Document:

EXHIBIT 4.2

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

Published CUSIP Number: 302689AA2

 

 

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

Dated as of January 26, 2012

 

among

 

FX ALLIANCE INC.

as the Borrower,

 

The Guarantors From Time to Time Party Hereto,

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent and Swing Line Lender

 

 

and

 

The Other Lenders Party Hereto

 

MERRILL LYNCH PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED

as

Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Book Manager

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

	
Section
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Page
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
1.01
    	
 
    	
Defined Terms
    	
 
    	
1
    
	
1.02
    	
 
    	
Other Interpretive Provisions
    	
 
    	
21
    
	
1.03
    	
 
    	
Accounting Terms
    	
 
    	
22
    
	
1.04
    	
 
    	
Rounding
    	
 
    	
23
    
	
1.05
    	
 
    	
Times of Day
    	
 
    	
23
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE II. THE COMMITMENTS AND BORROWINGS
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
2.01
    	
 
    	
Committed Loans
    	
 
    	
23
    
	
2.02
    	
 
    	
Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed   Loans
    	
 
    	
23
    
	
2.03
    	
 
    	
Intentionally Omitted
    	
 
    	
24
    
	
2.04
    	
 
    	
Swing Line Loans
    	
 
    	
24
    
	
2.05
    	
 
    	
Prepayments
    	
 
    	
27
    
	
2.06
    	
 
    	
Termination or Reduction of Commitments
    	
 
    	
28
    
	
2.07
    	
 
    	
Repayment of Loans
    	
 
    	
28
    
	
2.08
    	
 
    	
Interest
    	
 
    	
28
    
	
2.09
    	
 
    	
Fees
    	
 
    	
29
    
	
2.10
    	
 
    	
Computation   of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate
    	
 
    	
30
    
	
2.11
    	
 
    	
Evidence of Debt
    	
 
    	
30
    
	
2.12
    	
 
    	
Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback
    	
 
    	
31
    
	
2.13
    	
 
    	
Sharing of Payments by Lenders
    	
 
    	
32
    
	
2.14
    	
 
    	
Increase in Commitments
    	
 
    	
33
    
	
2.15
    	
 
    	
Intentionally Omitted
    	
 
    	
34
    
	
2.16
    	
 
    	
Defaulting Lenders
    	
 
    	
34
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE III. TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
3.01
    	
 
    	
Taxes
    	
 
    	
35
    
	
3.02
    	
 
    	
Illegality
    	
 
    	
39
    
	
3.03
    	
 
    	
Inability to Determine Rates
    	
 
    	
40
    
	
3.04
    	
 
    	
Increased Costs; Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans
    	
 
    	
40
    
	
3.05
    	
 
    	
Compensation for Losses
    	
 
    	
42
    
	
3.06
    	
 
    	
Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders
    	
 
    	
42
    
	
3.07
    	
 
    	
Survival
    	
 
    	
43
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE IV. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO EFFECTIVENESS AND BORROWINGS
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
4.01
    	
 
    	
Conditions to Effectiveness
    	
 
    	
43
    
	
4.02
    	
 
    	
Matters relating to the Availability Date
    	
 
    	
44
    
	
4.03
    	
 
    	
Conditions to all Borrowings
    	
 
    	
45
    

 

i

 

	
ARTICLE V. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
5.01
    	
 
    	
Existence, Qualification and Power
    	
 
    	
46
    
	
5.02
    	
 
    	
Authorization; No Contravention
    	
 
    	
46
    
	
5.03
    	
 
    	
Governmental Authorization; Other Consents
    	
 
    	
46
    
	
5.04
    	
 
    	
Binding Effect
    	
 
    	
46
    
	
5.05
    	
 
    	
Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect
    	
 
    	
47
    
	
5.06
    	
 
    	
Litigation
    	
 
    	
47
    
	
5.07
    	
 
    	
No Default
    	
 
    	
47
    
	
5.08
    	
 
    	
Ownership of Property; Liens
    	
 
    	
47
    
	
5.09
    	
 
    	
Environmental Compliance
    	
 
    	
47
    
	
5.10
    	
 
    	
Insurance
    	
 
    	
48
    
	
5.11
    	
 
    	
Taxes
    	
 
    	
48
    
	
5.12
    	
 
    	
ERISA Compliance
    	
 
    	
48
    
	
5.13
    	
 
    	
Subsidiaries; Equity Interests
    	
 
    	
49
    
	
5.14
    	
 
    	
Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act
    	
 
    	
49
    
	
5.15
    	
 
    	
Disclosure
    	
 
    	
49
    
	
5.16
    	
 
    	
Compliance with Laws
    	
 
    	
49
    
	
5.17
    	
 
    	
Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.
    	
 
    	
49
    
	
5.18
    	
 
    	
OFAC
    	
 
    	
50
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE VI. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
6.01
    	
 
    	
Financial Statements
    	
 
    	
50
    
	
6.02
    	
 
    	
Certificates; Other Information
    	
 
    	
51
    
	
6.03
    	
 
    	
Notices
    	
 
    	
52
    
	
6.04
    	
 
    	
Preservation of Existence, Etc.
    	
 
    	
53
    
	
6.05
    	
 
    	
Maintenance of Properties
    	
 
    	
53
    
	
6.06
    	
 
    	
Maintenance of Insurance
    	
 
    	
53
    
	
6.07
    	
 
    	
Compliance with Laws
    	
 
    	
53
    
	
6.08
    	
 
    	
Books and Records
    	
 
    	
53
    
	
6.09
    	
 
    	
Inspection Rights
    	
 
    	
53
    
	
6.10
    	
 
    	
Use of Proceeds
    	
 
    	
54
    
	
6.11
    	
 
    	
Covenant to Guarantee Obligations and Give   Security
    	
 
    	
54
    
	
6.12
    	
 
    	
Compliance with Environmental Laws
    	
 
    	
55
    
	
6.13
    	
 
    	
Further Assurances
    	
 
    	
55
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE VII. NEGATIVE COVENANTS
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
7.01
    	
 
    	
Liens
    	
 
    	
56
    
	
7.02
    	
 
    	
Investments
    	
 
    	
57
    
	
7.03
    	
 
    	
Indebtedness
    	
 
    	
58
    
	
7.04
    	
 
    	
Fundamental Changes
    	
 
    	
59
    
	
7.05
    	
 
    	
Dispositions
    	
 
    	
60
    
	
7.06
    	
 
    	
Restricted Payments
    	
 
    	
61
    
	
7.07
    	
 
    	
Change in Nature of Business
    	
 
    	
62
    
	
7.08
    	
 
    	
Transactions with Affiliates
    	
 
    	
62
    

 

ii

 

	
7.09
    	
 
    	
Burdensome Agreements
    	
 
    	
62
    
	
7.10
    	
 
    	
Use of Proceeds
    	
 
    	
63
    
	
7.11
    	
 
    	
Financial Covenants
    	
 
    	
63
    
	
7.12
    	
 
    	
Sanctions
    	
 
    	
63
    
	
7.13
    	
 
    	
Amendments of Organization Documents
    	
 
    	
64
    
	
7.14
    	
 
    	
Accounting Changes
    	
 
    	
64
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE VIII. EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
8.01
    	
 
    	
Events of Default
    	
 
    	
64
    
	
8.02
    	
 
    	
Remedies Upon Event of Default
    	
 
    	
66
    
	
8.03
    	
 
    	
Application of Funds
    	
 
    	
66
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE IX. ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
9.01
    	
 
    	
Appointment and Authority
    	
 
    	
67
    
	
9.02
    	
 
    	
Rights as a Lender
    	
 
    	
67
    
	
9.03
    	
 
    	
Exculpatory Provisions
    	
 
    	
67
    
	
9.04
    	
 
    	
Reliance by Administrative Agent
    	
 
    	
68
    
	
9.05
    	
 
    	
Delegation of Duties
    	
 
    	
68
    
	
9.06
    	
 
    	
Resignation of Administrative Agent
    	
 
    	
68
    
	
9.07
    	
 
    	
Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders
    	
 
    	
70
    
	
9.08
    	
 
    	
No Other Duties, Etc.
    	
 
    	
70
    
	
9.09
    	
 
    	
Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim
    	
 
    	
70
    
	
9.10
    	
 
    	
Collateral and Guaranty Matters
    	
 
    	
70
    
	
9.11
    	
 
    	
Cash Management Agreements and Secured   Hedge Agreements
    	
 
    	
71
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE X. GUARANTY
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
10.01
    	
 
    	
The Guaranty
    	
 
    	
72
    
	
10.02
    	
 
    	
Intentionally Omitted
    	
 
    	
72
    
	
10.03
    	
 
    	
Rights of Lender
    	
 
    	
72
    
	
10.04
    	
 
    	
Certain Waivers
    	
 
    	
72
    
	
10.05
    	
 
    	
Obligations Independent
    	
 
    	
73
    
	
10.06
    	
 
    	
Subrogation
    	
 
    	
73
    
	
10.07
    	
 
    	
Termination; Reinstatement
    	
 
    	
73
    
	
10.08
    	
 
    	
Subordination
    	
 
    	
74
    
	
10.09
    	
 
    	
Contribution
    	
 
    	
74
    
	
10.10
    	
 
    	
Stay of Acceleration
    	
 
    	
74
    
	
10.11
    	
 
    	
Liability Cumulative
    	
 
    	
75
    
	
10.12
    	
 
    	
Expenses
    	
 
    	
75
    
	
10.13
    	
 
    	
Miscellaneous
    	
 
    	
75
    
	
10.14
    	
 
    	
Condition of Borrower
    	
 
    	
75
    
	
10.15
    	
 
    	
Indemnification and Survival
    	
 
    	
75
    

 

iii

 

	
ARTICLE XI. MISCELLANEOUS
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
11.01
    	
 
    	
Amendments, Etc.
    	
 
    	
76
    
	
11.02
    	
 
    	
Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication
    	
 
    	
77
    
	
11.03
    	
 
    	
No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement
    	
 
    	
79
    
	
11.04
    	
 
    	
Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver
    	
 
    	
80
    
	
11.05
    	
 
    	
Payments Set Aside
    	
 
    	
81
    
	
11.06
    	
 
    	
Successors and Assigns
    	
 
    	
82
    
	
11.07
    	
 
    	
Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality
    	
 
    	
85
    
	
11.08
    	
 
    	
Right of Setoff
    	
 
    	
86
    
	
11.09
    	
 
    	
Interest Rate Limitation
    	
 
    	
87
    
	
11.10
    	
 
    	
Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness
    	
 
    	
87
    
	
11.11
    	
 
    	
Survival of Representations and Warranties
    	
 
    	
87
    
	
11.12
    	
 
    	
Severability
    	
 
    	
87
    
	
11.13
    	
 
    	
Replacement of Lenders
    	
 
    	
88
    
	
11.14
    	
 
    	
Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.
    	
 
    	
88
    
	
11.15
    	
 
    	
Waiver of Jury Trial
    	
 
    	
89
    
	
11.16
    	
 
    	
No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility
    	
 
    	
89
    
	
11.17
    	
 
    	
Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other   Documents
    	
 
    	
90
    
	
11.18
    	
 
    	
USA PATRIOT Act
    	
 
    	
90
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
SIGNATURES
    	
 
    	
S-1
    

 

iv

 

	
SCHEDULES
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
2.01
    	
Commitments   and Applicable Percentages
    	
 
    
	
2.09
    	
Fees
    	
 
    
	
5.05
    	
Supplement   to Interim Financial Statements
    	
 
    
	
5.13
    	
Subsidiaries;   Other Equity Investments; Equity   Interests in the Borrower
    	
 
    
	
7.01
    	
Existing   Liens
    	
 
    
	
7.03
    	
Existing   Indebtedness
    	
 
    
	
7.08
    	
Affiliate   Transactions
    	
 
    
	
11.02
    	
Administrative   Agent’s Office; Certain Addresses for Notices
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
EXHIBITS
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Form of
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
A
    	
Committed   Loan Notice
    	
 
    
	
B
    	
Swing   Line Loan Notice
    	
 
    
	
C
    	
Note
    	
 
    
	
D
    	
Compliance   Certificate
    	
 
    
	
E-1
    	
Assignment   and Assumption
    	
 
    
	
E-2
    	
Administrative Questionnaire
    	
 
    
	
F
    	
Guaranty Supplement
    	
 
    
	
G
    	
Forms   of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificates
    	
 
    

 

v

 

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

This CREDIT AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is entered into as of January 26, 2012,  among FX ALLIANCE INC.,  a Delaware corporation  (the “Borrower”), the Persons signatory hereto as guarantors, each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “Lenders” and individually, a “Lender”), and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent and Swing Line Lender.

 

The Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide a revolving credit facility, and the Lenders are willing to do so on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

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

 

ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

 

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

 

“Acceptable CPA” has the meaning specified in Section 6.01(a).

 

“Administrative Agent” means Bank of America in its capacity as administrative agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent.

 

“Administrative Agent’s Office” means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 11.02, or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify to the Borrower and the Lenders.

 

“Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in substantially the form of Exhibit E-2 or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

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

 

“Aggregate Commitments” means the Commitments of all the Lenders. The initial Aggregate Commitments is $65,000,000.

 

“Agreement” means this Credit Agreement.

 

“Applicable Percentage” means with respect to any Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Aggregate Commitments represented by such Lender’s Commitment at such time, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.16.  If the commitment of each Lender to make Loans has been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02 or if the Aggregate Commitments have expired, then the Applicable Percentage of each Lender shall be determined based on the Applicable Percentage of such Lender most recently in effect, giving effect to any subsequent assignments.  The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.

 

“Applicable Rate” means, (i) from the Closing Date to the date on which the Administrative Agent receives a Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 6.02(a) for the fiscal quarter ending March

 

1

 

31, 2012, 0.75% per annum for Base Rate Loans, 1.75% per annum for Eurodollar Rate Loans and 0.25% per annum for the Commitment Fee and (ii) thereafter, the applicable percentage per annum set forth below determined by reference to the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.02(a):

 

	
Applicable Rate
    
	
 
    
	
Pricing
   Level
    	
 
    	
Consolidated
   Leverage Ratio
    	
 
    	
Commitment
   Fee
    	
 
    	
Eurodollar
   Rate
    	
 
    	
Base Rate
    	
 
    
	
1
    	
 
    	
< 1.00:1.00
    	
 
    	
0.25
    	
%
    	
1.75
    	
%
    	
0.75
    	
%
    
	
2
    	
 
    	
> 1.00:1.00 but < 1.50:1.00
    	
 
    	
0.30
    	
%
    	
2.00
    	
%
    	
1.00
    	
%
    
	
3
    	
 
    	
> 1.50:1.00
    	
 
    	
0.40
    	
%
    	
2.50
    	
%
    	
1.50
    	
%
    

 

Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the first Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a); provided, however, that if a Compliance Certificate is not delivered when due in accordance with such Section, then, upon the request of the Required Lenders, Pricing Level 3 shall apply in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility as of the first Business Day after the date on which such Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered and in each case shall remain in effect until the date on which such Compliance Certificate is delivered.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this definition, the determination of the Applicable Rate for any period shall be subject to the provisions of Section 2.10(b).

 

“Approved Fund” means any Fund 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.

 

“Arranger” means Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, in its capacity as sole lead arranger and sole book manager.

 

“Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 11.06(b)), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit E-1 or any other form (including electronic documentation generated by MarkitClear or other electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

“Attributable Indebtedness” means, on any date, in respect of any capital lease of any Person, the capitalized amount thereof that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Audited Financial Statements” means the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, and the related consolidated statements

 

2

 

of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including the notes thereto.

 

“Availability Date” means the first date on which all conditions precedent under Section 4.02 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 11.01.

 

“Availability Payment Date” means the date that is three business days after the consummation of the Qualified IPO.

 

“Availability Period” means the period from and including the Availability Date to the earliest of (a) the Maturity Date, (b) the date of termination of the Aggregate Commitments pursuant to Section 2.06 and (c) the date of termination of the commitment of each Lender to make Loans pursuant to Section 8.02.

 

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

 

“Base Rate” means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1%, (b) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by Bank of America as its “prime rate,” and (c) the Eurodollar Rate for an Interest Period of one month plus 1.00%.  The “prime rate” is a rate set by Bank of America based upon various factors including Bank of America’s costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate.  Any change in such prime rate announced by Bank of America shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.

 

“Base Rate Committed Loan” means a Committed Loan that is a Base Rate Loan.

 

“Base Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate.

 

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

 

“Borrower Materials” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

 

“Borrowing” means a Committed Borrowing or a Swing Line Borrowing, as the context may require.

 

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

 

“Cash Management Agreement” means any agreement to provide cash management services, including treasury, depository, overdraft, credit or debit card, electronic funds transfer and other cash management arrangements.

 

“Cash Management Bank” means any Person that, at the time it enters into a Cash Management Agreement, is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, in its capacity as a party to such Cash Management Agreement.

 

“Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule,

 

3

 

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

 

“Change of Control” means an event or series of events by which:

 

(a)           any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person or its subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) other than the Permitted Holders becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except that a person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all securities that such person or group has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time (such right, an “option right”)), directly or indirectly, of 35% or more of the equity securities of the Borrower entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of the Borrower on a fully-diluted basis (and taking into account all such securities that such person or group has the right to acquire pursuant to any option right); or

 

(b)           during any period of 24 consecutive months, a majority of the members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of the Borrower cease to be composed of individuals (i) who were members of that board or equivalent governing body on the first day of such period, (ii) whose election or nomination to that board or equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clause (i) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body or (iii) whose election or nomination to that board or other equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body (excluding, in the case of both clause (ii) and clause (iii), any individual whose initial nomination for, or assumption of office as, a member of that board or equivalent governing body occurs as a result of an actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents for the election or removal of one or more directors by any person or group other than a solicitation for the election of one or more directors by or on behalf of the board of directors).

 

“Closing Date” means the first date all the conditions precedent in Section 4.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 11.01.

 

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

 

“Collateral” means all of the “Collateral” referred to in the Collateral Documents and all of the other property that is or is intended under the terms of the Collateral Documents to be subject to Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

 

“Collateral Documents” means, collectively, the Security Agreement, each of the Security Agreement Supplements, security agreements, pledge agreements or other similar agreements delivered to

 

4

 

the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.11, and each of the other agreements, instruments or documents that creates or purports to create a Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

 

“Commitment” means, as to each Lender, its obligation to (a) make Committed Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01 and (b) purchase participations in Swing Line Loans, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

 

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

 

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

 

“Committed Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Committed Borrowing, (b) a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A.

 

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

 

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

 

“Consolidated EBITDA” means, for any period, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, an amount equal to Consolidated Net Income for such period plus, without duplication, (a) the following to the extent deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income for such period: (i) all Consolidated Interest Charges for such period; (ii) all Federal, state, local and foreign income taxes (including any franchise taxes to the extent based upon net income) for such period; (iii) all depreciation and amortization expense (including amortization of goodwill and debt issue costs); (iv) all other non-cash charges, expenses or losses, including without limitation Stock-Based Compensation Expense; (v) the Transaction Costs, (vi) all reasonable non-recurring fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with any Permitted Acquisition, Investment, issuance (or proposed issuance) of Equity Interest or incurrence of Indebtedness, recapitalization, refinancing or Disposition permitted hereunder (whether or not consummated) or any amendment or other modification of any debt or equity instrument (in each case, whether or not consummated), (vii) minority interest expense; minus (b) the following to the extent included in calculating such Consolidated Net Income, (i) all Federal, state, local and foreign income tax and franchise tax credits for such period, (ii) all non-cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income for such period; (iii) any cash expenditures in respect of non-cash charges added back to any previous period pursuant to clause (a)(iv) above and (iv) minority interest income; and plus (or minus) (c) the amount of losses (or gains) attributable to asset dispositions other than in the ordinary course of business to the extent reducing (or increasing) Consolidated Net Income for such period.

 

Notwithstanding anything else set forth herein, the parties agree that for the purposes of any calculations hereunder, Consolidated EBITDA for the fiscal quarter ended (1) December 31, 2010 is $11,894,000, (2) March 31, 2011 is $12.636,000, (3) June 30, 2011 is $14,813,000 and (4) September 30, 2011  is $16,133,000.

 

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“Consolidated Fixed Charges” means, for any period, the sum of (a) Consolidated Interest Charges for such period, (b) an amount equal to 25% of Consolidated Funded Indebtedness as of the last day of such period and (c) the aggregate amount of all Restricted Payments in respect of Disqualified Equity Interests during such period.

 

“Consolidated Funded Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination, without duplication, an amount not less than zero equal to the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries outstanding on such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, consisting of Indebtedness of the type described in clauses (a), (b), (d), (e), (f) and (h) of the definition of Indebtedness.  Without limitation on the foregoing, Consolidated Funded Indebtedness shall not include (i) any letters of credit except to the extent drawn and not reimbursed and (ii) obligations under any Swap Contracts or other hedging agreements.

 

“Consolidated Interest Charges” means, for any period, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the sum of (a) all interest, premium payments, debt discount, fees, charges and related expenses (net of interest income) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in connection with borrowed money (including capitalized interest) or in connection with the deferred purchase price of assets, in each case to the extent treated as interest in accordance with GAAP and (b) the portion of rent expense of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries with respect to such period under capital leases that is treated as interest in accordance with GAAP. Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary contained herein, for purposes of determining Consolidated Interest Charges under clause (a) of the definition of Consolidated Fixed Charges for any period ending prior to the first anniversary of the Closing Date, Consolidated Interest Charges shall be an amount equal to actual Consolidated Interest Charges from the Closing Date through the date of determination multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is 365 and the denominator of which is the number of days from the Closing Date through the date of determination.

 

“Consolidated Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Funded Indebtedness as of such date to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of the four fiscal quarters most recently ended.

 

“Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, the net income (loss) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, excluding, without duplication to the extent included in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income (a) extraordinary or non-recurring gains and extraordinary or non-recurring losses, and (b) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles during such period.

 

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

 

“Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise.  “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.

 

“Debt Service Coverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of twelve consecutive months ending on such date to (b) Consolidated Fixed Charges for such period, provided that, to the extent that the Consolidated Fixed Charges for such period is equal to $0, the Borrower will be deemed to be in compliance with Section 7.11(a).

 

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

 

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

 

“Default Rate” means (a) when used with respect to Obligations, an interest rate equal to (i) the Base Rate plus (ii) the Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (iii) 2% per annum; provided, however, that with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus 2% per annum.

 

“Defaulting Lender” means, subject to Section 2.16(b), any Lender that (a) has failed to (i) fund all or any portion of its Loans within two Business Days of the date such Loans were required to be funded hereunder unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) pay to the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder (including in respect of its participation in Swing Line Loans) within two Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or the Swing Line Lender in writing that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations hereunder, or has made a public statement to that effect (unless such writing or public statement relates to such Lender’s obligation to fund a Loan hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lender’s determination that a condition precedent to funding (which condition precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing or public statement) cannot be satisfied), (c) has failed, within three Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent or the Borrower, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder (provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower), or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or (ii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any Equity Interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender 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 permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender.  Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under any one or more of clauses (a) through (d) above, and of the effective date of such status, shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.16(b)) as of the date established therefor by the Administrative Agent in a written notice of such determination, which shall be delivered by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower, the Swing Line Lender and each other Lender promptly following such determination.

 

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

 

“Disposition” or “Dispose” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (including any sale and leaseback transaction) of any property by any Person, including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith; provided that “Disposition” or “Dispose” shall not be deemed to include any issuance by the Borrower of any of its Equity Interests.

 

“Disqualified Equity Interests” means any Equity Interest 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 exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event or condition (a) matures or is 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 of the Loans and all other Obligations that are accrued and payable and the termination of the Commitments), (b) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests), in whole or in part, (c) provides for the scheduled payments of dividends in cash, or (d) is or becomes convertible into or exchangeable for Indebtedness or any other Equity Interests that would constitute Disqualified Equity Interests, in each case, prior to the date that is ninety-one (91) days after the Maturity Date; provided that if such Equity Interests are issued pursuant to a plan for the benefit of employees of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Equity Interests shall not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations.

 

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

 

“Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of any political subdivision of the United States (within the meaning of Section 770(a)(9) of the Code, other than any Subsidiary substantially all of the assets of which consists of stock of a Foreign Subsidiary.

 

“Eligible Assignee” means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Section 11.06(b)(iii), and (v) (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under 11.06(b)(iii)).

 

“Environmental Laws” means any and all Laws relating to pollution and the protection of the environment or the release of any materials into the environment, including those related to hazardous substances (including exposure thereto) or wastes, air emissions and discharges to waste or public systems.

 

“Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Subsidiaries directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

 

“Equity Interests” means, with respect to any Person, all of the shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

“Eurodollar Rate” means:

 

(a) for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the rate per annum equal to (i) the British Bankers Association LIBOR Rate (“BBA LIBOR”), as published by Reuters (or such other commercially available source providing quotations of BBA LIBOR as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two London Banking Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, for Dollar deposits (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period or (ii) if such rate is not available at such time for any reason, the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate at which deposits in Dollars for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period in same day funds in the approximate amount of the Eurodollar Rate Loan being made, continued or converted and with a term equivalent to such Interest Period would be offered by Bank of America’s London Branch to major banks in the London interbank eurodollar market at their request at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two London Banking Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period; and

 

(b)           for any interest calculation with respect to a Base Rate Loan on any date, the rate per annum equal to (i) BBA LIBOR, at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time determined two London Banking Days prior to such date for Dollar deposits being delivered in the London interbank market for a term of one month commencing that day or (ii) if such published rate is not available at such time for any reason, the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate at which deposits in Dollars for delivery on the date of determination in same day funds in the approximate amount of the

 

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Base Rate Loan being made or maintained and with a term equal to one month would be offered by Bank of America’s London Branch to major banks in the London interbank Eurodollar market at their request at the date and time of determination.

 

“Eurodollar Rate Loan” means a Committed Loan that bears interest at a rate based on clause (a) of the definition of “Eurodollar Rate.”

 

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

 

“Excluded Subsidiary” means  any of the following: (a) an  Immaterial Subsidiary, (b) a Foreign Subsidiary, (c)(i) any Subsidiary that is prohibited by applicable law, rule or regulation from guaranteeing the Obligations, (ii) any Subsidiary which would require governmental (including regulatory) consent, approval, license or authorization to provide a guarantee, but only to the extent that the Borrower reasonably determines in good faith, with the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), such consent, approval, license or authorization could not be obtained after commercially reasonable efforts by the Borrower to do so, or (iii) any Subsidiary (other than an Initial Guarantor) with respect to whom the Borrower reasonably determines in good faith, with the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), that the burden imposed on such Subsidiary (including as a result of registration with a regulator) by granting such guarantee exceeds the value of the guarantee provided to the Lenders and (d) any Subsidiary that is subject to capital requirements (whether by statute or as a result of the registration with a regulator) where the granting of a guaranty would have a material adverse impact on such Subsidiary’s capital.

 

“Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to any 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 (including gross receipts Taxes imposed in lieu of 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 Lending Office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 11.03)  or (ii) such Lender changes its Lending Office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 3.01(a)(ii) or (c), amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender became a party hereto or to such Lender immediately before it changed its Lending Office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 3.01(e) and (d) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed pursuant to FATCA.

 

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

 

“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) and any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof.

 

“Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day; provided that (a) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal

 

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Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%) charged to Bank of America on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent.

 

“Fee Letter” means the amended and restated letter agreement, dated the Closing Date, among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Arranger.

 

“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.  For purposes of this definition, the United States, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.

 

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

 

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

 

“Fronting Exposure” means, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, with respect to the Swing Line Lender, such Defaulting Lender’s Applicable Percentage of Swing Line Loans other than Swing Line Loans as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

“Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its activities.

 

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied.

 

“Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

 

“Guarantee” means, as to any Person, (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation payable or performable by another Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance of such Indebtedness or other obligation, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity or level of income or cash flow of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such

 

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Indebtedness or other obligation, or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any assets of such Person securing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness to obtain any such Lien).  The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith.  The term “Guarantee” as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

 

“Guaranteed Obligations” has the meaning specified in Section 10.01(a).

 

“Guarantor Percentage” has the meaning specified in Section 10.09.

 

“Guarantors” means, collectively, the Initial Guarantors and each other Subsidiary of the Borrower that shall be required to deliver a Guaranty Supplement pursuant to Section 6.11.

 

“Guaranty” means any Guarantee made by the Guarantors in favor of the Secured Parties, including as set forth in ARTICLE X hereto or in any guaranty agreement in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

“Guaranty Supplement” means the guaranty supplement in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit F.

 

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

 

“Hedge Bank” means any Person that, at the time it enters into a Swap Contract permitted under ARTICLE VII, is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, in its capacity as a party to such Swap Contract.

 

“IFRS” means international accounting standards within the meaning of IAS Regulation 1606/2002 to the extent applicable to the relevant financial statements delivered under or referred to herein.

 

“Immaterial Subsidiary” means, at any date of determination, any Subsidiary which, together with its own subsidiaries, as consolidated in the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or 6.01(b), accounts for less than (x) 5% of the consolidated assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of Borrower and (y) 10% of consolidated revenues of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of Borrower.

 

“Increase Effective Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(d).

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(d)           all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business);

 

(e)           indebtedness (excluding prepaid interest thereon) secured by a Lien on property owned or being purchased by such Person (including indebtedness arising under conditional sales or other title retention agreements), whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse (but if such indebtedness has not been assumed or is limited in recourse, only to the extent of the lesser of (x) the amount of such indebtedness or (y) the value of such property);

 

(f)            Attributable Indebtedness in respect of capital leases;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

“Indemnitees” has the meaning specified in Section 11.04(b).

 

“Information” has the meaning specified in Section 11.07.

 

“Initial Guarantors” means, collectively, FX Alliance, LLC and FX Alliance International, LLC.

 

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

 

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“Interest Period” means as to each Eurodollar Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such Eurodollar Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Rate Loan and ending on the date one, two, three or six months thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its Committed Loan Notice, or such other period that is twelve months or less requested by the Borrower and consented to by all the Lenders; provided that:

 

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

 

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

 

(iii)          no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date.

 

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

 

“Involuntary Disposition” means any loss of, damage to or destruction of, any condemnation or other taking for public use of, any property of any Loan Party, in each case, on an involuntary basis and not otherwise caused by the action or inaction of any Loan Party.

 

“IP Rights” has the meaning specified in Section 5.17.

 

“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

“Laws” means, collectively, all international, foreign, Federal, state and local statutes, laws (including common law), treaties, rules, restrictions, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, decrees, judgments, directed duties, requests, licenses, concessions, grants, franchises, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case whether or not having the force of law.

 

“Lender” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto and, unless the context requires otherwise, includes the Swing Line Lender.

 

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“Lending Office” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

 

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

 

“Loan” means an extension of credit by a Lender to the Borrower under ARTICLE II in the form of a Committed Loan or a Swing Line Loan.

 

“Loan Documents” means this Agreement, each Note and each Collateral Document.

 

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

 

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

 

“Material Adverse Effect” means (A) an effect that results in or causes, or could reasonably be expected to result in or cause, a material adverse change in the operations, business, properties, or financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (B) a material impairment of the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent or any Lender under any Loan Document, or of the ability of the Borrower or any Guarantor to perform its obligations under any Loan Document to which it is a party; or (C) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against the Borrower or any Guarantor of the Loan Documents, taken as a whole.

 

“Maturity Date” means the date that is 3 years from the Availability Date,  provided, however, that, if such date is not a Business Day, the Maturity Date shall be the next preceding Business Day.

 

“Maximum Liability” has the meaning specified in Section 10.01(b).

 

“Maximum Rate” has the meaning specified in Section 11.09.

 

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

 

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

 

“Non-Consenting Lender” means any Lender that does not approve any consent, waiver or amendment that (i) requires the approval of all Lenders or all affected Lenders in accordance with the terms of Section 11.01 and (ii) has been approved by the Required Lenders.

 

“Non-Defaulting Lender” means, at any time, each Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender at such time.

 

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“Non-Paying Guarantor” has the meaning specified in Section 10.09.

 

“Note” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of a Lender evidencing Loans made by such Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit C.

 

“Obligations” means all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Loan Party arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan, Secured Hedge Agreement or Secured Cash Management Agreement, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding.

 

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

 

“Organization Documents” means, (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement; and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.

 

“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 or Loan Document).

 

“Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 3.06).

 

“Outside Date” means the date that is three (3) months from the Closing Date.

 

“Outstanding Amount” means with respect to Committed Loans and Swing Line Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Committed Loans and Swing Line Loans, as the case may be, occurring on such date.

 

“Participant” has the meaning specified in Section 11.06(d).

 

“Participant Register” has the meaning specified in Section 11.06(d).

 

“Paying Guarantor” has the meaning specified in Section 10.09.

 

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“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

“Permitted Acquisition” means the purchase or other acquisition by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of all of the Equity Interests of any Person, all or substantially all of the assets of such Person, or all or substantially all of the assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division of such Person, provided that:

 

(a)                                                                                 no Default then exists or would arise from the consummation of such acquisition;

 

(b)                                                                                 such acquisition shall have been approved by the Board of Directors of the Person (or similar governing body if such Person is not a corporation) which is the subject of such acquisition;

 

(c)                                                                                  the Administrative Agent shall have received notice of such proposed acquisition including a reasonably detailed description thereof at least 15 days prior to the consummation of such proposed acquisition (or by such later date as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent);

 

(d)                                                                                 the Borrower is in compliance with Section 7.07 after giving effect to such acquisition;

 

(e)                                                                                  (i) the Borrower shall be in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 7.11 on a Pro Forma Basis as of the last day of the last fiscal quarter for which financial statements were required to have been delivered under this Agreement and (ii) such Permitted Acquisition is financed with the proceeds of Indebtedness only to the extent that (x) such Indebtedness shall be unsecured, have a maturity which is no earlier than 6 months following the Maturity Date and have weighted average life to maturity no shorter than the remaining life to maturity of the Commitments hereunder (which clause (x) shall not apply to any Indebtedness incurred hereunder to finance such Permitted Acquisition), (y) any agreement or instrument in respect of such Indebtedness entered into connection therewith shall bear covenants that, taken as a whole, are not more favorable to the lenders thereunder than the terms set forth herein (which clause (y) shall not apply to any Indebtedness incurred hereunder to finance such Permitted Acquisition)  and (z) the

 

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Consolidated Leverage Ratio calculated on a Pro Forma Basis (after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and the Permitted Acquisition) shall not exceed 2:00:1.00; and

 

(f)                                                                                   the Borrower shall have delivered written certification signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower as to satisfaction of subclauses (a), (b), (d), (e)(i) and (ii) (if applicable) (accompanied by reasonably detailed calculations as to the matters set forth in subclause (e)(i) and (ii)(if applicable)) five (5) Business Days (or such shorter period not less than two (2) Business Days as the Administrative Agent may agree to in its reasonable discretion) prior to the date of such acquisition.

 

“Permitted Holders” means TCV VI, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership and its affiliates.

 

“Permitted Liens” has the meaning specified in Section 7.01.

 

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

 

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

 

“Platform” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

 

“Pro Forma Basis” means determined in accordance with Section 1.02(d).

 

“Public Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

 

“Public Market” shall exist if (a) a Public Offering has been consummated and (b) any Equity Interests of the Borrower  have been distributed by means of an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

“Public Offering” means a public offering of the Equity Interests of the Borrower pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

“Qualified Equity Interests” means Equity Interests that are not Disqualified Equity Interests.

 

“Qualified Public Offering” means the consummation of the initial Public Offering.

 

“Recipient” means the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party hereunder.

 

“Register” has the meaning specified in Section 11.06(c).

 

“Regulated Subsidiaries” means collectively, any Subsidiary (which together with its own Subsidiaries) that is subject to net capital requirements.

 

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

 

“Removal Effective Date” has the meaning specified in Section 9.06(b).

 

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

 

“Request for Credit Extension” means (a) with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Committed Loans, a Committed Loan Notice and (b) with respect to a Swing Line Loan, a Swing Line Loan Notice.

 

“Required Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having Total Credit Exposures representing more than 50% of the Total Credit Exposures of all Lenders; provided, that the Total Credit Exposure of any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining Required Lenders at any time; provided  further, that, the amount of any participation in any Swing Line Loan that such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund that have not been reallocated to and funded by another Lender shall be deemed to be held by the Lender that is the Swing Line Lender in making such determination.

 

“Resignation Effective Date” has the meaning specified in Section 9.06(a).

 

“Responsible Officer” means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, treasurer, head of finance or controller of a Loan Party,  and solely for purposes of notices given pursuant to ARTICLE II, any other officer of the applicable Loan Party so designated by any of the foregoing officers in a notice to the Administrative Agent.  Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Loan Party and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Loan Party.

 

“Restricted Payment” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any capital stock or other Equity Interest of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such capital stock or other Equity Interest, or on account of any return of capital to the Borrower’s stockholders, partners or members (or the equivalent Person thereof).

 

“Revolving Credit Exposure” means, as to any Lender at any time, the aggregate principal amount at such time of its outstanding Committed Loans and such Lender’s participation in Swing Line Loans at such time.

 

“Sanction(s)” means any international economic sanction administered or enforced by OFAC, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury or other relevant sanctions authority.

 

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

 

“Secured Cash Management Agreement” means any Cash Management Agreement that is entered into by and between any Loan Party  and any Cash Management Bank.

 

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“Secured Hedge Agreement” means any Swap Contract permitted under ARTICLE VII that is entered into by and between any Loan Party and any Hedge Bank.

 

“Secured Parties” has the meaning set forth in the Security Agreement.

 

“Security Agreement” shall have the meaning specified in Section 4.01(a)(iii).

 

“Security Agreement Supplement” means the security agreement supplement attached as Exhibit A to the Security Agreement.

 

“Stock-Based Compensation Expense” means any non-cash costs or expense by such Person or any such Subsidiary 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, in each case under which the issuance of Equity Interests is the sole form of compensation.

 

“Subsidiary” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of securities or other interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than securities or interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are at the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person.  Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.

 

“Suspended Covenants” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.02(b)(i)

 

“Suspension Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.02(b)(i).

 

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

 

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

 

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“Swing Line Borrowing” means a borrowing of a Swing Line Loan pursuant to Section 2.04.

 

“Swing Line Lender” means Bank of America in its capacity as provider of Swing Line Loans, or any successor swing line lender hereunder.

 

“Swing Line Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(a).

 

“Swing Line Loan Notice” means a notice of a Swing Line Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.04(b), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit B.

 

“Swing Line Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $5,000,000 and (b) the Aggregate Commitments.  The Swing Line Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Commitments.

 

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

 

“Threshold Amount” means $10,000,000.

 

“Total Credit Exposure” means, as to any Lender at any time, the unused Commitments and Revolving Credit Exposure of such Lender at such time.

 

“Total Outstandings” means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans.

 

“Transaction Costs” means fees, costs and expenses incurred (including, without limitation, legal fees) incurred by the Borrower or the Subsidiaries in connection with the Borrower’s initial public offering and the closing of the Loan Documents.

 

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

 

“Unfunded Pension Liability” means, with respect to any Plan at any time, the amount of any of its unfunded benefit liabilities as defined in Section 4001(a)(18) of ERISA.

 

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

 

“U.S. Person” means any Person that is a “United States person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

 

“U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(e)(ii)(B)(III).

 

1.02        Other Interpretive Provisions.  With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:

 

(a)           The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined.  Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms.  The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.”  The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.”  Unless the context requires otherwise, (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document (including any Organization Document) shall

 

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be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein or in any other Loan Document), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (iii) the words “hereto,” “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document, shall be construed to refer to such Loan Document in its entirety and not to any particular provision thereof, (iv) all references in a Loan Document to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing or interpreting such law and any reference to any law or regulation shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and (vi) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

 

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

 

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

 

(d)           For the purpose of calculating the Consolidated Leverage Ratio and, for the first three quarters ended after the Closing Date and for the purpose of the definition of Permitted Acquisition, the Debt Service Coverage Ratio (and any financial definition required to be made or included in such ratios), the calculation of such ratio and other financial calculations shall include or exclude as the case may be, the effect of any material acquisition of all the Equity Interests of any Person or any business unit, line of business or division of such Person  or any material disposition of all the Equity Interests of a Person or any business unit, line of business or division of a Person in each case by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to the terms hereof (including through mergers or consolidations) occurring (i) during the four fiscal quarter period being tested or (ii) except in the case of quarterly compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 7.11, after the end of such four fiscal quarter period and on or prior to such date of determination, in each case, assuming that the consummation of the acquisition or disposition, as the case may be, occurred as of the first day of such period.  Such pro forma calculations shall be made by the Borrower in accordance with GAAP, and shall include only those adjustments as are (x) determined on a consistent basis with Article 11 of Regulation S-X of the Securities Act, or (y) otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

1.03        Accounting Terms.

 

(a)           Generally.  All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP applied on a consistent basis, as in effect from time to time, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the Audited Financial Statements, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance with any covenant (including the computation of any financial covenant) contained herein, Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and the effects of FASB ASC 825 and FASB ASC 470-20  on financial liabilities shall be disregarded.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

ARTICLE II. THE COMMITMENTS AND BORROWINGS

 

2.01        Committed Loans.  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make loans (each such loan, a “Committed Loan”) to the Borrower from time to time, on any Business Day during the Availability Period, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lender’s Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Committed Borrowing, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (ii) the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Lender shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment.  Within the limits of each Lender’s Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.01.  Committed Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, or a combination thereof, as further provided herein.

 

2.02        Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans.

 

(a)           Each Committed Borrowing, each conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone.  Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (i) three Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans or of any conversion of Eurodollar Rate Loans to Base Rate Committed Loans, and (ii) on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Committed Loans.  Each telephonic notice by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written Committed Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.  Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $2,500,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof.  Except as provided in Section 2.04(c), each Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof.  Each Committed Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Committed Borrowing, a conversion of any Committed Loan from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, (ii) the

 

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requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Committed Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Committed Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Committed Loans are to be converted, and (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto.  If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Committed Loan in a Committed Loan Notice or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Committed Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans.  Any such automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Eurodollar Rate Loans.  If the Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month.

 

(b)           Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable Committed Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans described in the preceding subsection.  In the case of a Committed Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of its Committed Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice.  Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.03, the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of Bank of America with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the Borrower.

 

(c)           Except as otherwise provided herein, a Eurodollar Rate Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate Loan.  During the existence of an Event of Default, no Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as Eurodollar Rate Loans without the consent of the Required Lenders.

 

(d)           The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Eurodollar Rate Loans upon determination of such interest rate.  At any time that Base Rate Loans are outstanding, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of any change in Bank of America’s prime rate used in determining the Base Rate promptly following the public announcement of such change.

 

(e)           After giving effect to all Committed Borrowings, all conversions of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Committed Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than five  Interest Periods in effect with respect to all Committed Loans that are Eurodollar Rate Loans.

 

2.03        Intentionally Omitted.

 

2.04        Swing Line Loans.

 

(a)           The Swing Line.  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swing Line Lender, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Lenders set forth in this Section 2.04, shall make loans (each such loan, a “Swing Line Loan”) to the Borrower from time to time on any Business Day during the Availability Period in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of the Swing Line Sublimit, notwithstanding the fact that such Swing Line Loans, when aggregated with

 

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the Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of Committed Loans of the Lender acting as Swing Line Lender, may exceed the amount of such Lender’s Commitment; provided, however, that (x) after giving effect to any Swing Line Loan, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (ii) the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Lender shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment, (y) the Borrower shall not use the proceeds of any Swing Line Loan to refinance any outstanding Swing Line Loan, and (z) the Swing Line Lender shall not be under any obligation to make any Swing Line Loan if it shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that it has, or by such Borrowing may have, Fronting Exposure.  Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.04, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.04.  Each Swing Line Loan shall be a Base Rate Loan.  Immediately upon the making of a Swing Line Loan, each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Swing Line Lender a risk participation in such Swing Line Loan in an amount equal to the product of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage times the amount of such Swing Line Loan.

 

(b)           Borrowing Procedures.  Each Swing Line Borrowing shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than  2:00 p.m. on the requested borrowing date, and shall specify (i) the amount to be borrowed, which shall be in a minimum of $100,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof, and (ii) the requested borrowing date, which shall be a Business Day.  Each such telephonic notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent of a written Swing Line Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.  Promptly after receipt by the Swing Line Lender of any telephonic Swing Line Loan Notice, the Swing Line Lender will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has also received such Swing Line Loan Notice and, if not, the Swing Line Lender will notify the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) of the contents thereof.  Unless the Swing Line Lender has received notice (by telephone or in writing) from the Administrative Agent (including at the request of any Lender) prior to 3:00 p.m. on the date of the proposed Swing Line Borrowing (A) directing the Swing Line Lender not to make such Swing Line Loan as a result of the limitations set forth in the first proviso to the first sentence of Section 2.04(a), or (B) that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in ARTICLE IV is not then satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Swing Line Lender will, not later than 4:00 p.m. on the borrowing date specified in such Swing Line Loan Notice, make the amount of its Swing Line Loan available to the Borrower at its office by crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of the Swing Line Lender in immediately available funds.

 

(c)           Refinancing of Swing Line Loans.

 

(i)            The Swing Line Lender at any time in its sole discretion may request, on behalf of the Borrower (which hereby irrevocably authorizes the Swing Line Lender to so request on its behalf), that each Lender make a Base Rate Committed Loan in an amount equal to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the amount of Swing Line Loans then outstanding.  Such request shall be made in writing (which written request shall be deemed to be a Committed Loan Notice for purposes hereof) and in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.02, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified therein for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the unutilized portion of the Aggregate Commitments and the conditions set forth in Section 4.03 (other than the delivery of a Request for Credit Extension).  The Swing Line Lender shall furnish the Borrower with a copy of the applicable Committed Loan Notice promptly after delivering such notice to the Administrative Agent.  Each Lender shall make an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the amount specified in such Committed Loan Notice available to

 

 

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the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds for the account of the Swing Line Lender at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the day specified in such Committed Loan Notice, whereupon, subject to Section 2.04(c)(ii), each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Committed Loan to the Borrower in such amount.  The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the Swing Line Lender.

 

(ii)           If for any reason any Swing Line Loan cannot be refinanced by such a Committed Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.04(c)(i), the request for Base Rate Committed Loans submitted by the Swing Line Lender as set forth herein shall be deemed to be a request by the Swing Line Lender that each of the Lenders fund its risk participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan and each Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.04(c)(i) shall be deemed payment in respect of such participation.

 

(iii)          If any Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.04(c) by the time specified in Section 2.04(c)(i), the Swing Line Lender shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the Swing Line Lender at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Swing Line Lender in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Swing Line Lender in connection with the foregoing.  If such Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Committed Loan included in the relevant Committed Borrowing or funded participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan, as the case may be.  A certificate of the Swing Line Lender submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (iii) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

(iv)          Each Lender’s obligation to make Committed Loans or to purchase and fund risk participations in Swing Line Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the Swing Line Lender, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided, however, that each Lender’s obligation to make Committed Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.03.  No such funding of risk participations shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to repay Swing Line Loans, together with interest as provided herein.

 

(d)           Repayment of Participations.

 

(i)            At any time after any Lender has purchased and funded a risk participation in a Swing Line Loan, if the Swing Line Lender receives any payment on account of such Swing Line Loan, the Swing Line Lender will distribute to such Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof in the same funds as those received by the Swing Line Lender.

 

 

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(ii)           If any payment received by the Swing Line Lender in respect of principal or interest on any Swing Line Loan is required to be returned by the Swing Line Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 11.05 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Swing Line Lender in its discretion), each Lender shall pay to the Swing Line Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate.  The Administrative Agent will make such demand upon the request of the Swing Line Lender.  The obligations of the Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

(e)           Interest for Account of Swing Line Lender.  The Swing Line Lender shall be responsible for invoicing the Borrower for interest on the Swing Line Loans.  Until each Lender funds its Base Rate Committed Loan or risk participation pursuant to this Section 2.04 to refinance such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of any Swing Line Loan, interest in respect of such Applicable Percentage shall be solely for the account of the Swing Line Lender.

 

(f)            Payments Directly to Swing Line Lender.  The Borrower shall make all payments of principal and interest in respect of the Swing Line Loans directly to the Swing Line Lender.

 

2.05        Prepayments.

 

(a)           The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Committed Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (A) three Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans and (B) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans; (ii) any prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $2,500,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof; and (iii) any prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof or, in each case, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding.  Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Type(s) of Committed Loans to be prepaid and, if Eurodollar Rate Loans are to be prepaid, the Interest Period(s) of such Loans.  The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such prepayment.  If such notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein.  Any prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05.  Subject to Section 2.16, each such prepayment shall be applied to the Committed Loans of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages.

 

(b)           The Borrower may, upon notice to the Swing Line Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at any time or from time to time, voluntarily prepay Swing Line Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. on the date of the prepayment, and (ii) any such prepayment shall be in a minimum principal amount of $100,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof.  Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment.  If such notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein.

 

 

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(c)           If for any reason the Total Outstandings at any time exceed the Aggregate Commitments then in effect, the Borrower shall promptly (and in any event within one Business Day) prepay Loans in an aggregate amount equal to such excess.

 

(d)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Borrower may rescind any notice of prepayment under Section 2.05(a) or (b) if such prepayment would have resulted from a refinancing of this facility in full which refinancing shall not be consummated or shall otherwise have been delayed.

 

2.06        Termination or Reduction of Commitments.  (a)      The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate the Aggregate Commitments, or from time to time permanently reduce the Aggregate Commitments without premium or penalty; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. five Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction, (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, (iii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Aggregate Commitments if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Total Outstandings would exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (iv) if, after giving effect to any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments, the Swing Line Sublimit exceeds the amount of the Aggregate Commitments, such Sublimit shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such excess.  The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any such notice of termination or reduction of the Aggregate Commitments.  Any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments shall be applied to the Commitment of each Lender according to its Applicable Percentage.  All fees accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Aggregate Commitments shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.

 

(b)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Commitments of each Lender shall terminate on the Outside Date if the Availability Date shall not have occurred on or prior to such date, and all fees accrued until the Outside Date shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.

 

2.07        Repayment of Loans.

 

(a)           The Borrower shall repay to the Lenders on the Maturity Date the aggregate principal amount of Committed Loans outstanding on such date.

 

(b)           The Borrower shall repay each Swing Line Loan on the earlier to occur of (i) the date ten Business Days after such Loan is made and (ii) the Maturity Date.

 

2.08        Interest.

 

(a)           Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) below, (i) each Eurodollar Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate; (ii) each Base Rate Committed Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate; and (iii) each Swing Line Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.

 

(b)           (i)            If any amount of principal of any Loan is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, such amount shall

 

 

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during the continuation of such non-payment bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

 

(ii)           If any amount (other than principal of any Loan) payable by the Borrower under any Loan Document is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

 

(iii)          While any Event of Default exists (other than as set forth in clauses (b)(i) and (b)(ii) above), the Borrower shall pay interest on the principal amount of all outstanding Obligations hereunder at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

 

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

 

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

 

2.09        Fees.

 

(a)           Commitment Fee.  The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage, a commitment fee equal to the Applicable Rate times the actual daily amount by which the Aggregate Commitments exceed the Outstanding Amount of Committed Loans, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.16. For the avoidance of doubt, the Outstanding Amount of Swing Line Loans shall not be counted towards or considered usage of the Aggregate Commitments for purposes of determining the commitment fee. The commitment fee shall accrue at all times commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the last day of the Availability Period, including, at any time during which one or more of the conditions in ARTICLE IV is not met, and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and on the last day of the Availability Period.  The commitment fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears, and if there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the actual daily amount shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.

 

(b)           Other Fees.  (i) The Borrower shall pay to the Arranger and the Administrative Agent for their own respective accounts fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the Fee Letter.  Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

 

(ii)           On the Closing Date, the Borrower shall pay to each Lender for its own account an amount equal to  25% of the fee set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.09. On the Availability Payment Date, the Borrower shall pay to each Lender for its own account an amount equal to 75% of the fee set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.09.  Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

 

 

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

 

(a)           All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans (including Base Rate Loans determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate) shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed.  All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365-day year).  Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid, provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.12(a), bear interest for one day.  Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

 

(b)           If, as a result of any restatement of or other adjustment to the financial statements of the Borrower or for any other reason, the Borrower or the Lenders determine that (i) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as calculated by the Borrower as of any applicable date was inaccurate and (ii) a proper calculation of the Consolidated Leverage Ratio would have resulted in higher pricing for such period, the Borrower shall immediately and retroactively be obligated to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Lenders, promptly on demand by the Administrative Agent (or, after the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, automatically and without further action by the Administrative Agent or any Lender), an amount equal to the excess of the amount of interest and fees that should have been paid for such period over the amount of interest and fees actually paid for such period; provided however, the Administrative Agent shall be required to make any demand pursuant to this Section 2.10(b) within six (6) months of the first date the Administrative Agent has actual knowledge of any such inaccurate calculation.   This paragraph shall not limit the rights of the Administrative Agent or any Lender under Section 2.08(b) or under ARTICLE VIII.

 

2.11        Evidence of Debt.

 

(a)           The Borrowings funded by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender and by the Administrative Agent in the ordinary course of business.  The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Borrowings funded by the Lenders to the Borrower and the interest and payments thereon.  Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations.  In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.  Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records.  Each Lender may attach schedules to its Note and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.

 

(b)           In addition to the accounts and records referred to in subsection (a) above, each Lender and the Administrative Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice accounts or records evidencing the purchases and sales by such Lender of participations in Swing Line Loans.  In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by the Administrative Agent and the accounts and records of any Lender in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.

 

 

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2.12        Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback.

 

(a)                                 General.  All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made free and clear of and without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense (other than defense of payment), recoupment or setoff.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars and in immediately available funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified herein.  The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its Applicable Percentage (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s Lending Office.  All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 2:00 p.m. shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day for the purpose of calculating any applicable interest or fee.  If any payment to be made by the Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.

 

(b)                                 (i)                                     Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent.  Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Committed Borrowing of Eurodollar Rate Loans (or, in the case of any Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, prior to 12:00 noon on the date of such Committed Borrowing) that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Committed Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.02 (or, in the case of a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, that such Lender has made such share available in accordance with and at the time required by Section 2.02) 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 Committed 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 in immediately available funds 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 (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing, and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans.  If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period.  If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Committed Loan included in such Committed Borrowing.  Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

 

(ii)                                  Payments by Borrower; Presumptions by Administrative Agent.  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 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 the amount due.  In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender, in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal

 

 

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Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

 

A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this subsection (b) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

 

(c)           Failure to Satisfy Conditions Precedent.  If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in the foregoing provisions of this ARTICLE II, and such funds are not made available to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Borrowing set forth in ARTICLE IV are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.

 

(d)           Obligations of Lenders Several.  The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Committed Loans, to fund participations in Swing Line Loans and to make payments pursuant to Section 11.04(c) are several and not joint.  The failure of any Lender to make any Committed Loan, to fund any such participation or to make any payment under Section 11.04(c) on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Committed Loan, to purchase its participation or to make its payment under Section 11.04(c).

 

(e)           Funding Source.  Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner.

 

2.13        Sharing of Payments by Lenders.  If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of the Committed Loans made by it, or the participations in Swing Line Loans held by it resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of such Committed Loans or participations and accrued interest thereon greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Committed Loans and subparticipations in Swing Line Loans of the other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, 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 Committed Loans and other amounts owing them, provided that:

 

(i)            if any such participations or subparticipations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations or subparticipations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest; and

 

(ii)           the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment made by or on behalf of the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement (including the application of funds arising from the existence of a Defaulting Lender) or (y) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Committed Loans or subparticipations in Swing Line Loans to any assignee or participant, other than an assignment to the Borrower or any  Affiliate  thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section shall apply).

 

 

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Each Loan Party consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against such Loan Party rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of such Loan Party in the amount of such participation.

 

2.14        Increase in Commitments.

 

(a)           Request for Increase.  Provided that there exists no Default, upon notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders), the Borrower may from time to time, request an increase in the Aggregate Commitments by an aggregate amount for all such requests not exceeding $10,000,000; provided that any such request for an increase shall be in a minimum amount of $5,000,000.  At the time of sending such notice, the Borrower (in consultation with the Administrative Agent) shall specify the time period within which each Lender is requested to respond (which shall in no event be less than five Business Days from the date of delivery of such notice to the Lenders).

 

(b)           Lender Elections to Increase.  Each Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent within such time period whether or not it agrees to increase its Commitment and, if so, whether by an amount equal to, greater than, or less than its Applicable Percentage of such requested increase.  Any Lender not responding within such time period shall be deemed to have declined to increase its Commitment.

 

(c)           Notification by Administrative Agent; Additional Lenders.  The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and each Lender of the Lenders’ responses to each request made hereunder.  To achieve the full amount of a requested increase and subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent and the Swing Line Lender (which approvals shall not be unreasonably withheld), the Borrower may also invite additional Eligible Assignees to become Lenders pursuant to a joinder agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.

 

(d)           Effective Date and Allocations.  If the Aggregate Commitments are increased in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall determine the effective date (the “Increase Effective Date”) and the final allocation of such increase.  The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the final allocation of such increase and the Increase Effective Date.

 

(e)           Conditions to Effectiveness of Increase.  As a condition precedent to such increase, (i) the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate dated as of the Increase Effective Date signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, certifying that, after giving effect to such increase, (A) the representations and warranties contained in ARTICLE V and the other Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Increase Effective Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 2.14, the representations and warranties contained in subsections 5.05(a) and 5.05(b) of Section 5.05 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to subsections 6.01(a) and 6.01(b), respectively, of Section 6.01, (B) no Default has occurred and  is continuing and (C) after giving effect to such increase in Commitments pursuant to this Section 2.14, the Aggregate Commitments shall not exceed $75,000,000.  The Borrower shall prepay any Committed Loans outstanding on the Increase Effective Date (and pay any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05) to the extent necessary to keep the outstanding Committed Loans ratable with any revised Applicable Percentages arising from any nonratable increase in the Commitments under this Section.

 

 

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(f)            Conflicting Provisions.  This Section shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.13 or 11.01 to the contrary.

 

2.15        Intentionally Omitted.

 

2.16        Defaulting Lenders.

 

(a)           Adjustments.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, until such time as that Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, to the extent permitted by applicable Law:

 

(i)            Waivers and Amendments.  Such Defaulting Lender’s right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement shall be restricted as set forth in the definition of “Required Lenders” and Section 11.01.

 

(ii)           Defaulting Lender Waterfall.  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 ARTICLE VIII or otherwise) and including any amounts made available to the Administrative Agent by such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 11.08 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 the Swing Line Lender hereunder; third, 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; fourth, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in a non-interest bearing deposit account and released in order to satisfy obligations of such Defaulting Lender to fund Loans under this Agreement; fifth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders or Swing Line Lender as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender or the Swing Line Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; sixth, 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; and seventh, 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 in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (y) such Loans were made at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.03, were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Swing Line Loans are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Commitments hereunder without giving effect to Section 2.16(a)(iv). 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 shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

 

(iii)          Certain Fees.  No Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive any fee payable under Section 2.09(a) for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the

 

 

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Borrower shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender).

 

(iv)          Reallocation of Applicable Percentages to Reduce Fronting Exposure.  All or any part of such Defaulting Lender’s participation in Swing Line Loans shall be reallocated among the Non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages (calculated without regard to such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment) but only to the extent that (x) the conditions set forth in Section 4.03, are satisfied at the time of such reallocation, and (y) such reallocation does not cause the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure of any Non-Defaulting Lender to exceed such Non-Defaulting Lender’s Commitment.  No reallocation hereunder shall constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder against a Defaulting Lender arising from that Lender having become a Defaulting Lender, including any claim of a Non-Defaulting Lender as a result of such Non-Defaulting Lender’s increased exposure following such reallocation.

 

(v)           Repayment of Swing Line Loans.  If the reallocation described in clause (a)(iv) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrower shall, without prejudice to any right or remedy available to it hereunder or under applicable Law, prepay Swing Line Loans in an amount equal to the Swing Line Lenders’ Fronting Exposure.

 

(b)           Defaulting Lender Cure.  If the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Swing Line Lender agree in writing that a Defaulting Lender should no longer be deemed a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein, that Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase at par that portion of outstanding Loans of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Committed Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Swing Line Loans to be held on a pro rata basis by the Lenders in accordance with their Applicable Percentages (without giving effect to Section 2.16(a)(a)(iv)), whereupon such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided, further, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

 

ARTICLE III. TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

 

3.01        Taxes.

 

(a)           Payments Free of Taxes; Obligation to Withhold; Payments on Account of Taxes.

 

(i)            Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document shall be made without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by applicable Laws.  If any applicable Laws (as determined in the good faith discretion of the Administrative Agent or the Loan Party, as applicable) require the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by the Administrative Agent or a Loan Party, then the Administrative Agent or such Loan Party shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding, taking into account the information and documentation delivered pursuant to subsection (e) below.

 

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(ii)           If any Loan Party or the Administrative Agent shall be required by the Code to withhold or  deduct any Taxes, including both United States federal backup withholding and withholding taxes, from any payment, then (A) such Loan Party or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by such Loan Party or Administrative Agent, as applicable, to be required taking into account the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e) below, (B) such Loan Party or the Administrative Agent shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with the Code, and (C) to the extent that the withholding or deduction is made on account of Indemnified Taxes, the sum payable by the applicable Loan Party shall be increased as necessary so that after any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.01) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such withholding or deduction been made.

 

(iii)          If any Loan Party or the Administrative Agent shall be required by any applicable Laws other than the Code to withhold or  deduct any Taxes from any payment, then (A) such Loan Party or the Administrative Agent, as required by such Laws, shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by it to be required taking into account the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e) below, (B) such Loan Party or the Administrative Agent, to the extent required by such Laws, shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with such Laws, and (C) to the extent that the withholding or deduction is made on account of Indemnified Taxes, the sum payable by the applicable Loan Party shall be increased as necessary so that after any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.01) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such withholding or deduction been made.

 

(b)           Payment of Other Taxes.  Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) above, the Loan Parties shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes based on a certificate as to the amount of such payment delivered to the Borrower, which shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

(c)           Tax Indemnifications. Without duplication of any amounts paid under Section 3.01(a) or (b) (i) each of the Loan Parties shall, and does hereby, jointly and severally indemnify each Recipient, and shall make payment in respect thereof 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 3.01) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient, and any penalties, interest and 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, other than penalties or interest which arose as a result of the gross negligence of the Recipient.  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.  Each of the Loan Parties shall, and does hereby, jointly and severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, for any amount which a Lender for any reason fails to pay indefeasibly to the Administrative Agent as required pursuant to Section 3.01(c)(ii) below.

 

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(ii)           Each Lender shall, and does hereby, severally indemnify, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, (x) the Administrative Agent against 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), (y) the Administrative Agent and the Loan Parties, as applicable, against any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 11.06(d) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Loan Parties, as applicable, against any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent or  a Loan Party 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 this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this clause (ii).

 

(d)           Evidence of Payments.  Upon request by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, after any payment of Taxes by the Borrower or by the Administrative Agent to a Governmental Authority as provided in this Section 3.01, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent or the Administrative Agent shall deliver to the Borrower, as the case may be, the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of any return required by Laws to report such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be.

 

(e)           Status of Lenders; Tax Documentation.

 

(i)            Any Recipient 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 Recipient, 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 Recipient 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 3.01(e)(ii)(ii)(A), (ii)(B) and (ii)(D) below) shall not be required if in the Recipient’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.

 

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

 

(A)          any Recipient that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Recipient becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the

 

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Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Recipient 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:

 

(I)            in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN 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 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;

 

(II)           executed originals of IRS Form W-8ECI;

 

(III)         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 G-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN; or

 

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

 

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

 

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(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.

 

(iii)          Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered pursuant to this Section 3.01 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.

 

(f)            Treatment of Certain Refunds.  Unless required by applicable Laws, at no time shall the Administrative Agent have any obligation to file for or otherwise pursue on behalf of a Lender, or have any obligation to pay to any Lender, any refund of Taxes withheld or deducted from funds paid for the account of such Lender.  If any Recipient determines, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by any Loan Party or with respect to which any Loan Party has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 3.01, it shall pay to the Loan Party  an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by  a Loan Party under this Section 3.01 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) incurred by such Recipient, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), provided that the  Loan Party, upon the request of the Recipient, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Loan Party (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Recipient in the event the Recipient is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this subsection, in no event will the applicable Recipient be required to pay any amount to the Loan Party pursuant to this subsection the payment of which would place the Recipient in a less favorable net after-Tax position than such Recipient would have been in if the indemnification payments or additional amounts giving rise to such refund had never been paid.  This subsection shall not be construed to require any Recipient to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes that it deems confidential) to any Loan Party or any other Person.

 

(g)           Survival.  Each party’s obligations under this Section 3.01 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 other Obligations.

 

3.02        Illegality.  If any Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate, or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, Dollars in the London interbank market, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the

 

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Administrative Agent, (i) any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Eurodollar Rate Loans or to convert Base Rate Committed Loans to Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended, and (ii) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender making or maintaining Base Rate Loans the interest rate on which is determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate component of the Base Rate, the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Eurodollar Rate component of the Base Rate, in each case until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist.  Upon receipt of such notice, (x) the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all Eurodollar Rate Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans (the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Eurodollar Rate component of the Base Rate), either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans and (y) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate, the Administrative Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the Eurodollar Rate component thereof until the Administrative Agent is advised in writing by such Lender that it is no longer illegal  for such Lender to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate.  Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.

 

3.03        Inability to Determine Rates.  If the Required Lenders determine that for any reason in connection with any request for a Eurodollar Rate Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof that (a) Dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank eurodollar market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Eurodollar Rate Loan, (b) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the Eurodollar Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan or in connection with an existing or proposed Base Rate Loan, or (c) the Eurodollar Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Borrower and each Lender.  Thereafter, (x) the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended, and (y) in the event of a determination described in the preceding sentence with respect to the Eurodollar Rate component of the Base Rate, the utilization of the Eurodollar Rate component in determining the Base Rate shall be suspended, in each case until the Administrative Agent (upon the instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice.  Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein.

 

3.04        Increased Costs; Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans.

 

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

 

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

 

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(ii)           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; or

 

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

 

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making, converting to, continuing or maintaining any Loan the interest on which is determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to increase the cost to such Lender, or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender, the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(e)           Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans.  The Borrower shall pay to each Lender, as long as such Lender shall be required to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency funds or deposits (currently known as “Eurocurrency liabilities”), additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Eurodollar Rate Loan equal to the actual costs of such reserves allocated to such Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive), which shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan, provided the Borrower shall have received at least 10 days’ prior notice (with a

 

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copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional interest from such Lender.  If a Lender fails to give notice 10 days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date, such additional interest shall be due and payable 10 days from receipt of such notice.

 

3.05        Compensation for Losses.  Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense incurred by it as a result of:

 

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

 

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

 

(c)           any assignment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 11.13;

 

including any loss of anticipated profits and any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained.  The Borrower shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.

 

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

 

3.06        Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

 

(a)           Designation of a Different Lending Office.  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or requires the Borrower to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, then at the request of the Borrower 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 3.01 or 3.04, as the case may be, in the future, or eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to Section 3.02, as applicable, and (ii) in each case, 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)           Replacement of Lenders.  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or if the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01 and, in each case, such Lender has declined or is unable to designate a different lending office in accordance with Section 3.06(a), the Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 11.13.

 

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3.07        Survival.  All of the Borrower’s obligations under this ARTICLE III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, repayment of all other Obligations hereunder, and resignation of the Administrative Agent.

 

ARTICLE IV. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO EFFECTIVENESS AND BORROWINGS

 

4.01        Conditions to Effectiveness.  The effectiveness of this Agreement is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)           The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or copies unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party, each dated as of the Closing Date (or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the Closing Date) and each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:

 

(i)            executed counterparts of this Agreement;

 

(ii)           a Note executed by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting a Note;

 

(iii)          the Security Agreement (together with each other Security Agreement Supplement delivered pursuant to Section 6.11, in each case as amended, the “Security Agreement”), duly executed by each Loan Party, together with:

 

(A)          certificates representing the pledged equity referred to therein accompanied by undated stock powers executed in blank (except such certificates and stock powers required to be delivered under Section  6.14);

 

(B)           proper financing statements in form appropriate for filing under the Uniform Commercial Code of all jurisdictions necessary in order to perfect in the United States the Liens created under the Security Agreement, covering the Collateral described in the Security Agreement in which a security interest can be perfected by filing such financing statements; and

 

(C)           completed requests for information, dated on or before the Closing Date, listing all effective financing statements filed in the jurisdictions referred to in clause (B) above that name any Loan Party as debtor, together with copies of such other financing statements.

 

(iv)          executed counterparts of the Fee Letter;

 

(v)           such certificates of resolutions, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party;

 

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(vi)                              such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that each Loan Party is duly organized or formed, and that each Loan Party is validly existing, in good standing in its jurisdiction of organization;

 

(vii)                           a customary opinion of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, counsel to the Loan Parties, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender;

 

(viii)                        a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying that (A)  the conditions specified in Sections 4.03(a) and 4.03(b) have been satisfied, (B) there has been no event or condition since December 31, 2010 that has had or could be reasonably expected, either individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (C) there is no action, suit, investigation or proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened in writing in any court or before any arbitrator or governmental authority that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(ix)           all documentation and other information about the Borrower and the Guarantors as has been reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or Lenders that they reasonably determine is required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation the PATRIOT Act to the extent requested more than three Business Days prior to the Closing Date.

 

(b)           Any fees required to be paid on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid as of the Closing Date to the extent invoiced prior to the Closing Date.

 

(c)           Unless waived by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall have paid all fees, charges and disbursements of one external counsel to the Administrative Agent (directly to such counsel on the Closing Date if requested by the Administrative Agent) to the extent invoiced at least two Business Days prior to the Closing Date, plus such additional amounts of such fees, charges and disbursements as shall constitute its reasonable estimate of such fees, charges and disbursements incurred or to be incurred by it through the closing proceedings (provided that such estimate shall not thereafter preclude a final settling of accounts between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent).

 

(d)           The Closing Date shall have occurred on or before January 26, 2012.

 

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 9.03, (i) for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4.01, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.

 

4.02        Matters relating to the Availability Date

 

(a)           Conditions to Availability. The availability of the Commitments hereunder and the occurrence of the Availability Date is subject to the following conditions precedent:

 

(i)                                     The Closing Date shall have occurred.

 

(ii)                                  The Qualified Public Offering shall have been consummated on or prior to the Outside Date.

 

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(iii)          The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying that, after giving effect to Section 4.02(b) below, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing as of the Availability Date.

 

(iv)          Any fees required to be paid on or before the Availability Date (or the Availability Payment Date) shall have been paid as of such date to the extent invoiced prior to such date.

 

(v)           Unless waived by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall have paid all fees, charges and disbursements of one external counsel to the Administrative Agent (directly to such counsel on such date if requested by the Administrative Agent) to the extent invoiced at least two Business Days prior to such date.

 

(b)           Covenant Suspension.

 

(i)            Commencing on the Closing Date until the occurrence of the Availability Date (such period, the “Suspension Period”), and subject to the provisions of the following paragraph, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall not be subject to covenants set forth in Article VII (except Sections 7.04, 7.07, 7.13 and 7.14) (such covenants, the “Suspended Covenants”).

 

(ii)           From the Availability Date, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries will be subject to the Suspended Covenants.  Notwithstanding that the Suspended Covenants may be reinstated, no Default, Event of Default or breach of any kind shall be deemed to exist during the Suspension Period under any Loan Document with respect to the Suspended Covenants.  From the Availability Date, the Suspended Covenants shall be deemed to have been applicable at all times during the Suspension Period, including, without limitation, for the purpose of determining whether a Default or Event of Default or other breach of the Suspended Covenants has occurred and is continuing on the Availability Date, and for the purpose of determining utilization of, or calculation of any availability under, any baskets or exceptions to such Suspended Covenants.

 

4.03        Conditions to all Borrowings.  The obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans) is subject to the occurrence of the Availability Date and the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)           The representations and warranties of the Borrower and each other Loan Party contained in ARTICLE V or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Borrowing, provided that (x) if such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date; and  (y) any representation and warranty that is qualified as to “materiality,” “Material Adverse Effect” or similar language shall be true and correct (after giving effect to any qualification therein) in all respects on such respective dates, and provided  further moreover that except for purposes of this Section 4.03, the representations and warranties contained in subsections 5.05(a) and 5.05(b) of Section 5.05 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to subsections 6.01(a) and 6.01(b), respectively, of Section 6.01.

 

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

 

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(c)           The Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the Swing Line Lender shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.

 

Each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans) submitted by the Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Sections 4.03(a) and (b) have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Borrowing.

 

ARTICLE V. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

The Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

 

5.01        Existence, Qualification and Power.  Each Loan Party and each Subsidiary thereof (a) is duly organized or formed, validly existing and, as applicable, in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority and all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to (i) own or lease its assets and carry on its business and (ii) execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and (c) is duly qualified and is licensed and, as applicable, in good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification or license; except in each case referred to in clause (b)(i) or (c), to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.02        Authorization; No Contravention.  The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is party, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and do not and will not (a) contravene the terms of any of such Person’s Organization Documents; (b) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) under, or require any payment to be made under (i) any material Contractual Obligation (other than the Loan Documents) to which such Person is a party or affecting such Person or the properties of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Person or its property is subject; or (c) violate any applicable Law except in each case referred to in the immediately preceding clauses (b) or (c), to the extent such conflict, breach or violation could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.03        Governmental Authorization; Other Consents.  No approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is necessary or required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document other than (i) those that have been already obtained, and are in full force and effect, (ii) filings and other actions to perfect or otherwise cause to subsist, the Liens created by the Collateral Documents under the laws of the United States, except for the filing of UCC financing statements, and (iii) those of which the failure to so procure could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.04        Binding Effect.  This Agreement has been, and each other Loan Document, when delivered hereunder, will have been, duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is party thereto.  This Agreement constitutes, and each other Loan Document when so delivered will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against each Loan Party that is party thereto in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by Debtor Relief Laws and by general principles of equity.

 

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5.05        Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.

 

(a)           The Audited Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; and (ii) fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein.

 

(b)           The unaudited consolidated balance sheets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries dated March 30, 2011, June 30, 2011 and September 30, 2011, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations and cash flows for the fiscal quarter ended on that date (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein, and (ii) fairly present the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby, subject, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), to the absence of footnotes and to normal year-end audit adjustments.

 

(c)           Since December 31, 2010, there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(d)           The consolidated  forecasted balance sheet and statements of income and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(c) were prepared in good faith on the basis of the assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time made, which assumptions were fair in light of the conditions existing at the time of delivery of such forecasts, and represented, at the time of delivery, the Borrower’s best estimate of its financial condition and performance for those months (it being understood that forecasts are subject to significant contingencies and assumptions, many of which are beyond the control of the Loan Parties and no assurance can be given that such forecasts will be achieved and that actual results may differ and such difference may be material).

 

5.06        Litigation.  There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened in writing, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or against any of their properties or revenues that (a) as of the Closing Date purport to affect or pertain to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, or (b) either individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.07        No Default.  No Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

5.08        Ownership of Property; Liens.  Each of the Borrower and each Subsidiary has good record and marketable title in fee simple to, or valid leasehold interests in, all real property  necessary or used in the ordinary conduct of its business, except for such defects in title as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  The property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is subject to no Liens, other than Permitted Liens.

 

5.09        Environmental Compliance.  The effect of, or liabilities of any kind under, Environmental Laws or claims alleging potential liability under, or responsibility for violation of, any Environmental Law could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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5.10        Insurance.  The properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Borrower, in such amounts, with such deductibles and covering such risks as are customarily carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in localities where the Borrower or the applicable Subsidiary operates.

 

5.11        Taxes.  Except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries have filed all federal, state and other tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all federal, state and other taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges levied or imposed upon them or their properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable, except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP.  There is no proposed tax assessment against the Borrower or any Subsidiary that would, if made, have a Material Adverse Effect.  Neither any Loan Party nor any Subsidiary thereof is party to any tax sharing agreement other than (a) an agreement to which the only parties are the Borrower and its Subsidiaries or (b) an agreement the principal purpose of which is not the allocation or sharing of any tax.

 

5.12        ERISA Compliance.

 

(a)           Except as would not result in a Material Adverse Effect: (i) each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other applicable Federal or state laws, (ii) each Pension Plan that is intended to be a qualified plan under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service to the effect that the form of such Pension Plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code and the trust related thereto has been determined by the Internal Revenue Service to be exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(a) of the Code, or an application for such a letter is currently being processed by the Internal Revenue Service and (iii) the best knowledge of the Borrower, nothing has occurred that would prevent or cause the loss of such tax-qualified status.

 

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

 

(c)           Except as would not result in a Material Adverse Effect: (i) no ERISA Event has occurred, and neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate is aware of any fact, event or circumstance that could reasonably be expected to constitute or result in an ERISA Event with respect to any Pension Plan; (ii) the Borrower and each ERISA Affiliate has met all applicable requirements under the Pension Funding Rules in respect of each Pension Plan, and no waiver of the minimum funding standards under the Pension Funding Rules has been applied for or obtained; (iii) there exists no Unfunded Pension Liability with respect to any Plans that could reasonably be expected to result in liability to the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates; (iv) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any liability to the PBGC other than for the payment of premiums, and there are no premium payments which have become due that are unpaid; (v) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or Section 4212(c) of ERISA; and (vi) no Pension Plan has been terminated by the plan administrator thereof nor by the PBGC, and no event or circumstance has occurred or exists that could reasonably be expected to cause the PBGC to institute proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate any Pension Plan.

 

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5.13        Subsidiaries; Equity Interests.  As of the Closing Date the Borrower has no Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed in Part (a) of Schedule 5.13, and all of the outstanding Equity Interests in such Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are fully paid and, as applicable, nonassessable and are owned by a Loan Party in the amounts specified on Part (a) of Schedule 5.13 free and clear of all Liens except those created under the Collateral Documents and other Permitted Liens.  As of the Closing Date the Borrower has no equity investments in any other corporation or entity other than those specifically disclosed in Part (b) of Schedule 5.13.  As of the Closing Date, all of the outstanding Equity Interests in the Borrower have been validly issued, and are fully paid and nonassessable  and are owned by the parties in the amounts specified on Part (c) of Schedule 5.13 free and clear of all Liens.

 

5.14        Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act.

 

(a)           The Borrower is not engaged and will not engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock.

 

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

 

5.15        Disclosure.  No written report, financial statement, certificate or other information furnished (excluding information of a general economic or industry nature) by or on behalf of any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder or under any other Loan Document (in each case, as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, taken as a whole, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time made (it being understood that projections are subject to significant contingencies and assumptions, many of which are beyond the control of the Loan Parties, and no assurance can be given that such projections will be achieved and that actual results may differ and such difference may be material).

 

5.16        Compliance with Laws.  Each Loan Party and each Subsidiary thereof is in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its properties, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted or (b) the failure to comply therewith, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.17        Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.  The Borrower and its Subsidiaries own, or possess the right to use, all of the trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, patents, patent rights, and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “IP Rights”) that are necessary for the operation of their respective businesses, without conflict with the rights of any other Person, except where failure to own or possess the rights to use, or for such conflicts, that either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  No device, product, process, method, substance, part or other material now employed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary infringes upon any IP Rights held by any other Person, which, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  No claim or litigation regarding any of the foregoing is now pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened, which, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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5.18        OFAC.  No Loan Party, nor, any Related Party, (i) is currently the subject of any Sanctions, (ii) is located, organized or residing in any Designated Jurisdiction, or (iii) is or has been (within the previous five (5) years) engaged in any transaction with any Person who is now or was then the subject of Sanctions or who is located, organized or residing in any Designated Jurisdiction.  No Loan, nor the proceeds from any Loan, has been used, directly or indirectly, to lend, contribute, provide or has otherwise made available to fund any activity or business in any Designated Jurisdiction or to fund any activity or business of any Person located, organized or residing in any Designated Jurisdiction or who is the subject of any Sanctions, or in any other manner that will result in any violation by any Person (including any Lender, the Arranger, the Administrative Agent or the Swing Line Lender) of Sanctions.

 

ARTICLE VI. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

 

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied (other than contingent obligations for which no claim has been asserted), the Borrower shall, and shall (except in the case of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.01, 6.02, and 6.03) cause each Subsidiary to:

 

6.01        Financial Statements.  Deliver to the Administrative Agent for further distribution to each Lender:

 

(a)           within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower (or, if earlier, 15 days after the date required to be filed with the SEC (without giving effect to any extension permitted by the SEC)) beginning with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2011, a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, such consolidated statements to be audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of an independent certified public accountant of nationally recognized standing or otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders (an “Acceptable CPA”) (it being understood and agreed that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is an Acceptable CPA), which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall not be subject to any “going concern” or like qualification or exception or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit;

 

(b)           within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower (or, if earlier, 5 days after the date required to be filed with the SEC (without giving effect to any extension permitted by the SEC)), a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, the related consolidated  statements of income or operations for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the Borrower’s fiscal year then ended, and the related consolidated statements of changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the portion of the Borrower’s fiscal year then ended, in each case setting forth in comparative form, as applicable, the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, such consolidated statements to be certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower as fairly presenting the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes; and

 

(c)           within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, forecasts prepared by management of the Borrower of consolidated balance sheets and statements of income or operations and

 

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cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries a quarterly basis for the immediately following fiscal year.

 

As to any information contained in materials furnished pursuant to Section 6.02(c), the Borrower shall not be separately required to furnish such information under subsection (a) or (b) above, but the foregoing shall not be in derogation of the obligation of the Borrower to furnish the information and materials described in subsections (a) and (b)  above at the times specified therein.

 

6.02        Certificates; Other Information.  Deliver to the Administrative Agent for distribution to each Lender:

 

(a)           (i)            concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(a) and 6.01(b), a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower and (ii) no later than 30 days after the end of each month (other than each March, June, September and December), a compliance certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying as to the matters set forth in Section 7.11(a), accompanied by reasonably detailed calculations thereto;

 

(b)           promptly after any request by the Administrative Agent, copies of any final detailed audit reports, management letters or recommendations submitted to the board of directors (or the audit committee of the board of directors) of the Borrower by independent accountants in connection with the accounts or books of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any audit of any of them;

 

(c)           promptly after the same are available, prior to a Public Offering, copies of each annual report, proxy or financial statement or other report or communication sent to the stockholders of the Borrower, and subsequent to a Public Offering, copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Borrower may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto;

 

(d)           promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any statement or report furnished to any holder of debt securities of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof pursuant to the terms of any indenture, loan or credit or similar agreement and not otherwise required to be furnished to the Lenders pursuant to Section 6.01 or any other clause of this Section 6.02;

 

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

 

(g)           promptly, such additional information regarding the business, financial or corporate affairs of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may from time to time reasonably request.

 

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a), 6.01(b) or Section 6.02(c) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 11.02; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the

 

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Borrower’s behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent (by facsimile or electronic mail) of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents.  The Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery of or to maintain paper copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Borrower with any such request by a Lender for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents.

 

The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Arranger may, but shall not be obligated to, make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on Debt Domain, IntraLinks, Syndtrak or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”) and (b) certain of the Lenders (each, a “Public Lender”) may have personnel who do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its Affiliates, or the respective securities of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Persons’ securities.  The Borrower hereby agrees that so long as the Borrower is the issuer of any outstanding debt or equity securities that are registered or issued pursuant to a private offering or is actively contemplating issuing any such securities (w) all Borrower Materials that are to be made available to Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Arranger and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws (provided, however, that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 11.07); (y) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Side Information;” and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Arranger shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Side Information.”  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall be under no obligation to mark any Borrower Materials “PUBLIC.”

 

6.03        Notices.  Promptly upon a Responsible Officer obtaining knowledge thereof notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

 

(a)           of the occurrence of any Default;

 

(b)           of any matter that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, including (i) breach or non-performance of, or any default under, a Contractual Obligation of the Borrower or any Subsidiary; (ii) any dispute, litigation, investigation, proceeding or suspension between the Borrower or any Subsidiary and any Governmental Authority; or (iii) the commencement of, or any material development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting the Borrower or any Subsidiary, including pursuant to any applicable Environmental Laws; and

 

(c)           of the occurrence of any ERISA Event that, alone or together with any other ERISA Events that have occurred could reasonably be expected to result in liability to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount equal to or exceeding $5,000,000.

 

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

 

6.04        Preservation of Existence, Etc.  (a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section 7.04 or 7.05; (b) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges, permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) preserve or renew all of its registered patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade names and service marks not expiring in accordance with their respective unrenewable statutory terms, except to the extent the failure to do any of the foregoing would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.05        Maintenance of Properties.  Except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: (a) maintain, preserve and protect all of its material tangible properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear and, where applicable, damage by casualty and condemnation excepted; (b) make all necessary repairs thereto and renewals and replacements thereof; and (c) use the standard of care typical in the industry in the operation and maintenance of its facilities.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

6.09        Inspection Rights.  Permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent and each Lender to visit and inspect any of its properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and independent public accountants, and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice to the Borrower; provided, however, that, excluding any such visits and inspections during the continuation of an Event of Default, only the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders may exercise rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under this Section 6.09 and the Administrative Agent shall not exercise such rights more often than twice during any calendar year absent the existence of an Event of Default and both such times shall be at the Borrower’s expense absent the

 

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existence of an Event of Default, and provided, further, that when an Event of Default exists the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrower at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice.

 

6.10        Use of Proceeds.  Use the proceeds of any Borrowing for general corporate purposes not in contravention of any Law or of any Loan Document.

 

6.11        Covenant to Guarantee Obligations and Give Security.  (a) Upon (x) the formation or acquisition of any wholly-owned direct or indirect Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) by any Loan Party or (y) any Subsidiary ceasing to be an Excluded Subsidiary, the Borrower shall, at the Borrower’s expense:

 

(i)            within 30 days after (x) such formation or acquisition (in the case of clause (a)(x) above) or (y) the date of delivery of financial statements by the Borrower under Section 6.01(a) or (b), as applicable (in the case of clause (a)(y) above), or in each case, such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion), cause such Subsidiary, and  cause each direct and indirect parent of such Subsidiary (if it has not already  done so), to become a Guarantor by executing and delivering to the Administrative Agent a Guaranty Supplement, guaranteeing the other Loan Parties’ obligations under the Loan  Documents;

 

(ii)           within 30 days after (x) such formation or acquisition (in the case of clause (a)(x) above) or (y) the date of delivery of financial statements by the Borrower under Section 6.01(a) or (b), as applicable (in the case of clause (a)(y) above), or in each case, such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion), cause such Subsidiary and  each direct and indirect parent of such Subsidiary (if it has not already done so)  to duly execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent such Security Agreement  Supplements and other security and pledge agreements, as specified by and in  form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (including delivery  of all pledged interests in and of such Subsidiary, and other instruments of the  type specified in Section 4.01(a)(iii)), securing payment of all the Obligations of  such Subsidiary or such parent, as the case may be, under the Loan Documents  and constituting Liens on all such properties;

 

(iii)          subject to the limitations set forth herein or in the Collateral Documents, cause such Subsidiary and  each direct and indirect parent of such Subsidiary (if it has not already done so) to take whatever action (including the filing of Uniform Commercial Code  financing statements) may be necessary or advisable in the opinion of the  Administrative Agent to vest in the Administrative Agent (or in any  representative of the Administrative Agent designated by it) valid and subsisting  Liens on the properties purported to be subject to the Security Agreement  Supplements and security and pledge agreements delivered pursuant to this  Section 6.11, enforceable against all third parties in accordance with their terms;  and

 

(iv)          within 60 days after (x) such formation or acquisition (in the case of clause (a)(x) above) or (y) the date of delivery of financial statements by the Borrower under Section 6.01(a) or (b), as applicable (in the case of clause (a)(y) above), or in

 

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each case, such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion), deliver to the Administrative  Agent, upon the request of the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion, a  signed copy of an opinion, addressed to the Administrative Agent and  the other Secured Parties, of counsel for the Loan Parties acceptable to the  Administrative Agent as to the matters contained in subclauses (i), (ii) and (iii)   above.

 

(b)           At any time upon request of the Administrative Agent, promptly execute and deliver any and all further instruments and documents and take all such other action as the Administrative Agent may deem necessary or desirable in obtaining the full benefits of, or (as applicable) in perfecting and preserving the Liens of, such Guaranty Supplements, Security Agreement Supplements and other security and pledge agreements.

 

6.12        Compliance with Environmental Laws.  Comply, and cause all lessees and other Persons operating or occupying its properties to comply, in all material respects, with all applicable Environmental Laws; obtain and renew all permits, approvals, identification numbers, licenses or other authorizations necessary for its operations and properties; and conduct any investigation, study, sampling and testing, and undertake any cleanup, removal, remedial or other action necessary to remove and clean up all Hazardous Materials from any of its properties, in accordance with the requirements of all Environmental Laws; provided, however, that neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to undertake any such cleanup, removal, remedial or other action to the extent that its obligation to do so is being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings and appropriate reserves are being maintained with respect to such circumstances in accordance with GAAP.

 

6.13        Further Assurances.  Promptly upon request by the Administrative Agent, or any Lender through the Administrative Agent, (a) correct any material defect or error that may be discovered in any Loan Document or in the execution, acknowledgment, filing or recordation thereof, and (b) do, execute, acknowledge, deliver, record, re-record, file, re-file, register and re-register any and all such further acts, deeds, certificates, assurances and other instruments (including without limitation, any local law charges or pledge agreements) as the Administrative Agent, or any Lender through the Administrative Agent, may reasonably require from time to time in order to (i) carry out more effectively the purposes of the Loan Documents, (ii) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, subject any Loan Party’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ properties, assets, rights or interests to the Liens now or hereafter intended to be covered by any of the Collateral Documents, (iii) perfect and maintain the validity, effectiveness and priority of any of the Collateral Documents and any of the Liens intended to be created thereunder and (iv) assure, convey, grant, assign, transfer, preserve, protect and confirm more effectively unto the Secured Parties the rights granted or now or hereafter intended to be granted to the Secured Parties under any Loan Document or under any other instrument executed in connection with any Loan Document to which any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is or is to be a party, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to do so.

 

6.14        Post Closing Matters.  No later than 30 Days after the Closing Date (or such longer period as may agreed by the Administrative Agent but in no event later than four (4) months after the Closing Date), the Borrower shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Administrative Agent the certificates representing the Equity Interests of FXALL International (Mumbai) Private Limited and FX Alliance Holdings Limited (UK) required to be pledged and delivered under the Security Agreement accompanied by undated stock powers executed in blank.

 

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ARTICLE VII. NEGATIVE COVENANTS

 

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied (other than contingent obligations for which no claim has been asserted), the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly:

 

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

 

(a)           Liens pursuant to any Loan Document;

 

(b)           Liens existing on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 7.01 and any renewals or extensions thereof, provided that (i) the property covered thereby is not changed, (ii) the amount secured or benefited thereby is not increased except as contemplated by Section 7.03(a), (iii) the direct or any contingent obligor with respect thereto is not changed, and (iv) any renewal or extension of the obligations secured or benefited thereby is permitted by Section 7.03(a);

 

(c)           Liens for taxes that are not yet overdue by more than 30 days and which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person in accordance with GAAP;

 

(d)           statutory Liens of landlords and Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen, construction contractors, repairmen and other like Liens imposed by law arising in the ordinary course of business, provided that such Liens secure only amounts not overdue by more than 60 days or, if overdue by more than 60 days, are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves determined in accordance with GAAP have been established;

 

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

 

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

 

(g)           any interest or title of landlords, lessors and licensors (and any underlying landlords. lessors and licensors) of any real or personal property leased, licensed, occupied or used by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;

 

(h)           leases, subleases, licenses, sublicenses or other similar use and occupancy agreements (including non-exclusive licenses of intellectual property rights) granted to other Persons in the ordinary course of business and not interfering in any material respect with the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

 

(i)            Liens on deposits securing any Swap Contract entered into in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

 

(j)            easements, rights of way, restrictions and other similar encumbrances affecting real property and any non-monetary minor defects or irregularities in title (that would be disclosed by an accurate survey or inspection of the real property), so long as the same do not, individually or in the

 

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aggregate, materially interfere with or materially impair the use of such real property in the manner normally used;

 

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

 

(l)            Liens of a collection bank on items in the course of collection arising under Section 4-208 of the UCC or other normal and customary rights of setoff or banker’s liens in favor of banks or other depository institutions arising in the ordinary course of business;

 

(m)          Liens on premium refunds and insurance proceeds granted in favor of insurance companies (or their financing affiliates) solely in connection with the financing of insurance premiums;

 

(n)           Liens consisting of an agreement to Dispose of any property in a Disposition permitted under Section 7.05 solely to the extent such Disposition would have been permitted on the date of the creation of such Lien;

 

(o)           Liens on any earnest money deposits made by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or any Disposition permitted by Section 7.05;

 

(p)           Liens existing on property at the time of its acquisition or existing on the property of any Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary, and any modification, replacements or renewals thereof; provided that (i) such Lien was not created in contemplation of such acquisition, (ii) such Lien does not extend to or cover any other property (other than the proceeds or products thereof and after acquired property subjected to a Lien pursuant to terms existing at the time of such acquisition, 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 (iii) any such Lien shall secure only those obligations that it secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary;

 

(q)           Liens on property, assets or revenue of any Foreign Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party;

 

(r)            Liens, other than Liens on Collateral, securing obligations in an aggregate amount, together with the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.03(j), not to exceed $10,000,000 outstanding at any time.

 

7.02        Investments.  Make any Investments, except:

 

(a)           Investments held by the Borrower or such Subsidiary (i) in the form of cash equivalents or short-term marketable debt securities or (ii) in investment programs registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 which are administered by financial institutions having capital of at least $500,000,000 and the portfolios of which are limited to investments described in subclause (a)(i) above;

 

(b)           advances to officers, directors and employees of the Borrower and Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount not to exceed $1,000,000 at any time outstanding, for travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes;

 

(c)           (i) Investments in any Loan Party, provided that if such Investment gives rise to Indebtedness owed by a Loan Party to a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, such Indebtedness shall be unsecured and expressly subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full (whether upon maturity, acceleration or otherwise) and the performance in full of the obligations of such Borrower or

 

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Guarantor under the Loan Documents, (ii) Investments by any Loan Party in any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party; provided that the aggregate principal amount of such Investments, together with the aggregate principal amount of Investments in Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties pursuant to Section 7.02(f)(i) shall not exceed $30,000,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding, and (iii) Investments by any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party in any other Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party;

 

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

 

(e)           Guarantees permitted by Section 7.03;

 

(f)            Investments constituting (i) Permitted Acquisitions, provided that the aggregate Investments in Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties pursuant to Permitted Acquisitions (when aggregated with Investments pursuant to subclause (c)(ii) above) shall not exceed $30,000,000 in the aggregate and (ii) any Investment owned by a Person at the time such Person is acquired and becomes a Subsidiary pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition; provided that such Investment was not made in connection with or in contemplation of such Permitted Acquisition;

 

(g)           Investments in Swap Contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

 

(h)           Investments existing as of the Closing Date and set forth in Schedule 7.02 and any modifications, renewals or extensions thereof (in each case other than any increase in the amount thereof);

 

(i)            Investments consisting of, resulting from or received in connection with, as applicable, Liens, Indebtedness, fundamental changes, Dispositions and Restricted Payments, respectively permitted under Sections 7.01, 7.03 (other than Section 7.03(c)), 7.05 (other than Section 7.05(d)) or 7.06;

 

(j)            Loans made to employees, officers and directors of any Loan Party to repurchase Equity Interests from employees, officers and directors of any Loan Party or its Subsidiaries, or their spouses, ex-spouses, heirs, estates or family planning vehicles upon the termination of employment, death or disability of such employee, officer or director, which loans shall not exceed $2,000,000 in the aggregate (excluding proceeds of Equity Issuances used for such purposes) in any fiscal year;

 

(k)           advances of payroll to employees in the ordinary course of business;

 

(l)            Investments to the extent that payment for such Investments is made solely with Equity Interests of the Borrower; and

 

(m)          any Investment by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries not otherwise permitted above; provided that the aggregate outstanding amount of all such Investments shall not exceed $25,000,000 in the aggregate outstanding at any one time.

 

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

 

(a)           Indebtedness outstanding on the Closing Date and listed on Schedule 7.03 and any refinancings, refundings, renewals or extensions thereof; provided that (i) the principal amount of such Indebtedness is not increased at the time of such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension except by (A) the capitalization of any interest outstanding at such time or (B) an amount equal to a reasonable

 

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premium or other reasonable amount paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such refinancing and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder  and (ii) the terms relating to principal amount, amortization, maturity, collateral (if any) and subordination (if any), and other material terms taken as a whole, of any such refinancing, refunding, renewing or extending Indebtedness, and of any agreement entered into and of any instrument issued in connection therewith, are no less favorable in any material respect to the applicable obligor than the terms of any agreement or instrument governing the Indebtedness being refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended and the interest rate applicable to any such refinancing, refunding, renewing or extending Indebtedness does not exceed the then applicable market interest rate;

 

(b)           obligations (contingent or otherwise) existing or arising under any Swap Contract entered into in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

 

(c)           intercompany Indebtedness resulting from Investments permitted under Section 7.02(c) or Section 7.02(m), provided that in the case of Section 7.02(m), if such Indebtedness is owed by a Loan Party to a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, such Indebtedness shall be unsecured and expressly subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full (whether upon maturity, acceleration or otherwise) and the performance in full of the obligations of such Borrower or Guarantor under the Loan Documents;

 

(d)           Indebtedness in respect of netting services, overdraft protections and other customary bank products in connection with deposit accounts, so long as such Indebtedness is incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(e)           Indebtedness incurred in favor of insurance companies (or their affiliates) in connection with the financing of insurance premiums in an amount not to exceed the premiums with respect to the applicable insurance policies;

 

(f)            obligations in respect of surety, stay, customs and appeal bonds, performance bonds and performance and completion guaranties and obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(g)           reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit issued in the ordinary course of business, including in respect of bids, trade contracts, governmental contracts and leases (other than for the repayment of Indebtedness), statutory obligations, workers compensation claims, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement type obligations regarding workers compensation claims;

 

(h)           Indebtedness representing deferred compensation to employees of such Subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(i)            Indebtedness of Loan Parties; and

 

(j)            Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount, together with the aggregate principal amount of obligations secured by Liens permitted by Section 7.01(r) not to exceed $10,000,000 in the aggregate at any one time outstanding.

 

7.04        Fundamental Changes.  Merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, or Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of

 

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its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person, except that, so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom:

 

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

 

(b)           any Subsidiary may liquidate, wind up its affairs or dissolve itself or Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to the Borrower or to another Subsidiary; provided that if the transferor in such a transaction is a Guarantor, then the transferee must either be the Borrower or a Guarantor.

 

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

 

(a)           Dispositions of obsolete surplus worn out or economically non-viable property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business, or personal property that is no longer used or useful in the conduct of the business of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries for fair market value, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business;

 

(b)           Dispositions of inventory in the ordinary course of business;

 

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

 

(d)           Dispositions of property by any Subsidiary to the Borrower or to a wholly-owned Subsidiary; provided that if the transferor of such property is a Guarantor, such transferee thereof shall either be the Borrower or another Guarantor or  such Disposition shall permitted only to the extent permitted under Section 7.02(c);

 

(e)           Dispositions permitted by Section 7.04;

 

(f)            (i) Dispositions of cash and cash equivalents and (ii) termination of leases or subleases or surrender or sublease of real or personal property in the ordinary course of business and not otherwise prohibited by the terms hereof or interfering in any material respect with the business of the Borrower or any Subsidiary,

 

(g)           the grant of non-exclusive licenses or sublicenses of intellectual property in the ordinary course of its business, which does not interfere in any material respect with the business of the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

 

(h)           incurrence of Permitted Liens;

 

(i)            any Disposition that is a Restricted Payment and permitted under Section 7.06 and any distribution by the Borrower or any Subsidiary otherwise permitted thereunder;

 

(j)            Involuntary Dispositions;

 

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(k)           sale, assignment, transfer, disposition or discount of accounts receivable arising in the ordinary course of business in connection with the compromise or collection thereof;

 

(l)            leasing or subleasing of assets (other than intellectual property) in the ordinary course of business;

 

(m)          voluntary terminations of Swap Contracts;

 

(n)           the abandonment of or failure to maintain intellectual property in the ordinary course of business that is obsolete, uneconomical or, in the judgment of a Loan Party, no longer valuable or material to its business or that of any other Loan Party;

 

(o)           Dispositions by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries not otherwise permitted under this Section 7.05; provided that (i) at the time of such Disposition, no Default shall exist or would result from such Disposition and (ii) the aggregate book value of all property Disposed of in reliance on this clause (o) in any fiscal year shall not exceed $2,000,000;

 

provided, however, that any Disposition pursuant to this Section 7.05 (other than Section 7.05(d), (e), (h), (i) and (j)) shall be for fair market value.

 

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

 

(a)           each Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments to the Borrower, the Guarantors and any other Person that owns an Equity Interest in such Subsidiary, ratably according to their respective holdings of the type of Equity Interest in respect of which such Restricted Payment is being made;

 

(b)           the Borrower and each Subsidiary may declare and make dividend payments or other distributions payable solely in the common stock or other common Equity Interests of such Person;

 

(c)           the Borrower and each Subsidiary may purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire Equity Interests issued by it with the proceeds received from the substantially concurrent issue of new shares of its common stock or other common Equity Interests;

 

(d)           the payment of any dividend or distribution within sixty (60) days after the date of declaration thereof, if at the date of declaration (i) such payment would have complied with the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;

 

(e)           the declaration and payment of cash dividends on the Borrower’s common stock prior to the first public offering of the Borrower’s common stock after the Closing Date, of up to an aggregate amount of $75,000,000;

 

(f)            the Borrower may declare or pay ordinary course cash dividends to its stockholders solely out of the net income of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries arising at any time after the creation of a Public Market, if after giving effect thereto the aggregate amount of such dividends made or paid would be less than 50% of the net income of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the most recently ended period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower;

 

(g)           the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may declare and make dividend payments or other distributions to repurchase Equity Interests from employees, officers and directors of any Loan Party or

 

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its Subsidiaries, or their spouses, ex-spouses, heirs, estates or family planning vehicles upon the termination of employment, death or disability of such employee, officer or director, which dividends or distributions shall not exceed $2,000,000 in the aggregate (excluding proceeds of Equity Issuances used for such purposes) in any fiscal year;

 

(h)           to the extent constituting Restricted Payments, the Borrower and each Subsidiary may enter into and consummate transactions expressly permitted by any provision of Section 7.08 (other than Section 7.08(b)); and

 

(i)            in addition to the foregoing Restricted Payments, so long as no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, the Borrower may make additional Restricted Payments in such amounts so long as the Consolidated Leverage Ratio calculated on a Pro Forma Basis for such Restricted Payment for the most recently period of four consecutive fiscal quarters shall not exceed 2.00:1.00.

 

7.07        Change in Nature of Business.  Engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted or expected to be conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the date hereof or any business reasonably related or incidental thereto, it being agreed and acknowledged that a change in  nature of business shall be deemed to have occurred if the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries acts as a market maker, takes principal positions for its own account, clears trades or otherwise acts as a counterparty to any swap, forward, future or derivatives transaction, other than for corporate purposes.

 

7.08        Transactions with Affiliates.  Enter into any transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of the Borrower, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, other than on fair and reasonable terms substantially as favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary as would be obtainable by the Borrower or such Subsidiary at the time in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate, provided that the foregoing restriction shall not apply to:

 

(a)           transactions between or among the Borrower and its Subsidiaries or between and among Subsidiaries;

 

(b)           any Restricted Payment permitted under Section 7.06 (other than Section 7.06(h))) and the issuance of Equity Interests of the Borrower;

 

(c)           loans and advances (and cancellation of such loans and advances) to officers, directors, employees and agents permitted under  Section 7.02(b);

 

(d)           transactions set forth on Schedule 7.08;

 

(e)           fees and compensation paid to, and customary indemnity and reimbursement provided on behalf of, officers, directors, employees and agents of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; and

 

(f)            customary employment or consulting agreements entered into by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.

 

7.09        Burdensome Agreements.  Enter into any Contractual Obligation (other than this Agreement or any other Loan Document) that (a) limits the ability (i) of any Subsidiary to make Restricted Payments to the Borrower or any Guarantor or to otherwise transfer property to the Borrower or any Guarantor, (ii) of any Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) to Guarantee the Indebtedness of the Borrower or (iii) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than an Excluded

 

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Subsidiary) to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on property of such Person; or (b) requires the grant of a Lien to secure an obligation of such Person if a Lien is granted to secure another obligation of such Person, provided, however, that this Section 7.09 shall not prohibit (1) any Permitted Lien or any document or instrument governing any Permitted Lien; provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets subject to such Permitted Lien; (2) customary restrictions and conditions contained in any agreement relating to the sale of any property permitted under Section 7.05 pending the consummation of such sale; (3) customary provisions restricting assignments, subletting or other transfers contained in leases, licenses or similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business; (4) restrictions binding on a Subsidiary at the time it becomes a Subsidiary, so long as such contractual obligations were not entered into in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary; (5) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements applicable to joint ventures that are applicable solely to such joint venture and otherwise permitted hereunder; (6) restrictions with respect to the assets, capital stock and revenues of Foreign Subsidiaries set forth in agreements governing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred hereunder by a Foreign Subsidiary; or (7) with respect to clause (iii) above, any other agreement that does not restrict in any manner (directly or indirectly) Liens created pursuant to the Loan Documents on any Collateral securing the Obligations and does not require the direct or indirect granting of any Lien securing any Indebtedness or other obligation by virtue of the granting of Liens on or pledge of property of any Loan Party to secure the Obligations.

 

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

 

7.11        Financial Covenants.

 

(a)           Debt Service Coverage Ratio.  Permit the Debt Service Coverage Ratio as of the end of any  month of the Borrower to be less than 1.75:1.00.

 

(b)           Consolidated Leverage Ratio.  Permit the Consolidated Leverage Ratio at any time during any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower to be greater than 2.25:1.00.

 

(c)           Net Capital Coverage. If at any time the consolidated revenues of the Regulated Subsidiaries account in the aggregate for 10% or more of the consolidated revenues of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter for which financial statements are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01, permit the aggregate net capital of the Regulated Subsidiaries to be less than 125% of the aggregate regulatory net capital requirements of such Subsidiaries at all times.

 

7.12        Sanctions.  Permit any Loan or the proceeds of any Loan, directly or indirectly, (i) to be lent, contributed or otherwise made available to fund any activity or business in any Designated Jurisdiction; (ii) to fund any activity or business of any Person located, organized or residing in any Designated Jurisdiction or who is the subject of any Sanctions; or (iii) in any other manner that will result in any violation by any Person (including any Lender, Arranger, Administrative Agent or Swing Line Lender) of any Sanctions.

 

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7.13        Amendments of Organization Documents.  Amend the Organization Documents in a manner that would be materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders, provided that amendments with respect to the Borrower’s Organization Documents in connection with a Qualified Public Offering to the extent materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders may be made to the extent that such amendments are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

7.14        Accounting Changes.  Make any change in (a) accounting policies or reporting practices, except as required or permitted by GAAP, or (b) fiscal year.

 

ARTICLE VIII. EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

 

8.01        Events of Default.  Any of the following shall constitute an Event of Default:

 

(a)           Non-Payment.  The Borrower or any other Loan Party fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Loan, or (ii) within three Business Days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan, or any fee due hereunder, or (iii) within five Business Days after the same becomes due, any other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document; or

 

(b)           Specific Covenants.  The Borrower fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 6.01,  6.02,  6.03, 6.04(b), 6.10 or 6.11 or ARTICLE VII, or any Guarantor fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in the Guaranty; or

 

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

 

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

 

(e)           Cross-Default.  (i) The Borrower or any Subsidiary (A) fails to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise, and after the expiration of any extension, standstill or cure period applicable thereto) in respect of any Indebtedness or Guarantee (other than Indebtedness hereunder and Indebtedness under Swap Contracts) having an aggregate principal amount (including undrawn committed or available amounts and including amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit arrangement) of more than the Threshold Amount, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or Guarantee or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event occurs, the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness or the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Guarantee (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required and the expiration of any extension or cure periods, such Indebtedness to be demanded or to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity, or such Guarantee to become payable or cash collateral in respect thereof to be demanded; or (ii) there occurs under any Swap Contract an Early Termination Date (as defined in such Swap Contract) resulting from (A) any event of default under such Swap Contract as to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is

 

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the Defaulting Party (as defined in such Swap Contract) or (B) any Termination Event (as so defined) under such Swap Contract as to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is an Affected Party (as so defined) and, in either event, the Swap Termination Value owed by the Borrower or such Subsidiary as a result thereof is greater than the Threshold Amount; or

 

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

 

(g)                                  Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment.  (i) The Borrower or any Subsidiary becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of any such Person and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within 30 days after its issue or levy; or

 

(h)                                 Judgments.  There is entered against the Borrower or any Subsidiary (i) one or more final judgments or orders for the payment of money in an aggregate amount (as to all such judgments or orders) exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer does not dispute coverage), or (ii) any one or more non-monetary final judgments that have, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and, in either case, (A) enforcement proceedings are commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order, or (B) there is a period of 10 consecutive days during which such judgment is not discharged or a stay of enforcement of such judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect; or

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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8.02                        Remedies Upon Event of Default.  If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions:

 

(a)                                 declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;

 

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

 

(c)                                  exercise on behalf of itself, the Lenders all rights and remedies available to it, the Lenders under the Loan Documents;

 

provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

 

8.03                        Application of Funds.  After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable as set forth in the proviso to Section 8.02), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall, subject to the provisions of Sections 2.15 and 2.16, be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:

 

First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent and amounts payable under ARTICLE III) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;

 

Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest) payable to the Lenders (including fees, charges and disbursements of external counsel to the respective Lenders and amounts payable under ARTICLE III), ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;

 

Third, to payment of interest on the Loans and other Obligations, ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;

 

Fourth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them; and

 

Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.

 

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ARTICLE IX. ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

 

9.01                        Appointment and Authority.  Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints Bank of America to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.  The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.  It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” herein or in any other Loan Documents (or any other similar term) with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable Law. Instead such term is used as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties.

 

9.02                        Rights as a Lender.  The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity.  Such Person 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 business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

 

9.03                        Exculpatory Provisions.  The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, and its duties hereunder shall be administrative in nature.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:

 

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

 

(b)                                 shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents), provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any Debtor Relief Law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any Debtor Relief Law; and

 

(c)                                  shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.

 

The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent 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 shall be necessary, under the 

 

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circumstances as provided in Sections 11.01 and 8.02) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment.  The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given in writing to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or a Lender.

 

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 this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in ARTICLE IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

 

9.04                        Reliance by Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person.  The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon.  In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender prior to the making of such Loan.  The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

 

9.05                        Delegation of Duties.  The Administrative Agent may perform any and all 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 and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or 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 in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and non appealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agents.

 

9.06                        Resignation of Administrative Agent.

 

(a)                                 The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders and the Borrower.  Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, with the approval of the Borrower, to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States.  If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation (or such 

 

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earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Resignation Effective Date”), then the retiring Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) on behalf of the Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above.  Whether or not a successor has been appointed, such resignation shall become effective in accordance with such notice on the Resignation Effective Date.

 

(b)                                 If the Person serving as Administrative Agent is a Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (d) of the definition thereof, the Required Lenders may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, by notice in writing to the Borrower and such Person remove such Person as Administrative Agent and, in consultation with the Borrower, appoint a successor. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Removal Effective Date”), then such removal shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice on the Removal Effective Date.

 

(c)                                  With effect from the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date (as applicable) (1) the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and (2) except for any indemnity payments or other amounts then owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent, all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender directly, until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above in this Section.  Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or removed) Administrative Agent (other than as provided in Section 3.01(g) and other than any rights to indemnity payments or other amounts owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent as of the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date, as applicable), and the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section).  The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor.  After the retiring or removed Administrative Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 11.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring or removed 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 or removed Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent.

 

(d)                                 Any resignation by Bank of America as Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section shall also constitute its resignation as Swing Line Lender. If Bank of America resigns as Swing Line Lender, it shall retain all the rights of the Swing Line Lender provided for hereunder with respect to Swing Line Loans made by it and outstanding as of the effective date of such resignation, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(c).  Upon the appointment by the Borrower of a successor Swing Line Lender hereunder (which successor shall in all cases be a Lender other than a Defaulting Lender), (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Swing Line Lender, as applicable and (b) the retiring Swing Line Lender shall be discharged from all of their respective duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents.

 

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9.07                        Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders.  Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement.  Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information 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.

 

9.08                        No Other Duties, Etc.  Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Bookmanagers or Arrangers listed on the cover page hereof shall have any of the powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent or a Lender.

 

9.09                        Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim.  In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan 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, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise

 

(a)                                 to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans 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 and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 11.04) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

 

(b)                                 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 judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender 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, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 11.04.

 

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 any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.

 

9.10                        Collateral and Guaranty Matters.  Without limiting the provisions of Section 9.09, each Lender (including in its capacity as a potential Cash Management Bank and a potential Hedge Bank) irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion,

 

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(a)                                 to release any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document (i) upon termination of the Aggregate Commitments and payment in full of all Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations), (ii) that is sold or otherwise disposed of  or to be sold or otherwise disposed of  as part of or in connection with any sale or other disposition permitted hereunder or under any other Loan Document, or (iii) subject to Section 11.01, if approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders; and

 

(b)                                 to release any Guarantor from its obligations under ARTICLE X if such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary as a result of a transaction permitted under the Loan Documents.

 

Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release or subordinate its interest in particular types or items of property, or to release any Guarantor from its obligations under ARTICLE X pursuant to this Section 9.10. In each case as specified in this Section 9.10, the Administrative Agent will (and each Lender irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent to), at the Borrower’s expense, execute and deliver to the applicable Loan Party such documents as such Loan Party may reasonably request to evidence the release of such item of Collateral from the assignment and security interest granted under the Collateral Documents or to subordinate its interest in such item, or to release such Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents and this Section 9.10.

 

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 for any failure to monitor or maintain any portion of the Collateral.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Collateral Agent shall not be responsible for or have a duty to ascertain or inquire into whether any conditions for the release of Collateral has been satisfied and the Collateral Agent shall be fully protected and shall not be responsible or liable to the Lenders for any release of Collateral when acting on the Borrower’s Certificate that such conditions of release have been satisfied.

 

9.11                        Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements. Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein or under ARTICLE IX or any Collateral Document, no Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank that obtains the benefits of ARTICLE IX or any Collateral by virtue of the provisions hereof or under ARTICLE IX or any Collateral Document shall have any right to notice of any action or to consent to, direct or object to any action hereunder or under any other Loan Document or otherwise in respect of the Collateral (including the release or impairment of any Collateral) other than in its capacity as a Lender and, in such case, only to the extent expressly provided in the Loan Documents.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this ARTICLE IX to the contrary, the Administrative Agent shall not be required to verify the payment of, or that other satisfactory arrangements have been made with respect to, Obligations arising under Cash Management Agreements or Secured Hedge Agreements unless the Administrative Agent has received written notice of such Obligations, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may request, from the applicable Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank, as the case may be

 

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ARTICLE X. GUARANTY

 

10.01                 The Guaranty.

 

(a)                                 Each Guarantor hereby agrees that it is jointly and severally liable for, and, as primary obligor and not merely as surety, and absolutely and unconditionally guarantees, as a guaranty of payment and performance and not merely as a guaranty of collection, prompt payment when due, whether at stated maturity, by required prepayment, upon acceleration, demand or otherwise, and at all times thereafter, of any and all Obligations (the “Guaranteed Obligations”).

 

(b)                                 Anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder at any time shall be limited to an aggregate amount equal to the largest amount that would not render its obligations hereunder subject to avoidance as a fraudulent transfer or conveyance under Section 548 of the Bankruptcy Code (Title 11, United States Code) or any comparable provisions of any similar federal or state law (the “Maximum Liability”). This subclause (b) with respect to the Maximum Liability of each Guarantor is intended solely to preserve the rights of the Lenders to the maximum extent not subject to avoidance under applicable law, and no Guarantor nor any other Person or entity shall have any right or claim under this subclause (b) with respect to such Maximum Liability, except to the extent necessary so that the obligations of any Guarantor hereunder shall not be rendered voidable under applicable law.  Each Guarantor agrees that the Guaranteed Obligations may at any time and from time to time exceed the Maximum Liability of each Guarantor without impairing this Guaranty or affecting the rights and remedies of the Lenders hereunder, provided, that nothing in this sentence shall be construed to increase any Guarantor’s obligations hereunder beyond its Maximum Liability.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained in this Guaranty (including any provisions of this ARTICLE X to the contrary) shall limit the liability of the Borrower in respect of all of the Obligations.

 

10.02                 Intentionally Omitted.

 

10.03                 Rights of Lender.

 

(a)                                 Each Guarantor consents and agrees that any Lender may, at any time and from time to time, without notice or demand, and without affecting the enforceability or continuing effectiveness hereof:  (i) amend, extend, renew, compromise, discharge, accelerate or otherwise change the time for payment or the terms of the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof; (ii) take, hold, exchange, enforce, waive, release, fail to perfect, sell, or otherwise dispose of any security for the payment of this Guaranty or any Guaranteed Obligations; (iii) apply such security and direct the order or manner of sale thereof as as such Lender in its sole discretion may determine (by so directing the Administrative Agent); and (iv) release or substitute one or more of any endorsers or other guarantors of any of the Guaranteed Obligations.

 

(b)                                 Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Guarantor consents to the taking of, or failure to take, any action which might in any manner or to any extent vary the risks of such Guarantor under this Guaranty or which, but for this provision, might operate as a discharge of such Guarantor.

 

10.04                 Certain Waivers.

 

(a)                                 Each Guarantor waives: (i) any defense arising by reason of any disability or other defense of the Borrower or any other guarantor, or the cessation from any cause whatsoever (including any act or omission of the Lender) of the liability of the Borrower; (ii) any defense based on any claim that such Guarantor’s obligations exceed or are more burdensome than those of the Borrower; (iii) the benefit of any statute of limitations affecting such Guarantor’s liability hereunder; (iv) any right to require any Lender  to proceed against the Borrower, proceed against or exhaust any security for the Indebtedness, or pursue any other remedy in such Lender ’s power whatsoever; (v) any benefit of and any 

 

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right to participate in any security now or hereafter held by such Lender; and (vi) to the fullest extent permitted by law, any and all other defenses or benefits that may be derived from or afforded by applicable law limiting the liability of or exonerating guarantors or sureties.

 

(b)                                 Each Guarantor expressly waives all setoffs and counterclaims and all presentments, demands for payment or performance, notices of nonpayment or nonperformance, protests, notices of protest, notices of dishonor and all other notices or demands of any kind or nature whatsoever with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations, and all notices of acceptance of this Guaranty or of the existence, creation or incurrence of new or additional Guaranteed Obligations. The Administrative Agent may, at its election, foreclose on any Collateral held by it by one or more judicial or nonjudicial sales, accept an assignment of any such Collateral in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise act or fail to act with respect to any collateral securing all or a part of the Guaranteed Obligations, compromise or adjust any part of the Guaranteed Obligations, make any other accommodation with any obligated party or exercise any other right or remedy available to it against any obligated party, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of such Guarantor under this Guaranty except to the extent the Guaranteed Obligations have been fully paid in cash.  To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor waives any defense arising out of any such election even though that election may operate, pursuant to applicable law, to impair or extinguish any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of any Guarantor against any obligated party or any security.

 

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

 

10.06                 Subrogation.

 

(a)                                 No Guarantor shall exercise any right of subrogation, contribution, indemnity, reimbursement or similar rights with respect to any payments it makes under this Guaranty until all of the Guaranteed Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations for which no claims have been asserted or) and any amounts payable under this Guaranty have been paid and performed in full and any commitments of any Lender or facilities provided by any Lender with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations are terminated.

 

(b)                                 If any amounts are paid to any Guarantor in violation of the foregoing limitation, then such amounts shall be held in trust for the benefit of such Lender and shall forthwith be paid to such Lender to reduce the amount of the Guaranteed Obligations, whether matured or unmatured.

 

10.07                 Termination; Reinstatement.

 

(a)                                 This Guaranty is a continuing and irrevocable guaranty of all Guaranteed Obligations now or hereafter existing and shall remain in full force and effect until all Guaranteed Obligations and any other amounts payable under this Guaranty are indefeasibly paid in full in cash and any commitments of any Lender or facilities provided by any Lender with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations are terminated.

 

(b)                                 Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Guaranty shall continue in full force and effect or be revived, as the case may be, if any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Guarantor is made, or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or 

 

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preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws or otherwise, all as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred and whether or not such Lender has released this Guaranty and regardless of any prior revocation, rescission, termination or reduction.

 

(c)                                  The obligations of each Guarantor pursuant to this Section 10.07 shall survive termination of this Guaranty.

 

10.08                 Subordination.

 

(a)                                 Each Guarantor hereby subordinates the payment of all obligations and indebtedness of the Borrower owing to the Guarantor, whether now existing or hereafter arising, including but not limited to any obligation of the Borrower to the Guarantor as subrogee of the Lenders or resulting from the Guarantor’s performance of this Guaranty, to the indefeasible payment in full in cash of all Guaranteed Obligations.

 

(b)                                 If any Lender so requests, any such obligation or indebtedness of the Borrower to any Guarantor shall be enforced and performance received by such Guarantor as trustee for such Lender and the proceeds thereof shall be paid over to such Lender on account of the Guaranteed Obligations, but without reducing or affecting in any manner the liability of such Guarantor under this Guaranty.

 

10.09                 Contribution.  In the event any Guarantor (a “Paying Guarantor”) shall make any payment or payments under this Guaranty or shall suffer any loss as a result of any realization upon any collateral granted by it to secure its obligations under this Guaranty, each other Guarantor (each a “Non-Paying Guarantor”) shall contribute to such Paying Guarantor an amount equal to such Non-Paying Guarantor’s “Guarantor Percentage” of such payment or payments made, or losses suffered, by such Paying Guarantor.  For purposes of this ARTICLE X, each Non-Paying Guarantor’s “Guarantor Percentage” with respect to any such payment or loss by a Paying Guarantor shall be determined as of the date on which such payment or loss was made by reference to the ratio of (i) such Non-Paying Guarantor’s Maximum Liability as of such date (without giving effect to any right to receive, or obligation to make, any contribution hereunder) or, if such Non-Paying Guarantor’s Maximum Liability has not been determined, the aggregate amount of all monies received by such Non-Paying Guarantor from any Borrower after the date hereof (whether by loan, capital infusion or by other means) to (ii) the aggregate Maximum Liability of all Guarantors hereunder (including such Paying Guarantor) as of such date (without giving effect to any right to receive, or obligation to make, any contribution hereunder), or to the extent that a Maximum Liability has not been determined for any Guarantor, the aggregate amount of all monies received by such Guarantors from any Borrower after the date hereof (whether by loan, capital infusion or by other means).  Nothing in this provision shall affect any Guarantor’s several liability for the entire amount of the Guaranteed Obligations (up to such Guarantor’s Maximum Liability).  Each of the Guarantors covenants and agrees that its right to receive any contribution under this Guaranty from a Non-Paying Guarantor shall be subordinate and junior in right of payment to the Guaranteed Obligations being Fully Satisfied.  This provision is for the benefit of all of the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender, the Lenders, the Borrower and the Guarantors and may be enforced by any one, or more, or all of them in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

10.10                 Stay of Acceleration.  In the event that acceleration of the time for payment of any of the Guaranteed Obligations is stayed, in connection with any case commenced by or against any Guarantor or the Borrower under any Debtor Relief Laws, or otherwise, all such amounts shall nonetheless be payable by such Guarantor immediately upon demand by any Lender.

 

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

 

10.12                 Expenses.  Each Guarantor shall pay on demand all out-of-pocket expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses and the allocated cost and disbursements of internal legal counsel) in any way relating to the enforcement or protection of the Lenders’ rights under this Guaranty or in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations, including any incurred during any “workout” or restructuring in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations and any incurred in the preservation, protection or enforcement of any rights of the Lenders in any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws.  The obligations of each Guarantor under this paragraph shall survive the payment in full of the Guaranteed Obligations and termination of this Guaranty.

 

10.13                 Miscellaneous.  The remedies herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law or in equity.  The unenforceability or invalidity of any provision of this Guaranty shall not affect the enforceability or validity of any other provision herein.  Unless otherwise agreed by each Lender and each Guarantor in writing, this Guaranty is not intended to supersede or otherwise affect any other guaranty now or hereafter given by such Guarantor for the benefit of each Lender or any term or provision thereof.

 

10.14                 Condition of Borrower.  Each Guarantor acknowledges and agrees that it has the sole responsibility for, and has adequate means of, obtaining from the Borrower and any other guarantor such information concerning the financial condition, business and operations of the Borrower and any such other guarantor as the Guarantor requires, and that the Lenders have no duty, and such Guarantor is not relying on any Lender at any time, to disclose to such Guarantor any information relating to the business, operations or financial condition of the Borrower or any other guarantor (the guarantor waiving any duty on the part of the Lender to disclose such information and any defense relating to the failure to provide the same).

 

10.15                 Indemnification and Survival.  Without limitation on any other obligations of each Guarantor or remedies of any Lender under this Guaranty, each Guarantor shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify, defend and save and hold harmless each Lender from and against, and shall pay on demand, any and all damages, losses, liabilities and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses and the allocated cost and disbursements of internal legal counsel) that may be suffered or incurred by such Lender in connection with or as a result of any failure of any Guaranteed Obligations to be the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Borrower enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with their terms.  The obligations of such Guarantor under this paragraph shall survive the payment in full of the Guaranteed Obligations and termination of this Guaranty.

 

ARTICLE XI. MISCELLANEOUS

 

11.01                 Amendments, Etc.  No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Borrower or any other Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and the Borrower or the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such

 

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waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

 

(a)                                 (i) waive any condition set forth in Section 4.01(a), (ii) waive the condition set forth in Section 4.02(a)(ii), and (iii) amend the definition of “Outside Date”, in each case, without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(b)                                 extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 8.02) without the written consent of such Lender (it being understood and agreed that a waiver of any condition precedent or of any Default will not be considered an extension or increase in any Commitments of a Lender for purposes of this clause (b));

 

(c)                                  postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any scheduled payment or mandatory prepayment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to the Lenders (or any of them) hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby (it being understood and agreed that a waiver of any condition precedent or of any Default will not be considered postponement for purposes of this clause (c));

 

(d)                                 reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan, amend the definition of “Default Rate”,  waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the Default Rate, or (subject to clause (iii) of the second proviso to this Section 11.01) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document,  without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; provided, however, that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend any financial covenant hereunder (or any defined term used therein) even if the effect of such amendment would be to reduce the rate of interest on any Loan or to reduce any fee payable hereunder;

 

(e)                                  change Section 8.03 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(f)                                   change any provision of this Section or the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender; or

 

(g)                                  except as otherwise permitted herein, release all or substantially all of the value of the Guaranty without the written consent of each Lender, or all or substantially all of the Collateral in any transaction or series of related transactions without the written consent of each Lender, except to the extent the release of any Guarantor is permitted pursuant to Section 9.10 (in which case such release may be made by the Administrative Agent acting alone);

 

and, provided  further, that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Swing Line Lender in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Swing Line Lender under this Agreement; (ii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; and (iii) the Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except that (x) the Commitment of any

 

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Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender and (y) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects any Defaulting Lender disproportionately adversely relative to other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender.

 

Further, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section, if the Administrative Agent and Borrower shall have jointly identified an obvious error or any error or omission of a technical or immaterial nature, in each case, in any provision of the Loan Documents, then the Administrative Agent and Borrower shall be permitted to amend such provision and such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to any Loan Document if the same is not objected to in writing by the Required Lenders within five Business Days following receipt of notice thereof.

 

If any Lender does not consent to a proposed amendment, waiver, consent or release with respect to any Loan Document that requires the consent of each Lender or such Lender and that has been approved by the Required Lenders, the Borrower may replace such non consenting Lender in accordance with Section 11.13; provided that such amendment, waiver, consent or release can be effected as a result of the assignment contemplated by such Section (together with all other such assignments required by the Borrower to be made pursuant to this paragraph).

 

11.02                 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.

 

(a)                                 Notices Generally.  Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by facsimile as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:

 

(i)                                     if to the Borrower or any other Loan Party, the Administrative Agent or the Swing Line Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 11.02; and

 

(ii)                                  if to any other Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire (including, as appropriate, notices delivered solely to the Person designated by a Lender on its Administrative Questionnaire then in effect for the delivery of notices that may contain material non-public information relating to the Borrower).

 

Notices and other communications sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices and other communications sent by 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 and other communications delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in subsection (b) below, shall be effective as provided in such subsection (b).

 

(b)                                 Electronic Communications.  Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the

 

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foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender pursuant to ARTICLE II if such Lender has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication.  The Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender or the Borrower may each, in its 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.

 

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 communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; provided that, for both clauses (i) and (ii), if such notice, email or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice, email or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient.

 

(c)                                  The Platform.  THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.”  THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS.  NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM.  In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower’s, any Loan Party’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of Borrower Materials through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided, however, that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages).

 

(d)                                 Change of Address, Etc.  Each of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Swing Line Lender may change its address, facsimile or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.  Each other Lender may change its address, facsimile or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Swing Line Lender.  In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, facsimile number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender.  Furthermore, each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the “Private Side Information” or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public Lender’s compliance procedures and applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws, to make reference to Borrower Materials that are not made available through

 

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the “Public Side Information” portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal or state securities laws.

 

(e)                                  Reliance by Administrative Agent and Lenders.  The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic or electronic Committed Loan Notices and Swing Line Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof.  The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower.  All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

 

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

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against the Loan Parties or any of them shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 8.02 for the benefit of all the Lenders; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (b) the Swing Line Lender from exercising the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Swing Line Lender) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (c) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 11.08 (subject to the terms of Section 2.13), or (d) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to any Loan Party under any Debtor Relief Law; and provided, further, that if at any time there is no Person acting as Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 8.02 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b), (c) and (d) of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.13, any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.

 

11.04                 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

 

(a)                                 Costs and Expenses.  The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including the reasonable and documented fees, charges and disbursements of external counsel for the Administrative Agent), in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any

 

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amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including the fees, charges and disbursements of counsel which shall be limited to one external counsel, regulatory counsel, and local counsel to the Administrative Agent, the Arranger and the Lenders and in the event of any actual or potential conflict of interest, one additional counsel), in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or (B) in connection with the Loans made, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans.

 

(b)                                 Indemnification by the Borrower.  The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), 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 (including the reasonable and documented fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel or consultant for any Indemnitee), incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any Person (including the Borrower or any other Loan Party) other than such Indemnitee and its Related Parties arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or, in the case of the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including in respect of any matters addressed in Section 3.01), (ii) any Loan or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom, (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 or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or (y) result from a claim brought by the Borrower or any other Loan Party against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document (other than the claims against the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or their Related Parties) if the Borrower or such Loan Party has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction or (z) claims solely amongst Indemnitees that do not involve any act or omission of the Borrower or its Affiliates.  Without limiting the provisions of Section 3.01(c), this Section 11.04(b) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim.

 

(c)                                  Reimbursement by Lenders.  To the extent that the Borrower for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), the Swing Line Lender or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), the Swing Line Lender or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s pro rata share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought based on each Lender’s share of the Total Credit Exposure at such time) of such unpaid amount (including any such unpaid amount in respect of a claim asserted by such Lender), such payment to be made severally among them based on such Lenders’ Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought), provided, further that, the

 

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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) or the Swing Line 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) or the Swing Line Lender in connection with such capacity.  The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 2.12(d).

 

(d)                                 Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc.  To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, no party hereto shall assert, and each party hereto waives, any claim against any other party hereto and against any other Indemnitees, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof, provided that the foregoing shall in no way limit the Borrower’s obligations under Section 11.04(b).  No Indemnitee referred to in subsection (b) above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed to such unintended recipients by such Indemnitee through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby other than for direct or actual damages resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee as determined by a final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

(e)                                  Payments.  All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than ten Business Days after demand therefor; provided that the Borrower has received a reasonably detailed written invoice of such changes.

 

(f)                                   Survival.  The agreements in this Section and the indemnity provisions of Section 11.02(e) shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent and the Swing Line Lender, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.

 

11.05                 Payments Set Aside.  To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower is made to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect.  The obligations of the Lenders under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

11.06                 Successors and Assigns.

 

(a)                                 Successors and Assigns Generally.  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, except that neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of

 

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its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this Section, or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (f) of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void).  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, Participants to the extent provided in subsection (d) of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

(b)                                 Assignments by Lenders.  Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans (including for purposes of this subsection (b), participations in Swing Line Loans) at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

 

(i)                                     Minimum Amounts.

 

(A)                               in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and/or the Loans at the time owing to it or contemporaneous assignments to related Approved Funds that equal at least the amount specified in paragraph (b)(i)(B) of this Section in the aggregate or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and

 

(B)                               in any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A) of this Section, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the 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 or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $2,500,000 unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

 

(ii)                                  Proportionate Amounts.  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 with respect to the Loans or the Commitment assigned, except that this clause (ii) shall not apply to the Swing Line Lender’s rights and obligations in respect of Swing Line Loans;

 

(iii)                               Required Consents.  No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by subsection (b)(i)(i)(B) of this Section and, in addition:

 

(A)                               the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (1) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; provided that the Borrower shall be deemed

 

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to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within ten (10) Business Days after having received notice thereof; and provided, further, that the Borrower’s consent shall not be required during the primary syndication of  the credit facility provided herein;

 

(B)                               the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender; and

 

(C)                               the consent of the Swing Line Lender (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment.

 

(iv)                              Assignment and Assumption.  The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, and the assigning Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent a processing and recordation fee in the amount of $3,500; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment.  The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

 

(v)                                 No Assignment to Certain Persons.  No such assignment shall be made (A) to the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries, (B) to any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (B), or (C) to a natural Person.

 

(vi)                              Certain Additional Payments.  In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or subparticipations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon) and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans and participations in Swing Line Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under applicable Law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.

 

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement 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

 

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Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04, 3.05, and 11.04 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment; provided, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no assignment by a Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.  Upon request, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender.  Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection 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 subsection (d) of this Section.

 

(c)                                  Register.  The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower (and such agency being solely for tax purposes), shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it (or the equivalent thereof in electronic form) and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts (and stated interest) of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”).  The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement.  The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

(d)                                 Participations.  Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural Person, a Defaulting Lender or the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans (including such Lender’s participations in Swing Line Loans) owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.  For the avoidance of doubt, each Lender shall be responsible for the indemnity under Section 11.04(c) without regard to the existence of any participation.

 

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, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section 11.01 that affects such Participant.  The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05  to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 3.01(e) shall be delivered to the Lender who sells the participation) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section; provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Sections 3.06 and 11.13 as if it were an assignee under subsection (b) of this Section and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 3.01 or 3.04, with respect to any participation, than the Lender from whom it acquired the applicable participation 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

 

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3.06 with respect to any Participant.  To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 11.08  as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13  as though it were a Lender.  Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under 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 Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations.  The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

 

(e)           Certain Pledges.  Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note, if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

 

(f)            Resignation as Swing Line Lender after Assignment.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if at any time Bank of America assigns all of its Commitment and  Loans pursuant to subsection (b) above, Bank of America may, upon 30 days’ notice to the Borrower, resign as Swing Line Lender.  In the event of any such resignation as Swing Line Lender, the Borrower shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a successor Swing Line Lender hereunder; provided, however, that no failure by the Borrower to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of Bank of America as Swing Line Lender.  If Bank of America resigns as Swing Line Lender, it shall retain all the rights of the Swing Line Lender provided for hereunder with respect to Swing Line Loans made by it and outstanding as of the effective date of such resignation, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Committed Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(c).  Upon the appointment of a successor Swing Line Lender, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Swing Line Lender.

 

11.07      Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality.  Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its Related Parties (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent required or requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over such Person or its Related Parties (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement or any Eligible

 

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Assignee invited to be a Lender pursuant to Section 2.14(c) or (ii) any actual or prospective party (or its Related Parties) to any swap, derivative or other transaction under which payments are to be made by reference to the Borrower and its obligations, this Agreement or payments hereunder, (g) on a confidential basis to (i)  any rating agency in connection with rating the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or the credit facilities provided hereunder or (ii) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers or other market identifiers with respect to the credit facilities provided hereunder, (h) with the consent of the Borrower or (i) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower.  For purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary relating to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential.  Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

 

Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders acknowledges that (a) the Information may include material non-public information concerning the Borrower or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and (c) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws.

 

11.08      Right of Setoff.  If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower or any other Loan Party against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower or such Loan Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or their respective Affiliates, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or Affiliate shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrower or such Loan Party may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch, office or Affiliate of such Lender different from the branch, office or Affiliate holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness; provided, that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.16  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 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 and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender or their respective Affiliates may have.  Each Lender 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.

 

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

 

11.10      Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract.  This Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent, constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof.  Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or other electronic imaging means (e.g. “pdf” or “tif”) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

11.11      Survival of Representations and Warranties.  All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof.  Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Borrowing, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied.

 

11.12      Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions.  The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.  Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.12, if and to the extent that the enforceability of any provisions in this Agreement relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent or the Swing Line Lender, as applicable, then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited.

 

11.13      Replacement of Lenders.  If the Borrower is entitled to replace a Lender pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.06, or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or a Non-Consenting Lender or if any other circumstance exists hereunder that gives the Borrower the right to replace a Lender as a party hereto, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the

 

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Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 11.06), all of its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Sections 3.01 and 3.04) and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:

 

(a)           the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee (if any) specified in Section 11.06(b);

 

(b)           such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.05) 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);

 

(c)           in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter;

 

(d)           such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws; and

 

(e)           in the case of an assignment resulting from a Lender becoming a Non-Consenting Lender, the applicable assignee shall have consented to the applicable amendment, waiver or consent.

 

A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or 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.

 

11.14      Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

 

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

 

(b)           SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION.  THE BORROWER AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT COMMENCE ANY ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING OF ANY KIND OR DESCRIPTION, WHETHER IN LAW OR EQUITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR IN TORT OR OTHERWISE, AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER OR ANY RELATED PARTY OF THE FOREGOING IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATING HERETO OR THERETO, IN ANY FORUM OTHER THAN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS  AND AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION,

 

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LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW.  NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY LENDER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST THE BORROWER OR ANY OTHER LOAN PARTY OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

 

(c)           WAIVER OF VENUE.  THE BORROWER AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

 

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

 

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

 

11.16      No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.  In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), the Borrower and each other Loan Party acknowledges and agrees, that: (i) (A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent,  the Arranger and the Lenders are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Borrower, each other Loan Party and their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, the Arranger, and the Lenders, on the other hand, (B) each of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) the Borrower and each other Loan Party is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii) (A) the Administrative Agent, the Arranger and each

 

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Lender is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) neither the Administrative Agent, the Arranger nor any Lender has any obligation to the Borrower,  any other Loan Party or any of their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the Administrative Agent, the Arranger and the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower, the other Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent, the Arranger, nor any Lender has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Affiliates.  To the fullest extent permitted by law, each of  the Borrower and each other Loan Party hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent, the Arranger or any Lender with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

 

11.17      Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents.  The words “execute”, “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption or in any amendment or other modification hereof (including waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, electronic matching of assignment terms and contract formations on electronic platforms approved by the Administrative Agent, 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 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.

 

11.18      USA PATRIOT Act.  Each Lender that is subject to the Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Act”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Act.  The Borrower shall, promptly following a request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide all documentation and other information that the Administrative Agent or such Lender requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Act.

 

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

 

	
 
    	
FX   ALLIANCE INC.
    
	
 
    	
as Borrower
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   John Cooley
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
John   Cooley
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Chief   Financial Officer
    

 

 

	
 
    	
FX ALLIANCE, LLC,
    
	
 
    	
as Guarantor
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ John Cooley
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name: John Cooley
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title: Chief   Financial Officer
    

 

 

	
 
    	
FX ALLIANCE   INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    
	
 
    	
as Guarantor
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ John Cooley
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name: John Cooley
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title: Chief   Financial Officer
    

 

 

	
 
    	
BANK   OF AMERICA, N.A., as
    
	
 
    	
Administrative   Agent
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Darleen R. Parmalee
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Darleen   R. Parmalee
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Assistant   Vice President
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Re:   FX Alliance Inc.
    

 

 

	
 
    	
BANK   OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender and Swing
    
	
 
    	
Line   Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Sherman Wong
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Sherman   Wong
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Director
    

 

 

	
 
    	
BANK   OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender and Swing
    
	
 
    	
Line   Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    

 

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
,
    
	
 
    	
as   a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:Exhibit 10.4

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

This Employment Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made as of the 15th day of July, 2010, by and between FX Alliance Inc., a Delaware corporation (or any successor thereto) (the “Company”), with offices at 900 Third Avenue, 3rd Floor, New York, N.Y. 10022, USA, and Philip Zev Weisberg  residing at [                                                      ] (“Executive”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to continue to employ Executive, and Executive desires to be so employed, on the terms and conditions set forth herein; and

 

WHEREAS, (i) in the course of his employment with the Company, Executive will obtain confidential and proprietary information and trade secrets concerning the business and operations of the Company and its Affiliates (as defined below) and Subsidiaries (as defined below) throughout the world that could be used to compete unfairly with the Company and its Affiliates and Subsidiaries; (ii) the covenants and restrictions contained in Sections 4 and 5 are intended to protect the legitimate interests of the Company and its Affiliates and Subsidiaries in their respective goodwill, trade secrets and other confidential and proprietary information; and (iii) Executive desires to be bound by such covenants and restrictions.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants and promises contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the Company and Executive hereby agree as follows:

 

1.             Position and Duties.

 

a.             During the Employment Period (as defined below), Executive shall serve as Chief Executive Officer  of the Company and shall have such duties and responsibilities as he is presently performing at the time of the execution of this Agreement and such other duties and responsibilities as are customarily assigned to individuals serving in such position.  During the Employment Period, Executive shall also perform those other duties and responsibilities consistent with Executive’s position with the Company that may be assigned to him from time to time by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Company.  In addition, the Company hereby agrees to cause Executive to be elected and reelected as a member of the Board and to maintain his status as a member of the Board.

 

b.             During the Employment Period, Executive shall report to the Board.  In performing his duties and responsibilities for the Company, Executive shall comply with the policies and procedures as adopted from time to time by the Company, shall give the Company the benefit of his contacts and business experience, shall perform his duties and carry out his responsibilities hereunder in a diligent manner, and shall devote all of his business time, attention, ability, knowledge, experience, skills, energy and best efforts exclusively to the performance of his duties and responsibilities for the Company.  Executive hereby agrees to render his duties and responsibilities in such manner.

 

c.             During any Notice Period (as defined below) (whether given by the Company or Executive), the Company shall be under no obligation to assign any duties to Executive or to

 

 

provide any work for him and shall be entitled to exclude him from its premises, provided that this shall not affect Executive’s entitlement to receive his Base Salary (as defined below) and regular benefits described in Section 3 during such Notice Period.  Executive will not be in a position to commence employment with or provide any services to any other entity or person until such time as the Employment Period terminates.

 

2.             Employment Period

 

Unless terminated at an earlier date in accordance with Section 6 of this Agreement, the Company shall employ the Executive pursuant to this Agreement for an initial term of four and one quarter (41⁄4) years, beginning as of September 29, 2010, and ending on December 31, 2014 thereof (the “Initial Term”) and through each Additional Term (as defined below).  Effective upon the expiration of the Initial Term and of each Additional Term, Executive’s employment hereunder shall be deemed to be automatically extended, upon the same terms and conditions, for an additional period of one (1) year (each, an “Additional Term”), in each such case, commencing upon the expiration of the Initial Term or the then current Additional Term, as the case may be, unless the Company or Executive, at least 90 days prior to the expiration of the Initial Term or such Additional Term, shall give written notice to the other party of its or his intention not to extend the Employment Period hereunder.  The period during which Executive is employed by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, including any extension thereof in accordance with the preceding sentence, shall be referred to as the “Employment Period.”

 

3.             Compensation and Benefits.

 

a.             Cash Compensation.  In consideration of Executive’s employment, during the Employment Period, the Company shall pay Executive the following amounts, on the terms and conditions stated.

 

(i)            Base Salary. During the Employment Period, the Company shall pay the Executive a base salary of $400,000 per annum (as the same may be increased from time to time in accordance with this Section 3.a.i and Section 3.a.iii (the “Base Salary”). The Base Salary for each calendar year shall be prorated according to the number of days in such year during which Executive is employed by the Company.  During the Employment Period, the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Committee”) may review the annual rate of the Base Salary, and may increase, but not decrease, such annual rate as it determines, in its sole discretion.

 

(ii)           Annual Bonus.  For each full calendar year ending during the Employment Period (which, for these purposes, will be deemed to have commenced on January 1, 2010) and, to the extent expressly provided in Section 6, any partial year ending during the Employment Period, if the Company and Executive attain 100% of the performance objectives (“Performance Targets”) established by the Committee (and reasonably acceptable to Executive) for such calendar year and, except to the extent provided in Section 6, Executive is continuously employed by the Company hereunder until the date for payment of annual executive bonuses for such calendar year, Executive shall receive an annual bonus for such year.  During the Employment Period, the Committee may review the Target Bonus (as defined below), and may increase, but not decrease, such Target Bonus as it determines, in its sole discretion and shall

 

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also increase the Target Bonus as provided in Section 3.a.iii. In addition, in the event that the Performance Targets for a calendar year have not been proposed by March 1 of such year, then the Company’s operational plan for such calendar year shall be treated as the Performance Targets for such year.  With respect to the 2010 calendar year, Executive will have a target bonus (the “2010 Target Bonus”) of $1,100,000, and with respect to the 2011 calendar year and for each year thereafter during the Employment Period, Executive will have a target bonus of (the “Target Bonus”) of $1,600,000, increased in accordance with Section 3.a.iii. For each year of the Employment Period (including 2010), within 60 days of the beginning of a given year, the Committee and Executive shall determine and agree upon (i) the Performance Targets for the applicable year; (ii) the minimum percentage of weighted average Performance Targets established which must be achieved for any bonus to be payable with respect to a given calendar year; and (iii) the maximum Target Bonus payable for performance at or above a certain maximum weighted average Performance Targets; and (iv) the interpolation scale for performance in excess of, or below, the Performance Targets subject to the minimum and maximum thresholds set forth for such year. Any bonus that becomes payable under this subsection 3.a.ii shall be paid to Executive on the later of (x) February 1 of the calendar year following the calendar year for which such bonus is payable and (y) as soon as reasonably practicable following delivery to the Board of the audited financial statements of the Company for such calendar year, but in no event later than March 1 of the calendar year following the calendar year for which such bonus is payable.

 

(iii)          Cost of Living Adjustment. Upon the first extension of the Executive’s employment following the Initial Term (i.e., upon commencement of the first Additional Term), the Base Salary and Target Bonus shall be adjusted to reflect cost of living changes since the commencement of the Initial Term by multiplying the Executive’s Base Salary and Target Bonus as in effect at the beginning of the Initial Term by a fraction, the numerator of which is the consumer price index as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Labor Department for All Items, All Urban Consumers for (New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island) (the “Consumer Price Index”) for the calendar month immediately preceding the last month of the Initial Term and the denominator of which is the Consumer Price Index for the same calendar month immediately preceding the beginning of the Initial Term.  Upon each Additional Term thereafter, the Base Salary and Target bonus shall be adjusted to reflect the cost of living changes by multiplying the Executive’s Base Salary and Target Bonus as in effect at the beginning of the immediately preceding Additional Term (the “Preceding Additional Term”) by a fraction, the numerator of which is the Consumer Price Index for the calendar month immediately preceding the last month of such Preceding Additional Term and the denominator of which is the Consumer Price Index for the same calendar month immediately preceding such Preceding Additional Term. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 3.a.iii shall not apply to the extent that it would result in a reduction in the Base Salary or Target Bonus applicable to any Additional Term.

 

(iv)          Participation in Benefit Plans.  During the Employment Period, Executive shall be entitled to participate in all employee benefit, welfare and perquisite plans and programs of the Company made available generally to senior level executives or to other employees.

 

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b.             Stock Options.  On or before December 31, 2010, the Company shall grant Executive options (the “Options”) to purchase shares of common stock of the Company equal to 2.00% of the authorized shares of common stock of the Company as of the day of the grant (i.e., 700,000 shares) ); provided, however if an appraisal for purposes of determining the fair market value of the Company is not obtained by December 31, 2010 despite the Company’s best efforts to obtain such appraisal, then the Company shall grant the Options within ten days of obtaining the appraisal.  The exercise price of the Options shall be determined by the Company; the parties intend that this exercise price shall be equal to 100% of the fair market value of a share in the Company as of the date of grant (and thereby compliant for purposes of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)).  The terms and conditions of the Options shall be evidenced by a separate stock option agreement executed by the Company and Executive (the “Option Agreement”) which shall contain terms consistent with the Company’s 2006 Stock Option Plan as it may be amended from time to time (the “Stock Option Plan”), this Section 3(b) and other customary terms.  The Option Agreement shall provide, among other things, for the following:

 

(i)           Vesting.  The Options shall vest in four equal 25% installments (of One Hundred Seventy-Five Thousand Shares each) on December 31, 2011 and each of the next three anniversaries thereof, provided that Executive’s employment is not terminated prior to any such applicable vesting date.  Notwithstanding the foregoing:

 

(1)           in the event that the Company terminates Executive’s employment without Cause (as defined below) in accordance with subsection 6.a.iv, including a non-extension by the Company of Executive’s Employment Period, Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason (as defined below) in accordance with subsection 6.a.v, or the Executive’s employment is terminated on his death (subsection 6.a.i) or Disability (subsection 6.a.ii), the portion of the Options that would have become vested on the next scheduled vesting date shall become immediately vested and exercisable and any remaining portion of the Options that has not become vested and exercisable shall immediately expire and be forfeited as soon as it is certain that Section 3.b.i.2 is not applicable;

 

(2)           in the event that, during the period commencing three (3) months immediately preceding a Change in Control (as defined below) and ending on the first anniversary of the Change in Control, Executive’s employment is terminated (x) without Cause by the Company or by Executive for Good Reason pursuant to clause (B) or (C) of 6.a.v (i.e., by virtue of the Company’s uncured breach of the Agreement or a change in the Company’s principal place of business) or (y) the Executive resigns without Good Reason on the first anniversary following a Change in Control in accordance with clause (C) of subsection 6.a.vi., subject to Executive’s execution of a general release and compliance with the restrictive covenants described in Section 4, in the case of a termination in accordance with clause (x) above, all or any portion of the Options that

 

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has not yet become exercisable shall vest and become immediately exercisable, and in the case of a termination in accordance with clause (y) above, the pro rata portion of the Options that would have become vested on the next two (2) scheduled vesting date after the Date of Termination (as defined below) shall become immediately vested and exercisable, and any remaining portion of the Options that has not become vested and exercisable shall immediately expire and be forfeited. In the event of a termination in accordance with clauses (x) or (y) above, any portion of the Options that vests after the Change in Control, to the extent it has not been originally converted into the consideration that the original shareholders received in the Transaction, will be so converted, including cash.

 

(ii)           Term of Options.  Any portion of the Options that have become vested and exercisable shall generally expire on the tenth anniversary of the date of grant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) if Executive is terminated by the Company for Cause, any portion of vested Options shall expire immediately upon termination, and (b) if Executive resigns from the Company other than for Good Reason (including the Executive’s non-extension of the Employment Period, and a resignation on the first anniversary immediately following a Change in Control), any portion of vested Options shall remain exercisable until the earlier of (x) the tenth anniversary of the date of grant or (y) the second anniversary of the Date of Termination, and, if not exercised during that time, shall expire and be forfeited.

 

(iii)          Restrictions on Transferability.  Any portion of the vested shares of common stock purchased pursuant to the Options shall be subject to those restrictions on transferability and to the same tag along rights applicable to non-management shareholders, as provided in the applicable shareholders agreement.

 

(iv)  Distributions on Common Stock in connection with a Change in Control.  In the event the Company makes a distribution with respect to the common stock of the Company during a period commencing one year immediately preceding a Change in Control and ending on the first anniversary of such Change in Control (the “Applicable Period”), Executive shall be entitled to an amount equal to the distributions that would have been paid with respect to each of the underlying shares of outstanding Options then held by Executive (the “Distribution Equivalent Payment”).  Executive’s rights to the Distribution Equivalent Payment with respect to an underlying share of an Option shall vest upon the later of: (i) the time the Option to acquire such share vests pursuant to Section 3.b.i; (ii) a Change in Control of the Company (as defined below); and (iii) the declaration of the distribution to occur during the Applicable Period.  The Distribution Equivalent Payment shall be paid to Executive with respect to an underlying share of the Option within 90 days of its vesting.

 

c.             Vacation.   During the Employment Period, Executive shall be entitled to paid vacation in accordance with the applicable policies of the Company as in effect from time to time.

 

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d.             Expenses.  Executive shall also be entitled to reimbursement for such reasonable expenses incurred by him directly in connection with the performance of his duties hereunder, subject to receipt of reasonable documentary evidence thereof and otherwise in accordance with the Company’s policies respecting expense reimbursement.

 

e.             Relocation Benefits.  In the event that, during the Employment Period, Executive is required to relocate his principal place of business to a location outside the New York City metropolitan area, the Company will provide Executive with a relocation package determined in good faith by the Company covering the reasonable expenses incurred by Executive in the relocation of Executive, his immediate family living with him and their personal household effects in accordance with a relocation policy of the Company that provides relocation benefits that are substantially equivalent to the relocation benefits then generally provided to individuals having the title of managing director (or equivalent title) of large U.S. financial institutions.

 

4.             Restrictive Covenants.

 

a.             Exclusivity of Service.  During the Employment Period, Executive shall not directly or indirectly engage in any activity competitive with or adverse to the Company’s Business (as defined below), reputation or welfare or render any services of a business, professional or commercial nature to any other Person (as defined below), whether for compensation or otherwise; provided that to the extent that the following activities, individually or collectively, do not interfere with the performance of Executive’s duties and responsibilities hereunder, Executive may devote such reasonable time as may be necessary to the fulfillment of Executive’s responsibilities to charitable, religious or civic organizations.

 

b.             Covenant Not to Solicit.  The Company and Executive acknowledge and agree that Executive will have a significant role in the development of the Business, that Executive will establish and develop confidential relations and contacts with the customers and suppliers of the Company and Subsidiaries throughout the world and that Executive will have access to Confidential Information (as defined below), all of which constitute valuable goodwill of the Company.  Accordingly, provided the Company is then engaged in business, Executive hereby covenants and agrees that he shall not, either directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Board, on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of any other business, organization, partnership, Person, firm, corporation, association or other entity:

 

(i)            during the Employment Period and the one (1) year period immediately following any termination of Executive’s employment (the “Restricted Period”), solicit for employment, employ or otherwise retain the services of any individual employed by, or retained to perform services for, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other than any solicitation or employment of any such individual during the Employment Period on behalf of the Company or its Subsidiaries; and

 

(ii)           during the Restricted Period, (x) solicit any actual or potential customer, client, outside agent, or supplier of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other than any solicitation on behalf of the Company or its Subsidiaries, provided that during the Restricted

 

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Period, Executive may solicit any potential customer, client, outside agent, or supplier of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries on behalf of any Person who is not in Competition (as defined below) with the Company or its Subsidiaries, or (y) interfere with, disrupt or attempt to disrupt any relationship, contractual or otherwise, between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and any actual or potential customer, client, outside agent, or supplier of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

c.             Covenant Not to Compete.  During the Employment Period and during the six (6) month period immediately following any termination of Executive’s employment, Executive covenants and agrees that he shall not, either directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Board, on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of any other business, organization, partnership, Person, firm, corporation, association or other entity, engage in Competition (as hereinafter defined) other than as an employee or service partner of the Company or its Affiliates or Subsidiaries.

 

For purposes of this Agreement, “Competition” means Executive’s participation, directly or indirectly, as an individual proprietor, partner, stockholder, officer, employee, director, joint venturer, investor, lender, consultant or in any capacity whatsoever (within the United States or in any foreign country where the Company or any of its Subsidiaries does business) in a Business.  Competition does not include: (i) Executive’s ownership of not more than 1% of the total outstanding stock of a publicly held company; (ii) Executive’s employment with any enterprise to the extent such services are not performed, directly or indirectly, for an enterprise engaged in a Business (including, without limitation, Executive’s performance of services for or employment by any entity which has a division or business unit engaging in a Business, if such performance does not in any capacity, directly or indirectly, involve work with or assistance to such division or business unit); or (iii) any activity engaged in by Executive with the prior written approval of the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

d.             Trade Secrets and Confidential Information.  Executive acknowledges and agrees with the Company that his employment is and will be of a private nature, and in connection with the performance of his duties on behalf of the Company, the Company may make available to him information which is private or confidential or proprietary to the Company or any Subsidiaries or Affiliates thereof or their respective employees, clients, customers and other third parties with whom the Company does business (“Confidential Information”).  Executive warrants and agrees that he will receive in strict confidence all Confidential Information.

 

Executive acknowledges and agrees that Confidential Information includes, but is not limited to, customer lists, vendor lists, joint venture lists, databases, computer programs, software, and solutions, frameworks, designs, models, marketing programs, business sales, financial, marketing, training and technical information and plans, business methods, procedures, techniques, research or development projects or results, trade secrets (which Executive agrees includes customer and prospective customer lists of the Company or any of its Affiliates or Subsidiaries), pricing policies, intellectual property, Developments (as defined below), information relating to projected acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures or other business arrangements, whether involving the Company or any of its Affiliates, Subsidiaries or third parties, properties or management agreements, management organization information (including data and other information relating to members of the Board or management), business or

 

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operating policies or manuals, purchasing agreements, financial records or other financial, commercial, business or technical information relating to the Company or any of its Affiliates or Subsidiaries, information designated as confidential or proprietary that the Company or any of its Affiliates or Subsidiaries may receive belonging to suppliers, customers or others who do business with the Company or any of its Affiliates or Subsidiaries, all information which the Company has a legal obligation to treat as confidential and information concerning how the Company or any of its Affiliates or Subsidiaries creates, develops, acquires or maintains its products and marketing plans, targets its potential customers, and operates its retail and other businesses.  Confidential Information shall not include information which is (i) otherwise available in the public domain (other than by reason of the breach by Executive of any confidentiality agreement with the Company or any of its Affiliates or Subsidiaries), (ii) was known or available to Executive from an independent source, or was independently developed by Executive, prior to Executive’s employment with the Company, or (iii) becomes known or available to Executive from a third party source that is not subject to a legal obligation to keep such information confidential.  During and following the Employment Period, Executive shall not disclose, communicate or divulge to, or use for the direct or indirect benefit of, any business, organization, partnership, Person, firm, corporation, association or other entity (other than the Company or any of its Affiliates or Subsidiaries) any Confidential Information, except to the extent disclosure is required by a statute, by a court of law having appropriate jurisdiction, by any governmental agency having supervisory authority over the business of the Company, or any of its Affiliates or Subsidiaries, or by any administrative or legislative body (including a committee thereof) with jurisdiction to order Executive to divulge, disclose or make accessible such information, in which event Executive shall use his best efforts to inform and consult with the Company with respect to any such request for disclosure, provided the Company reimburses Executive for his reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in connection therewith, and to cooperate with the Company in the Company’s attempt to oppose such disclosure by Executive.  Executive further agrees to maintain and to assist the Company in maintaining the secrecy of such Confidential Information, including assisting the Company in minimizing any such required disclosure.  Executive further agrees to take at least the same precautions as he would with his own proprietary information to prevent it from coming into unauthorized hands.

 

e.             Foreign Exchange Transactions.  Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, during the period he is employed by the Company and during the thirty (30) day period following any termination of such employment, engage in any foreign currency exchange transactions, except for (i) de minimis personal transactions incident to travel by Executive and (ii) transactions in which Executive engaged in connection with Executive’s performance of his duties and responsibilities for the Company.

 

f.              Records.  All files, diskettes, tapes, records, notes, memoranda, manuals, compositions and other documents in any media that disclose or embody Confidential Information or relate to the business of the Company, including all copies, specimens or excerpts thereof, whether authored or prepared by Executive or otherwise coming into his possession (collectively, “Records”), shall be the exclusive property of the Company.  All Records shall be immediately placed in the physical possession of the Company upon the termination of Executive’s employment with the Company, or at any other time specified by the Board.  The retention and use by Executive of duplicates in any form of Records is prohibited after the termination of Executive’s employment with the Company.

 

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g.             Disclosure to Prospective Employers.  Executive will disclose to any prospective employer or Person, prior to accepting employment with such employer or providing services to such Person, the existence and terms of Sections 4 and 5 of this Agreement.  The obligation imposed by this Section 4.g. shall terminate on the twelve-month anniversary of the termination of Executive’s employment.

 

h.             Survival.  Notwithstanding the termination of the employment of Executive or the termination of this Agreement for any reason, provided the Company is then engaged in business, the provisions of Sections 4 and 5 of this Agreement shall survive in accordance with their terms and for the periods specified and be binding upon Executive and his heirs unless and until a written agreement that specifically refers to the termination of the obligations and covenants of Executive under Section 4 or 5 is executed and delivered by the Company.

 

i.              Certain Definitions.  The following terms shall have the definitions specified below:

 

“Affiliate”:  with respect to any Person, means any other Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with the first Person, including but not limited to a Subsidiary of the first Person, a Person of which the first Person is a Subsidiary, or another Subsidiary of a Person of which the first Person is also a Subsidiary.

 

“Business”: shall mean the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, including online and electronic systems and platforms whose primary functionality is foreign exchange trading and through which banks, investment banks and other foreign exchange dealers provide pricing information in respect of, and the ability to execute, foreign exchange trade predominately with institutional clients including institutional or governmental investors, institutional advisors and corporations, and shall also expressly include any and all changes to the Company’s business during the Employment Period that would have the effect of modifying or supplementing the foregoing description of the Company business provided, that, such business has or is reasonably expected to become a material part of the Company’s business, or any business plan or endeavor during the Employment Period that would have the effect of modifying or supplementing the foregoing description of the Company business with respect to which the Company has expended significant resources examining or analyzing and intends to enter within the applicable prohibited period.

 

“Control”:  with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, severally or jointly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or credit arrangement, as trustee or executor, or otherwise.

 

“Person”:  any natural person, firm, partnership, limited liability company, association, corporation, company, trust, business trust, business organization, governmental authority or other entity.

 

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“Subsidiary”:  with respect to any Person, each corporation or other Person in which the first Person owns or Controls, directly or indirectly, capital stock or other ownership interests representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting stock or other ownership interests of such corporation or other Person.

 

“Successor”:  of a Person means a Person that succeeds to the first Person’s assets and liabilities by merger, liquidation, dissolution or otherwise by operation of law, or a Person to which all or substantially all the assets and/or business of the first Person are transferred.

 

5.             Patent and Related Matters.

 

a.             Disclosure and Assignment.  Executive will promptly disclose in writing to the Company complete information concerning each and every invention, discovery, improvement, device, design, apparatus, practice, process, method or product related to the business of the Company, whether patentable, copyrightable, protectable as a trade secret or not, that are made, developed, perfected, devised, conceived or first reduced to practice by Executive, either solely or in collaboration with others, during the Employment Period, whether or not during regular working hours, relating either directly or indirectly to the business of the Company (hereinafter referred to as “Developments”).  Executive, to the extent that he has the legal right to do so, hereby acknowledges and agrees that any and all Developments are the property of the Company and hereby irrevocably assigns and agrees to irrevocably assign to the Company, exclusively and perpetually, any and all of Executive’s right, title and interest in and to any and all of such Developments, including, without limitation, any copyrights and patents, and the right to secure registrations renewals, reissues and extensions thereof.

 

b.             Future Developments.  As to any future Developments made by Executive which relate, either directly or indirectly, to the business of the Company and which are first conceived or reduced to practice during the Employment Period but which are claimed for any reason to belong to an entity or Person other than the Company, Executive will promptly disclose the same in writing to the Company and shall not disclose the same to others if the Company, within twenty (20) days thereafter, shall claim ownership of such Developments under the terms of this Agreement.  If the Company makes such claim, Executive agrees that, insofar as the rights (if any) of Executive are involved, it will be settled by arbitration in accordance with the rules then obtaining of the American Arbitration Association. The locale of the arbitration shall be New York, New York.  If the Company makes no such claim, the Company agrees to receive and hold in confidence any such information disclosed by Executive.

 

c.             Limitation on Sections 5.a., 5.b. and 5.f.  The provisions of Sections 5.a., 5.b. and 5.f. shall not apply to any Development meeting the following conditions:

 

(i)            such Development was developed entirely on Executive’s own time;

 

(ii)           such Development was made without the use of any Company equipment, supplies, facility, confidential information, or trade secret information;

 

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(iii)          such Development does not reasonably relate (x) directly or indirectly to the business of the Company, or (y) to the Company’s actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development; and

 

(iv)          such Development does not result from any work performed by Executive for the Company.

 

d.             Assistance of Executive.  Upon request and without further compensation therefor, but provided the Company reimburses Executive for his reasonable and necessary expenses in connection therewith, and whether during the Employment Period or thereafter, Executive will do all lawful acts, including, but not limited to, the execution of papers and lawful oaths and the giving of testimony, that in the reasonable opinion of the Company, its successors and assigns, may be necessary or desirable in obtaining, sustaining, reissuing, extending and enforcing United States and foreign registrations of intellectual property rights and other proprietary rights and interests, including, but not limited to, patents, copyrights and trade secrets, on any and all of such Developments, and for perfecting, affirming and recording the Company’s complete ownership and title thereto, and to cooperate otherwise in all proceedings and matters relating thereto.

 

e.             Records.  Executive will keep complete, accurate and authentic accounts, notes, data and records of all Developments in the manner and form requested by the Company.  Such accounts, notes, data and records shall be the property of the Company, and, upon its request, Executive will promptly surrender same to it or, if not previously surrendered upon its request or otherwise, Executive will surrender the same, and all copies thereof, to the Company upon the termination of his employment.

 

f.              Obligations, Restrictions and Limitations.  Executive understands that the Company may enter into agreements or arrangements with agencies of the United States government, and that the Company may be subject to laws and regulations which impose obligations, restrictions and limitations on it with respect to inventions and patents which may be acquired by it or which may be conceived or developed by employees, consultants or other agents rendering services to it or employed by it.  Subject to Section 5.c., Executive agrees that he shall be bound by all such obligations, restrictions and limitations applicable to any such invention conceived or developed by him during the period that Executive is employed by the Company and shall take any and all further action which may be required to discharge such obligations and to comply with such restrictions and limitations.

 

6.             Termination.

 

a.             Grounds for Termination.  The Employment Period (and Executive’s employment with the Company) shall terminate early in the event that, at any time during the Employment Period:

 

(i)            Executive dies;

 

(ii)           Executive becomes Disabled (as defined below);

 

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(iii)          The Company elects to terminate Executive’s employment for Cause (as defined below);

 

(iv)          The Company elects to terminate Executive’s employment without Cause (other than due to Executive’s death or Disability), including the Company providing written notice to Executive of its intention to not extend the Employment Period in accordance with Section 2 hereof;

 

(v)           Executive elects to terminate his employment as a result of and within sixty (60) days following (A) a substantial and significant diminution in the key duties and responsibilities of Executive, (B) a material breach by the Company of this Agreement, or (C) a change in Executive’s principal work location to an area outside the tri-state New York, New Jersey and Connecticut area, which, in any such case, is not remedied by the Company within ten (10) days after written receipt of notice thereof given by Executive to the Company, which notice specifies in reasonable detail the circumstances giving rise to Executive’s claim that good reason to terminate his employment exists (“Good Reason”); or

 

(vi)          (A) Executive elects to terminate his employment without Good Reason, subject to thirty (30) days advance written notice delivered to the Company, (B) Executive provides written notice to the Company of his intention to not extend the Employment Period in accordance with Section 2 hereof, or (C) Executive resigns without Good Reason on the first anniversary immediately following a Change in Control.

 

Any termination of Executive’s employment pursuant to this Section 6 (other than any termination due to Executive’s death) shall be communicated to the other party by prior written notice, which notice shall specify the provisions of this Section 6 pursuant to which such termination is being effected and the Date of Termination (as defined below) and shall contain a reasonably detailed description of the circumstances claimed to provide a basis for such termination.  “Date of Termination” shall mean: (1) in the event of a termination of Executive’s employment pursuant to subsection 6.a.i (i.e., death), the effective date of such termination shall be the date of Executive’s death; (2) in the event of a termination of Executive’s employment pursuant to subsections 6.a.iv or 6.a.v (i.e., by the Company without Cause other than by reason of non-renewal or by Executive for Good Reason, respectively), the effective Date of Termination shall be no more than thirty (30) days and no less than ten (10) business days following the date of delivery of the written notice of termination, subject to the Company’s right to cure as provided in subsection 6.a.v; (3) in the event of a termination of Executive’s employment pursuant to subsection 6.a.ii (i.e., Disability), the effective Date of Termination shall be, in the case of a determination of Disability under subsection 6.d.i, the date on which the Company makes such determination and, in the case of a determination of Disability under subsection 6.d.ii, ninety (90) days following the earlier of (A) the date on which such independent physician makes the determination contemplated therein or (B) the date on which Executive sustained the mental or physical condition or impairment that resulted in Disability, as determined by the independent physician; (4) in the event of a termination of Executive’s employment pursuant to subsection 6.a.iii (i.e., by the Company for Cause), such termination

 

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shall be effective immediately upon delivery of the written notice of termination, subject to Executive’s right to cure as provided in subsections 6.b.i or 6.b.ii hereof, or on such later date as the Company may specify in such notice; (5) in the event of a termination of Executive’s employment pursuant to subsection 6.a.vi (i.e., by Executive without Good Reason or the Executive’s resignation on the first anniversary immediately following a Change in Control) the effective Date of Termination shall be thirty (30) days following the date of delivery of the written notice of termination; or (6) in the event of any termination of Executive’s employment by reason of either the Company’s or Executive’s non-renewal of this Agreement pursuant to Section 2 hereof, the effective Date of Termination shall be the last day of the then existing Initial Term or Additional Term (as may be applicable).  The period of time, if any, between the date of delivery of a written notice of termination and the Date of Termination in accordance with this Section 6.a. shall be referred to as the “Notice Period.”

 

b.             Definitions of “Cause” and “Change in Control”.

 

For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Cause” shall mean:

 

(i)            Executive’s material breach of any of the provisions of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, Section 4 or Section 5 hereof, and, the failure to cure, if curable, such breach within ten (10) days after receipt of a Notice of Default (as defined below) from the Company;

 

(ii)           Executive’s engaging in willful and material misconduct, including willful and material failure to perform Executive’s duties or responsibilities as an officer or agent of or service provider to the Company, and the failure to cure, if curable, such misconduct within ten (10) days after receipt of a Notice of Default from the Company;

 

(iii)          Executive’s commission of any act of fraud, misappropriation or embezzlement against or in connection with the Company or any of its Affiliates or Subsidiaries or their respective businesses or operations;

 

(iv)          Executive’s conviction or plea of nolo contendere to any felony or any criminal misconduct that, in the case of such misconduct, occurs during, or is directly related to, the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder (except for parking violations and occasional minor traffic violations); or

 

(v)           Executive’s excessive use of liquor or narcotics, or use of illicit drugs.

 

As used above, “Notice of Default” means a written notice given by the Company to Executive no later than sixty (60) days after the Company has actual knowledge of a breach or event of misconduct and specifying the nature of the breach or misconduct and, if cure is possible, the manner of cure for such breach or misconduct.  In the event that the Company terminates Executive’s employment for Cause pursuant to subsection 6.a.iii and Executive objects in writing to the determination of the Company that there was proper cause for such termination within thirty (30) days after Executive is notified of such termination, the matter shall be resolved by arbitration in accordance with the provisions of Section 9.i.  If Executive fails to object to any

 

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such determination of Cause in writing within such thirty (30) day period, he shall be deemed to have waived his right to object to that determination.  If such arbitration determines that there was not proper Cause for termination, such termination shall be deemed to be a termination pursuant to subsection 6.a.iv (i.e., by the Company without Cause) and Executive’s sole remedy, shall be to receive the wage continuation, equity and benefits contemplated by Section 6.f.

 

For the purposes of this Agreement, “Change in Control” shall mean the first to occur of any of the following events:

 

(i)            The acquisition by a person, entity or Group of the right to appoint a majority of the members of the board of directors of the Company;

 

(ii)           The acquisition by a person, entity or Group of more than 50% of the then outstanding equity securities of the Company;

 

(iii)          The sale, transfer, liquidation or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company through one transaction or a series of related transactions to one or more persons that are not, immediately prior to such sale, transfer or other disposition, subsidiaries of the Company or affiliates of the Company or any of its subsidiaries;

 

(iv)          The acquisition by any person, entity or Group through one transaction or a series of related transactions of beneficial ownership of equity securities of the Company representing (A) prior to an Initial Public Offering, 50% or more or (B) following an Initial Public Offering, 30% or more of the combined voting power of all then outstanding equity securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the Company; or

 

(v)           The merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity as a result of which Persons who were stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such merger or consolidation, do not, immediately thereafter, own, directly or indirectly, securities representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of all then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the merged or consolidated company.

 

As used above, “Group” has the meaning set forth in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act (other than (i) the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective Affiliates or (ii) any employee benefit plan of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective affiliates.  “Initial Public Offering” means the first date sales of equity securities of the Company or any successor entity are made to the public pursuant to an initial underwritten public offering of such equity securities led by one or more underwriters at least one of which is an underwriter of nationally recognized standing.

 

c.             Effect of Termination.  Notwithstanding any termination of Executive’s employment, Executive, in consideration of his employment hereunder to the date of such termination, and the Company shall remain bound by the provisions of this Agreement which specifically relate to periods, activities or obligations upon or subsequent to the termination of Executive’s employment.

 

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d.             “Disability” Defined.  As used in this Agreement, the term “Disabled” or “Disability” shall mean a physical or mental condition or impairment that, at the date of determination, (i) has prevented Executive from performing the essential functions of Executive’s position with the Company for a period of 90 or more consecutive days or non-consecutive days in any 365-day period as determined by the Company, in its sole discretion, or (ii) will reasonably be likely to prevent Executive from performing the essential functions of Executive’s position with the Company for a period of 90 or more consecutive days or non-consecutive days in any 365-day period as determined by an independent physician reasonably acceptable to the Company and Executive.  Executive agrees to submit to medical examinations by the independent physician referred to in the immediately preceding sentence to determine whether a Disability exists, as the Company may request from time to time.

 

e.             Surrender of Records and Property.  Upon the termination of Executive’s employment to the Company, Executive shall deliver promptly to the Company, at the Company’s expense, all records, manuals, books, blank forms, documents, letters, memoranda, notes, notebooks, reports, data, tables and calculations and all copies thereof, in whichever media, which are the property of the Company or any of its Affiliates or Subsidiaries or which relate in any way to the business, products, practices or techniques of the Company or any of its Affiliates or Subsidiaries, and all other property, trade secrets and Confidential Information, including, but not limited to, all documents which in whole or in part contain any trade secrets or Confidential Information which in any of these cases are in his possession or under his control.

 

f.              Severance Compensation.

 

(i)            Termination of Employment Period by Reason of Executive’s Disability.  If Executive’s service relationship with the Company is terminated by the Company pursuant to subsections 6.a.ii (i.e., Disability), the Company shall (1) pay to Executive (or his estate) a lump sum cash payment, within ten (10) days following the Date of Termination, equal to (i) Executive’s Base Salary through the Date of Termination (to the extent not yet paid), (ii) Executive’s accrued but unused vacation time through the Date of Termination, if any (to the extent not yet paid), and (iii) any unreimbursed expenses under Section 3.d. and 3.e. (such unreimbursed expenses and the obligations in clauses (i) and (ii), the “Accrued Obligations”), and (2) continue to pay to Executive his Base Salary and to provide Executive and his eligible dependants the opportunity to participate in the health insurance  programs of the Company on the same terms and conditions on which he participated immediately prior to the Date of Termination commencing on the Date of Termination and ending on the earlier of (x) the date Executive has obtained other full-time employment or has established employment with another Person or (y) the three (3) month anniversary of the Date of Termination.  In addition, the Company shall pay to Executive (A) any unpaid annual bonus awarded for any calendar year ending prior to the Date of Termination, (B) a pro-rated annual bonus for the calendar year that includes such Date of Termination, such pro-rated annual bonus to be determined in accordance with subsection 3.a.ii of this Agreement on the basis of the Target Bonus (or the 2010 Target Bonus, if applicable) for such calendar year, each such bonus in clauses (A) and (B) to be payable within 30 days following such Date of Termination, (C) the Options shall vest in accordance with subsection 3.b.i of this Agreement and (D) the Dividend Equivalent Payment shall vest and be paid to Executive in accordance with subsection 3.b.iv of this Agreement.

 

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(ii)           Termination by the Company without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason.  Except as provided in Section 6.f.iv (i.e., termination in the context of a Change in Control), if Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company pursuant to subsection 6.a. iv (i.e., by the Company without Cause, including the Company providing written notice to Executive of its intention to not extend the Employment Period in accordance with Section 2 hereof) or by Executive pursuant to subsection 6.a.v (i.e., for Good Reason), subject to the delivery and effectiveness of Executive’s execution of a general release and waiver within 60 days following the Date of Termination and Executive’s compliance with any applicable restrictive covenants contained in this Agreement, (1) the Company shall pay Executive the Accrued Obligations and (2) the Company shall (i) pay Executive $166,667 (or $125,000, if the Date of Termination occurs during 2010) on the 60th day after the Date of Termination and on the 15th of each of the eleven (11) following months, and (ii) for the twelve (12) month period following the Date of Termination provide Executive and his eligible dependants the opportunity to participate in the health insurance  programs of the Company on the same terms and conditions on which they participated immediately prior to the Date of Termination, provided that the Company’s obligation to provide such opportunity to participate in the health insurance benefits shall cease as of any earlier date that Executive establishes an employment relationship with another Person or obtains other employment or is otherwise offered the opportunity to receive health benefits under a group health plan arrangement (including any such benefits available to Executive pursuant to his spouse’s health benefit arrangement).  In addition, and subject to the delivery and effectiveness of Executive’s execution of a general release and waiver within 60 days following the Date of Termination and Executive’s compliance with any applicable restrictive covenants of this Agreement, Executive shall also be entitled to (A) any unpaid annual bonus awarded for any calendar year ending prior to the Date of Termination, payable on the earlier of the date such payment would otherwise have been paid or on the 60th day following the Date of Termination (B) a payment equal to the product of $1,600,000 (or $1,100,000, if the Date of Termination occurs during 2010) multiplied by (x) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of months Executive worked during the calendar year in which the Date of Termination occurs and the denominator of which is 12, payable on the 60th day following the Date of Termination, (C) the Options shall vest in accordance with subsection 3.b.i of this Agreement and (D) the Dividend Equivalent Payment shall vest and be paid to Executive in accordance with subsection 3.b.iv of this Agreement.

 

(iii)          Termination due to Executive’s Death; by the Company for Cause; Voluntary Resignation by Executive.  If Executive’s service relationship is terminated pursuant to subsections 6.a.i, 6.a.iii or 6.a.vi.A or B (i.e., due to Executive’s death, by the Company for Cause or by Executive’s voluntary resignation, including by reason of Executive’s non-extension of the Employment Period), the Company shall pay Executive the Accrued Obligations.  Executive shall not be entitled to any other compensation or benefits pursuant to this Section 6 and Executive’s rights to any Base Salary, bonuses and benefits shall immediately terminate.  In addition, in the event Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant to subsection 6.a.i (Executive’s death) or Executive provides written notice to the Company of his intention to not extend the Employment Period in accordance with Section 2 hereof, or the Executive otherwise resigns voluntarily without Good Reason, the Company shall pay to Executive (or his estate, if applicable) any unpaid annual bonus awarded for any calendar year ending on or prior to the

 

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Date of Termination, such bonus to be payable within 30 days following such Date of Termination; and, only in the event of Executive’s death pursuant to subsection 6.a.i., the Company shall pay to Executive’s estate a pro rated annual bonus for the calendar year that includes the Date of Termination to be determined in accordance with subsection 3.a.ii of this Agreement on the basis of the Target Bonus (or the 2010 Target Bonus, if applicable) for such calendar year and the Options shall vest in accordance with subsection 3.b.i of this Agreement and the Dividend Equivalent Payment shall vest and be paid to Executive in accordance with subsection 3.b.iv of this Agreement.

 

(iv)          Change in Control.  If, (1) during the period commencing three (3) months immediately preceding a Change in Control and ending on the first anniversary of the Change in Control, Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated by the Company without Cause, including the Company’s non-extension of the Employment Period, or by Executive pursuant to clause (B) or (C) of subsection 6.a.v (i.e., Good Reason by virtue of the Company’s uncured breach of this Agreement or a change in the Company’s principal place of business), or (2) Executive resigns on the first anniversary immediately following the Change in Control as provided in clause (C) of subsection 6.a.vi, then, in each case subject to the delivery and effectiveness of Executive’s execution of a general release and waiver within 60 days of the Date of Termination and Executive’s compliance with any applicable restrictive covenants contained in this Agreement, Executive will be entitled to:

 

(A)          the Accrued Obligations, payable on the 60th day following the Executive’s Date of Termination;

 

(B)           in the case of a termination in accordance with clause (1) above, (x) $333,333 (or $250,000, if the Date of Termination occurs during 2010) on the 60th day following the Date of Termination and on the 15th of each of the following eleven (11) months; provided that if the Change in Control constitutes a “change in control event” as defined in Reg. §1.409A-3(i)(5)(i), the aggregate amount of such unpaid twelve (12) installment payments shall be payable in lump sum on the later of the 60th day following the Date of Termination or the date of the change in control event, and (y) for the twenty-four (24) month period following the Date of Termination, the Company shall provide Executive and his eligible dependants the opportunity to participate in the health insurance  programs of the Company on the same terms and conditions on which they participated immediately prior to the Date of Termination, provided that the Company’s obligation to provide such opportunity to participate in the health insurance benefits shall cease as of any earlier date that Executive establishes an employment relationship with another Person or obtains other employment or is otherwise offered the opportunity to receive health benefits under a group health plan arrangement (including any such benefits available to Executive pursuant to his spouse’s health benefit arrangement);

 

(C)           in the case of a termination in accordance with clause (2) above, (x) $166,667 (or $125,000, if the Date of Termination occurs during 2010) on the 60th day following the Date of Termination and on the 15th of each of the

 

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following eleven (11) months; provided that if the Change in Control constitutes a “change in control event” as defined in §1.409A — 3(i)(5)(i), the aggregate amount of such installment payments shall be payable in lump sum on the later of the 60th day following the Date of Termination or the date of the change in control event, and (x) for the twelve (12) month period following the Date of Termination, the Company shall provide Executive and his eligible dependants the opportunity to participate in the health insurance  programs of the Company on the same terms and conditions on which they participated immediately prior to the Date of Termination, provided that the Company’s obligation to provide such opportunity to participate in the health insurance benefits shall cease as of any earlier date that Executive establishes an employment relationship with another Person or obtains other employment or is otherwise offered the opportunity to receive health benefits under a group health plan arrangement (including any such benefits available to Executive pursuant to his spouse’s health benefit arrangement);

 

(D)          any unpaid annual bonus awarded for any calendar year ending on or prior to the Date of Termination, payable on the earlier of the date such payment would otherwise have been paid or on the 60th day following the Date of Termination;

 

(E)           a payment equal to the product of (x) $1,600,000 (or $1,100,000, if the Date of Termination occurs during 2010) multiplied by (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of months Executive worked during the calendar year in which the Date of Termination occurs and the denominator of which is 12, payable on the 60th day following the Date of Termination;

 

(F)           the Options shall vest in accordance with subsection 3.b.i of this Agreement; and

 

(G)           the Dividend Equivalent Payment shall vest and be paid to Executive in accordance with subsection 3.b.iv of this Agreement.

 

7.             Certain Payments/Shareholder Approval.

 

The provisions of this Agreement relating to (w) the increases in Base Salary and Target Bonus from Executive’s prior employment agreement, (x) the Dividend Equivalent Payment, (y) the severance payments to be provided to Executive upon a termination of his employment with the Company and (z) the accelerated vesting and/or payment of the Options and Dividend Equivalent Payment in connection with a termination of his employment with the Company have been submitted to the shareholders of the Company who represented 100% of the voting equity of the Company (excluding management members who are not permitted to vote pursuant to Reg. §1.280G-1Q&A7), and such payments and accelerations have been approved by the shareholders who held at least 75% of the total outstanding voting power of the Company in a manner that is intended to comply with shareholder approval requirements under Section

 

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280G(b)(5) of the Code). In the event that, notwithstanding the shareholder approval described above, any payment under this Agreement between Executive and the Company, together with any other payment or the value of any benefit received in connection with a change in control or the termination of Executive’s employment with the Company pursuant to this Agreement or any plan, agreement or other arrangement between the Company and Executive would result in the imposition of an excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code, if it is determined that, on an after excise tax basis, Executive’s economic benefit would be increased if the Company reduced the payments or benefits to be provided to Executive to the extent necessary to avoid the imposition of the excise tax, the Company shall reduce such payments or benefits to Executive.  The determination regarding the excise tax shall be made by an expert in the issues related to the excise tax selected by the Company and approved by Executive. If the determination made pursuant to this Section 7 results in a reduction of the amount payable to Executive, the amount reduced shall be calculated by reducing Executive’s entitlements in the following order: (i) by reducing the cash severance Executive may be entitled to, (ii) by eliminating the acceleration of equity incentive awards and (iii) by reducing other benefits. If the limitation set forth in this Section 7 is applied to reduce an amount payable to Executive, and the Internal Revenue Service successfully asserts that, despite the reduction, Executive has nonetheless received payments which are in excess of the maximum amount that could have been paid to him without being subjected to any excise tax, then, unless it would be unlawful for the Company to make such a loan or similar extension of credit to Executive, Executive may repay such excess amount to the Company as though such amount constitutes a loan to Executive made at the date of payment of such excess amount, bearing interest at 120% of the applicable federal rate (as determined under Section 1274(d) of the Code in respect of such loan).

 

8.             Representations and Warranties of Executive.

 

As a material inducement to the Company’s agreements hereunder, Executive hereby represents and warrants to the Company that:

 

a.             Executive is not a party or subject to any understanding or agreement restricting his ability to enter into this Agreement and to perform all of his obligations and commitments hereunder as contemplated hereby.

 

b.             Executive has not been convicted or pleaded nolo contendere to any felony or any other criminal misconduct (except for parking violations and occasional minor traffic violations).

 

9.             Miscellaneous.

 

a.             Indemnification. The Company agrees that if Executive is made a party or threatened to be made a party to any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than any proceeding related to any contest or dispute between Executive and the Company or any of its Affiliates with respect to this Agreement or Executive’s employment hereunder) by reason of the fact that Executive is or was an employee of the Company, FX Alliance, LLC, or any subsidiary of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company or FX Alliance, LLC, as a director, officer, member, employee or agent of another corporation or a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, Executive shall be

 

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indemnified and held harmless by the Company to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law except to the extent arising out of or based upon gross negligence or willful misconduct of Executive, and shall provide indemnification expenses in advance to the extent permitted thereby.  The Company also agrees that Executive will be covered by any directors’ and officers’ policy maintained by the Company. This Section 9(a) shall survive the expiration of the Employment Period.

 

b.             Notices. Any notices to be given hereunder by either party to the other may be effected either by personal delivery in writing or by mail, registered or certified, postage prepaid with return receipt requested. Notices shall be addressed to the parties as follows:

 

If to the Company, to:

 

FX Alliance, Inc.

900 Third Avenue — 3rd Floor

New York, New York 10022

Attention:  Board of Directors & General Counsel

 

If to Executive, to:

 

Philip Zev Weisberg

[                                     ]
 [                               ]

 

With a copy to:

 

Paul M. Ritter, Esq.

Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP
 1177 Avenue of the Americas
 New York, New York 10036

 

Any party may change its address by written notice in accordance with this Section 9.b. Notices delivered personally shall be deemed communicated as of actual receipt; notices sent via facsimile transmission shall be deemed communicated as of receipt by the sender of written confirmation of transmission thereof; mailed notices shall be deemed communicated as of three (3) days after proper mailing.

 

c.             Inclusion of Entire Agreement Herein. Commencing on September 29, 2010, this Agreement (together with the agreements referred to herein) supersedes any and all other prior or contemporaneous agreements, either oral or in writing, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and contains all of the covenants and agreements between the parties related to Executive’s employment by the Company; provided, however, no provision of this Agreement shall be construed to adversely affect any of Executive’s rights as of September 30, 2010 with respect to any accrued compensation, benefits, outstanding options to acquire common stock of the Company or any common stock held by Executive.

 

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d.             Amendments and Modifications.  No amendment or modification of this Agreement shall be deemed effective unless and until executed in writing by each party hereto.

 

e.             Compliance with Section 409A.  All references in this Agreement to Executive’s termination of employment shall mean his “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder.  In the event that any payment under this Agreement would subject Executive to the imposition of taxes and penalties (“409A Penalties”) under Section 409A unless the payment is delayed, the payment shall be delayed in such manner as to avoid the 409A penalties.  In the event any term of this Agreement would subject Executive to the imposition of 409A Penalties, the Company and Executive shall cooperate diligently to amend such term of this Agreement to avoid such 409A Penalties, to the extent possible. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement, if as of the date on which Executive’s employment terminates, Executive is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A and the regulations as determined by the Company, then to the extent any amount payable or benefit provided under this Agreement that the Company reasonably determines would be nonqualified deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A, that under the terms of this Agreement would be payable prior to the six-month anniversary of Executive’s effective date of termination, such payment or benefit shall be delayed until the earlier to occur of (a) the six-month anniversary of such termination date or (b) the date of Executive’s death. In the case of taxable benefits that constitute deferred compensation, the Company, in lieu of a delay in payment, may require Executive to pay the full costs of such benefits during the period described in the preceding sentence and reimburse Executive for said costs within thirty (30) calendar days after the end of such period. With respect to any reimbursements under this Agreement, such reimbursement shall be made on or before the last day of Executive’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the expense was incurred by Executive. The amount of any expenses eligible for reimbursement or the amount of any in-kind benefits provided, as the case may be, under this Agreement during any calendar year shall not affect the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement or the amount of any in-kind benefits provided during any other calendar year. The right to reimbursement or to any in-kind benefit pursuant to this Agreement shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for any other benefit.  If under this Agreement an amount is paid in two or more installments, for purposes of Section 409A, each installment shall be treated as a separate payment.

 

f.              Waivers. No waiver at any time of any term or provision of this Agreement shall be construed as a waiver of any other term or provision of this Agreement and a waiver at any time of any term or provision of this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver at any subsequent time of the same or any other term or provision.

 

g.             GOVERNING LAW.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICT OF LAWS THEREOF.

 

h.             Severability and Limitation.  All agreements and covenants contained herein are severable and in the event any of them shall be held to be invalid, such agreements or covenants

 

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shall be deemed not contained herein.  Should any such proper and competent arbiter or other legally constituted authority determine that for any such agreement or covenant to be effective that it must be modified to limit its duration and/or scope, the parties hereto shall consider such agreement or covenant to be amended or modified with respect to duration and/or scope so as to comply with the orders of any such arbiter or other legally constituted authority, and as to all other portions of such agreement or covenants they shall remain in full force and effect as originally written.

 

i.              Specific Performance and Injunctive Relief.  Executive hereby recognizes and acknowledges that irreparable injury or damage may result to the Company in the event of a breach or threatened breach by Executive of certain of the terms or provisions of this Agreement including, without limitation, Executive’s covenants in Sections 4 and 5 hereof, and that the Company may have no adequate remedy at law for such breach or threatened breach. Accordingly, Executive hereby agrees that in addition to any other available remedies in equity or at law, the Company shall be entitled to seek an injunction restraining Executive from engaging in any activity constituting such breach or threatened breach and requiring specific performance of the terms hereof.  Nothing contained herein shall be construed as prohibiting the Company from pursuing any other remedies available to the Company at law or in equity for such breach or threatened breach, including but not limited to, the recovery of damages from Executive and the termination of his employment with the Company in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement.

 

j.              Arbitration.  All controversies which may arise between the parties hereto including, but not limited to, those arising out of or related to this Agreement and the determination of whether a termination was made for Cause or Good Reason hereunder, shall be determined by binding arbitration applying the laws of the State of New York as set forth in Section 9.f. hereof.  Any arbitration pursuant to this Agreement shall be conducted in New York, New York before the American Arbitration Association in accordance with its arbitration rules. Any dispute to be submitted to arbitration must be reduced to writing and shall be provided to the other party and to the American Arbitration Association in order to initiate the proceedings. The final ruling of the arbitration shall be final and binding upon all the parties.  Nothing in this Section 9.i. will prevent either party from resorting to judicial proceedings if interim injunctive relief under the laws of the State of New York from a court is necessary to prevent serious and irreparable injury to such party.  Each party shall pay all expenses incurred in the presentation of its case, with the expenses and fees of the arbitrator to be shared equally by Executive and the Company.

 

k.             Assignment.  The Company shall have the right to assign this Agreement and to delegate all of its rights, duties and obligations hereunder to (i) any Subsidiary of the Company, or (ii) any entity which may result from a merger, consolidation, acquisition or reorganization of or by the Company and another entity.  Executive agrees that this Agreement is personal to him and his rights and interests hereunder may not be assigned, nor may his obligations and duties hereunder be delegated (except as to delegation in the normal course of operation of the Company), and any attempted assignment or delegation in violation of this provision shall be void.

 

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l.              Headings.  All headings set forth in this Agreement are intended for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning, construction or effect of this Agreement or of any of the provisions hereof.

 

m.            Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed via facsimile transmission signature and in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

 

n.             Withholding.  All payments to Executive under this Agreement shall be subject to all applicable withholding taxes and other mandatory deductions.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of the date first set forth above.

 

 

	
 
    	
FX ALLIANCE INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Matthew Frymier
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:   Director
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/   Philip Zev Weisberg
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Philip   Zev Weisberg
    

 

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