Document:

Exhibit 10.1

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

Published CUSIP Number: 49271QAA9

U.S. Revolver CUSIP Number: 49271QAB7

Alternative Revolver CUSIP Number: 49271QAC5

 

 

 

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

Dated as of June 29, 2015

 

among

 

KEURIG GREEN MOUNTAIN, INC.

and

CERTAIN SUBSIDIARIES,
 as Borrowers,

 

CERTAIN SUBSIDIARIES IDENTIFIED HEREIN,

as the Guarantors,

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
 as Administrative Agent, U.S. Swing Line Lender and U.S. L/C Issuer,

 

The Other Lenders Party Hereto,

 

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED, 
  COÖPERATIEVE CENTRALE RAIFFEISEN-BOERENLEENBANK B.A. “RABOBANK NEDERLAND”, NEW YORK BRANCH,

HSBC BANK USA, N.A., HSBC BANK CANADA,

and

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC,
  as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners,

 

COÖPERATIEVE CENTRALE RAIFFEISEN-BOERENLEENBANK B.A. “RABOBANK NEDERLAND”, NEW YORK BRANCH,

HSBC BANK USA, N.A., HSBC BANK CANADA,

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

and

SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION,
 as Co-Syndication Agents,

 

THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD., 
 U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
  and 
 TD BANK, N.A., 
 as Co-Documentation Agents,

 

and

 

BRANCH BANKING AND TRUST COMPANY

and

KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Co-Agents

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
Page
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE I
    
	
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
    
	
1.01
    	
Defined Terms
    	
1
    
	
1.02
    	
Other Interpretive Provisions
    	
34
    
	
1.03
    	
Accounting Terms
    	
34
    
	
1.04
    	
Rounding
    	
35
    
	
1.05
    	
Exchange Rates; Currency   Equivalents
    	
35
    
	
1.06
    	
Additional Alternative Currencies
    	
35
    
	
1.07
    	
Change of Currency
    	
36
    
	
1.08
    	
Times of Day
    	
37
    
	
1.09
    	
U.S. Letter of Credit Amounts
    	
37
    
	
1.10
    	
Currency Equivalents Generally
    	
37
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE II
    
	
THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
2.01
    	
The Loans
    	
37
    
	
2.02
    	
Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations   of Loans
    	
38
    
	
2.03
    	
U.S. Letters of Credit
    	
40
    
	
2.04
    	
U.S. Swing Line Loans
    	
49
    
	
2.05
    	
Prepayments
    	
52
    
	
2.06
    	
Termination or Reduction of   Commitments
    	
53
    
	
2.07
    	
Repayment of Loans
    	
54
    
	
2.08
    	
Interest
    	
54
    
	
2.09
    	
Fees
    	
55
    
	
2.10
    	
Computation of Interest and Fees;   Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate
    	
56
    
	
2.11
    	
Evidence of Debt
    	
57
    
	
2.12
    	
Payments Generally;   Administrative Agent’s Clawback
    	
57
    
	
2.13
    	
Sharing of Payments by Lenders
    	
59
    
	
2.14
    	
Increase in Commitments
    	
59
    
	
2.15
    	
Cash Collateral
    	
62
    
	
2.16
    	
Defaulting Lenders
    	
63
    
	
2.17
    	
Designated Borrowers
    	
65
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE III
    
	
TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
3.01
    	
Taxes
    	
66
    
	
3.02
    	
Illegality
    	
69
    
	
3.03
    	
Inability to Determine Rates
    	
70
    
	
3.04
    	
Increased Costs; Reserves on   Eurocurrency Rate Loans
    	
71
    
	
3.05
    	
Compensation for Losses
    	
72
    
	
3.06
    	
Mitigation Obligations;   Replacement of Lenders
    	
73
    
	
3.07
    	
Survival
    	
74
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE IV
    
	
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
4.01
    	
Conditions of Initial Credit   Extension
    	
74
    
	
4.02
    	
Conditions to All Credit   Extensions
    	
75
    

 

i

 

	
ARTICLE V
    
	
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
5.01
    	
Existence, Qualification and   Power
    	
76
    
	
5.02
    	
Authorization; No Contravention
    	
76
    
	
5.03
    	
Governmental Authorization; Other   Consents
    	
76
    
	
5.04
    	
Binding Effect
    	
76
    
	
5.05
    	
Financial Statements; No Material   Adverse Effect
    	
77
    
	
5.06
    	
Litigation
    	
77
    
	
5.07
    	
No Default
    	
77
    
	
5.08
    	
Taxes
    	
77
    
	
5.09
    	
ERISA Compliance
    	
77
    
	
5.10
    	
Subsidiaries; Equity Interests;   Loan Parties
    	
79
    
	
5.11
    	
Margin Regulations; Investment Company   Act
    	
79
    
	
5.12
    	
Disclosure
    	
79
    
	
5.13
    	
Compliance with Laws
    	
79
    
	
5.14
    	
Solvency
    	
79
    
	
5.15
    	
Senior Debt
    	
80
    
	
5.16
    	
OFAC
    	
80
    
	
5.17
    	
Anti-Corruption Laws
    	
80
    
	
5.18
    	
Compliance with the Non-Bank   Rules
    	
80
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE VI
    
	
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
6.01
    	
Financial Statements
    	
80
    
	
6.02
    	
Certificates; Other Information
    	
81
    
	
6.03
    	
Notices
    	
82
    
	
6.04
    	
Payment of Obligations
    	
83
    
	
6.05
    	
Preservation of Existence, Etc.
    	
83
    
	
6.06
    	
Maintenance of Properties
    	
83
    
	
6.07
    	
Maintenance of Insurance
    	
83
    
	
6.08
    	
Compliance with Laws
    	
83
    
	
6.09
    	
Books and Records
    	
84
    
	
6.10
    	
Inspection Rights
    	
84
    
	
6.11
    	
Use of Proceeds
    	
84
    
	
6.12
    	
Covenant to Guarantee Obligations
    	
84
    
	
6.13
    	
Anti-Corruption Laws
    	
84
    
	
6.14
    	
Compliance with the Non-Bank   Rules
    	
84
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE VII
    
	
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
7.01
    	
Liens
    	
85
    
	
7.02
    	
Subsidiary Indebtedness
    	
87
    
	
7.03
    	
Investments
    	
89
    
	
7.04
    	
Fundamental Changes
    	
91
    
	
7.05
    	
Dispositions
    	
91
    
	
7.06
    	
Restricted Payments
    	
93
    
	
7.07
    	
Transactions with Affiliates
    	
93
    
	
7.08
    	
Burdensome Agreements
    	
94
    
	
7.09
    	
Use of Proceeds
    	
95
    
	
7.10
    	
Financial Covenants
    	
95
    

 

ii

 

	
7.11
    	
Changes in Fiscal Year
    	
95
    
	
7.12
    	
Prepayments, Etc. of Subordinated   Indebtedness
    	
95
    
	
7.13
    	
Designation of Senior Debt
    	
96
    
	
7.14
    	
Sanctions
    	
96
    
	
7.15
    	
Anti-Corruption Laws
    	
96
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE VIII
    
	
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
8.01
    	
Events of Default
    	
96
    
	
8.02
    	
Remedies upon Event of Default
    	
98
    
	
8.03
    	
Application of Funds
    	
98
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE IX
    
	
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
    
	
 
    
	
9.01
    	
Appointment and Authority
    	
99
    
	
9.02
    	
Rights as a Lender
    	
100
    
	
9.03
    	
Exculpatory Provisions
    	
100
    
	
9.04
    	
Reliance by Administrative Agent
    	
101
    
	
9.05
    	
Delegation of Duties
    	
101
    
	
9.06
    	
Resignation of Administrative   Agent; Removal of Administrative Agent
    	
101
    
	
9.07
    	
Non-Reliance on Administrative   Agent and Other Lenders
    	
103
    
	
9.08
    	
No Other Duties, Etc.
    	
103
    
	
9.09
    	
Administrative Agent   May File Proofs of Claim
    	
103
    
	
9.10
    	
Guaranty Matters
    	
104
    
	
9.11
    	
Guaranteed Cash Management   Agreements and Guaranteed Hedge Agreements
    	
104
    
	
9.12
    	
Tax Indemnification
    	
104
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE X
    
	
MISCELLANEOUS
    
	
 
    
	
10.01
    	
Amendments, Etc.
    	
104
    
	
10.02
    	
Notices; Effectiveness;   Electronic Communications
    	
106
    
	
10.03
    	
No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies;   Enforcement
    	
108
    
	
10.04
    	
Expenses; Indemnity; Damage   Waiver
    	
109
    
	
10.05
    	
Payments Set Aside
    	
111
    
	
10.06
    	
Successors and Assigns
    	
111
    
	
10.07
    	
Treatment of Certain Information;   Confidentiality
    	
116
    
	
10.08
    	
Right of Setoff
    	
116
    
	
10.09
    	
Interest Rate Limitation
    	
117
    
	
10.10
    	
Counterparts; Integration;   Effectiveness
    	
117
    
	
10.11
    	
Survival of Representations and   Warranties
    	
118
    
	
10.12
    	
Severability
    	
118
    
	
10.13
    	
Replacement of Lenders
    	
118
    
	
10.14
    	
Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.
    	
119
    
	
10.15
    	
WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL
    	
120
    
	
10.16
    	
No Advisory or Fiduciary   Responsibility
    	
120
    
	
10.17
    	
Electronic Execution of   Assignments and Certain Other Documents
    	
120
    
	
10.18
    	
USA PATRIOT Act
    	
121
    
	
10.19
    	
Judgment Currency
    	
121
    
	
10.20
    	
Section 956 Override
    	
121
    

 

iii

 

	
ARTICLE XI .
    
	
GUARANTY
    
	
 
    
	
11.01
    	
The Guaranty
    	
121
    
	
11.02
    	
Obligations Unconditional
    	
122
    
	
11.03
    	
Reinstatement
    	
123
    
	
11.04
    	
Certain Additional Waivers
    	
123
    
	
11.05
    	
Remedies
    	
123
    
	
11.06
    	
Rights of Contribution
    	
123
    
	
11.07
    	
Guarantee of Payment; Continuing   Guarantee
    	
124
    
	
11.08
    	
Keepwell
    	
124
    

 

iv

 

SCHEDULES

 

	
1.01
    	
Existing   Letters of Credit
    
	
2.01
    	
Commitments   and Applicable Percentages
    
	
5.08
    	
Taxes
    
	
5.09(d)
    	
Pension   Plan Obligations and Liabilities
    
	
5.10
    	
Subsidiaries;   Equity Interests; Loan Parties
    
	
7.01(b)
    	
Existing   Liens
    
	
7.02
    	
Existing   Indebtedness
    
	
7.03(c)
    	
Existing   Investments
    
	
7.08
    	
Burdensome   Agreements
    
	
10.02
    	
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
    	
Designated   Borrower Request
    
	
G
    	
Designated   Borrower Joinder Agreement
    
	
H-1
    	
United   States Tax Compliance Certificate (For Non-U.S. Lenders That Are Not   Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
    
	
H-2
    	
United   States Tax Compliance Certificate (For Non-U.S. Lenders That Are Partnerships   For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
    
	
H-3
    	
United   States Tax Compliance Certificate (For Non-U.S. Participants That Are Not   Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
    
	
H-4
    	
United   States Tax Compliance Certificate (For Non-U.S. Participants That Are   Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
    
	
I
    	
Solvency   Certificate
    
	
J
    	
Notice   of Loan Prepayment
    

 

v

 

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

This CREDIT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is entered into as of June 29, 2015, among Keurig Green Mountain, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), certain Subsidiaries of the Company party hereto pursuant to Section 2.17 (each, a “Designated Borrower” and, together with the Company, the “Borrowers” and each, a “Borrower”), the Lenders (defined herein), the Guarantors (defined herein) and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent, U.S. Swing Line Lender and U.S. L/C Issuer.

 

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS:

 

The Company has requested that the Lenders provide a senior 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:

 

“Act” has the meaning specified in Section 10.18.

 

“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, with respect to any currency, the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 10.02 with respect to such currency, or such other address or account with respect to such currency as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify to the Company 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.

 

“Agent Parties” has the meaning specified in Section 10.02(c).

 

“Aggregate Commitments” means the Commitments of all the Lenders.

 

“Agreement” means this Credit Agreement.

 

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

 

“Alternative Currency” means each of the following currencies: Canadian Dollars, Euros, Pounds Sterling, Yen and Swiss Francs, together with each other currency (other than Dollars) that is approved in accordance with Section 1.06.

 

 

“Alternative Currency Equivalent” means, at any time, with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, the equivalent amount thereof in the applicable Alternative Currency as determined by the Administrative Agent or the U.S. L/C Issuer, as the case may be, at such time on the basis of the Spot Rate (determined in respect of the most recent Revaluation Date) for the purchase of such Alternative Currency with Dollars.

 

“Alternative Required Revolving Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Alternative Revolving Credit Lenders holding more than 50% of the sum of the (a) Total Alternative Revolving Credit Outstandings and (b) aggregate unused Alternative Revolving Credit Commitments; provided that the unused Alternative Revolving Credit Commitment of, and the portion of the Total Alternative Revolving Credit Outstandings held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Alternative Required Revolving Lenders.

 

“Alternative Revolving Credit Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Alternative Revolving Credit Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Alternative Revolving Credit Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01(b).

 

“Alternative Revolving Credit Commitment” means, as to each Alternative Revolving Credit Lender, its obligation to make Alternative Revolving Credit Loans to the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.01(b), 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 under the caption “Alternative Revolving Credit Commitment” or opposite such caption in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.  As of the Closing Date, the aggregate amount of the Alternative Revolving Credit Commitments is Five Hundred Million Dollars ($500,000,000).

 

“Alternative Revolving Credit Facility” means, at any time, the aggregate amount of the Alternative Revolving Credit Lenders’ Alternative Revolving Credit Commitments at such time.

 

“Alternative Revolving Credit Lender” means, at any time, any Lender that has an Alternative Revolving Credit Commitment at such time.

 

“Alternative Revolving Credit Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(b).

 

“Applicable Alternative Revolving Credit Percentage” means, with respect to any Alternative Revolving Credit Lender at any time, such Alternative Revolving Credit Lender’s Applicable Percentage in respect of the Alternative Revolving Credit Facility at such time.

 

“Applicable Percentage” means (a) in respect of the U.S. Revolving Credit Facility, with respect to any U.S. Revolving Credit Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the U.S. Revolving Credit Facility represented by such U.S. Revolving Credit Lender’s U.S. Revolving Credit Commitment at such time, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.16, and (b) in respect of the Alternative Revolving Credit Facility, with respect to any Alternative Revolving Credit Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Alternative Revolving Credit Facility represented by such Alternative Revolving Credit Lender’s Alternative Revolving Credit Commitment at such time, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.16.  If the commitment of each Revolving Credit Lender to make Revolving Credit Loans and the obligation of the U.S. L/C Issuer to make U.S. L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02, or if the relevant Revolving Credit Commitments have expired, then the Applicable Percentage of each Revolving Credit Lender in respect of the relevant Revolving Credit Facility shall be determined based on the Applicable Percentage of such Revolving Credit Lender in respect of the relevant Revolving Credit Facility most recently in effect, giving effect to any subsequent assignments.  

 

2

 

The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender in respect of each Facility 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, at any time, in respect of the Revolving Credit Facilities, (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 September 26, 2015, 0.125% per annum for Base Rate Loans, 1.125% per annum for Eurocurrency Rate Loans and U.S. Letter of Credit Fees, 0.15% per annum for the Commitment Fee and - 0.025% per annum for U.S. Swing Line Loans, 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
    	
 
    	
Eurocurrency Rate
   Loans and U.S.
   Letter of Credit
   Fees
    	
 
    	
Base Rate
   Loans
    	
 
    	
U.S. Swing Line
   Loans
    	
 
    	
Commitment
   Fee
    	
 
    
	
1
    	
 
    	
>   2.50:1
    	
 
    	
1.75
    	
%
    	
0.75
    	
%
    	
0.50
    	
%
    	
0.25
    	
%
    
	
2
    	
 
    	
< 2.50:1 but >   1.75:1
    	
 
    	
1.50
    	
%
    	
0.50
    	
%
    	
0.30
    	
%
    	
0.20
    	
%
    
	
3
    	
 
    	
< 1.75:1 but >   1.00:1
    	
 
    	
1.25
    	
%
    	
0.25
    	
%
    	
0.075
    	
%
    	
0.175
    	
%
    
	
4
    	
 
    	
< 1.00:1
    	
 
    	
1.125
    	
%
    	
0.125
    	
%
    	
- 0.025
    	
%
    	
0.15
    	
%
    

 

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 6.02(a), Pricing Level 1 shall apply as of the first Business Day after the date on which such Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered and 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).

 

“Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage” means, as applicable, the Applicable U.S. Revolving Credit Percentage and/or the Applicable Alternative Revolving Credit Percentage.

 

“Applicable Time” means, with respect to any borrowings and payments in any Alternative Currency, the local time in the place of settlement for such Alternative Currency as may be determined by the Administrative Agent or the U.S. L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to be necessary for timely settlement on the relevant date in accordance with normal banking procedures in the place of payment.

 

“Applicable U.S. Revolving Credit Percentage” means with respect to any U.S. Revolving Credit Lender at any time, such U.S. Revolving Credit Lender’s Applicable Percentage in respect of the U.S. Revolving Credit Facility at such time.

 

“Applicant Borrower” has the meaning specified in Section 2.17(a).

 

“Appropriate Lender” means, at any time, (a) with respect to any of the U.S. Revolving Credit Facility or the Alternative Revolving Credit Facility, a Lender that has a Commitment with respect to such Facility or holds a U.S. Revolving Credit Loan or an Alternative Revolving Credit Loan, respectively, at such time, (b) with respect to the U.S. Letter of Credit Sublimit, (i) the U.S. L/C Issuer, and (ii) if any U.S. Letters of Credit have been issued pursuant to Section 2.03(a), the U.S. Revolving Credit Lenders, and (c) with respect to the U.S. Swing Line Sublimit, (i) the U.S. Swing Line Lender, and (ii) if any U.S. Swing Line Loans are outstanding pursuant to Section 2.04(a), the U.S. Revolving Credit Lenders.

 

3

 

“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.

 

“Arrangers” means MLPFS, Coöperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank B.A. “Rabobank Nederland”, New York Branch, HSBC Bank USA, N.A., HSBC Bank Canada, and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, in their capacities as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners.

 

“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 10.06(b)), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit E-1 or any other form (including electronic documentation generated by use of an electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

“Assignment Taxes” has the meaning set forth in the definition of Other Taxes.

 

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

 

“Audited Financial Statements” means the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended September 27, 2014, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year of the Company and its Subsidiaries, including the notes thereto.

 

“Auto-Extension Letter of Credit” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(b)(iii).

 

“Availability Period” means in respect of the Revolving Credit Facilities, the period from and including the Closing Date to the earliest of (i) the Maturity Date for the relevant Revolving Credit Facility, (ii) the date of termination of the relevant Revolving Credit Commitments pursuant to Section 2.06, and (iii) the date of termination of the commitment of each Revolving Credit Lender to make Revolving Credit Loans and of the obligation of the U.S. L/C Issuer to make U.S. L/C Credit Extensions pursuant to Section 8.02.

 

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

 

“Bank of America Fee Letter” means the letter agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, among the Company, MLPFS and Bank of America.

 

“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 Eurocurrency Rate plus 1.00%; and if the Base Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.  

 

4

 

The “prime rate” is a rate set by Bank of America based upon various factors including Bank of America’s costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate.  Any change in such prime rate announced by Bank of America shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.

 

“Base Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate.  All Base Rate Loans shall be denominated in Dollars and shall only be advanced to Borrowers maintaining a Dollar-denominated deposit account in the United States.

 

“Borrower” and “Borrowers” each have the meanings specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

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

 

“Borrowing” means Revolving Credit Borrowings or U.S. Swing Line Borrowings, 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 with respect to Obligations denominated in Dollars is located and:

 

(a)           if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in Dollars, any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in Dollars in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, or any other dealings in Dollars to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, means any such day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank eurodollar market;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

“Canadian Dollar” and “C$”:  lawful currency of Canada.

 

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

 

5

 

“Cash Collateralize” means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to one or more of the Administrative Agent or the U.S. L/C Issuer (as applicable), for the benefit of the U.S. L/C Issuer and the Lenders, as collateral for any U.S. L/C Obligations or obligations of Lenders to fund participations in respect thereof (as the context may require), cash or deposit account balances or, if the U.S. L/C Issuer benefiting from such collateral shall agree in its sole discretion, other credit support, in each case pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to (a) the Administrative Agent and (b) the U.S. L/C Issuer.

 

“Cash Collateral” shall have a meaning correlative to the foregoing definition of “Cash Collateralize” and shall include the proceeds of such cash collateral and other credit support.

 

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

 

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

 

(b)           time deposits with, or insured certificates of deposit or banker acceptances of, any commercial bank that (i) (A) is a Lender, (B) is organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia or is the principal banking subsidiary of a bank holding company organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, and is a member of the Federal Reserve System or (C) is a bank listed in Schedule I of the Bank Act (Canada), (ii) issues (or the parent of which issues) commercial paper rated as described in clause (c) of this definition and (iii) has combined capital and surplus of at least $500,000,000, in each case with maturities of not more than one year from the date of acquisition thereof;

 

(c)           commercial paper issued by any Person organized under the laws of any state of the United States and rated at least “Prime-1” (or the then equivalent grade) by Moody’s or at least “A-1” (or the then equivalent grade) by S&P, in each case with maturities of not more than one year from the date of acquisition thereof;

 

(d)           repurchase agreements entered into by any Person with an eligible bank under clause (b) above for direct obligations issued by or fully guaranteed by the United States; and

 

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

 

“Cash Management Agreement” means any agreement to provide cash management services, including treasury, depository, overdraft, credit, debit or purchase 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.

 

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

 

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

 

“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, 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, however, that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, regulations, 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) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d5 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 40% or more of the equity securities of the Company entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of the Company 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 12 consecutive months, a majority of the members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of the Company 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; or

 

(c)           a “change of control” or any comparable term under, and as defined in, any document evidencing any Indebtedness exceeding the Threshold Amount shall have occurred.

 

“Closing Date” means June 29, 2015.

 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

 

“Commitment” means a U.S. Revolving Credit Commitment or an Alternative Revolving Credit Commitment, as the context may require.

 

“Commitment Fee” has the meaning specified in Section 2.09(a).

 

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

 

“Commodity Exchange Act” means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.).

 

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

 

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

 

“Consolidated EBIT” means, at any date of determination, an amount equal to Consolidated Net Income of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for the most recently completed Measurement Period plus (a) the following to the extent deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income (without duplication): (i) Consolidated Interest Charges, (ii) the provision for Federal, state, local and foreign income taxes payable, (iii) unusual or non-recurring or restructuring cash charges in an aggregate amount not to exceed 15% of Consolidated EBIT (determined without giving effect to this clause (a)(iii)) in any Measurement Period, (iv) transaction expenses and fees incurred or payable in connection with the Transactions, (v) any costs and expenses incurred in connection with permitted Dispositions of Subsidiaries or lines of business or acquisitions, including Permitted Acquisitions, in each case, whether or not consummated and including cash expenses resulting from the termination of Swap Contracts incurred on or prior to such Disposition or acquisition and in connection therewith, (vi) cash expenses resulting from obligations under any Swap Contract incurred on or prior to the Closing Date in connection with the Transactions and (vii) all other non-cash charges (excluding depreciation and amortization expenses) of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such period (excluding any such charge, expense or loss incurred in the ordinary course of business that constitutes an accrual of or a reserve for cash charges for any future period); provided, however, that cash payments made in such period or in any future period in respect of such non-cash charges, expenses or losses (excluding any such charge, expense or loss incurred in the ordinary course of business that constitutes an accrual of or a reserve for cash charges for any future period) shall be subtracted from Consolidated Net Income in calculating Consolidated EBIT in the period when such payments are made minus (b) to the extent included in calculating such Consolidated Net Income: (i) Federal, state, local and foreign income tax credits, (ii) interest income, (iii) any income or gain from any Disposition referred to in clause (a)(v) above, (iv) income from discontinued operations, (v) unusual or non-recurring cash gains, and (vi) all other non-cash gains (excluding any items that represent the reversal of any accrual of or cash reserve for anticipated cash charges in any prior period that are described in the second parenthetical to clause (a)(vii) above).

 

“Consolidated EBITDA” means, at any date of determination, Consolidated EBIT plus depreciation and amortization expense of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for the most recently completed Measurement Period.

 

“Consolidated Funded Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination, for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the sum of (a) the outstanding principal amount of all obligations, whether current or long-term, for borrowed money (including Obligations hereunder) and all obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments, (b) all purchase money Indebtedness, (c) all direct obligations arising under letters of credit (including standby (to the extent of amounts outstanding and unreimbursed for more than 10 days) and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments, (d) all obligations in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business), (e) all Attributable Indebtedness, (f) without duplication, all Guarantees with respect to outstanding Indebtedness of the types specified in clauses (a) through (e) above of Persons other than the Company or any Subsidiary, and (g) all Indebtedness of the types referred to in clauses (a) through (f) above of any partnership or joint venturer (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which the Company or a Subsidiary is a general partner or joint venture, except to the extent the Company’s or such Subsidiary’s liability for such Indebtedness is otherwise limited.

 

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“Consolidated Interest Charges” means, for any Measurement Period, the sum of (a) all interest, premium payments, debt discount, fees, charges and related expenses 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 under Capitalized Leases that is treated as interest in accordance with GAAP and the imputed interest component of Synthetic Debt or Synthetic Lease Obligations, in each case, of or by the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for the most recently completed Measurement Period.

 

“Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBIT to (b) Consolidated Interest Charges paid in cash, in each case, of or by the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for the most recently completed Measurement Period; provided that such Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio shall be determined on a Pro Forma Basis.

 

“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 of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for the most recently completed Measurement Period; provided that such Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall be determined on a Pro Forma Basis.

 

“Consolidated Net Income” means, at any date of determination, the net income (or loss) of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for the most recently completed Measurement Period; provided that Consolidated Net Income shall exclude (a) extraordinary gains and extraordinary losses for such Measurement Period, (b) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle(s) during such period, (c) any net after-tax gains or losses realized upon the Disposition of assets outside the ordinary course of business (including any gain or loss realized upon the Disposition of any Equity Interests of any Person) and any net gains or losses on disposed, abandoned and discontinued operations (including in connection with any disposal thereof) and any accretion or accrual of discounted liabilities, (d) any net gain or loss resulting from currency translation gains or losses related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness and (e) any net unrealized gains and losses resulting from obligations under Swap Contracts or other derivative instruments entered into for the purpose of hedging interest rate or currency risk and the application of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.  133.

 

“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means, as of any date of determination, the amount that, in accordance with GAAP, would be set forth under the caption “Total Assets” (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Subsidiaries, as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available, less (i) all intangible assets, including goodwill, organization costs, intellectual property and research and development costs and (ii) any other identifiable intangibles.

 

“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.

 

“Contribution Share” has the meaning specified in Section 11.06.

 

9

 

“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.

 

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

 

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

 

“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 other than U.S. Letter of Credit Fees, an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus 2% per annum, and (b) when used with respect to U.S. Letter of Credit Fees, a rate equal to the Applicable Rate for Loans that are Eurocurrency Rate Loans 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 or participations were required to be funded hereunder unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Company 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 U.S. L/C Issuer, the U.S. Swing Line Lender or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder (including in respect of its participation in U.S. Letters of Credit or U.S. Swing Line Loans) within two Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Company, the Administrative Agent, the U.S. L/C Issuer, or the U.S. 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 Company, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Company 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 Company 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 capacity; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any Equity Interests 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 Company, the U.S. L/C Issuer, the U.S. Swing Line Lender and each other Lender promptly following such determination.

 

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

 

“Designated Borrower Joinder Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 2.17(a).

 

“Designated Borrower Request” has the meaning specified in Section 2.17(a).

 

“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-leaseback transaction) of any property by any Person (or the granting of any option or other right to do any of the foregoing), including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith.

 

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

 

“Dollar Equivalent” means, at any time, (a) with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, such amount, and (b) with respect to any amount denominated in any Alternative Currency, the equivalent amount thereof in Dollars as determined by the Administrative Agent or the U.S. L/C Issuer, as the case may be, at such time on the basis of the Spot Rate (determined in respect of the most recent Revaluation Date) for the purchase of Dollars with such Alternative Currency.

 

“Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the Laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

 

“Eligible Assignee” means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Section 10.06(b)(iii) (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 10.06(b)(iii)) and Section 10.06(b)(v).

 

“Engagement Letter” means the letter agreement, dated April 15, 2015, between the Company and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated.

 

“Environment” means ambient air, indoor air, surface water, groundwater, drinking water, soil, surface and subsurface strata, and natural resources such as wetlands, flora and fauna.

 

“Environmental Laws” means any and all Federal, state, local, and foreign statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, common law, agreements or governmental restrictions relating to pollution or the protection of the Environment or of human health (to the extent related to exposure to Hazardous Materials), including those relating to the manufacture, generation, handling, transport, storage, treatment, Release or threat of Release of Hazardous Materials.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

“ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control with the Company 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 any Loan Party 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 any Loan Party 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 or the treatment of a Pension Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041(c) or 4041A of ERISA; (e) the institution by the PBGC of proceedings to terminate a Pension Plan; (f) any event or condition which could reasonably be expected to constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan; (g) the determination that any Pension Plan is considered an at-risk plan or a plan in endangered or critical status within the meaning of Sections 430, 431 and 432 of the Code or Sections 303, 304 and 305 of ERISA; (h) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate; or (i) a failure by any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate to meet all applicable requirements under the Pension Funding Rules in respect of a Pension Plan, whether or not waived, or the failure by any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate to make any required contribution to a Multiemployer Plan.

 

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

 

“Eurocurrency Rate” means:

 

(a)           with respect to any Loan (other than a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in Dollars for which the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Option has been exercised), for any Interest Period:

 

(i)            denominated in a LIBOR Quoted Currency, the rate per annum equal to the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) or a comparable or successor rate which rate is approved by the Administrative Agent, as published on the applicable Bloomberg screen page (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, for deposits in the relevant currency (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period;

 

12

 

(ii)           denominated in Canadian Dollars, the rate per annum equal to the Canadian Dealer Offered Rate (“CDOR”), or a comparable or successor rate which rate is approved by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion, as published on the applicable Bloomberg screen page (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time in its reasonable discretion) at or about 10:00 a.m. (Toronto, Ontario time) on the Rate Determination Date with a term equivalent to such Interest Period; and

 

(iii)          denominated in any other Non-LIBOR Quoted Currency, the rate per annum as designated with respect to such Alternative Currency at the time such Alternative Currency is approved by the Administrative Agent and the Alternative Revolving Credit Lenders pursuant to Section 1.06; and

 

(b)           for any rate calculation with respect to a Base Rate Loan on any date, the rate per annum equal to LIBOR, at or about 11:00 a.m., London time determined two Business Days prior to such date for Dollar deposits being delivered with a term of one month commencing that day;

 

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

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for any Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in Dollars for which the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Option has been exercised, the “Eurocurrency Rate” means the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate.

 

“Eurocurrency Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at (a) a rate based on clause (a) of the definition of “Eurocurrency Rate” or (b) the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate.  Eurocurrency Rate Loans bearing interest at a rate based on clause (a) of the definition of “Eurocurrency Rate” may be denominated in Dollars or in an Alternative Currency.  Eurocurrency Rate Loans bearing interest at the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate shall be denominated in Dollars.  All Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency must be Eurocurrency Rate Loans.

 

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

 

“Excess Payment” has the meaning specified in Section 11.06.

 

“Excluded Subsidiary” means (a) any Foreign Subsidiary of the Company, (b) any Domestic Subsidiary (x) that is treated as a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes and (y) substantially all of the assets of which consist of Equity Interests of Foreign Subsidiaries, (c) any Domestic Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary that is a CFC and (d) any Immaterial Subsidiary.

 

“Excluded Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Loan Party, any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the Guaranty of such Loan Party of, or the grant under a Loan Document by such Loan Party of a security interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any Guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act (or the application or official interpretation thereof) by virtue of such Loan Party’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act (determined after giving effect to Section 11.08 and any and all guarantees of such Loan Party’s Swap Obligations by other Loan Parties) at the time the Guaranty of such Loan Party, or grant by such Loan Party of a security interest, becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation.  

 

13

 

If a Swap Obligation arises under a Master Agreement governing more than one Swap Contract, such exclusion shall apply to only the portion of such Swap Obligations that is attributable to Swap Contracts for which such Guaranty or security interest becomes illegal.

 

“Excluded Taxes” means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the U.S. L/C Issuer, (a) taxes imposed on or measured by its net income (however denominated), and franchise or similar taxes imposed on it (in lieu of net income taxes), by a jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) as a result of such recipient being organized or having its principal office in such jurisdiction or, in the case of any Lender, in having its applicable Lending Office in such jurisdiction, or as a result of doing business in or having another connection with such jurisdiction (other than a business or connection arising solely from any Loan Document or any transactions contemplated thereunder), (b) any taxes in the nature of the branch profits tax within the meaning of Section 884(a) of the Code imposed by any jurisdiction described in clause (a), (c) other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 10.13, any United States federal tax required to be withheld that is imposed on amounts payable to such Person pursuant to any Laws in effect at the time such Person becomes a party hereto (or designates a new Lending Office), except to the extent that such Person (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new Lending Office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from any Loan Party with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to Section 3.01(a)(ii) or (c), (d) any withholding tax that is attributable to such Person’s failure to comply with Section 3.01(e) hereto, (e) any United States federal withholding tax imposed pursuant to FATCA and (f) provided that a Lender makes any assignment or transfer without the consent of the Company where such consent is required in accordance with Section 10.06, any Swiss Withholding Tax due on payments to such Lender, the respective assignee and/or the respective Participant.

 

“Existing Credit Agreement” means that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of June 9, 2011 by and among the Company (formerly known as Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc.), Bank of America, as administrative agent and the lenders from time to time party thereto, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.

 

“Existing Letters of Credit” means the letters of credit set forth on Schedule 1.01.

 

“Facility” means the U.S. Revolving Credit Facility or the Alternative Revolving Credit Facility, as the context may require.

 

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

 

“FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as in effect on the date hereof (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any applicable Treasury Regulation promulgated thereunder or published administrative guidance implementing such Sections, whether in existence on the Closing Date or promulgated or published thereafter, any agreement entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(i) of the Code and any intergovernmental agreements implementing the foregoing.

 

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

 

“Fee Letters” means the Bank of America Fee Letter, the Rabobank Fee Letter, the HSBC Fee Letter, the Wells Fargo Fee Letter and the Sumitomo Fee Letter.

 

“Foreign Government Scheme or Arrangement” has the meaning specified in Section 5.09(e).

 

“Foreign Plan” has the meaning specified in Section 5.09(e).

 

“Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company 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, (a) with respect to the U.S. L/C Issuer, such Defaulting Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all outstanding U.S. L/C Obligations other than U.S. L/C Obligations as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof and (b) with respect to the U.S. Swing Line Lender, such Defaulting Lender’s Applicable Percentage of U.S. Swing Line Loans other than U.S. 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 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 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).  

 

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

 

“Guaranteed Hedge Agreement” means any Swap Contract required or permitted under Article VI or VII that is entered into by and between any Loan Party and any Hedge Bank.

 

“Guarantors” means, collectively, (a) each Subsidiary of the Company that has executed and delivered a guaranty or guaranty supplement pursuant to Section 6.12 (which for the avoidance of doubt, shall not include any Excluded Subsidiary), (b) with respect to (i) Obligations under any Guaranteed Hedge Agreement, (ii) Obligations under any Guaranteed Cash Management Agreement, (iii) any Swap Obligation of a Specified Loan Party (determined before giving effect to Sections 11.01 and 11.08) under the Guaranty and (iv) with respect to the Obligations of any Designated Borrower, the Company and (c) the successors and permitted assigns of the foregoing to the extent otherwise required to become a Guarantor under the foregoing clause (a) or (b).

 

“Guaranty” means the Guaranty made by the Guarantors in favor of the Administrative Agent and the other holders of the Obligations pursuant to Article XI.

 

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

 

“Hedge Bank” means any Person that, at the time it enters into an interest rate, foreign exchange rate or commodity price Swap Contract required or permitted under Article VI or VII, is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, in its capacity as a party to such Swap Contract.

 

“HMT” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of Sanction(s).

 

“Honor Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.03(c)(i).

 

“HSBC Fee Letter” means the letter agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, among the Company, HSBC Bank USA, N.A. and HSBC Bank Canada.

 

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

 

“Immaterial Subsidiary” means each Subsidiary designated in writing by the Company to the Administrative Agent as an Immaterial Subsidiary, that, as of the last day of the fiscal year of the Company most recently ended, had revenues and total assets for such year in an amount that is less than 5% of the consolidated revenues or total assets, as applicable, of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such year; provided that all such Immaterial Subsidiaries, taken together, as of the last day of the fiscal year of the Company most recently ended, shall not have revenues or total assets for such year in an amount that is equal to or greater than 5% of the consolidated revenues or total assets, as applicable, of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such year.  Any Subsidiary that provides a Guaranty of the Obligations shall not be deemed an Immaterial Subsidiary and shall be excluded from the calculations above.

 

“Impacted Loans” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.03.

 

“Increase Effective Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.14(a).

 

“Increase Joinder” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.14(c).

 

“Incremental Alternative Revolving Commitments” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.14(a).

 

“Incremental Commitments” means Incremental Revolving Commitments and/or the Incremental Term Commitments.

 

“Incremental Loans” means Incremental Term Loans and Loans made pursuant to Incremental Revolving Commitments.

 

“Incremental Revolving Commitments” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.14(a).

 

“Incremental Term Commitments” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.14(a).

 

“Incremental Term Loan Maturity Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.14(c).

 

“Incremental Term Loans” means any loans made pursuant to any Incremental Term Commitments.

 

“Incremental U.S. Revolving Commitments” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.14(a).

 

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

 

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

 

(d)           all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than (i) trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business and (ii) any earn-out obligation until such obligation appears in the liabilities section of the balance sheet of such Person);

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, except to the extent the Company’s or such Subsidiary’s liability for such Indebtedness is otherwise limited.  The amount of any net obligation under any Swap Contract on any date shall be deemed to be the Swap Termination Value thereof as of such date.

 

“Indemnified Taxes” means all Taxes other than (a) Excluded Taxes, (b) Other Taxes and (c) Assignment Taxes excluded from Other Taxes pursuant to the definition thereof.

 

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

 

“Information” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07.

 

“Interest Payment Date” means, (a) as to any Eurocurrency Rate Loan other than a Eurocurrency Rate Loan for which the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Option has been exercised, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date of the Facility under which such Loan was made; provided, however, that if any Interest Period for a Eurocurrency 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, U.S. Swing Line Loan or any Eurocurrency Rate Loan for which the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Option has been exercised, the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date of the Facility under which such Loan was made (with each U.S. Swing Line Loan being deemed made under the U.S. Revolving Credit Facility for purposes of this definition).

 

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“Interest Period” means, as to each Eurocurrency Rate Loan other than a Eurocurrency Rate Loan for which the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Option has been exercised, the period commencing on the date such Eurocurrency Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Eurocurrency Rate Loan and ending on the date one week or one, two, three, six months thereafter (in each case, subject to availability), as selected by the Company in its Committed Loan Notice or, such other period that is twelve months or less requested by the Company and consented to by all the Appropriate Lenders; provided that:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the “Interest Period” for any Eurocurrency Rate Loan for which the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Option has been exercised means the one day period commencing on the date such Eurocurrency Rate Loan is disbursed and ending on that same date, as may be selected by the Company in accordance with Section 2.02, and each one day period thereafter while such Eurocurrency Rate Loan remains outstanding.

 

“Investment” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect acquisition or investment by such Person, whether by means of (a) the purchase or other acquisition of Equity Interests of another Person, (b) a loan, advance or capital contribution to, Guarantee or assumption of debt of, or purchase or other acquisition of any other debt or interest in, another Person, 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 or all or a substantial part of the business of, such Person.  For purposes of covenant compliance, the amount of any Investment shall be the amount actually invested, without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment, net of any return representing a return of capital with respect to such Investment that has been repaid in cash (to the extent such amount does not exceed the original Investment).

 

“IP Rights” means, with respect to any Person, the right to use, all of the trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, patents, patent rights, franchises, licenses and other intellectual property rights of such Person.

 

“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

“Keurig Trading” means Keurig Trading S.à.r.l., a limited liability company organized under the laws of Switzerland.

 

“Laws” means, collectively, all applicable international, foreign, Federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, certifications, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, including but not limited to the United States Department of Agriculture and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, in each case whether or not having the force of law.

 

“Lender” means each of the Persons identified as a “Lender” on the signature pages hereto, each other Person that becomes a “Lender” in accordance with this Agreement and their successors and permitted assigns and, unless the context requires otherwise, includes the U.S. Swing Line Lender.

 

“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 Company and the Administrative Agent, which office may include any Affiliate of such Lender or any domestic or foreign branch of such Lender or such Affiliate.  Unless the context otherwise requires each reference to a Lender shall include its applicable Lending Office.

 

“Letter of Credit Application” means an application and agreement for the issuance or amendment of a U.S. Letter of Credit substantially in the form from time to time in use by the U.S. L/C Issuer.

 

“Letter of Credit Expiration Date” means the day that is seven days prior to the Maturity Date then in effect for the U.S. Revolving Credit Facility (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day).

 

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

 

“LIBOR Daily Floating Rate” means on any date, the rate per annum equal to LIBOR or a comparable or successor rate which rate is approved by the Administrative Agent, as published on the applicable Bloomberg screen page (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to such date, for deposits in Dollars being delivered in the London interbank eurodollar market for a term of one month commencing that day; provided that to the extent a comparable or successor rate is approved by the Administrative Agent in connection with the rate set forth in this definition, the approved rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided, further that (i) to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, such approved rate shall be applied in a manner as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent, and (ii) if the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

 

“LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Option” has the meaning specified in Section 2.02.

 

“LIBOR Quoted Currency” means each of the following currencies: Dollars; Euro; Pounds Sterling; Swiss Franc; and Yen; in each case as long as there is a published LIBOR rate with respect thereto.

 

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“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, collateral assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, easement, right-of-way or other encumbrance on title to real property, lien (statutory or other), charge, or similar 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, and any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

 

“Loan” means an extension of credit by a Lender to a Borrower under Article II in the form of a Revolving Credit Loan or a U.S. Swing Line Loan.

 

“Loan Documents” means, collectively, (a) this Agreement, (b) the Notes, (c) any agreement creating or perfecting rights in cash collateral pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.15 of this Agreement, (d) each Designated Borrower Joinder Agreement, (e) the Fee Letters, (f) each Issuer Document and (g) each Increase Joinder.

 

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

 

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

 

“Material Adverse Effect” means (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the operations, business, properties or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents, or of the ability of the Loan Parties to perform their obligations under the Loan Documents; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against the Loan Parties of the Loan Documents.

 

“Maturity Date” means, with respect to each Revolving Credit Facility, the date that is the five years after the Closing Date; provided, however, that, in each case, if such date is not a Business Day, the Maturity Date shall be the next preceding Business Day.

 

“Maximum Rate” has the meaning specified in Section 10.09.

 

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

 

“Minimum Collateral Amount” means, at any time, (i) with respect to Cash Collateral consisting of cash or deposit account balances provided to reduce or eliminate Fronting Exposure during the existence of a Defaulting Lender, an amount equal to 105% of the Fronting Exposure of the U.S. L/C Issuer with respect to U.S. Letters of Credit issued and outstanding at such time, (ii) with respect to Cash Collateral consisting of cash or deposit account balances provided in accordance with the provisions of Sections 2.15(a)(i), (a)(ii) or (a)(iii), an amount equal to 105% of the Outstanding Amount of all U.S. L/C Obligations, and (iii) otherwise, an amount determined by the Administrative Agent and the U.S. L/C Issuer in their reasonable discretion.

 

“MLPFS” means Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, or one of its designated Affiliates.

 

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

 

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“Multiemployer Plan” means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or to which any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate has liability.

 

“Multiple Employer Plan” means a Plan which has two or more contributing sponsors (including any Loan Party 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-Bank Rules” means the Ten Non-Qualifying Bank Creditor Rule and the Twenty Non-Qualifying Bank Creditor Rule.

 

“Non-Consenting Lender” means any Lender that does not approve any consent, waiver or amendment that (a) requires the approval of all Lenders or all affected Lenders in accordance with the terms of Section 10.01 and (b) 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.

 

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

 

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

 

“Non-Qualifying Swiss Lender” means a Person which is not a Qualifying Swiss Lender.

 

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

 

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

 

“Obligations” means with respect to each Loan Party (i) all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Loan Party arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan or U.S. Letter of Credit, and (ii) all obligations of any Loan Party owing to a Cash Management Bank or a Hedge Bank in respect of Guaranteed Cash Management Agreements or Guaranteed Hedge Agreements, in each case identified in clauses (i) and (ii) 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; provided, however, that the “Obligations” of a Loan Party shall exclude any Excluded Swap Obligations with respect to such Loan Party.

 

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

 

“Organization Documents” means (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement or, in the case of a Person incorporated in Switzerland, a certified excerpt of the relevant commercial register and a certified copy of its articles of association; 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.

 

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“Other Taxes” means any and all present or future stamp or documentary Taxes or any other excise, property or similar Taxes arising from any payment made hereunder or under any other Loan Document or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, other than any such Taxes imposed on an assignment of, or grant of a participation in, an interest in a Loan or U.S. Letter of Credit (“Assignment Taxes”), but only to the extent such Assignment Taxes are imposed as a result of a connection between the assignor/participating Lender or assignee/participant (as applicable) and the jurisdiction imposing such Assignment Taxes other than a connection arising from any Loan Document or any transactions contemplated thereunder.

 

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

 

“Overnight Rate” means, for any day, (a) with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, the greater of (i) the Federal Funds Rate and (ii) an overnight rate determined by the Administrative Agent, the U.S. L/C Issuer or the U.S. Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, and (b) with respect to any amount denominated in an Alternative Currency, the rate of interest per annum at which overnight deposits in the applicable Alternative Currency, in an amount approximately equal to the amount with respect to which such rate is being determined, would be offered for such day by a branch or Affiliate of Bank of America in the applicable offshore interbank market for such currency to major banks in such interbank market.

 

“Participant” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(d).

 

“Participant Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(d)

 

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

 

“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

 

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

 

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

 

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“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 any Loan Party 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” has the meaning specified in Section 7.03(g).

 

“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 any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate or any such Plan to which any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate is required to contribute on behalf of any of its employees.

 

“Platform” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

 

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

 

“Pro Forma Basis” means, as to any Person, for any events as described below that occur subsequent to the commencement of a period for which the financial effect of such events is being calculated, and giving effect to the events for which such calculation is being made, such calculation will give pro forma effect to such events as if such events occurred on the first day of the Measurement Period: (i) in making any determination of Consolidated EBITDA or Consolidated EBIT, effect shall be given to any Dispositions or Permitted Acquisition, in each case that occurred during the Measurement Period (or, in the case of determinations made pursuant to Section 7.02, 7.03, 7.05, 7.06, 7.10 or 7.12, occurring during the Measurement Period or thereafter and through and including the date upon which the respective Permitted Acquisition or relevant transaction is consummated) and (ii) in making any determination on a Pro Forma Basis, (x) all Indebtedness (including Indebtedness issued, incurred or assumed as a result of, or to finance, any relevant transactions and for which the financial effect is being calculated, whether incurred under this Agreement or otherwise, but excluding normal fluctuations in revolving Indebtedness incurred for working capital purposes, in each case not to finance any acquisition) issued, incurred, assumed or permanently repaid during the Measurement Period (or, in the case of determinations made pursuant to Section 7.02, 7.03, 7.05, 7.06, 7.10 or 7.12, occurring during the Measurement Period or thereafter and through and including the date upon which the respective Permitted Acquisition or relevant transaction is consummated) shall be deemed to have been issued, incurred, assumed or permanently repaid on the last day of the applicable Measurement Period (except in the case of the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio (or similar ratio), such incurrence, assumption, guarantee, redemption, repayment, retirement or extinguishment of Indebtedness, as if the same had occurred on the first day of the applicable Measurement Period), (y) the interest expense of such person attributable to interest on any Indebtedness, for which pro forma effect is being given as provided in preceding clause (x), bearing floating interest rates shall be computed on a pro forma basis as if the rates that would have been in effect during the period for which pro forma effect is being given had been actually in effect during such periods (taking into account any Swap Contract applicable to the Indebtedness if the Swap Contract has a remaining term of at least 12 months).

 

Pro forma calculations made pursuant to the definition of the term “Pro Forma Basis” shall be determined in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Company in accordance with GAAP and Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended or otherwise in express compliance with this definition and the definition of the financial metric being calculated and may include adjustments to give appropriate effect to transactional cost and expenses incurred in connection with Permitted Acquisitions in an amount not to exceed $100,000,000.  The Company shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a financial officer of the Company setting forth calculations of any such pro forma adjustments supporting them in reasonable detail.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, when calculating the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio and Consolidated Leverage Ratio solely for the purposes of Section 7.10 (in the case of actual quarterly and annual compliance), the events described above that occurred subsequent to the end of the Measurement Period shall not be given pro forma effect.

 

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

 

“Qualified ECP Guarantor” means, at any time, each Loan Party with total assets exceeding $10,000,000 or that qualifies at such time as an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act and can cause another Person to qualify as an “eligible contract participant” at such time under Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

“Qualified Securitization Financing” means any Securitization Financing of a Securitization Subsidiary that meets the following conditions: (a) the board of directors of the Company shall have determined in good faith that such Securitization Financing (including financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions) is in the aggregate economically fair and reasonable to the Company and the applicable Securitization Subsidiary, (b) all sales and/or contributions of Securitization Assets and related assets to the Securitization Subsidiary or any other Person are made at fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Company) and (c) the financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions thereof, including any Standard Securitization Undertakings, shall be market terms (as determined in good faith by the Company).

 

“Qualifying Swiss Lender” means a Person (including any commercial bank or financial institution (irrespective of its jurisdiction of organization)) acting on its own account which has a banking license in force and effect issued in accordance with the banking laws in its jurisdiction of incorporation, or if acting through a branch, issued in accordance with the banking laws in the jurisdiction of such branch, and which, in both cases, effectively exercises as its main purpose a true banking activity, having bank personnel, premises, communication devices of its own and authority of decision making all in accordance and as defined in the Swiss Guidelines or in the legislation and explanatory notes addressing the same issues which are in force at such time.

 

“Rabobank Fee Letter” means the letter agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, among the Company and Coöperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank B.A. “Rabobank Nederland”, New York Branch.

 

“Ratable Share” has the meaning specified in Section 11.06.

 

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

 

“Recipient” means the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the U.S. L/C Issuer.

 

“Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(c).

 

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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, advisors and representatives of such Person and of such Person’s Affiliates.

 

“Release” means any release, emitting, escaping, spill, emission, discharge, deposit, disposal, leaking, pumping, pouring, dumping, emptying, injection or leaching into the Environment, or into, from or through any building, structure or facility.

 

“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 Revolving Credit Loans, a Committed Loan Notice, (b) with respect to U.S. L/C Credit Extensions, a Letter of Credit Application, and (c) with respect to U.S. Swing Line Loans, a Swing Line Loan Notice.

 

“Required Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders holding more than 50% of the sum of the (a) Total Outstandings (with the aggregate amount of each Revolving Credit Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in U.S. L/C Obligations and U.S. Swing Line Loans being deemed “held” by such Revolving Credit Lender for purposes of this definition) and (b) aggregate unused Commitments; provided that the unused Commitment of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.

 

“Responsible Officer” means (x) in the case of a Designated Borrower incorporated in Switzerland, the board members (or the managing officers in the case of a Swiss limited liability company) or any other officer or employee designated by the board of directors (or the board of managing officers in the case of a Swiss limited liability company) in a resolution adopted in accordance with the Organization Documents or (y) (a) the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, general counsel, treasurer, assistant treasurer or controller (or other similar officer) of a Loan Party, (b) solely for purposes of the delivery of documents pursuant to Section 4.01, the secretary or any assistant secretary of a Loan Party, and (c) solely for purposes of notices given pursuant to Article II, any (i) treasury manager or (ii) other officer or employee of the applicable Loan Party so designated by any of the foregoing officers in a notice to the Administrative Agent or any other officer or employee of the applicable Loan Party designated in or pursuant to an agreement between the applicable Loan Party and the Administrative Agent.  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 any Person or any of its Subsidiaries, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, defeasance, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such capital stock or other Equity Interest, or on account of any return of capital to any Person’s stockholders, partners or members (or the equivalent of any thereof), or any option, warrant or other right to acquire any such dividend or other distribution or payment.

 

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“Revaluation Date” means (a) with respect to any Loan, each of the following: (i) each date of a Borrowing of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in an Alternative Currency, (ii) each date of a continuation of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in an Alternative Currency pursuant to Section 2.02, and (iii) such additional dates as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably determine or the Required Lenders shall reasonably require; and (b) with respect to any U.S. Letter of Credit, each of the following: (i) each date of issuance of a U.S. Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, (ii) each date of an amendment of any such U.S. Letter of Credit having the effect of increasing the amount thereof, (iii) each date of any payment by the U.S. L/C Issuer under any U.S. Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, (iv) in the case of all Existing Letters of Credit denominated in Alternative Currencies, the Closing Date and (v) such additional dates as the Administrative Agent or the U.S. L/C Issuer shall reasonably determine or the Required Lenders shall reasonably require.

 

“Revolving Credit Borrowing” means, as applicable, the U.S. Revolving Credit Borrowing and/or the Alternative Revolving Credit Borrowing.

 

“Revolving Credit Commitment” means, as applicable, a U.S. Revolving Credit Commitment and/or an Alternative Revolving Credit Commitment.

 

“Revolving Credit Facilities” means, as applicable, the U.S. Revolving Credit Facility and/or the Alternative Revolving Credit Facility.

 

“Revolving Credit Lender” means, as applicable, the U.S. Revolving Credit Lenders and/or the Alternative Revolving Credit Lenders.

 

“Revolving Credit Loans” means, as applicable, the U.S. Revolving Credit Loans and/or the Alternative Revolving Credit Loans.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

“Securitization Assets” means the accounts receivable and any royalty or other revenue streams and any other rights to payment subject to a Qualified Securitization Financing in respect thereof and the proceeds thereof.

 

“Securitization Fees” means distributions or payments made directly or by means of discounts with respect to any participation interest issued or sold in connection with, and other fees paid to a Person that is not a Securitization Subsidiary in connection with, any Qualified Securitization Financing.

 

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“Securitization Financing” means any transaction or series of transactions that may be entered into by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may sell, convey or otherwise transfer to a Securitization Subsidiary or any other Person, or may grant a security interest in, any Securitization Assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and any assets related thereto, including all collateral securing such Securitization Assets, all contracts and all guarantees or other obligations in respect of such Securitization Assets, proceeds of such Securitization Assets and other assets that are customarily transferred or in respect of which security interests are customarily granted in connection with asset securitization transactions involving Securitization Assets.

 

“Securitization Repurchase Obligation” means any obligation of a seller (or any guaranty of such obligation) of Securitization Assets in a Qualified Securitization Financing to repurchase Securitization Assets arising as a result of a breach of a Standard Securitization Undertaking, including as a result of a receivable or portion thereof becoming subject to any asserted defense, dispute, offset or counterclaim of any kind as a result of any action taken by, any failure to take action by or any other event relating to the seller.

 

“Securitization Subsidiary” means a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company (or another Person formed for the purposes of engaging in a Qualified Securitization Financing in which the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company makes an Investment and to which the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company transfers Securitization Assets and related assets) that engages in no activities other than in connection with the financing of Securitization Assets of the Company or its Subsidiaries, all proceeds thereof and all rights (contingent and other), collateral and other assets relating thereto, and any business or activities incidental or related to such business, and which is designated by the board of directors of the Company or such other Person (as provided below) as a Securitization Subsidiary and (a) no portion of the Indebtedness or any other obligations (contingent or otherwise) of which (i) is guaranteed by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, other than another Securitization Subsidiary (excluding guarantees of obligations (other than the principal of, and interest on, Indebtedness) pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings), (ii) is recourse to or obligates the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, other than another Securitization Subsidiary, in any way other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings or (iii) subjects any property or asset of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, other than another Securitization Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, to the satisfaction thereof, other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings, (b) with which none of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, other than another Securitization Subsidiary, has any material contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding other than on terms which the Company reasonably believes to be no less favorable to the Company or such Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons that are not Affiliates of the Company and (c) to which none of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, other than another Securitization Subsidiary, has any obligation to maintain or preserve such entity’s financial condition or cause such entity to achieve certain levels of operating results.  Any such designation by the board of directors of the Company or such other Person shall be evidenced to the Administrative Agent by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a certified copy of the resolution of the board of directors of the Company or such other Person giving effect to such designation and a certificate executed by a Responsible Officer certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing conditions.

 

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

 

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The amount of contingent liabilities at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in the light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

 

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

 

“Specified Loan Party” has the meaning specified in Section 11.08.

 

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

 

“Standard Securitization Undertakings” means representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities entered into by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company that the Company has determined in good faith to be customary in a Securitization Financing.

 

“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 Company.

 

“Sumitomo Fee Letter” means the letter agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, among the Company and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation.

 

“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, repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, sell buy back and buy sell back agreements, and securities lending and borrowing agreements, 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.

 

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“Swap Obligations” means with respect to any Loan Party any obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of Section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

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

 

“Swing Line Loan Notice” means a notice of a U.S. Swing Line Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.04(b), which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit B or such other form as approved by the Administrative Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approve by the Administrative Agent), appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Company.

 

“Swiss Borrower” means, for purposes of Swiss Withholding Tax, a Designated Borrower that is organized under the laws of Switzerland or which is treated as resident in Switzerland for Swiss Withholding Tax purposes.

 

“Swiss Federal Tax Administration” means the tax authorities referred to in Article 34 of the Swiss Federal Law on Withholding Tax of 13 October 1965 (Bundesgesetz über die Verrechnungssteuer vom 13. Oktober 1965, SR/RS 642.21).

 

“Swiss Francs” and “SFr” mean the lawful currency of the Swiss Confederation.

 

“Swiss Guidelines” means together, guideline S-02.123 in relation to interbank loans of 22 September 1986 (Merkblatt “Verrechnungssteuer auf Zinsen von Bankguthaben, deren Gläubiger Banken sind (Interbankguthaben)” vom 22. September 1986), guideline S-02.122.1 in relation to bonds of April 1999 (Merkblatt “Obligationen” vom April 1999), guideline S-02.130.1 in relation to money market instruments and book claims of April 1999 (Merkblatt vom April 1999 betreffend Geldmarktpapiere und Buchforderungen inländischer Schuldner), guideline S-02.128 in relation to syndicated credit facilities of January 2000 (Merkblatt “Steuerliche Behandlung von Konsortialdarlehen, Schuldscheindarlehen, Wechseln und Unterbeteiligungen” vom Januar 2000), circular letter No. 34 of 26 July 2011 (1-034-V-2011) in relation to deposits (Kreisschreiben Nr. 34 “Kundenguthaben” vom 26. Juli 2011) and the circular letter No. 15 of 7 February 2007 (1-015-DVS-2007) in relation to bonds and derivative financial instruments as subject matter of taxation of Swiss federal income tax, Swiss Withholding Tax and Swiss Stamp Taxes (Kreisschreiben Nr. 15 “Obligationen und derivative Finanzinstrumente als Gegenstand der direkten Bundessteuer, der Verrechnungssteuer und der Stempelabgaben” vom 7. Februar 2007), in each case as issued, amended or replaced from time to time, by the Swiss Federal Tax Administration, or as applied in accordance with a tax ruling (if any) issued by the Swiss Federal Tax Administration or as substituted or superseded and overruled by any law, statute, ordinance, court decision, regulation or the like as in force from time to time.

 

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“Swiss Withholding Tax” means any Taxes levied pursuant to the Swiss Federal Law on Withholding Tax of 13 October 1965 (Bundesgesetz über die Verrechnungssteuer vom 13. Oktober 1965, SR/RS 642.21), as amended from time to time together with the related ordinances, regulations and guidelines.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

“Ten Non-Qualifying Bank Creditor Rule” means the rule that the aggregate number of creditors (or deemed creditors) of a Swiss Borrower under this Agreement which are not Qualifying Swiss Lenders must not at any time exceed ten (10), if and as long as a violation of this rule results in Swiss Withholding Tax consequences for a Swiss Borrower, in each case in accordance with the meaning of the Swiss Guidelines or the applicable legislation or explanatory notes addressing the same issues that are in force at such time.

 

“Threshold Amount” means $100,000,000.

 

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

 

“Total Credit Exposure” means, as to any Lender at any time, the unused Commitments, outstanding Loans and outstanding participation interests in U.S. L/C Obligations and U.S. Swing Line Loans of such Lender at such time.

 

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

 

“Total U.S. Revolving Credit Outstandings” means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all U.S. Revolving Credit Loans, U.S. Swing Line Loans and U.S. L/C Obligations.

 

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“Transactions” means the refinancing of the Existing Credit Agreement and the other transactions to occur on the Closing Date.

 

“Twenty Non-Qualifying Bank Creditor Rule” means the rule that (without duplication) the aggregate number of creditors (or deemed creditors) (including the Lenders under this Agreement with Alternative Revolving Credit Commitments) of a Swiss Borrower, other than Qualifying Swiss Lenders, under all outstanding debts relevant for classification as debenture (Kassenobligation) (including debt arising under this Agreement, intragroup loans (if and to the extent intragroup loans are not exempt in accordance with the ordinance of the Swiss Federal Council of 18 June 2010 amending the Swiss Federal Ordinance on withholding tax and the Swiss Federal Ordinance on stamp duties with effect as of 1 August 2010), facilities and/or private placements made or deemed to be made by a Swiss Borrower) must not at any time exceed twenty (20), if and as long as a violation of this rule results in Swiss Withholding Tax consequences for a Swiss Borrower, in each case in accordance with the meaning of Swiss Guidelines or applicable legislation or explanatory notes addressing the same issues that are in force at such time.

 

“Type” means, with respect to a Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a Eurocurrency Rate Loan, and if a Eurocurrency Rate Loan, its further character as a Eurocurrency Rate Loan for which the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Option has been exercised, if applicable.

 

“UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York.

 

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

 

“United States Tax Compliance Certificate” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(e).

 

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

 

“U.S. L/C Advance” means, with respect to each U.S. Revolving Credit Lender, such Lender’s funding of its participation in any U.S. L/C Borrowing in accordance with its Applicable U.S. Revolving Credit Percentage.  All U.S. L/C Advances shall be denominated in Dollars.

 

“U.S. L/C Borrowing” means an extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any U.S. Letter of Credit which has not been reimbursed on the date when made or refinanced as a U.S. Revolving Credit Borrowing.

 

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

 

“U.S. L/C Issuer” means Bank of America in its capacity as issuer of U.S. Letters of Credit hereunder, or any successor issuer of U.S. Letters of Credit hereunder.

 

“U.S. L/C Obligations” means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate amount available to be drawn under all outstanding U.S. Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all Unreimbursed Amounts, including all U.S. L/C Borrowings.  For purposes of computing the amount available to be drawn under any U.S. Letter of Credit, the amount of such U.S. Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.09.  For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a U.S. Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the ISP, such U.S. Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” in the amount so remaining available to be drawn.

 

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“U.S. Letter of Credit” means any letter of credit issued hereunder under the U.S. Revolving Credit Facility and shall include the Existing Letters of Credit.  U.S. Letters of Credit may be issued in Dollars or in Alternative Currency.

 

“U.S. Letter of Credit Fees” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(h).

 

“U.S. Letter of Credit Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $200,000,000 and (b) the U.S. Revolving Credit Facility.  The U.S. Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the U.S. Revolving Credit Facility.

 

“U.S. Required Revolving Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, U.S. Revolving Credit Lenders holding more than 50% of the sum of the (a) Total U.S. Revolving Credit Outstandings (with the aggregate amount of each U.S. Revolving Credit Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in U.S. L/C Obligations and U.S. Swing Line Loans being deemed “held” by such U.S. Revolving Credit Lender for purposes of this definition) and (b) aggregate unused U.S. Revolving Credit Commitments; provided that the unused U.S. Revolving Credit Commitment of, and the portion of the Total U.S. Revolving Credit Outstandings held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of U.S. Required Revolving Lenders.

 

“U.S. Revolving Credit Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous U.S. Revolving Credit Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the U.S. Revolving Credit Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01(a).

 

“U.S. Revolving Credit Commitment” means, as to each U.S. Revolving Credit Lender, its obligation to (a) make U.S. Revolving Credit Loans to the Company pursuant to Section 2.01(a), (b) purchase participations in U.S. L/C Obligations, and (c) purchase participations in U.S. 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 under the caption “U.S. Revolving Credit Commitment”, opposite such caption in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto or on an Increase Joinder 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.  As of the Closing Date, the aggregate amount of the U.S. Revolving Credit Commitments is One Billion Three Hundred Million Dollars ($1,300,000,000).

 

“U.S. Revolving Credit Exposure” means, as to any Lender at any time, the aggregate Outstanding Amount at such time of its U.S. Revolving Credit Loans and the aggregate Outstanding Amount of such Lender’s participation in U.S. L/C Obligations and U.S. Swing Line Loans at such time.

 

“U.S. Revolving Credit Facility” means, at any time, the aggregate amount of the U.S. Revolving Credit Lenders’ U.S. Revolving Credit Commitments at such time.

 

“U.S. Revolving Credit Lender” means, at any time, any Lender that has a U.S. Revolving Credit Commitment at such time.

 

“U.S. Revolving Credit Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(a).

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

“U.S. Swing Line Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $50,000,000 and (b) the U.S. Revolving Credit Facility.  The U.S. Swing Line Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the U.S. Revolving Credit Facility.

 

“Wells Fargo Fee Letter” means the letter agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, among the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association.

 

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

 

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

 

(a)           The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined.  Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms.  The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.”  The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.”  Unless the context requires otherwise, (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document (including any Organization Document) shall 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, Preliminary Statements, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Preliminary Statements, Exhibits and Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory 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.

 

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 Company 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 conversion to IFRS as described below) would affect the computation of any financial ratio, covenant or other requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either the Company or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent and the Company shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio, covenant or other 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, (i) such ratio, covenant or other requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Company shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders a written reconciliation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent between calculations of such ratio, covenant or other requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP.  If the Company notifies the Administrative Agent that it is required to report under IFRS or has elected to do so through an early-adoption policy, “GAAP” shall mean international financial reporting standards pursuant to IFRS (provided that after such conversion, the Company cannot elect to report under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles).

 

1.04        Rounding.  Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Company 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        Exchange Rates; Currency Equivalents.

 

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

 

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

 

1.06        Additional Alternative Currencies.

 

(a)           The Company may from time to time request that Eurocurrency Rate Loans be made and/or U.S. Letters of Credit be issued in a currency other than those specifically listed in the definition of “Alternative Currency;” provided that such requested currency is a lawful currency (other than Dollars) that is readily available and freely transferable and convertible into Dollars.  In the case of any such request with respect to the making of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, such request shall be subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent and the Appropriate Lenders; and in the case of any such request with respect to the issuance of U.S. Letters of Credit, such request shall be subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent and the U.S. L/C Issuer.

 

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(b)           Any such request shall be made to the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m., ten Business Days prior to the date of the desired Credit Extension (or such other time or date as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent and, in the case of any such request pertaining to U.S. Letters of Credit, the U.S. L/C Issuer, in its or their reasonable discretion).  In the case of any such request pertaining to Eurocurrency Rate Loans, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Appropriate Lender thereof; and in the case of any such request pertaining to U.S. Letters of Credit, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the U.S. L/C Issuer thereof.  Each Appropriate Lender (in the case of any such request pertaining to Eurocurrency Rate Loans) or the U.S. L/C Issuer (in the case of a request pertaining to U.S. Letters of Credit) shall notify the Administrative Agent, not later than 11:00 a.m., five Business Days after receipt of such request whether it consents, in its sole discretion, to the making of Eurocurrency Rate Loans or the issuance of U.S. Letters of Credit, as the case may be, in such requested currency.

 

(c)           Any failure by an Appropriate Lender or the U.S. L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to respond to such request within the time period specified in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to be a refusal by such Lender or the U.S. L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to permit Eurocurrency Rate Loans to be made or U.S. Letters of Credit to be issued in such requested currency.  If the Administrative Agent and all the Appropriate Lenders consent to making Eurocurrency Rate Loans in such requested currency, the Administrative Agent shall so notify the Company and (i) the Administrative Agent and such Appropriate Lenders may amend the definition of Eurocurrency Rate for any Non-LIBOR Quoted Currency to the extent necessary to add the applicable Eurocurrency Rate for such currency, and (ii) to the extent the definition of Eurocurrency Rate reflects the appropriate interest rate for such currency or has been amended to reflect the appropriate rate for such currency, such currency shall thereupon be deemed for all purposes to be a LIBOR Quoted Currency or a Non-LIBOR Quoted Currency, as applicable, for purposes of any Borrowings of Eurocurrency Rate Loans under the Alternative Revolving Credit Facility; and if the Administrative Agent and the U.S. L/C Issuer consent to the issuance of U.S. Letters of Credit in such requested currency, the Administrative Agent shall so notify the Company and such currency shall thereupon be deemed for all purposes to be an Alternative Currency hereunder for purposes of any U.S. Letter of Credit issuances. If the Administrative Agent shall fail to obtain consent to any request for an additional currency under this Section 1.06, the Administrative Agent shall promptly so notify the Company.  Any specified currency of an Existing Letter of Credit that is neither Dollars nor one of the Alternative Currencies specifically listed in the definition of “Alternative Currency” shall be deemed an Alternative Currency with respect to such Existing Letter of Credit only.

 

1.07        Change of Currency.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

1.10                        Currency Equivalents Generally.  Any amount specified in this Agreement (other than in Articles II and IX) or any of the other Loan Documents to be in Dollars shall also include the equivalent of such amount in any currency other than Dollars, such equivalent amount thereof in the applicable currency to be determined by the Administrative Agent at such time on the basis of the Spot Rate (as defined below) for the purchase of such currency with Dollars.

 

ARTICLE II
 THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS

 

2.01                        The Loans.

 

(a)                                 The U.S. Revolving Credit Borrowings.  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each U.S. Revolving Credit Lender severally agrees to make loans (each such loan, a “U.S. Revolving Credit Loan”) to the Company in Dollars 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 such Lender’s U.S. Revolving Credit Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any U.S. Revolving Credit Borrowing, (i) the Total U.S. Revolving Credit Outstandings shall not exceed the U.S. Revolving Credit Facility and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the U.S. Revolving Credit Loans of any Lender, plus such U.S. Revolving Credit Lender’s Applicable U.S. Revolving Credit Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all U.S. L/C Obligations, plus such U.S. Revolving Credit Lender’s Applicable U.S. Revolving Credit Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all U.S. Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such U.S. Revolving Credit Lender’s U.S. Revolving Credit Commitment.  Within the limits of each U.S. Revolving Credit Lender’s U.S. Revolving Credit Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Company may borrow under this Section 2.01(a), prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.01(a).  U.S. Revolving Credit Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurocurrency Rate Loans, as further provided herein.

 

(b)                                 The Alternative Revolving Credit Borrowings.  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Alternative Revolving Credit Lender severally agrees to make loans (each such loan, an “Alternative Revolving Credit Loan”) to the relevant Borrowers in Dollars or in Alternative Currencies from time to time, on any Business Day during the Availability Period, in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lender’s Alternative Revolving Credit Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Alternative Revolving Credit Borrowing, (i) the Total Alternative Revolving Credit Outstandings shall not exceed the Alternative Revolving Credit Facility and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Alternative Revolving Credit Loans of any Lender shall not exceed such Alternative Revolving Credit Lender’s Alternative Revolving Credit Commitment.  

 

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Within the limits of each Alternative Revolving Credit Lender’s Alternative Revolving Credit Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the relevant Borrowers may borrow under this Section 2.01(b), prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.01(b).  Alternative Revolving Credit Loans in Dollars may be Base Rate Loans or Eurocurrency Rate Loans, as further provided herein.  Alternative Revolving Credit Loans in Alternative Currencies shall be Eurocurrency Rate Loans, as further provided herein.

 

2.02                        Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans.

 

(a)                                 Each U.S. Revolving Credit Borrowing, each Alternative Revolving Credit Borrowing, each conversion of Revolving Credit Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be made upon the Company’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by (i) telephone or (ii) a Committed Loan Notice; provided that any telephonic notice must be confirmed immediately by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a Committed Loan Notice.  Each such Committed Loan Notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (A) three Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars (other than Borrowings of, conversions to or continuations of Eurocurrency Rate Loans for which the LIBOR Daily Floating Rating Option has been exercised) or of any conversion of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars (x) to Base Rate Loans or (y) from one Type of Eurocurrency Rate Loan to another (i.e., exercise of the LIBOR Daily Floating Rating Option), (B) four Business Days (or five Business Days in the case of a Special Notice Currency) prior to the requested date of any Borrowing or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies, and (C) on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans or Borrowings of, conversions to or continuations of Eurocurrency Rate Loans for which the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Option has been exercised; provided, however, that, except in the case of clause 2.02(f), if the Company wishes to request Eurocurrency Rate Loans having an Interest Period other than one week or one, two, three or six months in duration as provided in the definition of “Interest Period,” the applicable notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m.; (1) four Business Days prior to the requested date of such Borrowing, conversion or continuation, of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars, or (2) five Business Days (or six Business Days in the case of a Special Notice Currency) prior to the requested date of such Borrowing or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies, whereupon the Administrative Agent shall give prompt notice to the Appropriate Lenders of such request and determine whether the requested Interest Period is acceptable to such Appropriate Lenders.  Not later than 11:00 a.m., (x) three Business Days before the requested date of such Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars and having an Interest Period other than one week or one, two, three or six months in duration as provided in the definition of “Interest Period,” or (y) four Business Days (or five Business Days in the case of a Special Notice Currency) prior to the requested date of such Borrowing or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies and having an Interest Period other than one week or one, two, three or six months in duration as provided in the definition of “Interest Period,” the Administrative Agent shall notify the Company (which notice may be by telephone) whether or not the requested Interest Period has been consented to by all the Appropriate Lenders.  Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof.  Except as provided in Sections 2.03(c) and 2.04(c), each Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof.  

 

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Each Committed Loan Notice shall specify (I) whether the applicable Borrower is requesting a U.S. Revolving Credit Borrowing, an Alternative Revolving Credit Borrowing, a conversion of Revolving Credit Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, (II) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (III) the principal amount of Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (IV) the Type of Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Revolving Credit Loans are to be converted, (V) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto, (VI) if applicable, the currency of the Revolving Credit Loans to be borrowed and (VII) if applicable, the Designated Borrower.  If the Company fails to specify a currency in a Committed Loan Notice requesting an Alternative Revolving Credit Borrowing, then the Alternative Revolving Credit Loans so requested shall be made in Dollars.  If the Company fails to specify a Type of Loan in a Committed Loan Notice or if the Company fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Revolving Credit Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans; provided, however, that in the case of a failure to timely request a continuation of Alternative Revolving Credit Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency, such Loans shall be continued as Eurocurrency Rate Loans in their original currency with an Interest Period of one month.  Any such automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Eurocurrency Rate Loans.  If the Company requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month.  No Revolving Credit Loan may be converted into or continued as a Revolving Credit Loan denominated in a different currency, but instead must be prepaid in the original currency of such Revolving Credit Loan and reborrowed in the other currency.

 

(b)                                 Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount (and currency) of its Applicable Percentage under the applicable Facility of the applicable U.S. Revolving Credit Loans or Alternative Revolving Credit Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Company, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans, or continuation of Alternative Revolving Credit Loans denominated in a currency other than Dollars, described in Section 2.02(a).  In the case of a U.S. Revolving Credit Borrowing or an Alternative Revolving Credit Borrowing denominated in Dollars, each Appropriate Lender shall make the amount of its Loan available to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office for the applicable currency not later than 1:00 p.m., in the case of a U.S. Revolving Credit Borrowing denominated in Dollars, and not later than the Applicable Time specified by the Administrative Agent, in the case of any Alternative Revolving Credit Borrowing denominated in Alternative Currency, in each case on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice.  Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (and, if such Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section 4.01), the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Company or the other applicable Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of such 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 Company; provided, however, that if, on the date a Committed Loan Notice with respect to a U.S. Revolving Credit Borrowing denominated in Dollars is given by the Company, there are U.S. L/C Borrowings outstanding, then the proceeds of such U.S. Revolving Credit Borrowing, first, shall be applied to the payment in full of any such U.S. L/C Borrowings in Dollars, and second, shall be made available to the Company as provided above.

 

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

 

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(d)                                 The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Company and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Eurocurrency Rate Loans upon determination of such interest rate.  At any time that Base Rate Loans are outstanding, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Company 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 Revolving Credit Borrowings, all conversions of Revolving Credit Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Revolving Credit Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than ten Interest Periods in effect in respect of each Revolving Credit Facility.

 

(f)                                   Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.02 to the contrary, the Company may request for itself, but not for any other Borrowers, Revolving Credit Borrowings of, conversions to and continuations of Eurocurrency Rate Loans in Dollars at the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate (such option, the “LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Option”), (i) commencing on the Closing Date, and such LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Option shall continue automatically until the earliest of (A) repayment of such portion of the Loans in full, (B) written notice from the Company or (C) August 29, 2015; and (ii) in addition to the period described in clause (i), for up to a total of 60 days per any period of 12 consecutive months, commencing upon notice from the Company of its election to exercise the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Option and continuing automatically until the earliest of (A) repayment of such portion of the Loans in full, (B) written notice from the Company or (C) the date that is 60 days from the commencement of such election to exercise the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Option (which period shall be reduced by the number of days the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Option was in effect for such 12 consecutive months pursuant to this clause (ii)).

 

(g)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Lender may exchange, continue or rollover all of the portion of its Loans in connection with any refinancing, extension, loan modification or similar transaction permitted by the terms of this Agreement, pursuant to a cashless settlement mechanism approved by the Company, the Administrative Agent, and such Lender.

 

(h)                                 This Section 2.02 shall not apply to U.S. Swing Line Loans.

 

2.03                        U.S. Letters of Credit.

 

(a)                                 The U.S. Letter of Credit Commitment.

 

(i)                                     Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (A) the U.S. L/C Issuer agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the U.S. Revolving Credit Lenders set forth in this Section 2.03, (1) from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date until the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, to issue U.S. Letters of Credit denominated in Dollars or one or more Alternative Currencies for the account of the Company or its Subsidiaries, and to amend or extend U.S. Letters of Credit previously issued by it, in accordance with Section 2.03(b), and (2) to honor drawings under the U.S. Letters of Credit; and (B) the U.S. Revolving Credit Lenders severally agree to participate in U.S. Letters of Credit issued for the account of the Company or its Subsidiaries and any drawings thereunder; provided that after giving effect to any U.S. L/C Credit Extension with respect to any U.S. Letter of Credit, (I) the Total U.S. Revolving Credit Outstandings shall not exceed the U.S. Revolving Credit Facility, (II) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the U.S. Revolving Credit Loans of any U.S. Revolving Credit Lender, plus such Lender’s Applicable U.S. Revolving Credit Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all U.S. L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Applicable U.S. Revolving Credit Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all U.S. Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s U.S. Revolving Credit Commitment, and (III) the Outstanding Amount of the U.S. L/C Obligations shall not exceed the U.S. Letter of Credit Sublimit.  

 

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Each request by the Company for the issuance or amendment of a U.S. Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be a representation by the Company that the U.S. L/C Credit Extension so requested complies with the conditions set forth in the proviso to the preceding sentence.  Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Company’s ability to obtain U.S. Letters of Credit shall be fully revolving, and accordingly, the Company may, during the foregoing period, obtain U.S. Letters of Credit to replace U.S. Letters of Credit that have expired or that have been drawn upon and reimbursed.  All Existing Letters of Credit shall be deemed to have been issued pursuant hereto, and from and after the Closing Date shall be subject to and governed by the terms and conditions hereof.

 

(ii)                                  The U.S. L/C Issuer shall not issue any U.S. Letter of Credit if:

 

(A)                               subject to Section 2.03(b)(iii), the expiry date of such requested U.S. Letter of Credit would occur more than twelve months after the date of issuance or last extension, unless the U.S. Required Revolving Lenders have approved such expiry date; or

 

(B)                               the expiry date of such requested U.S. Letter of Credit would occur after the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, unless (x) all of the U.S. Revolving Credit Lenders and the U.S. L/C Issuer have approved such expiry date or (y) such U.S. Letter of Credit is cash collateralized on terms and pursuant to arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the U.S. L/C Issuer.

 

(iii)                               The U.S. L/C Issuer shall not be under any obligation to issue any U.S. Letter of Credit if:

 

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

 

(B)                               the issuance of such U.S. Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of the U.S. L/C Issuer applicable to letters of credit generally;

 

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(C)                               except as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the U.S. L/C Issuer, such U.S. Letter of Credit is in an initial stated amount less than $100,000 in the case of a standby U.S. Letter of Credit;

 

(D)                               except as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the U.S. L/C Issuer, such U.S. Letter of Credit is to be denominated in a currency other than Dollars or an Alternative Currency;

 

(E)                                the U.S. L/C Issuer does not as of the issuance date of the requested U.S. Letter of Credit issue U.S. Letters of Credit in the requested currency;

 

(F)                                 any U.S. Revolving Credit Lender is at that time a Defaulting Lender, unless the U.S. L/C Issuer has entered into arrangements, including the delivery of Cash Collateral, satisfactory to the U.S. L/C Issuer in its sole discretion, with the Company or such Lender to eliminate the U.S. L/C Issuer’s actual or potential Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 2.16(a)(iv)) with respect to the Defaulting Lender arising from either the U.S. Letter of Credit then proposed to be issued or that U.S. Letter of Credit and all other U.S. L/C Obligations as to which the U.S. L/C Issuer has actual or potential Fronting Exposure, as it may elect in its sole discretion;

 

(G)                               such U.S. Letter of Credit contains any provisions for automatic reinstatement of the stated amount after any drawing thereunder.

 

(iv)                              The U.S. L/C Issuer shall not amend any U.S. Letter of Credit if the U.S. L/C Issuer would not be permitted at such time to issue such U.S. Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof.

 

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

 

(vi)                              The U.S. L/C Issuer shall act on behalf of the U.S. Revolving Credit Lenders with respect to any U.S. Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and the U.S. L/C Issuer shall have all of the benefits and immunities (A) provided to the Administrative Agent in Article IX with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by the U.S. L/C Issuer in connection with U.S. Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and Issuer Documents pertaining to such U.S. Letters of Credit as fully as if the term “Administrative Agent” as used in Article IX included the U.S. L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions, and (B) as additionally provided herein with respect to the U.S. L/C Issuer.

 

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

 

(i)                                     Each U.S. Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, upon the request of the Company delivered to the U.S. L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) in the form of a Letter of Credit Application, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Company.  Such Letter of Credit Application may be sent by facsimile, by United States mail, by overnight courier, by electronic transmission using the system provided by the U.S. L/C Issuer, by personal delivery or by any other means acceptable to the U.S. L/C Issuer.  Such Letter of Credit Application must be received by the U.S. L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. at least two Business Days (or such later date and time as the Administrative Agent and the U.S. L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in their sole discretion) prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be.  

 

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In the case of a request for an initial issuance of a U.S. Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the U.S. L/C Issuer: (A) the proposed issuance date of the requested U.S. Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (B) the amount and currency thereof; (C) the expiry date thereof; (D) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof; (E) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (F) the full text of any certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (G) the purpose and nature of the requested U.S. Letter of Credit; and (H) such other matters as the U.S. L/C Issuer may reasonably request.  In the case of a request for an amendment of any outstanding U.S. Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the U.S. L/C Issuer (1) the U.S. Letter of Credit to be amended; (2) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (3) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (4) such other matters as the U.S. L/C Issuer may reasonably request.  Additionally, the Company shall furnish to the U.S. L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent such other documents and information pertaining to such requested U.S. Letter of Credit issuance or amendment, including any Issuer Documents, as the U.S. L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.

 

(ii)                                  Promptly after receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the U.S. L/C Issuer will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of such Letter of Credit Application from the Company and, if not, the U.S. L/C Issuer will provide the Administrative Agent with a copy thereof.  Unless the U.S. L/C Issuer has received written notice from any U.S. Revolving Credit Lender, the Administrative Agent or any Loan Party, at least one Business Day prior to the requested date of issuance or amendment of the applicable U.S. Letter of Credit, that one or more applicable conditions contained in Article IV shall not then be satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the U.S. L/C Issuer shall, on the requested date, issue a U.S. Letter of Credit for the account of the Company (or the applicable Subsidiary) or enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may be, in each case in accordance with the U.S. L/C Issuer’s usual and customary business practices.  Immediately upon the issuance of each U.S. Letter of Credit, each U.S. Revolving Credit Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the U.S. L/C Issuer a risk participation in such U.S. Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the product of such U.S. Revolving Credit Lender’s Applicable U.S. Revolving Credit Percentage times the amount of such U.S. Letter of Credit.

 

(iii)                               If the Company so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the U.S. L/C Issuer may, in its sole discretion, agree to issue a U.S. Letter of Credit that has automatic extension provisions (each, an “Auto-Extension Letter of Credit”); provided that any such Auto-Extension Letter of Credit must permit the U.S. L/C Issuer to prevent any such extension at least once in each twelve-month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such U.S. Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a day (the “Non-Extension Notice Date”) in each such twelve-month period to be agreed upon at the time such U.S. Letter of Credit is issued.  Unless otherwise directed by the U.S. L/C Issuer, the Company shall not be required to make a specific request to the U.S. L/C Issuer for any such extension.  Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, the U.S. Revolving Credit Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the U.S. L/C Issuer to permit the extension of such U.S. Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the Letter of Credit Expiration Date; provided, however, that the U.S. L/C Issuer shall not permit any such extension if (A) the U.S. L/C Issuer has determined that it would not be permitted, or would have no obligation at such time to issue such U.S. Letter of Credit in its revised form (as extended) under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of clause (ii) or (iii) of Section 2.03(a) or otherwise), or (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is five Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date (1) from the Administrative Agent that the U.S. Required Revolving Lenders have elected not to permit such extension or (2) from the Administrative Agent, any U.S. Revolving Credit Lender or the Company that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied, and in each such case directing the U.S. L/C Issuer not to permit such extension.

 

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(iv)                              Promptly after its delivery of any U.S. Letter of Credit or any amendment to a U.S. Letter of Credit to an advising bank with respect thereto or to the beneficiary thereof, the U.S. L/C Issuer will also deliver to the Company and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such U.S. Letter of Credit or amendment.

 

(c)                                  Drawings and Reimbursements; Funding of Participations.

 

(i)                                     Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any U.S. Letter of Credit of any notice of a drawing under such U.S. Letter of Credit, the U.S. L/C Issuer shall notify the Company and the Administrative Agent thereof.  In the case of a U.S. Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, the Company shall reimburse the U.S. L/C Issuer in such Alternative Currency, unless (A) the U.S. L/C Issuer (at its option) shall have specified in such notice that it will require reimbursement in Dollars, or (B) in the absence of any such requirement for reimbursement in Dollars, the Company shall have notified the U.S. L/C Issuer promptly following receipt of the notice of drawing that the Company will reimburse the U.S. L/C Issuer in Dollars.  In the case of any such reimbursement in Dollars of a drawing under a U.S. Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, the U.S. L/C Issuer shall notify the Company of the Dollar Equivalent of the amount of the drawing promptly following the determination thereof.  Not later than 11:00 a.m. on the date of any payment by the U.S. L/C Issuer under a U.S. Letter of Credit to be reimbursed in Dollars, or the Applicable Time on the date of any payment by the U.S. L/C Issuer under a U.S. Letter of Credit to be reimbursed in an Alternative Currency (each such date, an “Honor Date”), the Company shall reimburse the U.S. L/C Issuer through the Administrative Agent in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing and in the applicable currency.  In the event that (A) a drawing denominated in an Alternative Currency is to be reimbursed in Dollars pursuant to the second sentence in this Section 2.03(c)(i) and (B) the Dollar amount paid by the Company, whether on or after the Honor Date, shall not be adequate on the date of that payment to purchase in accordance with normal banking procedures a sum denominated in the Alternative Currency equal to the drawing, the Company agrees, as a separate and independent obligation, to indemnify the U.S. L/C Issuer for the loss resulting from its inability on that date to purchase the Alternative Currency in the full amount of the drawing.  If the Company fails to timely reimburse the U.S. L/C Issuer on the Honor Date, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each U.S. Revolving Credit Lender of the Honor Date, the amount of the unreimbursed drawing (expressed in Dollars in the amount of the Dollar Equivalent thereof in the case of a U.S. Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency) (the “Unreimbursed Amount”), and the amount of such U.S. Revolving Credit Lender’s Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage thereof.  In such event, the Company shall be deemed to have requested a U.S. Revolving Credit Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, to be disbursed on the Honor Date in an amount equal to the Unreimbursed Amount, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in Section 2.02 for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the U.S. Revolving Credit Commitments under the U.S. Revolving Credit Facility of such U.S. Revolving Credit Lender, and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than the delivery of a Committed Loan Notice).  Any notice given by the U.S. L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.03(c)(i) may be given by telephone if promptly confirmed in writing; provided that the lack of such a prompt confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice.

 

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(ii)                                  Each U.S. Revolving Credit Lender shall upon any notice pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) make funds available (and the Administrative Agent may apply Cash Collateral provided for this purpose) for the account of the U.S. L/C Issuer, in Dollars, at the Administrative Agent’s Office for Dollar-denominated payments in an amount equal to its Applicable U.S. Revolving Credit Percentage of the Unreimbursed Amount not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in such notice by the Administrative Agent, whereupon, subject to the provisions of Section 2.03(c)(iii), each U.S. Revolving Credit Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a U.S. Revolving Credit Loan that is a Base Rate Loan to the Company in such amount.  The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the U.S. L/C Issuer in Dollars.

 

(iii)                               With respect to any Unreimbursed Amount in respect of a U.S. Letter of Credit that is not fully refinanced by a U.S. Revolving Credit Borrowing of Base Rate Loans because the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02 cannot be satisfied or for any other reason, the Company shall be deemed to have incurred from the U.S. L/C Issuer a U.S. L/C Borrowing in the amount of the Unreimbursed Amount that is not so refinanced, which U.S. L/C Borrowing shall be due and payable on demand (together with interest) and shall bear interest at the Default Rate.  In such event, each U.S. Revolving Credit Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the U.S. L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(ii) shall be deemed payment in respect of its participation in such U.S. L/C Borrowing and shall constitute a U.S. L/C Advance from such Lender in satisfaction of its participation obligation under this Section 2.03.

 

(iv)                              Until each U.S. Revolving Credit Lender funds its U.S. Revolving Credit Loan or U.S. L/C Advance pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) to reimburse the U.S. L/C Issuer for any amount drawn under any U.S. Letter of Credit, interest in respect of such Lender’s Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of such amount shall be solely for the account of the U.S. L/C Issuer.

 

(v)                                 Each U.S. Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make U.S. Revolving Credit Loans or U.S. L/C Advances to reimburse the U.S. L/C Issuer for amounts drawn under U.S. Letters of Credit, as contemplated by this Section 2.03(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 U.S. L/C Issuer, the Company 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 U.S. Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make U.S. Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than delivery by the Company of a Committed Loan Notice ).  No such making of an U.S. L/C Advance shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Company to reimburse the U.S. L/C Issuer for the amount of any payment made by the U.S. L/C Issuer under any U.S. Letter of Credit, together with interest as provided herein.

 

(vi)                              If any U.S. Revolving Credit Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the U.S. L/C Issuer any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03(c) by the time specified in Section 2.03(c)(ii), then, without limiting the other provisions of this Agreement, the U.S. L/C Issuer 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 U.S. L/C Issuer at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the U.S. L/C Issuer in connection with the foregoing.  

 

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If such Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in the relevant Borrowing or U.S. L/C Advance in respect of the relevant U.S. L/C Borrowing, as the case may be.  A certificate of the U.S. L/C Issuer submitted to any U.S. Revolving Credit Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this Section 2.03(c)(vi) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

(d)                                 Repayment of Participations.

 

(i)                                     At any time after the U.S. L/C Issuer has made a payment under any U.S. Letter of Credit and has received from any U.S. Revolving Credit Lender such Lender’s U.S. L/C Advance in respect of such payment in accordance with Section 2.03(c), if the Administrative Agent receives for the account of the U.S. L/C Issuer any payment in respect of the related Unreimbursed Amount or interest thereon (whether directly from the Company or otherwise, including proceeds of Cash Collateral applied thereto by the Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent will distribute to such Lender its Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage thereof in Dollars and in the same funds as those received by the Administrative Agent.

 

(ii)                                  If any payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of the U.S. L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) is required to be returned under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.05 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the U.S. L/C Issuer in its discretion), each U.S. Revolving Credit Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the U.S. L/C Issuer its Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned by such Lender, at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect.  The obligations of the Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

(e)                                  Obligations Absolute.  The obligation of the Company to reimburse the U.S. L/C Issuer for each drawing under each U.S. Letter of Credit issued by it and to repay each U.S. L/C Borrowing shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all circumstances, including the following:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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(iv)                              waiver by the U.S. L/C Issuer of any requirement that exists for the U.S. L/C Issuer’s protection and not the protection of the Company or any waiver by the U.S. L/C Issuer which does not in fact materially prejudice the Company;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(f)                                   Role of U.S. L/C Issuer.  Each Lender and the Company agree that, in paying any drawing under a U.S. Letter of Credit, the U.S. L/C Issuer shall not have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than any sight draft, certificates and documents expressly required by the U.S. Letter of Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such document or the authority of the Person executing or delivering any such document.  None of the U.S. L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of the U.S. L/C Issuer shall be liable to any Lender for (i) any action taken or omitted in connection herewith at the request or with the approval of the U.S. Revolving Credit Lenders or the U.S. Required Revolving Lenders, as applicable; (ii) any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct; or (iii) the due execution, effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any document or instrument related to any U.S. Letter of Credit or Issuer Document.  The Company hereby assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee with respect to its use of any U.S. Letter of Credit; provided, however, that this assumption is not intended to, and shall not, preclude the Company’s pursuing such rights and remedies as it may have against the beneficiary or transferee at law or under any other agreement.  None of the U.S. L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of the U.S. L/C Issuer shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in clauses (i) through (viii) of Section 2.03(e); provided, however, that anything in such clauses to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may have a claim against the U.S. L/C Issuer, and the U.S. L/C Issuer may be liable to the Company to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or exemplary, damages suffered by the Company which the Company proves were caused by the U.S. L/C Issuer’s willful misconduct or gross negligence or the U.S. L/C Issuer’s willful or grossly negligent failure to pay under any U.S. Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary of a sight draft and certificate(s) strictly complying with the terms and conditions of a U.S. Letter of Credit.  

 

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In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, the U.S. L/C Issuer may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, and the U.S. L/C Issuer shall not be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign a U.S. Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason.  The U.S. L/C Issuer may send a U.S. Letter of Credit or conduct any communication to or from the beneficiary via the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (“SWIFT”) message or overnight courier, or any other commercially reasonable means of communicating with a beneficiary.

 

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

 

(h)                                 Letter of Credit Fees.  The Company shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each U.S. Revolving Credit Lender in accordance, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.16, with its Applicable U.S. Revolving Credit Percentage, in Dollars, a U.S. Letter of Credit fee (the “U.S. Letter of Credit Fee”) for each U.S. Letter of Credit equal to the Applicable Rate for Loans that are Eurocurrency Rate Loans times the Dollar Equivalent of the daily amount available to be drawn under such U.S. Letter of Credit.  For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any U.S. Letter of Credit, the amount of such U.S. Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.09.  U.S. Letter of Credit Fees shall be (i) due and payable on the first Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such U.S. Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand and (ii) computed on a quarterly basis in arrears.  If there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the daily amount available to be drawn under each U.S. Letter of Credit shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, upon the request of the U.S. Required Revolving Lenders, while any Event of Default exists, all U.S. Letter of Credit Fees shall accrue at the Default Rate.

 

(i)                                     Fronting Fee and Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to L/C Issuer.  The Company shall pay directly to the U.S. L/C Issuer for its own account, in Dollars, a fronting fee with respect to each U.S. Letter of Credit, at the rate set forth in the Bank of America Fee Letter, computed on the Dollar Equivalent of the daily amount available to be drawn under such U.S. Letter of Credit on a quarterly basis in arrears.  Such fronting fee shall be due and payable on the tenth Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December in respect of the most recently-ended quarterly period (or portion thereof, in the case of the first payment), commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such U.S. Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand.  

 

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For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any U.S. Letter of Credit, the amount of such U.S. Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.09.  In addition, the Company shall pay directly to the U.S. L/C Issuer for its own account, in Dollars, the customary issuance, presentation, amendment and other processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of the U.S. L/C Issuer relating to letters of credit as from time to time in effect.  Such customary fees (other than the fronting fee) and standard costs and charges are due and payable on demand and are nonrefundable.

 

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

 

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

 

2.04                        U.S. Swing Line Loans.

 

(a)                                 The U.S. Swing Line.  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the U.S. Swing Line Lender, in reliance upon the agreements of the other U.S. Revolving Credit Lenders set forth in this Section 2.04, may in its sole discretion make loans in Dollars (each such loan, a “U.S. Swing Line Loan”) to the Company 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 U.S. Swing Line Sublimit, notwithstanding the fact that such U.S. Swing Line Loans, when aggregated with the Applicable U.S. Revolving Credit Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of U.S. Revolving Credit Loans and U.S. L/C Obligations of the Lender acting as U.S. Swing Line Lender, may exceed the amount of such Lender’s U.S. Revolving Credit Commitment; provided, however, that (x) after giving effect to any U.S. Swing Line Loan, (i) the Total U.S. Revolving Credit Outstandings shall not exceed the U.S. Revolving Credit Facility at such time and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the U.S. Revolving Credit Loans of any U.S. Revolving Credit Lender at such time, plus such U.S. Revolving Credit Lender’s Applicable U.S. Revolving Credit Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all U.S. L/C Obligations at such time, plus such U.S. Revolving Credit Lender’s Applicable U.S. Revolving Credit Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all U.S. Swing Line Loans at such time shall not exceed such Lender’s U.S. Revolving Credit Commitment, (y) the Company shall not use the proceeds of any U.S. Swing Line Loan to refinance any outstanding U.S. Swing Line Loan and (z) the U.S. Swing Line Lender shall not be under an obligation to make any U.S. Swing Line Loan if it shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that it has, or by such Credit Extension may have, Fronting Exposure.  Within the foregoing limits under this Section 2.04(a), and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Company may borrow under this Section 2.04, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.04.  Immediately upon the making of a U.S. Swing Line Loan, each U.S. Revolving Credit Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the U.S. Swing Line Lender a risk participation in such U.S. Swing Line Loan in an amount equal to the product of such U.S. Revolving Credit Lender’s Applicable U.S. Revolving Credit Percentage times the amount of such U.S. Swing Line Loan.

 

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(b)                                 Borrowing Procedures.  Each U.S. Swing Line Borrowing shall be made upon the Company’s irrevocable notice to the U.S. Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent, which may be given by (i) telephone or (ii) a Swing Line Loan Notice; provided that any telephonic notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the U.S. Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent of a Swing Line Loan Notice.  Each such Swing Line Loan Notice must be received by the U.S. Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. on the requested borrowing date, and shall specify (x) the amount to be borrowed, which shall be a minimum of $100,000, and (y) the requested borrowing date, which shall be a Business Day.  Promptly after receipt by the U.S. Swing Line Lender of any telephonic Swing Line Loan Notice, the U.S. 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 U.S. Swing Line Lender will notify the Administrative Agent of the contents thereof.  Unless the U.S. Swing Line Lender has received notice (by telephone or in writing) from the Administrative Agent (including at the request of any relevant U.S. Revolving Credit Lender) prior to 2:00 p.m. on the date of the proposed U.S. Swing Line Borrowing (A) directing the U.S. Swing Line Lender not to make such U.S. Swing Line Loan as a result of the limitations set forth in the 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 U.S. Swing Line Lender will, not later than 3:00 p.m. on the borrowing date specified in such Swing Line Loan Notice, make the amount of its U.S. Swing Line Loan available to the Company at its office by crediting the account of the Company on the books of the U.S. Swing Line Lender in Same Day Funds.

 

(c)                                  Refinancing of Swing Line Loans.

 

(i)                                     The U.S. Swing Line Lender at any time in its sole and absolute discretion may request, on behalf of the Company (which hereby irrevocably authorizes the U.S. Swing Line Lender to so request on its behalf), that each U.S. Revolving Credit Lender make a U.S. Revolving Credit Loan that is a Base Rate Loan in an amount equal to such Lender’s Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of the amount of U.S. 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 U.S. Revolving Credit Facility and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than the delivery of a Committed Loan Notice).  The U.S. Swing Line Lender shall furnish the Company with a copy of the applicable Committed Loan Notice promptly after delivering such notice to the Administrative Agent.  Each U.S. Revolving Credit Lender shall make an amount equal to its relevant Applicable U.S. Revolving Credit Percentage of the amount specified in such Committed Loan Notice available to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds (and the Administrative Agent may apply Cash Collateral available with respect to the applicable U.S. Swing Line Loan) for the account of the U.S. Swing Line Lender at the Administrative Agent’s Office for Dollar-denominated payments 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 Revolving Credit Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Loan to the Company in such amount.  The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the U.S. Swing Line Lender.

 

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

 

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(iii)                               If any U.S. Revolving Credit Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S. Swing Line Lender at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the U.S. 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 Loan included in the relevant Borrowing or funded participation in the relevant U.S. Swing Line Loan, as the case may be.  A certificate of the U.S. Swing Line Lender submitted to any U.S. Revolving Credit Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (iii) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

(iv)                              Each U.S. Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make U.S. Revolving Credit Loans or to purchase and fund risk participations in the U.S. 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 U.S. Swing Line Lender, the Company 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 U.S. Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make U.S. Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than the delivery of a Committed Loan Notice).  No such funding of risk participations shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Company to repay U.S. Swing Line Loans, together with interest as provided herein.

 

(d)                                 Repayment of Participations.

 

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

 

(ii)                                  If any payment received by the U.S. Swing Line Lender in respect of principal or interest on any U.S. Swing Line Loan is required to be returned by the U.S. Swing Line Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.05 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the U.S. Swing Line Lender in its discretion), each U.S. Revolving Credit Lender shall pay to the U.S. Swing Line Lender its Applicable Revolving Credit 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 applicable Overnight Rate.  The Administrative Agent will make such demand upon the request of the U.S. 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.

 

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

 

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

 

2.05                        Prepayments.

 

(a)                                 Each Borrower may, upon notice from the Company to the Administrative Agent pursuant to delivery to the Administrative Agent of a Notice of Loan Prepayment, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Revolving Credit 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 Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars, (B) four Business Days (or five, in the case of prepayment of Loans denominated in Special Notice Currencies) prior to any date of prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies, and (C) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Loans; (ii) any prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof; (iii) any prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies shall be in a minimum principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof; and (iv) any prepayment of Base Rate 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 Loans to be prepaid and, if Eurocurrency 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 ratable portion of such prepayment (based on such Lender’s Applicable Percentage in respect of the relevant Facility).  If such notice is given by the Company, the applicable Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein.  Any prepayment of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05.  Subject to Section 2.16, each such prepayment shall be paid to the Appropriate Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages in respect of each of the relevant Facilities.

 

(b)                                 The Company may, upon notice to the U.S. Swing Line Lender pursuant to delivery to the U.S. Swing Line Lender of a Notice of Loan Prepayment (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at any time or from time to time, voluntarily prepay any U.S. Swing Line Loan in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the U.S. 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.  Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment.  If such notice is given by the Company, the Company shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein.

 

(c)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company may rescind any notice of prepayment under Sections 2.05(a) or 2.05(b) if such prepayment would have resulted from (A) a refinancing of all of the Facilities, (B) issuance of Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Commitments or (C) the proceeds of a Disposition, which refinancing, issuance or Disposition shall not be consummated or shall otherwise be delayed.

 

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(d)                                 (i)                                     If for any reason, the Total U.S. Revolving Credit Outstandings at any time exceed the U.S. Revolving Credit Facility at such time, the Company shall promptly prepay U.S. Revolving Credit Loans, U.S. Swing Line Loans and U.S. L/C Borrowings and/or Cash Collateralize the U.S. L/C Obligations (other than U.S. L/C Borrowings) in an aggregate amount at least equal to such excess; provided, however, that, subject to the provisions of Section 2.15(a), the Company shall not be required to Cash Collateralize the U.S. L/C Obligations pursuant to this Section 2.05(d)(i) unless after the prepayment in full of the U.S. Revolving Credit Loans and U.S. Swing Line Loans, such Total U.S. Revolving Credit Outstandings exceed the U.S. Revolving Credit Facility then in effect.  The Administrative Agent may, at any time and from time to time after the initial deposit of such Cash Collateral, reasonably request that additional Cash Collateral be provided in order to protect against the results of exchange rate fluctuations.

 

(ii)                                  If the Administrative Agent notifies the Company at any time that the Total Alternative Revolving Credit Outstandings at such time exceed an amount equal to 105% of the Alternative Revolving Credit Facility at such time, then, within two Business Days after receipt of such notice, the applicable Borrowers shall prepay their respective Alternative Revolving Credit Loans in an aggregate amount at least equal to such excess.

 

(e)                                  Prepayments of the U.S. Revolving Credit Facility made pursuant to this Section 2.05, first, shall be applied ratably to the U.S. L/C Borrowings and the U.S. Swing Line Loans, second, shall be applied ratably to the outstanding U.S. Revolving Credit Loans, and, third, shall be used to Cash Collateralize the remaining U.S. L/C Obligations.  Upon the drawing of any U.S. Letter of Credit that has been Cash Collateralized, the funds held as Cash Collateral shall be applied (without any further action by or notice to or from the Company or any other Loan Party) to reimburse the U.S. L/C Issuer or the U.S. Revolving Credit Lenders, as applicable.

 

2.06                        Termination or Reduction of Commitments.

 

(a)                                 The Company may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate the Revolving Credit Facilities, U.S. Letter of Credit Sublimit or U.S. Swing Line Sublimit, or from time to time permanently reduce Revolving Credit Facilities, U.S. Letter of Credit Sublimit or U.S. Swing Line Sublimit; 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 Company shall not terminate or reduce (A) the Revolving Credit Facilities if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Total U.S. Revolving Credit Outstandings, in the case of the U.S. Revolving Credit Facility, or the Total Alternative Revolving Credit Outstandings, in the case of the Alternative Revolving Credit Facility, would exceed the relevant Revolving Credit Facility, (B) the U.S. Letter of Credit Sublimit if, after giving effect thereto, the Outstanding Amount of any U.S. L/C Obligations not fully Cash Collateralized hereunder would exceed the U.S. Letter of Credit Sublimit or (C) the U.S. Swing Line Sublimit if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Outstanding Amount of any U.S. Swing Line Loans would exceed the U.S. Swing Line Sublimit and (iv) if after giving effect to any reduction or termination of Revolving Credit Commitments under this Section 2.06, the U.S. Letter of Credit Sublimit or the U.S. Swing Line Sublimit exceeds the U.S. Revolving Credit Facility, as applicable, at such time, the U.S. Letter of Credit Sublimit or the U.S. Swing Line Sublimit, as the case may be, shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such excess.

 

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(b)                                 Application of Commitment Reductions; Payment of Fees.  The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Appropriate Lenders of any termination or reduction of the U.S. Letter of Credit Sublimit, U.S. Swing Line Sublimit or Revolving Credit Commitments under this Section 2.06.  Upon any reduction of a Revolving Credit Commitment, such Revolving Credit Commitment of such Revolving Credit Lender shall be reduced by such Lender’s Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of such reduction amount.  All fees in respect of the relevant Revolving Credit Facility accrued until the effective date of any termination of such Revolving Credit Facility shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.

 

2.07                        Repayment of Loans.

 

(a)                                 U.S. Revolving Credit Loans.  The Company shall repay to the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the U.S. Revolving Credit Lenders on the Maturity Date for the U.S. Revolving Credit Facility the aggregate principal amount of all U.S. Revolving Credit Loans outstanding on such date.

 

(b)                                 Alternative Revolving Credit Loans.  Each Borrower shall repay to the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Alternative Revolving Credit Lenders on the Maturity Date for the Alternative Revolving Credit Facility the aggregate principal amount of all Alternative Revolving Credit Loans of such Borrower outstanding on such date.

 

(c)                                  U.S. Swing Line Loans.  The Company shall repay each U.S. 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 for the U.S. Revolving Credit Facility.

 

2.08                        Interest.

 

(a)                                 Subject to the provisions of Section 2.08(b), (i) each Eurocurrency Rate Loan under a Facility shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the Eurocurrency Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate for such Facility; (ii) each Base Rate Loan under a Facility shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate for such Facility; and (iii) each U.S. 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 for U.S. Swing Line Loans; provided that at such time as the U.S. Revolving Credit Lenders have funded their risk participations in a U.S. Swing Line Loan (as contemplated by Section 2.04(c)), such U.S. Swing Line Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the date such risk participation is funded at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate for U.S. Revolving Credit Loans.

 

(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 thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

 

(ii)                                  If any amount (other than principal of any Loan) payable by any 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, then upon the written request of the Required Lenders, 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.

 

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(iii)                               Upon the written request of the Required Lenders, while any Event of Default under Section 8.01(f) or 8.01(g) exists, each Borrower shall pay interest on the principal amount of all outstanding Obligations owed by such Borrower 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.

 

(d)                                 Minimum Interest. By entering into this Agreement, the parties have assumed in bona fide that the interest payable hereunder is not and will not become subject to any Tax deduction on account of Swiss Withholding Tax.

 

Nevertheless, if a deduction for Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes is required by Swiss law to be made in respect of any interest payable under a Loan Document by a Swiss Borrower and should it be unlawful for the Swiss Borrower to comply with Section 3.01(a) for any reason (where this would otherwise be required by the terms of Section 3.01(a), taking into account the limitation to Indemnified Taxes and Other Taxes, and if the increased amounts are effectively not paid) then:

 

(i)                                     the applicable interest rate in relation to that interest payment shall be the interest rate which would have applied to that interest payment (as provided for in Section 2.08 in the absence of this clause (d)) divided by one (1) minus the rate at which the relevant deduction for Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes is required to be made (where the rate at which the relevant deduction for Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes is required to be made is for this purpose, expressed as a fraction of one (1) rather than as a percentage);

 

(ii)                                  the Swiss Borrower shall: (i) pay the relevant interest at the adjusted rate in accordance with this clause (d) and (ii) make the deduction on the interest so recalculated; and

 

(iii)                               all references to a rate of interest under such Loan shall be construed accordingly.

 

(e)                                  For the purposes of the Interest Act (Canada), (i) whenever a rate of interest or fee rate hereunder is calculated on the basis of a year (the “deemed year”) that contains fewer days than the actual number of days in the calendar year of calculation, such rate of interest or fee rate shall be expressed as a yearly rate by multiplying such rate of interest or fee rate by the actual number of days in the calendar year of calculation and dividing it by the number of days in the deemed year, (ii) the principle of deemed reinvestment of interest shall not apply to any interest calculation hereunder and (iii) the rates of interest stipulated herein are intended to be nominal rates and not effective rates or yields.

 

2.09                        Fees.  In addition to certain fees described in Sections 2.03(h) and (i):

 

(a)                                 Commitment Fee.  The Company shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Credit Lender (other than a Defaulting Lender as set forth in Section 2.16) in accordance with its Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage, a commitment fee in Dollars equal to the Applicable Rate times the actual daily amount by which the U.S. Revolving Credit Facility or the Alternative Revolving Credit Facility, as applicable, exceeds the sum of (i) the Outstanding Amount of the relevant Revolving Credit Loans and (ii) in the case of the U.S. Revolving Credit Facility, the Outstanding Amount of the U.S. L/C Obligations, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.16 (the “Commitment Fee”).  

 

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The commitment fee shall accrue at all times during the Availability Period, including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Article IV is not met, and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the Closing Date and on the last day of the Availability Period for the relevant Revolving Credit Facility.  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.  For the avoidance of doubt, U.S. Swing Line Loans shall not be counted towards the Outstanding Amount of any Revolving Credit Loans or any U.S. L/C Obligations.

 

(b)                                 Other Fees.

 

(i)                                     The Company shall pay to the Administrative Agent for its own account, in Dollars, fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the Bank of America Fee Letter.  Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

 

(ii)                                  The Company shall pay to the Lenders, in Dollars, such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified.  Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

 

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 Eurocurrency Rate) shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed.  All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365-day year) or, in the case of interest in respect of Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies as to which market practice differs from the foregoing, in accordance with such market practice.  Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid; provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.12(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.  With respect to all Non-LIBOR Quoted Currencies, the calculation of the applicable interest rate shall be determined in accordance with market practice.

 

(b)                                 If, as a result of any restatement of or other adjustment to the financial statements of the Company or for any other reason, the Company or the Lenders determine that (i) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as calculated by the Company 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, each Borrower shall immediately and retroactively be obligated to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Lenders or the U.S. L/C Issuer, as the case may be, 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 any Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, automatically and without further action by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the U.S. L/C Issuer), 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.  

 

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This paragraph shall not limit the rights of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the U.S. L/C Issuer, as the case may be, under Section 2.03(c)(iii), 2.03(h) or 2.08(b) or under Article VIII.  Other than in the case of fraud or willful misconduct, the Borrowers’ obligations under this paragraph shall terminate upon the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.

 

2.11                        Evidence of Debt.

 

(a)                                 The Credit Extensions made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender and by the Administrative Agent (in accordance with Section 10.06(c)) in the ordinary course of business.  The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent (in accordance with Section 10.06(c)) and each Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Credit Extensions made by the Lenders to the Borrowers 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 Borrowers 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 accordance with Section 10.06(c)) 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 to a Borrower made through the Administrative Agent, such Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans to such Borrower in addition to such accounts or records.  Each Lender may attach schedules to its Note and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount, currency and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.

 

(b)                                 In addition to the accounts and records referred to in Section 2.11(a), 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 U.S. Letters of Credit and U.S. 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.

 

2.12                        Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback.

 

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

 

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If any payment to be made by any 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; provided, that if such extension would cause payment of interest on or principal of Eurocurrency Rate Loans to be made in the next succeeding calendar month, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day.

 

(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 Borrowing of Eurocurrency Rate Loans (or, in the case of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, prior to 12:00 noon on the date of such Borrowing) that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.02 (or, in the case of a 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 applicable Borrower a corresponding amount.  In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the applicable Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount in Same Day Funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to such 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 Overnight Rate, 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 such Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans.  If such 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 such Borrower the amount of such interest paid by such Borrower for such period.  If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing.  Any payment by such Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim such Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

 

(ii)                                  Payments by Borrowers; Presumptions by Administrative Agent.  Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Company prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or the U.S. L/C Issuer hereunder that a Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the U.S. L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the amount due.  In such event, if such Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or the U.S. L/C Issuer, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or the U.S. L/C Issuer, in Same Day 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 Overnight Rate.

 

A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or any Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this Section 2.12(b) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

 

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(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 to any Borrower as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Article II, and such funds are not made available to such Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension 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 Revolving Credit Loans, to fund participations in U.S. Letters of Credit and U.S. Swing Line Loans and to make payments pursuant to Section 10.04(c) are several and not joint.  The failure of any Lender to make any Loan, to fund any such participation or to make any payment under Section 10.04(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 Loan, to purchase its participation or to make its payment under Section 10.04(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 Loans made by it, or the participations in U.S. L/C Obligations or in U.S. Swing Line Loans held by it resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of such 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 Loans and subparticipations in U.S. L/C Obligations and U.S. 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 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 2.13 shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment made by or on behalf of any 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), (y) the application of Cash Collateral provided for in Section 2.15 or (z) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or subparticipations in U.S. L/C Obligations or U.S. Swing Line Loans to any assignee or participant, other than an assignment to the Company or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section 2.13 shall apply).

 

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.

 

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2.14                        Increase in Commitments.

 

(a)                                 Borrower Request.  The Company may by written notice to the Administrative Agent elect to request (x) prior to the Maturity Date for the U.S. Revolving Credit Facility, an increase to the existing U.S. Revolving Credit Commitments in Dollars (each, an “Incremental U.S. Revolving Commitment”), (y) prior to the Maturity Date for the Alternative Revolving Credit Facility, an increase to the existing Alternative Revolving Credit Commitments (each, an “Incremental Alternative Revolving Commitment” and, together with the Incremental U.S. Revolving Commitments, the “Incremental Revolving Commitments”) and/or (z) prior to the latest Maturity Date, the establishment of one or more new term loan commitments (each, an “Incremental Term Commitment”), by an aggregate amount not in excess of $750,000,000.  Each such notice shall specify (i) the date (each, an “Increase Effective Date”) on which the Company proposes that the Incremental Commitments shall be effective, which shall be a date not less than 10 Business Days after the date on which such notice is delivered to the Administrative Agent and (ii) the identity of each Eligible Assignee to whom the Company proposes any portion of such Incremental Commitments be allocated and the amounts of such allocations; provided that any existing Lender approached to provide all or a portion of the Incremental Commitments may elect or decline, in its sole discretion, to provide such Incremental Commitment.  Each Incremental Commitment shall be in an aggregate amount of $50,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof (provided that such amount may be less than $50,000,000 if such amount represents all remaining availability under the aggregate limit in respect of Incremental Commitments set forth in above).

 

(b)                                 Conditions.  The Incremental Commitments shall become effective as of the Increase Effective Date; provided that:

 

(i)                                     each of the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 shall be satisfied;

 

(ii)                                  no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result from the borrowings to be made on the Increase Effective Date;

 

(iii)                               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 shall have been true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 2.14(b), the representations and warranties contained in Section 5.05(a) and Section 5.05(b) shall be deemed to refer to the most recent financial statements furnished pursuant to Sections 6.01(a) and (b), respectively;

 

(iv)                              on a Pro Forma Basis (assuming, in the case of Incremental Revolving Commitments, that such Incremental Revolving Commitments are fully drawn), the Company shall be in compliance with each of the covenants set forth in Section 7.10 as of the end of the latest fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available;

 

(v)                                 the Borrowers shall make any breakage payments in connection with any adjustment of Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to Section 2.14(d);

 

(vi)                              the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered customary legal opinions or other documents to the extent reasonably requested by, and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to, the Administrative Agent; and

 

(vii)                           the Applicable Rate for Incremental Term Loans shall be determined by the Company and the Lenders of the Incremental Term Loans.

 

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(c)                                  Terms of New Loans and Commitments.  The terms and provisions of Loans made pursuant to Incremental Commitments shall be as follows:

 

(i)                                     terms and provisions of Incremental Term Loans shall be, except as otherwise set forth herein or in the Increase Joinder, reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; provided that in any event the Incremental Term Loans must comply with clauses (iii), (iv) and (v) below;

 

(ii)                                  the terms and provisions of (A) U.S. Revolving Credit Loans made pursuant to Incremental U.S. Revolving Commitments shall be identical to the U.S. Revolving Credit Loans and (B) Alternative Revolving Credit Loans made pursuant to Incremental Alternative Revolving Commitments shall be identical to the Alternative Revolving Credit Loans;

 

(iii)                               the weighted average life to maturity of any Incremental Term Loans shall be no shorter than the remaining weighted average life to maturity of any then existing Incremental Term Loans;

 

(iv)                              the maturity date of Incremental Term Loans (the “Incremental Term Loan Maturity Date”) shall not be earlier than the latest of any Loans’ Maturity Date; and

 

(v)                                 the all-in-yield of Incremental Term Loans shall be determined by the Company and lenders participating in such Incremental Commitments.

 

The Incremental Commitments shall be effected by a joinder agreement (the “Increase Joinder”) executed by the Company, the Administrative Agent and each Lender making such Incremental Commitment, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to each of them.  Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 10.01, the Increase Joinder may, without the consent of any other Lenders, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.14.  In addition, unless otherwise specifically provided herein, all references in Loan Documents to U.S. Revolving Credit Loans or Alternative Revolving Credit Loans shall be deemed, unless the context otherwise requires, to include references to U.S. Revolving Credit Loans made pursuant to Incremental U.S. Revolving Commitments and Alternative Revolving Credit Loans made pursuant to Incremental Alternative Revolving Commitments.  This Section 2.14 shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.13 or Section 10.01 to the contrary.

 

(d)                                 Adjustment of Revolving Credit Loans.  To the extent the Commitments being increased on the relevant Increase Effective Date are Incremental U.S. Revolving Commitments, then each U.S. Revolving Credit Lender that is acquiring an Incremental U.S. Revolving Commitment on the Increase Effective Date shall make a U.S. Revolving Credit Loan, the proceeds of which will be used to prepay the U.S. Revolving Credit Loans of the other U.S. Revolving Credit Lenders immediately prior to such Increase Effective Date, so that, after giving effect thereto, the U.S. Revolving Credit Loans outstanding are held by the U.S. Revolving Credit Lenders pro rata based on their U.S. Revolving Credit Commitments after giving effect to such Incremental U.S. Revolving Commitments.  If there is a new borrowing of U.S. Revolving Credit Loans on such Increase Effective Date, the U.S. Revolving Credit Lenders after giving effect to such Incremental U.S. Revolving Commitments shall make such U.S. Revolving Credit Loans in accordance with Section 2.01(a).  To the extent the Commitments being increased on the relevant Increase Effective Date are Incremental Alternative Revolving Commitments, then each Alternative Revolving Credit Lender that is acquiring an Incremental Alternative Revolving Commitment on the Increase Effective Date shall make an Alternative Revolving Credit Loan, the proceeds of which will be used to prepay the Alternative Revolving Credit Loans of the other Alternative Revolving Credit Lenders immediately prior to such Increase Effective Date, so that, after giving effect thereto, the Alternative Revolving Credit Loans outstanding are held by the Alternative Revolving Credit Lenders pro rata based on their Alternative Revolving Credit Commitments after giving effect to such Incremental Alternative Revolving Commitments.  

 

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If there is a new borrowing of Alternative Revolving Credit Loans on such Increase Effective Date, the Alternative Revolving Credit Lenders after giving effect to such Incremental Alternative Revolving Commitments shall make such Alternative Revolving Credit Loans in accordance with Section 2.01(b).

 

(e)                                  Making of New Term Loans.  On any Increase Effective Date on which Incremental Term Commitments become effective, subject to the satisfaction of the foregoing terms and conditions, each Lender of such Incremental Commitments shall make an Incremental Term Loan to the applicable Borrower in an amount equal to its Incremental Term Commitment.

 

(f)                                   Equal and Ratable Benefit.  The Loans and Commitments established pursuant to this Section 2.14 shall constitute Loans and Commitments under, and shall be entitled to all the benefits afforded by, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and shall, without limiting the foregoing, benefit equally and ratably from the Guarantees, and the Incremental Loans shall be pari passu in right of payment, in each case, to the extent set forth in the Increase Joinder.

 

2.15                        Cash Collateral.

 

(a)                                 Certain Credit Support Events.  If (i) the U.S. L/C Issuer has honored any full or partial drawing request under any U.S. Letter of Credit and such drawing has resulted in a U.S. L/C Borrowing, (ii) as of the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, any U.S. L/C Obligation for any reason remains outstanding, (iii) the Company shall be required to provide Cash Collateral pursuant to Section 8.02(c) or (iv) there shall exist a Defaulting Lender, the Company shall immediately (in the case of clause (iii) above) or within one Business Day (in all other cases) following any request by the Administrative Agent or the U.S. L/C Issuer, provide Cash Collateral in an amount not less than the applicable Minimum Collateral Amount (determined in the case of Cash Collateral provided pursuant to clause (iv) above, after giving effect to Section 2.16(a)(iv) and any Cash Collateral provided by the Defaulting Lender).  If at any time the Administrative Agent determines that any funds held as Cash Collateral are subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Administrative Agent or that the total amount of such funds is less than the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all U.S. L/C Obligations, the Company will, forthwith upon demand by the Administrative Agent, pay to the Administrative Agent, as additional funds to be deposited as Cash Collateral, an amount equal to the excess of (x) the Minimum Collateral Amount over (y) the total amount of funds, if any, then held as Cash Collateral that the Administrative Agent determines to be free and clear of any such right and claim.  Upon the drawing of any U.S. Letter of Credit for which funds are on deposit as Cash Collateral, such funds shall be applied, to the extent permitted under applicable Laws, to reimburse the U.S. L/C Issuer.

 

(b)                                 Grant of Security Interest.  All Cash Collateral (other than credit support not constituting funds subject to deposit) shall be maintained in blocked, non-interest bearing deposit accounts at Bank of America.  The Company, and to the extent provided by any Defaulting Lender, such Defaulting Lender, hereby grant to (and subject to the control of) the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the U.S. L/C Issuer and the Lenders, and agrees to maintain, a first priority security interest in all such cash, deposit accounts and all balances therein, and all other property so provided as collateral pursuant hereto, and in all proceeds of the foregoing, all as security for the obligations to which such Cash Collateral may be applied pursuant to Section 2.15(c).  If at any time the Administrative Agent determines that Cash Collateral is subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Administrative Agent or the U.S. L/C Issuer as herein provided, or that the total amount of such Cash Collateral is less than the Minimum Collateral Amount, the Company will, promptly upon demand by the Administrative Agent, pay or provide to the Administrative Agent additional Cash Collateral in an amount sufficient to eliminate such deficiency; provided, that notwithstanding the foregoing, no Cash Collateral provided in respect of any Obligation of a Designated Borrower shall be applied to the satisfaction of any Obligations of the Company.

 

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(c)                                  Application.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Cash Collateral provided under any of this Section 2.15 or Section 2.03, 2.05, 2.06, 2.16 or 8.02 in respect of U.S. Letters of Credit shall be held and applied to the satisfaction of the specific U.S. L/C Obligations, obligations to fund participations therein (including, as to Cash Collateral provided by a Defaulting Lender, any interest accrued on such obligation) and other obligations for which the Cash Collateral was so provided, prior to any other application of such property as may otherwise be provided for herein.

 

(d)                                 Release.  Cash Collateral (or the appropriate portion thereof) provided to reduce Fronting Exposure or to secure other obligations shall be released promptly following (i) the elimination of the applicable Fronting Exposure or other obligations giving rise thereto (including by the termination of Defaulting Lender status of the applicable Lender (or, as appropriate, its assignee following compliance with Section 10.06(b)(vi))) or (ii) the Administrative Agent’s or U.S. L/C Issuer’s good faith determination that there exists excess Cash Collateral; provided, however, the Person providing Cash Collateral and the U.S. L/C Issuer may agree that Cash Collateral shall not be released but instead held to support future anticipated Fronting Exposure of other obligations.

 

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 definitions of “Required Lenders”, “U.S. Required Revolving Lenders”, “Alternative Required Revolving Lenders” and Section 10.01.

 

(ii)                                  Reallocation of Payments.  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) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 10.08 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 U.S. L/C Issuer or U.S. Swing Line Lender hereunder; third, to Cash Collateralize the U.S. L/C Issuer’s Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender in accordance with Section 2.15; fourth, as the Company may request (so long as no Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; fifth, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Company, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to (x) satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement and (y) to Cash Collateralize the U.S. L/C Issuer’s future Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to future U.S. Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement, in accordance with Section 2.15; sixth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the U.S. L/C Issuer or the U.S. Swing Line Lender as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, the U.S. L/C Issuer or the U.S. Swing Line Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; seventh, so long as no Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Company as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Company against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and eighth, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or U.S. L/C Borrowings in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share and (y) such Loans were made or the related U.S. Letters of Credit were issued at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and U.S. L/C Obligations owed to, all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or U.S. L/C Obligations owed to, such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded and unfunded participations in U.S. L/C Obligations and U.S. 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).  

 

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Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 2.16(a)(ii) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

 

(iii)                               Certain Fees.

 

(A)                               No Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive any commitment fee pursuant to Section 2.09(a) for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Company shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to such Defaulting Lender).

 

(B)                               Each Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive U.S. Letter of Credit Fees for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender only to the extent allocable to its Applicable U.S. Revolving Credit Percentage of the stated amount of U.S. Letters of Credit for which it has provided Cash Collateral pursuant to Section 2.15.

 

(C)                               With respect to any U.S. Letter of Credit Fee not required to be paid to any Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (B) above, the Company shall (x) pay to each Non-Defaulting Lender that portion of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s participation in U.S. L/C Obligations that has been reallocated to such Non-Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (iv) below, (y) pay to the U.S. L/C Issuer the amount of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender to the extent allocable to such U.S. L/C Issuer’s Fronting Exposure to such Defaulting Lender, and (z) not be required to pay the remaining amount of any such fee.

 

(iv)                              Reallocation of Applicable Percentages to Reduce Fronting Exposure.  All or any part of such Defaulting Lender’s participation in U.S. L/C Obligations and U.S. Swing Line Loans shall be reallocated among the Non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable U.S. Revolving Credit Percentages (calculated without regard to such Defaulting Lender’s U.S. Revolving Credit Commitment) but only to the extent that such reallocation does not cause the aggregate U.S. Revolving Credit Exposure of any Non-Defaulting Lender to exceed such Non-Defaulting Lender’s U.S. Revolving Credit 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.

 

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(v)                                 Cash Collateral, Repayment of Swing Line Loans.  If the reallocation described in clause (a)(iv) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Company shall, without prejudice to any right or remedy available to it hereunder or under applicable Law, (x) first, prepay U.S. Swing Line Loans in an amount equal to the U.S. Swing Line Lender’s Fronting Exposure and (y) second, Cash Collateralize the U.S. L/C Issuer’s Fronting Exposure in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.15.

 

(b)                                 Defaulting Lender Cure.  If the Company, the Administrative Agent, the U.S. Swing Line Lender and the U.S. L/C Issuer agree in writing in their sole discretion that a Lender is no longer 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 (which may include arrangements with respect to any Cash Collateral), that Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase at par (together with any amounts due to the Non-Defaulting Lenders pursuant to Section 3.05 as a result of such purchase) 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 Loans and funded and unfunded participations in U.S. Letters of Credit and U.S. 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)(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 Company 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.

 

2.17                        Designated Borrowers.

 

(a)                                 The Company may at any time, upon not less than 10 Business Days’ notice from the Company to the Administrative Agent (or such shorter period as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), designate any wholly-owned Foreign Subsidiary of the Company (an “Applicant Borrower”) as a Designated Borrower to receive Alternative Revolving Credit Loans hereunder by delivering to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly deliver counterparts thereof to each Alternative Revolving Credit Lender) a duly executed notice in substantially the form of Exhibit F (a “Designated Borrower Request”).  If the Administrative Agent and each Alternative Revolving Credit Lender agree that an Applicant Borrower shall be entitled to receive Alternative Revolving Credit Loans hereunder, then the Administrative Agent shall send an agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit G (a “Designated Borrower Joinder Agreement”) to the Company and the Alternative Revolving Credit Lenders specifying (i) the additional terms and conditions applicable to Alternative Revolving Credit Loans to such Applicant Borrower and (ii) the effective date upon which the Applicant Borrower shall constitute a Designated Borrower for purposes hereof, whereupon each of the Alternative Revolving Credit Lenders agrees to permit such Designated Borrower to receive Alternative Revolving Credit Loans hereunder, on the terms and conditions set forth herein, and each of the parties agrees that such Designated Borrower otherwise shall be a Borrower for all purposes of this Agreement; provided that no Committed Loan Notice may be submitted by or on behalf of such Designated Borrower until the date one Business Day after such effective date.  The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that prior to any Applicant Borrower becoming entitled to utilize the credit facilities provided for herein the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received such supporting resolutions, incumbency certificates, opinions of counsel and other documents or information, in form, content and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, as may be required by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders in their reasonable discretion, and Notes signed by such new Borrowers to the extent any Lenders so require.  

 

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As of the Closing Date, Keurig Trading shall be a Designated Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.17.

 

(b)                                 The Obligations of each Designated Borrower shall be several in nature.  Notwithstanding anything contained in any Loan Document to the contrary, no Designated Borrower shall be obligated with respect to any Obligations of any other Loan Party.

 

(c)                                  Each Subsidiary of the Company that becomes a “Designated Borrower” pursuant to this Section 2.17 hereby irrevocably appoints the Company as its agent for all purposes relevant to this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents, including (i) the giving and receipt of notices, (ii) the execution and delivery of all documents, instruments and certificates contemplated herein and all modifications hereto, and (iii) the receipt of the proceeds of any Loans made by the Lenders to any such Designated Borrower hereunder.  Any acknowledgment, consent, direction, certification or other action which might otherwise be valid or effective only if given or taken by all Borrowers, or by each Borrower acting singly, shall be valid and effective if given or taken only by the Company, whether or not any such other Borrower joins therein.  Any notice, demand, consent, acknowledgement, direction, certification or other communication delivered to the Company in accordance with the terms of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been delivered to each Designated Borrower.

 

(d)                                 The Company may from time to time, upon not less than ten Business Days’ notice from the Company to the Administrative Agent (or such shorter period as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), terminate a Designated Borrower’s status as such; provided that there are no outstanding Loans payable by such Designated Borrower, or other amounts payable by such Designated Borrower on account of any Loans made to it, as of the effective date of such termination. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any such termination of a Designated Borrower’s status.

 

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 hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall to the extent permitted by applicable Laws be made free and clear of and without reduction or withholding for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes.  If, however, applicable Laws require the applicable withholding agent to withhold or deduct any Taxes, such withholding agent shall be entitled to withhold or deduct such Taxes in accordance with such Laws as determined in good faith by the applicable withholding agent.

 

(ii)                                  If a Loan Party or the Administrative Agent shall be required by the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes from any payment, then (A) the Administrative Agent shall withhold or make such deductions, (B) 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 or Other 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 withholding  or 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.

 

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(iii)                               If the applicable withholding agent shall be required by applicable Laws other than the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes, from any payment, then (A) the applicable withholding agent shall withhold or make such deductions, (B) the applicable withholding agent shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Laws, and (C) to the extent that the withholding or deduction is made on account of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, the sum payable by the applicable Loan Party shall be increased as necessary so that after all required withholding or required deductions (including withholding or deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.01) have been made, the Administrative Agent, Lender or U.S. L/C Issuer, as the case may be, receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such withholding or deduction been made.

 

(b)                                 Payment of Other Taxes by the Loan Parties.  Without limiting the provisions of Section 3.01(a) above, the relevant Loan Party shall timely pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Laws.

 

(c)                                  Tax Indemnifications.  Without limiting the provisions of Section 3.01(a) or 3.01(b) above, the Company shall, and does hereby, indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 3.01) payable by or required to be deducted or withheld from a payment to the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, and any penalties, interest, additions to tax and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority.  A certificate as to the amount of any such payment or liability delivered to the Company 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.  The Company and the Guarantors shall, and do hereby, jointly and severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, and shall make a 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 9.12 below.

 

(d)                                 Evidence of Payments.  As soon as practicable, after any payment of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes paid by a Loan Party to a Governmental Authority as provided in this Section 3.01, such Loan Party shall deliver to the Administrative Agent, the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of any return required by Laws to report such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(e)                                  Status of Lenders.  Each Lender shall, at such times as are reasonably requested by the Company or the Administrative Agent, provide the Company and the Administrative Agent with any documentation prescribed by Law, or reasonably requested by the Company or the Administrative Agent, (I) certifying as to any entitlement of such Lender to an exemption from, or reduction in, any withholding Tax with respect to any payments to be made to such Lender under the Loan Documents or (II) to determine whether any withholding is required and the appropriate amount of withholding.  Unless the applicable withholding agent has received forms or other documents satisfactory to it indicating that payments under any Loan Document to or for a Lender are not subject to withholding tax or are subject to such Tax at a rate reduced by an applicable tax treaty, the Company, the Administrative Agent or other applicable withholding agent shall withhold amounts required to be withheld by applicable Law from such payments at the applicable statutory rate.

 

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Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:

 

(i)                                     Each Lender that is a United States person (as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) shall deliver to the Company and the Administrative Agent on or before the date on which it becomes a party to this Agreement two properly completed and duly signed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 (or any successor form) certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding.

 

(ii)                                  Each Lender that is not a United States person (as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) shall deliver to the Company and the Administrative Agent on or before the date on which it becomes a party to this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter when required by Law or upon the reasonable request of the Company or the Administrative Agent) whichever of the following is applicable:

 

(I)                                   two duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or any successor forms) claiming eligibility for benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party,

 

(II)                              two duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI (or any successor forms),

 

(III)                         in the case of a Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate, in substantially the form of Exhibit H-1, Exhibit H-2, Exhibit H-3 or Exhibit H-4, as applicable (any such certificate a “United States Tax Compliance Certificate”), or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent, to the effect that such Lender is not (A) a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (B) a “10 percent shareholder” of the Company within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or (C) a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code, and that no payments in connection with the Loan Documents are effectively connected with such Lender’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business and (y) two duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or any successor forms),

 

(IV)                          to the extent a Lender is not the beneficial owner (for example, where the Lender is a partnership), Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY (or any successor forms) of the Lender, accompanied by a Form W-8ECI, W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E, United States Tax Compliance Certificate, Form W-9, Form W-8IMY (or other successor forms) or any other required information from each beneficial owner, as applicable (provided that, if the Lender is a partnership (and not a participating Lender) and one or more beneficial owners are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, the United States Tax Compliance Certificate shall be provided by such Lender on behalf of such beneficial owner(s)), or

 

(V)                               any other form prescribed by applicable requirements of U.S. federal income tax 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 requirements of Law to permit the Company and the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made.

 

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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 Company and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by Law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Company 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 Company or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Company 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 paragraph, “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

 

Each Lender shall, from time to time after the initial delivery by such Lender of the forms described above, whenever a lapse in time or change in such Lender’s circumstances renders such forms, certificates or other evidence so delivered expired, obsolete or inaccurate, promptly (1) deliver to the Company and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) renewals, amendments or additional or successor forms, properly completed and duly executed by such Lender, together with any other certificate or statement of exemption required in order to confirm or establish such Lender’s status or that such Lender is entitled to an exemption from or reduction in U.S. federal withholding tax or (2) notify Administrative Agent and the Company of its inability to deliver any such forms, certificates or other evidence.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 3.01(e), a Lender shall not be required to deliver any form that such Lender is not legally eligible to deliver.

 

(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 any refund of Taxes withheld or deducted from funds paid for the account of such Lender (whether received in cash or applied against a future cash tax payment, as the case may be.  However, if the Administrative Agent or any Lender determines, in its sole discretion, that it has received a refund of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by a Loan Party or with respect to which a Loan Party has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 3.01, it shall pay to such Loan Party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by such Loan Party under this Section 3.01 with respect to the Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) incurred by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund net of any Taxes payable by any Agent or Lender); provided that the applicable Loan Party, upon the request of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, agrees to repay the amount paid over to such Loan Party (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent or such Lender in the event the Administrative Agent or such Lender is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority.  This Section 3.01(f) shall not be construed to require any Agent or any Lender to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes that it deems confidential) to the Company or any other Person.

 

(g)                                  U.S. L/C Issuer and U.S. Swing Line Lenders.  For purposes of this Section 3.01, the term “Lender” shall include the U.S. L/C Issuer and the U.S. Swing Line Lender.

 

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 applicable Lending Office to perform any of its obligations hereunder or make, maintain or fund or charge interest with respect to any Loan or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurocurrency 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 or any Alternative Currency in the applicable interbank market, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Company through the Administrative Agent, (i) any obligation of such Lender to issue, make, maintain, fund or charge interest with respect to any such Loan or to make or continue Eurocurrency Rate Loans in the affected currency or currencies or, in the case of Eurocurrency Rate Loans in Dollars, to convert Base Rate Loans to Eurocurrency Rate Loans, shall be suspended, and (ii) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender making or maintaining Base Rate Loans the interest rate on which is determined by reference to the Eurocurrency Rate component of the Base Rate, the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Eurocurrency Rate component of the Base Rate, in each case until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Company that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist.  

 

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Upon receipt of such notice, (x) the applicable Borrowers shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable and such Loans are denominated in Dollars, convert all Eurocurrency 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 Eurocurrency 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 Eurocurrency Rate Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurocurrency Rate Loans and (y) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon the Eurocurrency Rate, the Administrative Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the Eurocurrency 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 Eurocurrency Rate.  Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrowers shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.

 

3.03                        Inability to Determine Rates.  If in connection with any request for a Eurocurrency Rate Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof,  (a) (i) the Administrative Agent determines that deposits (whether in Dollars or an Alternative Currency) are not being offered to banks in the applicable offshore interbank market for such currency for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, or (ii) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the Eurocurrency Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurocurrency Rate Loan (whether denominated in Dollars or an Alternative Currency) or in connection with an existing or proposed Base Rate Loan (in each case with respect to clause (a) above, “Impacted Loans”), or (b) the Administrative Agent determines that for any reason  the Eurocurrency Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurocurrency Rate Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Company and each Lender.  Thereafter, (x) the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Eurocurrency Rate Loans in the affected currency or currencies shall be suspended, (to the extent of the affected Eurocurrency Rate Loans or Interest Periods), and (y) in the event of a determination described in the preceding sentence with respect to the Eurocurrency Rate component of the Base Rate, the utilization of the Eurocurrency Rate component in determining the Base Rate shall be suspended, in each case until the Administrative Agent (upon the instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice.  Upon receipt of such notice, the Company may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans in the affected currency or currencies (to the extent of the affected Eurocurrency Rate Loans or Interest Periods) or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Administrative Agent has made the determination described in this Section 3.03, the Administrative Agent, in consultation with the Company and the Required Lenders, may establish an alternative interest rate for the Impacted Loans,  in which case, such alternative rate of interest shall apply with respect to the Impacted Loans until (1) the Administrative Agent revokes the notice delivered with respect to the Impacted Loans under clause (a) of the first sentence of this Section 3.03, (2) the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders notify the Administrative Agent and the Company that such alternative interest rate does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding the Impacted Loans, or (3) any Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for such Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to such alternative rate of interest or to determine or charge interest rates based upon such rate or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to do any of the foregoing and provides the Administrative Agent and the Company written notice thereof.

 

3.04                        Increased Costs; Reserves on Eurocurrency Rate Loans.

 

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

 

(i)                                     impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender (except any reserve requirement contemplated by Section 3.04(e), other than as set forth below) or the U.S. L/C Issuer;

 

(ii)                                  subject any Lender or the U.S. L/C Issuer to any Tax of any kind whatsoever with respect to this Agreement, any U.S. Letter of Credit, any participation in a U.S. Letter of Credit or any Loan made by it, or change the basis of taxation of payments to such Lender or the U.S. L/C Issuer in respect thereof (except for Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes covered by Section 3.01 and the imposition of, or any change in the rate of, any Excluded Tax payable by such Lender, the Swiss Borrower or the U.S. L/C Issuer); or

 

(iii)                               impose on any Lender or the U.S. L/C Issuer or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or Eurocurrency Rate Loans made by such Lender or any U.S. Letter of Credit or participation therein;

 

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 (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to increase the cost to such Lender or the U.S. L/C Issuer of participating in, issuing or maintaining any U.S. Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its obligation to participate in or to issue any U.S. Letter of Credit), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or the U.S. L/C Issuer hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender or the U.S. L/C Issuer, the Company or the applicable Designated Borrower, as the case may be, will pay to such Lender or the U.S. L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the U.S. L/C Issuer, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

 

(b)                                 Capital Requirements.  If any Lender or the U.S. L/C Issuer determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or the U.S. L/C Issuer or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s or the U.S. L/C Issuer’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 or the U.S. L/C Issuer’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or the U.S. L/C Issuer’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by, or participations in U.S. Letters of Credit or U.S. Swing Line Loans held by, such Lender, or the U.S. Letters of Credit issued by the U.S. L/C Issuer, to a level below that which such Lender or the U.S. L/C Issuer or such Lender’s or the U.S. L/C Issuer’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or the U.S. L/C Issuer’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or the U.S. L/C Issuer’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Company or the applicable Designated Borrower, as the case may be, will pay to such Lender or the U.S. L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the U.S. L/C Issuer or such Lender’s or the U.S. L/C Issuer’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

 

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(c)                                  Certificates for Reimbursement.  A certificate of a Lender or the U.S. L/C Issuer setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or the U.S. L/C Issuer or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in Sections 3.04(a) or (b) and delivered to the Company shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  The Company or the applicable Designated Borrower, as the case may be, shall pay such Lender or the U.S. L/C Issuer, as the case may be, 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 or the U.S. L/C Issuer to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.04 shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or the U.S. L/C Issuer’s right to demand such compensation; provided that no Borrower shall be required to compensate a Lender or the U.S. L/C Issuer pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.04 for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than nine months prior to the date that such Lender or the U.S. L/C Issuer, as the case may be, notifies the Company of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or the U.S. L/C Issuer’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)                                  Additional Reserve Requirements.  The Company or the applicable Designated Borrower, as the case may be, shall pay to each Lender, (i) 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 Eurocurrency 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 and in accordance with customary commercial practice, which determination shall be conclusive), and (ii) as long as such Lender shall be required to comply with any reserve ratio requirement or analogous requirement of any other central banking or financial regulatory authority imposed in respect of the maintenance of the Commitments or the funding of the Eurocurrency Rate Loans, such additional costs (expressed as a percentage per annum and rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest five decimal places) equal to the actual costs allocated to such Commitment or Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive), which in each case shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan; provided the Company shall have received at least 10 days’ prior notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional interest or costs from such Lender.  If a Lender fails to give notice 10 days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date, such additional interest or costs 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 Company shall promptly compensate (or cause the applicable Designated Borrower to compensate) such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense incurred by it as a result of:

 

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(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 any 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 Company or the applicable Designated Borrower;

 

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

 

(d)                                 any assignment of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Company pursuant to Section 10.13;

 

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

 

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

 

3.06                        Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

 

(a)                                 Designation of a Different Lending Office.  Each Lender may make any Credit Extension to any Borrower through any Lending Office; provided that the exercise of this option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrowers to repay the Credit Extension in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or requires any Borrower to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender, the U.S. L/C Issuer, or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender or the U.S. L/C Issuer pursuant to Sections 2.08(d) or 3.01, or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, then such Lender or the U.S. L/C Issuer shall, as applicable, 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 or the U.S. L/C Issuer, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Sections 2.08(d), 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 or the U.S. L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender or the U.S. L/C Issuer, as the case may be.  The Company or the applicable Designated Borrower, as the case may be, will pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender or the U.S. L/C Issuer in connection with any such designation or assignment.

 

(b)                                 Replacement of Lenders.  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or if any 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 Sections 2.08(d) or 3.01, the Company may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 10.13.

 

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3.07                        Survival.  All obligations of the Loan Parties 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 CREDIT EXTENSIONS

 

4.01                        Conditions of Initial Credit Extension.  The obligation of the U.S. L/C Issuer and each Lender to make its initial Credit Extension hereunder 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 facsimiles or other electronic copies (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party, if applicable, each dated 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 and each of the Lenders:

 

(i)                                     executed counterparts of this Agreement;

 

(ii)                                  a Note executed by the Company or Keurig Trading, as applicable, in favor of each Lender requesting a Note at least two Business Days prior to the Closing Date;

 

(iii)                               (A) a copy of the certificate or articles of incorporation or organization, including all amendments thereto, of each Loan Party, certified, if applicable, as of a recent date by the Secretary of State of the state of its organization, and a certificate as to the good standing (if applicable) of each Loan Party as of a recent date, from such Secretary of State or similar Governmental Authority (with respect to Keurig Trading, being its certified excerpt of the competent Swiss cantonal commercial register and its certified copy of the articles of association) and (B) a certificate of a Responsible Officer of each Loan Party dated the Closing Date and certifying (w) that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of the Organization Documents or bylaws or operating (or limited liability company) agreement of such Loan Party as in effect on the Closing Date, (x) that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of resolutions duly adopted by the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) of such Loan Party authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which such Person is a party and that such resolutions have not been modified, rescinded or amended and are in full force and effect, (y) that the certificate or articles of incorporation or organization of such Loan Party have not been amended since the date of the last amendment thereto shown on the certificate of good standing or certified excerpt of the competent Swiss commercial register furnished pursuant to clause (A) above, and (z) as to the incumbency and specimen signature of each officer executing any Loan Document on behalf of such Loan Party and countersigned by another officer as to the incumbency and specimen signature of the Responsible Officer executing the certificate pursuant to clause (B) above;

 

(iv)                              (A) an opinion of Ropes & Gray LLP, counsel to the Loan Parties and (B) Baker & McKenzie Zurich, special Swiss counsel to the Loan Parties, in each case, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and substance customary for senior credit facilities in transactions of this kind;

 

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(v)                                 a certificate signed by the chief financial officer of the Company attesting to the Solvency of the Loan Parties, on a consolidated basis, after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit I;

 

(vi)                              a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer that the conditions set forth in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied; and

 

(vii)                           evidence that the Existing Credit Agreement has been or concurrently with the Closing Date is being terminated and all Liens securing obligations under the Existing Credit Agreement have been or concurrently with the Closing Date are being released.

 

(b)                                 (i) All fees required to be paid to the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers on or before the Closing Date pursuant to the Fee Letters shall have been paid, and (ii) all reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel to the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers shall have been paid to the extent invoiced at least two business days before the Closing Date.

 

(c)                                  The Administrative Agent and Arrangers shall have received all documentation and other information about the Company and the other Loan Parties as has been reasonably requested in writing by the Administrative Agent or the Arrangers at least 10 days prior to the Closing Date and 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.

 

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 9.03, 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                        Conditions to All Credit Extensions.  The obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans) is subject to the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)                                 The representations and warranties of the Company and each other Loan Party contained in Article V or any other Loan Document shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Credit Extension, except to the extent that 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 except that for purposes of this Section 4.02, the representations and warranties contained in Sections 5.05(a) and (b) shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to Sections 6.01(a) and (b), respectively.

 

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

 

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

 

(d)                                 In the case of a Credit Extension to be denominated in an Alternative Currency, there shall not have occurred any change in national or international financial, political or economic conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls which in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent, the Required Lenders (in the case of any Loans to be denominated in an Alternative Currency) or the U.S. L/C Issuer (in the case of any U.S. Letter of Credit to be denominated in an Alternative Currency) would make it impracticable for such Credit Extension to be denominated in the relevant Alternative Currency.

 

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(e)                                  If the applicable Borrower is a Designated Borrower, then the conditions of Section 2.17 to the designation of such Borrower as a Designated Borrower shall have been met to the satisfaction of the Administrative Agent.

 

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

 

ARTICLE V
 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

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

 

5.03                        Governmental Authorization; Other Consents.  No approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is necessary or required in connection with (a) the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or (b) the exercise by the Administrative Agent or any Lender of its rights under the Loan Documents, except for (i) the approvals, consents, exemptions, authorizations, actions, notices and filings which have been duly obtained, taken, given or made and are in full force and effect and (ii) those approvals, consents, exemptions, authorizations or other actions, notices or filings, the failure of which to obtain or make 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.

 

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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 bankruptcy insolvency, reorganization, receivership, moratorium or other Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity.

 

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; (ii) fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations, cash flows and changes in stockholders’ equity for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby; and (iii) show all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof, including liabilities for Taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness.

 

(b)                                 The unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries dated March 28, 2015, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, stockholders’ equity 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 in all material respects the financial condition of the Company 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 the date of the balance sheet included in the Audited Financial Statements, there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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

 

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

 

5.08                        Taxes.  Except as would not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect: the Company and each of its Subsidiaries have timely filed all tax returns required to be filed, and have timely paid all Taxes (whether or not shown on a tax return) levied or imposed upon it or its properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable (including in its capacity as a withholding agent), except those Taxes which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP.  Except as provided on Schedule 5.08, there is no material tax assessment, deficiency or other claim against, and no tax audit with respect to, the Company or any Subsidiary.  Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is party to any tax sharing agreement, other than tax sharing agreements among the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

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5.09                        ERISA Compliance.

 

(a)                                 Each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other Federal or state laws.  Each Pension Plan that is intended to be a qualified plan under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service to the effect that the form of such 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.  To the knowledge of the Company, nothing has occurred that would prevent or cause the loss of such tax qualified status.

 

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

 

(c)                                  (i) No ERISA Event has occurred, and the Loan Parties are not 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 or Multiemployer Plan; (ii) as of the most recent valuation date for any Pension Plan, the funding target attainment percentage (as defined in Section 430(d)(2) of the Code) is 60% or higher and the Loan Parties do not know of any facts or circumstances that could reasonably be expected to cause the funding target attainment percentage for any such plan to drop below 60% as of the most recent valuation date; (iii) neither any Loan Party 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); (iv) neither any Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could reasonably be expected to be subject to Section 4069 or Section 4212(e) of ERISA; and (v) 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.

 

(d)                                 Neither any Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate maintains or contributes to, or has any unsatisfied obligation to contribute to, or liability under, any active or terminated Pension Plan other than (i) on the Closing Date, those listed on Schedule 5.09(d) hereto and (ii) thereafter, Pension Plans not otherwise prohibited by this Agreement.

 

(e)                                  With respect to each scheme or arrangement mandated by a government other than the United States (a “Foreign Government Scheme or Arrangement”) and with respect to each Plan that is a defined benefit plan and is described in Section 4(b)(4) of ERISA (a “Foreign Plan”):

 

(i)                                     any employer and employee contributions required by law or by the terms of any Foreign Government Scheme or Arrangement or any Foreign Plan have been made, or, if applicable, accrued, in accordance with normal accounting practices;

 

(ii)                                  the fair market value of the assets of each funded Foreign Plan, the liability of each insurer for any Foreign Plan funded through insurance or the book reserve established for any Foreign Plan, together with any accrued contributions, is sufficient to procure or provide for the accrued benefit obligations, as of the date hereof, with respect to all current and former participants in such Foreign Plan according to the actuarial assumptions and valuations most recently used to account for such obligations in accordance with applicable generally accepted accounting principles; and

 

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(iii)          each Foreign Plan required to be registered has been registered and has been maintained in good standing with applicable regulatory authorities.

 

5.10                        Subsidiaries; Equity Interests; Loan Parties.  As of the Closing Date, the Company has no Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed in Schedule 5.10, and all of the outstanding Equity Interests in such Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by a Loan Party in the amounts specified on Schedule 5.10 free and clear of all Liens except for Liens permitted hereunder.  As of the Closing Date, no Loan Party has any equity investments in any other corporation or entity other than those specifically disclosed in Schedule 5.10.  Set forth on Schedule 5.10 is a complete and accurate list of all Loan Parties, as of the Closing Date, showing (as to each Loan Party) the jurisdiction of its incorporation and its U.S. taxpayer identification number.  Set forth on Schedule 5.10 is a complete and accurate list of the address of each Loan Party’s principal place of business as of the Closing Date.  The copy of the articles or certificate of incorporation or organization, as applicable, of each Loan Party and each amendment thereto provided pursuant to Section 4.01(a)(iii) is a true and correct copy of each such document, each of which is valid and in full force and effect.

 

5.11                        Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act.

 

(a)                                 No proceeds of any Credit Extension will be used to purchase, acquire or carry any margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB) in violation of the provisions of the regulations of the FRB.  The value of margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB) owned directly or indirectly by the Company or any Subsidiary which is subject to any arrangement (as such term is used in Section 211.2(g) of Regulation U issued by the FRB) hereunder is less than an amount equal to twenty-five percent (25%) of the value of all assets of the Borrowers and/or such Subsidiary subject to such arrangement.

 

(b)                                 No Borrower, any Person Controlling a Borrower, or any Subsidiary is or is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

5.12                        Disclosure.  No report, financial statement, certificate or other information furnished (whether in writing or orally) 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, at the time furnished (in the case of all other reports, financial statements, certificates or other information), when taken as a whole, contained any material misstatement of fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information and any forward-looking information, the Company represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time.

 

5.13                        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.

 

5.14                        Solvency.  On the Closing Date, after giving effect to the Transactions, the Loan Parties, on a consolidated basis, are Solvent.

 

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5.15                        Senior Debt.  The Obligations constitute “Designated Senior Indebtedness” (or similar term) under, and defined in, any subordinated Indebtedness of the Loan Parties.

 

5.16                        OFAC.  Neither the Company, nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Company and its Subsidiaries, any director, officer, employee or Affiliate thereof, is an individual or entity that is, or is owned or controlled by any individual or entity that is (i) currently the subject or target of any Sanctions, (ii) included on OFAC’s List of Specially Designated Nationals, HMT’s Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets and the Investment Ban List, or any similar list enforced by any other relevant sanctions authority or (iii) located (to the extent the same would violate Sanctions), organized or resident in a Designated Jurisdiction.

 

5.17                        Anti-Corruption Laws.  The Company and its Subsidiaries have conducted their businesses in material compliance with the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010, and other similar anti-corruption legislation in other jurisdictions and have instituted and maintained policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws.

 

5.18                        Compliance with the Non-Bank Rules.  Each Swiss Borrower represents that it is in compliance with the Non-Bank Rules. For the purpose of its compliance with the Non-Bank Rules under this Section 5.18, each Swiss Borrower shall for the purpose of compliance with the Twenty Non-Qualifying Bank Creditor Rule assume that in relation to the Facilities the number of Lenders which are Non-Qualifying Swiss Lenders is 10 (irrespective of whether or not there are, at any time, any such Lenders).  This representation shall not be deemed to be breached in case the Non-Bank Rules are violated as a result of any non-compliance by any of the Lenders with the provisions of Section 10.06.

 

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, or any U.S. Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, the Company 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, in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

 

(a)                                 as soon as available, but in any event within 100 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company (commencing with the fiscal year ended on the last Saturday of the month of September after the Closing Date), a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, changes in stockholders’ 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 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or any other independent certified public accountant of nationally recognized standing reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders, 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 to be certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer or controller of the Company to the effect that such statements are fairly stated in all material respects when considered in relation to the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries; and

 

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(b)                                 as soon as available, but in any event within 55 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Company (commencing with the fiscal quarter ended June 27, 2015), a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the Company’s fiscal year then ended, and the related consolidated statements of changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the portion of the Company’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, certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer or controller of the Company as fairly presenting in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

 

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

 

6.02                        Certificates; Other Information.  Deliver to the Administrative Agent, in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

 

(a)                                 concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(a) and (b) (commencing with the delivery of the financial statements for the fiscal quarter ended September 26, 2015), a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer or controller of the Company (which delivery may, unless the Administrative Agent requests executed originals, be by electronic communication including fax or email and shall be deemed to be an original authentic counterpart thereof for all purposes) and in the event of any change in generally accepted accounting principles used in the preparation of such financial statements, the Company shall also provide, if necessary for the determination of compliance with Section 7.10, a statement of reconciliation conforming such financial statements to GAAP;

 

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

 

(c)                                  promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any statement or report furnished to any holder of debt securities in an aggregate principal amount in excess of the Threshold Amount of any Loan Party or of any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of any indenture, loan or credit or similar agreement and not otherwise required to be furnished to the Lenders pursuant to Section 6.01 or any other clause of this Section 6.02;

 

(d)                                 promptly, and in any event within five Business Days after receipt thereof by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof, notice of the receipt 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

 

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(e)                                  promptly, such additional information regarding the business, financial or corporate affairs of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof, 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) or 6.01(b) or Section 6.02(b) (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 Company posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Company’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 10.02; or (ii) on which such documents are (A) available on the website of the SEC at http://www.sec.gov (or any successor website) or (B) posted on the Company’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 in the case of documents that are not available on http://www.sec.gov (or any successor website): (i) the Company shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent or any Lender upon its request to the Company to deliver such paper copies until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent or such Lender and (ii) the Company shall notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender (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 Company 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.

 

Each Borrower hereby acknowledges that (i) the Administrative Agent and/or the Arrangers may, but shall not be obligated to, make available to the Lenders and the U.S. L/C Issuer materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of such Borrower hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks, Syndtrak, ClearPar, or a substantially similar electronic transmission system (the “Platform”) and (ii) 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 Company or any of 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.  Each Borrower hereby agrees that (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 Company shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the U.S. L/C Issuer and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material nonpublic information (although it may be sensitive and proprietary) with respect to the Company 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 10.07);  (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 Arrangers 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.”

 

6.03                        Notices.  Promptly after it obtains knowledge thereof notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

 

(a)                                 of the occurrence of any Default;

 

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(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 Company or any Subsidiary; (ii) any dispute, litigation, investigation, proceeding or suspension between the Company or any Subsidiary and any Governmental Authority; or (iii) the commencement of, or any material adverse development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting the Company or any Subsidiary, including pursuant to any applicable Environmental Laws; and

 

(c)                                  of the occurrence of any ERISA Event.

 

Each notice pursuant to Section 6.03 shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Company setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Company has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

6.04                        Payment of Obligations.  Pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable, all its obligations and liabilities, including (i) all Tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it or its properties or assets, unless the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by the Company or such Subsidiary; (ii) all lawful claims which, if unpaid, would by law become a Lien upon its property; and (iii) all Indebtedness, as and when due and payable, but subject to any subordination provisions contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness, except in each case, to the extent that failure to pay or discharge the same could not reasonably be expected to, individually, or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.05                        Preservation of Existence, Etc.  (a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and good standing (where applicable) under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section 7.04 or 7.05, except, in the case of any Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Designated Borrower, to the extent the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (b) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges, permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) preserve or renew all of its registered patents, trademarks, trade names and service marks, the non-preservation of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.06                        Maintenance of Properties.  (a) Maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted; and (b) make all necessary repairs thereto and renewals and replacements thereof, except, in each case, where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.07                        Maintenance of Insurance.  Maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, 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 (after giving effect to any self-insurance) as are customarily carried under similar circumstances by such other Persons.

 

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

 

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6.09                        Books and Records.  (a) Maintain proper books of record and account, in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with GAAP consistently applied shall be made of all financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be; and (b) maintain such books of record and account in material conformity with all applicable requirements of any Governmental Authority having regulatory jurisdiction over the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be.

 

6.10                        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, all at the expense of the Company and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice to the Company; provided, however, that, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall not be responsible for the costs and expenses related to more than one such visit or inspection per fiscal year; provided, further, that notwithstanding the foregoing proviso, 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 Company at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice.

 

6.11                        Use of Proceeds.  Use the proceeds of the Credit Extensions (a) to refinance the Existing Credit Agreement, (b) to pay fees and expenses incurred in connection with the execution of this Agreement and the other Transactions; and (c) for working capital and other general corporate purposes (including Permitted Acquisitions) not in contravention of any Law or of any Loan Document.

 

6.12                        Covenant to Guarantee Obligations.  Upon the formation or acquisition of any new direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary (other than, in each case, an Excluded Subsidiary) by any Loan Party, then the Company shall, at the Company’s expense and within the time period specified (or such longer period as agreed by the Administrative Agent):

 

(a)                                 within 30 days after such formation or acquisition (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion), cause such Subsidiary, and cause each direct and indirect parent of such Subsidiary (if it has not already done so), to duly execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a guaranty or guaranty supplement, in form and substance consistent with Article XI hereof and otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, guaranteeing the other Loan Parties’ obligations under the Loan Documents; and

 

(b)                                 upon the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion, within 30 days after such reasonable request therefor, deliver to the Administrative Agent a signed copy of a customary opinions, addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, of counsel for the Loan Parties reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent as to the matters contained in clause (a) above, and as to such other matters as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.

 

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

 

6.14                        Compliance with the Non-Bank Rules.  Each Swiss Borrower shall ensure that it is at all times in compliance with the Non-Bank Rules. For the purpose of its compliance with the Twenty Non-Qualifying Bank Creditor Rule under this Section 6.14, it shall be assumed that in relation to the Facilities the number of Lenders which are, in each case, Non-Qualifying Swiss Lenders is 10 (irrespective of whether or not there are, at any time, any such Lenders). 

 

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This covenant shall not be deemed to be breached in case the Non-Bank Rules are violated as a result of any non-compliance by any of the Lenders with the provisions of Section 10.06.

 

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, or any U.S. Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, the Company 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:

 

(a)                                 Liens on cash or deposits granted in favor of the U.S. L/C Issuer to cash collateralize any Defaulting Lender’s participation in U.S. Letters of Credit, as contemplated by Section 2.03(a)(iii)(F) and 2.15(a), respectively;

 

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

 

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

 

(d)                                 carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business which secure amounts not overdue for a period of more than 45 days or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate actions diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person to the extent required in accordance with GAAP;

 

(e)                                  (i) pledges or deposits in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation, other than any Lien imposed by ERISA, (ii) pledges and deposits to secure insurance premiums or reimbursement obligations under insurance policies or (iii) obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees that have been posted by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to support the payments of the items set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 7.01(e);

 

(f)                                   (i) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts and leases (other than Indebtedness for borrowed money), statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business and (ii) obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees that have been posted to support payment of the items set forth in clause (i) of this Section 7.01(f);

 

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(g)                                  easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar encumbrances affecting real property which, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount, and which do not in any case materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the applicable Person;

 

(h)                                 Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 8.01(h);

 

(i)                                     Liens securing Indebtedness in respect of Capitalized Leases, Synthetic Lease Obligations and purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets; provided that (i) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property (except for accessions to such property) other than the property financed by such Indebtedness and the proceeds and products thereof (except that financings of equipment provided by one lender may be cross collateralized to other financings of equipment provided by such lender) and (ii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the cost or fair market value, whichever is lower, of the property being acquired on the date of acquisition;

 

(j)                                    Liens on property of a Person existing at the time such Person is merged into or consolidated with the Company or any Subsidiary or becomes a Subsidiary; provided that such Liens were not created in contemplation of such merger, consolidation or Investment and do not extend to any assets other than those of the Person merged into or consolidated with the Company or such Subsidiary or acquired by the Company or such Subsidiary, and the applicable Indebtedness secured by such Lien is permitted under Section 7.02(g);

 

(k)                                 the replacement, extension or renewal of any Lien permitted by clauses (b) and (i) of this Section 7.01 upon or in the same property theretofore subject thereto or the replacement, extension or renewal (without increase in the amount or change in any direct or contingent obligor) of the obligations secured thereby;

 

(l)                                     (i) leases, licenses, subleases or sublicenses granted to other Persons in the ordinary course of business which do not (A) interfere in any material respect with the business of the Company or any other Loan Party or (B) secure any Indebtedness for borrowed money or (ii) the rights reserved or vested in any Person by the terms of any lease, license, franchise, grant or permit held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or by a statutory provision, to terminate any such lease, license, franchise, grant or permit, or to require annual or periodic payments as a condition to the continuance thereof;

 

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

 

(n)                                 Liens (i) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code on items in the course of collection, (ii) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other commodities brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business or (iii) in favor of a banking institution arising as a matter of law encumbering deposits (including the right of set-off) and which are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry;

 

(o)                                 Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for sale of goods entered into by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and not prohibited by this Agreement;

 

(p)                                 Liens that are contractual rights of set-off (i) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness, (ii) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Subsidiaries or (iii) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(q)                                 Liens encumbering reasonable customary initial deposits and margin deposits and similar Liens attaching to commodity trading accounts or other brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

 

(r)                                    Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of the premiums with respect thereto;

 

(s)                                   Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and the proceeds thereof securing such Person’s obligations in respect of documentary letters of credit or banker’s acceptances issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or goods in the ordinary course of business;

 

(t)                                    Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements under Section 7.03;

 

(u)                                 (i) Liens on Securitization Assets and related assets arising in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing and (ii) Liens relating to, or deemed to exist in connection with, the Disposition of accounts receivable pursuant to Section 7.05(k)(ii);

 

(v)                                 reservations, limitations, provisos and conditions expressed in any original grant from the Crown or other grant of real or immovable property, or interests therein, which do not materially affect the use of the affected land for the purpose for which it is used by that Person;

 

(w)                               hypothecs reserved to landlords in the Province of Quebec in relation to immovable property leased by a Loan Party in the Province of Quebec, to the extent only of rental obligations owing under the lease agreement relating to any such immoveable property; and

 

(x)                                 Liens securing Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the difference between (i) the greater of (A) $250,000,000 and (B) 5.0% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets (as determined based on the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.01) minus (ii) the aggregate principal amount of unsecured Indebtedness outstanding under Section 7.02(i).

 

7.02                        Subsidiary Indebtedness.   Permit any Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:

 

(a)                                 obligations (contingent or otherwise) existing or arising under any Swap Contract; provided that (i) such obligations are (or were) entered into by such Person in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of directly mitigating risks associated with fluctuations in interest rates, foreign exchange rates or commodity prices, and (ii) such Swap Contract does not contain any provision exonerating the non-defaulting party from its obligation to make payments on outstanding transactions to the defaulting party;

 

(b)                                 Indebtedness of a Subsidiary of the Company owed to the Company or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company, which Indebtedness shall (i) in the case of Indebtedness of a Guarantor owing to a Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor, be on terms (including subordination terms) reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and (ii) be otherwise permitted under the provisions of Section 7.03;

 

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(c)                                  Indebtedness under the Loan Documents;

 

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

 

(e)                                  Guarantees by any Subsidiary in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of the Company or any wholly-owned Subsidiary;

 

(f)                                   Indebtedness in respect of Capitalized Leases, Synthetic Lease Obligations and purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets within the limitations set forth in Section 7.01(i);

 

(g)                                  Indebtedness of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary of the Company after the Closing Date in accordance with the terms of Section 7.03(g), which Indebtedness is existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary of the Company (other than Indebtedness incurred solely in contemplation of such Person’s becoming a Subsidiary of the Company); provided that the direct or any contingent obligor with respect to such Indebtedness are not changed when such Person becomes a Subsidiary of the Company;

 

(h)                                 unsecured Indebtedness of any Guarantor in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed at any one time outstanding an amount such that after giving effect to such incurrence, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be in compliance on a Pro Forma Basis with all of the covenants set forth in Section 7.10 (determined on the basis of the financial information most recently delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b));

 

(i)                                     Indebtedness of Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the difference between (i) the greater of (A) $250,000,000 and (B) 5.0% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets (as determined based on the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.01) minus (ii) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Indebtedness that is secured by Liens permitted under Section 7.01(x).

 

(j)                                    Indebtedness consisting of obligations of any Subsidiary under deferred compensation or other similar arrangements incurred by such Person in connection with any Permitted Acquisition;

 

(k)                                 Indebtedness consisting of cash-pay obligations to holders of preferred equity, in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000 per fiscal year;

 

(l)                                     Indebtedness incurred by a Securitization Subsidiary in a Qualified Securitization Financing that is not recourse (except for Standard Securitization Undertakings) to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

 

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(m)                             Indebtedness representing deferred compensation to employees of any Subsidiary;

 

(n)                                 Cash Management Obligations and other Indebtedness in respect of netting services, overdraft protections and similar arrangements in each case in connection with cash management and deposit accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

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

 

(p)                                 Indebtedness incurred by any Subsidiary constituting reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit issued in the ordinary course of business, including in respect of 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; provided that upon the drawing of such letters of credit or the incurrence of such Indebtedness, such obligations are reimbursed within thirty (30) days following such drawing or incurrence; and

 

(q)                                 obligations in respect of surety, stay, customs and appeal bonds, performance bonds and performance and completion guarantees provided by any Subsidiary or obligations in respect of letters of credit related thereto, in each case in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice.

 

7.03                        Investments.  Make or hold any Investments, except:

 

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

 

(b)                                 advances to officers, directors and employees of the Company and Subsidiaries (i) for travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes or (ii) in connection with such Person’s purchase of Equity Interests of the Company in an aggregate amount not to exceed $1,000,000 at any time outstanding (in the case of this clause (ii), determined without regard to any write-downs or write-offs of such loans or advances);

 

(c)                                  (i) Investments by the Company and its Subsidiaries in their respective Subsidiaries outstanding on the date hereof and set forth on Schedule 7.03(c), (ii) additional Investments by the Company and its Subsidiaries in Loan Parties, (iii) additional Investments by Subsidiaries of the Company that are not Loan Parties in other Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties, and (iv) so long as (x) no Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from such Investment and (y) aggregate revenues or aggregate total assets of wholly-owned Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties do not exceed 20.0% of the consolidated revenues or total assets, as applicable, of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the last day of the fiscal year of the Company most recently ended, additional Investments by the Loan Parties in wholly-owned Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties;

 

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

 

(e)                                  Guarantees permitted by Section 7.02;

 

(f)                                   Investments existing on the date hereof (other than those referred to in Section 7.03(c)(i)) and set forth on Schedule 5.10 and any modifications, replacements, renewals or extensions thereof;

 

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(g)                                  the purchase or other acquisition of all of the Equity Interests in, or all or substantially all of the property of, any Person (or a business unit of a Person) that, upon the consummation thereof, will be wholly-owned directly by the Company or one or more of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries (including as a result of a merger or consolidation) (each a “Permitted Acquisition”); provided that, with respect to each purchase or other acquisition made pursuant to this Section 7.03(g):

 

(i)                                     any such newly-created or acquired Subsidiary shall comply with the requirements of Section 6.12;

 

(ii)                                  (A) immediately before and immediately after giving pro forma effect to any such purchase or other acquisition, including the incurrence of any Indebtedness in connection therewith, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (B) immediately after giving effect to such purchase or other acquisition, including the incurrence of any Indebtedness in connection therewith, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be in compliance on a Pro Forma Basis with all of the covenants set forth in Section 7.10, such compliance to be determined on the basis of the financial information most recently delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) as though such purchase or other acquisition had been consummated as of the first day of the fiscal period covered thereby;

 

(iii)                               the Company shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, at least ten Business Days prior to the date on which any such purchase or other acquisition is to be consummated (or such later date as agreed to by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), a certificate of a Responsible Officer, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders, certifying that all of the requirements set forth in this clause (g) have been satisfied or will be satisfied on or prior to the consummation of such purchase or other acquisition;

 

(h)                                 other Investments (not constituting an acquisition described in Section 7.03(g)) so long as (i) immediately before and immediately after giving effect to any such Investment on a Pro Forma Basis, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (ii) immediately after giving effect to such Investment, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be in compliance on a Pro Forma Basis with all of the covenants set forth in Section 7.10, such compliance to be determined on the basis of the financial information most recently delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) as though such Investment had been consummated as of the first day of the fiscal period covered thereby;

 

(i)                                     (x) Investments in a Securitization Subsidiary or any Investment by a Securitization Subsidiary in any other Person in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing; provided, however, that any such Investment in a Securitization Subsidiary is in the form of a contribution of additional Securitization Assets or as equity, and (y) distributions or payments of Securitization Fees and purchases of Securitization Assets pursuant to a Securitization Repurchase Obligation in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing;

 

(j)                                    Investments (including debt obligations and Equity Interests) received in connection with (x) the bankruptcy or reorganization of any Person and in settlement of obligations of, or disputes with, any Person arising in the ordinary course of business and upon foreclosure with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment and (y) the non-cash proceeds of any Disposition permitted by Section 7.05;

 

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

 

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(l)                                     Guarantees by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of leases (other than Capitalized Leases) or of other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(m)                             Investments to the extent the consideration paid therefor consists solely of Equity Interests of the Company; and

 

(n)                                 Investments consisting of promissory notes issued by any Loan Party to future, present or former officers, directors and employees, members of management, or consultants of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective estates, spouses or former spouses to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of the Company, to the extent the applicable Restricted Payment is permitted by Section 7.06.

 

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

 

(a)                                 any Subsidiary may merge with or liquidate into (i) the Company; provided that the Company shall be the continuing or surviving Person, or (ii) any one or more other Subsidiaries; provided that when any Designated Borrower or any wholly-owned Subsidiary is merging with another Subsidiary, such Designated Borrower or wholly-owned Subsidiary, as applicable, shall be the continuing or surviving Person;

 

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

 

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

 

(d)                                 in connection with any acquisition permitted under Section 7.03, the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company may merge into or consolidate with any other Person or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it; provided that (i) the Person surviving such merger shall be the Company or, in the case in which the Company is not a party to such merger, a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company and (ii) in the case of any such merger to which any Loan Party (other than the Company) is a party, such Loan Party is the surviving Person;

 

(e)                                  so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, each of the Company and any of its Subsidiaries may merge into or consolidate with any other Person or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it; provided, however, that in each case, immediately after giving effect thereto (i) in the case of any such merger to which the Company is a party, the Company is the surviving corporation and (ii) in the case of any such merger to which any Loan Party (other than the Company) is a party, such Loan Party is the surviving corporation; and

 

(f)                                   the Company and its Subsidiaries may make Dispositions permitted under Section 7.05 (other than Section 7.05(e) to the extent it refers to Section 7.04).

 

7.05                        Dispositions.  Make any Disposition, except:

 

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(a)                                 Dispositions of obsolete, used, surplus or worn out property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business and Dispositions of property no longer used or useful in the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries;

 

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

 

(c)                                  Dispositions of 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 the Company or any Subsidiary to the Company or to a wholly-owned Subsidiary; provided that if the transferor of such property is the Company or a Guarantor, the transferee thereof must either be the Company or a Guarantor;

 

(e)                                  Dispositions permitted by Section 7.02, Section 7.04 and Section 7.06;

 

(f)                                   non-exclusive licenses of IP Rights in the ordinary course of business and substantially consistent with past practice;

 

(g)                                  Dispositions by the Company and its Subsidiaries not otherwise permitted under this Section 7.05; provided that (i) at the time of such Disposition, no Event of Default shall exist or would result from such Disposition and (ii) the aggregate amount of all property Disposed of in reliance on this clause (g) during any fiscal year of the Company shall not exceed 25.0% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets (as of the most recent fiscal year end);

 

(h)                                 so long as no Default shall occur and be continuing, the grant of any option or other right to purchase any asset in a transaction that would be permitted under the provisions of Section 7.05(g);

 

(i)                                     Dispositions by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of property pursuant to sale-leaseback transactions;

 

(j)                                    the Disposition of non-core assets acquired in a Permitted Acquisition;

 

(k)                                 (i) any Disposition of Securitization Assets as part of a Qualified Securitization Financing and (ii) any Disposition of accounts receivable on a non-recourse basis pursuant to supply chain financings (or similar programs) on customary terms;

 

(l)                                     Dispositions of Cash Equivalents;

 

(m)                             Dispositions of accounts receivable in connection with the collection or compromise thereof;

 

(n)                                 leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses of property (excluding any licenses or sub-licenses of IP Rights) in the ordinary course of business and which do not materially interfere with the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries;

 

(o)                                 transfers of property subject to any event that gives rise to the receipt by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any insurance proceeds or condemnation awards in respect of any equipment, fixed assets or real property (including any improvements thereon) to replace or repair such property upon receipt of such insurance proceeds or condemnation awards;

 

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(p)                                 Dispositions of Investments in joint ventures, to the extent required by, or made pursuant to buy/sell arrangements between the joint venture parties set forth in joint venture arrangements and similar binding arrangements; and

 

(q)                                 Dispositions in the ordinary course of business consisting of the abandonment of IP Rights which, in the reasonable good faith determination of the Company, are uneconomical, negligible, obsolete or otherwise not material in the conduct of its business.

 

7.06                        Restricted Payments.  Declare or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, except that:

 

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

 

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

 

(c)                                  the Company and each Subsidiary may purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire its common Equity Interests with the proceeds received from the substantially concurrent issue of new common Equity Interests;

 

(d)                                 so long as no Event of Default pursuant to Section 8.01(a) (with respect to subclause (i) or (ii) only), Section 8.01(f) or Section 8.01(g) has occurred and is continuing, the Company may make Restricted Payments; provided that the aggregate amount of all Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (d) shall not exceed an amount such that after giving effect to such Restricted Payment on a Pro Forma Basis (determined on the basis of the financial information most recently delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b)), the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be in compliance with the financial covenants in Section 7.10;

 

(e)                                  the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition for value of Equity Interests of the Company or representing solely fractional shares of such Equity Interests in connection with a merger, consolidation, amalgamation or other combination involving the Company;

 

(f)                                   repurchases of Equity Interests in the Company or any Loan Party deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options or warrants if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options or warrants;

 

(g)                                  the payment of any dividend or distribution within 90 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at the date of declaration such payment would have complied with the provisions of this Agreement; and

 

(h)                                 payments made or expected to be made by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of withholding or similar Taxes payable by any future, present or former employee, director, manager or consultant and any repurchases of Equity Interests in consideration of such payments including deemed repurchases in connection with the exercise of stock options.

 

7.07                        Transactions with Affiliates.  Enter into any material transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of the Company, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, other than on fair and reasonable terms substantially as favorable to the Company or such Subsidiary as would be obtainable by the Company or such Subsidiary at the time in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate.

 

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The following items will not be deemed to be transaction with an Affiliate and, therefore, will not be subject to the provisions of the prior paragraph:

 

(1)                                 transactions between or among the Company and/or any Subsidiary;

 

(2)                                 sales or awards of Equity Interests to Affiliates of the Company;

 

(3)                                 reasonable and customary directors’ fees, indemnification and similar arrangements, consulting fees, employee salaries, bonuses or employment agreements, compensation or employee benefit arrangements, incentive and severance arrangements with any officer, director or employee of the Company or a Loan Party entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(4)                                 any transactions made in compliance with the provisions of Section 7.05;

 

(5)                                 loans and advances to officers and employees of the Company or any Loan Party in the ordinary course of business in accordance with the past practices of the Company or any Loan Party to the extent otherwise permitted by this Agreement;

 

(6)                                 written agreements entered into or assumed in connection with acquisitions of other businesses with Persons who were not Affiliates prior to such transactions approved by a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company;

 

(7)                                 any agreement as in effect as of the date of the Closing Date or any amendment thereto so long as any such amendment is not more disadvantageous to the Lenders in any material respect than the original agreement as in effect on the date of the Closing Date;

 

(8)                                 customary provisions in joint venture agreements relating solely to such joint venture;

 

and

 

(9)                                 any Disposition of Securitization Assets or related assets in connection with any Qualified Securitization Financing.

 

7.08                        Burdensome Agreements.  Enter into or permit to exist 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 Company or any Guarantor or to otherwise transfer property to or invest in the Company or any Guarantor, except for any agreement in effect (A) on the date hereof and set forth on Schedule 7.08 or (B) at the time any Subsidiary becomes a Subsidiary of the Company, so long as such agreement was not entered into solely in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary of the Company, (ii) of any Subsidiary to Guarantee the Indebtedness of the Company or (iii) of the Company or any Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on property of such Person; provided, however, that this clause (iii) shall not prohibit any negative pledge incurred or provided in favor of any holder of Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.02(f) solely to the extent any such negative pledge relates to the property financed by or the subject of such Indebtedness; 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 the foregoing shall not apply to Contractual Obligations that (1) represent Indebtedness of a Subsidiary which is not a Loan Party which is permitted by Section 7.02, (2) are customary restrictions that arise in connection with any Disposition permitted by Section 7.05, (3) are customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements applicable to joint ventures permitted under Section 7.03 and applicable solely to such joint venture, (4) are negative pledges and restrictions on Liens in favor of any holder of Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.02 but solely to the extent any negative pledge relates to the property financed by or secured by such Indebtedness (and excluding in any event any Indebtedness junior to the Obligations) or that expressly permits Liens for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders with respect to the credit facilities established hereunder and the Obligations under the Loan Documents on a senior basis without the requirement that such holders of such Indebtedness be secured by such Liens on an equal and ratable, or junior, basis, and (5) are customary restrictions on leases, subleases, licenses or asset sale agreements otherwise permitted hereby so long as such restrictions may relate to the assets subject thereto.

 

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

 

7.10                        Financial Covenants.

 

(a)                                 Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio.  Permit the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio as of the last day of each fiscal quarter of the Company (beginning with the fiscal quarter ending September 26, 2015) to be less than 3.00 to 1.00.

 

(b)                                 Consolidated Leverage Ratio.  Permit the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as of the end of each fiscal quarter of the Company (beginning with the fiscal quarter ending September 26, 2015) to be greater than 3.25 to 1.00; provided that in connection with any Permitted Acquisition for which the purchase consideration equals or exceeds $150,000,000, the maximum permitted Consolidated Leverage Ratio, at the election of the Company (with prior notice to the Administrative Agent), shall be increased to 3.50 to 1.0 for the four consecutive fiscal quarter period beginning with the quarter in which such Permitted Acquisition occurs, so long as (i) the Company is in compliance on a Pro Forma Basis with such maximum permitted Consolidated Leverage Ratio after giving effect to such Permitted Acquisition and (ii) after any such Permitted Acquisition for which the Company has elected to increase the maximum permitted Consolidated Leverage Ratio pursuant to this proviso, the maximum permitted Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall decrease to 3.25 to 1.00 for at least two consecutive fiscal quarters before becoming eligible to again make use of this proviso for such an increase for a new period of four consecutive fiscal quarters.

 

7.11                        Changes in Fiscal Year.  Make any change in fiscal year without the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

 

7.12                        Prepayments, Etc. of Subordinated Indebtedness.  Voluntarily prepay, redeem, purchase, defease or otherwise satisfy prior to the scheduled maturity thereof in any manner, or make any payment in violation of any subordination terms of, any Indebtedness junior to the Obligations, except (i) regularly scheduled or required repayments or redemptions of Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.02 and (ii) such prepayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances or otherwise such that after giving effect to such event, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be in compliance on a Pro Forma Basis with the Consolidated Leverage Ratio (determined on the basis of the financial information most recently delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b)).

 

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7.13                        Designation of Senior Debt.  Designate any Indebtedness (other than the Indebtedness under the Loan Documents) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as “Designated Senior Debt” (or any similar term) under, and as defined in, the definitive documentation for any Indebtedness junior to the Obligations.

 

7.14                        Sanctions.  Directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other individual or entity, to fund any activities of or business with any individual or entity, or in any Designated Jurisdiction, that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of Sanctions, or in any other manner that will result in a violation by any individual or entity (including any individual or entity participating in the transaction, whether as Lender, Arranger, Administrative Agent, U.S. L/C Issuer, U.S. Swing Line Lender, or otherwise) of Sanctions.

 

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

 

ARTICLE VIII
 EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

 

8.01                        Events of Default.  If any of the following events (any such event, an “Event of Default”) shall occur:

 

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

 

(b)                                 Specific Covenants.  The Company fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 6.03(a), 6.05(a) or Article VII; or

 

(c)                                  Other Defaults.  Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in Section 8.01(a) or (b) above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for 30 days after notice thereof by the Administrative Agent to the Company or a Responsible Officer of the Company otherwise has actual knowledge of such failure; or

 

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

 

(e)                                  Cross-Default.  (i) Any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof (A) fails to make any payment when due beyond any applicable grace period (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) in respect of any Indebtedness or Guarantee (other than Indebtedness hereunder and Indebtedness under Swap Contracts) having an aggregate outstanding principal amount of more than the Threshold Amount, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness (other than any Swap Contract, as to which clause (ii) below shall apply) or Guarantee or any other event occurs, the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness or the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Guarantee (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness to 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 (ii) there occurs under any Swap Contract an Early Termination Date (as defined in such Swap Contract) resulting from (A) any event of default under such Swap Contract as to which a Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof is the Defaulting Party (as defined in such Swap Contract) or (B) any Termination Event (as so defined) under such Swap Contract as to which a Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof is an Affected Party (as so defined) and, in either event, the Swap Termination Value owed by such Loan Party or such Subsidiary as a result thereof is greater than the Threshold Amount; or

 

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(f)                                   Insolvency Proceedings, Etc.  Any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors (and/or, in the case of a Swiss Borrower, commences negotiations with one or more of its creditors with a view to rescheduling any of its indebtedness); 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 un-stayed for 60 calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or

 

(g)                                  Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment.  (i) Any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of any such Person and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within 60 days after its issue or levy; or

 

(h)                                 Judgments.  There is entered against any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof (i) one or more final judgments or orders for the payment of money in an aggregate amount (as to all such judgments and orders) exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer has been notified of the potential claim and does not deny 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 60 consecutive calendar days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect; or

 

(i)                                     ERISA.  (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in liability of any Loan Party to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount, or (ii) any Loan Party 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 material provision of any Loan Document, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder or satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect; or any Loan Party contests in writing the validity or enforceability of any provision of any Loan Document; or any Loan Party denies in writing that it has any or further liability or obligation under any provision of any Loan Document, or purports in writing to revoke, terminate (except as provided herein) or rescind any provision of any Loan Document; or

 

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

 

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 and any obligation of the U.S. L/C Issuer to make U.S. L/C Credit Extensions to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;

 

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

 

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

 

(d)                                 exercise on behalf of itself, the Lenders and the U.S. L/C Issuer all rights and remedies available to it, the Lenders and the U.S. L/C Issuer 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 Company under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the U.S. L/C Issuer to make U.S. L/C Credit Extensions shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, and the obligation of the Company to Cash Collateralize the U.S. L/C Obligations as aforesaid shall automatically become effective, in each case 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 and the U.S. L/C Obligations have automatically been required to be Cash Collateralized 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, interest and U.S. Letter of Credit Fees) payable to the Lenders and the U.S. L/C Issuer (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders and the U.S. L/C Issuer arising under the Loan Documents and amounts payable under Article III, ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;

 

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Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid U.S. Letter of Credit Fees and interest on the Loans, U.S. L/C Borrowings and other Obligations arising under the Loan Documents, ratably among the Lenders and the U.S. L/C Issuer in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;

 

Fourth, to (a) payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans and U.S. L/C Borrowings, (b) payment of Obligations then owing under Guaranteed Hedge Agreements, (c) payment of Obligations then owing under Guaranteed Cash Management Agreements and (d) to Cash Collateralize that portion of U.S. L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of U.S. Letters of Credit to the extent not otherwise Cash Collateralized by the Company pursuant to Sections 2.03 and 2.15, ratably among the Lenders, the U.S. L/C Issuer, the Hedge Banks and the Cash Management Banks 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 respective Borrowers or as otherwise required by Law.

 

Subject to Sections 2.03(c) and 2.15, amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of U.S. Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Fourth above shall be applied to satisfy drawings under such U.S. Letters of Credit as they occur.  If any amount remains on deposit as Cash Collateral after all U.S. Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be applied to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above.

 

Excluded Swap Obligations with respect to any Loan Party shall not be paid with amounts received from such Loan Party or such Loan Party’s assets, but appropriate adjustments shall be made with respect to payments from other Loan Parties to preserve the allocation to Obligations otherwise set forth above in this Section.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Obligations arising under Guaranteed Cash Management Agreements and Guaranteed Hedge Agreements shall be excluded from the application described above if the Administrative Agent has not received written notice thereof, 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.  Each Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank not a party to the Credit Agreement that has given the notice contemplated by the preceding sentence shall, by such notice, be deemed to have acknowledged and accepted the appointment of the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms of Article IX hereof for itself and its Affiliates as if a “Lender” party hereto.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any amounts received from a Designated Borrower on account of the Obligations and applied pursuant to this Section 8.03 shall not be applied to satisfy the Obligations of any other Loan Party.

 

ARTICLE IX
 ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

 

9.01                        Appointment and Authority.  Each of the Lenders and the U.S. L/C Issuer 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 IX are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the U.S. L/C Issuer, and neither the Company nor any other Loan Party shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.  

 

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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 Company 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 are 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 Company 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.

 

(d)                                 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 circumstances as provided in Sections 10.01 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 Company, a Lender or the U.S. L/C Issuer.

 

(e)                                  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.

 

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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, or the issuance, extension, renewal or increase of a U.S. Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or the U.S. L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or the U.S. L/C Issuer unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or the U.S. L/C Issuer prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such U.S. Letter of Credit.  The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Company), 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 IX 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 nonappealable 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; Removal of Administrative Agent.

 

(a)                                 The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the U.S. L/C Issuer and the Company.  Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, with the consent of the Company so long as no Event of Default exists (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), 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 earlier date 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 and the U.S. L/C Issuer, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above; provided that in no event shall any such successor Administrative Agent be a Defaulting Lender.  Whether or not a successor has been appointed, such resignation shall become effective in accordance with such notice on the Resignation Effective Date.

 

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(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 Company and such Person remove such Person as Administrative Agent and, with the consent of the Company so long as no Event of Default exists (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), 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 or the U.S. L/C Issuer 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 and the U.S. L/C Issuer directly, until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above in this Section 9.06.  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 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 9.06).  The fees payable by the Company to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Company and such successor.  After the retiring or removed Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article IX and Section 10.04 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 Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent.

 

(d)                                 Any resignation by Bank of America as Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 9.06 shall also constitute its resignation as U.S. L/C Issuer and U.S. Swing Line Lender.  If Bank of America resigns as U.S. L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the U.S. L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all U.S. Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as U.S. L/C Issuer and all U.S. L/C Obligations with respect thereto, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c).  If Bank of America resigns as U.S. Swing Line Lender, it shall retain all the rights of the U.S. Swing Line Lender provided for hereunder with respect to U.S. 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 U.S. Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(c).  Upon the appointment by the Company of a successor U.S. L/C Issuer or U.S. Swing Line Lender hereunder (which successor shall in all cases be a Lender other than a Defaulting Lender), (i) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring U.S. L/C Issuer or U.S. Swing Line Lender, as applicable, (ii) the retiring U.S. L/C Issuer and U.S. Swing Line Lender shall be discharged from all of their respective duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, and (iii) the successor U.S. L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the U.S. Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to Bank of America to effectively assume the obligations of Bank of America with respect to such U.S. Letters of Credit.

 

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9.07                        Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders.  Each Lender and the U.S. L/C Issuer 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 and the U.S. L/C Issuer 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 Bookrunners, Arrangers, the Syndication Agent or Co-Documentation Agent or other titles as necessary listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender or the U.S. L/C Issuer hereunder.

 

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 or any U.S. L/C Obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on any Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, 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, U.S. L/C Obligations and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the U.S. L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the U.S. L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, the U.S. L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.03(h) and (i), 2.09 and 10.04) 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 and the U.S. L/C Issuer 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 and the U.S. L/C Issuer, 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 10.04.

 

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

 

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9.10                        Guaranty Matters.  Each of the Lenders (including in its capacities as a potential Cash Management Bank and a potential Hedge Bank) and the U.S. L/C Issuer irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty 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 any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty pursuant to this Section 9.10.  In each case as specified in this Section 9.10, the Administrative Agent will, at the Company’s expense, execute and deliver to the applicable Loan Party such documents as such Loan Party may reasonably request 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.

 

9.11                        Guaranteed Cash Management Agreements and Guaranteed Hedge Agreements.  Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, no Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank that obtains the benefits of Section 8.03 or any Guaranty by virtue of the provisions hereof or of any Guaranty 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 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 Guaranteed Cash Management Agreements and Guaranteed 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.

 

9.12                        Tax Indemnification.  To the extent required by any applicable Law, the Administrative Agent may deduct or withhold from any payment to any Lender an amount equivalent to any applicable withholding tax.  Without limiting or expanding the obligations of the Loan Parties hereunder, if any Governmental Authority asserts a claim that the Administrative Agent did not properly withhold tax from amounts paid to or for the account of any Lender (because the appropriate form was not delivered, was not properly executed or because such Lender failed to notify the Administrative Agent of a change in circumstances that rendered the exemption from, or reduction of, withholding tax ineffective, or for any other reason), then each such Lender shall, and does hereby, indemnify and hold harmless the Administrative Agent, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, fully for all amounts paid, directly or indirectly, by the Administrative Agent as Taxes or otherwise, and any and all related losses, claims, liabilities, penalties, interest and expenses (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent), whether or not such Tax was correctly or legally asserted.  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 Section 9.12.  The agreements in this Section 9.12 shall survive the resignation and/or replacement of the Administrative Agent, any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all other Obligations.  For purposes of this Section 9.12, the term “Lender” shall include the U.S. L/C Issuer and the U.S. Swing Line Lender.

 

ARTICLE X
 MISCELLANEOUS

 

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

 

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(a)                                 extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 8.02) without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby (it being understood that a waiver of any condition precedent set forth in Section 4.01 or Section 4.02, or the waiver of any Default, Event of Default, mandatory prepayment or mandatory reduction of the Commitments shall not constitute an extension or increase of any Commitment of any Lender);

 

(b)                                 postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment (excluding mandatory prepayments) of principal, interest, fees, premiums or other amounts due to the Lenders (or any of them) hereunder or under such other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;

 

(c)                                  reduce or forgive the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or U.S. L/C Borrowing, or (subject to clause (iii) of the second proviso to this Section 10.01) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby, it being understood that any change to the definition of Consolidated Leverage Ratio or in the component definitions thereof shall not constitute a reduction in any rate of interest or fees; provided that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition of “Default Rate” or to waive any obligation of the Borrowers to pay interest or U.S. Letter of Credit Fees at the Default Rate; provided further that only the consent of the U.S. Required Revolving Lenders or the Alternative Required Revolving Lenders, as applicable, shall be required to increase the number of days in any 12 consecutive month period during which the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Option is available for such applicable Facility;

 

(d)                                 change (i) any provision of this Section 10.01 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 (other than the definitions specified in clause (ii) of this Section 10.01(d)), without the written consent of each Lender or (ii) the definition of “U.S. Required Revolving Lenders,” or “Alternative Required Revolving Lenders” without the written consent of each Lender under the applicable Facility;

 

(e)                                  change (i) Section 8.03 or (ii) the order of application of any reduction in the Commitments or any prepayment of Loans among the Facilities from the application thereof set forth in the applicable provisions of Section 2.05 or 2.06, respectively, in any manner that materially and adversely affects the Lenders under a Facility without the written consent of (i) if such Facility is the U.S. Revolving Credit Facility, the U.S. Required Revolving Lenders and (ii) if such Facility is the Alternative Revolving Credit Facility, the Alternative Required Revolving Lenders;

 

(f)                                   release the Company’s Guaranty of the Obligations of the Designated Borrowers or otherwise release all or substantially all of the value of the Guaranty, without the written consent of each Lender, except to the extent the release of any Subsidiary from the Guaranty is permitted pursuant to Section 9.10 (in which case such release may be made by the Administrative Agent acting alone);

 

(g)                                  amend Section 1.06 or the definition of “Alternative Currency” without the written consent of each Lender; and provided, further, that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the U.S. L/C Issuer in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the U.S. L/C Issuer under this Agreement or any Issuer Document relating to any U.S. Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by it; (ii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the U.S. Swing Line Lender in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the U.S. Swing Line Lender under this Agreement; (iii) 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 (iv) the Fee Letters and the Engagement Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto.  

 

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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, (i) 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 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 and (ii) if any amendment to this Agreement is required solely to permit the designation of a Foreign Subsidiary as a Designated Borrower in accordance with Section 2.17, then such amendment shall be effective to the extent contained in the related Designated Borrower Joinder Agreement that is executed by the Company, the applicable Applicant Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each Alternative Revolving Credit Lender.

 

Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, this Agreement may be amended (or amended and restated) with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers (i) to add one or more additional revolving credit or term loan facilities to this Agreement and to permit the extensions of credit and all related obligations and liabilities arising in connection therewith from time to time outstanding to share ratably (or on a basis subordinated to the existing facilities hereunder) in the benefits of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with the obligations and liabilities from time to time outstanding in respect of the existing facilities hereunder, and (ii) in connection with the foregoing, to permit, as deemed appropriate by the Administrative Agent and approved by the Required Lenders, the Lenders providing such additional credit facilities to participate in any required vote or action required to be approved by the Required Lenders or by any other number, percentage or class of Lenders hereunder.

 

Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary the Administrative Agent and the Company may amend, modify or supplement this Agreement or any other Loan Document to cure or correct administrative errors or omissions, any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency or to effect administrative changes, and such amendment shall become effective without any further consent of any other party to such Loan Document so long as (i) such amendment, modification or supplement does not adversely affect the rights of any Lender or other holder of Obligations in any material respect and (ii) the Lenders shall have received at least five Business Days’ prior written notice thereof and the Administrative Agent shall not have received, within five Business Days of the date of such notice to the Lenders, a written notice from the Required Lenders stating that the Required Lenders object to such amendment.

 

10.02                 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communications.

 

(a)                                 Notices Generally.  Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in Section 10.02(b)), 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 or other form of electronic transmission as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:

 

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(i)                                     if to the Company or any other Loan Party, the Administrative Agent, the U.S. L/C Issuer or the U.S. Swing Line Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02; 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 Company).

 

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 Section 10.02(b) shall be effective as provided in such Section 10.02(b).

 

(b)                                 Electronic Communications.  Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the U.S. L/C Issuer hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail, FpML messaging, and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or the U.S. L/C Issuer pursuant to Article II if such Lender or the U.S. L/C Issuer, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article II by electronic communication.  The Administrative Agent, the U.S. L/C Issuer, the U.S. Swing Line Lender or the Company 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.  

 

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In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have any liability to any Borrower, any Lender, the U.S. L/C Issuer or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of any Loan Party’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of Borrower Materials or notices through the Platform, any other electronic platform or  electronic messaging service or 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 Company, any other Loan Party, any Lender, the U.S. L/C Issuer 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 Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the U.S. L/C Issuer and the U.S. 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 Company, the Administrative Agent, the U.S. L/C Issuer and the U.S. 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 the “Public Side Information” portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public information with respect to the Company or its securities for purposes of United States Federal or state securities laws.

 

(e)                                  Reliance by Administrative Agent, U.S. L/C Issuer and Lenders.  The Administrative Agent, the U.S. L/C Issuer and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic notices, Committed Loan Notices, Letter of Credit Applications, Notices of Loan Prepayment and Swing Line Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of any 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 Company shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, the U.S. L/C Issuer, 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 any 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.

 

10.03                 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement.  No failure by any Lender, the U.S. L/C Issuer 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.

 

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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 and the U.S. L/C Issuer; 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 U.S. L/C Issuer or the U.S. Swing Line Lender from exercising the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as U.S. L/C Issuer or U.S. Swing Line Lender, as the case may be) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (c) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 10.08 (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.

 

10.04                 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

 

(a)                                 Costs and Expenses.  The Company shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and MLPFS (limited, in the case of attorneys’ fees to the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of a single counsel for the Administrative Agent, MLPFS and the other agents and, if necessary, one local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction), 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 amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the U.S. L/C Issuer in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any U.S. Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the U.S. L/C Issuer (limited, in the case of attorneys’ fees, to the fees, charges and disbursements of a single counsel for the Administrative Agent, single counsel for all Lenders, a single local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction and, if necessary, one conflicts counsel for all Lenders), 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 10.04, or (B) in connection with the Loans made or U.S. Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or U.S. Letters of Credit.

 

(b)                                 Indemnification by the Company.  The Company shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender and the U.S. L/C Issuer, 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 reasonable expenses (limited, in the case of attorneys’ fees, to the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of a single counsel for the Administrative Agent, single counsel for all Lenders, a single local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction and, if necessary, one conflicts counsel for all Lenders), incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by the Company or any other Loan Party arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or, 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 U.S. Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by the U.S. L/C Issuer to honor a demand for payment under a U.S. Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such U.S. Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or Release or threat of Release of Hazardous Materials at, on, under or emanating from any property owned, leased or operated by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Company or any other Loan Party or any of the Company’s or such Loan Party’s directors, shareholders or creditors, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or (y) result from a claim brought by the Company or any other Loan Party against an Indemnitee for material breach of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if the Company or such Loan Party has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.  

 

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For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 10.04(b) shall not apply to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. with respect to a non-Tax claim.

 

(c)                                  Reimbursement by Lenders.  To the extent that the Company for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay any amount required under Sections 10.04(a) or 10.04(b) to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), the U.S. L/C Issuer, the U.S. 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 U.S. L/C Issuer, the U.S. 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 Lender’s Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought); provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), the U.S. L/C Issuer or the U.S. 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), U.S. L/C Issuer or the U.S. Swing Line Lender in connection with such capacity.  The obligations of the Lenders under this Section 10.04(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 Loan Party shall assert, and each Loan Party hereby waives, and acknowledges that no other Person shall have, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or U.S. Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof.  No Indemnitee referred to in Section 10.04(b) 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.

 

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(e)                                  Payments.  All amounts due under this Section 10.04 shall be payable not later than ten Business Days after demand therefor.

 

(f)                                   Survival.  The agreements in this Section 10.04 and the indemnity provisions of Section 10.02(e) shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the U.S. L/C Issuer and the U.S. 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.

 

10.05                 Payments Set Aside.  To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of any Borrower is made to the Administrative Agent, the U.S. L/C Issuer or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent, the U.S. L/C Issuer 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, the U.S. L/C Issuer 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 and the U.S. L/C Issuer 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 applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect, in the applicable currency of such recovery or payment.  The obligations of the Lenders and the U.S. L/C Issuer under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

10.06                 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 Company nor any other Loan Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender (unless in connection with a transaction permitted under Section 7.04), 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 Section 10.06(b), (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.06(d), or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of Section 10.06(f) (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 Section 10.06(d) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the U.S. L/C Issuer 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(s) and the Loans (including for purposes of this Section 10.06(b), participations in U.S. L/C Obligations and in U.S. Swing Line Loans) at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

 

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(i)                                     Minimum Amounts.

 

(A)                               in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment (in each case with respect to any Facility) or contemporaneous assignments to related Approved Funds (determined after giving effect to such Assignment and Assumptions) that equal at least the amount specified in Section 10.06(b)(i)(B) in the aggregate and the Loans at the time owing to it under such Facility 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 Section 10.06(b)(i)(A), the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the applicable 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 $5,000,000, in the case of any assignment in respect of the Revolving Credit Facilities, unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company 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 (A) apply to the U.S. Swing Line Lender’s rights and obligations in respect of U.S. Swing Line Loans or (B) prohibit any Lender from assigning all or a portion of its rights and obligations among the Revolving Credit Facilities provided hereunder and any separate revolving credit or term loan facilities provided pursuant to the penultimate paragraph of Section 10.01 on a non-pro rata basis;

 

(iii)                               Required Consents.  No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by Section 10.06(b)(i)(B) and, in addition:

 

(A)                               the consent of the Company (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed; provided, that it shall be reasonable for the Company to withhold consent to an assignment or transfer, if the proposed assignment or transfer would lead to a breach of the Ten Non-Qualifying Bank Creditor Rule) shall be required unless (1) an Event of Default under Sections 8.01(a), (f) or (g) 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 in the case of assignments concerning the Alternative Revolving Credit Facility such Affiliate of a Lender or such Approved Fund is a Qualifying Swiss Lender; provided, further, that the Company shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within five (5) Business Days after having received notice thereof;

 

(B)                               the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for assignments in respect of any Revolving Credit Commitment if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender with a Commitment in respect of the applicable Facility, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender;

 

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(C)                               the consent of the U.S. L/C Issuer and U.S. Swing Line Lender shall be required for any assignment in respect of the Revolving Credit Facilities.

 

(iv)                              Assignment and Assumption.  The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with 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 Company or any of the Company’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 (or to a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of 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 Company 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, the U.S. L/C Issuer 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 U.S. Letters of Credit and U.S. 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 Section 10.06(c), 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 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 10.04 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, each 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 Section 10.06(b) 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 Section 10.06(d).

 

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(c)                                  Register.  The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrowers (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 and U.S. L/C Obligations owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”).  The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error and the Borrowers, 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 Borrowers 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, any Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural Person, or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of a natural Person, a Defaulting Lender or the Company or any of the Company’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 U.S. L/C Obligations and/or U.S. 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, (iii) other than as a result of a permitted transfer or assignment under Section 10.06(b) and only in case where such Lender assigns or otherwise transfers its exposure deriving to such Lender from a Swiss Borrower, i.e. its exposure under the Alternative Revolving Credit Facility, (A) the relationship between the Lender and the Participant is that of a debtor and creditor (including in the bankruptcy or similar event of the Lender or any Borrower), (B) the Participant will have no proprietary interest in the benefit of this Agreement or in any monies received by the Lender under or in relation to this Agreement and (C) the Participant will under no circumstances (x) be subrogated to, or substituted in respect of, the Lender’s claims under this Agreement, or (y) have otherwise any contractual relationship with, or rights against any Borrower under or in relation to this Agreement and (iv) the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the U.S. L/C Issuer 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 10.04(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 10.01 that affects such Participant.  The Company 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 Section 10.06(b) (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 3.01(e) shall be delivered to the Lender who sells the participation); provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Sections 3.06 and 10.13 as if it were an assignee under Section 10.06(b) 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 Company’s request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Company to effectuate the provisions of Section 3.06 with respect to any Participant.  To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.08 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  a non-fiduciary agent of the Company, 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 or is otherwise required thereunder.  

 

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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 and other than as a result of a permitted transfer or assignment under Section 10.06(b) and only in case where such Lender pledges or assigns its exposure deriving to such Lender from a Swiss Borrower, i.e. its exposure under the Alternative Revolving Credit Facility, (i) the relationship between the Lender and the pledgee or assignee is that of a debtor and creditor (including in the bankruptcy or similar event of the Lender or any Borrower), (ii) such pledgee and assignee will have no proprietary interest in the benefit of this Agreement or in any monies received by the Lender under or in relation to this Agreement and (iii) the pledgee or assignee will under no circumstances (x) be subrogated to, or substituted in respect of, the Lender’s claims under this Agreement, or (y) have otherwise any contractual relationship with, or rights against any Borrower under or in relation to this Agreement.

 

(f)                                   Resignation as U.S. L/C Issuer or U.S. Swing Line Lender After Assignment.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if at any time Bank of America assigns all of its Revolving Credit Commitment and Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to Section 10.06(b), Bank of America may, (i) upon 30 days’ notice to the Company and the Lenders, resign as the U.S. L/C Issuer and/or (ii) upon 30 days’ notice to the Company, resign as the U.S. Swing Line Lender.  In the event of any such resignation as the U.S. L/C Issuer or the U.S. Swing Line Lender, the Company shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a successor U.S. L/C Issuer or U.S. Swing Line Lender hereunder; provided, however, that no failure by the Company to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of Bank of America as U.S. L/C Issuer or U.S. Swing Line Lender, as the case may be.  If Bank of America resigns as the U.S. L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the U.S. L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all U.S. Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as the U.S. L/C Issuer and all U.S. L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c)).  If Bank of America resigns as the U.S. Swing Line Lender, it shall retain all the rights of the U.S. Swing Line Lender provided for hereunder with respect to U.S. 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 U.S. Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(c).  Upon the appointment of a successor U.S. L/C Issuer and/or U.S. Swing Line Lender, (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring U.S. L/C Issuer or U.S. Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, and (b) the successor U.S. L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the U.S. Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to Bank of America to effectively assume the obligations of Bank of America with respect to such U.S. Letters of Credit.

 

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10.07                 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality.  Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the U.S. L/C Issuer 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 10.07, 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 Assignee invited to be a Lender pursuant to Section 2.14 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 any of the Borrowers and their obligations, this Agreement or payments hereunder, (g) on a confidential basis to (i) any rating agency in connection with rating the Company 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 Company or (i) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 10.07, (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the U.S. L/C Issuer or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Company or (z) was independently developed by such Lender.  In addition, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may disclose the existence of this Agreement and information about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry and service providers to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in connection with the administration of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and the Commitments.

 

For purposes of this Section 10.07, “Information” means all information received from the Company or any Subsidiary relating to the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the U.S. L/C Issuer on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Company or any Subsidiary; provided that, in the case of information received from the Company 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 10.07 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, the Lenders and the U.S. L/C Issuer acknowledges that (a) the Information may include material non-public information concerning the Company 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.

 

10.08                 Right of Setoff.  If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, the U.S. L/C Issuer 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, the U.S. L/C Issuer or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Company or any other Loan Party against any and all of the obligations of the Company or such Loan Party, as the case may be, now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or the U.S. L/C Issuer or their respective Affiliates, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or the U.S. L/C Issuer or Affiliate shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Company or such Loan Party may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch, office or Affiliate of such Lender or the U.S. L/C Issuer 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, the U.S. L/C Issuer 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.  

 

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The rights of each Lender, the U.S. L/C Issuer and their respective Affiliates under this Section 10.08 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, the U.S. L/C Issuer or their respective Affiliates may have.  Each Lender and the U.S. L/C Issuer agrees to notify the Company 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.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, amounts received by exercise of setoff rights against a Designated Borrower shall not be applied against the Obligations of any other Loan Party.

 

10.09                 Interest Rate Limitation.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “Maximum Rate”).  If the 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 applicable 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.

 

10.10                 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness.  This Agreement and each other Loan Document 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 or the U.S. L/C Issuer, 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 or any other Loan Document 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.

 

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10.11                 Survival of Representations and Warranties.  All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof.  Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the 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 Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied or any U.S. Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding.

 

10.12                 Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions.  The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.  Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.12, 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, the U.S. L/C Issuer or the U.S. Swing Line Lender, as applicable, then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited.

 

10.13                 Replacement of Lenders.  If the Company 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 Company the right to replace a Lender as a party hereto, then the Company may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 10.06), all of its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Sections 2.08(d), 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 Company shall have paid (or caused a Designated Borrower to pay) to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee (if any) specified in Section 10.06(b);

 

(b)                                 such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and U.S. L/C Advances, 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 Company or applicable Designated 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 Sections 2.08(d) or 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.

 

118

 

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 Company to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.  Each Lender agrees that, if the Company elects to replace such Lender in accordance with this Section 10.13, it shall promptly execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption to evidence the assignment; provided that the failure of any such Lender to execute an Assignment and Assumption shall not render such assignment invalid and such assignment shall be recorded in the Register.

 

10.14                 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 COMPANY AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT COMMENCE ANY ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING OF ANY KIND OR DESCRIPTION, WHETHER IN LAW OR EQUITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR IN TORT OR OTHERWISE, AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER, THE U.S. L/C ISSUER, 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, 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, ANY LENDER OR THE U.S. L/C ISSUER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST THE COMPANY OR ANY OTHER LOAN PARTY OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

 

(c)                                  WAIVER OF VENUE.  THE COMPANY AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION 10.14.  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.

 

119

 

(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.

 

10.15                 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 10.15.

 

10.16                 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.  In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), the Company and each other Loan Party acknowledge and agree that: (i) (A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Company, each other Loan Party and their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders, on the other hand, (B) each of the Company and the other Loan Parties has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) each of the Company and each other Loan Party is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii) (A) the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and each 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 Company, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) neither the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers nor any Lender has any obligation to the Company, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers 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 Company, the other Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers nor any Lender has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Company, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Affiliates.  To the fullest extent permitted by law, each of the Company and each other Loan Party hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers 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.

 

10.17                 Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents.  The words “execute,” “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in or related to any document to be signed in connection with the Agreement and transactions contemplated hereby (including without limitation Assignment and Assumptions, amendments or other modifications, Committed Loan Notices, Swing Line Loan Notices, waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, the electronic matching of assignment terms and contract formations on electronic platforms approved by the 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; provided that notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary the Administrative Agent is under no obligation to agree to accept electronic signatures in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by the Administrative Agent pursuant to procedures approved by it.

 

120

 

10.18                 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 each Loan Party that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Act”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each Loan Party, which information includes the name and address of each Loan Party and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify each Loan Party in accordance with the Act.  Each Loan Party 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.

 

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

 

10.20                 Section 956 Override.  Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, express or implied, in no event shall any Designated Borrower be obligated to make any payments in respect of an Obligation of any other Loan Party, nor shall payments or other proceeds received from a Designated Borrower be applied to any Obligations of another Loan Party, it being the intent of this provision and of the parties hereto to avoid adverse tax consequences due to the application of Section 956 of the Code.

 

ARTICLE XI.

GUARANTY

 

11.01                 The Guaranty.  Each of the Guarantors hereby jointly and severally guarantees to each Lender, the U.S. L/C Issuer and each other holder of Obligations as hereinafter provided, as primary obligor and not as surety, the prompt payment of the Obligations in full when due (whether at stated maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration, as a mandatory cash collateralization or otherwise) strictly in accordance with the terms thereof.  

 

121

 

The Guarantors hereby further agree that if any of the Obligations are not paid in full when due (whether at stated maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration, as a mandatory cash collateralization or otherwise), the Guarantors will, jointly and severally, promptly pay the same, without any demand or notice whatsoever, and that in the case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any of the Obligations, the same will be promptly paid in full when due (whether at extended maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration, as a mandatory cash collateralization or otherwise) in accordance with the terms of such extension or renewal.

 

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein or in any other of the Loan Documents or the other documents relating to the Obligations, the obligations of each Guarantor under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not exceed an aggregate amount equal to the largest amount that would not render such obligations subject to avoidance under applicable Debtor Relief Laws.

 

11.02                 Obligations Unconditional.  The obligations of the Guarantors under Section 11.01 are joint and several, absolute and unconditional, irrespective of the value, genuineness, validity, regularity or enforceability of any of the Loan Documents or other documents relating to the Obligations, or any substitution, release, impairment or exchange of any other guarantee of or security for any of the Obligations, and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, irrespective of any other circumstance whatsoever which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety or guarantor, it being the intent of this Section 11.02 that the obligations of the Guarantors hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances.  Each Guarantor agrees that such Guarantor shall have no right of subrogation, indemnity, reimbursement or contribution against any Borrower or any other Loan Party for amounts paid under this Article XI until such time as the Obligations have been paid in full and the Commitments have expired or terminated.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is agreed that, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, the occurrence of any one or more of the following shall not alter or impair the liability of any Guarantor hereunder, which shall remain absolute and unconditional as described above:

 

(a)                                 at any time or from time to time, without notice to any Guarantor, the time for any performance of or compliance with any of the Obligations shall be extended, or such performance or compliance shall be waived;

 

(b)                                 any of the acts mentioned in any of the provisions of any of the Loan Documents or other documents relating to the Obligations shall be done or omitted;

 

(c)                                  the maturity of any of the Obligations shall be accelerated, or any of the Obligations shall be modified, supplemented or amended in any respect, or any right under any of the Loan Documents or other documents relating to the Obligations shall be waived or any other guarantee of any of the Obligations or any security therefor shall be released, impaired or exchanged in whole or in part or otherwise dealt with;

 

(d)                                 any Lien granted to, or in favor of, the Administrative Agent or any other holder of the Obligations as security for any of the Obligations shall fail to attach or be perfected; or

 

(e)                                  any of the Obligations shall be determined to be void or voidable (including for the benefit of any creditor of any Guarantor) or shall be subordinated to the claims of any Person (including any creditor of any Guarantor);

 

122

 

With respect to its obligations hereunder, each Guarantor hereby expressly waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, protest and all notices whatsoever, and any requirement that the Administrative Agent or any other holder of the Obligations exhaust any right, power or remedy or proceed against any Person under any of the Loan Documents or any other document relating to the Obligations, or against any other Person under any other guarantee of, or security for, any of the Obligations.

 

11.03                 Reinstatement.  The obligations of each Guarantor under this Article XI shall be automatically reinstated if and to the extent that for any reason any payment by or on behalf of any Person in respect of the Obligations is rescinded or must be otherwise restored by any holder of any of the Obligations, whether as a result of any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, and each Guarantor agrees that it will indemnify the Administrative Agent and each other holder of the Obligations on demand for all reasonable costs and expenses (including the fees, charges and disbursements of counsel) incurred by the Administrative Agent or such holder of the Obligations in connection with such rescission or restoration, including any such costs and expenses incurred in defending against any claim alleging that such payment constituted a preference, fraudulent transfer or similar payment under any Debtor Relief Law.

 

11.04                 Certain Additional Waivers.  Each Guarantor agrees that such Guarantor shall have no right of recourse to security for the Obligations, except through the exercise of rights of subrogation pursuant to Section 11.02 and through the exercise of rights of contribution pursuant to Section 11.06.

 

11.05                 Remedies.  The Guarantors agree that, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the other holders of the Obligations, on the other hand, the Obligations may be declared to be forthwith due and payable as specified in Section 8.02 (and shall be deemed to have become automatically due and payable in the circumstances specified in Section 8.02) for purposes of Section 11.01 notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such declaration (or preventing the Obligations from becoming automatically due and payable) as against any other Person and that, in the event of such declaration (or the Obligations being deemed to have become automatically due and payable), the Obligations (whether or not due and payable by any other Person) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for purposes of Section 11.01.

 

11.06                 Rights of Contribution.  The Guarantors hereby agree as among themselves that, if any Guarantor shall make an Excess Payment (as defined below), such Guarantor shall have a right of contribution from each other Guarantor in an amount equal to such other Guarantor’s Contribution Share (as defined below) of such Excess Payment.  The payment obligations of any Guarantor under this Section 11.06 shall be subordinate and subject in right of payment to the Obligations until such time as the Obligations have been paid-in-full and the Commitments have terminated, and none of the Guarantors shall exercise any right or remedy under this Section 11.06 against any other Guarantor until such Obligations have been paid-in-full and the Commitments have terminated.  For purposes of this Section 11.06, (a) “Excess Payment” shall mean the amount paid by any Guarantor in excess of its Ratable Share of any Obligations; (b) “Ratable Share” shall mean, for any Guarantor in respect of any payment of Obligations, the ratio (expressed as a percentage) as of the date of such payment of Obligations of (i) the amount by which the aggregate present fair salable value of all of its assets and properties exceeds the amount of all debts and liabilities of such Guarantor (including contingent, subordinated, unmatured, and unliquidated liabilities, but excluding the obligations of such Guarantor hereunder) to (ii) the amount by which the aggregate present fair salable value of all assets and other properties of all of the Loan Parties exceeds the amount of all of the debts and liabilities (including contingent, subordinated, unmatured, and unliquidated liabilities, but excluding the obligations of the Loan Parties hereunder) of the Loan Parties; provided, however, that, for purposes of calculating the Ratable Shares of the Guarantors in respect of any payment of Obligations, any Guarantor that became a Guarantor subsequent to the date of any such payment shall be deemed to have been a Guarantor on the date of such payment and the financial information for such Guarantor as of the date such Guarantor became a Guarantor shall be utilized for such Guarantor in connection with such payment; and (c) “Contribution Share” shall mean, for any Guarantor in respect of any Excess Payment made by any other Guarantor, the ratio (expressed as a percentage) as of the date of such Excess Payment of (i) the amount by which the aggregate present fair salable value of all of its assets and properties exceeds the amount of all debts and liabilities of such Guarantor (including contingent, subordinated, unmatured, and unliquidated liabilities, but excluding the obligations of such Guarantor hereunder) to (ii) the amount by which the aggregate present fair salable value of all assets and other properties of the Loan Parties other than the maker of such Excess Payment exceeds the amount of all of the debts and liabilities (including contingent, subordinated, unmatured, and unliquidated liabilities, but excluding the obligations of the Loan Parties) of the Loan Parties other than the maker of such Excess Payment; provided, however, that, for purposes of calculating the Contribution Shares of the Guarantors in respect of any Excess Payment, any Guarantor that became a Guarantor subsequent to the date of any such Excess Payment shall be deemed to have been a Guarantor on the date of such Excess Payment and the financial information for such Guarantor as of the date such Guarantor became a Guarantor shall be utilized for such Guarantor in connection with such Excess Payment.  

 

123

 

This Section 11.06 shall not be deemed to affect any right of subrogation, indemnity, reimbursement or contribution that any Guarantor may have under Law against any Borrower in respect of any payment of Obligations

 

11.07                 Guarantee of Payment; Continuing Guarantee.  The guarantee in this Article XI is a guaranty of payment and not of collection, is a continuing guarantee, and shall apply to the Obligations whenever arising.

 

11.08                 Keepwell.  Each Loan Party that is a Qualified ECP Guarantor at the time the Guaranty in this Article XI by any Loan Party that is not then an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act (a “Specified Loan Party”) or the grant of a security interest under the Loan Documents by any such Specified Loan Party, in either case, becomes effective with respect to any Swap Obligation, hereby jointly and severally, absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to provide such funds or other support to each Specified Loan Party with respect to such Swap Obligation as may be needed by such Specified Loan Party from time to time to honor all of its obligations under the Loan Documents in respect of such Swap Obligation (but, in each case, only up to the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering such Qualified ECP Guarantor’s obligations and undertakings under this Article XI voidable under applicable Debtor Relief Laws, and not for any greater amount).  The obligations and undertakings of each Qualified ECP Guarantor under this Section 11.08 shall remain in full force and effect until the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid and performed in full.  Each Loan Party intends this Section 11.08 to constitute, and this Section 11.08 shall be deemed to constitute, a “keepwell, support, or other agreement” for the benefit of each Specified Loan Party for all purposes of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

[remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

124

 

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

 

	
COMPANY:
    	
KEURIG   GREEN MOUNTAIN, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Frances G. Rathke
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Frances   G. Rathke
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Chief   Financial Officer
    

 

KEURIG GREEN MOUNTAIN, INC.

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

 

	
DESIGNATED   BORROWER:
    	
KEURIG   TRADING SÀRL
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Robert P. Ostryniec
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Robert   P. Ostryniec
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Chairman   of the Managing Officers
    

 

KEURIG GREEN MOUNTAIN, INC.

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

 

	
ADMINISTRATIVE   AGENT:
    	
BANK   OF AMERICA, N.A.,
    
	
 
    	
as   Administrative Agent
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Denise Jones
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Denise   Jones
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Assistant   Vice President
    

 

KEURIG GREEN MOUNTAIN, INC.

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

 

	
LENDER:
    	
BANK   OF AMERICA, N.A.,   as Lender, U.S. L/C
    
	
 
    	
Issuer   and U.S. Swing Line Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Robert C. Megan
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Robert   C. Megan
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Senior   Vice President
    

 

KEURIG GREEN MOUNTAIN, INC.

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

 

	
LENDER:
    	
COÖPERATIEVE   CENTRALE RAIFFEISEN-BOERENLEENBANK B.A. “RABOBANK NEDERLAND”, NEW YORK   BRANCH,
    
	
 
    	
as   a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Claire Laury
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Claire   Laury
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Executive   Director
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
[If   a second signature is necessary:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Chris Grimes
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Chris   Grimes
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Executive   Director
    

 

KEURIG GREEN MOUNTAIN, INC.

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

 

	
LENDER:
    	
HSBC   BANK USA, N.A.,
    
	
 
    	
as   a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Elise M. Russo
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Elise   M. Russo
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Senior   Vice President
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
[If   a second signature is necessary:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    

 

KEURIG GREEN MOUNTAIN, INC.

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

 

	
LENDER:
    	
HSBC   Bank Canada,
    
	
 
    	
as   a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Antoine Racine
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Antoine   Racine
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Analyste   – Serv. aux grandes entreprises
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Analyst   – Corporate Banking
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Kam Thind
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
KAM   THIND
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
HEAD   OF INTERNATIONAL BANKING
    

 

KEURIG GREEN MOUNTAIN, INC.

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

 

	
LENDER:
    	
WELLS   FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
    
	
 
    	
as   a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Christopher S. Allen
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Christopher   S. Allen
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Senior   Vice President
    

 

KEURIG GREEN MOUNTAIN, INC.

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

 

	
LENDER:
    	
SUMITOMO   MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION,
    
	
 
    	
as   a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   James D. Weinstein
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
James   D. Weinstein
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Managing   Director
    

 

KEURIG GREEN MOUNTAIN, INC.

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

 

	
LENDER:
    	
THE   BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD.,
    
	
 
    	
as   a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Christine L. Howatt
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Christine   L. Howatt
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Authorized   Signatory
    

 

KEURIG GREEN MOUNTAIN, INC.

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

 

	
LENDER:
    	
U.S.   BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
    
	
 
    	
as   a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Ken Gorski
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Ken   Gorski
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice   President
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
[If   a second signature is necessary:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    

 

KEURIG GREEN MOUNTAIN, INC.

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

 

	
LENDER:
    	
TD   BANK, N.A.,
    
	
 
    	
as   a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Alan Garson
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Alan   Garson
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Senior   Vice President
    

 

KEURIG GREEN MOUNTAIN, INC.

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

 

	
LENDER:
    	
KEYBANK,   NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
    
	
 
    	
as   a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Tony F. Martin
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Tony   F. Martin
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Senior   Vice President
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
[If   a second signature is necessary:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    

 

KEURIG GREEN MOUNTAIN, INC.

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

 

	
LENDER:
    	
BRANCH   BANKING AND TRUST COMPANY,
    
	
 
    	
as   a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Michael L. Laurie
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Michael   L. Laurie
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Senior   Vice President
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
[If   a second signature is necessary:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    

 

KEURIG GREEN MOUNTAIN, INC.

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

 

	
LENDER:
    	
CITIZENS   BANK, N.A.,
    
	
 
    	
as   a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Jason Upham
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Jason   Upham
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
AVP
    

 

KEURIG GREEN MOUNTAIN, INC.

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

 

	
LENDER:
    	
THE   HUNTINGTON NATIONAL BANK,
    
	
 
    	
as   a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Jacklyn Compau
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Jacklyn   Compau
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Senior   Vice President
    

 

KEURIG GREEN MOUNTAIN, INC.

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

 

	
LENDER:
    	
WEBSTER   BANK, N.A.,
    
	
 
    	
as   a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Ann M. Meade
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Ann   M. Meade
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Senior   Vice President
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
[If   a second signature is necessary:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
N/A
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    

 

KEURIG GREEN MOUNTAIN, INC.

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

 

	
LENDER:
    	
CAMDEN   NATIONAL BANK,
    
	
 
    	
as   a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Ryan Smith
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Ryan   A. Smith
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Senior   Vice President
    

 

KEURIG GREEN MOUNTAIN, INC.

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

 

	
LENDER:
    	
FIRST   NIAGARA, N.A.,
    
	
 
    	
as   a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Robert Dellatorre
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Robert   Dellatore
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice   President
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
[If   a second signature is necessary:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    

 

KEURIG GREEN MOUNTAIN, INC.

CREDIT AGREEMENTEXHIBIT 10.1

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

FOURTH AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT CASH SOLUTIONS AGREEMENT

 

THIS FOURTH AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT CASH SOLUTIONS AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”), dated and effective as of June 29, 2015, is made and entered into among GLOBAL CASH ACCESS INC., (“GCA” or “Client”) and WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. (“Wells Fargo”).

 

R E C I T A L S:

 

A.                                Client and Wells Fargo entered into a Contract Cash Solutions Agreement, dated as of November 12, 2010 (as modified or amended from time to time, the “Agreement”).

 

B.                                 Client has requested that Wells Fargo extend the term of the Agreement through June 30, 2018, and subject to and on the terms and conditions of this Amendment, Wells Fargo has agreed to do so.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals and other good and valuable considerations, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereto agree as follows, intending to be legally bound:

 

ARTICLE I

 

Definitions

 

Capitalized terms used in this Amendment, to the extent not otherwise defined herein, shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Agreement.

 

ARTICLE II

 

Amendment

 

Section 2. Term. Section XI.A of the Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

 

(a)                                                                               “General. The initial term of this Agreement, which expired on November 30, 2013, was previously extended through November 30, 2014, pursuant to a written amendment to the Agreement and further extended pursuant to a written amendment to the Agreement to November 30, 2015. The Parties hereby agree to further extend the term of the Agreement to June 30th, 2018. In addition, the Agreement shall be renewed for additional one-year periods unless a Party gives at least 90 days’ prior written notice of its intent not to renew, provided, however, that each such renewal shall be subject to a written agreement about pricing and such other terms and conditions to be mutually agreed upon among the Parties (the “Stated Termination Date”), unless earlier terminated by a Party as provided in this Agreement (the “Actual Termination Date”).”

 

 

Section 2.1. Maximum Available Amount. Section II.C is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

 

“Maximum Amount of Cash to be Supplied. The aggregate total of Cash to be provided by Wells Fargo under this Agreement shall at no time exceed $425 Million Dollars including (i) all Cash with Armored Carriers, (ii) all Cash in Covered Machines, and (iii) all payments owed by Servicers, including any amount to be reimbursed by way of credit to the Settlement Account in immediately available funds, net of all adjustments, chargebacks, representations and other corrections to all transactions under the Servicing Agreements (the “Maximum Available Amount”); provided, however, Wells Fargo acknowledges that Client may require Cash not to exceed $75 Million Dollars in excess of the Maximum Available Amount (the “Additional Requested Amount”) for a particular period (such period shall not exceed five (5) Business Days) (e.g. the five (5) Business Day period surrounding New Years Eve), on an occasional basis but in no event shall there be more than four such periods in any calendar year, and in such a situation, Client shall use best efforts to notify Wells Fargo with reasonable advance notice of the anticipated period and the anticipated amount of the Additional Requested Amount and Wells Fargo shall provide the Maximum Available Amount and shall use best efforts to provide Cash in an amount equal to the Additional Requested Amount.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Client may decrease the Maximum Available Amount by providing Bank with ten (10) Business Days’ written notice of such reduction; provided, however, (i) the Maximum Available Amount shall not be decreased below $225 Million Dollars and (ii) such Maximum Available Amount may not be increased subsequent to such decrease without Bank’s prior written approval.”

 

ARTICLE III

 

Conditions Precedent

 

The effectiveness of this Amendment is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)                               Client and Wells Fargo shall have executed and delivered this Amendment; and

 

(b)                              Clients shall have provided to Wells Fargo such other and further documents and instruments, if any, as Wells Fargo may reasonably request.

 

- 2 -

 

ARTICLE IV

 

Representations and Warranties; Acknowledgments

 

Each of the Parties represents and warrants to the other that (i) the execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment has been duly authorized by all requisite action on its part; and (ii) it is in compliance with the terms and conditions contained in the Agreement applicable to it.

 

ARTICLE V

 

General Provisions

 

Section 5.1                                 Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same document.

 

Section 5.2                                 Facsimile Signatures. Delivery by fax of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Amendment shall be effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Amendment.

 

Section 5.3                                 Section Headings. The section headings in this Amendment are for purposes of reference only and shall not limit or affect any of the terms hereof.

 

Section 5.4                                 Successors and Assigns. This Amendment is binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of Parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, subject, however, to the requirements of Section XIII.D. of the Agreement.

 

Section 5.5                                 Governing Law. The Governing Law shall govern this Amendment and the interpretation thereof.

 

Section 5.6                            Entire Agreement; Modification. The Agreement and this Amendment constitute the entire agreement between Wells Fargo and Client relating to the subject matter hereof and may not be changed orally, but only by written instrument signed by both Parties. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties, covenants, or undertakings relating to the subject matter of this Amendment other than those expressly set forth or referred-to herein. Nothing in this Amendment alters or impairs the Agreement except for the amendments specifically provided herein.

 

[Balance of Page Intentionally Left Blank. Signature Page Follows]

 

- 3 -

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Parties has caused this Amendment to be executed on its behalf by the duly authorized officers as of the date and year first written above.

 

 

	
GLOBAL CASH ACCESS, INC.
    	
WELLS FARGO BANK , NATIONAL
    
	
 
    	
ASSOCIATION
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/ Randy L. Taylor
    	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Olga E. Wisnicky
    
	
 
    	
Name: Randy L.   Taylor
    	
 
    	
Name: 
    	
Olga E. Wisnicky
    
	
 
    	
Title:      CFO
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Senior Vice   President

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
    
						

 

- 4 -

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