Agent or any such other holder to do so may thereby prejudice such Payee.  Each Payee agrees that it shall not be discharged, exonerated or have its obligations hereunder reduced by the Applicable Administrative Agent’s or any other holder’s of Senior Indebtedness delay in proceeding against or enforcing any remedy against any Payor, any guarantor of any Senior Indebtedness or any other Person; by the Applicable Administrative Agent or any holder of Senior Indebtedness releasing any Payor, any guarantor of any Senior Indebtedness or any other Person from all or any part of the Senior Indebtedness; or by the discharge of any Payor, any guarantor of any Senior Indebtedness or any other Person by an operation of law or otherwise, with or without the intervention or omission of the Applicable Administrative Agent or any such holder.

 

(vi)Each Payee waives all rights and defenses arising out of an election of remedies by the Applicable Administrative Agent or any other holder of Senior Indebtedness, even though that election of remedies, including any nonjudicial foreclosure with respect to any property securing any Senior Indebtedness, has impaired the value of such Payee’s rights of subrogation, reimbursement, or contribution against any Payor, any guarantor of any Senior Indebtedness or any other Person.  Each Payee expressly waives any rights or defenses it may have by reason of protection afforded to any Payor, any guarantor of any Senior Indebtedness or any other Person with respect to the Senior Indebtedness pursuant to any anti-deficiency laws or other laws of similar import that limit or discharge the principal debtor’s indebtedness upon judicial or nonjudicial foreclosure of property or assets securing any Senior Indebtedness.

 

(vii)Each Payee agrees that, without the necessity of any reservation of rights against it, and without notice to or further assent by it, any demand for payment of any Senior Indebtedness made by the Applicable Administrative Agent or any other holder of Senior Indebtedness may be rescinded in whole or in part by the Applicable Administrative Agent or such holder, and any Senior Indebtedness may be continued, and the Senior Indebtedness or the liability of any Payee, any guarantor thereof or any other Person obligated thereunder, or any right of offset with respect thereto,

 

 

may, from time to time, in whole or in part, be renewed, extended, modified, accelerated, compromised, waived, surrendered or released by the Applicable Administrative Agent or any other holder of Senior Indebtedness, in each case without notice to or further assent by such Payee, which will remain bound hereunder, and without impairing, abridging, releasing or affecting the subordination provided for herein.

 

(viii)Each Payee waives any and all notice of the creation, renewal, extension or accrual of any Senior Indebtedness, and any and all notice of or proof of reliance by holders of Senior Indebtedness upon the subordination provisions set forth herein. The Senior Indebtedness shall be deemed conclusively to have been created, contracted or incurred, and the consent to create the obligations of any Payee evidenced by this Note shall be deemed conclusively to have been given, in reliance upon the subordination provisions set forth herein.

 

(ix)To the maximum extent permitted by law, each Payee waives any claim it might have against the Applicable Administrative Agent or any other holder of Senior Indebtedness with respect to, or arising out of, any action or failure to act or any error of judgment, negligence, or mistake or oversight whatsoever on the part of the Applicable Administrative Agent or any such holder, or any of their Related Parties, with respect to any exercise of rights or remedies under the Loan Documents, except to the extent due to the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Applicable Administrative Agent or any such holder, as the case may be, or any of its Related Parties, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and nonappealable judgment. None of the Applicable Administrative Agent, any other holder of Senior Indebtedness or any of their Related Parties shall be liable for failure to demand, collect or realize upon any guarantee of any Senior Indebtedness, or for any delay in doing so, or shall be under any obligation to sell or otherwise dispose of any property upon the request of any Payor, any Payee or any other Person or to take any other action whatsoever with regard to any such guarantee or any other property.

 

Each Payee and each Payor hereby agree that the subordination provisions set forth in this Note are for the benefit of the Applicable Administrative Agent and the other holders of Senior Indebtedness.  The Applicable Administrative Agent and the other holders of Senior Indebtedness are obligees under this Note to the same extent as if their names were written herein as such and the Applicable Administrative Agent may, on behalf of itself and such other holders, proceed to enforce the subordination provisions set forth herein.

 

 

All rights and interests of the Applicable Administrative Agent and the other holders of Senior Indebtedness hereunder, and the subordination provisions and the related agreements of the Payors and Payees set forth herein, shall remain in full force and effect irrespective of:

 

(i)any lack of validity or enforceability of the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document;

 

(ii)any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Senior Indebtedness or any amendment or waiver or other modification, whether by course of conduct or otherwise, of, or consent to departure from, the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document;

 

(iii)any release, amendment, waiver or other modification, whether in writing or by course of conduct or otherwise, of or consent to departure from, any guarantee of any Senior Indebtedness; or

 

(iv)any other circumstances that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, any Payor in respect of any Senior Indebtedness or of any Payee or any Payor in respect of the subordination provisions set forth herein.

 

Nothing contained in the subordination provisions set forth above is intended to or will impair, as between each Payor and each Payee, the obligations of such Payor, which are absolute and unconditional, to pay to such Payee the principal of and interest on this Note as and when due and payable in accordance with its terms, or is intended to or will affect the relative rights of such Payee and other creditors of such Payor other than the Applicable Administrative Agent and the other holders of Senior Indebtedness, in each case subject to any applicable intercreditor agreement. 

 

Each Payee is hereby authorized to record all Indebtedness made by it to any Payor (all of which shall be evidenced by this Note except as provided below), and all repayments or prepayments thereof, in its books and records, such books and records constituting prima facie evidence of the accuracy of the information contained therein. 

 

Each Payor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind whatsoever in connection with this Note.  All payments under this Note shall be made without offset, counterclaim or deduction of any kind.

 

This Note shall be binding upon each Payor and its successors and assigns, and the terms and provisions of this Note shall inure to the benefit of each Payee and its successors and assigns, including subsequent holders hereof.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in any other Loan

 

 

Document or in any other promissory note or other instrument, (a) if any Indebtedness arising on or before the date hereof of any Payee to any Payor is evidenced by a promissory note or other instrument or agreement in existence as of the date hereof (an “Existing Note”), it is agreed between such Payee and such Payor that the obligations under such Existing Note are hereafter to be evidenced by this Note, except the Indebtedness evidenced by an Existing Note described on Schedule A hereto (as such Schedule may from time to time be amended) and (b) it is agreed between the Payor and Payee that the agreements in existence as of the date hereof with respect to any existing obligations (including agreements contained in any Existing Note) as to principal, amortization, currency, payment location and interest rate (if any) will continue to have effect under this Note until modified by agreement between such Payor and such Payee. For the avoidance of doubt, this Note as between each Payor and each Payee contains additional terms to any intercompany loan agreement between them and this Note does not in any way replace such intercompany loans between them nor does this Note in any way change the principal amount of any intercompany loans between them.

 

From time to time after the date hereof, additional Subsidiaries of the Borrower may become parties hereto (as Payor, in the case of a Loan Party, or as Payee, in the case of a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, as the case may be) by executing a counterpart signature page to this Note (each additional Subsidiary, an “Additional Party”).  Upon delivery of such counterpart signature page to the Payees, notice of which is hereby waived by the other Payors, each Additional Party shall be a Payor and/or a Payee, as the case may be, and shall be as fully a party hereto as if such Additional Party were an original signatory hereof.  Each Payor expressly agrees that its obligations arising hereunder shall not be affected or diminished by the addition or release of any other Payor or Payee hereunder. This Note shall be fully effective as to any Payor or Payee that is or becomes a party hereto regardless of whether any other Person becomes or fails to become or ceases to be a Payor or Payee hereunder. 

 

No amendment, modification or waiver of, or consent with respect to, any provisions of this Note shall be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed and delivered by each Payor and Payee whose rights or obligations shall be affected thereby; provided that, until the Payoff Date shall have occurred, the Applicable Administrative Agent shall have provided its prior written consent to such amendment, modification, waiver or consent of the subordination provisions hereof (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed). 

 

THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

 

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

 

 

[NAME OF ENTITY], 

a Loan Party, as Payor 

 

 

 

By: 

Name: 

Title: 

 

 

[NAME OF ENTITY], 

a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, as Payee 

 

 

 

By: 

Name: 

Title:

 

 

 

SCHEDULE A

 

[List here any Existing Notes to be excluded in accordance with the fourth to last paragraph of this Note]

 

 

EXHIBIT C

FORM OF INCREASING LENDER SUPPLEMENT

INCREASING LENDER SUPPLEMENT, dated __________, 20___ (this “Supplement”), by and among each of the signatories hereto, to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of March 27, 2018 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Sprouts Farmers Markets Holdings, LLC (the “Borrower”), Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. (“Holdings”), the Lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”).

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 2.20 of the Credit Agreement, the Borrower has the right, subject to the terms and conditions thereof, to effectuate from time to time an increase in the Aggregate Commitment and/or one or more tranches of Incremental Term Loans under the Credit Agreement by requesting one or more Lenders to increase the amount of its Commitment and/or to participate in such a tranche;

WHEREAS, the Borrower has given notice to the Administrative Agent of its intention to [increase the Aggregate Commitment] [and] [enter into a tranche of Incremental Term Loans] pursuant to such Section 2.20; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 2.20 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned Increasing Lender now desires to [increase the amount of its Commitment] [and] [participate in a tranche of Incremental Term Loans] under the Credit Agreement by executing and delivering to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent this Supplement;

NOW, THEREFORE, each of the parties hereto hereby agrees as follows:

	
1.
	
The undersigned Increasing Lender agrees, subject to the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement, that on the date of this Supplement it shall [have its Commitment increased by $[__________], thereby making the aggregate amount of its total Commitments equal to $[__________]] [and] [participate in a tranche of Incremental Term Loans with a commitment amount equal to $[__________] with respect thereto].

	
2.
	
The Borrower hereby represents and warrants that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on and as of the date hereof [(or, in the case of any Acquisition-Related Incremental Term Loans, the Borrower hereby represents and warrants that (i) as of the date of effectiveness of the related Limited Conditionality Acquisition Agreement, no Default is in existence or would result from entry into such documentation, (ii) as of the date of the borrowing of such Acquisition-Related Incremental Term Loans, no Event of Default under clause (b), (c), (h) or (i) of Article VII of the Credit Agreement is in existence immediately before or after giving effect (including on a Pro Forma Basis) to such borrowing and to any concurrent transactions and any substantially concurrent use of proceeds thereof), (iii) the representations and warranties set forth in Article III of the Credit Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects (or in all respects if qualified by materiality) as of the date of effectiveness of the related Limited Conditionality Acquisition Agreement and (iv) as of the date of the borrowing of such Acquisition-Related Incremental Term Loans, customary “Sungard” representations and warranties (with such representations and warranties to be reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders providing such Acquisition-Related Incremental Term Loans) shall be true and 

 

 

		
correct in all material respects (or in all respects if qualified by materiality) immediately prior to, and after giving effect to, the incurrence of such Acquisition-Related Incremental Term Loans)].

	
3.
	
Terms defined in the Credit Agreement shall have their defined meanings when used herein.

	
4.
	
This Supplement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

	
5.
	
This Supplement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same document.

2

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has caused this Supplement to be executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer on the date first above written.

[INSERT NAME OF INCREASING LENDER]

By:  ____________________________________
Name:
Title:

Accepted and agreed to as of the date first written above:

Sprouts Farmers Markets Holdings, LLC

By:  ______________________________________
Name:
Title:

Acknowledged as of the date first written above:

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
as Administrative Agent

By:  ______________________________________
Name:
Title:

 

3

 

EXHIBIT D

FORM OF AUGMENTING LENDER SUPPLEMENT

AUGMENTING LENDER SUPPLEMENT, dated __________, 20___ (this “Supplement”), by and among each of the signatories hereto, to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of March 27, 2018 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Sprouts Farmers Markets Holdings, LLC (the “Borrower”), Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. (“Holdings”) the Lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”).

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, the Credit Agreement provides in Section 2.20 thereof that any bank, financial institution or other entity may [extend Commitments] [and] [participate in tranches of Incremental Term Loans] under the Credit Agreement subject to the approval of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, by executing and delivering to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a supplement to the Credit Agreement in substantially the form of this Supplement; and

WHEREAS, the undersigned Augmenting Lender was not an original party to the Credit Agreement but now desires to become a party thereto;

NOW, THEREFORE, each of the parties hereto hereby agrees as follows:

	
1.
	
The undersigned Augmenting Lender agrees to be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement and agrees that it shall, on the date of this Supplement, become a Lender for all purposes of the Credit Agreement to the same extent as if originally a party thereto, with a [Commitment with respect to Revolving Loans of $[__________]] [and] [a commitment with respect to Incremental Term Loans of $[__________]].

	
2.
	
The undersigned Augmenting Lender (a) represents and warrants that it is legally authorized to enter into this Supplement; (b) confirms that it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.01 thereof, as applicable, and has reviewed such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Supplement; (c) agrees that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Credit Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto or thereto; (d) appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers and discretion under the Credit Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto or thereto as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms thereof, together with such powers as are incidental thereto; and (e) agrees that it will be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement and will perform in accordance with its terms all the obligations which by the terms of the Credit Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

	
3.
	
The undersigned’s address for notices for the purposes of the Credit Agreement is as follows:

[___________]

 

 

	
4.
	
The Borrower hereby represents and warrants that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on and as of the date hereof [(or, in the case of any Acquisition-Related Incremental Term Loans, the Borrower hereby represents and warrants that (i) as of the date of effectiveness of the related Limited Conditionality Acquisition Agreement, no Default is in existence or would result from entry into such documentation, (ii) as of the date of the borrowing of such Acquisition-Related Incremental Term Loans, no Event of Default under clause (b), (c), (h) or (i) of Article VII of the Credit Agreement is in existence immediately before or after giving effect (including on a Pro Forma Basis) to such borrowing and to any concurrent transactions and any substantially concurrent use of proceeds thereof), (iii) the representations and warranties set forth in Article III of the Credit Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects (or in all respects if qualified by materiality) as of the date of effectiveness of the related Limited Conditionality Acquisition Agreement and (iv) as of the date of the borrowing of such Acquisition-Related Incremental Term Loans, customary “Sungard” representations and warranties (with such representations and warranties to be reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders providing such Acquisition-Related Incremental Term Loans) shall be true and correct in all material respects (or in all respects if qualified by materiality) immediately prior to, and after giving effect to, the incurrence of such Acquisition-Related Incremental Term Loans)].

	
5.
	
Terms defined in the Credit Agreement shall have their defined meanings when used herein.

	
6.
	
This Supplement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

	
7.
	
This Supplement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same document.

[remainder of this page intentionally left blank]

2

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has caused this Supplement to be executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer on the date first above written.

[INSERT NAME OF AUGMENTING LENDER]

By:  ____________________________________
Name:
Title:

Accepted and agreed to as of the date first written above:

Sprouts Farmers Markets Holdings, LLC

By:  ______________________________________
Name:
Title:

Acknowledged as of the date first written above:

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
as Administrative Agent

By:  ______________________________________
Name:
Title:

 

3

 

EXHIBIT E

LIST OF CLOSING DOCUMENTS

SPROUTS FARMERS MARKETS HOLDINGS, LLC

CREDIT FACILITIES

March 27, 2018

LIST OF CLOSING DOCUMENTS4

A.LOAN DOCUMENTS

	
1.
	
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) by and among Sprouts Farmers Markets Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Borrower”), Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Holdings”), the institutions from time to time parties thereto as Lenders (the “Lenders”) and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as Administrative Agent for itself and the other Lenders (the “Administrative Agent”), evidencing a revolving credit facility to the Borrower from the Lenders in an initial aggregate principal amount of $700,000,000.

SCHEDULES

	
Schedule 1.01A
	
--
	
Certain Subsidiaries

	
Schedule 1.01C
	
--
	
Adjusted EBITDA

	
Schedule 1.01D
	
--
	
Immaterial Subsidiaries

	
Schedule 1.01E
	
--
	
Subsidiary Loan Parties

	
Schedule 1.01F
	
--
	
Unrestricted Subsidiaries

	
Schedule 2.01A
	
--
	
Commitments

	
Schedule 2.01B
	
--
	
Letter of Credit Commitments

	
Schedule 2.06
	
--
	
Existing Letters of Credit

	
Schedule 3.01
	
--
	
Organization and Good Standing

	
Schedule 3.04
	
--
	
Governmental Approvals

	
Schedule 3.08(a)
	
--
	
Subsidiaries

	
Schedule 3.08(b)
	
--
	
Subscriptions

	
Schedule 3.09(a)
	
--
	
Litigation

	
Schedule 3.09(b)
	
--
	
Compliance with Laws

	
Schedule 3.13
	
--
	
Taxes

	
Schedule 3.16
	
--
	
Environmental Matters

	
Schedule 3.20
	
--
	
Labor Matters

	
Schedule 3.21
	
--
	
Intellectual Property

	
Schedule 3.23
	
--
	
Insurance

	
Schedule 5.10(h)
	
--
	
Certain Collateral Matters

	
Schedule 6.01
	
--
	
Indebtedness

	
Schedule 6.02(a)
	
--
	
Liens

	
Schedule 6.04
	
--
	
Investments

	
Schedule 6.07
	
--
	
Transactions with Affiliates

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
	 

	
4 
	
 Each capitalized term used herein and not defined herein shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the above-defined Credit Agreement.  Items appearing in bold and italics shall be prepared and/or provided by the Borrower and/or Borrower’s counsel.

 

 

EXHIBITS

	
Exhibit A
	
--
	
Form of Assignment and Assumption

	
Exhibit B
	
--
	
Form of Intercompany Subordination Terms

	
Exhibit C
	
--
	
Form of Increasing Lender Supplement

	
Exhibit D
	
--
	
Form of Augmenting Lender Supplement

	
Exhibit E
	
--
	
List of Closing Documents

	
Exhibit F-1
	
--
	
Form of U.S. Tax Certificate (Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships)

	
Exhibit F-2
	
--
	
Form of U.S. Tax Certificate (Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships)

	
Exhibit F-3
	
--
	
Form of U.S. Tax Certificate (Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships)

	
Exhibit F-4
	
--
	
Form of U.S. Tax Certificate (Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships)

	
Exhibit G-1
	
--
	
Form of Borrowing Request

	
Exhibit G-2
	
--
	
Form of Interest Election Request

	
Exhibit H
	
--
	
Form of Note

 

	
2.
	
Notes executed by the Borrower in favor of each of the Lenders, if any, which has requested a note pursuant to Section 2.10(e) of the Credit Agreement.

	
3.
	
Reaffirmation Agreement executed by the Loan Parties, together with pledged instruments and allonges, stock certificates, stock powers executed in blank, pledge instructions and acknowledgments, as appropriate.

	
Schedule I
	
--
	
Subsidiary Loan Parties

	
Schedule II
	
--
	
Commercial Tort Claims

	
Schedule III
	
--
	
Pledged Stock; Pledged Debt

	
Schedule IV
	
--
	
Intellectual Property

 

	
4.
	
Perfection Certificate executed by the Loan Parties.

	
5.
	
[Supplemental Trademark Collateral Agreement made by certain of the Loan Parties in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.]

	
6.
	
[Supplemental Copyright Collateral Agreement made by certain of the Loan Parties in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.]

	
7.
	
Certificates of Insurance listing the Administrative Agent as (x) lender loss payee for the property casualty insurance policies of the Loan Parties, together with separate lender loss payable endorsements and (y) additional insured with respect to the liability insurance of the Loan Parties, together with separate additional insured endorsements.

B.UCC DOCUMENTS

	
8.
	
UCC, tax lien and name variation search reports naming each Loan Party from the appropriate offices in relevant jurisdictions.

2

 

	
9.
	
UCC financing statements naming each Loan Party as debtor and the Administrative Agent as secured party as filed with the appropriate offices in applicable jurisdictions.

C.CORPORATE DOCUMENTS

	
10.
	
Certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of each Loan Party certifying (i) that there have been no changes in the Certificate of Incorporation or other charter document of such Loan Party, as attached thereto and as certified as of a recent date by the Secretary of State (or analogous governmental entity) of the jurisdiction of its organization, since the date of the certification thereof by such governmental entity, (ii) the By-Laws or other applicable organizational document, as attached thereto, of such Loan Party as in effect on the date of such certification, (iii) resolutions of the Board of Directors or other governing body of such Loan Party authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of each Loan Document to which it is a party, (iv) the names and true signatures of the incumbent officers of each Loan Party authorized to sign the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and (in the case of the Borrower) authorized to request a Borrowing or the issuance of a Letter of Credit  under the Credit Agreement and (v) the absence of any pending proceeding for the dissolution or liquidation of such Loan Party.

	
11.
	
Good Standing Certificate (or analogous documentation if applicable) for each Loan Party from the Secretary of State (or analogous governmental entity) of the jurisdiction of its organization, to the extent generally available in such jurisdiction.

D.OPINIONS

	
12.
	
Opinion of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, counsel for the Loan Parties.

	
13.
	
Opinion of Locke Lord LLP, Texas local counsel for the applicable Loan Parties.

E.CLOSING CERTIFICATES AND MISCELLANEOUS

	
14.
	
In the case of a Borrowing to be made on the Effective Date, a Borrowing Request as required by Section 2.03 of the Credit Agreement together with, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, a customary funding indemnification letter in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

	
15.
	
A Certificate signed by the President, a Vice President or a Financial Officer of the Borrower certifying the following:  (i) that the representations and warranties contained in Article III of the Credit Agreement are true and correct in all material respects (or in all respects in the case of any representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect) on and as of the Effective Date with the same effect as though made on and as of the Effective Date, except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date (in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects (or in all respects in the case of any representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect) as of such earlier date) and (ii) that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing as of the Effective Date.

 

3

 

 

 

4

 

EXHIBIT F-1

FORM OF

 

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

 

Reference is hereby made to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of March 27, 2018 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Sprouts Farmers Markets Holdings, LLC (the “Borrower”), Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc., the Lenders from time to time party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”).  

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.17 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any promissory note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E.  By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

	
 

	
 

	
[NAME OF LENDER]

	
 

	
By:______________________________________

	
Name:

	
Title:

	
 

	
Date: __________, 20[__]

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT F-2

FORM oF

 

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is hereby made to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of March 27, 2018 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Sprouts Farmers Markets Holdings, LLC (the “Borrower”), Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc., the Lenders from time to time party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”).  

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.17 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E.  By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender in writing, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

	
 

	
[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]

	
 

	
By:______________________________________

	
Name:

	
Title:

	
Date: ________ __, 20[__]

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT F-3

FORM OF

 

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

 

Reference is hereby made to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of March 27, 2018 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Sprouts Farmers Markets Holdings, LLC (the “Borrower”), Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc., the Lenders from time to time party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”).  

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.17 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such participation, (iii) with respect such participation, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code. 

The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption.  By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

	
 

	
[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]

	
 

	
By:______________________________________

	
Name:

	
Title:

	
 

	
 

	
Date: ________ __, 20[__]

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT F-4

FORM OF

 

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

 

Reference is hereby made to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of March 27, 2018 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Sprouts Farmers Markets Holdings, LLC (the “Borrower”), Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc., the Lenders from time to time party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”).  

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.17 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any promissory note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such Loan(s) (as well as any promissory note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)), (iii) with respect to the extension of credit pursuant to the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption.  By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

	
 

	
[NAME OF LENDER]

	
 

	
By:______________________________________

	
Name:

	
Title:

	
 

	
Date: ________ __, 20[__]

 

 

1

 

EXHIBIT G-1

FORM OF BORROWING REQUEST

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent
for the Lenders referred to below

[10 South Dearborn
Chicago, Illinois 60603
Attention: [__________]
Facsimile: [__________]]

With a copy to:

[__________]
[__________]
Attention: [__________]
Facsimile: [__________]

Re:  Sprouts Farmers Markets Holdings, LLC

[Date]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is hereby made to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of March 27, 2018 (as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Sprouts Farmers Markets Holdings, LLC (the “Borrower”), Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc., the Lenders from time to time party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”).  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.  The Borrower hereby gives you notice pursuant to Section 2.03 of the Credit Agreement that it requests a Borrowing under the Credit Agreement, and in that connection the Borrower specifies the following information with respect to such Borrowing requested hereby:

	
1.
	
Aggregate principal amount of Borrowing:5  __________

	
2.
	
Date of Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day):  __________

	
3.
	
Type of Borrowing (ABR or Eurodollar):  __________

	
4.
	
Interest Period and the last day thereof (if a Eurodollar Borrowing):6  __________

	
5.
	
Location and number of the Borrower’s account or any other account agreed upon by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower to which proceeds of Borrowing are to be disbursed:  __________

	
	 

	
5 
	
 Not less than applicable amounts specified in Section 2.02(c).

	
6
	
 Which must comply with the definition of “Interest Period” and end not later than the Maturity Date. 

1

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

2

 

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the conditions to lending specified in Section[s] [4.01 and]7 4.02 of the Credit Agreement are satisfied as of the date hereof.

Very truly yours,

Sprouts Farmers Markets Holdings, LLC,
as the Borrower

By:
Name: 
Title:

 

	
	 

	
7 
	
 To be included only for Borrowings on the Effective Date.

1

 

EXHIBIT G-2

FORM OF INTEREST ELECTION REQUEST

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent
for the Lenders referred to below

[10 South Dearborn
Chicago, Illinois 60603
Attention: [_______]
Facsimile: ([__]) [__]-[_____]]

Re:  Sprouts Farmers Markets Holdings, LLC

[Date]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is hereby made to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of March 27, 2018 (as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Sprouts Farmers Markets Holdings, LLC (the “Borrower”), Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc., the Lenders from time to time party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”).  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.  The Borrower hereby gives you notice pursuant to Section 2.08 of the Credit Agreement that it requests to [convert][continue] an existing Borrowing under the Credit Agreement, and in that connection the Borrower specifies the following information with respect to such [conversion][continuation] requested hereby:  

	
1.
	
List date, Type, principal amount and Interest Period (if applicable) of existing Borrowing:  __________

	
2.
	
Aggregate principal amount of resulting Borrowing:  __________

	
3.
	
Effective date of interest election (which shall be a Business Day):  __________

	
4.
	
Type of Borrowing (ABR or Eurodollar):  __________

	
5.
	
Interest Period and the last day thereof (if a Eurodollar Borrowing):8  __________

[Signature Page Follows]

 

	
	 

	
8
	
 Which must comply with the definition of “Interest Period” and end not later than the Maturity Date. 

1

 

Very truly yours,

Sprouts Farmers Markets Holdings, LLC,
as Borrower

By:
Name: 
Title:

 

1

 

EXHIBIT H

[FORM OF]

NOTE

[_____], 2018

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, Sprouts Farmers Markets Holdings, LLC, a [___________] (the “Borrower”), HEREBY UNCONDITIONALLY PROMISES TO PAY to [NAME OF LENDER] (the “Lender”) or its registered assigns the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Loans made by the Lender to the Borrower pursuant to the “Credit Agreement” (as defined below) on the Maturity Date or on such earlier date as may be required by the terms of the Credit Agreement.  Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein are as defined in the Credit Agreement.

The Borrower promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Loan made to it from the date of such Loan until such principal amount is paid in full at a rate or rates per annum determined in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement.  Interest hereunder is due and payable at such times and on such dates as set forth in the Credit Agreement.

At the time of each Loan, and upon each payment or prepayment of principal of each Loan, the Lender shall make a notation either on the schedule attached hereto and made a part hereof, or in such Lender’s own books and records, in each case specifying the amount of such Loan, the respective Interest Period thereof (in the case of Eurodollar Loans) or the amount of principal paid or prepaid with respect to such Loan, as applicable; provided that the failure of the Lender to make any such recordation or notation shall not affect the Obligations of the Borrower hereunder or under the Credit Agreement.

This Note is one of the notes referred to in, and is entitled to the benefits of, that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of March 27, 2018 by and among the Borrower, Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc., the financial institutions from time to time parties thereto as Lenders and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent (as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”).  The Credit Agreement, among other things, (i) provides for the making of Loans by the Lender to the Borrower from time to time in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding such Lender’s Commitment, the indebtedness of the Borrower resulting from each such Loan to it being evidenced by this Note, and (ii) contains provisions for acceleration of the maturity hereof upon the happening of certain stated events and also for prepayments of the principal hereof prior to the maturity hereof upon the terms and conditions therein specified.

This Note is secured by the Collateral Documents. Reference is hereby made to the Collateral Documents for a description of the collateral thereby mortgaged, warranted, bargained, sold, released, conveyed, assigned, transferred, pledged and hypothecated, the nature and extent of the security for this Note, the rights of the holder of this Note, the Administrative Agent in respect of such security and otherwise.

Demand, presentment, protest and notice of nonpayment and protest are hereby waived by the Borrower.  Whenever in this Note reference is made to the Administrative Agent, the Lender or the Borrower, such reference shall be deemed to include, as applicable, a reference to their respective successors and assigns.  The provisions of this Note shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of said successors and assigns.  The Borrower’s successors and assigns shall include, without limitation, a receiver, trustee or debtor in possession of or for the Borrower.

1

 

This Note shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York.

*****

 

2

 

Sprouts Farmers Markets Holdings, LLC

By:
Name:
Title:

 

1

 

SCHEDULE OF LOANS AND PAYMENTS OR PREPAYMENTS

	
Date
	
Amount of Loan
	
Interest Period/Rate
	
Amount of Principal Paid or Prepaid
	
Unpaid Principal Balance
	
Notation Made By

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