Document:

idxx-ex106_10.htm

Exhibit 10.6

Execution Version

 

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

dated as of April 14, 2020

among

IDEXX LABORATORIES, INC.,
IDEXX DISTRIBUTION, INC.,
IDEXX OPERATIONS, INC.,
OPTI MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.,
IDEXX LABORATORIES CANADA CORPORATION, 
IDEXX EUROPE B.V., and
IDEXX HOLDING B.V.,
as Borrowers,

The Lenders Party Hereto,

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
as Administrative Agent,

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
TORONTO BRANCH,
as Toronto Agent, and

with

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Sole Bookrunner and a Joint Lead Arranger,

 

BOFA SECURITIES, INC.

KeyBank National Association

MUFG Union Bank, N.A.

U.S. Bank National Association, and

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association
as Joint Lead Arrangers,

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.

KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, and

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

As Co-Syndication Agents,

 

Citibank, N.A.

HSBC Bank USA, National Association

PNC Bank, National Association

TD Bank, N.A. and

Truist Bank
as Co-Documentation Agents

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

	
Article I. DEFINITIONS
	
1

	
Section 1.1
	
Defined Terms
	
1

	
Section 1.2
	
Classification of Loans and Borrowings
	
34

	
Section 1.3
	
Terms Generally
	
34

	
Section 1.4
	
Accounting Terms; GAAP
	
34

	
Section 1.5
	
Currency Translation
	
35

	
Section 1.6
	
Interest Rates; LIBOR Notification
	
35

	
Section 1.7
	
Letter of Credit Amounts
	
36

	
Section 1.8
	
Divisions
	
36

	
Article II. THE CREDITS
	
36

	
Section 2.1
	
Commitments; Existing Letters of Credit
	
36

	
Section 2.2
	
Loans and Borrowings
	
37

	
Section 2.3
	
Requests for Revolving Borrowings
	
38

	
Section 2.4
	
Swingline Loans
	
39

	
Section 2.5
	
Letters of Credit
	
41

	
Section 2.6
	
Funding of Borrowings
	
47

	
Section 2.7
	
Interest Elections
	
47

	
Section 2.8
	
Termination and Reduction of Commitments
	
49

	
Section 2.9
	
Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt
	
49

	
Section 2.10
	
Prepayment of Loans
	
50

	
Section 2.11
	
Fees
	
52

	
Section 2.12
	
Interest
	
53

	
Section 2.13
	
Market Disruption; Alternate Rate of Interest
	
55

	
Section 2.14
	
Increased Costs
	
57

	
Section 2.15
	
Break Funding Payments
	
59

	
Section 2.16
	
Taxes
	
59

	
Section 2.17
	
Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs
	
64

	
Section 2.18
	
Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders
	
66

	
Section 2.19
	
Foreign Subsidiary Costs
	
67

	
Section 2.20
	
Redenomination of Certain Alternative Currencies
	
67

	
Section 2.21
	
Designation of US Subsidiary Borrowers and Foreign Borrowers
	
68

	
Section 2.22
	
Increase in Commitments
	
68

	
Section 2.23
	
Defaulting Lenders
	
70

	
Article III. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
	
73

	
Section 3.1
	
Organization; Powers
	
73

	
Section 3.2
	
Authorization; Enforceability
	
73

	
Section 3.3
	
Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts
	
73

	
Section 3.4
	
Financial Condition
	
73

	
Section 3.5
	
Properties
	
74

	
Section 3.6
	
Litigation and Environmental Matters
	
74

	
Section 3.7
	
Compliance with Laws and Agreements
	
74

	
Section 3.8
	
Investment and Holding Company Status
	
74

	
Section 3.9
	
Taxes
	
74

	
Section 3.10
	
ERISA and Pensions
	
75

i

 

	
Section 3.11
	
Disclosure
	
75

	
Section 3.12
	
Subsidiaries
	
75

	
Section 3.13
	
Federal Regulations
	
76

	
Section 3.14
	
Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions
	
76

	
Section 3.15
	
EEA Financial Institutions
	
76

	
Section 3.16
	
Plan Assets; Prohibited Transactions
	
76

	
Article IV. CONDITIONS
	
76

	
Section 4.1
	
Effective Date
	
76

	
Section 4.2
	
Each Credit Event
	
78

	
Section 4.3
	
Initial Credit Event for each Additional Borrower
	
79

	
Article V. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
	
79

	
Section 5.1
	
Financial Statements and Other Information
	
79

	
Section 5.2
	
Notices of Material Events
	
80

	
Section 5.3
	
Existence; Conduct of Business
	
81

	
Section 5.4
	
Payment of Obligations
	
81

	
Section 5.5
	
Maintenance of Properties; Insurance
	
81

	
Section 5.6
	
Books and Records; Inspection Rights
	
82

	
Section 5.7
	
Compliance with Laws
	
82

	
Section 5.8
	
Use of Proceeds and Letters of Credit
	
82

	
Section 5.9
	
Additional Subsidiaries
	
83

	
Article VI. NEGATIVE COVENANTS
	
83

	
Section 6.1
	
Indebtedness
	
83

	
Section 6.2
	
Liens
	
84

	
Section 6.3
	
Fundamental Changes
	
86

	
Section 6.4
	
Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions
	
87

	
Section 6.5
	
Transactions with Affiliates
	
87

	
Section 6.6
	
Restrictive Agreements
	
88

	
Section 6.7
	
Financial Covenants
	
88

	
Section 6.8
	
Sanctions Laws and Regulations
	
89

	
Article VII. EVENTS OF DEFAULT
	
89

	
Section 7.1
	
Events of Default
	
89

	
Section 7.2
	
Events of Default
	
91

	
Section 7.3
	
Application of Payments
	
92

	
Article VIII. THE AGENTS
	
93

	
Section 8.1
	
Authorization and Action
	
93

	
Section 8.2
	
Agents’ Reliance, Indemnification, Etc
	
96

	
Section 8.3
	
Posting of Communications
	
97

	
Section 8.4
	
The Administrative Agent Individually
	
98

	
Section 8.5
	
Successor Agent
	
99

	
Section 8.6
	
Acknowledgements of Lenders and Issuing Bank
	
100

	
Section 8.7
	
Certain ERISA Matters
	
100

	
Section 8.8
	
No Fiduciary Capacity
	
101

	
Article IX. GUARANTEE
	
102

	
Article X. MISCELLANEOUS
	
104

	
Section 10.1
	
Notices
	
104

	
Section 10.2
	
Waivers; Amendments
	
105

ii

 

	
Section 10.3
	
Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver
	
106

	
Section 10.4
	
Successors and Assigns
	
108

	
Section 10.5
	
Survival
	
113

	
Section 10.6
	
Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution
	
113

	
Section 10.7
	
Severability
	
114

	
Section 10.8
	
Right of Setoff
	
114

	
Section 10.9
	
Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process
	
115

	
Section 10.10
	
WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL
	
116

	
Section 10.11
	
Headings
	
116

	
Section 10.12
	
Confidentiality
	
116

	
Section 10.13
	
Interest Rate Limitation
	
117

	
Section 10.14
	
Conversion of Currencies
	
118

	
Section 10.15
	
Releases of Guarantees
	
118

	
Section 10.16
	
USA PATRIOT Act
	
118

	
Section 10.17
	
No Fiduciary Duty, etc
	
118

	
Section 10.18
	
Liability for Obligations
	
119

	
Section 10.19
	
Representation of Dutch Borrower
	
120

	
Section 10.20
	
Canadian Anti-Money Laundering Legislation
	
120

	
Section 10.21
	
Existing Credit Agreement Amended and Restated
	
120

	
Section 10.22
	
Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions
	
121

	
Section 10.23
	
Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs
	
122

 

 

 

 

iii

 

 

 

SCHEDULES:

 

Schedule P-1 – Certain Permitted Investments 

Schedule 1.1A – Existing Letters of Credit

Schedule 2.1 – Commitments 

Schedule 3.6 – Disclosed Matters

Schedule 3.10(b) – Canadian Benefit Plans and Pension Plans

Schedule 3.12 – Subsidiaries

Schedule 6.1 – Existing Indebtedness

Schedule 6.2 – Existing Liens

Schedule 6.3 – Fundamental Changes

Schedule 6.4 – Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions

Schedule 6.6 – Existing Restrictions

 

EXHIBITS:

 

Exhibit A – Form of Assignment and Assumption 

Exhibit B-1 – Form of Opinion of Loan Parties’ Counsel (US)

Exhibit B-2 – Form of Opinion of Loan Parties’ Counsel (Canada)

Exhibit B-3 – Form of Opinion of Loan Parties’ Counsel (Netherlands)

Exhibit C – Form of Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement 

Exhibit D – Form of Borrower Joinder Agreement 

Exhibit E – Form of Borrower Termination Agreement 

Exhibit F – Form of Borrowing Request 

Exhibit G – Form of Instrument of Adherence

Exhibit H – Forms of US Tax Compliance Certificates

 

 

iv

 

 

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) dated as of April 14, 2020, among IDEXX LABORATORIES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Administrative Borrower”), IDEXX DISTRIBUTION, INC., a Massachusetts corporation, IDEXX OPERATIONS, INC., a Delaware corporation, OPTI MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC., a Delaware corporation, IDEXX LABORATORIES CANADA CORPORATION, a company formed under the laws of Canada, and IDEXX EUROPE B.V., a besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands and IDEXX HOLDING B.V., a besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands (collectively with the Administrative Borrower and all other Persons who hereafter may be designated as a Borrower pursuant to Section 2.21, the “Borrowers”), the LENDERS party hereto, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., TORONTO BRANCH, as Toronto Agent.

WHEREAS, the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, and certain of the Lenders are party to that certain Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of December 4, 2015 (as amended and in effect immediately prior to the Effective Date referred to below, the “Existing Credit Agreement”);

WHEREAS the Administrative Borrower has requested that the Lenders and the Administrative Agent agree to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement, and the Lenders and the Administrative Agent are willing to so amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement, on the terms and conditions herein set forth;

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:

Article I.
DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1Defined Terms.  As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

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

“Acquisition” means the purchase or acquisition by any Person of (a) more than 40% of the Equity Interests with ordinary voting power of another Person or (b) all or any substantial portion of the property (other than Equity Interests) of another Person, whether or not involving a merger or consolidation with such Person.

“Additional Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.22.

“Adjusted LIBO Rate” means (a) with respect to any Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in US Dollars for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) equal to (i) the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by (ii) the Statutory Reserve Rate and (b) with respect to any Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in an Alternative Currency (other than Canadian Dollars or Euros) for any Interest Period, any interest rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) equal to the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period.

1

 

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

“Administrative Borrower” shall have the meaning specified in the preamble.

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

“Affected Financial Institution” means (a) any EEA Financial Institution or (b) any UK Financial Institution. 

“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 Indemnitee” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 10.3(c). 

“Agents” means the Administrative Agent and the Toronto Agent.

“Agreement” shall have the meaning specified in the preamble.

“Agreement Currency” shall the meaning specified in Section 10.14(b).

“Alternate Base Rate” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the NYFRB Rate in effect on such day plus 1⁄2 of 1% and (c) the Adjusted LIBO Rate for a one month Interest Period on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) plus 1%; provided that for the purpose of this definition, the Adjusted LIBO Rate for any day shall be based on the LIBO Rate (or if the Screen Rate is not available for such one month Interest Period, the Interpolated Rate) at approximately 11:00 a.m. London time on such day.  Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate, respectively.  If the Alternate Base Rate is being used as an alternate rate of interest pursuant to Section 2.13 (for the avoidance of doubt, only until any amendment has become effective pursuant to Section 2.13(b)), then the Alternate Base Rate shall be the greater of clauses (a) and (b) above and shall be determined without reference to clause (c) above.  For the avoidance of doubt, if the Alternate Base Rate as determined pursuant to the foregoing would be less than 2.00%, such rate shall be deemed to be 2.00% for purposes of this Agreement.

“Alternative Currency” means (a) Canadian Dollars, (b) Euros, (c) Sterling, (d) Swiss Francs, (e) Australian Dollars and (f) any other currency that is freely transferable and convertible into US Dollars in the London market and for which LIBO Rates can be determined by reference to the Screen Rate as provided in the definition of “LIBO Rate”, and is acceptable to all of the Lenders.

2

 

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

“Applicable Agent” means (a) with respect to a Loan or Borrowing denominated in US Dollars (other than to a Canadian Borrower) or in an Alternative Currency (other than to a Canadian Borrower) or any Letter of Credit, and with respect to any payment hereunder that does not relate to a particular Loan or Borrowing, the Administrative Agent, and (b) with respect to a Loan or Borrowing to a Canadian Borrower, the Toronto Agent.

“Applicable Party” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 8.3(c). 

“Applicable Percentage” means, with respect to any Lender, the percentage of the total Commitments represented by such Lender’s Commitment; provided that in the case of Section 2.23 when a Defaulting Lender shall exist, “Applicable Percentage” shall mean the percentage of the total Commitments (disregarding any Defaulting Lender’s Commitment) represented by such Lender’s Commitment.  If the Commitments have terminated or expired, the Applicable Percentages shall be determined based upon the Commitments most recently then in effect, giving effect to any assignments and to any Lender’s status as a Defaulting Lender at the time of determination.

“Applicable Rate” means the following percentages per annum, based on the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as set forth in the most recent certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.1(c):

				
	
Pricing Level
	
Consolidated Leverage Ratio
	
When determined with reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate, the CDOR Rate or the EURIBO Rate
	
When determined with reference to ABR or Canadian Prime Rate

	
1
	
≤1.00:1.00
	
1.375%
	
0.375%

	
2
	
>1.00:1.00 and ≤ 1.50:1.00
	
1.500%
	
0.500%

	
3
	
>1.50:1.00 and ≤ 2.00:1.00
	
1.625%
	
0.625%

	
4
	
>2.00:1.00 and ≤ 3.00:1.00
	
1.750%
	
0.750%

	
5
	
>3.00:1.00
	
2.000%
	
1.000%

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 certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(c); provided that if such certificate is not delivered when due in accordance with such Section, then Pricing Level 5 shall apply as of the first Business Day after the date on which such certificate was required to have been delivered 

3

 

until such certificate is delivered, after which the Applicable Rate shall be determined from such certificate.  The Applicable Rate in effect from the Effective Date through the date on which the first such certificate is delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in accordance with Section 5.1(c) shall be determined based upon Pricing Level 3.  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 2.12(h).

“Approved Electronic Platform” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 8.3(a). 

“Approved Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

“Arranger” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. in its capacity as sole bookrunner and sole lead arranger hereunder. 

“Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 10.4), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit A or any other form (including electronic records generated by the use of an electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent, and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Borrower.

“Australian Dollars” means that lawful currency of Australia.

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

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

“Bail-In Legislation” means, (a) with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law, rule, regulation or requirement for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule, and (b) with respect to the  United Kingdom, Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 (as amended from time to time)  and any other law, regulation or rule applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (other than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings). 

“Bank Levy” means any amount payable by any Lender or the Administrative Agent or any of its respective Affiliates on the basis of or in relation to its balance sheet or capital base or any part of it or its liabilities or minimum regulatory capital or any combination thereof including, without limitation, the Dutch bank levy as set out in the Dutch Bank tax act (Wet bankenbelasting) and any Tax in any jurisdiction levied on a similar basis or for a similar purpose or any financial activities taxes (or other taxes) of a kind contemplated in the European Commission consultation paper on financial sector taxation dated February 22, 2011. 

4

 

 

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

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

“Benchmark Replacement” means the sum of: (a) the alternate benchmark rate (which may be a SOFR-Based Rate) that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Borrower giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a replacement rate or the mechanism for determining such a rate by the Relevant Governmental Body and/or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a rate of interest as a replacement to the LIBO Rate for U.S. dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment; provided that, if the Benchmark Replacement as so determined would be less than one percent, the Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be one percent for the purposes of this Agreement; provided further that any such Benchmark Replacement shall be administratively feasible as determined by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion.

 

“Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” means the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Borrower giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of the LIBO Rate with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement by the Relevant Governmental Body and/or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of the LIBO Rate with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for U.S. dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time (for the avoidance of doubt, such Benchmark Replacement Adjustment shall not be in the form of a reduction to the Applicable Rate).

 

5

 

“Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of “Alternate Base Rate,” the definition of “Interest Period,” timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest and other administrative matters) that the Administrative Agent decides in its reasonable discretion may be appropriate to reflect the adoption and implementation of such Benchmark Replacement and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Administrative Agent determines that no market practice for the administration of the Benchmark Replacement exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent decides is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement).

 

“Benchmark Replacement Date” means the earlier to occur of the following events with respect to the LIBO Rate: 

 

(1) in the case of clause (1) or (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the later of (a) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (b) the date on which the administrator of the applicable Screen Rate permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide the applicable Screen Rate; or

 

(2) in the case of clause (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein.

 

“Benchmark Transition Event” means the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to the LIBO Rate: 

 

(1) a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of the applicable Screen Rate announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide the applicable Screen Rate, permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide the applicable Screen Rate; 

 

(2) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of the applicable Screen Rate, the U.S. Federal Reserve System, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for the applicable Screen Rate, a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for the applicable Screen Rate or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for the applicable Screen Rate, in each case which states that the administrator of the applicable Screen Rate has ceased or will cease to provide the applicable Screen Rate permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide the applicable Screen Rate; and/or 

 

(3) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of the applicable Screen Rate announcing that the applicable Screen Rate is no longer representative.

6

 

 

“Benchmark Transition Start Date” means (a) in the case of a Benchmark Transition Event, the earlier of (i) the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date and (ii) if such Benchmark Transition Event is a public statement or publication of information of a prospective event, the 90th day prior to the expected date of such event as of such public statement or publication of information (or if the expected date of such prospective event is fewer than 90 days after such statement or publication, the date of such statement or publication) and (b) in the case of an Early Opt-in Election, the date specified by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, as applicable, by notice to the Administrative Borrower, the Administrative Agent (in the case of such notice by the Required Lenders) and the Lenders.

 

“Benchmark Unavailability Period” means, if a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to the LIBO Rate and solely to the extent that the LIBO Rate has not been replaced with a Benchmark Replacement, the period (x) beginning at the time that such Benchmark Replacement Date has occurred if, at such time, no Benchmark Replacement has replaced the LIBO Rate for all purposes hereunder in accordance with Section 2.13 and (y) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced the LIBO Rate for all purposes hereunder pursuant to Section 2.13.

 

“Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

 

“Beneficial Ownership Regulation” means 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.

 

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

 

“BHC Act Affiliate” of a party means an “affiliate’ (as such term is defined under, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 1841(k)) of such party.

“Blocking Regulation” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 3.14.

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

“Borrower Joinder Agreement” means a Borrower Joinder Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit D.

“Borrower Termination Agreement” means a Borrower Termination Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit E.

“Borrowers” shall have the meaning specified in the recitals hereto.

7

 

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

“Borrowing Minimum” means (a) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in US Dollars, US$2,000,000, (b) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in Canadian Dollars, Cdn$2,000,000, and (c) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in any other Alternative Currency, the smallest amount of such Alternative Currency that is an integral multiple of 1,000,000 units of such currency and that has a US Dollar Equivalent in excess of US$2,000,000.

“Borrowing Multiple” means (a) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in US Dollars US$500,000, (b) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in Canadian Dollars, Cdn$500,000, and (c) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in any other Alternative Currency, the smallest amount of such Alternative Currency that is an integral multiple of 500,000 units of such currency and that has a US Dollar Equivalent in excess of US$500,000.

“Borrowing Request” means a request by a Borrower for a Revolving Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.3, which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit F or any other form approved by the Applicable Agent.

“Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided, that (a) when used in connection with a Eurocurrency Loan, the term “Business Day” shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open for dealings in deposits in the applicable currency in the London interbank market or the principal financial center of the country in which payment or purchase of such currency can be made, (b) when used in connection with a Loan to any Canadian Borrower, the term “Business Day” shall also exclude any day on which commercial banks in Toronto, Ontario are authorized or required by law to remain closed and, in the case of CDOR Rate Loans only to the Specified US Borrower, any day on which banks are not open for dealings in deposits in Canadian Dollars in the London interbank market and (c) when used in connection with EURIBOR Loan, the term “Business Day” shall also exclude any day on which the TARGET payment system is not open for the settlement of payments in Euros.

“Canadian Benefit Plans” means any plan, fund, program, or policy, whether oral or written, formal or informal, funded or unfunded, insured or uninsured, providing employee benefits, including medical, hospital care, dental, sickness, accident, disability, life insurance, pension, retirement or savings benefits, under which any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party has any liability with respect to any employee or former employee, but excluding any Canadian Pension Plans or any benefit plan established, administered or maintained by a Governmental Authority.

“Canadian Borrowers” means, collectively, IDEXX Laboratories Canada Corporation and any other Canadian Subsidiary that has been designated as a Canadian Borrower from time to time pursuant to Section 2.21, other than any such Subsidiary that has ceased to be a Canadian Borrower pursuant to Section 2.21.

8

 

“Canadian Dollar Equivalent” means, on any date of determination, (a) with respect to any amount in Canadian Dollars, such amount and (b) with respect to any amount in US Dollars or any Alternative Currency (other than Canadian Dollars) (the “first currency”), the equivalent in Canadian Dollars of such amount, determined by the Administrative Agent, which would result from the conversion of the relevant amount of the first currency into Canadian Dollars at the 12:00 noon rate quoted by Bloomberg on www.bloomberg.com/markets/currencies/fxc.html (page BOFC or such other page as may replace such page for the purpose of displaying such exchange rates) on such date or, if such date is not a Business Day, on the Business Day immediately preceding such date of determination, or at such other rate as may have been agreed in writing between Administrative Borrower and Toronto Agent.

“Canadian Dollar Loans” means any Loan denominated in Canadian Dollars bearing interest at the Canadian Prime Rate or the CDOR Rate.

“Canadian Dollars” or “Cdn$” means the lawful currency of Canada.

“Canadian Lending Office” means, as to any Lender, the applicable branch, office or Affiliate of such Lender designated by such Lender to make Loans to the Canadian Borrowers.

“Canadian Pension Plans” means each pension plan required to be registered under Canadian federal or provincial law that is maintained or contributed to by a Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party for its employees or former employees, but does not include the Canada Pension Plan or the Quebec Pension Plan as maintained by the Government of Canada or the Province of Quebec, respectively.

“Canadian Prime Rate” means, on any day, the rate determined by the Toronto Agent to be the higher of (i) the rate equal to the PRIMCAN Index rate that appears on the Bloomberg screen at 10:15 a.m. Toronto time on such day (or, in the event that the PRIMCAN Index is not published by Bloomberg, any other information services that publishes such index from time to time, as selected by the Toronto Agent in its reasonable discretion) and (ii) the average rate for 30 day Canadian Dollar bankers’ acceptances that appears on the Reuters Screen CDOR Page (or, in the event such rate does not appear on such page or screen, on any successor or substitute page or screen that displays such rate, or on the appropriate page of such other information service that publishes such rate from time to time, as selected by the Toronto Agent in its reasonable discretion) at 10:15 a.m. Toronto time on such day, plus 1% per annum; provided, that if any the above rates shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement. Any change in the Canadian Prime Rate due to a change in the PRIMCAN Index or the CDOR Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the PRIMCAN Index or CDOR Rate, respectively.

“Canadian Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of Canada or any province thereof.

“Canadian Tax Act” or “ITA” means the Income Tax Act (Canada) and the regulations thereunder or any successor law purported to cover the same subject matter, as amended from time to time.

9

 

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

“Cash Pooling Obligation” means, as applied to any Person, any direct or indirect liability, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of cash management services (including treasury, depository, overdraft, credit or debit card, electronic funds transfer and other cash management arrangements), including obligations for the payment of fees, interest, charges, expenses, attorneys’ fees and disbursements in connection therewith.

“CDOR Rate” means, with respect to any Borrowing denominated in Canadian Dollars for any Interest Period, (a) the applicable Screen Rate at or about 10:00 a.m. Toronto time on the Quotation Day or (b) if no Screen Rate is available for such Interest Period, the applicable Interpolated Rate as of such time on the Quotation Day or, if applicable pursuant to the terms of Section 2.13(a), the applicable Reference Bank Rate as of such time on the Quotation Day, plus, in each case, 0.05% per annum. For the avoidance of doubt, if the CDOR Rate as determined pursuant to the foregoing would be less than 1.00%, such rate shall be deemed to be 1.00% for purposes of this Agreement.

“CDOR Rate Loan” means a Loan denominated in Canadian Dollars made by the Lenders to a Canadian Borrower or a Specified US Borrower which bears interest at a rate based on the CDOR Rate.

“Change in Control” means (a) the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any Person or group (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the SEC thereunder as in effect on the date hereof), of Equity Interests representing more than 35% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Administrative Borrower; (b) a majority of the members of the board of directors of the Administrative Borrower shall cease to be comprised of individuals (i) who were directors on the Effective Date or (ii) whose election by the board of directors, or whose nomination for election by the shareholders of the Administrative Borrower, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors who were either directors on the Effective Date or whose election or nomination was previously so approved; or (c) the acquisition of direct or indirect Control of the Administrative Borrower by any Person or group (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the SEC thereunder as in effect on the date hereof).

“Change in Law” means the occurrence after the date of this Agreement of (a) the adoption of or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty (including the adoption of or taking effect of any new rules or regulations under or implementing any existing law), (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) compliance by any Lender or the Issuing Bank (or, for purposes of Section 2.14(b), by any lending office of such Lender or by such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any) with any request, 

10

 

guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of this Agreement; provided, however, that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith or in the implementation thereof, 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 under Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law” regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued or implemented.

“Charges” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 10.13. 

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

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

“COF Rate” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.13(a).

“Co-Documentation Agent” means  Citibank, N.A., HSBC Bank USA, National Association, PNC Bank, National Association, TD Bank, N.A., and Truist Bank.

“Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make Revolving Loans and to acquire participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum aggregate amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure hereunder, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.8, and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 10.4, and (c) increased from time to time pursuant to Section 2.22.  The initial amount of each Lender’s Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.1, or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Commitment, as applicable.  The initial aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Commitments is US $1,000,000,000.

“Commitment Increase Notice” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.22.

“Communications” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.3.

“Compounded SOFR” means the compounded average of SOFRs for the applicable Corresponding Tenor, with the rate, or methodology for this rate, and conventions for this rate (which may include compounding in arrears with a lookback and/or suspension period as a mechanism to determine the interest amount payable prior to the end of each Interest Period) being established by the Administrative Agent in accordance with: 

 

	
 
	
(1)
	
the rate, or methodology for this rate, and conventions for this rate selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for determining compounded SOFR; provided that:

 

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(2)
	
if, and to the extent that, the Administrative Agent determines that Compounded SOFR cannot be determined in accordance with clause (1) above, then the rate, or methodology for this rate, and conventions for this rate that the Administrative Agent determines in its reasonable discretion are substantially consistent with any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining compounded SOFR for U.S. dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time; 

 

provided, further, that if the Administrative Agent decides that any such rate, methodology or convention determined in accordance with clause (1) or clause (2) is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, then Compounded SOFR will be deemed unable to be determined for purposes of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement.” 

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

“Consolidated” or “consolidated” means, with reference to any term defined herein, that term as applied to the accounts of the Administrative Borrower and its Subsidiaries, consolidated in accordance with GAAP.

“Consolidated EBITDA” means, for any period, for the Administrative Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, an amount equal to (a) Consolidated Net Income for such period plus the following to the extent deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income and without duplication: (i) Consolidated Interest Charges for such period, (ii) the provision for federal, state, provincial, local and foreign income taxes payable by the Administrative Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period, (iii) depreciation expense, (iv) amortization expense, (v) non-recurring transaction expenses incurred in connection with Acquisitions, (vi) non-cash charges associated with “Share Based Payments” as described in the Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement 123, as amended, and (vii) extraordinary and other non-recurring non-cash losses and charges, minus (b) non-recurring gains and non-operating gains resulting from divestitures of businesses or other asset disposals.

“Consolidated Interest Charges” means, for any period, for the Administrative Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the sum of (a) all interest, premium payments, debt discount, fees, charges and related expenses of the Administrative Borrower and its Subsidiaries in connection with borrowed money (including capitalized interest) or in connection with the deferred purchase price of assets, in each case to the extent treated as interest in accordance with GAAP, and (b) the portion of rent expense of the Administrative Borrower and its Subsidiaries with respect to such period under capital leases that is treated as interest in accordance with GAAP.

“Consolidated Leverage Ratio” means, as of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Debt as of such date minus the amount of such Indebtedness represented by issued but undrawn letters of credit or bank guarantees, and minus Indebtedness incurred as guaranties or repurchase obligations on behalf of non-Subsidiaries under equipment purchase, lease or rental agreements, to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the Reference Period ended on such date.

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“Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, for the Administrative Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the net income of the Administrative Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period determined in accordance with GAAP.

“Consolidated Total Debt” means, as of any date of determination, the outstanding principal amount on such date of all Indebtedness of Administrative Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, excluding any Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.1(f).

“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.

“Convertible Indebtedness” means Indebtedness convertible at the option of the holder thereof into common stock of the Administrative Borrower, cash or a combination of common stock and cash (as provided in the documentation governing such Indebtedness).

“Corresponding Tenor” with respect to a Benchmark Replacement means a tenor (including overnight) having approximately the same length (disregarding business day adjustment) as the applicable tenor for the applicable Interest Period with respect to the LIBO Rate.

“Covered Entity” means any of the following:

	
 
	
(i)
	
a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);

	
 
	
(ii)
	
a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or

	
 
	
(iii)
	
a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

“Co-Syndication Agent” means Bank of America, N.A., KeyBank National Association, MUFG Union Bank, N.A., U.S. Bank National Association, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association.

“Covered Party” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 10.23.

 “CRR” means the Council Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on prudential requirements for credit institutions and investment firms and amending Regulation (EU) No 648/2012. 

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

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

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“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable. 

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

“Disclosed Matters” means the actions, suits and proceedings and the environmental matters disclosed in Schedule 3.6.

“Dutch Borrower” each of IDEXX Europe B.V. and IDEXX Holding B.V.

“Early Opt-in Election” means the occurrence of:

 

(1) (i) a determination by the Administrative Agent or (ii) a notification by the Required Lenders to the Administrative Agent (with a copy to the Administrative Borrower) that the Required Lenders have determined that U.S. dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities being executed at such time, or that include language similar to that contained in Section 2.13 are being executed or amended, as applicable, to incorporate or adopt a new benchmark interest rate to replace the LIBO Rate, and 

 

(2) (i) the election by the Administrative Agent or (ii) the election by the Required Lenders to declare that an Early Opt-in Election has occurred and the provision, as applicable, by the Administrative Agent of written notice of such election to the Administrative Borrower and the Lenders or by the Required Lenders of written notice of such election to the Administrative Agent.

 

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

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

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

“Effective Date” means the date on which the conditions specified in Section 4.1 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 10.2).

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

“EMU Legislation” means the legislative measures of the European Union for the introduction of, changeover to or operation of the Euro in one or more member states.

“Environmental Laws” means all laws, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders-in- council, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions, notices or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by any Governmental Authority, relating in any way to the environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources, the management, release or threatened release or presence of any Hazardous Material or to health and safety matters.

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

“Equity Interests” means shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person, and any warrants, options or other rights entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any such equity interest.

“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time.

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“ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with the Administrative Borrower, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for purposes of Sections 302, 303, 304 and 305 of ERISA and Sections 412, 430, 431, 432 and 436 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

“ERISA Event” means (a) any “reportable event”, as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the 30-day notice period is waived); (b) the failure to satisfy the “minimum funding standard” (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived (as defined in Sections 412 and 431 of the Code or Sections 302 and 304 of ERISA), whether or not waived, or the determination that any Multiemployer Plan is in either “endangered status” or “critical status” (as defined in Section 432 of the Code or Section 305 of ERISA), or the failure of any Plan that is not a Multiemployer Plan to satisfy the minimum funding standards of Sections 412 and 430 of the Code or Sections 302 and 303 of ERISA, or the determination that any Plan that is not a Multiemployer Plan is in “at-risk” status (as defined in Section 430(i) of the Code or Section 303(i) of ERISA) or the imposition of any lien on the Administrative Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates pursuant to Section 430(k) of the Code or Section 303(k) of ERISA; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(c) of the Code or Section 303(c) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (d) the incurrence by the Administrative Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (e) the receipt by the Administrative Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (f) the incurrence by the Administrative Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal of the Administrative Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the receipt by the Administrative Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from the Administrative Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition upon the Administrative Borrower of any of its ERISA Affiliates of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.

“EURIBO Rate” means, with respect to any EURIBOR Borrowing for any Interest Period, (a) the applicable Screen Rate as of 11:00 a.m. Frankfurt time on the Quotation Day or (b) if no Screen Rate is available for such Interest Period, the applicable Interpolated Rate as of such time on the Quotation Day or, if applicable pursuant to the terms of Section 2.13(a), the applicable Reference Bank Rate as of such time on the Quotation Day. For the avoidance of doubt, if the EURIBOR Rate as determined pursuant to the foregoing would be less than 1.00%, such rate shall be deemed to be 1.00% for purposes of this Agreement.

“EURIBOR”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the EURIBO Rate.

16

 

“Euro” or “€” means the single currency of the European Union as constituted by the Treaty on European Union and as referred to in the EMU Legislation.

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

“Eurocurrency”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate.

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

“Exchange Rate” means, on any day, for purposes of determining the US Dollar Equivalent of any other currency, the rate at which such other currency may be exchanged into US Dollars at the time of determination on such day on the Reuters WRLD Page for such currency.  In the event that such rate does not appear on any Reuters WRLD Page, the Exchange Rate shall be determined by reference to such other publicly available service for displaying exchange rates as may be agreed upon by the Applicable Agent and the Administrative Borrower, or, in the absence of such an agreement, such Exchange Rate shall instead be the arithmetic average of the spot rates of exchange of the Applicable Agent in the market where its foreign currency exchange operations in respect of such currency are then being conducted, at or about such time as the Applicable Agent shall elect after determining that such rates shall be the basis for determining the Exchange Rate, on such date for the purchase of US Dollars for delivery two Business Days later; provided that if at the time of any such determination, for any reason, no such spot rate is being quoted, the Applicable Agent may use any reasonable method it deems appropriate to determine such rate, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

“Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or for Tax purposes being resident in,  or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable lending office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan, Letter of Credit or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan, Letter of Credit or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Administrative Borrower under Section 2.18(b)) or (ii) such Lender changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 2.16, amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender acquired the applicable interest in a Loan, Letter of Credit or Commitment or to such Lender immediately before it changed its lending office, (c) Taxes assessed on a Recipient under the laws of the Netherlands, if and to the extent such Tax becomes payable as a result of such Recipient having a substantial interest (aanmerkelijk belang) as defined in the Dutch Income Tax Act (Wet inkomstenbelasting 2001) in a Dutch Borrower, (d) as of January 1, 2021, any Taxes withheld or deducted pursuant to the 

17

 

Dutch Withholding Tax Act (Wet bronbelasting 2021), (e) any Bank Levy (or any payment attributable to, or liability arising as a consequence of, a Bank Levy), (f) any Taxes imposed on a recipient by reason of such recipient: (i) being a “specified shareholder” (as defined in subsection 18(5) of the Income Tax Act (Canada)) of any Lender, or (ii) not dealing at arm’s length (for the purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada)) with a “specified shareholder” (as defined in subsection 18(5) of the Income Tax Act (Canada)) of any Lender, (g) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 2.16(f), and (h) any U.S. Federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.

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

“Existing Lenders” means the lenders party to the Existing Credit Agreement.

“Existing Letters of Credit” means all “Letters of Credit” (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) set forth on Schedule 1.1A.

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

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

“Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Website” means the website of the NYFRB at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source.

“Financial Officer” means the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer, or Vice President of Corporate Finance of the Administrative Borrower.

“Foreign Borrower” means any Subsidiary organized outside of the United States of America that has been designated as a “Foreign Borrower” pursuant to Section 2.21, other than any of the foregoing Subsidiaries that has ceased to be a Foreign Borrower as provided in such Section 2.21.

“Foreign Lender” means a Lender that is not a US Person.

“Foreign Subsidiary” means each Foreign Borrower and any other Subsidiary that is organized outside of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.

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“Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States of America, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state, provincial 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.

“Guarantee” of or by any Person (the “guarantor”) means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness of the payment thereof, (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or (d) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness; provided, that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.

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

“IBA” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.06. 

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

“Increase Amount” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.22.

“Indebtedness” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person upon which interest charges are customarily paid, (d) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person, (e) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (f) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed, (g) all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others, (h) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (i) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit and letters of guaranty, and (j) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers’ acceptances.  The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor.

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

“Indemnitee” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 10.3(b). 

“Ineligible Assignee” means (a) a natural person, (b) a Defaulting Lender or its Lender Parent, (c) any Borrower, any Subsidiary or any of their respective Affiliates, or (d) a company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural person or a relative thereof; provided that such company, investment vehicle or trust shall not constitute an Ineligible Assignee if it (x) has not been established for the primary purpose of acquiring any Loans or Commitments, (y) is managed by a professional advisor, who is not such natural person or a relative thereof, having significant experience in the business of making or purchasing commercial loans, and (z) has assets greater than $25,000,000 and a significant part of its activities consist of making or purchasing commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business.

“Information” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 10.12.

 “Interest Election Request” means a request by the relevant Borrower to convert or continue a Revolving Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.7.

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

“Interest Period” means, with respect to any Eurocurrency Borrowing, EURIBOR Borrowing or CDOR Rate Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one, two, three or six months thereafter, as the applicable Borrower may elect; provided that (i) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day and (ii) any Interest Period that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period.  For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.

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“Interpolated Rate” means, at any time, for any Interest Period, the rate per annum (rounded to the same number of decimal places as the applicable Screen Rate) determined by the Applicable Agent (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) to be equal to the rate that results from interpolating on a linear basis between (a) the applicable Screen Rate for the longest period for which the applicable Screen Rate is available for the applicable currency) that is shorter than the Impacted Interest Period; and (b) the applicable Screen Rate for the shortest period (for which that Screen Rate is available for the applicable currency) that exceeds the Impacted Interest Period, in each case, at such time; provided, that if any Interpolated Rate shall be less than 1.00%, such rate shall be deemed to be 1.00% for purposes of this Agreement.

“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

"Issuing Bank" means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and any other Lender that agrees to act as an Issuing Bank, each in its capacity as the issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, and its successors in such capacity as provided in Section 2.5.  Any Issuing Bank may, in its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates of such Issuing Bank, in which case the term "Issuing Bank" shall include any such Affiliate with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate.  Each reference herein to the “Issuing Bank” shall be deemed to be a reference to the relevant Issuing Bank.

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

“LC Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit at such time plus (b) the aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Administrative Borrower at such time.  The LC Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the total LC Exposure at such time. For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Article 29(a) of the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 600 (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the applicable time) or Rule 3.13 or Rule 3.14 of the International Standby Practices, International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 590 (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the applicable time) or similar terms of the Letter of Credit itself, or if compliant documents have been presented but not yet honored, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” and “undrawn” in the amount so remaining available to be paid, and the obligations of the Borrowers and each Lender shall remain in full force and effect until the Issuing Bank and the Lenders shall have no further obligations to make any payments or disbursements under any circumstances with respect to any Letter of Credit.

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

“Lenders” means the Persons listed on Schedule 2.1 and any other Person that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption or otherwise, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption or otherwise.  References to any Lender in this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be deemed to mean such Lender’s affiliated Canadian Lending Office, where applicable.  Unless the context otherwise requires, the term “Lenders” includes the Swingline Lender.

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“Letter of Credit” means any letter of credit or “bank guarantee”, as the case may be, issued pursuant to Section 2.5 of this Agreement and shall include Existing Letters of Credit.

“Letter of Credit Commitment” means, with respect to each Issuing Bank, the commitment of such Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit hereunder.  The initial amount of each Issuing Bank’s Letter of Credit Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.1, or if an Issuing Bank has entered into an Assignment and Assumption or has otherwise assumed a Letter of Credit Commitment after the Effective Date, the amount set forth for such Issuing Bank as its Letter of Credit Commitment in the Register maintained by the Administrative Agent. The Letter of Credit Commitment of an Issuing Bank may be modified from time to time by agreement between such Issuing Bank and the Administrative Borrower, and notified to the Administrative Agent.

“LIBO Rate” means, with respect to any Eurocurrency Borrowing for any applicable currency and for any Interest Period, (a) the applicable Screen Rate as of (i) in the case of Australian Dollars, 10:30 a.m. Melbourne time on the Quotation Day or (ii) in all other cases, approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on the Quotation Day, or (b) if no Screen Rate is available for such currency or for such Interest Period (an “Impacted Interest Period”), with respect to the applicable currency, the applicable Interpolated Rate as of such time on the Quotation Day or, if applicable pursuant to the terms of Section 2.13(a), the applicable Reference Bank Rate as of such time on the Quotation Day; provided that if any Interpolated Rate shall be less than 1.00%, such rate shall be deemed to be 1.00% for purposes of this Agreement.  For the avoidance of doubt, if the LIBO Rate as determined pursuant to the foregoing would be less than 1.00%, such rate shall be deemed to be 1.00% for purposes of this Agreement.

“LIBO Screen Rate” means, for any day and time, the London interbank offered rate as administered by ICE Benchmark Administration (or any other Person that takes over the administration of such rate) for a period equal in length to such Interest Period as displayed on page LIBOR01 or LIBOR02 of the Reuters screen that displays such rate (or, in the event such rate does not appear on a Reuters page or screen, on any successor or substitute page on such screen that displays such rate, or on the appropriate page of such other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion); provided that if the LIBO Screen Rate shall be less than 1.00%, such rate shall be deemed to be 1.00% for the purposes of this Agreement. 

 “Lien” means, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, charge or security interest in, on or of such asset, (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset and (c) in the case of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities securing any Indebtedness.

“Loan Documents” means this Agreement, the Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement, each Borrower Joinder Agreement, each Borrower Termination Agreement and each supplement thereto, each promissory note delivered pursuant to this Agreement, and each other similar document executed in connection with the Transactions hereunder.

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“Loan Party” means the Administrative Borrower, the other Borrowers and the Subsidiary Guarantors.

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

“Local Time” means (a) with respect to a Loan or Borrowing denominated in US Dollars (other than to a Canadian Borrower) or any Letter of Credit, New York City time, (b) with respect to a Loan or Borrowing to a Canadian Borrower, Toronto time and (c) with respect to a Loan or Borrowing denominated in an Alternative Currency (other than to a Canadian Borrower), London time.

“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, assets, property or financial condition, of the Administrative Borrower and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or (b) the validity, legality, binding effect or enforceability of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or the rights or remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereunder or thereunder.

“Material Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (other than the Loans and Letters of Credit), or obligations in respect of one or more Swap Agreements, of any one or more of the Administrative Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount exceeding US$50,000,000.  For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “principal amount” of the obligations of the Administrative Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of any Swap Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that the Administrative Borrower or such Subsidiary would be required to pay if such Swap Agreement were terminated at such time.

“Material Foreign Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary organized in a jurisdiction outside of the United States of America which (a) is a Borrower, or (b) by itself or together with its Subsidiaries, accounts (excluding intercompany receivables and goodwill) for a portion of assets or EBITDA comprising 5% or more of the Administrative Borrower’s consolidated assets or Consolidated EBITDA as of the end of or for the most recently ended Reference Period.

“Material Subsidiaries” means, collectively, the Material Foreign Subsidiaries and the Material US Subsidiaries.

“Material US Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary organized in a jurisdiction within the United States of America which (a) is a Borrower, or (b) by itself or together with its Subsidiaries, accounts (excluding intercompany receivables and goodwill) for a portion of assets or EBITDA comprising 5% or more of the Administrative Borrower’s consolidated assets or Consolidated EBITDA as of the end of or for the most recently ended Reference Period.

“Maturity Date” means April 14, 2023.

“Maximum Rate” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 10.13. 

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

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“Multiemployer Plan” means a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

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

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

 “Obligations” means all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Borrower arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan or Letter of Credit, 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 Borrower 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 or allowable claims in such proceeding.  Without limiting the foregoing, the Obligations include (a) the obligation to pay principal, interest, Letter of Credit commissions, charges, expenses, fees, indemnities and other amounts payable by any Borrower under any Loan Document and (b) the obligation of any Borrower to reimburse any amount in respect of any of the foregoing that any Agent or any Lender, in each case in its sole discretion, may elect to pay or advance on behalf of any Borrower.

“OECD” means the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

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

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

“Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 2.18), grant of participation or designation of new applicable lending office.

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

“Participant” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.4.

“Participant Register” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.4(c).

“Patriot Act” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 10.16.

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

“Permitted Encumbrances” means:

(a)Liens imposed by law for taxes that are not yet due or are being contested in compliance with Section 5.4;

(b)carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s and other like Liens imposed by law, arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations that are not overdue by more than 60 days or are being contested in compliance with Section 5.4;

(c)pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations;

(d)pledges or deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

(e)judgment liens in respect of judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default under clause (k) of Article VII;

(f)easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way and similar encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the affected property or interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Administrative Borrower or any Subsidiary; and

(g)Liens in respect of social regulations or benefit plans imposed by Governmental Authorities of foreign countries in which the Loan Parties or their Affiliates conduct business;

provided that the term “Permitted Encumbrances” shall not include any Lien securing Indebtedness.

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“Permitted Investments” means:

(a)direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States of America (or by any agency thereof to the extent such obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America) or by any country which is a member of the OECD, in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof;

(b)(i) investments in commercial paper maturing within 270 days from the date of acquisition thereof and having, at such date of acquisition, the highest credit rating obtainable from S&P or from Moody’s, and (ii) securities commonly known as “short-term bank notes” issued by any Lender denominated in US Dollars or any Alternative Currency and having, at such date of acquisition, the highest credit rating obtainable from S&P or from Moody’s;

(c)investments in certificates of deposit, banker’s acceptances and time deposits maturing within 180 days from the date of acquisition thereof issued or guaranteed by or placed with, and money market deposit accounts issued or offered by (i) any domestic office of any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof which has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than US$500,000,000, or (ii) a commercial bank organized under the laws of any other country which is a member of the OECD, or a political subdivision of such country, and having total assets in excess of US$500,000,000, provided that such bank is acting through a branch or agency located in the country in which it is organized or another country which is a member of the OECD;

(d)fully collateralized repurchase agreements with a term of not more than 30 days for securities described in clause (a) above and entered into with a financial institution satisfying the criteria described in clause (c) above;

(e)money market funds that (i) comply with the criteria set forth in SEC Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and (ii) are rated AAA by S&P and Aaa by Moody’s;

(f)shares of money market mutual or similar funds which invest exclusively in assets satisfying the requirements of clauses (a), (b), and (c) contained in this definition of Permitted Investments;

(g)investments described on Schedule P-1, as such Schedule may be updated from time to time after the Effective Date (but not more frequently than once per calendar year) by the Administrative Borrower with the consent of the Administrative Agent;

(h)Canadian GIC Certificates; and

(i)municipal auction rate securities.

“Permitted Receivables Financing” means any sale, financing or other disposition of accounts receivable, so long as immediately before and after such sale, financing or disposition, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

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

“Plan” means any employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and in respect of which the Administrative Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

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

 “Prime Rate” means (a) means the rate of interest last quoted by The Wall Street Journal as the “Prime Rate” in the U.S. or, if The Wall Street Journal ceases to quote such rate, the highest per annum interest rate published by the Federal Reserve Board in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) (Selected Interest Rates) as the “bank prime loan” rate or, if such rate is no longer quoted therein, any similar rate quoted therein (as determined by the Administrative Agent) or any similar release by the Federal Reserve Board (as determined by the Administrative Agent), or (b) in the case of ABR Loans to a Canadian Borrower, such prime rate in effect at the office of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. in Toronto, Canada for US Dollar-denominated commercial loans made in Canada; each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced as being effective.

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

“QFC” has the meaning assigned to the term “qualified financial contract” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 5390(c)(8)(D).

“QFC Credit Support” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.18.

 “Qualifying Lender” means: 

(j)until the interpretation of “public” as referred to in the CRR by the relevant authorities, an entity which (x) assumes rights and/or obligations vis-à-vis a Dutch Borrower the value of which is at least EUR 100,000 (or its equivalent in another currency), (y) provides repayable funds for an initial amount of at least EUR 100,000 (or its equivalent in another currency) or (z) otherwise qualifies as not forming part of the public; and

(k)as soon as the interpretation of the term "public" as referred to in the CRR has been published by the competent authority/ies: an entity which is not considered to form part of the public on the basis of such interpretation. 

“Quotation Day” means (a) with respect to any currency (other than Sterling, Australian Dollars and Canadian Dollars) for any Interest Period, two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, and (b) with respect to Sterling, Australian Dollars and Canadian Dollars for any Interest Period, the first day of such Interest Period, in each case unless market practice differs in the Relevant Interbank Market for any currency, in which case the Quotation Day for such currency shall be determined by the Applicable Agent in accordance with market practice in the Relevant Interbank Market (and if quotations would normally be given by leading banks in the Relevant Interbank Market on more than one day, the Quotation Day shall be the last of those days).

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

“Reference Bank Rate” means the arithmetic mean of the rates supplied to the Applicable Agent at its request by the Reference Banks (as the case may be) for Loans in the applicable currency and the applicable Interest Period (a) in relation to CDOR Rate Loans, as the rate at which the relevant Reference Bank is willing to extend credit by the purchase of bankers acceptances in Canadian Dollars which have been accepted by banks which are for the time being customarily regarded as being of appropriate credit standing for such purpose with a term to maturity comparable to the applicable Interest Period, (b) in relation to Eurocurrency Loans, as the rate quoted by the relevant Reference Bank to leading banks in the London interbank market for the offering of deposits in the applicable currency and for a period comparable to the applicable Interest Period, and (c) in relation to EURIBOR Loans, as the rate quoted by the relevant Reference Bank to leading banks in the Banking Federation of the European Union for the offering of deposits in Euro and for a period comparable to the applicable Interest Period.

“Reference Banks” means the principal London (or other applicable) offices of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., and such other banks as may be appointed by the Applicable Agent in consultation with the Administrative Borrower (with the consent of any such bank).

“Reference Period” means, as of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters of the Administrative Borrower and its Subsidiaries ending on such date.

“Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.4.

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

“Relevant Governmental Body” means the Federal Reserve Board and/or the NYFRB, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board and/or the NYFRB or, in each case, any successor thereto.

 “Relevant Interbank Market” means (a) with respect to any currency (other than Euros), the London interbank market and (b) with respect to Euros, the European interbank market.

“Required Lenders” means, subject to Section 2.23, (a) at any time prior to the earlier of the Loans becoming due and payable pursuant to Section 7.1 or the Commitments terminating or expiring, Lenders having Revolving Credit Exposures and Unfunded Commitments representing more than 50% of the sum of the Total Revolving Credit Exposure and Unfunded Commitments at such time, provided that, solely for purposes of declaring the Loans to be due and payable pursuant to Section 7.1, (i) the Unfunded Commitment of each Lender shall be deemed to be zero; and (b) for all purposes after the Loans become due and payable pursuant to Section 7.1 or the Commitments expire or terminate, Lenders having Revolving Credit Exposures representing more than 50% of the sum of the Total Revolving Credit Exposure; provided that, in the case of clauses (a) and (b) above, (x) the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Lender that is a Swingline Lender shall be deemed to exclude any amount of its Swingline Exposure in excess of its 

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Applicable Percentage of all outstanding Swingline Loans, adjusted to give effect to any reallocation under Section 2.23 of the Swingline Exposures of Defaulting Lenders in effect at such time, and the Unfunded Commitment of such Lender shall be determined on the basis of its Revolving Credit Exposure excluding such excess amount and (y) for the purpose of determining the Required Lenders needed for any waiver, amendment, modification or consent of or under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, any Lender that is a Borrower, or any Affiliate of a Borrower shall be disregarded.

“Resolution Authority” means an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority. 

“Responsible Officer” means (a) with respect to the Administrative Borrower, the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, treasurer, secretary, Vice President Corporate Finance, Director of Tax and Treasury, Director of Corporate Accounting and Reporting or general counsel of the Administrative Borrower or any other person authorized by the Board of Directors of the Administrative Borrower to sign Loan Documents on its behalf, (b) with respect to any other Loan Party, any person authorized by the Board of Directors of such Loan Party to sign Loan Documents on its behalf  and (c) with respect to a Dutch Borrower, any managing board member authorized to represent such Dutch Borrower.  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.

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

“Revolving Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.3.

“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Rating Services, a Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC business.

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

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

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

 “Screen Rate” means, for any day and time, (a) in respect of the LIBO Rate for any currency and for any Interest Period, (i) in the case of US Dollars, the LIBO Screen Rate, (ii) in the case of Australian Dollars, the average bid rate on Reuters Screen BBSY Page for bills of exchange having a tenor equal to (or approximating as closely as possible the length of) such Interest Period, and (iii) in the case of any other Alternative Currency, the London interbank offered rate as administered by ICE Benchmark Administration (or any other Person that takes over the administration of such rate) appearing on Reuters Screen LIBOR02 Page for such currency for such Interest Period (or, in each such case under this clause (a), on any successor or substitute page on such screen or service that displays such rate, or on the appropriate page of such other information service that publishes such rate as shall be selected by the Applicable Agent from time to time in its reasonable discretion), (b) in respect of the EURIBO Rate for any Interest Period, the percentage per annum determined by the Banking Federation of the European Union for such Interest Period as displayed on the applicable page of the Reuters screen (or on any successor or substitute page on such screen or service that displays such rate, or on the appropriate page of such other information service that publishes such rate as shall be selected by the Applicable Agent from time to time in its reasonable discretion), and (c) in respect of the CDOR Rate for any Interest Period, the average rate for bankers acceptances with a tenor equal in length to such Interest Period as displayed on CDOR page of the Reuters screen (or on any successor or substitute page on such screen or service that displays such rate, or on the appropriate page of such other information service that publishes such rate as shall be selected by the Applicable Agent from time to time in its reasonable discretion); provided, that if any Screen Rate shall be less than 1.00%, such rate shall be deemed to be 1.00% for purposes of this Agreement.

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United State of America. 

“SOFR” with respect to any day means the secured overnight financing rate published for such day by the NYFRB, as the administrator of the benchmark (or a successor administrator), on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Website.

 

“SOFR-Based Rate” means SOFR, Compounded SOFR or Term SOFR.

 

 “Specified US Borrower” means the Administrative Borrower.

“Statutory Reserve Rate” means a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentages (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal established by the Board to which the Administrative Agent is subject with respect to the Adjusted LIBO Rate, for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency Liabilities” in Regulation D of the Board).  Eurocurrency Loans shall be 

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deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under such Regulation D or any comparable regulation.  The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.

“Sterling” or “£” means the lawful currency of the United Kingdom.

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

“Subsidiary” means any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Administrative Borrower.

“Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement” means a Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement by each Material US Subsidiary in favor of the Agents and the Lenders, substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto.

“Subsidiary Guarantors” means each Material US Subsidiary of the Administrative Borrower that is or is required to be a party to the Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement.

“Supported QFC” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 10.23. 

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

“Swingline Commitment” means as to any Lender (i) the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.1 attached hereto or (ii) if such Lender has entered into an Assignment and Assumption or has otherwise assumed a Swingline Commitment after the Effective Date, the amount set forth for such Lender as its Swingline Commitment in the Register maintained by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 10.4(b)(iv).

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“Swingline Exposure” means, at any time, the aggregate principal amount of all Swingline Loans outstanding at such time.  The Swingline Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be the sum of (a) its Applicable Percentage of the aggregate principal amount of all Swingline Loans outstanding at such time (excluding, in the case of any Lender that is a Swingline Lender, Swingline Loans made by it that are outstanding at such time to the extent that the other Lenders shall not have funded their participations in such Swingline Loans), adjusted to give effect to any reallocation under Section 2.23 of the Swingline Exposure of Defaulting Lenders in effect at such time, and (b) in the case of any Lender that is a Swingline Lender, the aggregate principal amount of all Swingline Loans made by such Lender outstanding at such time, less the amount of participations funded by the other Lenders in such Swingline Loans. 

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

“Swingline Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.4.

“Swiss Francs” means the lawful currency of Switzerland.

“TARGET” means the Trans-European Automated Real Time Gross Settlement Express Transfer (TARGET) payment system.

“Taxes” means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), value added taxes, or any other goods and services, use or sales taxes, assessments, fees or other charges in the nature of a tax imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

“Term SOFR” means the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body.

 “Toronto Agent” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Toronto Branch.

“Total Revolving Credit Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of (a) the outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans at such time and (b) the total LC Exposure at such time.

 “Transactions” means the execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of the Loan Documents to which it is or is to be a party, the borrowing of Loans, the use of the proceeds thereof and the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder.

“Type”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to (a) the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the Alternate Base Rate, in the case of US Dollar Loans or Loans in Alternative Currencies (other than Euros and Canadian Dollars), (b) the Canadian Prime Rate or CDOR Rate, in the case of Canadian Dollar Loans and (c) the EURIBO Rate, in the case of Loans made in Euros.

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“UK Financial Institution” means any BRRD Undertaking (as such term is defined under the PRA Rulebook (as amended form time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority) or any person subject to IFPRU 11.6 of the FCA Handbook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which includes certain credit institutions and investment firms, and certain affiliates of such credit institutions or investment firms. 

“UK Resolution Authority” means the Bank of England or any other public administrative authority having responsibility for the resolution of any UK Financial Institution. 

“Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement” means the Benchmark Replacement excluding the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment; provided that, if the Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement as so determined would be less than 1.00%, the Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be 1.00% for the purposes of this Agreement.

 “Unfunded Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the Commitment of such Lender less its Revolving Credit Exposure 

“US Dollar Equivalent” means, on any date of determination, (a) with respect to any amount in US Dollars, such amount and (b) with respect to any amount in any Alternative Currency, the equivalent in US Dollars of such amount, determined by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 1.5 or Section 2.10(c) or Section 2.10(d) using the Exchange Rate with respect to such Alternative Currency at the time in effect under the provisions of such Section.

“US Dollars” or “US$” means the lawful currency of the United States of America.

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

“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 10.23.

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

“US Subsidiary Borrower” means any US Subsidiary that has been designated as a US Subsidiary Borrower pursuant to Section 2.21, other than any of the foregoing Subsidiaries that has ceased to be a US Subsidiary Borrower as provided in such Section 2.21.

“US Tax Compliance Certificate” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.16(f)(ii)(B)(3).

“VAT” means value added tax or any other similar Taxes.

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

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“Write-Down and Conversion Powers” means, (a) with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule, and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, any powers of the applicable Resolution Authority under the Bail-In  Legislation to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of any UK Financial  Institution or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to  suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation  that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers. 

Section 1.2Classification of Loans and Borrowings.  For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a “Revolving Loan”) or by Type (e.g., a “Eurocurrency Loan”) or by Class and Type (e.g., a “Eurocurrency Revolving Loan”).  Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a “Revolving Borrowing”) or by Type (e.g., a “Eurocurrency Borrowing”) or by Class and Type (e.g., a “Eurocurrency Revolving Borrowing”).

Section 1.3Terms Generally.  The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined.  Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms.  The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”.  The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”.  Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (c) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (d) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement, (e) any reference to any law, rule or regulation herein shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law, rule or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time and (f) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

Section 1.4Accounting Terms; GAAP.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time.  If at any time any change in GAAP would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either the Administrative Borrower or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Administrative Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders, not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided, 

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that until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Administrative Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, for purposes of calculations made pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and otherwise determining what constitutes Indebtedness hereunder and thereunder (including the definitions of Consolidated Total Debt, Consolidated EBITDA, Consolidated Leverage Ratio, Consolidated Interest Charges and Indebtedness), no effect shall be given to FASB ASC 842 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification having a similar result or effect) (and related interpretations) to the extent any lease (or similar arrangement conveying the right to use) would be required to be treated as a capital lease thereunder where such lease (or similar arrangement) would have been treated as an operating lease under GAAP as in effect immediately prior to the effectiveness of the FASB ASC 842.

Section 1.5Currency Translation.  (a)  For purposes of any determination under any provision of this Agreement expressly requiring the use of a current exchange rate, all amounts incurred, outstanding or proposed to be incurred or outstanding in currencies other than US Dollars shall be translated into US Dollars at currency exchange rates in effect on the date of such determination.  Such currency exchange rates shall be determined in good faith by the Administrative Borrower.

(b)The Administrative Agent shall (A) determine the US Dollar Equivalent of any Borrowing denominated in an Alternative Currency as of the date of the commencement of the initial Interest Period therefor and as of the date of the commencement of each subsequent Interest Period therefor, in each case using the Exchange Rate for the applicable currency in relation to US Dollars in effect on the date that is three Business Days prior to the date on which the applicable Interest Period shall commence, and each such amount shall be the US Dollar Equivalent of such Borrowing until the next required calculation thereof pursuant to this paragraph and (B) notify the Administrative Borrower and the Lenders of each calculation of the US Dollar Equivalent of each Borrowing.

Section 1.6Interest Rates; LIBOR Notification.  The interest rate on a Loan denominated in dollars or an Alternative Currency may be derived from an interest rate benchmark that is, or may in the future become, the subject of regulatory reform.  Regulators have signaled the need to use alternative benchmark reference rates for some of these interest rate benchmarks and, as a result, such interest rate benchmarks may cease to comply with applicable laws and regulations, may be permanently discontinued, and/or the basis on which they are calculated may change.   The London interbank offered rate is intended to represent the rate at which contributing banks may obtain short-term borrowings from each other in the London interbank market.  In July 2017, the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority announced that, after the end of 2021, it would no longer persuade or compel contributing banks to make rate submissions to the ICE Benchmark Administration (together with any successor to the ICE Benchmark Administrator, the “IBA”) for purposes of the IBA setting the London interbank offered rate. As a result, it is possible that commencing in 2022, the London interbank offered rate may no longer be available or may no longer be deemed an appropriate reference rate upon 

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which to determine the interest rate on Eurocurrency Loans. In light of this eventuality, public and private sector industry initiatives are currently underway to identify new or alternative reference rates to be used in place of the London interbank offered rate.  Upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event or an Early Opt-In Election, Section 2.13(c) provides a mechanism for determining an alternative rate of interest.  The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Administrative Borrower, pursuant to Section 2.13(e), of any change to the reference rate upon which the interest rate on Eurocurrency Loans is based.  However, the Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept any responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to, the administration, submission or any other matter related to the London interbank offered rate or other rates in the definition of “LIBO Rate” or with respect to any alternative or successor rate thereto, or replacement rate thereof (including, without limitation, (i) any such alternative, successor or replacement rate implemented pursuant to Section 2.13(c), whether upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event or an Early Opt-in Election, and (ii) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes pursuant to Section 2.13(d)), including without limitation, whether the composition or characteristics of any such alternative, successor or replacement reference rate will be similar to, or produce the same value or economic equivalence of, the LIBO Rate or have the same volume or liquidity as did the London interbank offered rate prior to its discontinuance or unavailability.

Section 1.7Letter of Credit Amounts.  Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the amount of such Letter of Credit available to be drawn at such time; provided that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any Letter of Credit application or agreement related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the available amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the maximum amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum amount is available to be drawn at such time.

Section 1.8Divisions.  For all purposes under the Loan Documents, in connection with any division or plan of division under Delaware law (or any comparable event under a different jurisdiction’s laws): (a) if any asset, right, obligation or liability of any Person becomes the asset, right, obligation or liability of a different Person, then it shall be deemed to have been transferred from the original Person to the subsequent Person, and (b) if any new Person comes into existence, such new Person shall be deemed to have been organized and acquired on the first date of its existence by the holders of its Equity Interests at such time.

Article II.
THE CREDITS

Section 2.1Commitments; Existing Letters of Credit

.  (a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender agrees to make Revolving Loans denominated in US Dollars and Alternative Currencies (other than Canadian Dollars) to the Borrowers (other than the Canadian Borrowers) from time to time and Revolving Loans denominated in US Dollars and Canadian Dollars to the Canadian Borrowers and to the Specified US Borrower from time to time during the Availability Period in an aggregate principal amount that will not result (after giving effect to any application of proceeds of such Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.10) in (i) the US Dollar Equivalent of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding such Lender’s Commitment, (ii) the US Dollar Equivalent of the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding 

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Revolving Loans exceeding the aggregate Commitments, (iii) the US Dollar Equivalent of the Total Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding the total Commitments or (iv) the US Dollar Equivalent of the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Loans to the Canadian Borrowers exceeding US$60,000,000.  Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrowers may borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans.

(b)On the Effective Date, the Existing Letters of Credit shall automatically, and without any action on the part of any Person, be deemed to be Letters of Credit issued hereunder.  In connection therewith, each Lender shall automatically, and without any action on the part of any Person, be deemed to have acquired from the Issuing Bank a participation in each such Letter of Credit in accordance with Section 2.5(d).

Section 2.2Loans and Borrowings.  (a)  Each Revolving Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Revolving Loans made by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Commitments.  The failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder; provided that the Commitments of the Lenders are several and no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lender’s failure to make Loans as required.

(b)Subject to Section 2.13, (i) each Revolving Borrowing denominated in US Dollars shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Eurocurrency Loans as the Borrowers may request in accordance herewith, (ii) each Revolving Borrowing denominated in Canadian Dollars shall be comprised entirely of CDOR Rate Loans, (iii) each Revolving Borrowing denominated in Euros shall be comprised entirely of EURIBOR Loans and (iv) each Revolving Borrowing denominated in an Alternative Currency (other than Euros and Canadian Dollars) shall be comprised entirely of Eurocurrency Loans.  Each Swingline Loan shall be a Canadian Prime Rate Loan or an ABR Loan.  Each Lender, at its option, may make any Eurocurrency Loan or EURIBOR Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan (so long as such election of a foreign branch or Affiliate does not increase the Borrowers’ costs hereunder); provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the applicable Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.  Each Lender shall, prior to the occurrence of a Default or Event of Default which has occurred and is continuing, maintain a Canadian Lending Office and make any Loans available to the Canadian Borrowers by causing its relevant Canadian Lending Office to make such Loans available.

(c)At the commencement of each Interest Period for any Eurocurrency Revolving Borrowing, any CDOR Rate Revolving Borrowing or any EURIBOR Revolving Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is a multiple of the Borrowing Multiple and not less than the Borrowing Minimum.  At the time that each ABR Revolving Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of US$250,000 and not less than US$1,000,000; provided that an ABR Revolving Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount that is equal to the entire unused balance of the total Commitments or that is required to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.5(e).  Each Swingline Loan that is an ABR Loan shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of US$100,000 and not less than US$1,000,000, and each Swingline Loan that is a Canadian Prime Rate Loan shall be in an amount that is an integral 

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multiple of Cdn$250,000 and not less than Cdn$1,000,000.  Borrowings of more than one Type may be outstanding at the same time; provided that there shall not at any time be more than a total of 14 Eurocurrency Revolving Borrowings, CDOR Rate Revolving Borrowings or EURIBOR Revolving Borrowings outstanding.

(d)Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no Borrower shall be entitled to request, or to elect to convert or continue, any Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto would end after the Maturity Date.

(e)The portion of the initial Borrowing made by any Lender to a Dutch Borrower shall at all times be provided by a Lender that is a Qualifying Lender.  For the avoidance of doubt, if any Lender is not a Qualifying Lender, then no such Borrowing shall be made by a Dutch Borrower.

Section 2.3Requests for Revolving Borrowings.  To request a Revolving Borrowing, the Administrative Borrower, on behalf of the requesting Borrower, shall notify the Applicable Agent of such request by submitting a Borrowing Request in the form of Exhibit F or any other form approved by the Toronto Agent, as applicable and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Administrative Borrower (a) in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in US Dollars or a CDOR Rate Borrowing denominated in Canadian Dollars, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, three Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing, and (b) in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in any other Alternative Currency (other than Canadian Dollars) or a EURIBOR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., Local Time, three Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing and (c) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the same day of the proposed Borrowing; provided that any such notice of an ABR Revolving Borrowing to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.5(e) may be given not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date of the proposed Borrowing.  Each such Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable in a form approved by the Applicable Agent and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Administrative Borrower.  Each such Borrowing Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.2:

(i)the Borrower requesting such Borrowing;

(ii)the currency and the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing;

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

(iv)whether such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing, a Eurocurrency Borrowing, a EURIBOR Borrowing, or a CDOR Rate Borrowing, as applicable;

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(v)in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, a CDOR Rate Borrowing or a EURIBOR Borrowing, the initial Interest Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”;

(vi)the location and number of such Borrower’s account to which funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of Section 2.6; and

(vii)in the case of a Borrowing in an Alternative Currency, the jurisdiction from which payments of the principal and interest on such Borrowing will be made.

If no currency is specified with respect to any requested Eurocurrency Borrowing, then if the applicable Borrower is a US Borrower or a Canadian Borrower, it shall be deemed to have selected US Dollars.  If no election as to the Type of Borrowing is specified, then the requested Borrowing shall be (A) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in US Dollars made to a US Borrower or a Canadian Borrower, an ABR Borrowing, (B) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in US Dollars made to any other Borrower (other than a US Borrower or a Canadian Borrower), a Eurocurrency Borrowing, (C) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in Canadian Dollars made to a Canadian Borrower or a Specified US Borrower, a CDOR Rate Borrowing, (D) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in Euros, a EURIBOR Borrowing and (E) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in an Alternative Currency (other than Euros and Canadian Dollars), a Eurocurrency Borrowing.  If no Interest Period is specified with respect to any requested Eurocurrency Borrowing, CDOR Rate Borrowing or EURIBOR Borrowing, then the applicable Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration.  Promptly following receipt of a Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section, the Applicable Agent shall advise each Lender that will make a Loan as part of the requested Borrowing of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lender’s Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.

Section 2.4Swingline Loans.  (a)  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swingline Lender may, in its sole discretion (and without obligation to do so), make Swingline Loans to the Administrative Borrower and the Canadian Borrowers from time to time during the Availability Period, in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding that will not result in (i) the US Dollar Equivalent of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Swingline Loans exceeding US$25,000,000, (ii) the US Dollar Equivalent of the Total Revolving Credit Exposures of all Lenders exceeding the total Commitments or (iii) the US Dollar Equivalent of the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Loans to the Canadian Borrowers exceeding US$60,000,000; provided that the Swingline Lender shall not be required to make a Swingline Loan to refinance an outstanding Swingline Loan.  Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Administrative Borrower and the Canadian Borrowers may borrow, prepay and reborrow Swingline Loans.

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(b)To request a Swingline Loan, the Administrative Borrower, on behalf of the requesting Borrower, shall submit a written notice to the Administrative Agent of such request by telecopy or electronic mail, not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on the day of a proposed Swingline Loan.  Each such notice shall be in a form approved by the Administrative Agent, shall be irrevocable and shall specify the Borrower requesting such Swingline Loan and the requested date (which shall be a Business Day), Type (which shall be either Alternative Base Rate with respect to the Administrative Borrower or Canadian Prime Rate with respect to the Canadian Borrowers) and amount of the requested Swingline Loan and other relevant information that would be required under Section 2.3 if the Swingline Loan were a Revolving Loan.  The Administrative Agent will promptly advise the Swingline Lender of any such notice received from the Administrative Borrower.  The Swingline Lender shall make each Swingline Loan available to the applicable Borrower by means of a credit to the general deposit account of such Borrower with the Swingline Lender (or, in the case of a Swingline Loan made to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.5(e), by remittance to such Issuing Bank) by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the requested date of such Swingline Loan.

(c)The Swingline Lender may by written notice given to the Administrative Agent require the applicable Lenders to acquire participations in all or a portion of the Swingline Loans outstanding.  Such notice shall specify the aggregate amount of Swingline Loans in which the applicable Lenders will participate.  Promptly upon receipt of such notice, the Administrative Agent will give notice thereof to each applicable Lender, specifying in such notice such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans.  Each applicable Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees, promptly upon receipt of such notice from the Administrative Agent (and in any event, (i) if such notice is received by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on a Business Day no later than 5:00 p.m. New York City time on such Business Day and (ii) if received after 12:00 noon, New York City time, on a Business Day shall mean no later than 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the immediately succeeding Business Day), to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Swingline Lender, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans.  Each applicable Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations in Swingline Loans pursuant to this paragraph is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.  Each applicable Lender shall comply with its obligation under this paragraph by wire transfer of immediately available funds, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.6 with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.6 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Lenders), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the Swingline Lender the amounts so received by it from the Lenders.  The Administrative Agent shall notify the Administrative Borrower of any participations in any Swingline Loan acquired pursuant to this paragraph, and thereafter payments in respect of such Swingline Loan shall be made to the Administrative Agent and not to the Swingline Lender.  Any amounts received by the Swingline Lender from the Administrative Borrower or any Canadian Borrower, as applicable, (or other party on behalf of any such Borrower) in respect of a Swingline Loan after receipt by the Swingline Lender of the proceeds of a sale of participations therein shall be promptly remitted to the Administrative Agent; any such amounts received by the Administrative Agent shall be promptly remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders that 

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shall have made their payments pursuant to this paragraph and to the Swingline Lender, as their interests may appear; provided that any such payment so remitted shall be repaid to the Swingline Lender or to the Administrative Agent, as applicable, if and to the extent such payment is required to be refunded to any such Borrower for any reason.  The purchase of participations in a Swingline Loan pursuant to this paragraph shall not relieve the Administrative Borrower or any Canadian Borrower of any default in the payment thereof.

(d)Any Swingline Lender may be replaced at any time by written agreement among the Administrative Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the replaced Swingline Lender and the successor Swingline Lender.  The Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of any such replacement of a Swingline Lender.  At the time any such replacement shall become effective, the Administrative Borrower shall pay all unpaid interest accrued for the account of the replaced Swingline Lender pursuant to Section 2.12(a).  From and after the effective date of any such replacement, (x) the successor Swingline Lender shall have all the rights and obligations of the replaced Swingline Lender under this Agreement with respect to Swingline Loans made thereafter and (y) references herein to the term “Swingline Lender” shall be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous Swingline Lender, or to such successor and all previous Swingline Lenders, as the context shall require.  After the replacement of a Swingline Lender hereunder, the replaced Swingline Lender shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of a Swingline Lender under this Agreement with respect to Swingline Loans made by it prior to its replacement, but shall not be required to make additional Swingline Loans.

(e)Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Swingline Lender, any Swingline Lender may resign as a Swingline Lender at any time upon thirty days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Borrower and the Lenders, in which case, such Swingline Lender shall be replaced in accordance with Section 2.4(d) above.

Section 2.5Letters of Credit.  (a)  General.  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Administrative Borrower may request the issuance of, and subject to Section 2.5(b), the Issuing Bank shall issue, Letters of Credit denominated in US Dollars or any Alternative Currency for its own account, or for the account of any other Borrower or any US Subsidiary, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank, at any time and from time to time during the Availability Period; provided that (i) with respect to any Letter of Credit issued for the account of any US Subsidiary, the Administrative Borrower shall be a co-applicant, and shall be deemed to be jointly and severally liable, with respect to any such Letter of Credit, (ii) any Letters of Credit issued for the account of the Canadian Borrowers shall be in either US Dollars or Canadian Dollars and (iii) any initial issuance of a Letter of Credit to a Dutch Borrower shall at all times be provided by a Qualifying Lender.  In the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any form of letter of credit application or other agreement submitted by the Administrative Borrower to, or entered into by the Administrative Borrower with, the Issuing Bank relating to any Letter of Credit, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control.  All Existing Letters of Credit shall be deemed to have been issued pursuant hereto, and from and after the Effective Date shall be subject to and governed by the terms and conditions hereof.

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(b)Notice of Issuance, Amendment, Renewal, Extension; Certain Conditions.  To request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or the amendment, renewal or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the Administrative Borrower shall hand deliver or telecopy (or transmit by electronic communication, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the Issuing Bank) to the applicable Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent (reasonably in advance of the requested date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension) a notice signed by a Responsible Officer of the Administrative Borrower requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit, or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended, renewed or extended, and specifying the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (which shall be a Business Day), the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with paragraph (c) of this Section), the amount of such Letter of Credit (which, if denominated in US Dollars, shall not be less than US$500,000, and if denominated in an Alternative Currency, shall not be less than the amount of such currency that is 500,000 units thereof), the name and address of the beneficiary thereof and such other information as shall be necessary to prepare, amend, renew or extend such Letter of Credit.  If requested by the Issuing Bank, the Administrative Borrower also shall submit a letter of credit application on the Issuing Bank’s standard form in connection with any request for a Letter of Credit.  A Letter of Credit shall be issued, amended, renewed or extended only if (and upon issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of each Letter of Credit the Administrative Borrower shall be deemed to represent and warrant that), after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (i)(x) the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit issued by the Issuing Bank at such time plus (y) the aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements made by the Issuing Bank that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Administrative Borrower at such time shall not exceed its Letter of Credit Commitment, (ii) the LC Exposure shall not exceed the total Letter of Credit Commitment, (iii) no Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure shall exceed its Commitment and (iv) the US Dollar Equivalent of the Total Revolving Credit Exposure shall not exceed the total Commitments.  The Administrative Borrower may, at any time and from time to time, reduce the Letter of Credit Commitment of any Issuing Bank with the consent of such Issuing Bank; provided that the Administrative Borrower shall not reduce the Letter of Credit Commitment of any Issuing Bank if, after giving effect of such reduction, the conditions set forth in clauses (i) through (iv) above shall not be satisfied.

An Issuing Bank shall not be under any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if:

 

(i)any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain such Issuing Bank from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any law applicable to such Issuing Bank shall prohibit, or require that such Issuing Bank refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon such Issuing Bank with respect to such Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which such Issuing Bank is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Effective Date, or shall impose upon such Issuing Bank any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense that was not applicable on the Effective Date and that such Issuing Bank in good faith deems material to it; or

(ii)the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of such Issuing Bank applicable to letters of credit generally.

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(c)Expiration Date.  Each Letter of Credit shall expire at or prior to the close of business on the earlier of (i) the date one year after the date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any renewal or extension thereof, one year after such renewal or extension) and (ii) the date that is five Business Days prior to the Maturity Date; provided that any Letter of Credit with a one-year term may provide for the renewal thereof for additional one-year periods (which in no event shall extend beyond the date referred to in clause (ii) above).

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

(e)Reimbursement.  If the Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, the Administrative Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement by paying to the Administrative Agent an amount equal to such LC Disbursement not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the date that such LC Disbursement is made, if the Administrative Borrower shall have received notice of such LC Disbursement prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on such date, or, if such notice has not been received by the Administrative Borrower prior to such time on such date, then not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the Business Day immediately following the day that the Administrative Borrower receives such notice; provided that if such LC Disbursement is not less than US$100,000, the Administrative Borrower may, subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section 2.4 that such payment be financed with an ABR Revolving Borrowing or ABR Swingline Loan, in an equivalent amount (and if such Letter of Credit is issued in an Alternative Currency, the US Dollar Equivalent of such amount) and, to the extent so financed, the Administrative Borrower’s obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting ABR Revolving Borrowing or ABR Swingline Loan.  If the Administrative Borrower fails to make such payment when due, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the applicable LC Disbursement, the payment then due from the Administrative Borrower in respect thereof and such Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof.  Promptly following receipt of such notice, each Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent its Applicable Percentage of the payment then due from the Administrative Borrower, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.6 with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.7 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Lenders), and the Administrative 

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Agent shall promptly pay to the Issuing Bank the amounts so received by it from the Lenders.  Promptly following receipt by the Administrative Agent of any payment from the Administrative Borrower pursuant to this paragraph, the Administrative Agent shall distribute such payment to the Issuing Bank or, to the extent that Lenders have made payments pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse the Issuing Bank, then to such Lenders and the Issuing Bank as their interests may appear.  Any payment made by a Lender pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse the Issuing Bank for any LC Disbursement (other than the funding of ABR Revolving Loans or an ABR Swingline Loan as contemplated above) shall not constitute a Loan and shall not relieve the Administrative Borrower of its obligation to reimburse such LC Disbursement.

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

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

(h)Interim Interest.  If the Issuing Bank for any Letter of Credit shall make any LC Disbursement, then, unless the Administrative Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement in full on the date such LC Disbursement is made, the unpaid amount thereof shall bear interest, for each day from and including the date such LC Disbursement is made to but excluding the date that the reimbursement is due and payable at the rate per annum then applicable to ABR Revolving Loans and such interest shall be due and payable on the date when such reimbursement is payable; provided that if the Administrative Borrower fails to reimburse such LC Disbursement when due pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section, then Section 2.12(d) shall apply.  Interest accrued pursuant to this paragraph shall be for the account of the Issuing Bank, except that interest accrued on and after the date of payment by any Lender pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section to reimburse the Issuing Bank shall be for the account of such Lender to the extent of such payment.

(i)Replacement of the Issuing Bank.  

(i)Each Issuing Bank may be replaced at any time by written agreement among the Administrative Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the replaced Issuing Bank and the successor Issuing Bank.  The Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of any such replacement of any Issuing Bank.  At the time any such replacement shall become effective, the Administrative Borrower shall pay all unpaid fees accrued for the account of the replaced Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.11(b).  From and after the effective date of any such replacement, (i) the successor Issuing Bank shall have all the rights and obligations of the Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit to be issued thereafter and (ii) references herein to the term “Issuing Bank” shall be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous Issuing Bank, or to such successor and all previous Issuing Banks, as the context shall require.  After the replacement of an Issuing Bank hereunder, the replaced Issuing Bank shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it prior to such replacement, but shall not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit or extend or otherwise amend any existing Letter of Credit.

(ii)Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Issuing Bank, any Issuing Bank may resign as an Issuing Bank at any time upon thirty days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Borrower and the Lenders, in which case, such resigning  Issuing Bank shall be replaced in accordance with Section 2.5(i)(i) above. 

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(j)Cash Collateralization.  If any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, on the Business Day that the Administrative Borrower receives notice from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders (or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated, Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 66 and 2/3% of the total LC Exposure) demanding the deposit of cash collateral pursuant to this paragraph, the Administrative Borrower shall deposit in an account with the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the Lenders (the “Collateral Account”), an amount in cash equal to 105% of the LC Exposure as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon; provided that the obligation to deposit such cash collateral shall become effective immediately, and such deposit shall become immediately due and payable, without demand or other notice of any kind, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default with respect to the Administrative Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of Article VII.  Such deposit shall be held by the Administrative Agent as collateral for the payment and performance of the obligations of the Administrative Borrower under this Agreement.  In addition, and without limiting the foregoing or paragraph (c) of this Section, if any LC Exposure remain outstanding after the expiration date specified in said paragraph (c), the Administrative Borrower shall immediately deposit into the Collateral Account an amount in cash equal to 105% of such LC Exposure as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon. The Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over such account.  Other than any interest earned on the investment of such deposits, which investments shall be made at the option and sole discretion of the Administrative Agent and at the Administrative Borrower’s risk and expense, such deposits shall not bear interest.  Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in such account.  Monies in such account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse the Issuing Bank for LC Disbursements for which it has not been reimbursed, together with related fees, costs and customary processing charges and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Administrative Borrower for the LC Exposure at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated (but subject to the consent of Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 66 and 2/3% of the total LC Exposure), be applied to satisfy other Obligations.  If the Administrative Borrower is required to provide an amount of cash collateral hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default, such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Administrative Borrower within three Business Days after all Events of Default have been cured or waived.

(k) Letters of Credit Issued for Account of Subsidiaries.  Notwithstanding that a Letter of Credit issued or outstanding hereunder supports any obligations of, or is for the account of, a Subsidiary, or states that a Subsidiary is the “account party,” “applicant,” “customer,” “instructing party,” or the like of or for such Letter of Credit, and without derogating from any rights of the applicable Issuing Bank (whether arising by contract, at law, in equity or otherwise) against such Subsidiary in respect of such Letter of Credit, Administrative Borrower (i) shall reimburse, indemnify and compensate the applicable Issuing Bank hereunder for such Letter of Credit (including to reimburse any and all drawings thereunder) as if such Letter of Credit had been issued solely for the account of the Administrative Borrower and (ii) irrevocably waives any and all defenses that might otherwise be available to it as a guarantor or surety of any or all of the obligations of such Subsidiary in respect of such Letter of Credit.  The Administrative Borrower hereby acknowledges that the issuance of such Letters of Credit for its Subsidiaries inures to the benefit of the Administrative Borrower, and that the Administrative Borrower’s business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of such Subsidiaries.

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Section 2.6Funding of Borrowings.  (a)  Each Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds in the applicable currency by 12:00 noon, Local Time, to the account of the Applicable Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders; provided that Swingline Loans shall be made as provided in Section 2.4.  Except in respect of the provisions of this Agreement covering the reimbursement of Letters of Credit, the Applicable Agent will make such Loans available to the applicable Borrower by promptly crediting the funds so received in the aforesaid account of the Applicable Agent to an account of such Borrower maintained with the Applicable Agent and designated by such Borrower in the applicable Borrowing Request; provided that ABR Revolving Loans made to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.5(e) shall be remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Issuing Bank.

(b)Unless the Applicable Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Applicable Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Applicable Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the 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 Applicable Agent, then the applicable Lender and such Borrower severally agree to pay to the Applicable Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount 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 Applicable Agent, at (i) in the case of such Lender, the rate reasonably determined by the Applicable Agent to be the cost to it of funding such account or (ii) in the case of such Borrower, the interest rate applicable to the subject Loan.  If such Lender pays such amount to the Applicable Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing.

Section 2.7Interest Elections.  (a)  Each Revolving Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request and, in the case of a Eurocurrency Revolving Borrowing, a CDOR Rate Revolving Borrowing or a EURIBOR Revolving Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request.  Thereafter, the applicable Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a Eurocurrency Revolving Borrowing, a CDOR Rate Revolving Borrowing or a EURIBOR Revolving Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section.  A Borrower may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing.  This Section shall not apply to Swingline Borrowings, which may not be converted or continued.

(b)To make an election pursuant to this Section, a Borrower shall notify the Applicable Agent of such election by the time that a Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.3 if such Borrower were requesting a Revolving Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election to be made on the effective date of such election.  Each such Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable and shall be in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Administrative Borrower, on behalf of the applicable Borrower.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, no Borrower shall be permitted 

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to (i) change the currency of any Borrowing, (ii) elect an Interest Period for Eurocurrency Loans, CDOR Rate Loans or EURIBOR Loans that does not comply with Section 2.2(d) or (iii) convert any Borrowing to a Borrowing of a Type not available to such Borrower pursuant to which such Borrowing was made.

(c)Each Interest Election Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.2:

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

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

(iii)whether the resulting Borrowing is to be (A) an ABR Borrowing or a Eurocurrency Borrowing if in US Dollars or Alternative Currencies (other than Canadian Dollars and Euros), or (B) a CDOR Rate Borrowing if in Canadian Dollars; and

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

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

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

(e)If the applicable Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to a Eurocurrency Revolving Borrowing, a CDOR Rate Revolving Borrowing or a EURIBOR Revolving Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period such Borrowing shall (i) in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing made to a US Borrower or a Canadian Borrower denominated in US Dollars, be converted to an ABR Borrowing, and (ii) in the case of a EURIBOR Borrowing or a CDOR Rate Borrowing or any other Eurocurrency Borrowing, become due and payable on the last day of such Interest Period.  Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent, at the request of the Required Lenders, so notifies the Administrative Borrower, then, so long as an Event of Default is continuing (i) no outstanding Revolving Borrowing made to a US Borrower or a Canadian Borrower denominated in US Dollars may be converted to or continued as a Eurocurrency Revolving Borrowing, and (ii) 

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unless repaid, each Eurocurrency Revolving Borrowing made to a US Borrower or any Canadian Borrower denominated in US Dollars shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.

Section 2.8Termination and Reduction of Commitments.  (a)  Unless previously terminated, the Commitments shall terminate on the Maturity Date.

(b)The Administrative Borrower may at any time terminate, or from time to time reduce, the Commitments; provided that (i) each reduction of the Commitments shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of US$1,000,000 and not less than US$10,000,000, in each case for Borrowings denominated in US Dollars and (ii) the Administrative Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the Loans in accordance with Section 2.10, (A) any Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure would exceed its Commitment or (B) the Total Revolving Credit Exposures of all Lenders would exceed the total Commitments.

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

Section 2.9Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt.  (a)  Each Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay (i) to the Applicable Agent for the account of each Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Loan of such Borrower on the Maturity Date and (ii) to the Applicable Agent for the account of the Swingline Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Swingline Loan on the earlier of the Maturity Date and the first date after such Swingline Loan is made that is the 15th or last day of a calendar month and is at least two Business Days after such Swingline Loan is made; provided that on each date that a Revolving Borrowing is made, the Borrowers shall repay all Swingline Loans then outstanding and the proceeds of any such Borrowing shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to repay any Swingline Loan outstanding.  On the Maturity Date, all Loans shall become absolutely due and payable and the Borrowers shall pay all of the Loans outstanding, together with any and all accrued and unpaid interest thereon.

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

(c)The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it shall record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Class and Type thereof and the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from each Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by any Agent hereunder for the account of the Lenders and each Lender’s share thereof.  The Toronto Agent shall furnish to the Administrative Agent, promptly after the making of any Loan or Borrowing with respect to which it is the Applicable Agent or the receipt of any payment of principal or interest with respect to any such Loan or Borrowing, information with respect thereto that will enable the Administrative Agent to maintain the accounts referred to in the preceding sentence.

(d)The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) of this Section shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein; provided that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of any Borrower to repay the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.  In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender pursuant to paragraph (b) and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent maintained pursuant to paragraph (c) in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.

(e)Any Lender may request that Loans made by it be evidenced by a promissory note.  In such event, applicable Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to the order of such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns) and in a form approved by the Administrative Agent.  Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 10.4) be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form.

Section 2.10Prepayment of Loans.  (a)  Any Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing in whole or in part, subject to prior notice in accordance with paragraph (b) of this Section.

(b)The Administrative Borrower, on behalf of the applicable Borrower, shall notify the Applicable Agent (and, in the case of prepayment of a Swingline Loan, the Swingline Lender) by a telecopy notice signed by a Responsible Officer of the Administrative Borrower) of any prepayment hereunder (i) in the case of prepayment of a Eurocurrency Revolving Borrowing denominated in US Dollars or a CDOR Rate Revolving Borrowing denominated in Canadian Dollars, not later than 11:00 a.m., Local Time, three Business Days before the date of prepayment, (ii) in the case of a Eurocurrency Revolving Borrowing denominated in an Alternative Currency (other than Canadian Dollars) or a EURIBOR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., Local Time, four Business Days before the date of prepayment, (iii) in the case of 

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prepayment of an ABR Revolving Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., Local Time, one Business Day before the date of prepayment or (iv) in the case of prepayment of a Swingline Loan, not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the date of prepayment.  Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid; provided that if a notice of prepayment is given in connection with a conditional notice of termination of the Commitments as contemplated by Section 2.8, then such notice of prepayment may be revoked if such notice of termination is revoked in accordance with Section 2.8.  Promptly following receipt of any such notice relating to a Revolving Borrowing, the Applicable Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof.  Each partial prepayment of any Revolving Borrowing shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of an advance of a Revolving Borrowing of the same Type as provided in Section 2.2.  Each prepayment of a Revolving Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing.  Prepayments shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.12 and any break funding payments required by Section 2.15.

(c)If, on any date, the US Dollar Equivalent of the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Exposures shall exceed 105% of the aggregate Commitments as a result of currency fluctuations, then the applicable Borrowers shall, not later than the next Business Day, prepay one or more Borrowings in an aggregate principal amount sufficient to eliminate such excess.

(d)If, on any date, the US Dollar Equivalent of the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Loans to the Canadian Borrowers shall exceed US$63,000,000 as a result of currency fluctuations, then the applicable Canadian Borrowers shall, within three Business Days after such date, prepay one or more Borrowings in an aggregate principal amount sufficient to eliminate such excess.

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Section 2.11Fees.  (a)  The Administrative Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, in US Dollars, for the account of each Lender a commitment fee, which shall accrue daily at the per annum rates set forth below (calculated in accordance with the definition of “Applicable Rate” and Section 2.12(h)) on such Lender’s unused Commitment (provided that, for the purpose of calculating such fee, outstanding Letters of Credit shall constitute usage, but outstanding Swingline Loans shall not constitute usage), during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the date on which such Commitment terminates; provided that if such Lender continues to have any Swingline Exposure after its Commitment terminates, then such commitment fee shall continue to accrue on the daily amount of such Lender’s Swingline Exposure from and including the date on which its Commitment terminates to but excluding the date on which such Lender ceases to have any Swingline Exposure:

			
	
Pricing Level
	
Consolidated 

Leverage Ratio
	
Commitment Fee

	
1
	
≤1.00:1.00
	
0.200%

	
2
	
>1.00:1.00 and ≤ 1.50:1.00
	
0.250%

	
3
	
> 1.50:1.00 and ≤ 2.00:1.00
	
0.300%

	
4
	
>2.00:1.00 and ≤ 3.00:1.00
	
0.350%

	
5
	
>3.00:1.00
	
0.375%

For the avoidance of doubt, the Commitment Fee in effect from the Effective Date through the date on which the first such certificate is delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in accordance with Section 5.1(c) shall be determined based upon Pricing Level 3.  Accrued commitment fees shall be payable in arrears on the last day of March, June, September and December of each year and on the date on which the Commitments terminate, commencing on the first such date to occur after the date hereof; provided that any commitment fees accruing after the date on which the Commitments terminate shall be payable on demand.  All commitment fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).

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

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agreed upon between the Administrative Borrower and the Issuing Bank on the average daily amount of the LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date of termination of the Commitments and the date on which there ceases to be any LC Exposure, as well as the Issuing Bank’s standard fees with respect to the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or processing of drawings thereunder, and other standard costs and charges, of such Issuing bank relating the Letters of Credit as from time to time in effect.  Participation fees and fronting fees accrued through and including the last day of March, June, September and December of each year shall be payable on the third Business Day following such last day, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Effective Date; provided that all such fees shall be payable on the date on which the Commitments terminate and any such fees accruing after the date on which the Commitments terminate shall be payable on demand.  Any other fees payable to the Issuing Bank pursuant to this paragraph shall be payable within 10 days after demand.  All participation fees and fronting fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).

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

Section 2.12Interest.  (a)  The Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing shall bear interest at the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate for ABR Borrowings, and the Loans comprising each Canadian Prime Rate Borrowing shall bear interest at the Canadian Prime Rate plus the Applicable Rate for Canadian Prime Rate Borrowings.

(b)The Loans comprising each Eurocurrency Borrowing shall bear interest at the Adjusted LIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Rate for Eurocurrency Borrowings, the Loans comprising each CDOR Rate Borrowing shall bear interest at the CDOR Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Rate for CDOR Rate Borrowings and the Loans comprising each EURIBOR Revolving Borrowing shall bear interest at the EURIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Rate for EURIBOR Revolving Borrowings.

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

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

(e)All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, except that (i) interest on Borrowings denominated in Sterling and in Canadian Dollars and (ii) interest computed by reference to the Alternate Base Rate at times when the Alternate Base Rate is based on the Prime Rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or, except in the case of Borrowings denominated in Sterling, 366 days in a leap year), and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).  The applicable Alternate Base Rate, Adjusted LIBO Rate, EURIBO Rate or LIBO Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(f)For purposes of disclosure pursuant to the Interest Act (Canada), the annual rates of interest or fees to which the rates of interest or fees provided in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (and stated herein or therein, as applicable, to be computed on the basis of 360 days or any other period of time less than a calendar year) are equivalent are the rates so determined multiplied by the actual number of days in the applicable calendar year and divided by 360 or such other period of time, respectively.

(g)If any provision of this Agreement or of any of the other Loan Documents would obligate any Loan Party to make any payment of interest or other amount payable to the Lenders in an amount or calculated at a rate which would be prohibited by law or would result in a receipt by the Lenders of interest at a criminal rate (as such terms are construed under the Criminal Code (Canada)) then, notwithstanding such provisions, such amount or rate shall be deemed to have been adjusted with retroactive effect to the maximum amount or rate of interest, as the case may be, as would not be so prohibited by law or so result in a receipt by the Lenders of interest at a criminal rate, such adjustment to be effected, to the extent necessary, as follows: (1) firstly, by reducing the amount or rate of interest required to be paid to the Lenders under this Section 2.12, and (2) thereafter, by reducing any fees, commissions, premiums and other amounts required to be paid to the Lenders which would constitute “interest” for purposes of Section 347 of the Criminal Code (Canada).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, and after giving effect to all adjustments contemplated thereby, if the Lenders shall have received an amount in excess of the maximum permitted by that section of the Criminal Code (Canada), the Loan Parties shall be entitled, by notice in writing to the Administrative Agent, to obtain reimbursement from the Lenders in an amount equal to such excess and, pending such reimbursement, such amount shall be deemed to be an amount payable by the Lenders to the Borrowers.  Any amount or rate of interest referred to in this Section 2.12(g) shall be determined 

54

 

in accordance with generally accepted actuarial practices and principles as an effective annual rate of interest over the term that the applicable Loan remains outstanding on the assumption that any charges, fees or expenses that fall within the meaning of “interest” (as defined in the Criminal Code (Canada)) shall, if they relate to a specific period of time, be pro-rated over that period of time and otherwise be pro-rated over the period from the Effective Date to the Maturity Date and, in the event of a dispute, a certificate of a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries appointed by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive for the purposes of such determination.

(h)If, as a result of any restatement of or other adjustment to the financial statements of the Administrative Borrower or for any other reason, the Administrative Borrower or the Administrative Agent determines that (i) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as calculated by the Administrative Borrower as of any applicable date was inaccurate and (ii) a proper calculation of the Consolidated Leverage Ratio would have resulted in higher pricing for such period, the Borrowers shall immediately and retroactively be obligated to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Lenders or the Issuing Bank, 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 Issuing Bank), 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.  The Administrative Borrower’s obligations under this paragraph shall survive the termination of the Commitments and the repayment of all other Obligations hereunder for the limited period ending on the date that is the later to occur of (x) one year following the date upon which such termination and repayment occurred and (y) two months following the date upon which the Administrative Borrower’s annual audited financial statements, which include the period during which such termination and repayment occurred, become publicly available.

Section 2.13Market Disruption; Alternate Rate of Interest.  (a)  If, at the time that the Applicable Agent shall seek to determine the relevant Screen Rate on the Quotation Day for any Interest Period, the applicable Screen Rate shall not be available for such Interest Period and/or for the applicable currency for any reason and the Applicable Agent shall determine that it is not possible to determine the Interpolated Rate (which conclusion shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error), then the LIBO Rate, EURIBO Rate or CDOR Rate, as the case may be, for such Interest Period for the relevant Borrowing shall be the applicable Reference Bank Rate; provided, that if any Reference Bank Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement; provided, further, however, that if less than two Reference Banks shall supply a rate to the Applicable Agent for purposes of determining such rate for such Borrowing, (i) if such Borrowing shall be requested in US Dollars, then such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing, (ii) if such Borrowing shall be requested in Canadian Dollars, then such Borrowing shall be made as a Canadian Prime Rate Borrowing and (iii) if such Borrowing shall be requested in any other currency, the Reference Bank Rate shall be equal to the cost to each Lender to fund its pro rata share of such Borrowing in such currency (from whatever source and using whatever methodologies as such Lender may select in its reasonable discretion; such rate, the “COF Rate”).

55

 

(b)If prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurocurrency Borrowing, a CDOR Rate Borrowing or a EURIBOR Borrowing:

(i)the Applicable Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBO Rate, the LIBO Rate, the CDOR Rate or the EURIBO Rate, as applicable (including because the applicable Screen Rate is not available or published on a current basis), for the applicable currency and such Interest Period(including, for the avoidance of doubt, pursuant to Section 2.13(a)); provided that no Benchmark Transition Event shall have occurred at such time; or

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

then the Applicable Agent shall give notice thereof to the applicable Borrower and the Lenders by telephone, telecopy or electronic mail as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the Applicable Agent notifies the applicable Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (v) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Revolving Borrowing to, or continuation of any Revolving Borrowing as, a Eurocurrency Borrowing in US Dollars or a CDOR Rate Borrowing shall be ineffective, (w) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Revolving Borrowing to, or continuation of any Revolving Borrowing as, a Eurocurrency Borrowing in any Alternative Currency or a EURIBOR Borrowing shall be converted to or continued as, as the case may be, a Revolving Borrowing at the COF Rate, (x) if any Borrowing Request requests a Eurocurrency Borrowing in US Dollars, such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing, (y) if any Borrowing Request requests a CDOR Rate Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be made as a Canadian Prime Rate Borrowing, and (z) if any Borrowing Request requests a Eurocurrency Borrowing in any Alternative Currency or a EURIBOR Borrowing, then the LIBO Rate or EURIBO Rate, as the case may be, for such Borrowing shall be at the COF Rate; provided that if the circumstances giving rise to such notice affect less than all Types of Borrowings, then the other Types of Borrowings shall be permitted.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event or an Early Opt-in Election, as applicable, the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Borrower may amend this Agreement to replace the LIBO Rate with a Benchmark Replacement. Any such amendment with respect to a Benchmark Transition Event will become effective at 5:00 p.m. on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the Administrative Agent has posted such proposed amendment to all Lenders and the Administrative Borrower, so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by such time, written notice of objection to such proposed amendment from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders; provided that, with respect to any proposed amendment containing any SOFR-Based Rate, the Lenders shall be entitled to object only to the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment contained therein.  Any such amendment with respect to an Early Opt-in Election 

56

 

will become effective on the date that Lenders comprising the Required Lenders have delivered to the Administrative Agent written notice that such Required Lenders accept such amendment. No replacement of LIBO Rate with a Benchmark Replacement will occur prior to the applicable Benchmark Transition Start Date.

(d)In connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement.

(e)The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Administrative Borrower and the Lenders of (i) any occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event or an Early Opt-in Election, as applicable,  (ii) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement, (iii) the effectiveness of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes and (iv) the commencement or conclusion of any Benchmark Unavailability Period.  Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Administrative Agent or Lenders pursuant to this Section 2.13, including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error and may be made in its or their sole discretion and without consent from any other party hereto, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section 2.13.

(f)Upon the Administrative Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, (i) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Eurocurrency Borrowing shall be ineffective and (ii) if any Borrowing Request requests a Eurocurrency Borrowing in US Dollars, such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing and (iii) if any Borrowing Request requests a Eurocurrency Borrowing in any Alternative Currency, then such Borrowing Request shall be ineffective.

Section 2.14Increased Costs.  (a)  If any Change in Law shall:

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

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

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

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender or such other Recipient of making, continuing, converting or maintaining any Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan) or to increase the cost to such Lender, the Issuing Bank or such other Recipient of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender, the Issuing Bank or such other Recipient hereunder (whether of principal, interest or otherwise), then the applicable Borrower will pay to such Lender, the Issuing Bank or such other Recipient, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender, the Issuing Bank or such other Recipient, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

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

(c)A certificate of a Lender or the Issuing Bank setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or the Issuing Bank or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section shall be delivered to the Administrative Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  The Administrative Borrower shall pay such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 30 days after receipt thereof.

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

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Section 2.15Break Funding Payments.  In the event of (a) the payment of any principal of any Eurocurrency Loan, CDOR Rate Loan or EURIBOR Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default), (b) the conversion of any Eurocurrency Loan, CDOR Rate Loan or EURIBOR Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (c) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Eurocurrency Loan, CDOR Rate Loan or EURIBOR Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice may be revoked under Section 2.10(b) and is revoked in accordance therewith), or (d) the assignment of any Eurocurrency Loan, CDOR Rate Loan or EURIBOR Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the applicable Borrower pursuant to Section 2.18, then, in any such event, the applicable Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the actual loss, cost and expense attributable to such event.  In the case of a Eurocurrency Loan, CDOR Rate Loan or EURIBOR Loan, such loss, cost or expense to any Lender shall be deemed to include an amount determined by such Lender to be the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest which would have accrued on the principal amount of such Loan had such event not occurred, at the Adjusted LIBO Rate, the CDOR Rate or the EURIBO Rate, as applicable (and without reference to the Applicable Margin) that would have been applicable to such Loan, for the period from the date of such event to the last day of the then current Interest Period therefor (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or continue, for the period that would have been the Interest Period for such Loan), over (ii) the amount of interest that would accrue on such principal amount for such period at the interest rate which such Lender would bid were it to bid, at the commencement of such period, for deposits in the applicable currency of a comparable amount and period from other banks in the London or European interbank market.  A certificate of any Lender as to any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to the Administrative Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  The Administrative Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 30 days after receipt thereof.

Section 2.16Taxes.

(a)Payments Free of Taxes.  Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of Loan Party under any Loan Document shall be made without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by applicable law.  If any applicable law (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable withholding agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by a withholding agent, then the applicable withholding agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the applicable Loan Party shall be increased as necessary so that after such deduction or withholding for Indemnified Taxes has been made (including such deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2.16) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.

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

(c)Evidence of Payments.  As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by any Loan Party to a Governmental Authority pursuant to this Section 2.16, such Loan Party shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

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

(e)Indemnification by the Lenders.  Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within 10 days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that any Loan Party has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Loan Parties to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 10.4(c) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority.  A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this paragraph (e).

(f)Status of Lenders.

(i)Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Administrative Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Administrative Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Administrative Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding.  In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the 

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Administrative Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Administrative Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Administrative Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation either (A) set forth in Section 2.16(f)(ii)(A), (ii)(B) and (ii)(D) below or (B) required by applicable law other than the Code or the taxing authorities of the jurisdiction pursuant to such applicable law to comply with the requirements for exemption or reduction of withholding tax in that jurisdiction) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.

(ii)Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that any Borrower is a US Person,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(D)if a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. Federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Administrative Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Administrative Borrower or the Administrative Agent such 

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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 Administrative Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Administrative Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment.  Solely for purposes of this clause (D), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

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

(g)Treatment of Certain Refunds.  If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 2.16 (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.16), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section 2.16 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund).  Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this paragraph (g)  (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority.  This paragraph shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.

(h)Amendment under FATCA.  For purposes of determining withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA, from and after the Effective Date, the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent shall treat (and the Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent and Borrower to treat) this Agreement as not qualifying as a “grandfathered obligation” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.1471-2(b)(2)(i).

(i)Survival.  Each party’s obligations under this Section 2.16 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document.

(j)Defined Terms.  For purposes of this Section 2.16, the term “Lender” includes any Issuing Bank and the term “applicable law” includes FATCA.

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(k)VAT.  All amounts payable by any Loan Party to the Agents, the Lenders or the Issuing Bank shall be deemed to be exclusive of any VAT.  If VAT is payable on any amount paid to the Agents, the Lenders or the Issuing Bank by any Loan Party, the Administrative Borrower or such other Loan Party shall pay to the Agents, the Lenders or the Issuing Bank an amount equal to the amount of the VAT.

Section 2.17Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs

(a)  Each Borrower shall make each payment or prepayment required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest, fees or reimbursement of LC Disbursements, or of amounts payable under Section 2.14, 2.15, 2.16 or 2.19 or otherwise) prior to 12:00 noon, Local Time, on the date when due or the date fixed for any prepayment hereunder, in immediately available funds, without set-off, recoupment or counterclaim.  Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Applicable Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon.  All such payments shall be made to the Applicable Agent for the account of the Lenders to such account as the Applicable Agent shall from time to time specify in one or more notices delivered to the Administrative Borrower, except payments to be made directly to the Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender as expressly provided herein and except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.14, 2.15, 2.16, 2.19 and 10.3 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto.  The Applicable Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof.  If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension.  All payments hereunder of principal or interest in respect of any Loan or LC Disbursement shall, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, be made in the currency of such Loan or LC Disbursement; all other payments hereunder and under each other Loan Document shall be made in US Dollars.  Any payment required to be made by any Agent hereunder shall be deemed to have been made by the time required if such Agent shall, at or before such time, have taken the necessary steps to make such payment in accordance with the regulations or operating procedures of the clearing or settlement system used by such Agent to make such payment.

(b)At any time that payments are not required to be applied in the manner required by Section 7.3, if at any time insufficient funds are received by the Agents from any Borrower (or from the Administrative Borrower as guarantor of the Obligations of such Borrower pursuant to Article IX) and available to pay fully all amounts of principal, unreimbursed LC Disbursements, interest and fees then due from such Borrower hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first, towards payment of interest and fees then due from such Borrower hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties, and (ii) second, towards payment of principal and unreimbursed LC Disbursements then due from such Borrower hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal and unreimbursed LC Disbursements then due to such parties.

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

(d)Unless an Agent shall have received notice from a Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to such Agent for the account of the Lenders or the Issuing Banks pursuant to the terms hereof or any other Loan Document (including any date there is fixed for prepayment by notice from a Borrower to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.10(b)), notice from a Borrower that such Borrower will not make such payment or prepayment, such 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 Issuing Bank, 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 Issuing Banks, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to such Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or Issuing Bank with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Agent, at a rate determined by the Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

(e)If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to 2.4(c), 2.5(d) or (e), 2.6(b), 2.17(d) or 10.3(c), then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), (i) apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender to satisfy such Lender’s obligations under such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid, and/or (ii) hold such amounts in a segregated account over which the Administrative Agent shall have exclusive control as cash collateral for, and application to, any future funding obligations of such Lender under any such Section, in the case of each of the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), in any order as determined by the Administrative Agent in its discretion.

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Section 2.18Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.  (a)  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.14 or 2.19 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 Section 2.16 or if any Borrower is required to pay any additional interest to any Lender pursuant to Section 2.19, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.14, 2.16 or 2.19 as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender.  Each Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

(b)If (i) any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.14 or 2.19, (ii) 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 Section 2.16, (iii) any Loan Party is required to pay any additional interest to any Lender pursuant to Section 2.19, (iv) any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, or (v) any Lender ceases to be a Qualifying Lender, then the applicable Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 10.4), all its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Section 2.14 or 2.16) and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (x) such Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (and if a Commitment is being assigned, the Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender), which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld or delayed, (y) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and funded participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or such Borrower (in the case of all other amounts) and (z) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.14 or 2.19 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.16 or additional interest required pursuant to Section 2.19, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments.  A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, within five Business Days after being notified that the applicable Borrower proposes to require a Lender to make such assignment and delegation hereunder, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling such Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply. Each party hereto agrees that (i) an assignment required pursuant to this paragraph may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Administrative Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the assignee (or, to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and such parties are participants), and (ii) the Lender required to make such assignment need not be a party thereto in order for such assignment to be effective and shall be deemed to have consented to an be bound by the terms thereof; provided that, following the effectiveness of any such assignment, the other parties to such assignment agree to execute and deliver such documents necessary to evidence such assignment as reasonably requested by the applicable Lender; provided that any such documents shall be without recourse to or warranty by the parties thereto.

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Section 2.19Foreign Subsidiary Costs.  (a)  Without duplication of any costs imposed under Section 2.14, if the cost to any Lender of making or maintaining any Loan to any Borrower is increased (or the amount of any sum received or receivable by any Lender (or its applicable lending office) is reduced) by an amount deemed in good faith by such Lender to be material, due to a Change in Law and by reason of the fact that such Borrower is incorporated in, or conducts business in, a jurisdiction other than the United States of America or Canada, such Borrower shall indemnify such Lender for such increased cost or reduction within 30 days after demand by such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent).  A certificate of such Lender claiming compensation under this paragraph and setting forth the additional amount or amounts to be paid to it hereunder (and the basis for the calculation of such amount or amounts) shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.

(b)Each Lender will promptly notify the Administrative Borrower and the Administrative Agent of any event of which it has knowledge that will entitle such Lender to additional interest or payments pursuant to paragraph (a) above, but in any event within 45 days after such Lender obtains actual knowledge thereof; provided that (i) if any Lender fails to give such notice within 45 days after it obtains actual knowledge of such an event, such Lender shall, with respect to compensation payable pursuant to this Section in respect of any costs resulting from such event, only be entitled to payment under this Section for costs incurred from and after the date 45 days prior to the date that such Lender does give such notice and (ii) each Lender will designate a different applicable lending office, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation will avoid the need for, or reduce the amount of, such compensation and will not be otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender.

Section 2.20Redenomination of Certain Alternative Currencies.  (a)  Each obligation of any party to this Agreement 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 Effective Date shall be redenominated into Euro at the time of such adoption (in accordance with the EMU Legislation).  If, in relation to the currency of any such member state, the basis of accrual of interest expressed in this Agreement in respect of that currency shall be inconsistent with any convention or practice in the London interbank market for the basis of accrual of interest in respect of the Euro, such expressed basis shall be replaced by such convention or practice with effect from the date on which such member state adopts the Euro as its lawful currency; provided that if any Borrowing in the currency of such member state is outstanding immediately prior to such date, such replacement shall take effect, with respect to such Borrowing, at the end of the then current Interest Period.

(b)Each provision of this Agreement shall be subject to such reasonable changes of construction as the Administrative Agent (in consultation with the Administrative Borrower) 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.

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Section 2.21Designation of US Subsidiary Borrowers and Foreign Borrowers.  The Administrative Borrower may at any time and from time to time designate (a) any US Subsidiary as a US Subsidiary Borrower, or (b) any Foreign Subsidiary as a Foreign Borrower, in each case by (i) delivery to the Administrative Agent of a Borrower Joinder Agreement executed by such Subsidiary and the Administrative Borrower, (ii) delivery to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders of all documentation and other information reasonably requested by the Lenders or the Administrative Agent under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA Patriot Act and Beneficial Ownership Regulation and (iii) obtaining the consent of each Lender that such designated US Subsidiary Borrower and Foreign Borrower is acceptable as a Borrower under the Loan Documents; provided, however, that, no such Foreign Subsidiary shall be designated or otherwise added as a Foreign Borrower if the addition of such Foreign Subsidiary as a Foreign Borrower would result in payments from such Foreign Subsidiary to any recipient hereunder being subject to Taxes that are not Indemnified Taxes.  Upon such deliveries and receipt of consents such Subsidiary shall for all purposes of this Agreement be a US Subsidiary Borrower or a Foreign Borrower, as the case may be, and a party to this Agreement.  Any US Subsidiary Borrower and Foreign Borrower shall continue to be a Borrower and a party hereunder until the Administrative Borrower shall have executed and delivered to the Administrative Agent a Borrower Termination Agreement with respect to such Borrower, whereupon such Borrower shall cease to be a Borrower and a party hereunder.  Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, (a) no Borrower Joinder Agreement shall become effective as to any US Subsidiary Borrower or any Foreign Borrower if it shall be unlawful for such Subsidiary to become a Borrower hereunder or for any Lender to make Loans to such Subsidiary as provided herein and (b) no Borrower Termination Agreement will become effective as to any US Subsidiary Borrower or any Foreign Borrower until all Loans made to such Subsidiary shall have been repaid and all amounts payable by such Subsidiary in respect of interest and/or fees (and, to the extent notified by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, any other amounts payable under this Agreement by such Subsidiary) shall have been paid in full; provided that such Borrower Termination Agreement shall be effective to terminate the right of such Subsidiary to request or receive further Borrowings under this Agreement.

Section 2.22Increase in Commitments.  Following the Effective Date, the Administrative Borrower shall have the right upon one or more occasions by written notice to the Administrative Agent (a “Commitment Increase Notice”) to request an increase in the aggregate Commitment (the amount of increase requested on any occasion being referred to herein as the “Increase Amount”), in an aggregate amount of up to US$250,000,000 for all such increases, to a maximum aggregate Commitment of US$1,250,000,000 (less the aggregate amount of any Commitment reductions pursuant to Section 2.8); provided that at the time of the Commitment Increase Notice and at the time such request would become effective (i) no Default has occurred and is continuing or would exist after giving effect to such increase in the Commitment, and (ii) the Administrative Borrower will be in pro forma compliance with the covenant in Section 6.7 after giving effect to any funding in connection with such increase in the Commitment.

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The Commitment Increase Notice shall be delivered by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders and shall specify a time period selected by the Administrative Borrower within which each Lender is requested to respond to such Commitment Increase Notice (which shall in no event be less than ten Business Days from the date of delivery of such Commitment Increase Notice to the Lenders).  Each Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent within such time period whether or not it agrees to increase its Commitment and, if so, the amount of such increase.  Any such Lender not responding within such time period shall be deemed to have declined to increase its Commitment.  The Administrative Agent shall notify the Administrative Borrower and each Lender of such other Lender’s responses to each request made hereunder.  After the expiration of the time period set forth in the Commitment Increase Notice or receipt by the Administrative Agent of responses to the Commitment Increase Notice from each of the Lenders, then the Administrative Borrower may, to achieve the full amount of the requested increase in the Commitments, invite one or more other Persons (other than individuals) (an “Additional Lender”) that have agreed to provide all or any portion of the Increase Amount and that are acceptable to each of the Administrative Agent, Swingline Lender and Issuing Bank (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) (it being agreed that any Lender as of the date of the Commitment Increase Notice would be acceptable) and such Persons may be admitted as a Lender party to this Agreement in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.4(e).  None of the Administrative Agent, the joint lead arrangers or any other Lender shall have any obligation or other commitment to provide all or any portion of the Increase Amount.  No consent of any Lender (other than any Lender providing a portion of the Increase Amount) shall be required to give effect to the Increase Amount.

Any such increase in the Commitment shall become effective upon written notice by the Administrative Agent (which shall be promptly delivered by the Administrative Agent) to the Administrative Borrower and the Lenders specifying the effective date of such increase in Commitment, together with a revised Schedule 2.1 stating the new Commitment, and, in respect thereof, the Commitment of each Additional Lender, the respective continuing Commitment of the other Lenders and the new Revolving Credit Exposure of the Lenders.

Upon the effective date of the increased Commitment, each Additional Lender shall make all (if any) such payments to the Administrative Agent for distribution to the other Lenders as may be necessary to result in the respective Revolving Loans held by such Additional Lender and the other Lenders being equal to such applicable Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Loans outstanding as of such date.  The Administrative Borrower hereby agrees that any Additional Lender so paying any such amount to the other Lenders pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be entitled to all the rights of a Lender having Commitments hereunder in respect of such amounts, that such payments to such other Lenders shall thereafter constitute Revolving Loans made by such Additional Lender hereunder and that such Additional Lender may exercise all of its right of payment with respect to such amounts as fully as if such Additional Lender had initially advanced to the Administrative Borrower directly the amount of such payments.  If any such adjustment payments pursuant to the preceding sentences of this Section 2.22 are made by an Additional Lender to other Lenders at a time other than the end of an Interest Period in the case of all or any portion of Revolving Loans constituting Eurocurrency Loans, CDOR Rate Loans or EURIBOR Loans, the Administrative Borrower shall pay to each of the Lenders receiving any such payment, at the time that such payment is made pursuant to this Section 2.22, the amount that would be required to be paid by the Administrative Borrower pursuant to Section 2.15 had such payments been made directly by the Administrative Borrower.

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Section 2.23Defaulting Lenders.  Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the following provisions shall apply for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender:

(a)fees shall cease to accrue on the unfunded portion of the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.11(a);

(b)any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Agents for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity or otherwise) or received by the Agents from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 10.8 shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Agents as follows:  first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Agents hereunder; second, to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to any Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender hereunder; third, to cash collateralize LC Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender in accordance with this Section; fourth, as the Administrative Borrower may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Agents; fifth, if so determined by the Agents and the Administrative Borrower, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to (x) satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement and (y) cash collateralize future LC Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to future Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement, in accordance with this Section; sixth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks or Swingline Lenders as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, the Issuing Banks or Swingline Lenders against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document; seventh, so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrowers as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrowers against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender's breach of its obligations under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document; and eighth, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or LC Disbursements in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (y) such Loans were made or the related Letters of Credit were issued at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.2 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and LC Disbursements owed to, all non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or LC Disbursements owed to, such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded and unfunded participations in the Borrowers’ obligations corresponding to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure and Swingline Loans are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Commitments without giving effect to clause (d) below.  Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post cash collateral pursuant to this Section shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

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(c)the Commitment and Revolving Credit Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether all Lenders or the Required Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment, waiver or other modification pursuant to Section 10.2); provided, that any waiver, amendment or other modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender which affects such Defaulting Lender disproportionately when compared to the other affected Lenders, or increases or extends the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender, shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender;

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

(i)all or any part of the Swingline Exposure and LC Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall be reallocated among the non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages, but only to the extent that (A) the sum of all non-Defaulting Lenders’ Revolving Credit Exposures plus such Defaulting Lender’s Swingline Exposure and LC Exposure does not exceed the total of all non-Defaulting Lenders’ Commitments, (B) such reallocation does not cause the Revolving Credit Exposure of any such non-Defaulting Lender to exceed such non-Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Commitment, and (C) the conditions set forth in Section 4.2 are satisfied at such time; provided that if, on any date thereafter during the period in which such Lender remains a Defaulting Lender, such conditions are satisfied, such reallocation shall occur on such later date;

(ii)if the reallocation described in clause (i) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrowers shall within three Business Days following notice by the Administrative Agent (A) first, prepay such Swingline Exposure and (B) second, cash collateralize for the benefit of the Issuing Bank only the Borrowers’ obligations corresponding to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure (after giving effect to any partial reallocation pursuant to clause (i) above) in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.5(j) for so long as such LC Exposure is outstanding;

(iii)if the Borrowers cash collateralize any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure pursuant to clause (ii) above, the Borrowers shall not be required to pay any fees to such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.11(b) with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure during the period such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure is cash collateralized;

(iv)if the LC Exposure of the non-Defaulting Lenders is reallocated pursuant to clause (i) above, then the fees payable to the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.11(a) and Section 2.11(b) shall be adjusted in accordance with such non-Defaulting Lenders’ Applicable Percentages; and

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(v)if all or any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure is neither reallocated nor cash collateralized pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above, then, without prejudice to any rights or remedies of the Issuing Bank or any other Lender hereunder, all letter of credit fees payable under Section 2.11(b) with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure shall be payable to the Issuing Bank until and to the extent that such LC Exposure is reallocated and/or cash collateralized; and

(e)so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender, (i) no Swingline Lender shall be required to fund any Swingline Loan and no Issuing Bank shall be required to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit, unless it is satisfied that the related exposure and the Defaulting Lender’s then outstanding LC Exposure will be 100% covered by the Commitments of the non-Defaulting Lenders and/or cash collateral will be provided by the Borrowers in accordance with clause (c) above, and (ii) Swingline Exposure related to any newly made Swingline Loan or LC Exposure related to any newly issued, amended, renewed or extended Letter of Credit shall be allocated among non-Defaulting Lenders in a manner consistent with clause (c)(i) above (and such Defaulting Lender shall not participate therein).

If (i) a Bankruptcy Event or a Bail-In Action with respect to a Lender Parent shall occur following the date hereof and for so long as such event shall continue or (ii) any Swingline Lender or Issuing Bank has a good faith belief that any Lender has defaulted in fulfilling its obligations under one or more other agreements in which such Lender commits to extend credit, no Swingline Lender shall be required to fund any Swingline Loan and no Issuing Bank shall be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless the Swingline Lenders or the Issuing Banks, as the case may be, shall have entered into arrangements with the Borrowers or such Lender, satisfactory to such Swingline Lender or Issuing Bank, as the case may be, to defease any risk to it in respect of such Lender hereunder.

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

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Article III.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

Each Loan Party represents and warrants to the Lenders that:

Section 3.1Organization; Powers.  Each Loan Party is duly organized or formed, validly existing and in good standing (or its jurisdictional equivalent, if any) under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted.  Each Subsidiary is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.  Except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, each Loan Party and each Subsidiary is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, every jurisdiction where such qualification is required.

Section 3.2Authorization; Enforceability.  The Transactions are within each Loan Party’s corporate powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate and, if required, stockholder action.  This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of each Loan Party, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

Section 3.3Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts.  The Transactions (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect, (b) will not violate any law or regulation, applicable to the Administrative Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries in any material respect or the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of the Administrative Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any order of any Governmental Authority, (c) will not violate or result in a default under any indenture, material agreement or other material instrument binding upon the Administrative Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or their assets, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by the Loan Parties, and (d) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any material asset of the Administrative Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

Section 3.4Financial Condition.  The Administrative Borrower has heretofore furnished to the Lenders its consolidated balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, reported on by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent public accountants.  Such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of the Administrative Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of such dates and for such periods in accordance with GAAP, subject to year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes in the case of the statements referred to in clause (ii) above.

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Section 3.5Properties.  (a)  Each of the Administrative Borrower and its Subsidiaries has good title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all its real and personal property material to its business, except for minor defects in title that do not interfere with its ability to conduct its business as currently conducted or to utilize such properties for their intended purposes.

(b)The Administrative Borrower and its Subsidiaries owns, or is licensed to use, all trademarks, tradenames, copyrights, patents and other intellectual property material to its business, and the use thereof by the Administrative Borrower and its Subsidiaries does not infringe upon the rights of any other Person, except for any such infringements that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.6Litigation and Environmental Matters.  (a)  There are no actions, suits or proceedings by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, threatened against or affecting the Administrative Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (i) that would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect (other than the Disclosed Matters) or (ii) that involve this Agreement or the Transactions, as of the date of this Agreement.

(b)Except for the Disclosed Matters and except with respect to any other matters that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Administrative Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law, (ii) has become subject to any Environmental Liability, (iii) has received notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or (iv) knows of any basis for any Environmental Liability.

(c)Since the date of this Agreement, there has been no change in the status of the Disclosed Matters that, individually or in the aggregate, has resulted in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.7Compliance with Laws and Agreements.  Each of the Administrative Borrower and its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all laws, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property and all indentures, agreements and other instruments binding upon it or its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.  No Default has occurred and is continuing.

Section 3.8Investment and Holding Company Status.  Neither the Administrative Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is (a) an “investment company” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940 or (b) a “holding company” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005.

Section 3.9Taxes. Except to the extent that a failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect: (a) each of the Administrative Borrower and its Subsidiaries has timely filed or caused to be filed all Tax returns and reports required to have been filed (within any applicable extension) and (b) has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes required to have been paid by it, except Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which such Borrower or such Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on its books adequate reserves. 

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Section 3.10ERISA and Pensions.  (a)  No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events for which liability is reasonably expected to occur, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.  The present value of all accumulated benefit obligations under each Plan (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.  87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed the fair market value of the assets of such Plan by more than US$12,500,000, and the present value of all accumulated benefit obligations of all Plans (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.  87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed the fair market value of the assets of all such Plans by more than US$12,500,000.  For greater certainty, this subsection does not apply to Canadian Benefit Plans or Canadian Pension Plans.

(b)As of the date hereof, Schedule 3.10(b) lists all Canadian Benefit Plans and Canadian Pension Plans currently maintained by or contributed to by the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries.  The Canadian Pension Plans are duly registered under the ITA and all other applicable laws which require registration.  Each Loan Party and each of their Subsidiaries are in material compliance with and have performed all of their respective obligations under and in respect of the Canadian Pension Plans and Canadian Benefit Plans under the terms thereof, any funding agreements and all applicable laws (including any fiduciary, funding, investment and administration obligations).  All employer and employee payments, contributions or premiums to be remitted, paid to or in respect of each Canadian Pension Plan or Canadian Benefit Plan have been paid in a timely fashion in accordance with the terms thereof, any funding agreement and all applicable laws.  There have been no improper withdrawals or applications of the assets of the Canadian Pension Plans or the Canadian Benefit Plans.  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.10(b) and other than routine claims for benefits, there are no outstanding disputes concerning the assets of the Canadian Pension Plans or the Canadian Benefit Plans.  There has been no partial termination of any Canadian Pension Plan and, to any Loan Party’s knowledge, no facts or circumstances have occurred or existed which could result in a partial termination of any Canadian Pension Plans.

Section 3.11Disclosure.  None of the reports, financial statements, certificates or other information furnished by or on behalf of any Loan Party to any Agent or any Lender in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading; provided that with respect to projected financial information, each Loan Party represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time. As of the Effective Date, to the best knowledge of the Borrowers, the information included in any Beneficial Ownership Certification provided on or prior to the Effective Date to any Lender in connection with this Agreement is true and correct in all respects.

Section 3.12Subsidiaries.  As of the date hereof, Schedule 3.12 is a complete list of each of the Administrative Borrower’s Subsidiaries and such Subsidiary’s jurisdiction of incorporation.

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Section 3.13Federal Regulations.  Neither the Administrative Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is engaged or will engage in any activities, nor shall use any portion of the proceeds of the Loans be used for any purpose, which in either case violate or are inconsistent with (i) the provisions of Regulations U and X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as now and from time to time hereafter in effect, or (ii) the regulations or other requirements of any Resolution Authority.

Section 3.14Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions.  Each Borrower has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance by such Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions, and each Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective officers and directors and to the knowledge of such Borrower its employees and agents, are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects.  None of (a) the Borrowers, any Subsidiary, any of their respective directors or officers or to the knowledge of such Borrower or such Subsidiary employees, or (b) to the knowledge of the Borrowers, any agent of the Borrowers or any Subsidiary that will act in any capacity in connection with or benefit from the credit facility established hereby, is a Sanctioned Person.   No Borrowing or Letter of Credit, use of proceeds or other transaction contemplated by this Agreement will violate any Anti-Corruption Law or applicable Sanctions.  The foregoing representations in this Section 3.16 will not apply to any party hereto to which Council Regulation (EC) 2271/96 (the “Blocking Regulation”) applies, if and to the extent that such representations are or would be unenforceable by or in respect of that party pursuant to, or would otherwise result in a breach and/or violation of, (i) any provision of the Blocking Regulation (or any law or regulation implementing the Blocking Regulation in any member state of the European Union and the United Kingdom) or (ii) any similar blocking or anti-boycott law in the United Kingdom following its exit from the European Union.

Section 3.15EEA Financial Institutions.  No Loan Party is an EEA Financial Institution.

Section 3.16Plan Assets; Prohibited Transactions.  None of the Borrowers or any of its Subsidiaries is an entity deemed to hold “plan assets” (within the meaning of the Plan Asset Regulations), and neither the execution, delivery nor  performance of the transactions contemplated under this Agreement, including the making of any Loan and the issuance of any Letter of Credit hereunder, will give rise to a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.

Article IV.
CONDITIONS

Section 4.1Effective Date.  The Existing Credit Agreement shall not be amended and restated, and the obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of each Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall not become effective, until the date on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 10.2):

(a)The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received from each party hereto either (i) a counterpart of the Loan Documents signed on behalf of such party or (ii) written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include telecopy or electronic transmission of a signed signature page of this Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of each Loan Document.

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(b)The Administrative Agent shall have received a written opinion (addressed to the Agents and the Lenders and dated the Effective Date) of (i) Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, counsel for the Administrative Borrower and each other Loan Party, substantially in the form of Exhibit B-1, (ii) Dentons Canada LLP, local counsel to the Canadian Borrowers, substantially in the form of Exhibit B-2, and (iii) NautaDutilh New York P.C., local counsel to IDEXX Europe B.V. and IDEXX Holding B.V. substantially in the form of Exhibit B-3, and, in each case, covering such other matters relating to each Loan Party, this Agreement or the Transactions as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request.  The Administrative Borrower hereby requests such counsel to deliver such opinion.

(c)The Administrative Agent shall have received such documents and certificates as the Administrative Agent or its counsel may reasonably request relating to the organization, existence and good standing of each Loan Party, the authorization of the Transactions and any other legal matters relating to the Loan Parties, this Agreement or the Transactions, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.

(d)The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, dated the Effective Date and signed by the President, a Vice President or a Financial Officer of the Administrative Borrower, confirming compliance with the conditions set forth in paragraphs (f) and (h) of this Section 4.1 and paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 4.2.

(e)The Administrative Agent shall have received all fees and other amounts due and payable pursuant to this Agreement on or prior to the Effective Date, including, to the extent invoiced, reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses required to be reimbursed or paid by the Administrative Borrower hereunder.

(f)The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence that all governmental and third party approvals necessary or, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, advisable in connection with the financing contemplated hereby and the continuing operations of the Administrative Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall have been obtained and be in full force and effect.

(g)The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) satisfactory audited consolidated financial statements of the Administrative Borrower for the two most recent fiscal years ended prior to the Effective Date as to which such financial statements are available and (ii) satisfactory unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of the Administrative Borrower for each quarterly period ended subsequent to the date of the latest financial statements delivered pursuant to the foregoing clause (i) as to which such financial statements are available.

(h)Since December 31, 2019, there shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Effect.

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(i)The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence satisfactory to it that, substantially simultaneously with the funding of any Loans on the Effective Date, all commitments under the Existing Credit Agreement (other than those continuing as Commitments under this Agreement) shall terminate and the applicable Borrower or Borrowers shall have repaid the principal of all outstanding loans thereunder and paid all accrued interest, fees and other amounts owing thereunder.  The Lenders that are Existing Lenders hereby waive (i) any provision under the Existing Credit Agreement requiring advance written notice in order to repay any “Loans” or terminate any “Commitments” under and as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement, it being understood that such “Commitments” (other than those continuing as Commitments under this Agreement) shall automatically terminate on the Effective Date and (ii) any breakage fees in respect of the repayment, on the Effective Date, of such outstanding “Loans” under and as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement.

(j)The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received (i) all documentation and other information reasonably requested by the Lenders or the Administrative Agent under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA Patriot Act, (ii) such other documents and instruments as are customary for transactions of this type or as they may reasonably request, (iii) to the extent any Borrower qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, at least five days prior to the Effective Date, any Lender that has requested, in a written notice to the Administrative Borrower at least 10 days prior to the Effective Date, a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to each Borrower shall have received such Beneficial Ownership Certification (provided that, upon the execution and delivery by such Lender of its signature page to this Agreement, the condition set forth in this clause (iii) shall be deemed to be satisfied).

(k)The Administrative Agent and its counsel shall have completed to their satisfaction a due diligence investigation of the Borrowers and the Subsidiaries in scope and determination satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion.

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

Section 4.2Each Credit Event.  The obligation of each Lender to make a Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing (but not any continuation or conversion of any Borrowing), and of each Issuing Bank to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit, is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

(a)The representations and warranties of the Loan Parties set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct on and as of the date of such Borrowing or the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable.

(b)At the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing or the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

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Each Borrowing and each issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Administrative Borrower on the date thereof as to the matters specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section.

Section 4.3Initial Credit Event for each Additional Borrower.  The obligation of each Lender to make Loans to any Borrower that becomes a Borrower after the Effective Date is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

(a)The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received such Borrower’s Borrower Joinder Agreement duly executed by all parties thereto.

(b)The Administrative Agent shall have received such documents (including such legal opinions) as the Administrative Agent or its counsel may reasonably request relating to the formation, existence and good standing of such Borrower, the authorization of the Transactions insofar as they relate to such Borrower and any other legal matters relating to such Borrower, its Borrower Joinder Agreement or such Transactions, including, with respect to any Borrower organized under the laws of any jurisdiction outside of the United States, a legal opinion from Borrower’s counsel in such jurisdiction, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.

(c)The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received all documentation and other information reasonably requested by the Lenders or the Administrative Agent under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA Patriot Act and Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

Article V.
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

Until the Commitments have expired or been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder shall have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit shall have expired or terminated and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, each Loan Party covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:

Section 5.1Financial Statements and Other Information.  The Administrative Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

(a)within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Administrative Borrower, its audited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all reported on by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or other independent public accountants of recognized national standing (without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception and without any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Administrative Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied;

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(b)within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Administrative Borrower, its consolidated balance sheet and related statements of income and cash flows as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year, all certified by one of its Financial Officers as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Administrative Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;

(c)concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under clause (a) or (b) above, a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Administrative Borrower (i) certifying as to whether a Default has occurred and, if a Default has occurred, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto, (ii) setting forth reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating compliance with Section 6.7 and (iii) stating whether any change in GAAP or in the application thereof has occurred since the date of the audited financial statements referred to in Section 3.4 and, if any such change has occurred, specifying the effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying such certificate;

(d)promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed by the Administrative Borrower or any Subsidiary with the SEC, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all of the functions of said Commission, or with any national securities exchange or any applicable securities commission in Canada, or distributed by the Administrative Borrower to its shareholders generally, as the case may be; and

(e)promptly following any request therefor, (x) such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of the Administrative Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of this Agreement, as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request and (y) information and documentation reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for purposes of compliance with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

Any delivery of the items required to be delivered by (i) clauses (a), (b), and (d) of this Section by the Administrative Borrower shall be deemed to have been delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders upon the filing of such items with the SEC or other applicable securities commission, provided that such items are readily available for public viewing on EDGAR, or (ii) clause (c) of this Section by the Administrative Borrower shall be deemed satisfied by delivery to the Administrative Agent of such items for posting to Intralinks or other such similar system (to the extent Intralinks or such other system has been established, is functioning and is accessible to each Lender).

Section 5.2Notices of Material Events.  The Administrative Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender prompt written notice of the following:

(a)the occurrence of any Default;

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(b)the filing or commencement of any action, suit or proceeding by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority against or affecting any Borrower or any Affiliate thereof that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

(c)the occurrence of any ERISA Event that, alone or together with any other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Administrative Borrower and its Subsidiaries with respect to any Plan in an aggregate amount exceeding US$12,500,000; and

(d)any other development that results in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.

Each notice delivered under this Section (i) shall be in writing, (ii) shall contain a heading or a reference line that reads “Notice under Section 5.2 of Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of April 14, 2020” and (iii) shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Administrative Borrower setting forth the details of the event or development requiring such notice and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.

Section 5.3Existence; Conduct of Business.  The Administrative Borrower (a) will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence and, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect the rights, licenses, permits, privileges and franchises material to the conduct of its business, and (b) except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence and the rights, licenses, permits, privileges and franchises material to the conduct of the business of the Administrative Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 6.3.

Section 5.4Payment of Obligations.  The Administrative Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, pay its obligations, including Tax liabilities, that, if not paid, could reasonably be likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (a) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (b) the Administrative Borrower or such Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP and (c) the failure to make payment pending such contest could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.5Maintenance of Properties; Insurance.  The Administrative Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, (a) keep and maintain all property material to the conduct of the business of the Administrative Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, and (b) maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance in such amounts and against such risks as are customarily maintained by companies engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations, except in the case of clause (a) herein, to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

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Section 5.6Books and Records; Inspection Rights.  The Administrative Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, keep proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries are made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities.  The Administrative Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, permit any representatives designated by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, upon at least 3 Business Days’ notice, to visit and inspect its properties, to examine and make extracts from its books and records, and to discuss its affairs, finances and condition with its officers and independent accountants (and hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent and each Lender to contact its independent accountants directly), all at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as reasonably requested, provided that such visits shall not occur more than once per calendar year unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (i) the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall, in the ordinary course, give the Administrative Borrower the opportunity, upon reasonable advance notice, to participate in any discussions with the independent accountants and officers of the Administrative Borrower and its Subsidiaries but shall have the right in its reasonable determination to have such discussions without such participation, and (ii) none of the Administrative Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries will be required to disclose, permit the inspection, examination or making copies or abstracts of, or discussion of, any document, information or other matter that (A) constitutes non-financial trade secrets or non-financial proprietary information, (B) in respect of which disclosure to the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or their respective representatives or contractors) is prohibited by law or any binding agreement or (C) is subject to attorney-client or similar privilege.

Section 5.7Compliance with Laws.  The Administrative Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply with all laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Administrative Borrower will maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance by the Administrative Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions.

Section 5.8Use of Proceeds and Letters of Credit.  The proceeds of the Loans will be used only for general corporate purposes of the Administrative Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including stock repurchases, acquisitions and the refinancing of other indebtedness (including any indebtedness and any other amounts outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement).  No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that entails a violation of any of the Regulations of the Board, including Regulations T, U and X.  The Borrowers will not request any Borrowing or Letter of Credit, and the Borrowers shall not use, and shall ensure that their Subsidiaries and their or their Subsidiaries’ respective directors, officers, employees and agents shall not use, the proceeds of any Borrowing or Letter of Credit (A) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws, (B) for the purpose of funding, financing or facilitating any activities, business or transaction of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country, except to the extent permitted for a Person required to comply with Sanctions, or (C) in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to any party hereto.  The foregoing clauses (B) and (C) of this 

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Section 5.8 will not apply to any party hereto to which the Blocking Regulation applies, if and to the extent that such representations are or would be unenforceable by or in respect of that party pursuant to, or would otherwise result in a breach and/or violation of, (i) any provision of the Blocking Regulation (or any law or regulation implementing the Blocking Regulation in any member state of the European Union or the United Kingdom) or (ii) any similar blocking or anti-boycott law in the United Kingdom following its exit from the European Union.

Section 5.9Additional Subsidiaries.  In the event the Administrative Borrower acquires or creates any Material US Subsidiaries or if any existing Subsidiary becomes a Material US Subsidiary after the Effective Date, the Administrative Borrower shall forthwith promptly (and in any event within 15 Business Days after knowledge of such Subsidiary being a Material US Subsidiary) cause such Subsidiary to become a Subsidiary Guarantor by execution and delivery of documentation as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request in connection therewith; provided that, at the reasonable discretion of the Administrative Agent, no such Material US Subsidiary shall be required to become a Subsidiary Guarantor to the extent that doing so would be reasonably likely to cause material adverse tax consequences to the Administrative Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and provided further that no such Subsidiary, that is a special purpose entity to be used solely for the purpose of engaging in Permitted Receivables Financings, will be required to become a Subsidiary Guarantor.

Article VI.
NEGATIVE COVENANTS

Until the Commitments have expired or terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit have expired or terminated and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, each Loan Party covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:

Section 6.1Indebtedness.  The Administrative Borrower will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness, except:

(a)Indebtedness created hereunder;

(b)Indebtedness existing on the date hereof and up to the full commitment with respect to such Indebtedness as set forth in Schedule 6.1 and any extensions, renewals or replacements of any such Indebtedness to the extent the principal amount thereof is not increased beyond the commitment amount set forth in Schedule 6.1;

(c)Indebtedness of any Subsidiary to a Borrower or any other Subsidiary;

(d)Guarantees by any Subsidiary of Indebtedness of a Borrower or any other Subsidiary;

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(e)Indebtedness of any Subsidiary incurred to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of any fixed or capital assets, including Capital Lease Obligations and any Indebtedness assumed in connection with the acquisition of any such assets, and extensions, renewals and replacements of any such Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof; provided that (i) such Indebtedness is incurred prior to or within 90 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness permitted by this clause (e) shall not exceed US$62,500,000 at any time outstanding;

(f)Cash Pooling Obligations (i) owing from any Subsidiary to another Subsidiary or (ii) owing from any Subsidiary to any third party financial institution providing the cash management services in an aggregate amount not exceeding the aggregate amount of cash and cash equivalents securing such Cash Pooling Obligations;

(g)Indebtedness of any Subsidiary as an account party in respect of issued and undrawn (i) standby letters of credit in an amount not to exceed US$12,500,000, and (ii) trade letters of credit; and

(h)additional Indebtedness of Subsidiaries in a principal amount not to exceed 10% of the Administrative Borrower’s consolidated assets as of the most recently ended fiscal quarter for which financial statements are available.

Section 6.2Liens.  The Administrative Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it, or assign or sell any income or revenues (including accounts receivable) or rights in respect of any thereof, except:

(a)Permitted Encumbrances;

(b)any Lien on any property or asset of the Administrative Borrower or any Subsidiary existing on the date hereof and set forth in Schedule 6.2; provided that (i) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or asset of the Administrative Borrower or any Subsidiary and (ii) to the extent such Lien is on assets of a Subsidiary, such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date hereof, up to the full commitment amount of Indebtedness as set forth on Schedule 6.1 or Schedule 6.2 and any extensions, renewals or replacements of any such Indebtedness to the extent the principal amount thereof is not increased beyond the commitment amount set forth on Schedule 6.1;

(c)any Lien existing on any property or asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Administrative Borrower or any Subsidiary or existing on any property or asset of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the date hereof prior to the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided that (i) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Person becoming a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (ii) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Administrative Borrower or any Subsidiary and (iii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary (or any refinancing or replacement of such obligation which does not increase the principal amount of any such obligations), as the case may be;

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(d)Liens on fixed or capital assets acquired, constructed or improved by the Administrative Borrower; provided that (i) such security interests and the Indebtedness secured thereby are incurred prior to or within 90 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement, (ii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the cost of acquiring, constructing or improving such fixed or capital assets, (iii) such security interests shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Administrative Borrower or any Subsidiary, and (iv) the Indebtedness secured thereby, together with the Indebtedness secured pursuant to Section 6.2(e), does not exceed US$125,000,000 in the aggregate;

(e)Liens on fixed or capital assets acquired, constructed or improved by any Subsidiary; provided that (i) to the extent such Lien is on assets of a Subsidiary, such security interests secure Indebtedness permitted by clause (e) of Section 6.1, (ii) such security interests and the Indebtedness secured thereby are incurred prior to or within 90 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement, (iii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the cost of acquiring, constructing or improving such fixed or capital assets and (iv) such security interests shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Administrative Borrower or any Subsidiary;

(f)Liens on any cash and cash equivalents securing Cash Pooling Obligations permitted by Section 6.1(f)(ii);

(g)Liens securing Indebtedness permitted by clause (h) of Section 6.1; 

(h)Liens against the assets of any Borrower that is an employer under a Canadian Pension Plan, in respect of employee contributions withheld or remitted, until such time as the contributions are due to be paid into the fund of a Canadian Pension Plan pursuant to applicable law; 

(i)any Lien arising under Article 24 or 26 of the general terms and conditions (Algemene Bank Voorwaarden) of any member of the Dutch Bankers’ Association (Nederlandse Vereniging van Banken) or any similar term applied by a financial institution in The Netherlands pursuant to its general terms and conditions; and

(j)(i) Liens on receivables and related assets arising in connection with a Permitted Receivables Financing, (ii) Liens created in connection with a disposition pursuant to a Permitted Receivables Financing, and (iii) Liens on shares of any special purpose entity in connection with a Permitted Receivables Financings; provided, however, that any Indebtedness secured by Liens permitted under this clause (j) together with all Indebtedness secured by Liens permitted under clause (g) of this Section, without duplication, shall not exceed 10% of the Administrative Borrower’s consolidated assets as of the most recently ended fiscal quarter for which financial statements are available.

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Section 6.3Fundamental Changes.  Except as set forth in Schedule 6.3, the Administrative Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, merge into or amalgamate or consolidate with any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into or amalgamate or consolidate with it, or sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or any substantial part of its assets, or all or substantially all of the stock of any of its Subsidiaries (in each case, whether now owned or hereafter acquired), or divide, liquidate or dissolve, except that, if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Default shall have occurred and be continuing:

(a)any Subsidiary that is not a Borrower may merge with any Borrower in a transaction in which a Borrower is the surviving corporation,

(b)any Subsidiary that is not a Borrower may merge with any Subsidiary that is not a Borrower in a transaction in which the surviving entity is a Subsidiary;

(c)any Subsidiary may merge with any Person in a transaction in which the surviving entity is a Subsidiary;

(d)any Borrower (other than the Administrative Borrower) may merge with any Person in a transaction in which the surviving entity is a Borrower and the Administrative Borrower may merge with any Person in a transaction in which the surviving entity is the Administrative Borrower;

(e)the Administrative Borrower and any Subsidiary may sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of its assets to a Borrower or to another Subsidiary;

(f)any Subsidiary that is not a Borrower may liquidate or dissolve if the Administrative Borrower determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of the Borrowers and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders;

(g)the Administrative Borrower and any Subsidiary may sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (in one transaction or in a series of transactions), assets and properties so long as the net book value of all such dispositions from and after the Effective Date, shall not, in the aggregate, exceed 25% of the Administrative Borrower’s consolidated tangible assets as set forth on the Administrative Borrower’s most recently delivered audited financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 4.1(g) and Section 5.1; and

(h)any Person may merge with and into any Borrower (provided that the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving entity) or any of its direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiaries (provided that the direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiaries shall be the continuing or surviving entity) in an Acquisition.

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Section 6.4Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions.  The Administrative Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, purchase, hold or acquire (including pursuant to any merger or amalgamation with any Person that was not a wholly owned Subsidiary prior to such merger or amalgamation) any capital stock, evidences of indebtedness or other securities (including any option, warrant or other right to acquire any of the foregoing) of, make or permit to exist any loans or advances to, Guarantee any obligations of, or make or permit to exist any investment or any other interest in, any other Person, or purchase or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) any assets of any other Person constituting a business unit, except:

(a)Permitted Investments;

(b)investments by the Administrative Borrower in its Subsidiaries (or Persons that become Subsidiaries at the time of such investment);

(c)investments by Subsidiaries in other Subsidiaries (or Persons that become Subsidiaries at the time of such investment);

(d)loans or advances made by a Borrower to any Subsidiary and made by any Subsidiary to a Borrower or any other Subsidiary;

(e)Guarantees constituting Indebtedness not prohibited by Section 6.1;

(f)investments pursuant to Acquisitions;

(g)investments in non-Subsidiaries (not constituting an Acquisition); provided, that all such investments after the date hereof shall not exceed, in the aggregate, an amount equal to 20% of the Administrative Borrower’s consolidated assets for the most recently ended fiscal quarter for which financial statements are available prior to such investment; 

(h)investments in and obligations under Swap Agreements that are not for speculative purposes; and

(i)investments, loans, advances, guarantees and acquisitions disclosed in Schedule 6.4.

Section 6.5Transactions with Affiliates.  The Administrative Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, sell, lease or otherwise transfer any property or assets to, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any of its Affiliates, except (a) in the ordinary course of business at prices and on terms and conditions not less favorable to the Administrative Borrower or such Subsidiary than could be obtained on an arm’s-length basis from unrelated third parties, (b) transactions between or among the Administrative Borrower and its wholly owned Subsidiaries not involving any other Affiliate, (c) transactions otherwise expressly permitted by this Article VI, (d) all transactions among or between the Administrative Borrower and/or one or more Subsidiaries are permitted if done in connection with a Permitted Receivables Financing, and (e) other transactions involving aggregate payments or other market value in an amount not to exceed US$25,000,000.

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Section 6.6Restrictive Agreements  The Administrative Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into, incur or permit to exist any agreement or other arrangement that prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon (a) the ability of the Administrative Borrower or any Subsidiary to create, incur or permit to exist any Lien securing the Obligations upon any of its property or assets, or (b) the ability of any Subsidiary to pay dividends or other distributions with respect to any shares of its capital stock or to make or repay loans or advances to the Administrative Borrower or any other Subsidiary or to Guarantee Indebtedness of the Administrative Borrower or any other Subsidiary; provided that (i) the foregoing clauses (a) and (b) shall not apply to restrictions and conditions imposed by law or by this Agreement, (ii) the foregoing clauses (a) and (b) shall not apply to restrictions and conditions (x) existing on the date hereof identified on Schedule 6.6 (but shall apply to any extension, renewal, amendment or modification, in each case, expanding the scope of, any such restriction or condition) or (y) pursuant to the provisions governing Indebtedness permitted pursuant to clause (f) or (h) of Section 6.1, so long as such restrictions are not more restrictive than any restriction in this Agreement, (iii) the foregoing clauses (a) and (b) shall not apply to customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of a Subsidiary pending such sale, provided such restrictions and conditions apply only to the Subsidiary that is to be sold and such sale is permitted hereunder, (iv) the foregoing clause (a) shall not apply to restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement if such restrictions or conditions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness; (v) the foregoing clause (a) shall not apply to customary provisions in leases, licenses and other contracts restricting the assignment thereof or the subject matter thereof; (vi) the foregoing clause (a) shall not apply to restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreement relating to any unsecured private placement Indebtedness of the Administrative Borrower or any Subsidiary to the extent that such agreement requires that the holders of such Indebtedness obtain at least pari passu benefit of any Lien granted to other senior unsecured creditors and (vii) the foregoing clauses (a) and (b) shall not apply to restrictions or conditions imposed on the Administrative Borrower and its Subsidiaries in connection with or in furtherance of any Permitted Receivables Financings.

Section 6.7Financial Covenants.  (a)  The Administrative Borrower will not permit the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as of the last day of any Reference Period to be greater than 3.50:1.00.

(b)For purposes of determining the Consolidated Leverage Ratio for any Reference Period, there shall be (i) included, at the Administrative Borrower’s discretion, in Consolidated EBITDA all Consolidated EBITDA attributable to any Person or business acquired by (and thereafter owned by) the Administrative Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Administrative Borrower during such period as if such Person or business had been acquired on the day before the first day of such period and (ii) excluded from such Consolidated EBITDA all Consolidated EBITDA attributable to any Person or business disposed of by the Administrative Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Administrative Borrower during such period as if such Person or business were disposed of on the first day of such period.  For purposes hereof, the Consolidated EBITDA attributable to any such acquired or disposed Person or business prior to the date of acquisition or disposition thereof shall be determined in a manner consistent with the method for determining Consolidated EBITDA hereunder.

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Section 6.8Sanctions Laws and Regulations.  (a)  The Administrative Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly, or indirectly, use the proceeds of the Loans, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Person, (i) to fund any activities or business of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any country or territory, that at the time of such funding is the subject of any Sanctions, or (ii) in any other manner that would result in a violation of any Sanctions by any party to any Loan Document.

(b)None of the funds or assets of any Borrower that are used to pay any amount due pursuant to any Loan Document shall constitute funds obtained from transactions with or relating to Sanctioned Persons that would result in a violation of any Sanctions by any party to any Loan Document.

Article VII.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT

Section 7.1Events of Default.  Each of the Following shall constitute an “Event of Default” (each, an “Event of Default”):

(a)any Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan or any reimbursement obligation in respect of any LC Disbursement when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment thereof or otherwise;

(b)any Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in clause (a) of this Article) payable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of three Business Days;

(c)any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Administrative Borrower or any Subsidiary in or in connection with this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any amendment or modification hereof or thereof or waiver hereunder or thereunder, or in any report, certificate, financial statement or other document furnished pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement, any Loan Document, or any amendment or modification thereof or waiver hereunder or thereunder, shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made;

(d)any Borrower or any Loan Party shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 5.2, 5.3 (with respect to any Borrower’s existence) or 5.8 or in Article VI;

(e)any Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in this Agreement (other than those specified in clause (a), (b) or (d) of this Article) or any other Loan Document, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 days after notice thereof from the Administrative Agent to any Borrower (which notice will be given at the request of any Lender);

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(f)any Borrower or any Subsidiary shall fail to make any payment (whether of principal or interest and regardless of amount) in respect of any Material Indebtedness, when and as the same shall become due and payable, beyond any applicable grace or cure period;

(g)any event or condition occurs (and continues beyond any applicable grace or cure period) that results in any Material Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or that enables or permits (with or without the giving of notice, the lapse of time or both) the holder or holders of any Material Indebtedness or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause any Material Indebtedness to become due, or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity; provided that this clause (g) shall not apply to (i) secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness, (ii) any requirement to deliver cash, shares of common stock of the Administrative Borrower or a combination of cash and shares of common stock of the Administrative Borrower to the holders of Convertible Indebtedness upon conversion thereof (other than any right to so convert such Indebtedness that is triggered by an event of default, a change of control or a similar event, however denominated), or (iii) any right of any holder of Convertible Indebtedness to require the repurchase, repayment or redemption of such Convertible Indebtedness on a predetermined date provided in the documentation for such Convertible Indebtedness (other than any right to so require the repurchase, repayment or redemption of such Convertible Indebtedness that is triggered by an event of default, a change of control or a similar event, however denominated) or, for the avoidance of doubt, any offer to repurchase, repay or redeem Convertible Indebtedness on such date or the delivery of a notice with respect thereto;

(h)an involuntary case, action or proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or other relief in respect of any Borrower or any Material Subsidiary or its debts, or of a substantial part of its assets, under any Federal, state, provincial or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect or (ii) the appointment of a receiver, interim receiver, receiver manager, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Borrowers or any Material Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, and, in any such case, such case, action, proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed for 60 days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;

(i)any Borrower or any Material Subsidiary shall (i) voluntarily commence any case, action or proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any Federal, state, provincial or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition described in clause (h) of this Article, (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, interim receiver, receiver manager, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for any Borrower or any Material Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such case, action or proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or (vi) take any action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing;

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(j)any Borrower or any Material Subsidiary shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts as they become due;

(k)one or more judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of US$25,000,000 shall be rendered against any Borrower, any Subsidiary or any combination thereof and the same shall remain undischarged for a period of 30 consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed, or any action shall be legally taken by a judgment creditor to attach or levy upon any assets of any Borrower or any Subsidiary to enforce any such judgment that is not promptly stayed;

(l)an ERISA Event shall have occurred that, when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability of any Borrower and its Subsidiaries with respect to any Plan, in an aggregate amount exceeding US$12,500,000 from and after the Effective Date;

(m)a Change in Control shall occur; or

(n)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, shall cease to be in full force and effect; or any Loan Party or any other Person shall contest in any manner the validity or enforceability of any Loan Document; or any Loan Party shall deny that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Loan Document, or shall purport to revoke, terminate or rescind any Loan Document.

Section 7.2Events of Default.  If an Event of Default occurs (other than an event with respect to any Borrower described in Sections 7.1(h) or 7.1(i)), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such Event of Default, the Administrative Agent may with the consent of the Required Lenders, and shall at the request of the Required Lenders, by notice to the Administrative Borrower, take any or all of the following actions, at the same or different times:

(a)terminate the Commitments, (including the Swingline Commitments and the Letter of Credit Commitments), and thereupon the Commitments shall terminate immediately, 

(b)declare the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), and thereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of each Borrower accrued hereunder and under any other Loan Document, shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrowers, and

(c)require cash collateral for the LC Exposure in accordance with Section 2.5(j) hereof; and

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(d)exercise on behalf of itself, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks all rights and remedies available to it, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks under the Loan Documents and Applicable Law.

If an Event of Default described in Sections 7.1(h) or 7.1(i) occurs with respect to any Borrower, the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of each Borrower accrued hereunder and under any other Loan Document including any break funding payment or prepayment premium, shall automatically become due and payable to a cash collateral account, and the obligation of the Borrowers to cash collateralize the LC Exposure as provided in clause (c) above shall automatically become effective, in each case, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrowers. 

Section 7.3Application of Payments.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, following the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, and notice thereof to the Administrative Agent by the Administrative Borrower or the Required Lenders:

(a)all payments received on account of the Obligations shall, subject to Section 2.23, be applied by the Administrative Agent as follows:

(i)first, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts payable to the Administrative Agent (including fees and disbursements and other charges of counsel to the Administrative Agent payable under Section 10.3 and amounts pursuant to Section 2.11 payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such);

(ii)second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, expenses, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal, reimbursement obligations in respect of LC Disbursements, interest and Letter of Credit fees) payable to the Lenders and the Issuing Banks (including fees and disbursements and other charges of counsel to the Lenders and the Issuing Banks payable under Section 10.3) arising under the Loan Documents, ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause (ii) payable to them;

(iii)third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid Letter of Credit fees and charges and interest on the Loans and unreimbursed LC Disbursements, ratably among the Lenders and the Issuing Banks in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause (iii) payable to them;

(iv)fourth, (A) to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans and unreimbursed LC Disbursements and (B) to cash collateralize that portion of LC Exposure comprising the undrawn amount of Letters of Credit to the extent not otherwise cash collateralized by the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.5 or 2.23, ratably among the Lenders and the Issuing Banks in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause (iv) 

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payable to them; provided that (x) any such amounts applied pursuant to subclause (B) above shall be paid to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the applicable Issuing Banks to cash collateralize Obligations in respect of Letters of Credit, (y) subject to Section 2.5 or 2.23, amounts used to cash collateralize the aggregate amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to this clause (iv) shall be used to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur and (z) upon the expiration of any Letter of Credit (without any pending drawings), the pro rata share of cash collateral shall be distributed to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth in this Section 7.3;

(v)fifth, to the payment in full of all other Obligations, in each case ratably among the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks based upon the respective aggregate amounts of all such Obligations owing to them in accordance with the respective amounts thereof then due and payable; and

(vi)finally, the balance, if any, after all Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, to the Borrowers or as otherwise required by law; and 

(b)if any amount remains on deposit as cash collateral after all Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired (without any pending drawings), such remaining amount shall be applied to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above. 

 

Article VIII.
THE AGENTS

Section 8.1Authorization and Action.  (a)  Each Lender and each Issuing Bank hereby irrevocably appoints each entity named as an Agent in the heading of this Agreement and its successors and assigns to serve as an agent under the Loan Documents and each Lender and each Issuing Bank authorizes such Agent to take such actions as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as are delegated to such Agent under such agreements and to exercise such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Without limiting the foregoing, each Lender and each Issuing Bank hereby authorizes each Agent to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, each of the Loan Documents to which the respective Agent is a party, and to exercise all rights, powers and remedies that such Agent may have under such Loan Documents.

(b)As to any matters not expressly provided for herein and in the other Loan Documents (including enforcement or collection), no Agent shall be required to exercise any discretion or take any action, but shall be required to act or to refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) upon the written instructions of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, pursuant to the terms in the Loan Documents), and, unless and until revoked in writing, such instructions shall be binding upon each Lender and each Issuing Bank; provided, however, that the no Agent shall be required to take any action that (i) such Agent in good faith believes exposes it to liability unless such Agent receive an indemnification and is exculpated in a manner satisfactory to it from the Lenders and the Issuing Banks with respect to such action or (ii) is 

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contrary to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or applicable law, including any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any requirement of law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any requirement of law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors; provided, further, that any Agent may seek clarification or direction from the Required Lenders prior to the exercise of any such instructed action and may refrain from acting until such clarification or direction has been provided.  Except as expressly set forth in the Loan Documents, no Agent shall have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrowers, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as Agent or any of their respective Affiliates in any capacity. Nothing in this Agreement shall require any Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

(c)In performing its functions and duties hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, each Agent is acting solely on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks (except in limited circumstances expressly provided for herein relating to the maintenance of the Register), and its duties are entirely mechanical and administrative in nature. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:

(i)No Agent assumes and shall not be deemed to have assumed any obligation or duty or any other relationship as the agent, fiduciary or trustee of or for any Lender, Issuing Bank or holder of any other obligation other than as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, regardless of whether a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing (and it is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” (or any similar term) herein or in any other Loan Document with reference to any Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary duty or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law, and that such term is used as a matter of market custom and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties); additionally, each Lender agrees that it will not assert any claim against any Agent based on an alleged breach of fiduciary duty by any Agent in connection with this Agreement and/or the transactions contemplated hereby; and

(ii)nothing in this Agreement or any Loan Document shall require any Agent to account to any Lender for any sum or the profit element of any sum received by any Agent for its own account;

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(d)Each Agent may perform any of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by it.  Each Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any of their respective duties and exercise their respective rights and powers through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of any Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities pursuant to this Agreement. No Agent shall be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agent except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and nonappealable judgment that such Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agent.

(e)None of any Syndication Agent, any Co-Documentation Agent or any Arranger shall have obligations or duties whatsoever in such capacity under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and shall incur no liability hereunder or thereunder in such capacity, but all such persons shall have the benefit of the indemnities provided for hereunder. No Arranger shall have no duties, responsibilities or obligations to, and no authority to act for, any other party to this Agreement by virtue of its status as Arranger hereunder.  

(f)In case of the pendency of any proceeding with respect to any Loan Party under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, each Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or any reimbursement obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether any  Agent shall have made any demand on any  Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered (but not obligated) by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

(i)to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, LC Disbursements and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and any Agent (including any claim under Sections 2.11, 2.12, 2.14, 2.16 and 10.3) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

(ii)to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; 

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and each Issuing Bank to make such payments to any Agent and, in the event that any Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, to pay to any Agent any amount due to it, in its capacity as Agent, under the Loan Documents (including under Section 10.3). Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Agents to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender or Issuing Bank any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or Issuing Bank or to authorize the Agents to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender or Issuing Bank in any such proceeding.

 

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(g)The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Agents, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, and, except solely to the extent of the Borrowers’ right to consent pursuant to and subject to the conditions set forth in this Article, none of the Borrowers or any Subsidiary, or any of their respective Affiliates, shall have any rights as a third party beneficiary under any such provisions. Each Credit Party, whether or not a party hereto, will be deemed, by its acceptance of the benefits of the Guarantees of the Obligations provided under the Loan Documents, to have agreed to the provisions of this Article.

Section 8.2Agents’ Reliance, Indemnification, Etc.  (a)  Neither the Agents nor any of their respective Related Parties shall be (i) liable to any Lender for any action taken or omitted to be taken by such party, any Agent or any of its Related Parties under or in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (x) with the consent of or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Agents shall believe in good faith to be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in the Loan Documents) or (y) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct (such absence to be presumed unless otherwise determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and non-appealable judgment) or (ii) responsible in any manner to any of the Lenders for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties made by any Loan Party or any officer thereof contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by any Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document or for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or for any failure of any Loan Party to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder.

(b)Each Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any (i) notice of any of the events or circumstances set forth or described in Section 5.2 unless and until written notice thereof stating that it is a “notice under Section 5.2” in respect of this Agreement and identifying the specific clause under said Section is given to the Administrative Agent by the Administrative Borrower, or (ii) notice of any Default or Event of Default unless and until written notice thereof (stating that it is a “notice of Default” or a “notice of an Event of Default”) is given to the Administrative Agent by the Administrative Borrower, a Lender or an Issuing Bank.  Further, no Agent shall be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with any Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered thereunder or in connection therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth in any Loan Document or the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, (iv) the sufficiency, validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere in any Loan Document, other than to confirm receipt of items (which on their face purport to be such items) expressly required to be delivered to the Agents or satisfaction of any condition that expressly refers to the matters described therein being acceptable or satisfactory to the Agents. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Agents shall not be liable for, or be responsible for any claim, liability, loss, cost or expense suffered by the Borrowers, any Subsidiary, any Lender or any Issuing Bank as a result of, any determination of the Revolving Credit Exposure, any of the component amounts thereof or any portion thereof attributable to each Lender or Issuing Bank, or any Exchange Rate or US Dollar Equivalent.

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(c)Without limiting the foregoing, the Agents (i) may treat the payee of any promissory note as its holder until such promissory note has been assigned in accordance with Section 10.4, (ii) may rely on the Register to the extent set forth in Section 10.4(b), (iii) may consult with legal counsel (including counsel to the Borrowers), independent public accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts, (iv) makes no warranty or representation to any Lender or Issuing Bank and shall not be responsible to any Lender or Issuing Bank for any statements, warranties or representations made by or on behalf of any Loan Party in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (v) in determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or an Issuing Bank, may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or Issuing Bank unless the Agents shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or Issuing Bank sufficiently in advance of the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit and (vi) shall be entitled to rely on, and shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by acting upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other instrument or writing (which writing may be a fax, any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) or any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper party or parties (whether or not such Person in fact meets the requirements set forth in the Loan Documents for being the maker thereof).

Section 8.3Posting of Communications.  (a)  Each Borrower agrees that any Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make any Communications available to the Lenders and the Issuing Banks by posting the Communications on IntraLinksTM, DebtDomain, SyndTrak, ClearPar or any other electronic platform chosen by the Administrative Agent to be its electronic transmission system (the “Approved Electronic Platform”).

(b)Although the Approved Electronic Platform and its primary web portal are secured with generally-applicable security procedures and policies implemented or modified by the Agents from time to time (including, as of the Effective Date, a user ID/password authorization system) and the Approved Electronic Platform is secured through a per-deal authorization method whereby each user may access the Approved Electronic Platform only on a deal-by-deal basis, each of the Lenders, each of the Issuing Banks and each Borrower acknowledges and agrees that the distribution of material through an electronic medium is not necessarily secure, that no Agent is responsible for approving or vetting the representatives or contacts of any Lender that are added to the Approved Electronic Platform, and that there may be confidentiality and other risks associated with such distribution. Each of the Lenders, each of the Issuing Banks and each Borrower hereby approves distribution of the Communications through the Approved Electronic Platform and understands and assumes the risks of such distribution.

(c)THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND THE COMMUNICATIONS ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE”. THE APPLICABLE PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE COMMUNICATIONS, OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND THE 

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COMMUNICATIONS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY THE APPLICABLE PARTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS OR THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM. IN NO EVENT SHALL ANY AGENT, ANY ARRANGER, ANY CO-DOCUMENTATION AGENT, ANY SYNDICATION AGENT OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE RELATED PARTIES (COLLECTIVELY, “APPLICABLE PARTIES”) HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO ANY LOAN PARTY, ANY LENDER, ANY ISSUING BANK OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT OR INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOSSES OR EXPENSES (WHETHER IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF ANY LOAN PARTY’S OR ANY AGENT’S TRANSMISSION OF COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH THE INTERNET OR THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM.

“Communications” means, collectively, any notice, demand, communication, information, document or other material provided by or on behalf of any Loan Party pursuant to any Loan Document or the transactions contemplated therein which is distributed by any Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank by means of electronic communications pursuant to this Section, including through an Approved Electronic Platform.

 

(d)Each Lender and each Issuing Bank agrees that notice to it (as provided in the next sentence) specifying that Communications have been posted to the Approved Electronic Platform shall constitute effective delivery of the Communications to such Lender for purposes of the Loan Documents. Each Lender and Issuing Bank agrees (i) to notify the Agents in writing (which could be in the form of electronic communication) from time to time of such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s (as applicable) email address to which the foregoing notice may be sent by electronic transmission and (ii) that the foregoing notice may be sent to such email address.

(e)Each of the Lenders, each of the Issuing Banks and each Borrower agrees that the Agents may, but (except as may be required by applicable law) shall not be obligated to, store the Communications on the Approved Electronic Platform in accordance with the Agents’ generally applicable document retention procedures and policies.

(f)Nothing herein shall prejudice the right of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank to give any notice or other communication pursuant to any Loan Document in any other manner specified in such Loan Document.

Section 8.4The Administrative Agent Individually.  With respect to its Commitment, Loans (including Swingline Loans), Letter of Credit Commitments and Letters of Credit, the Person serving as an Agent shall have and may exercise the same rights and powers hereunder and is subject to the same obligations and liabilities as and to the extent set forth herein for any other Lender or Issuing Bank, as the case may be. The terms “Issuing Banks”, “Lenders”, “Required Lenders” and any similar terms shall, unless the context clearly otherwise indicates, include such Agent in its individual capacity as a Lender, Issuing Bank or as one of the Required Lenders, as applicable. The Person serving as an Agent and its Affiliates may accept deposits 

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from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust or other business with, the Administrative Borrower, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing as if such Person was not acting as an Agent and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders or the Issuing Banks.

Section 8.5Successor Agent.  (a)  Each  Agent may resign at any time by giving 30 days’ prior written notice thereof to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Administrative Borrower, whether or not a successor Agent has been appointed. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders (in the case of a resignation by the Administrative Agent) or the Administrative Agent (in the case of a resignation by any other Agent) shall have the right, in consultation with the Administrative Borrower, to appoint a successor Agent. If no successor Agent shall have been so appointed, and shall have accepted such appointment, within 30 days after the retiring Agent’s giving of notice of resignation, then the retiring Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, appoint a successor Agent, which shall be a bank with an office in New York, New York or an Affiliate of any such bank. In either case, such appointment shall be subject to the prior written approval of the Administrative Borrower (which approval may not be unreasonably withheld and shall not be required while an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing). Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Agent by a successor Agent, such successor Agent shall succeed to, and become vested with, all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Agent. Upon the acceptance of appointment as Agent by a successor Agent, the retiring Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Prior to any retiring Agent’s resignation hereunder as Agent, the retiring Agent shall take such action as may be reasonably necessary to assign to the successor Agent its rights as Agent under the Loan Documents.

(b)Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this Section, in the event no successor Agent shall have been so appointed and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Agent gives notice of its intent to resign, the retiring Agent may give notice of the effectiveness of its resignation to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Administrative Borrower, whereupon, on the date of effectiveness of such resignation stated in such notice, (i) the retiring Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents; and (ii) the Required Lenders shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Agent; provided that (A) all payments required to be made hereunder or under any other Loan Document to such Agent for the account of any Person other than such Agent shall be made directly to such Person and (B) all notices and other communications required or contemplated to be given or made to such Agent shall directly be given or made to each Lender and each Issuing Bank. Following the effectiveness of such Agent’s resignation from its capacity as such, the provisions of this Article and Section 10.3, as well as any exculpatory, reimbursement and indemnification provisions set forth in any other Loan Document, shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring 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 Agent was acting as such Agent.

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Section 8.6Acknowledgements of Lenders and Issuing Banks.  (a)  Each Lender represents that it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans in the ordinary course of its business and that it has, independently and without reliance upon any Agent, any Arranger, any Syndication Agent, any Co-Documentation Agent or any other Lender, or any of the Related Parties of any of the foregoing, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement as a Lender, and to make, acquire or hold Loans hereunder. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon any Agent, any Arranger, any Syndication Agent, any Co-Documentation Agent or any other Lender, or any of the Related Parties of any of the foregoing, and based on such documents and information (which may contain material, non-public information within the meaning of the United States securities laws concerning the Borrowers and their Affiliates) as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

 

(b)Each Lender, by delivering its signature page to this Agreement on the Effective Date, or delivering its signature page to an Assignment and Assumption or any other Loan Document pursuant to which it shall become a Lender hereunder, shall be deemed to have acknowledged receipt of, and consented to and approved, each Loan Document and each other document required to be delivered to, or be approved by or satisfactory to, the Agents or the Lenders on the Effective Date.

Section 8.7Certain ERISA Matters.  (a)  Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, each Agent and each Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Administrative Borrower or any other Loan Party, that at least one of the following is and will be true:

 

(i)such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of the Plan Asset Regulations) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments, 

(ii)(ii) the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, 

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(iii)(A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, or

(iv)such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Agents, in their sole discretion, and such Lender.

(b)In addition, unless sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or such Lender has provided another representation, warranty and covenant as provided in sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, each Agent and each Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Administrative Borrower or any other Loan Party, that none of the Agents, or any Arranger, any Syndication Agent, any Co-Documentation Agent or any of their respective Affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Agents under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related to hereto or thereto).

Section 8.8No Fiduciary Capacity.  Each Agent, each Arranger, each Syndication Agent and each Co-Documentation Agent hereby informs the Lenders that each such Person is not undertaking to provide investment advice or to give advice in a fiduciary capacity, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and that such Person has a financial interest in the transactions contemplated hereby in that such Person or an Affiliate thereof (i) may receive interest or other payments with respect to the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments, this Agreement and any other Loan Documents (ii) may recognize a gain if it extended the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments for an amount less than the amount being paid for an interest in the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments by such Lender or (iii) may receive fees or other payments in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, the Loan Documents or otherwise, including structuring fees, commitment fees, arrangement fees, facility fees, upfront fees, underwriting fees, ticking fees, agency fees, administrative agent or collateral agent fees, utilization fees, minimum usage fees, letter of credit fees, fronting fees, deal-away or alternate transaction fees, amendment fees, processing fees, term out premiums, banker’s acceptance fees, breakage or other early termination fees or fees similar to the foregoing. Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that the extensions of credit made hereunder are commercial loans and letters of credit and not investments in a business enterprise or securities.  Each Lender further represents that it is engaged in making, acquiring or 

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holding commercial loans in the ordinary course of its business and has, independently and without reliance upon any Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement as a Lender, and to make, acquire or hold Loans hereunder.  Each Lender shall, independently and without reliance upon any Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information (which may contain material, non-public information within the meaning of the United States securities laws concerning the Administrative Borrower and its Affiliates) as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder and in deciding whether or to the extent to which it will continue as a Lender or assign or otherwise transfer its rights, interests and obligations hereunder.

Article IX.
GUARANTEE

In order to induce the Lenders to extend credit to the other Borrowers hereunder, the Administrative Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees, as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety, the payment when and as due of the Obligations of such other Borrowers.  The Administrative Borrower further agrees that the due and punctual payment of such Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice to or further assent from it, and that it will remain bound upon its guarantee hereunder notwithstanding any such extension or renewal of any such Obligation.

The Administrative Borrower waives presentment to, demand of payment from and protest to any Borrower of any of the Obligations, and also waives notice of acceptance of its obligations and notice of protest for nonpayment.  The obligations of the Administrative Borrower hereunder shall not be affected by (a) the failure of any Agent or Lender to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any right or remedy against any Loan Party under the provisions of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or otherwise, (b) any extension or renewal of any of the Obligations, (c) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of, or release from, any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement, or any other Loan Document or agreement, (d) any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of any of the Obligations or (e) any other act, omission or delay to do any other act which may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of the Administrative Borrower or otherwise operate as a discharge of a guarantor as a matter of law or equity or which would impair or eliminate any right of the Administrative Borrower to subrogation.

The Administrative Borrower further agrees that its agreement hereunder constitutes a guarantee of payment when due (whether or not any bankruptcy or similar proceeding shall have stayed the accrual or collection of any of the Obligations or operated as a discharge thereof) and not merely of collection, and waives any right to require that any resort be had by any Agent or Lender to any balance of any deposit account or credit on the books of any Agent or Lender in favor of any Borrower or any other Person.

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The obligations of the Administrative Borrower hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason (other than the indefeasible payment in full of all the Obligations owed by the Administrative Borrower to the Agents, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders), and shall not be subject to any defense or set-off, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever, by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of any of the Obligations, any impossibility in the performance of any of the Obligations or otherwise (other than for the indefeasible payment in full of all the Obligations owed by the Administrative Borrower to the Agents, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders).

The Administrative Borrower further agrees that its obligations hereunder shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of any Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by any Agent or Lender upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of any Borrower or otherwise.

In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right which any Agent or Lender may have at law or in equity against the Administrative Borrower by virtue hereof, upon the failure of any other Borrower to pay any Obligation when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, after notice of prepayment or otherwise, the Administrative Borrower hereby promises to and will, upon receipt of written demand by any Agent or Lender, forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, to the Applicable Agent or Lender in cash an amount equal to the unpaid principal amount of such Obligations then due, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon.  The Administrative Borrower further agrees that if payment in respect of any Obligation shall be due in a currency other than US Dollars and/or at a place of payment other than New York and if, by reason of any Change in Law, disruption of currency or foreign exchange markets, war or civil disturbance or other event, payment of such Obligation in such currency or at such place of payment shall be impossible or, in the reasonable judgment of any Agent or Lender, not consistent with the protection of its rights or interests, then, at the election of the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Borrower shall make payment of such Obligation in US Dollars (based upon the applicable Exchange Rate in effect on the date of payment) and/or in New York, and shall indemnify each Agent and Lender against any losses or reasonable out-of-pocket expenses that it shall sustain as a result of such alternative payment.

The Administrative Borrower  guarantees that the Obligations of the other Borrowers shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of the Facilities.  The liability of the Administrative Borrower  under this Article IX is absolute and unconditional irrespective of: (a) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Facility Documents or Liabilities, or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to departure from any of the terms of any Facility Document or Liability, including any increase or decrease in the rate of interest thereon; (b) any release or amendment or waiver of, or consent to departure from, any other guaranty or support document, or any exchange, release or non-perfection of any collateral, for all or any of the Facility Documents or Liabilities; (c) any present or future law, regulation or order of any jurisdiction (whether of right or in fact) or of any agency thereof purporting to reduce, amend, restructure or otherwise affect any term of any Facility Document or Liability; (d) without being limited by the foregoing, any lack of validity or enforceability of any Facility Document or Liability; and (e) any other setoff, defense or counterclaim whatsoever (in any case, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory) with respect to the Facility Documents or the transactions contemplated thereby which might constitute a legal or equitable defense available to, or discharge of, the Borrowers.

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Upon payment by the Administrative Borrower of any sums as provided above, all rights of the Administrative Borrower against any Borrower arising as a result thereof by way of right of subrogation or otherwise shall in all respects be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior indefeasible payment in full of all the Obligations owed by such Borrower to the Agents, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders.

Nothing shall discharge or satisfy the liability of the Administrative Borrower hereunder except the full performance and payment of the Obligations.

Article X.
MISCELLANEOUS

Section 10.1Notices.  (a)  Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and subject to paragraph (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopy, as follows:

(i)if to the Administrative Borrower, to it at One IDEXX Drive, Westbrook, Maine 04092, Attention of Chief Financial Officer (Telecopy No.  (207) 556-4347); with a copy to Office of General Counsel.

(ii)if to the Administrative Agent, to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Loan and Agency Servicing Team – Wholesale Lending Services, 10 South Dearborn St, Floor L2, Chicago, IL 60603, Attention:  Michael Stevens, (Telecopy No.  (844) 490-5663); with a copy to Goulston & Storrs, 885 Third Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, New York 10022, Attention of Philip Herman (Telecopy No.  (212) 878-6911);

(iii)if to the Issuing Bank, to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Attention:  Loan and Agency Servicing Team, 10 South Dearborn St. Floor  L2, Chicago, IL 60603-2003, Attention:  Chicago LC Agency Activity Team  (Telecopy No.  (888) 292-9533);

(iv)if to the Toronto Agent, to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Toronto Branch, 10 South Dearborn, L2, Chicago, IL 60603, Attention of Jessica Gallegos (Telecopy No.  (844) 235-1788), with a copy to the Administrative Agent as provided under clause (ii) above;

(v)if to the Swingline Lender, to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Loan and Agency Services Group, 10 South Dearborn, L2 floor, Chicago, IL 60603, Attention of Michael Stevens (Telecopy No.  (844) 490-5663); and

(vi)if to any other Lender, or any Issuing Bank, to it at its address (or telecopy number) set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire.

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Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by facsimile shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient).  Notices delivered through Approved Electronic Platforms, to the extent provided in paragraph (b) below, shall be effective as provided in said paragraph (b).

(b)Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the Issuing Bank hereunder may be delivered or furnished using Approved Electronic Platforms pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices pursuant to Article II unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lender.  Each Agent or the Administrative Borrower may, 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.  

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

(d)Any party hereto may change its address or telecopy number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.

Section 10.2Waivers; Amendments.  (a)  No failure or delay by any Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power.  The rights and remedies of the Agents, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders hereunder are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have.  No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by any Loan Party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan or issuance of a Letter of Credit shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether any Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Bank may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time.

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(b)Subject to Section 2.13(c) and (d) and  Section 10.2(c) below, neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Administrative Borrower and the Required Lenders or by the Administrative Borrower and the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided that no such agreement shall (i) increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender, (ii) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iii) postpone the scheduled date of payment of the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement, or any interest thereon, or any fees payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date of expiration of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iv) change Section 2.8(c) or Section 2.17(b) or (c) in a manner that would alter the ratable reduction of Commitments or the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender, (v) change the payment waterfall provisions of Section 2.23(b) or 7.3 or any provisions of Article IX without the written consent of each Lender, (vi) change any of the provisions of this Section or the definition of “Required Lenders”, “Alternative Currency” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder without the written consent of each Lender, (vii) except as otherwise expressly permitted in any Loan Document (including Section 2.21 hereof), release any Borrower from its obligations under any Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender, or (viii) except as otherwise expressly permitted in any Loan Document (including Section 10.15 hereof), release all or substantially all of the Subsidiary Guarantors from their respective obligations under the Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement or limit their liability in respect thereof or their obligation to become a party thereto, without the written consent of each Lender; provided further that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of any Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender hereunder without the prior written consent of such Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender, as the case may be; and provided further that no such agreement shall amend or modify the provisions of Section 2.5 without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Banks.

(c)If the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Borrower acting together identify any ambiguity, omission, mistake, typographical error or other defect in any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, then the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Borrower shall be permitted to amend, modify or supplement such provision in a manner that is not adverse to the Lenders to cure such ambiguity, omission, mistake, typographical error or other defect, and such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement.

Section 10.3Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.  (a) The Administrative Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Agents and their Affiliates, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of one primary counsel for the Agents and one local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction material to the interests of the Agents and Lenders taken as a whole, in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not 

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the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by each Issuing Bank in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Agents, each Issuing Bank or any Lender, including the fees, charges and disbursements of one primary counsel for the Agents, each Issuing Bank or any Lender and one local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction material to the interests of the Agents and Lenders taken as a whole, in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights after a Default in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder after a Default, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit. 

(b)The Administrative Borrower shall indemnify the Agents, each Issuing Bank, each Arranger, each Syndication Agent, each Documentation Agent and each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses, including the fees, charges and disbursements of one primary counsel for any Indemnitee and one local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction material to the interests of the Indemnitees taken as a whole, incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee 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 or any other transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by an Issuing Bank to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Administrative Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Administrative Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation, arbitration or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether or not such claim, litigation, investigation, arbitration or proceeding is brought by a Borrower or any other Loan Party or its or their respective equity holders, Affiliates, creditors or any other third Person and whether based on contract, tort or any other theory and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto and regardless of whether commenced by any Borrower or any Related Party of any Borrower or by a third party; 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 non-appealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence, bad faith breach of contract or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or (y) result from claims by one Lender against another Lender which do not involve an act or omission of any Borrower or any Related Party of any Borrower (excluding claims against any Indemnitee in its capacity or fulfilling its role as an Agent or an Issuing Bank hereunder).  This Section 10.3(b) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses or damages arising from any non-Tax claim.

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(c)Each Lender severally agrees to pay any amount required to be paid by the Administrative Borrower under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 10.3 to each Agent, each Issuing Bank and each Swingline Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each, an “Agent Indemnitee”) (to the extent not reimbursed by the Administrative Borrower and without limiting the obligation of the Administrative Borrower to do so), ratably according to their respective Applicable Percentage in effect on the date on which indemnification is sought under this Section (or, if indemnification is sought after the date upon which the Commitments shall have terminated and the Loans shall have been paid in full, ratably in accordance with such Applicable Percentage immediately prior to such date), from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any kind whatsoever that may at any time (whether before or after the payment of the Loans) be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against such Agent Indemnitee in any way relating to or arising out of the Commitments, this Agreement, any of the other Loan Documents or any documents contemplated by or referred to herein or therein or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or any action taken or omitted by such Agent Indemnitee under or in connection with any of the foregoing; provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against such Agent Indemnitee in its capacity as such; provided further that no Lender shall be liable for the payment of any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements that are found by a final and nonappealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from such Agent Indemnitee’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.  The agreements in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

(d)To the extent permitted by applicable law (i) no Borrower shall assert, and the Borrowers hereby waive, any claim against any Indemnitee for any damages arising from the use by others of information or other materials obtained through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems (including the Internet), and (ii) no party hereto shall assert, and each such party hereby waives, any claim against any other party hereto, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the Transactions, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof; provided that, nothing in this clause (d)(ii) shall relieve any Borrower of any obligation it may have to indemnify an Indemnitee against special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages asserted against such Indemnitee by a third party.

(e)All amounts due under this Section shall be payable promptly after written demand therefor.

Section 10.4Successors and Assigns.  (a)  The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of an Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), except that (i) the Loan Parties may not assign or otherwise transfer any of their rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by a Loan Party without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section.  Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted 

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hereby (including any Affiliate of an Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), Participants (to the extent provided in paragraph (c) of this Section) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Agents, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

(b)(i) Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph (b)(ii) below, any Lender may assign to one or more Persons (other than an Ineligible Assignee) all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment, participations in Letters of Credit and the Loans at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) of:

(A)the Administrative Borrower; provided that the Administrative Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to an assignment unless it shall have objected thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within five (5) Business Days after having received notice thereof; and provided further, that no consent of the Administrative Borrower shall be required if (I) the assignee is a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, and in each case (x) agrees to maintain any Loans to the Canadian Borrowers at its Canadian Lending Office until any Event of Default occurs and (y) demonstrates to the reasonable satisfaction of the Administrative Borrower that it can lend funds denominated in Alternative Currencies without additional cost to the Borrowers, or (II) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;

(B)the Administrative Agent;

(C)the Swingline Lender; and

(D)each Issuing Bank.

(ii)Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:

(A)except in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment or Loans of any Class, the amount of the Commitment or Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than US$5,000,000 unless each of the Administrative Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent; provided that no such consent of the Administrative Borrower shall be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;

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(B)each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement;

(C)the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent (x) an Assignment and Assumption or (y) to the extent applicable, a binding agreement enforceable by the Administrative Borrower incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and the parties to the Assignment and Assumption are participants, together with a processing and recordation fee of US$3,500; 

(D)the assignee shall deliver to the Administrative Agent, withholding agent and/or applicable Borrower, as applicable, any documentation required by Section 2.16(f);

(E)the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire in which the assignee designates one or more credit contacts to whom all syndicate- level information (which may contain material non-public information about the Administrative Borrower, the other Loan Parties and their related parties or their respective securities) will be made available and who may receive such information in accordance with the assignee’s compliance procedures and applicable laws, including Federal and state securities laws; and

(F)other than assignments to an existing Lender, assignments to Lenders that will acquire a position of the Obligations of a Dutch Borrower shall only be permitted if the person to whom a position of the Obligations is assigned is a Qualifying Lender at all times.

(iii)Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (b)(iv) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.14, 2.15, 2.16, 2.19 and 10.3).  Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 10.4 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (c) of this Section.

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(iv)The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Administrative Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitment of, and principal amount (and stated interest) of the Loans and LC Disbursements owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”).  The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Administrative Borrower, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary.  The Register shall be available for inspection by the Administrative Borrower, the Issuing Bank and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

(v)Upon its receipt of a duly completed (x) Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee or (y) to the extent applicable, a binding agreement enforceable by the Administrative Borrower incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and the parties to the Assignment and Assumption are participants), the assignee's completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in clause (ii)(C) of this paragraph (b) and any written consent to such assignment required by clause (i) of this paragraph (b), the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register; provided that if either the assigning Lender or the assignee shall have failed to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Sections 2.4(c), 2.5(d) or (e), 2.6(b), 2.17(d) or 10.3(c), the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information therein in the Register unless and until such payment shall have been made in full, together with all accrued interest thereon.  No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph.

(c)Any Lender may, without the consent of the Administrative Borrower, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (a “Participant”), other than an Ineligible Assignee, in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans owing to it); provided that (A) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (C) the Administrative Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.  Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the 

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consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in the first proviso to Section 10.2(b) that affects such Participant.  The Administrative Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.14, 2.15, 2.16 and 2.19 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 2.16(f) (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 2.16(f) shall be delivered to the participating Lender and the Administrative Borrower)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section; provided that (i) such Participant agrees to be subject to the provisions of Section 2.17 and Section 2.18 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this Section, (ii) such Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.14, 2.16 or 2.19, with respect to any participation, than its participating Lender would have been entitled to receive, including, for the avoidance of doubt, any payment that the participating Lender would have been entitled to receive as a result of a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquires the applicable participation, and (iii) the Administrative Borrower has been notified of such participation and all relevant details with respect thereto.  Each Lender that sells a participation agrees, at the Administrative Borrower’s request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Administrative Borrower to effectuate the provisions of Section 2.18(b) with respect to any Participant.  To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.8 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.17(c) 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 Borrowers, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any Commitments, Loans, Letters of Credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such Commitment, Loan, Letter of Credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations.  The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

(d)Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank, and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

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(e)On one or more occasions, one or more Additional Lenders may be admitted as Lenders party to this Agreement in connection with an increase of the total Commitment pursuant to Section 2.22, subject to (i) execution and delivery by any such Additional Lender to the Administrative Agent, for recording in the Register, of an Instrument of Adherence substantially in the form of Exhibit G hereto (an “Instrument of Adherence”), (ii) acceptance of such Instrument of Adherence by each of the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Borrower by their respective executions thereof, and (iii) the completion of an Administrative Questionnaire by such Additional Lender promptly delivered to the Administrative Agent.  Upon the satisfaction of the foregoing conditions, from and after the effective date specified in each such Instrument of Adherence, the Additional Lender shall be a Lender party hereto and have the rights and obligations of a Lender hereunder.

Section 10.5Survival.  All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Borrowers and the Loan Parties herein and in the other Loan Documents and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of any Loans and issuance of any Letters of Credit (regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that any Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder), and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and unpaid or any Letter of Credit is outstanding and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated.  The provisions of Sections 2.12(h), 2.14, 2.15, 2.16, 2.19 and 10.3 and Article VIII shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Letters of Credit and the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

Section 10.6Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution.  (a)  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract.  This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any separate letter agreements with respect to (i) fees payable to the Agents or any Issuing Bank and (ii) the reductions of the Letter of Credit Commitment of any Issuing Bank constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof.  Except as provided in Section 4.1, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

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(b)Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of the actual executed signature page shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.  The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to any  document to be signed in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be deemed to include Electronic Signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable Law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act; provided that nothing herein shall require the Agents to accept electronic signatures in any form or format without its prior written consent.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Borrowers hereby (i) agree that, for all purposes, including without limitation, in connection with any workout, restructuring, enforcement of remedies, bankruptcy proceedings or litigation among the Agents, the Lenders and the Loan Parties, electronic images of this Agreement or any other Loan Documents (in each case, including with respect to any signature pages thereto)  shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as any paper original, and (ii) waives any argument, defense or right to contest the validity or enforceability of the Loan Documents based solely on the lack of paper original copies of any Loan Documents, including with respect to any signature pages thereto.

Section 10.7Severability.  Any provision of this Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.

Section 10.8Right of Setoff.   Subject to the provisions of Section 10.18 hereof, if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, each Issuing Bank and each of its Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other obligations at any time owing, by such Lender, such Issuing Bank or any such Affiliate, to or for the credit or the account of any Borrower against any and all of the obligations of any Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender,  or such Issuing Bank or their respective Affiliates, irrespective of whether or not such Lender, Issuing Bank or Affiliate shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of any Borrower may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch office or Affiliate of such Lender or such Issuing Bank different from the branch office or Affiliate holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness; provided that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so setoff shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.23 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 Agents, the Issuing Banks, and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff.  Subject to the provisions of Section 10.18 hereof, the rights of each Lender, each Issuing Bank and each of its Affiliates 

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under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, such Issuing Bank or their respective Affiliates may  have.  Each Lender and Issuing Bank agrees to notify the Administrative Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Administrative Agent and each Lender hereby waive and release any lien arising under Article 24 of the general terms and conditions (Algemene Bank Voorwaarden) of any member of the Dutch Bankers’ Association (Nederlandse Vereniging van Banken) (but not its right of setoff) with respect to the accounts of any Loan Party, but only to the extent that such lien would otherwise secure the obligations of such Loan Party hereunder.

Section 10.9Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process.  (a)  This Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York.

(b)Each of the Lenders and the Agents hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that, notwithstanding the governing law provisions of any applicable Loan Document, any claims brought against the Agents by any Credit Party relating to this Agreement, any other Loan Document or the consummation or administration of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York.

(c)Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York sitting in the Borough of Manhattan (or if such court lacks subject matter jurisdiction, the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in the Borough of Manhattan), and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions relating hereto or thereto, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may (and any such claims, cross-claims or third party claims brought against the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties may only) be heard and determined in such Federal (to the extent permitted by law) or New York State court.  Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.  Nothing in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document shall affect any right that any Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement against the Borrowers, any other Loan Party or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

(d)Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document in any court referred to in paragraph (c) of this Section.  Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

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(e)Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 10.1.  Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

Section 10.10WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).  EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

Section 10.11Headings.  Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

Section 10.12Confidentiality.  (a)  Each of the Agents, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (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 requested by any Governmental Authority (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party to this Agreement, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the enforcement of rights hereunder or under any other Loan Document, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Administrative Borrower and its obligations, (g) with the consent of the Administrative Borrower or (h) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (ii) becomes available to any Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Administrative Borrower.  For the purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Administrative Borrower relating to the Administrative Borrower or its business, other than any such information that is available to any Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Administrative Borrower and other than information pertaining to this Agreement routinely provided by arrangers to data service providers, including league table providers, that serve the lending industry.  Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be 

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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 Agents, Issuing Bank, and the Lenders agrees to use reasonable commercial efforts (if it may legally do so) to provide prior notice of any disclosure of Information pursuant to clauses (b) or (c) above.

(b)EACH LENDER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT INFORMATION AS DEFINED IN SECTION 10.12(a) FURNISHED TO IT PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY INCLUDE MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION CONCERNING THE ADMINISTRATIVE BORROWER AND ITS RELATED PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE SECURITIES, AND CONFIRMS THAT IT HAS DEVELOPED COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES REGARDING THE USE OF MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION AND THAT IT WILL HANDLE SUCH MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THOSE PROCEDURES AND APPLICABLE LAW, INCLUDING FEDERAL, PROVINCIAL, TERRITORIAL AND STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

(c)ALL INFORMATION, INCLUDING REQUESTS FOR WAIVERS AND AMENDMENTS, FURNISHED BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE BORROWER OR THE AGENTS PURSUANT TO, OR IN THE COURSE OF ADMINISTERING, THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE SYNDICATE-LEVEL INFORMATION, WHICH MAY CONTAIN MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE ADMINISTRATIVE BORROWER, THE OTHER LOAN PARTIES AND THEIR RELATED PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE SECURITIES.  ACCORDINGLY, EACH LENDER REPRESENTS TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE BORROWER AND EACH AGENT THAT IT HAS IDENTIFIED IN ITS ADMINISTRATIVE QUESTIONNAIRE A CREDIT CONTACT WHO MAY RECEIVE INFORMATION THAT MAY CONTAIN MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES AND APPLICABLE LAW.

Section 10.13Interest Rate Limitation.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan, together with all fees, charges and other amounts which are treated as interest on such Loan under applicable law (collectively the “Charges”), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the “Maximum Rate”) which may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the Lender holding such Loan in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan hereunder, together with all Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect of such Loan but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender in respect of other Loans or periods shall be increased (but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the NYFRB Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.

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Section 10.14Conversion of Currencies.  (a)  If, for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court, it is necessary to convert a sum owing hereunder in one currency into another currency, each party hereto agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so, that the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures in the relevant jurisdiction the first currency could be purchased with such other currency on the Business Day immediately preceding the day on which final judgment is given.

(b)The obligations of each party hereto in respect of any sum due to any other party hereto or any holder of the obligations owing hereunder (the “Applicable Creditor”) shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency (the “Judgment Currency”) other than the currency in which such sum is stated to be due hereunder (the “Agreement Currency”), be discharged only to the extent that, on the Business Day following receipt by the Applicable Creditor of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency, the Applicable Creditor may in accordance with normal banking procedures in the relevant jurisdiction 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 Applicable Creditor in the Agreement Currency, the Administrative Borrower agrees, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the Applicable Creditor against such loss.  The obligations of each party hereto contained in this Section 10.14 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of all other amounts owing hereunder.

Section 10.15Releases of Guarantees.  (a)  In the event of a disposition of all the Equity Interests in a Subsidiary Guarantor to a Person other than the Administrative Borrower or an Affiliate of the Administrative Borrower in a transaction not prohibited by any covenant contained in this Agreement, the Administrative Agent is hereby directed and authorized to take such action and to execute such documents as the Administrative Borrower may reasonably request, at the Administrative Borrower’s sole expense, to evidence or effect the release of the Guarantee by such Subsidiary Guarantor under the Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement.

(b)Without limiting the provisions of Section 10.5, the Administrative Borrower shall reimburse the Administrative Agent for all costs and expenses, including attorney’s fees and disbursements, incurred by it in connection with any action contemplated by this Section 10.15.

Section 10.16USA PATRIOT Act.  Each Lender that is subject to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 (the “Patriot Act”) hereby notifies each of the Loan Parties that pursuant to the requirements of the Patriot Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Loan Parties, which information includes the name and address of each Loan Party and other information that will allow such Lender to identify such Loan Party in accordance with the Patriot Act.

Section 10.17No Fiduciary Duty, etc.  (a)  Each Loan Party acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Subsidiaries’ understanding, that no Credit Party will have any obligations except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents and each Credit Party is acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length contractual counterparty to the Loan Parties with respect to the Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated herein and therein and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to, or an agent of, such Loan Party or any 

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other person.  The Loan Parties agree that it will not assert any claim against any Credit Party based on an alleged breach of fiduciary duty by such Credit Party in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.  Additionally, each Loan Party acknowledges and agrees that no Credit Party is advising such Loan Party as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting, regulatory or any other matters in any jurisdiction.  Each Loan Party shall consult with its own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making its own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated herein or in the other Loan Documents, and the Credit Parties shall have no responsibility or liability to such Loan Party with respect thereto.

(b)Each Loan Party further acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Subsidiaries’ understanding, that each Credit Party, together with its Affiliates, is a full service securities or banking firm engaged in securities trading and brokerage activities as well as providing investment banking and other financial services.  In the ordinary course of business, any Credit Party may provide investment banking and other financial services to, and/or acquire, hold or sell, for its own accounts and the accounts of customers, equity, debt and other securities and financial instruments (including bank loans and other obligations) of, the Loan Parties and other companies with which the Loan parties may have commercial or other relationships.  With respect to any securities and/or financial instruments so held by any Credit Party or any of its customers, all rights in respect of such securities and financial instruments, including any voting rights, will be exercised by the holder of the rights, in its sole discretion.

(c)In addition, each Loan Party acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Subsidiaries’ understanding, that each Credit Party and its affiliates may be providing debt financing, equity capital or other services (including financial advisory services) to other companies in respect of which the Loan Parties may have conflicting interests regarding the transactions described herein and otherwise.  No Credit Party will use confidential information obtained from the Loan Parties by virtue of the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents or its other relationships with the Loan Parties in connection with the performance by such Credit Party of services for other companies, and no Credit Party will furnish any such information to other companies.  Each Loan Party also acknowledges that no Credit Party has any obligation to use in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents, or to furnish to such Loan Party, confidential information obtained from other companies.

Section 10.18Liability for Obligations.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement or in the other Loan Documents to the contrary, the parties agree that: (a) the Foreign Subsidiaries shall not be liable for any obligation of the Administrative Borrower or any US Subsidiary Borrower arising under or with respect to any of the Loan Documents; (b) each Foreign Borrower shall be severally liable only for the obligations of such Foreign Borrower; and (c) no Agent or Lender, or any Affiliate thereof, may set-off or apply any deposits of a Foreign Subsidiary or any other obligations at the time owing to or for the credit of the account of any Foreign Subsidiary by such Agent, Lender of Affiliate thereof, against any or all of the obligations of the Administrative Borrower or any US Subsidiary Borrower.

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Section 10.19Representation of Dutch Borrower.  If a Dutch Borrower is represented by an attorney in connection with the signing and/or execution of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, it is hereby expressly acknowledged and accepted by the other parties to this Agreement or any other Loan Document that the existence and extent of the attorney’s authority and the effects of the attorney’s exercise or purported exercise of his authority shall be governed by the laws of the Netherlands.

Section 10.20Canadian Anti-Money Laundering Legislation.  (a)  The Loan Parties acknowledge that, pursuant to the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (Canada) and other applicable Canadian anti-money laundering, anti-terrorist financing, government sanction and “know your client” laws (collectively, including any guidelines or orders thereunder, “AML Legislation”), the Credit Parties may be required to obtain, verify and record information regarding the Loan Parties, their directors, authorized signing officers, direct or indirect shareholders or other Persons in control of the Loan Parties, and the transactions contemplated hereby.  The Loan Parties shall promptly provide all such information in their possession, including supporting documentation and other evidence, as may be reasonably requested by any Credit Parties, or any prospective assignee or participant of a Credit Party, in order to comply with any applicable AML Legislation, whether now or hereafter in existence.

(b)If the Administrative Agent has ascertained the identity of any Loan Party or any authorized signatories of any Loan Party for the purposes of applicable AML Legislation, then the Administrative Agent:

(i)shall be deemed to have done so as an agent for each Credit Party, and this Agreement shall constitute a “written agreement” in such regard between the Administrative Agent and each other Credit Party within the meaning of the applicable AML Legislation; and

(ii)shall provide to each Credit Party copies of all information obtained in such regard without any representation or warranty as to its accuracy or completeness.

Notwithstanding the preceding sentence and except as may otherwise be agreed in writing, each of the Credit Parties agrees that the Administrative Agent has no obligation to ascertain the identity of any Loan Party or any authorized signatories of any Loan Party on behalf of any Credit Party, or to confirm the completeness or accuracy of any information it obtains from any Loan Party or any such authorized signatory in doing so.

Section 10.21Existing Credit Agreement Amended and Restated.  On the Effective Date, (a) this Agreement shall amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement in its entirety but, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not constitute a novation, discharge, rescission, extinguishment or substitution of the parties’ rights and obligations thereunder, (b) the respective “Commitments” thereunder (and as defined therein) shall automatically continue as “Commitments” herein, (c) the rights and obligations of the parties hereto evidenced by the Existing Credit Agreement shall be evidenced by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and (d) the “Revolving Loans” under (and as defined in) the Existing Credit Agreement shall remain outstanding and be 

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continued as, and converted to, Revolving Loans hereunder (and in the case of Revolving Loans that are Eurocurrency Loans, with the same Interest Periods or the remaining portions of such Interest Periods, as applicable, established therefor under the Existing Credit Agreement), and shall bear interest and be subject to such other fees as set forth in this Agreement.  In connection with the foregoing, (x) all such Loans and all participations in Letters of Credit and LC Exposure that are continued hereunder shall immediately upon the effectiveness of this Agreement, to the extent necessary to ensure the Lenders hold such Loans and participations ratably, be reallocated among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages, as evidenced on Schedule 2.1, (y) each applicable Lender to whom Loans are so reallocated shall make full cash settlement on the Effective Date, through the Administrative Agent, as the Administrative Agent may direct with respect to such reallocation, in the aggregate amount of the Loans so reallocated to each such Lender, and (z) each applicable Lender hereby waives any breakage fees in respect of such reallocation of Eurocurrency Loans on the Effective Date.  All interest and fees and expenses, if any, owing or accruing under or in respect of the Existing Credit Agreement to the Effective Date shall be calculated as of the Effective Date (pro-rated in the case of any fractional periods), and shall be paid on the Effective Date.

Section 10.22Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any Lender that is an EEA Affected Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the write-down and conversion powers of an EEA the applicable Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

(a) the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by an EEA the applicable Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any Lender that is an EEA Affected Financial Institution; and

(b)the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:

(i)a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;

(ii)a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such EEA Affected Financial Institution, its parent undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or

(iii)the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the write-down and conversion powers of any EEA the applicable Resolution Authority.

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Section 10.23Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs.  To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for Swap Agreements or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support “QFC Credit Support” and each such QFC a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the “U.S. Special Resolution Regimes”) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Loan Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States):

In the event a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a “Covered Party”) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Loan Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Loan Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Defaulting Lender shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support.

 

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

 

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

IDEXX LABORATORIES, INC.

 

By: /s/ Brian P. McKeon
Name: Brian P. McKeon

	
 
	
Title:
	
Executive Vice President, Chief 

Financial Officer

 

IDEXX DISTRIBUTION, INC.

 

By: /s/ Brian P. McKeon
Name:Brian P. McKeon

Title:Treasurer

 

IDEXX OPERATIONS, INC.

 

By: /s/ Brian P. McKeon
Name:Brian P. McKeon

Title:Treasurer

 

OPTI MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.

 

By: /s/ Brian P. McKeon
Name:Brian P. McKeon

Title:Treasurer

 

IDEXX LABORATORIES CANADA CORPORATION

 

By: /s/ Brian P. McKeon
Name:Brian P. McKeon

Title:Chairman of the Board and President

 

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (JPM/IDEXX THIRD A&R)]

 

IDEXX EUROPE B.V.

 

By: /s/ Lily Lu
Name:Lily Lu

Title:   Managing Director

 

IDEXX HOLDING B.V.

 

By IDEXX Europe B.V.

 

 

By: /s/ Lily Lu
Name:Lily Lu

Title:   Managing Director

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (JPM/IDEXX THIRD A&R)]

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Lender, Issuing Bank and Administrative Agent

 

 

By: /s/ David Hyman
      Name:  David Hyman

      Title:    Executive Director 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (JPM/IDEXX THIRD A&R)]

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., Toronto Branch, as Toronto Agent

 

 

By: /s/ Nauman Muzaffar
      Name:  Nauman Muzaffar

      Title:   Executive Director

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (JPM/IDEXX THIRD A&R)]

 

LENDER:

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.

 

By: ______/s/ Robert C. Megan_________

      Name:  Robert C. Megan

      Title:    Senior Vice President

 

CANADIAN LENDING OFFICE

 

BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL

ASSOCIATION, by its Canada Branch

 

 

By: __/s/ Medina Sales de Andrade_____________

      Name:  Medina Sales de Andrade

      Title:    Vice President

 

 

 

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (JPM/IDEXX THIRD A&R)]

 

LENDER:

 

KeyBank National Association

 

By: ______/s/ Neil C. Buitenhuys_________

      Name:  Neil C. Buitenhuys

      Title:    Senior Vice President

 

CANADIAN LENDING OFFICE

 

KeyBank National Association

 

 

By: ______/s/ Neil C. Buitenhuys_________

      Name:  Neil C. Buitenhuys

      Title:    Senior Vice President

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (JPM/IDEXX THIRD A&R)]

 

LENDER:

 

MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.

 

By: ______/s/ Teuta Ghilaga_________

      Name:  Teuta Ghilaga

      Title:    Director

 

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (JPM/IDEXX THIRD A&R)]

 

LENDER:

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

By: ______/s/ Robert J. Winters_________

      Name:  Robert J. Winters

      Title:    Vice President

 

CANADIAN LENDING OFFICE

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

Acting through its Canadian Branch:

 

By: ______/s/ Robert J. Winters_________

      Name:  Robert J. Winters

      Title:    Vice President

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (JPM/IDEXX THIRD A&R)]

 

LENDER:

 

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

 

By: ______/s/ Robert Small_________

      Name:  Robert Small

      Title:    Senior Vice President

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (JPM/IDEXX THIRD A&R)]

 

LENDER:

 

Citibank, N.A.

 

By: ______/s/ Stephen White_________

      Name:  Stephen White

      Title:    Authorized Signer

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (JPM/IDEXX THIRD A&R)]

 

LENDER:

 

HSBC Bank USA N.A.,

 

By: ______/s/ Shaun Kleinman_________

      Name:  Shaun Kleinman

      Title:    Senior Vice President

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (JPM/IDEXX THIRD A&R)]

 

LENDER:

 

PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

By: ______/s/ Eileen P. Murphy_________

      Name:  Eileen P. Murphy

      Title:    Vice President

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (JPM/IDEXX THIRD A&R)]

 

LENDER:

 

TD Bank, N.A.

 

By: ______/s/ Shivani Agarwal_________

      Name:  Shivani Agarwal

      Title:    Senior Vice President

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (JPM/IDEXX THIRD A&R)]

 

LENDER:

 

Truist Bank

 

By: ______/s/ Matthew J. Davis_________

      Name:  Matthew J. Davis

      Title:    Senior Vice President

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (JPM/IDEXX THIRD A&R)]

 

LENDER:

 

FIFTH THIRD BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

By: ______/s/ Matthew J. Davis_________

      Name:  Vera B. McEvoy

      Title:    Director

 

 

CANADIAN LENDING OFFICE:

 

FIFTH THIRD BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, CANADA BRANCH

 

By: ______/s/ Steven Blazevic_________

      Name:  Steven Blazevic

      Title:    Senior Vice President

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (JPM/IDEXX THIRD A&R)]

 

LENDER:

 

Santander Bank N.A

 

By: ______/s/ Benjamin Hildreth_________

      Name:  Benjamin Hildreth

      Title:    Vice President

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (JPM/IDEXX THIRD A&R)]

 

LENDER:

 

THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA

 

By: ______/s/ Robb Gass_________

      Name:  Robb Gass

      Title:    Managing Director

 

 

CANADIAN LENDING OFFICE:

 

[THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA]

 

By: ______/s/ Robb Gass_________

      Name:  Robb Gass

      Title:    Managing Director

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (JPM/IDEXX THIRD A&R)]

 

LENDER:

 

People’s United Bank, National Association

 

By: ______/s/ Kathryn Williams_________

      Name:  Kathryn Williams

      Title:    SVP

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (JPM/IDEXX THIRD A&R)]

 

LENDER:

 

SOCIETE GENERALE

 

By: ______/s/ Kimberly Metzger_________

      Name:  Kimberly Metzger

      Title:    Director

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (JPM/IDEXX THIRD A&R)]

 

LENDER:

 

The Huntington National Bank

 

By: ______/s/ Scott Pritchett_________

      Name:  Scott Pritchett

      Title:    Staff Officer

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

This Assignment and Assumption (the “Assignment and Assumption”) is dated as of the Effective Date set forth below and is entered into by and between [Insert name of Assignor] (the “Assignor”) and [Insert name of Assignee] (the “Assignee”).  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement identified below  (as amended, the “Credit Agreement”), receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by the Assignee.  The Standard Terms and Conditions set forth in Annex 1 attached hereto are hereby agreed to and incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Assignment and Assumption as if set forth herein in full.

For an agreed consideration, the Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to the Assignee, and the Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from the Assignor, subject to and in accordance with the Standard Terms and Conditions and the Credit Agreement, as of the Effective Date inserted by the Administrative Agent as contemplated below (i) all of the Assignor’s rights and obligations in its capacity as a Lender under the Credit Agreement and any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto to the extent related to the amount and percentage interest identified below of all of such outstanding rights and obligations of the Assignor under the respective facilities identified below (including any letters of credit, guarantees, and swingline loans included in such facilities) and (ii) to the extent permitted to be assigned under applicable law, all claims, suits, causes of action and any other right of the Assignor (in its capacity as a Lender) against any Person, whether known or unknown, arising under or in connection with the Credit Agreement, any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto or the loan transactions governed thereby or in any way based on or related to any of the foregoing, including contract claims, tort claims, malpractice claims, statutory claims and all other claims at law or in equity related to the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clause (i) above (the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above being referred to herein collectively as the “Assigned Interest”).  Such sale and assignment is without recourse to the Assignor and, except as expressly provided in this Assignment and Assumption, without representation or warranty by the Assignor.

 

	
1.
	
 
	
Assignor:
	
 
	
[__________]

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
2.
	
 
	
Assignee:
	
 
	
[__________]

[and is an Affiliate/Approved Fund of [identify Lender]1]

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
3.
	
 
	
Borrowers:
	
 
	
IDEXX LABORATORIES, INC.; IDEXX DISTRIBUTION, INC.; IDEXX OPERATIONS, INC.; OPTI MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.; IDEXX LABORATORIES CANADA CORPORATION; IDEXX EUROPE B.V.; and IDEXX HOLDING B.V.

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
	 

	
1 
	
 Select as applicable.

Exhibit A – Page 1

 

 

	
4.
	
 
	
Administrative Agent:
	
 
	
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 
as the administrative agent under the Credit Agreement

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
5.
	
 
	
Credit Agreement:
	
 
	
The Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of April 14, 2020, among IDEXX LABORATORIES, INC., the other Borrowers named therein, the Lenders parties thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Toronto Branch, as Toronto Agent.

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
6.
	
 
	
Assigned Interest:
	
 
	
 

 

 

			
	
Aggregate Amount of Commitment/Loans for all Lenders
	
Amount of Commitment/Loans Assigned
	
Percentage Assigned of Commitment/Loans2

	
$
	
$
	
%

 

Effective Date:  [__________], 20[__] [TO BE INSERTED BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND WHICH SHALL BE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF RECORDATION OF TRANSFER IN THE REGISTER THEREFOR]

The Assignee agrees to deliver to the Administrative Agent a completed Administrative Questionnaire in which the Assignee designates one or more credit contacts to whom all syndicate-level information (which may contain material non-public information about the Administrative Borrower, the other Loan Parties and their Related Parties or their respective securities) will be made available and who may receive such information in accordance with the Assignee’s compliance procedures and applicable laws, including Federal and state securities laws.

The terms set forth in this Assignment and Assumption are hereby agreed to:

 

	
ASSIGNOR

	
[NAME OF ASSIGNOR]

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
 
	
 

	
Name:
	
 
	
 

	
Title:
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
ASSIGNEE

	
[NAME OF ASSIGNEE]

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
 
	
 

	
Name:
	
 
	
 

	
Title:
	
 
	
 

 

	
	 

	
2 
	
 Set forth, to at least 9 decimals, as a percentage of the Commitment/Loans of all Lenders thereunder.

Exhibit A – Page 2

 

 

Consented to and Accepted:

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A,

as Administrative Agent

 

 

	
By:
	
 
	
 

	
Name:
	
 
	
 

	
Title:
	
 
	
 

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

as Issuing Bank

 

 

	
By:
	
 
	
 

	
Name:
	
 
	
 

	
Title:
	
 
	
 

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

as Swingline Lender

 

 

	
By:
	
 
	
 

	
Name:
	
 
	
 

	
Title:
	
 
	
 

 

[Consented to:]3

IDEXX LABORATORIES, INC.,

as Administrative Borrower

 

 

	
By:
	
 
	
 

	
Name:
	
 
	
 

	
Title:
	
 
	
 

 

 

 

	
	 

	
3 
	
  To be added only if the consent of the Administrative Borrower is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement.

Exhibit A – Page 3

 

 

ANNEX 1

STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR 
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

1.Representations and Warranties.

1.1.Assignor.  The Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of the Assigned Interest, (ii) the Assigned Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim and (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; and (b) assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Loan Documents or any collateral thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of the Borrowers, any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person obligated in respect of any Loan Document or (iv) the performance or observance by the Borrowers, any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person of any of their respective obligations under any Loan Document.

1.2.Assignee.  The Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it satisfies the requirements, if any, specified in the Credit Agreement that are required to be satisfied by it in order to acquire the Assigned Interest and become a Lender, [including, without limitation, that it can lend funds denominated in Alternative Currencies without additional cost to the Borrowers,]4 (iii) from and after the Effective Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement as a Lender thereunder and, to the extent of the Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder, (iv) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a) and 5.1(b) thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase the Assigned Interest on the basis of which it has made such analysis and decision independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, and (v) attached to the Assignment and Assumption is any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by the Assignee; and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan Documents, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

	
	 

	
4 
	
 To be added if required under Section 10.4(b)(i)(A) of the Credit Agreement.

Exhibit A – Page 4

 

 

2.Payments.  From and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments in respect of the Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to the Assignor for amounts which have accrued to but excluding the Effective Date and to the Assignee for amounts which have accrued from and after the Effective Date.

3.General Provisions. This Assignment and Assumption shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.  This Assignment and Assumption may be executed in any number of counterparts, which together shall constitute one instrument.  Acceptance and adoption of the terms of this Assignment and Assumption by the Assignee and the Assignor by Electronic Signature or delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment and Assumption by any Electronic System shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Assumption.  This Assignment and Assumption shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

 

Exhibit A – Page 5

 

 

EXHIBIT B-1

FORM OF OPINION (US)

1.Each DE Obligor is a corporation validly existing and in good standing under the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”).

2.Each DE Obligor has the requisite corporate power, and has taken all corporate action necessary to authorize it, to execute, and deliver each of the Financing Documents to which it is a party and to perform its obligations thereunder to which it is a party.

3.Each DE Obligor has duly executed and delivered each of the Financing Documents to which it is a party.

4.The execution and delivery by each Obligor of the Financing Documents to which it is a party and the performance by each Obligor of its obligations thereunder:

	
 
	
(a)
	
in the case of each DE Obligor, do not contravene any provision of the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of such DE Obligor,

	
 
	
(b)
	
do not violate the laws, or regulations of any governmental authority or unit, of the United States of America or the State of New York or, in the case of the DE Obligors, the provisions of the DGCL applicable to such Obligor or its property and do not, require under such laws or regulations any filing or registration by such Obligor with, or approval or consent to such Obligor of, any such governmental authority or unit that has not been made or obtained except (i) those required in the ordinary course of business in connection with the performance by such Obligor of its obligations under certain covenants contained in the Financing Documents, and (ii) pursuant to securities and other laws that may be applicable to the disposition of any collateral subject thereto, and

	
 
	
(c)
	
do not breach or cause a default under any agreement and do not violate any court decree or order, in each case binding upon such Obligor or its property (this opinion being limited (x) to those agreements, decrees, or orders, if any, that have been identified to us in the Officer’s Certificate and (y) in that we express no opinion with respect to any of the foregoing not readily ascertainable from the face of any such agreement, decree, or order, or arising under or based upon any cross default provision insofar as it relates to a default under an agreement not so identified to us, or arising under or based upon any provision of a financial or numerical nature or requiring computation).

5.The Notes, upon delivery thereof, and the making of the initial loan evidenced thereby, will be, and each of the other Financing Documents, is, a valid and binding obligation of each Obligor that is a party thereto enforceable against such Obligor in accordance with its terms.

Exhibit B-1 – Page 1

 

 

6.The borrowings by the Company on the date hereof under the Financing Agreement and the application of the proceeds thereof as provided therein do not violate Regulations U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

7.No Obligor is an “investment company” registered or required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

1.

Exhibit B-1 – Page 2

 

 

EXHIBIT B-2

FORM OF OPINION (CANADA)

1.The Corporation is incorporated and validly subsisting under the laws of Canada.

2.The Corporation has the corporate power and corporate capacity to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Credit Documents and to own its properties and assets and to carry on its business.

3.Each of the Credit Documents has been duly executed and delivered by the Corporation.

4.The execution and delivery by the Corporation of each of the Credit Documents and the performance by the Corporation of its obligations thereunder have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and will not violate (a) the articles or by-laws of the Corporation or (b) any requirement of Ontario Law applicable to the Corporation.

5.No authorization, consent, permit or approval of, or other action by, or filing with or notice to, any governmental agency or authority, regulatory body, court, tribunal or other similar entity having jurisdiction in the Province of Ontario is required in connection with the authorization, execution and delivery by the Corporation of the Credit Documents or the performance by the Corporation of its obligations thereunder.

6.No stamp, registration, documentary or other similar tax, duty or fee is payable under the laws of the Province of Ontario in connection with the execution and delivery of the Credit Documents or the performance by the Corporation of its obligations thereunder.

7.In any proceeding in a court of competent jurisdiction in the Province of Ontario (an “Ontario Court”) for the enforcement of the Credit Agreement, the Ontario Court would apply the laws of the State of New York (“Foreign Law”), in accordance with the parties’ choice of Foreign Law in the Credit Agreement, to all issues which, under Ontario Law, are to be determined in accordance with the chosen law of the contract, provided that:

(a)the parties’ choice of Foreign Law is bona fide and legal and there is no reason for avoiding the choice on the grounds of Ontario public policy, as such term is interpreted under Ontario Law (“Public Policy”); and

(b)in any such proceeding, and notwithstanding the parties’ choice of law, the Ontario Court:

(i)will not take judicial notice of the provisions of Foreign Law but will only apply such provisions if they are pleaded and proven by expert testimony;

(ii)will not apply any Foreign Law and will apply Ontario Law to matters which would be characterized under Ontario Law as procedural;

(iii)will apply provisions of Ontario Law that have overriding effect;

Exhibit B-2 – Page 1

 

 

(iv)will not apply any Foreign Law if such application would be characterized under Ontario law as the direct or indirect enforcement of a foreign revenue, expropriatory, penal or other public law or if its application would be contrary to Public Policy; and

(v)will not enforce the performance of any obligation that is illegal under the laws of any jurisdiction in which the obligation is to be performed.

8.An Ontario Court would give a judgment based upon a final and conclusive in personam judgment of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County, the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York or any appellate court from any thereof for a sum certain, obtained against the Corporation with respect to a claim arising out of the Credit Agreement (a “Foreign Judgment”), without reconsideration of the merits,

(a)provided that:

(a)an action to enforce the Foreign Judgment is commenced in the Ontario Court within any applicable limitation period;

(b)the Ontario Court has discretion to stay or decline to hear an action on the Foreign Judgment if the Foreign Judgment is under appeal, or there is another subsisting judgment in any jurisdiction relating to the same cause of action;

(c)the Ontario Court will render judgment only in Canadian dollars; and

(d)an action in an Ontario Court on the Foreign Judgment may be affected by bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally; and

(b)subject to the following defenses: 

(i)the Foreign Judgment was obtained by fraud or in a manner contrary to the principles of natural justice;

(ii)the Foreign Judgment is for a claim which under Ontario Law would be characterized as based on a foreign revenue, expropriatory, penal or other public law;

(iii)the Foreign Judgment is contrary to Public Policy or to an order made by the Attorney General of Canada under the Foreign Extraterritorial Measures Act (Canada) or by the Competition Tribunal under the Competition Act (Canada) in respect of certain judgments referred to therein; and

(iv)the Foreign Judgment has been satisfied or is void or voidable under the Law of the State of New York.

 

 

Exhibit B-2 – Page 2

 

 

EXHIBIT B-3

FORM OF OPINION (NETHERLANDS)

	
1.
	
Each Dutch Company is validly existing as a besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid.

	
2.
	
Each Dutch Company has the corporate power to enter into the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and the Notes and to perform its obligations thereunder. Neither Dutch Company violates any provision of its Articles of Association by entering into the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and the Notes or performing its obligations thereunder.

	
3.
	
Each Dutch Company has taken all corporate action required by its Articles of Association and Dutch law in connection with entering into the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and the Notes.

	
4.
	
Each of the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and the Notes have been validly signed on behalf of each Dutch Company.

	
5.
	
The choice of the laws of the State of New York to govern the obligations of each Dutch Company under the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and the Notes is recognised under Dutch law and will be given effect to by the Dutch courts.

	
6.
	
The entering into of the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and the Notes by each Dutch Company does not in itself result in a violation of Dutch law.

	
7.
	
No authorisation, consent, approval, licence or order from or notice to or filing with any regulatory or other authority or governmental body of the Netherlands is required by any Dutch Company in connection with its entering into the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and the Notes or the performance of its obligations thereunder.

	
8.
	
The agreement conferring jurisdiction in the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement is recognised under Dutch law.

	
9.
	
The Dutch Companies do not enjoy any right of immunity from legal proceedings in the Netherlands in relation to the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement or the Notes, they cannot claim immunity from the enforcement of judgments of Dutch courts and their assets located in the Netherlands do not enjoy immunity from attachment or enforcement in the Netherlands.

Exhibit B-3 – Page 1

 

 

	
10.
	
A judgment of the New York Courts cannot be enforced in the Netherlands. In order to obtain a judgment in respect of the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement that can be enforced in the Netherlands against a Dutch Company, the dispute will have to be re-litigated before the competent Dutch court. This court will have discretion to attach such weight to the judgment of the New York Courts as it deems appropriate. Given the submission by each Dutch Company to the jurisdiction of the New York Courts, the Dutch courts can be expected to give conclusive effect to a final and enforceable judgment of such court in respect of the obligations under the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement without re-examination or re-litigation of the substantive matters adjudicated upon. This would require (i) the court involved accepted jurisdiction on the basis of an internationally recognized ground to accept jurisdiction, (ii) the proceedings before such court to have complied with principles of proper procedure (behoorlijke rechtspleging), (iii) such judgment not being contrary to the public policy of the Netherlands and (iv) such judgment not being incompatible with a judgment given between the same parties by a Dutch court or with a prior judgment given between the same parties by a foreign court in a dispute concerning the same subject matter and based on the same cause of action, provided such prior judgment is recognisable in the Netherlands. 

Exhibit C – Page 1

 

 

EXHIBIT C

FORM OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEE AGREEMENT

subsidiary GUARANTEE AGREEMENT

SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (this “Guaranty”) dated as of April 14, 2020, made by the undersigned (the “Guarantors”) in favor of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (together with its successor(s) thereto, in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”), each other Agent and the Lenders under the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Administrative Borrower”), each Guarantor, IDEXX Laboratories Canada Corporation, a company formed under the laws of Canada (“IDEXX Canada”), IDEXX Europe B.V., a private limited liability company formed under the laws of the Netherlands, IDEXX HOLDING B.V., a private limited liability company formed under the laws of the Netherlands (collectively with the Administrative Borrower, each Guarantor, IDEXX Canada and all other Persons who hereafter may be designated as a Borrower pursuant to Section 2.21 thereof, the “Borrowers”), the Lenders party thereto, the Administrative Agent, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Toronto Branch, as the Toronto Agent (collectively with the Administrative Agent, the “Agents”).  Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS:

The Agents and the Lenders have entered into certain arrangements with the Borrowers as more fully set forth in the Credit Agreement, providing for credit extensions or financial accommodation to the Borrowers, including but not limited to the making of loans, advances or overdrafts, issuance or confirmation of letters of credit, guaranties or indemnities (collectively, the “Facilities”) (any writing evidencing or supporting the Facilities, including but not limited to this Guaranty, as such writing may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, a “Facility Document”).  The Administrative Borrower owns a substantial amount of the stock or other ownership interests of the Guarantors and is financially interested in their affairs.  The Administrative Borrower and the Guarantors are engaged in interrelated businesses, and each Guarantor will derive substantial direct and indirect benefit from extensions of credit under the Credit Agreement.

THEREFORE, in order to induce the Agents and the Lenders to extend credit or give financial accommodation under the Facilities, the Guarantors agree as follows:

Section 1.  Guaranty of Payment.  Each Guarantor unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees to each of the Agents, in their individual capacities, and the Lenders, the punctual payment of all sums now owing or which may in the future be owing by the Borrowers (other than such Guarantor) under the Facilities, when the same are due and payable, whether on demand, at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, and whether for principal, interest, fees, expenses, indemnification or otherwise (all of the foregoing sums being the “Liabilities”).  The Liabilities include, without limitation, interest accruing after the commencement of a proceeding under bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws of any jurisdiction at the rate or rates provided in 

Exhibit C – Page 2

 

 

the Facility Documents.  This Guaranty is a guaranty of payment and not of collection only.  The Agents and the Lenders shall not be required to exhaust any right or remedy or take any action against the Borrowers or any other person or entity or any collateral.  Each Guarantor agrees that, as between the Guarantors, the Agents and the Lenders, the Liabilities may be declared to be due and payable for the purposes of this Guaranty notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition which may prevent, delay or vitiate any declaration as regards the Borrowers and that in the event of a declaration or attempted declaration, the Liabilities shall immediately become due and payable by such Guarantor for the purposes of this Guaranty.

Section 2.  Guaranty Absolute.  Each Guarantor guarantees that the Liabilities shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of the Facilities.  The liability of each Guarantor under this Guaranty is absolute and unconditional irrespective of: (a) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Facility Documents or Liabilities, or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to departure from any of the terms of any Facility Document or Liability, including any increase or decrease in the rate of interest thereon; (b) any release or amendment or waiver of, or consent to departure from, any other guaranty or support document, or any exchange, release or non-perfection of any collateral, for all or any of the Facility Documents or Liabilities; (c) any present or future law, regulation or order of any jurisdiction (whether of right or in fact) or of any agency thereof purporting to reduce, amend, restructure or otherwise affect any term of any Facility Document or Liability; (d) without being limited by the foregoing, any lack of validity or enforceability of any Facility Document or Liability; and (e) any other setoff, defense or counterclaim whatsoever (in any case, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory) with respect to the Facility Documents or the transactions contemplated thereby which might constitute a legal or equitable defense available to, or discharge of, the Borrowers.

Section 3.  Guaranty Irrevocable.  This Guaranty is a continuing guaranty of the payment of all Liabilities now or hereafter existing under the Facilities and shall remain in full force and effect until payment in full of all Liabilities and until all the Commitments have been terminated.

Section 4.  Reinstatement.  This Guaranty shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any payment of any of the Liabilities is rescinded or must otherwise be returned by the Administrative Agent on the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Borrowers or otherwise, all as though the payment had not been made.

Section 5.  Subrogation.  No Guarantor shall exercise any rights which it may acquire by way of subrogation, by any payment made under this Guaranty or otherwise, until all the Liabilities have been paid in full and the Facilities are no longer in effect.  If any amount is paid to any Guarantor on account of subrogation rights under this Guaranty at any time when all the Liabilities have not been paid in full, the amount shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Agents and the Lenders and shall be promptly paid to the Administrative Agent to be credited and applied to the Liabilities, whether matured or unmatured or absolute or contingent, in accordance with the terms of the Facilities.  If any Guarantor makes payment to the Administrative Agent of all or any part of the Liabilities and all the Liabilities are paid in full and the Facilities are no longer in effect, the Administrative Agent shall, at such Guarantor’s request, execute and deliver to such Guarantor appropriate documents, without recourse and without representation or warranty, necessary to evidence the transfer by subrogation to such Guarantor of an interest in the Liabilities resulting from the payment.

Exhibit C – Page 3

 

 

Section 6.  Subordination.  Without limiting the Agents’ rights in their individual capacities as agents, and the Lenders’ rights under any other agreement, any liabilities owed by the Borrowers to any Guarantor in connection with any extension of credit or financial accommodation by any Guarantor to or for the account of the Borrowers, including but not limited to interest accruing at the agreed contract rate after the commencement of a bankruptcy or similar proceeding, are hereby subordinated to the Liabilities, and such liabilities of the Borrowers to such Guarantor, if the Administrative Agent so requests, after the occurrence and during the continuation of a Default or Event of Default, shall be collected, enforced and received by such Guarantor as trustee for the Agents in their individual capacities as agents and the Lenders and shall be paid over to the Administrative Agent for itself and for the other Agents in their individual capacities as agents and the Lenders on account of the Liabilities but without reducing or affecting in any manner the liability of such Guarantor under the other provisions of this Guaranty.

Section 7.  Payments Generally.  All payments by each Guarantor shall be made in the manner, at the place and in the currency (the “Payment Currency”) required by the Facility Documents; provided, that (if the Payment Currency is other than US Dollars) such Guarantor may, at its option (or, if for any reason whatsoever such Guarantor is unable to effect payments in the foregoing manner, such Guarantor shall be obligated to) pay to the Applicable Agent at its principal office the US Dollar Equivalent computed at the selling rate of the Applicable Agent or a selling rate chosen in good faith by the Applicable Agent, most recently in effect on or prior to the date the Liability becomes due, for cable transfers of the Payment Currency to the place where the Liability is payable.  In any case in which such Guarantor makes or is obligated to make payment in US Dollars, such Guarantor shall hold the Agents harmless from any loss incurred by such Agents arising from any change in the value of US Dollars in relation to the Payment Currency between the date the Liability becomes due and the date each such Agent is actually able, following the conversion of the US Dollars paid by such Guarantor into the Payment Currency and remittance of such Payment Currency to the place where such Liability is payable, to apply such Payment Currency to such Liability.

Section 8.  Certain Taxes.  Each Guarantor further agrees that all payments to be made hereunder shall be made without setoff or counterclaim and, with respect to taxes, in accordance with Section 2.16 of the Credit Agreement.

Section 9.  Representations and Warranties.  Each Guarantor represents and warrants that: (a) this Guaranty (i) has been authorized by all necessary corporate and, if required, stockholder action; (ii) does not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect; (iii) will not violate any law or regulation applicable to such Guarantor in any material respect or the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of such Guarantor or any order of any Governmental Authority; (iv) will not violate or result in a default under any indenture, material agreement or other material instrument binding upon such Guarantor or its assets, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by such Guarantor; and (v) is the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Guarantor enforceable against such Guarantor in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a 

Exhibit C – Page 4

 

 

proceeding in equity or at law; and (b) in executing and delivering this Guaranty, such Guarantor has (i) without reliance on any Agent or any Lender or any information received from any Agent or any Lender and based upon such documents and information it deems appropriate, made an independent investigation of the transactions contemplated hereby and the Borrowers, each Borrower’s business, assets, operations, prospects and condition, financial or otherwise, and any circumstances which may bear upon such transactions, the Borrowers or the obligations and risks undertaken herein with respect to the Liabilities; (ii) adequate means to obtain from the Borrowers on a continuing basis information concerning the Borrowers; (iii) full and complete access to the Facility Documents and any other documents executed in connection with the Facility Documents; and (iv) not relied and will not rely upon any representations or warranties of the Agents or the Lenders not embodied herein or any acts heretofore or hereafter taken by the Agents in their individual capacities as agents and the Lenders (including but not limited to any review by any Agent or the Lenders of the affairs of the Borrowers).

Section 10.  Remedies Generally.  The remedies provided in this Guaranty are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.

Section 11.  Setoff.  Each Guarantor agrees that, in addition to (and without limitation of) any right of setoff, banker’s lien or counterclaim each Lender, each Issuing Bank and each of its Affiliates may otherwise have, if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, each Issuing Bank and each of its Affiliates shall be entitled, at its option, to offset balances (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) held by it for the account of such Guarantor at any of such Lender’s, such Issuing Bank’s or such Affiliate’s offices, in US Dollars or in any other currency, against any amount payable by such Guarantor under this Guaranty which is not paid when due (regardless of whether such balances are then due to such Guarantor), in which case it shall promptly notify such Guarantor thereof; provided, that such Lender’s, such Issuing Bank or such Affiliate’s failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity thereof.

Section 12.  Formalities.  Each Guarantor waives presentment, notice of dishonor, protest, notice of acceptance of this Guaranty or incurrence of any Liability and any other formality with respect to any of the Liabilities or this Guaranty.

Section 13.  Amendments and Waivers.  No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Guaranty, nor consent to any departure by any Guarantor therefrom, shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent, and then the waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given.  No failure on the part of the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right under this Guaranty shall operate as a waiver or preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right.

Section 14.  Expenses.  Each Guarantor shall reimburse the Agents on demand for all reasonable costs, expenses and charges (including without limitation the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Agents) incurred by the Agents in connection with the preparation, performance or, after a Default, the enforcement of this Guaranty.  The obligations of each Guarantor under this Section shall survive the termination of this Guaranty.

Exhibit C – Page 5

 

 

Section 15.  Assignment.  This Guaranty shall be binding on, and shall inure to the benefit of each Guarantor, the Agents, the Lenders and their respective successors and assigns; provided, that no Guarantor may assign or transfer its rights or obligations under this Guaranty and any such attempted assignment or transfer shall be null and void.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, subject to the terms of the Credit Agreement, the Agents and the Lenders may assign, sell participations in or otherwise transfer their respective rights under the Facilities to any other person or entity, and the other person or entity shall then become vested with all the rights granted to the Agents in their individual capacities as agents and the Lenders in this Guaranty or otherwise.

Section 16.  Captions.  The headings and captions in this Guaranty are for convenience only and shall not affect the interpretation or construction of this Guaranty.

Section 17.  Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process.  This Guaranty shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York.  Each Guarantor (and, by its acceptance of the benefits hereof, each Agent, each Lender and the Issuing Bank) hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that, notwithstanding the governing law provisions of any applicable Loan Document, any claims brought against the Agents by any Guarantor relating to this Agreement or the consummation or administration of the transactions contemplated hereby shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York. Each Guarantor (and, by its acceptance of the benefits hereof, each Agent, each Lender and the Issuing Bank) hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York sitting in the Borough of Manhattan (or if such court lack subject matter jurisdiction, the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in the Borough of Manhattan), and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Guaranty, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each Guarantor (and, by its acceptance of the benefits hereof, each Agent, each Lender and the Issuing Bank) hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may (and any such claims, cross-claims or third party claims brought against the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties may only) be heard and determined in such Federal (to the extent permitted by law) or New York State court.  Each Guarantor (and, by its acceptance of the benefits hereof, each Agent, each Lender and the Issuing Bank) agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.  Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that any Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Guaranty against any Guarantor or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.  Each Guarantor (and, by its acceptance of the benefits hereof, each Agent, each Lender and the Issuing Bank) hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Guaranty in any court referred to in this Section.  Each Guarantor (and, by its acceptance of the benefits hereof, each Agent, each Lender and the Issuing Bank) hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.  Each Guarantor (and, by its acceptance of the benefits hereof, each Agent, each Lender and the Issuing Bank) irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 10.1 of the Credit Agreement.  Nothing in this Guaranty will affect the right of any such Person to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

Exhibit C – Page 6

 

 

18.  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.  EACH GUARANTOR (AND, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE OF THE BENEFITS HEREOF, EACH AGENT, EACH LENDER AND THE ISSUING BANK) HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).  EACH GUARANTOR (AND, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, EACH AGENT, EACH LENDER AND THE ISSUING BANK) (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY SUCH 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 SUCH OTHER PERSONS HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS GUARANTY BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

19.  Integration; Effectiveness; Counterparts; Electronic Execution.  This Guaranty alone sets forth the entire understanding of each Guarantor and each of the Agents in their individual capacities as agents and the Lenders relating to the guarantee of the Liabilities and constitutes the entire contract between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof.  This Guaranty shall become effective when it shall have been executed and delivered by each Guarantor to the Administrative Agent.  This Guaranty may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Guaranty by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of the actual executed signature page shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Guaranty.  The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to any  document to be signed in connection with this Guaranty and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be deemed to include Electronic Signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act; provided that nothing herein shall require the Agents to accept electronic signatures in any form or format without its prior written consent. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Borrowers hereby (i) agree that, for all purposes, including without limitation, in connection with any workout, restructuring, enforcement of remedies, bankruptcy proceedings or litigation among the Agents, the Lenders and the Loan Parties, electronic images of this Agreement or any other Loan Documents (in each case, including with respect to any signature pages thereto) shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as any paper original, and (ii) waives any argument, defense or right to contest the validity or enforceability of the Loan Documents based solely on the lack of paper original copies of any Loan Documents, including with respect to any signature pages thereto.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 

Exhibit C – Page 7

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Guarantor has caused this Guaranty to be duly executed and delivered by its Responsible Officer as of the date first above written.

 

	
IDEXX DISTRIBUTION, INC.

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
Name:
	
 
	
Brian P. McKeon

	
 
	
 
	
Title:
	
 
	
Assistant Secretary, Treasurer and

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
Vice President

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
IDEXX OPERATIONS, INC.

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
Name:
	
 
	
Brian P. McKeon

	
 
	
 
	
Title:
	
 
	
Assistant Secretary, Treasurer and

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
Vice President

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
OPTI MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
Name:
	
 
	
Brian P. McKeon

	
 
	
 
	
Title:
	
 
	
Assistant Secretary, Treasurer and

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
Vice President

 

 

 

Exhibit C – Page 8

 

 

EXHIBIT D

FORM OF BORROWER JOINDER AGREEMENT

BORROWER JOINDER AGREEMENT dated as of [__________], 20[__], among IDEXX LABORATORIES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Administrative Borrower”), [NAME OF NEW BORROWER], a [__________] (the “New Borrower”) and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as administrative agent (the “Administrative Agent”).

Reference is made to the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of April 14, 2020 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among the Administrative Borrower, IDEXX Distribution, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation, IDEXX Operations, Inc., a Delaware corporation, OPTI Medical Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation, IDEXX Laboratories Canada Corporation, a company formed under the laws of Canada, IDEXX Europe B.V., a private limited liability company formed under the laws of the Netherlands, and IDEXX Holding B.V.,  a private limited liability company formed under the laws of the Netherlands (collectively with the Administrative Borrower and all other Persons who heretofore have been or hereafter may be designated as a Borrower pursuant to Section 2.21 thereof, the “Borrowers”), the Lenders party thereto, the Administrative Agent, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Toronto Branch, as Toronto Agent.  Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.  

Under the Credit Agreement, the Lenders have agreed, upon the terms and subject to the conditions therein set forth, to make Loans to the Borrowers.  Each of the Administrative Borrower and the New Borrower represent and warrant that the representations and warranties of the Administrative Borrower in the Credit Agreement relating to the New Borrower and this Borrower Joinder Agreement are true and correct on and as of the date hereof.  The Administrative Borrower agrees that the guarantee of the Administrative Borrower contained in the Credit Agreement will apply to the obligations of the New Borrower.  Upon execution and delivery of this Borrower Joinder Agreement (and of any other documents reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent) by each of the Administrative Borrower, the New Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the New Borrower shall be a party to the Credit Agreement and a “Borrower” for all purposes thereof, and the New Borrower hereby agrees to be bound by all provisions of the Credit Agreement.

THIS BORROWER JOINDER AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

The provisions of Section 10.6 of the Credit Agreement as to counterparts and electronic execution are hereby incorporated into this Borrower Joinder Agreement by reference, mutatis mutandis, as if such provisions were fully set forth herein.

Exhibit D – Page 1

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Borrower Joinder Agreement to be duly executed by their authorized officers as of the date first appearing above.

 

	
IDEXX LABORATORIES, INC., as

	
Administrative Borrower

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
 
	
 

	
Name:
	
 
	
 

	
Title:
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
[NAME OF NEW BORROWER]

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
 
	
 

	
Name:
	
 
	
 

	
Title:
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as

	
Administrative Agent

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
 
	
 

	
Name:
	
 
	
 

	
Title:
	
 
	
 

 

 

 

Exhibit D – Page 2

 

 

EXHIBIT E

 

FORM OF BORROWER TERMINATION AGREEMENT

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 

as Administrative Agent for the Lenders referred to below 

270 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10017

 

[Date]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is made to the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of April 14, 2020 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Administrative Borrower”), IDEXX Distribution, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation, IDEXX Operations, Inc., a Delaware corporation, OPTI Medical Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation, IDEXX Laboratories Canada Corporation, a company formed under the laws of Canada, IDEXX Europe B.V., a private limited liability company formed under the laws of the Netherlands, and IDEXX Holding B.V., a private limited liability company formed under the laws of the Netherlands (collectively with the Administrative Borrower and all other Persons who heretofore have been or hereafter may be designated as a Borrower pursuant to Section 2.21 thereof, the “Borrowers”), the Lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Toronto Branch, as Toronto Agent.  Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

The Administrative Borrower hereby terminates the status of [NAME OF TERMINATED BORROWER] (the “Terminated Borrower”) as a “Borrower” under the Credit Agreement.  [The Administrative Borrower represents and warrants that no Loan made to the Terminated Borrower is outstanding as of the date hereof and that all amounts payable by the Terminated Borrower in respect of interest and/or fees (and, to the extent notified by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, any other amounts payable under the Credit Agreement) pursuant to the Credit Agreement have been paid in full on or prior to the date hereof.] [The Administrative Borrower and the Terminated Borrower each acknowledge that the Terminated Borrower shall continue to be a Borrower until such time as all Loans made to the Terminated Borrower shall have been repaid and all amounts payable by the Terminated Borrower in respect of interest and/or fees (and, to the extent notified by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, any other amounts payable under the Credit Agreement by the Terminated Borrower) pursuant to the Credit Agreement shall have been paid in full; provided, that the Terminated Borrower shall not have the right to make further Borrowings under the Credit Agreement.]

THIS INSTRUMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Exhibit E – Page 1

 

 

The provisions of Section 10.6 of the Credit Agreement as to counterparts and electronic execution are hereby incorporated into this instrument by reference, mutatis mutandis, as if such provisions were fully set forth herein.

 

	
Very truly yours,

	
 

	
IDEXX LABORATORIES, INC., as

	
Administrative Borrower

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
 
	
 

	
Name:
	
 
	
 

	
Title:
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
[NAME OF TERMINATED BORROWER]

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
 
	
 

	
Name:
	
 
	
 

	
Title:
	
 
	
 

 

 

 

Exhibit E – Page 2

 

 

EXHIBIT F

FORM OF BORROWING REQUEST

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent5

for the Lenders referred to below, 

270 Park Avenue 

New York, NY 10017

 

[Date]

 

Attention: [__________]

 

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Reference is made to the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of April 14, 2020 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Administrative Borrower”), IDEXX Distribution, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation, IDEXX Operations, Inc., a Delaware corporation, OPTI Medical Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation, IDEXX Laboratories Canada Corporation, a company formed under the laws of Canada, IDEXX Europe B.V., a private limited liability company formed under the laws of the Netherlands, and IDEXX Holding B.V., a private limited liability company formed under the laws of the Netherlands (collectively with the Administrative Borrower and all other Persons who heretofore have been or hereafter may be designated as a Borrower pursuant to Section 2.21 thereof, the “Borrowers”), the Lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Toronto Branch, as Toronto Agent.  Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.  

The Administrative Borrower, on behalf of [itself] [NAME OF OTHER BORROWER] hereby gives you notice pursuant to Section 2.3 of the Credit Agreement that [it] [NAME OF OTHER BORROWER] requests a Borrowing under the Credit Agreement, and in that connection sets forth below the terms on which such Borrowing is requested to be made:

(a)such Borrowing shall be denominated in [INSERT CURRENCY]6 and shall be in an aggregate principal amount equal to $[__________]7;

(b)the date of such Borrowing shall be [__________], 20[__]8;

	
	 

	
5 
	
 Borrowing request should be addressed to appropriate Applicable Agent.

	
6 
	
 Borrowings may be denominated in US Dollars or an Alternative Currency.  Borrowings by Canadian Borrowers must be denominated in US Dollars or Canadian Dollars.

	
7 
	
 The principal amount of any Borrowing must be an integral multiple of the Borrowing Multiple and not less than the Borrowing Minimum.

	
8 
	
 The date of any Borrowing must be a Business Day and (a) in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, CDOR Rate Borrowing or EURIBOR Borrowing, at least the third Business Day after the date of this Borrowing Request, and (b) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, the date of this Borrowing Request.

Exhibit F – Page 1

 

 

(c)[such Borrowing shall be [an ABR Borrowing]9[a EURIBOR Borrowing][a Eurocurrency Borrowing]] [[if such Borrowing is denominated in Canadian Dollars] such Borrowing shall be a CDOR Rate Borrowing];

(d)[[if such Borrowing is a Eurocurrency Borrowing, a CDOR Rate Borrowing or a EURIBOR Borrowing] the initial Interest Period for such Borrowing shall have a [[one][two][three][six] [month’s][months’] duration];

(e)the funds shall be disbursed as follows: [INSTRUCTIONS TO BE PROVIDED]

(f)[[if such Borrowing is denominated in an Alternative Currency] payments of the principal and interest on such Borrowing will be made from [INSERT JURISDICTION]].

 

	
Very truly yours,

	
 

	
IDEXX LABORATORIES, INC., as

	
Administrative Borrower

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
 
	
 

	
Name:
	
 
	
 

	
Title:
	
 
	
 

 

 

 

	
	 

	
9 
	
 ABR Borrowings are only available for US Dollar denominated Borrowings by a US Borrower or a Canadian Borrower.

Exhibit F – Page 2

 

 

EXHIBIT G

FORM OF INSTRUMENT OF ADHERENCE

Dated as of [__________], 20[__]

Reference is made to the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of April 14, 2020 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Administrative Borrower”), IDEXX Distribution, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation, IDEXX Operations, Inc., a Delaware corporation, OPTI Medical Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation, IDEXX Laboratories Canada Corporation, a company formed under the laws of Canada, IDEXX Europe B.V., a private limited liability company formed under the laws of the Netherlands, and IDEXX Holding B.V., a private limited liability company formed under the laws of the Netherlands (collectively with the Administrative Borrower and all other Persons who heretofore have been or hereafter may be designated as a Borrower pursuant to Section 2.21 thereof, the “Borrowers”), the Lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Toronto Branch, as Toronto Agent.  Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

[__________], a [__________] (the “Additional Lender”), hereby agrees to become a Lender party to the Credit Agreement, subject to and in accordance with the following provisions:

1.Commitment to Lend.

(a)Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Instrument of Adherence and the Credit Agreement, the Additional Lender hereby agrees to lend to the Borrowers, and the Borrowers may borrow, repay, and reborrow from time to time from the Additional Lender Effective Date hereof up to but not including the Maturity Date upon notice by the Administrative Borrower to the Applicable Agent given in accordance with Section 2.3 of the Credit Agreement, such Revolving Loans as are requested by the Administrative Borrower up to a maximum aggregate amount outstanding (after giving effect to all amounts requested) at any one time equal to the Additional Lender’s Commitment; provided that the sum of the outstanding amount of the Loans under the Credit Agreement (after giving effect to all amounts requested) shall not at any time exceed the aggregate amount of all Commitments.

(b)The Additional Lender’s Commitment amount, as of the Additional Lender Effective Date, is $[__________], and such Additional Lender’s Commitment expressed as a percentage of all Commitments of all of the Lenders is [__]%.

2.Additional Lender’s Representations.  The Additional Lender hereby represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the other parties to the Credit Agreement as follows:

(a) The Additional Lender has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements referred to in Section 5.1.

Exhibit G – Page 1

 

 

(b)The extensions of credit made under the Credit Agreement are commercial loans and letters of credit and not investments in a business enterprise or securities.  The Additional Lender is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans in the ordinary course of its business and has, independently and without reliance upon any Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Instrument of Adherence as a Lender, and to make, acquire or hold Loans under the Credit Agreement.

(c)The Additional Lender shall, independently and without reliance upon any Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information (which may contain material, non-public information within the meaning of the United States securities laws concerning the Administrative Borrower and its Affiliates) as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon the Credit Agreement, any related agreement or any document furnished thereunder and in deciding whether or to the extent to which it will continue as a Lender or assign or otherwise transfer its rights, interests and obligations under the Credit Agreement.

(d)The Additional Lender hereby irrevocably appoints the Agents as its agents and authorizes the Agents to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Agents by the terms of the Credit Agreement, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.

(e)The Additional Lender agrees that it will perform all of the obligations that by the terms of the Credit Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

(f)The Additional Lender is legally authorized to enter into this Instrument of Adherence.

3.Additional Lender Effective Date.  The effective date for this Instrument of Adherence shall be [__________], 20[__] (the “Additional Lender Effective Date”).  Following the execution of this Instrument of Adherence by the Additional Lender and the consent of the Administrative Agent and Administrative Borrower hereto having been obtained, the Administrative Agent shall record in the Register the Additional Lender’s Commitment.  Schedule 2.1 to the Credit Agreement shall thereupon be replaced as of the Additional Lender Effective Date by the Schedule 1 annexed hereto.

4.Rights Under Credit Agreement.  Upon such acceptance and recording, from and after the Additional Lender Effective Date, the Additional Lender shall be a party to the Credit Agreement and, to the extent provided in this Instrument of Adherence, have the rights and obligations of a Lender thereunder.

5.Governing Law.  THIS INSTRUMENT OF ADHERENCE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

6.Counterparts; Electronic Execution.  The provisions of Section 10.6 of the Credit Agreement as to counterparts and electronic execution are hereby incorporated into this Instrument of Adherence by reference, mutatis mutandis, as if such provisions were fully set forth herein.

[Signature Page Follows]

Exhibit G – Page 2

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, intending to be legally bound, each of the undersigned has caused this Instrument of Adherence to be executed on its behalf by its officer thereunto duly authorized, as of the date first above written.

 

 

	
[NAME OF ADDITIONAL LENDER]

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
 
	
 

	
Name:
	
 
	
 

	
Title:
	
 
	
 

 

	
CONSENTED TO:

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

	
as Administrative Agent

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
 
	
 

	
Name:
	
 
	
 

	
Title:
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
IDEXX LABORATORIES, INC.,

	
as Administrative Borrower

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
 
	
 

	
Name:
	
 
	
 

	
Title:
	
 
	
 

 

 

 

Exhibit G – Page 3

 

 

EXHIBIT H-1

FORM OF US TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is hereby made to the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of April 14, 2020 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Administrative Borrower”), IDEXX Distribution, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation, IDEXX Operations, Inc., a Delaware corporation, OPTI Medical Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation, IDEXX Laboratories Canada Corporation, a company formed under the laws of Canada, IDEXX Europe B.V., a private limited liability company formed under the laws of the Netherlands, and IDEXX Holding B.V., a private limited liability company formed under the laws of the Netherlands (collectively with the Administrative Borrower and all other Persons who heretofore have been or hereafter may be designated as a Borrower pursuant to Section 2.21 thereof, the “Borrowers”), the Lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Toronto Branch, as Toronto Agent.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.16 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any promissory note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a “10 percent shareholder” (within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code) of any Borrower that is a US Person, and (iv) it is not a “controlled foreign corporation” (as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code) related to any Borrower that is a US Person.

The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Borrower with a certificate of its non-US Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable.  By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Administrative Borrower and the Administrative Agent and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Administrative Borrower and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

	
[NAME OF LENDER]

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
 
	
 

	
Name:
	
 
	
 

	
Title:
	
 
	
 

	
Date:
	
 
	
 

 

 

 

Exhibit H-1 – Page 1

 

 

EXHIBIT H-2

FORM OF US TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is hereby made to the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of April 14, 2020 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Administrative Borrower”), IDEXX Distribution, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation, IDEXX Operations, Inc., a Delaware corporation, OPTI Medical Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation, IDEXX Laboratories Canada Corporation, a company formed under the laws of Canada, IDEXX Europe B.V., a private limited liability company formed under the laws of the Netherlands, and IDEXX Holding B.V., a private limited liability company formed under the laws of the Netherlands (collectively with the Administrative Borrower and all other Persons who heretofore have been or hereafter may be designated as a Borrower pursuant to Section 2.21 thereof, the “Borrowers”), the Lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Toronto Branch, as Toronto Agent.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.16 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any promissory note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such Loan(s) (as well as any promissory note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)), (iii) with respect to the extension of credit pursuant to this Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a “10 percent shareholder” (within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code) of any Borrower that is a US Person, and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a “controlled foreign corporation” (as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code) related to any Borrower that is a US Person.

The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Borrower with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption:  (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable, (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable, from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption.  By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Administrative Borrower and the Administrative Agent and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Administrative Borrower and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Exhibit H-2 – Page 1

 

 

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

	
[NAME OF LENDER]

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
 
	
 

	
Name:
	
 
	
 

	
Title:
	
 
	
 

	
Date:
	
 
	
 

 

 

 

Exhibit H-2 – Page 2

 

 

EXHIBIT H-3

FORM OF US TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is hereby made to the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of April 14, 2020 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Administrative Borrower”), IDEXX Distribution, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation, IDEXX Operations, Inc., a Delaware corporation, OPTI Medical Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation, IDEXX Laboratories Canada Corporation, a company formed under the laws of Canada, IDEXX Europe B.V., a private limited liability company formed under the laws of the Netherlands, and IDEXX Holding B.V., a private limited liability company formed under the laws of the Netherlands (collectively with the Administrative Borrower and all other Persons who heretofore have been or hereafter may be designated as a Borrower pursuant to Section 2.21 thereof, the “Borrowers”), the Lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Toronto Branch, as Toronto Agent.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.16 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a “10 percent shareholder” (within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code) of any Borrower that is a US Person, and (iv) it is not a “controlled foreign corporation” (as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code) related to any Borrower that is a US Person.

The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with a certificate of its non-US Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable.  By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender in writing and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

	
[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
 
	
 

	
Name:
	
 
	
 

	
Title:
	
 
	
 

	
Date:
	
 
	
 

 

 

 

Exhibit H-3 – Page 1

 

 

EXHIBIT H-4

FORM OF US TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is hereby made to the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of April 14, 2020 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Administrative Borrower”), IDEXX Distribution, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation, IDEXX Operations, Inc., a Delaware corporation, OPTI Medical Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation, IDEXX Laboratories Canada Corporation, a company formed under the laws of Canada, IDEXX Europe B.V., a private limited liability company formed under the laws of the Netherlands, and IDEXX Holding B.V., a private limited liability company formed under the laws of the Netherlands (collectively with the Administrative Borrower and all other Persons who heretofore have been or hereafter may be designated as a Borrower pursuant to Section 2.21 thereof, the “Borrowers”), the Lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Toronto Branch, as Toronto Agent.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.16 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such participation, (iii) with respect such participation, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a “10 percent shareholder” (within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code) of any Borrower that is a US Person, and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a “controlled foreign corporation” (as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code) related to any Borrower that is a US Person.

The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption:  (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable, or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable, from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption.  By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Exhibit H-3 – Page 2

 

 

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

	
[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
 
	
 

	
Name:
	
 
	
 

	
Title:
	
 
	
 

	
Date:
	
 
	
 

 

Exhibit H-2 – Page 3sbh-ex41_26.htm

 

Exhibit 4.1

Execution Version

FIRST AMENDMENT TO

AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

 

This First Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (this “First Amendment”) is made as of April 15, 2020 by and among:

 

SALLY HOLDINGS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, BEAUTY SYSTEMS GROUP, LLC, a Virginia limited liability company, and SALLY BEAUTY SUPPLY, LLC, a Virginia limited liability company (collectively, the “Domestic Borrowers”);

 

BEAUTY SYSTEMS GROUP (CANADA), INC., a New Brunswick corporation (the “Canadian Borrower”);

 

SBH FINANCE B.V., a private limited liability company, incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands (the “Foreign Borrower”);

 

the Guarantors undersigned below (collectively, with each other Person that from time to time becomes a “Guarantor” hereunder, the “Guarantors”);

 

each Lender from time to time party hereto;

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and Collateral Agent;  BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. (acting through its Canada branch), as Canadian Agent; WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Syndication Agent; and

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Book Arrangers for the First Amendment.

 

In consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained and benefits to be derived herefrom.

 

W I T N E S S E T H:

 

WHEREAS, on July 6, 2017, the Borrowers, the Guarantors, the Agents and the Lenders, entered in a certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Existing Credit Agreement”, and the Existing Credit Agreement, as amended by this First Amendment, and as may be further amended, amended and restated, restated, supplemented, extended or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time is referred to herein as the “Credit Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, the Borrowers have requested, among other things, that the Agents and the Lenders agree to (a) an increase to the Aggregate Revolving Commitments in an amount equal to $100,000,000 pursuant to Section 2.15 of the Existing Credit Agreement (“Commitment Increase”), (b) the FILO Lenders making the FILO Loans to the Borrowers pursuant to this First Amendment and (c) amend certain other provisions of the Existing Credit Agreement, in each case, subject to the terms and conditions hereof; and

 

 

 

 

WHEREAS, the Agents and the Lenders have agreed to so amend subject to the terms and conditions hereof.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, it is hereby agreed among the Borrowers, the Agent, and the Lenders as follows:

 

	
 
	
1.
	
Capitalized Terms. All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the same meaning herein as in the Credit Agreement.
	
 

 

	
 
	
2.
	
Amendments to Credit Agreement.

 

	
 
	
a.
	
Credit Agreement. The Existing Credit Agreement is hereby amended to delete the bold, stricken text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: stricken text) and to add the bold, double-underlined text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: double-underlined text) as set forth in the pages of the Credit Agreement attached as Annex A hereto.
	
 

 

	
 
	
b.
	
Schedules and Exhibits to Credit Agreement. Schedule 2.01 (Commitments and Applicable Percentages), Schedule 10.02 (Administrative Agent’s Office; Certain Addresses for Notices) and Exhibit A-1 (Domestic Committed Loan Notice), Exhibit D (Assignment and Assumption), Exhibit E (Borrowing Base Certificate) and Exhibit F (Compliance Certificate) are hereby deleted in their entirety and a new Schedule 2.01, Schedule 10.02, Exhibit A-1, Exhibit E and Exhibit F attached to Exhibit B hereto are substituted in its stead and a new Exhibit C-7 (Form of FILO Note) is attached to Exhibit B hereto. To the extent that there have been any changes in the information provided in any other Schedules to the Credit Agreement since the Effective Date, such schedules are hereby updated, as evidenced by the supplemental schedules (if any) annexed to this First Amendment at Exhibit B.
	
 

 

	
 
	
3.
	
Ratification of Loan Documents. Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the  Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents remain in full force and effect. The Borrowers hereby ratify, confirm, and reaffirm all representations, warranties, and covenants contained therein (subject to the proviso in clause 5(a)(vi) below) and acknowledge and agree that the Obligations are and continue to be secured by the Collateral, as modified hereby. Without in any manner limiting the foregoing, each of the Loan Parties hereby acknowledges, confirms and agrees that the Loan Documents, and any and all Collateral previously pledged to the Administrative Agent, the Canadian Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, for the benefit of the Credit Parties, pursuant thereto, shall continue to secure all Secured Obligations (as defined in the Second Amended and Restated Security Agreement, Restated General Security Agreement, or Loan Documents, as applicable) of the Loan Parties at any time and from time to time outstanding, as such Secured Obligations have been, and may hereafter be, amended, restated, supplemented, increased or otherwise modified from time to time.
	
 

 

	
 
	
4.
	
Joinder of FILO Lenders; Acknowledgements of FILO Lenders.

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
Each FILO Lender, by its signature below, confirms that it has agreed to become a “Lender” and a “FILO Lender” under, and as defined in, the Credit Agreement holding FILO Loans in the amount set forth opposite such FILO Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01
	
 

 

2

 

 

 

attached hereto under the heading “FILO Commitment”, effective on the Increase Effective Date. Each FILO Lender (i) acknowledges that in connection with it becoming a Lender and a FILO Lender it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement (including all schedules and exhibits thereto), together with copies of the most recent financial statements delivered by the Domestic Borrowers pursuant to the Existing Credit Agreement, and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit and legal analysis and decision to become a Lender and a FILO Lender; and (ii) agrees that, upon it becoming a Lender and a FILO Lender on the Increase Effective Date, it will, independently and without reliance upon the Agent, or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit and legal decisions in taking or not taking action under the Credit Agreement. In addition, each FILO Lender represents and warrants that (x) it is duly organized and existing and it has full power and authority to take, and has taken, all action necessary to execute and deliver this First Amendment and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender and a FILO Lender on the Increase Effective Date and (y) no notices to, or consents, authorizations or approvals of, any Person are required (other than any already given or obtained) for its due execution and delivery of this First Amendment or the performance of its obligations hereunder or as a Lender or a FILO Lender under the Credit Agreement as of the date hereof. Each FILO Lender acknowledges and agrees that, on the Increase Effective Date, such FILO Lender shall become a Lender and a FILO Lender and, from and after such date such FILO Lender will be bound by the terms of the Credit Agreement.

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
Each FILO Lender acknowledges that it has had the opportunity to request and has received such documents and information as it has deemed material or desirable or otherwise appropriate in making its evaluation and credit analysis of the Domestic Borrowers and the other Loan Parties and its decision to become a FILO Lender and make a FILO Loan to the Domestic Borrowers. Each FILO Lender has carefully reviewed such documents and information and, independently and without reliance upon the Agent, performed its own investigation and credit analysis of the FILO Loans, this First Amendment and the transactions contemplated hereby and the creditworthiness of the Domestic Borrowers and the other Loan Parties. Each FILO Lender acknowledges that Agent’s and its Affiliates’ activities in connection with the FILO Loans, this First Amendment and the transactions contemplated hereby are undertaken by the Agent or such Affiliates as a principal on an arm’s-length basis and neither the Agent nor any of its Affiliates has any fiduciary, advisory or similar responsibilities in favor of such FILO Lender in connection with the FILO Loans, this First Amendment or the transactions contemplated hereby or the process related thereto. Each of the FILO Lenders hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that it may have against the Agent or any of its Affiliates with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty. In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby, each FILO Lender acknowledges and agrees that: (i) the Agent and its Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of such FILO Lender and its Affiliates, and neither the Agent nor any of its Affiliates has any obligation to disclose any of such interests by virtue of any advisory, agency or fiduciary relationship, (ii) neither the Agent has provided and will provide any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to any of the transactions
	
 

 

3

 

 

 

contemplated hereby and such FILO Lender has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, (iii) neither Agent nor any of its Affiliates bears any responsibility (or shall be liable) for the accuracy or completeness (or lack thereof) of any documents or information provided to such FILO Lender in connection with the FILO Loans, this First Amendment and the transactions contemplated hereby; no representation regarding any such documents or information is made by the Agent or any of its Affiliates; neither the Agent nor any of its Affiliates has made any independent verification as to the accuracy or completeness of any such documents or information; and the Agent and its Affiliates shall have no obligation to update or supplement any such documents or information or otherwise provide additional information. In connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including its decision to become a FILO Lender and to make a FILO Loan to the Domestic Borrowers, each FILO Lender acknowledges and agrees that it is not relying upon any representations or warranties made by the Agent or any of its Affiliates or, except as expressly set forth in this First Amendment and the other Loan Documents, any other Person.

 

	
 
	
5.
	
Conditions to Effectiveness. This First Amendment shall not be effective until each of the following conditions precedent has been fulfilled to the reasonable satisfaction of the Administrative Agent (the date such conditions have been satisfactorily fulfilled, the “Increase Effective Date”):
	
 

 

	
 
	
a.
	
the Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals, telecopies, other electronic image scan transmission (e.g., “pdf” or “tif ” via electronic mail), subject to Section 10.10 of the Credit Agreement (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified or permitted by the Credit Agreement, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party or the Lenders, as applicable, each dated the date hereof (or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before such date) and each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent:
	
 

 

	
 
	
(i)
	
This First Amendment shall have been duly executed and delivered by the Loan Parties, the FILO Lenders and the Required Lenders party hereto and shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;
	
 

 

	
 
	
(ii)
	
A Revolving Note, or amended and restated Revolving Note, as applicable, executed by the Borrowers in favor of each Lender requesting a Note not later than one (1) Business Day prior to the Increase Effective Date and reflecting the Revolving Domestic Commitment of such Lender after giving effect to this First Amendment;
	
 

 

	
 
	
(iii)
	
A FILO Note, executed by the Borrowers in favor of each FILO Lender requesting a FILO Note not later than one (1) Business Day prior to the Increase Effective Date and reflecting the FILO Commitment of such FILO Lender after giving effect to this First Amendment;
	
 

 

	
 
	
(iv)
	
The First Amendment Fee Letter, duly executed by the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent;
	
 

 

4

 

 

 

	
 
	
(v)
	
Such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party as the Administrative Agent may require evidencing (A) the authority of each Loan Party to enter into this First Amendment and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party or is to become a party and (B) the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this First Amendment and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party or is to become a party, and attaching copies of each Loan Party’s Organization Documents and such other documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that each Loan Party is duly organized or formed, and that each Loan Party is validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in its jurisdiction of formation;
	
 

 

	
 
	
(vi)
	
A certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrowers certifying (A) that the conditions specified in clause (f) of this Section 5 have been satisfied, (B) that, before and after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this First Amendment, (1) the representations and warranties contained in Article V of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents are true and correct on and as of the First Amendment Effective Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of Section 2.15 of the Credit Agreement, the representations and warranties contained in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 5.05 of the Credit Agreement shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01 of the Credit Agreement and (2) no Default or Event of Default exists or would arise therefrom; provided that, as of the First Amendment Effective Date, the overdue rent payments for the Loan Parties’ store locations and other operational rent payment disruptions affecting the Loan Parties, in each case as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic, shall not be deemed (i) to be a Default or Event of Default, or (ii) to have caused a violation of any representation or warranty set forth in the Credit Agreement or the other Loan Documents; and
	
 

 

	
 
	
(vii)
	
a Borrowing Base Certificate dated as of the date hereof, relating to the Fiscal Month ended on March 31, 2020, and executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrowers;
	
 

 

	
 
	
b.
	
the Agent shall have received a favorable opinion of Alston & Bird LLP, counsel to the Loan Parties, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Domestic Lender, as to such matters concerning the Domestic Loan Parties and the Loan Documents as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request;
	
 

 

	
 
	
c.
	
the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received all documentation and other information required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation the Act to the extent requested in writing not less than five (5) days prior to the Increase Effective Date;
	
 

 

5

 

 

 

	
 
	
d.
	
all reasonable Credit Party Expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation and negotiation of this First Amendment and related documents (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to the Administrative Agent) that have been invoiced at least two Business Days prior to the date hereof shall have been paid in full by the Borrowers in accordance with terms of Section 10.04 of the Credit Agreement;
	
 

 

	
 
	
e.
	
all fees payable pursuant to the First Amendment Fee Letter that are due and payable on the date hereof shall have been paid in full by the Borrowers in accordance with the terms thereof; and
	
 

 

	
 
	
f.
	
after giving effect to this First Amendment, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
	
 

 

	
 
	
6.
	
Miscellaneous

 

	
 
	
a.
	
This First Amendment 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 constitutes 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 5, 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 First Amendment by telecopy, pdf or other electronic transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this First Amendment.
	
 

 

	
 
	
b.
	
This First Amendment expresses the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby. No prior negotiations or discussions shall limit, modify, or otherwise affect the provisions hereof.
	
 

 

	
 
	
c.
	
If any provision of this First Amendment is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable,

(a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this First Amendment 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 6(c), if and to the extent that the enforceability of any provisions in this First Amendment relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, as applicable,  then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited.

 

	
 
	
d.
	
The Loan Parties represent and warrant that they have consulted with independent legal counsel of their selection in connection with this First Amendment and are not relying on
	
 

 

6

 

 

 

any representations or warranties of the Agents or the Lenders or their counsel in entering into this First Amendment.

 

	
 
	
e.
	
THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF.
	
 

 

[signature pages follow]

 

7

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have hereunto caused this First Amendment to be executed and their seals to be hereto affixed as of the date first above written.

 

	
DOMESTIC BORROWERS:

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
SALLY HOLDINGS LLC

as Domestic Borrower

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
 
	
/s/ Aaron E. Alt

	
Name:
	
 
	
Aaron E. Alt

	
Title:
	
 
	
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

	
BEAUTY SYSTEMS GROUP LLC

as Domestic Borrower

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
 
	
/s/ Aaron E. Alt

	
Name:
	
 
	
Aaron E. Alt

	
Title:
	
 
	
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

	
SALLY BEAUTY SUPPLY LLC

as Domestic Borrower

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
 
	
/s/ Aaron E. Alt

	
Name:
	
 
	
Aaron E. Alt

	
Title:
	
 
	
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

	
CANADIAN BORROWER:

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
BEAUTY SYSTEMS GROUP (CANADA), INC.

as Canadian Borrower

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
 
	
/s/ Aaron E. Alt

	
Name:
	
 
	
Aaron E. Alt

	
Title:
	
 
	
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

	
GUARANTORS:

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
SALLY CAPITAL INC.
SALLY BEAUTY HOLDINGS, INC.
SALLY INVESTMENT HOLDINGS LLC
ARCADIA BEAUTY LABS LLC
ARMSTRONG MCCALL HOLDINGS, INC.
ARMSTRONG MCCALL HOLDINGS, L.L.C.
ARMSTRONG MCCALL, L.P.
ARMSTRONG MCCALL MANAGEMENT, L.C.
BEAUTY HOLDING LLC
DIORAMA SERVICES COMPANY, LLC
INNOVATIONS – SUCCESSFUL SALON SERVICES
LOXA BEAUTY LLC
NEKA SALON SUPPLY, INC.
PROCARE LABORATORIES, INC.
SALLY BEAUTY INTERNATIONAL FINANCE LLC
SALLY BEAUTY MILITARY SUPPLY LLC

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
 
	
/s/ Aaron E. Alt

	
Name:
	
 
	
Aaron E. Alt

	
Title:
	
 
	
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

	
SALON SUCCESS INTERNATIONAL, LLC

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
 
	
/s/ Christian A. Brickman

	
Name:
	
 
	
Christian A. Brickman

	
Title:
	
 
	
Manager

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

	
FOREIGN BORROWER:

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
SBH FINANCE BV

as Foreign Borrower

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
 
	
/s/ Heidi van Ocken

	
Name:
	
 
	
Heidi van Ocken

	
Title:
	
 
	
director B

 

	
By:
	
 
	
/s/M. Jonker

	
Name:
	
 
	
IQ EQ Management (Netherlands) B.V.

	
Title:
	
 
	
director A

	
On behalf of IQ EQ Management (Netherlands) B.V.

 

	
By:
	
 
	
/s/ S. J. Pimentel-Vliese

	
Name:
	
 
	
IQ EQ Management (Netherlands) B.V.

	
Title:
	
 
	
director A

	
On behalf of IQ EQ Management (Netherlands) B.V.

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

	
bank of america, n.a., as Administrative Agent

and as Collateral Agent

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
 
	
/s/ Matthew Potter

	
Name:
	
 
	
Matthew Potter

	
Title:
	
 
	
Senior Vice President

 

	
bank of america, n.a. (acting through

its Canada branch), as Canadian Agent

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
 
	
/s/ Sylwia Durkiewicz

	
Name:
	
 
	
Sylwia Durkiewicz

	
Title:
	
 
	
Vice President

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

	
bank of america, n.a., as a Revolving Domestic Lender, a FILO Lender, Domestic L/C Issuer and Domestic Swing Line Lender

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
 
	
/s/ Matthew Potter

	
Name:
	
 
	
Matthew Potter

	
Title:
	
 
	
Senior Vice President

 

	
bank of america, n.a. (ACTING THROUGH ITS CANADA BRANCH), as a Canadian Lender, and Canadian Swing Line Lender

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
 
	
/s/ Sylwia Durkiewicz

	
Name:
	
 
	
Sylwia Durkiewicz

	
Title:
	
 
	
Vice President

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

	
jpmorgan chase bank, n.a., as a Revolving

Domestic Lender and FILO Lender

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
 
	
/s/ Alexander Vardaman

	
Name:
	
 
	
Alexander Vardaman

	
Title:
	
 
	
Authorized Officer

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

	
jpmorgan chase bank, n.a., (through its Toronto branch), as a Canadian Lender

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
 
	
/s/ Michael Tam

	
Name:
	
 
	
Michael Tam

	
Title:
	
 
	
Authorized Officer

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

	
citizens bank, n.a., as a Revolving

Domestic Lender

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
 
	
/s/ Sarah Freedman

	
Name:
	
 
	
Sarah Freedman

	
Title:
	
 
	
Managing Director

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

	
citizens bank, n.a., as a Canadian Lender

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
 
	
/s/ Sarah Freedman

	
Name:
	
 
	
Sarah Freedman

	
Title:
	
 
	
Managing Director

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

	
truIst bank, as a Revolving Domestic Lender and

FILO Lender

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
 
	
/s/ Christopher N. Jensen

	
Name:
	
 
	
Christopher N. Jensen

	
Title:
	
 
	
Vice President

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

	
truIst bank, as a Canadian Lender

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
 
	
/s/ Christopher N. Jensen

	
Name:
	
 
	
Christopher N. Jensen

	
Title:
	
 
	
Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

 

Annex A

 

Composite Credit Agreement

 

[see attached]

 

 

 

Execution Version

 

Annex A

 

 

 

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

Dated as of July 6, 2017,  as amended on April 15, 2020

 

 

among

 

SALLY HOLDINGS LLC BEAUTY SYSTEMS GROUP LLC SALLY BEAUTY SUPPLY LLC

as Domestic Borrowers

 

BEAUTY SYSTEMS GROUP (CANADA), INC.

as Canadian Borrower

 

SBH FINANCE B.V.

as Foreign Borrower

The Guarantors From Time to Time Party Hereto BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.

as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. (acting through its Canada branch) as Canadian Agent

 

The Other Lenders Party Hereto

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Syndication Agent

 

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATEDBANK OF AMERICA, N.A. WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Book Managers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

	
Section
	
 
	
Page

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
	
 
	
1

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
1.01
	
 
	
Defined Terms
	
 
	
1
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
1.02
	
 
	
Other Interpretive Provisions
	
 
	
6064
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
1.03
	
 
	
Accounting Terms
	
 
	
6165
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
1.04
	
 
	
Rounding
	
 
	
6166
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
1.05
	
 
	
Times of Day
	
 
	
6166
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
1.06
	
 
	
Letter of Credit Amounts
	
 
	
6166
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
1.07
	
 
	
Currency Equivalents Generally
	
 
	
6166
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
1.08
	
 
	
Québec Matters
	
 
	
6266
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
1.09
	
 
	
Dutch Matters
	
 
	
6267
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
1.10
	
 
	
Interest Rates
	
 
	
67
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
ARTICLE II THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS
	
 
	
6267

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
2.01
	
 
	
Committed Loans; Reserves
	
 
	
6267
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
2.02
	
 
	
Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans and FILO Loan
	
 
	
69
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
2.03
	
 
	
Letters of Credit
	
 
	
6773
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
2.04
	
 
	
Swing Line Loans
	
 
	
7682
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
2.05
	
 
	
Prepayments
	
 
	
8085
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
2.06
	
 
	
Termination or Reduction of Commitments
	
 
	
8288
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
2.07
	
 
	
Repayment of Loans
	
 
	
8389
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
2.08
	
 
	
Interest
	
 
	
8390
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
2.09
	
 
	
Fees
	
 
	
8491
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
2.10
	
 
	
Computation of Interest and Fees
	
 
	
8491
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
2.11
	
 
	
Evidence of Debt
	
 
	
8592
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
2.12
	
 
	
Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback
	
 
	
8693
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
2.13
	
 
	
Sharing of Payments by Lenders
	
 
	
8895
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
2.14
	
 
	
Settlement Amongst Revolving Lenders
	
 
	
8996
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
2.15
	
 
	
Increase in Revolving Commitments
	
 
	
8996
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
2.16
	
 
	
Defaulting Lenders
	
 
	
9198
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
ARTICLE  III  TAXES,  YIELD  PROTECTION  AND  ILLEGALITY;  APPOINTMENT  OF PARENT
	
 
	
93100

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
3.01
	
 
	
Taxes
	
 
	
93100
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
3.02
	
 
	
Illegality
	
 
	
97104
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
3.03
	
 
	
Inability to Determine Rates 98; LIBOR Successor Rate
	
 
	
105
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
3.04
	
 
	
Increased Costs; Reserves on LIBOR Rate Loans
	
 
	
98107
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
3.05
	
 
	
Compensation for Losses
	
 
	
99108
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
3.06
	
 
	
Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders
	
 
	
100108
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
3.07
	
 
	
Survival
	
 
	
100109
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
3.08
	
 
	
Designation of Parent as Borrowers’ Agent
	
 
	
100109
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

(1)

 

 

	
ARTICLE IV CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS
	
 
	
101109

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
4.01
	
 
	
Conditions of Effective Date 101 Effectiveness
	
 
	
109
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
4.02
	
 
	
Conditions to all Credit Extensions
	
 
	
104112
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
	
 
	
105113

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
5.01
	
 
	
Existence, Qualification and Power
	
 
	
105113
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
5.02
	
 
	
Authorization; No Contravention
	
 
	
105114
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
5.03
	
 
	
Governmental Authorization; Other Consents
	
 
	
106114
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
5.04
	
 
	
Binding Effect
	
 
	
106114
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
5.05
	
 
	
Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect
	
 
	
106114
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
5.06
	
 
	
Litigation
	
 
	
107115
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
5.07
	
 
	
No Default
	
 
	
107116
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
5.08
	
 
	
Ownership of Property; Liens
	
 
	
107116
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
5.09
	
 
	
Environmental Compliance
	
 
	
108116
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
5.10
	
 
	
Insurance
	
 
	
109117
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
5.11
	
 
	
Taxes
	
 
	
109117
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
5.12
	
 
	
Plans
	
 
	
109117
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
5.13
	
 
	
Subsidiaries; Equity Interests
	
 
	
110118
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
5.14
	
 
	
Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act
	
 
	
110119
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
5.15
	
 
	
Disclosure
	
 
	
111119
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
5.16
	
 
	
Compliance with Laws
	
 
	
111119
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
5.17
	
 
	
Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.
	
 
	
111119
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
5.18
	
 
	
Labor Matters
	
 
	
111120
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
5.19
	
 
	
Security Documents
	
 
	
111120
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
5.20
	
 
	
Solvency
	
 
	
111120
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
5.21
	
 
	
Deposit Accounts; Credit Card Arrangements
	
 
	
112121
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
5.22
	
 
	
Brokers
	
 
	
112121
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
5.23
	
 
	
Customer and Trade Relations
	
 
	
112121
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
5.24
	
 
	
Casualty
	
 
	
112121
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
5.25
	
 
	
Sanctions Concerns and Anti-Corruption Laws
	
 
	
113121
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
5.26
	
 
	
EEA Financial Institution
	
 
	
113121
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
ARTICLE VI AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
	
 
	
113121

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
6.01
	
 
	
Financial Statements
	
 
	
113122
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
6.02
	
 
	
Certificates; Other Information
	
 
	
114123
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
6.03
	
 
	
Notices
	
 
	
117125
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
6.04
	
 
	
Payment of Obligations
	
 
	
118127
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
6.05
	
 
	
Preservation of Existence, Etc.
	
 
	
119127
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
6.06
	
 
	
Maintenance of Properties
	
 
	
119127
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
6.07
	
 
	
Maintenance of Insurance
	
 
	
119127
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
6.08
	
 
	
Compliance with Laws
	
 
	
119128
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
6.09
	
 
	
Books and Records; Accountants
	
 
	
119128
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
6.10
	
 
	
Inspection Rights
	
 
	
120128
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
6.11
	
 
	
Additional Loan Parties
	
 
	
121129
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
6.12
	
 
	
Cash Management.
	
 
	
121130
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
6.13
	
 
	
Information Regarding the Collateral
	
 
	
121131
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
6.14
	
 
	
Physical Inventories.
	
 
	
121132
	
 

(2)

 

	
 
	
 
	
6.15
	
 
	
Environmental Laws.
	
 
	
124132
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
6.16
	
 
	
Further Assurances
	
 
	
124133
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
6.17
	
 
	
Compliance with Terms of Leaseholds
	
 
	
124133
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
6.18
	
 
	
Maintenance of New York Process Agent
	
 
	
125133
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
6.19
	
 
	
Canadian Pension Benefit Plans
	
 
	
125133
	
 

 

	
 
	
 
	
ARTICLE VII NEGATIVE COVENANTS
	
 
	
125134

	
 
	
 
	
7.01
	
 
	
Liens
	
 
	
125134

	
 
	
 
	
7.02
	
 
	
Investments
	
 
	
125134

	
 
	
 
	
7.03
	
 
	
Secured Indebtedness.
	
 
	
125134

	
 
	
 
	
7.04
	
 
	
Fundamental Changes
	
 
	
126134

	
 
	
 
	
7.05
	
 
	
Dispositions
	
 
	
126135

	
 
	
 
	
7.06
	
 
	
Restricted Payments
	
 
	
127135

	
 
	
 
	
7.07
	
 
	
Prepayments of Indebtedness
	
 
	
128136

	
 
	
 
	
7.08
	
 
	
Change in Nature of Business
	
 
	
128136

	
 
	
 
	
7.09
	
 
	
Use of Proceeds
	
 
	
128136

	
 
	
 
	
7.10
	
 
	
Amendment of Material Documents.
	
 
	
128137

	
 
	
 
	
7.11
	
 
	
Fiscal Year.
	
 
	
128137

	
 
	
 
	
7.12
	
 
	
Deposit Accounts; Credit Card Processors.
	
 
	
128137

	
 
	
 
	
7.13
	
 
	
Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio
	
 
	
129137

	
 
	
 
	
7.14
	
 
	
Limitations on Currency, Commodity and Other Hedging Transactions
	
 
	
129138

	
 
	
 
	
7.15
	
 
	
Sanctions.
	
 
	
129138

	
 
	
 
	
7.16
	
 
	
Anti-Corruption Laws.
	
 
	
129138

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
ARTICLE VIII EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
	
 
	
129138

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
8.01
	
 
	
Events of Default
	
 
	
129138

	
 
	
 
	
8.02
	
 
	
Remedies Upon Event of Default
	
 
	
132140

	
 
	
 
	
8.03
	
 
	
Application of Funds
	
 
	
132141

	
 
	
 
	
8.04
	
 
	
Application of Proceeds while FILO Loan is Outstanding
	
 
	
145

	
 
	
 
	
8.05
	
 
	
Waivers By Loan Parties
	
 
	
137148

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
ARTICLE IX ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
	
 
	
137148

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
9.01
	
 
	
Appointment and Authority.
	
 
	
137148

	
 
	
 
	
9.02
	
 
	
Rights as a Lender
	
 
	
138150

	
 
	
 
	
9.03
	
 
	
Exculpatory Provisions
	
 
	
138150

	
 
	
 
	
9.04
	
 
	
Reliance by Agents.
	
 
	
139151

	
 
	
 
	
9.05
	
 
	
Delegation of Duties
	
 
	
140151

	
 
	
 
	
9.06
	
 
	
Resignation of Agents
	
 
	
140151

	
 
	
 
	
9.07
	
 
	
Non-Reliance on Agents and Other Lenders
	
 
	
140152

	
 
	
 
	
9.08
	
 
	
No Other Duties, Etc.
	
 
	
141152

	
 
	
 
	
9.09
	
 
	
Agents May File Proofs of Claim
	
 
	
141152

	
 
	
 
	
9.10
	
 
	
Collateral and Guaranty Matters
	
 
	
141153

	
 
	
 
	
9.11
	
 
	
Notice of Transfer.
	
 
	
142154

	
 
	
 
	
9.12
	
 
	
Reports and Financial Statements.
	
 
	
142154

	
 
	
 
	
9.13
	
 
	
Agency for Perfection.
	
 
	
143155

	
 
	
 
	
9.14
	
 
	
Indemnification of Agents
	
 
	
143155

	
 
	
 
	
9.15
	
 
	
Relation among Lenders
	
 
	
143155

	
 
	
 
	
9.16
	
 
	
Reserved.
	
 
	
144155

	
 
	
 
	
9.17
	
 
	
Risk Participation.
	
 
	
144155

(3)

 

	
 
	
 
	
9.18
	
 
	
Domestic Parallel Debt
	
 
	
144156

	
 
	
 
	
9.19
	
 
	
Foreign Parallel Debt
	
 
	
145157

	
 
	
 
	
9.20
	
 
	
Parallel Debt Savings Clause
	
 
	
146158

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS
	
 
	
147158

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
10.01
	
 
	
Amendments, Etc.
	
 
	
147158

	
 
	
 
	
10.02
	
 
	
Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communications.
	
 
	
148160

	
 
	
 
	
10.03
	
 
	
No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies
	
 
	
150162

	
 
	
 
	
10.04
	
 
	
Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.
	
 
	
151162

	
 
	
 
	
10.05
	
 
	
Payments Set Aside
	
 
	
152163

	
 
	
 
	
10.06
	
 
	
Successors and Assigns.
	
 
	
152164

	
 
	
 
	
10.07
	
 
	
Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality
	
 
	
157168

	
 
	
 
	
10.08
	
 
	
Right of Setoff
	
 
	
157169

	
 
	
 
	
10.09
	
 
	
Interest Rate Limitation
	
 
	
158169

	
 
	
 
	
10.10
	
 
	
Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness
	
 
	
158170

	
 
	
 
	
10.11
	
 
	
Survival
	
 
	
158170

	
 
	
 
	
10.12
	
 
	
Severability
	
 
	
159170

	
 
	
 
	
10.13
	
 
	
Replacement of Lenders
	
 
	
159170

	
 
	
 
	
10.14
	
 
	
Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.
	
 
	
159171

	
 
	
 
	
10.15
	
 
	
Waiver of Jury Trial
	
 
	
160172

	
 
	
 
	
10.16
	
 
	
No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility
	
 
	
161172

	
 
	
 
	
10.17
	
 
	
USA PATRIOT Act Notice; Proceeds of Crime Act
	
 
	
161173

	
 
	
 
	
10.18
	
 
	
Foreign Asset Control Regulations
	
 
	
162173

	
 
	
 
	
10.19
	
 
	
Time of the Essence
	
 
	
162173

	
 
	
 
	
10.20
	
 
	
Designation as Senior Debt
	
 
	
162173

	
 
	
 
	
10.21
	
 
	
Press Releases.
	
 
	
162173

	
 
	
 
	
10.22
	
 
	
Additional Waivers.
	
 
	
162174

	
 
	
 
	
10.23
	
 
	
Judgment Currency
	
 
	
164175

	
 
	
 
	
10.24
	
 
	
No Strict Construction.
	
 
	
164176

	
 
	
 
	
10.25
	
 
	
Attachments.
	
 
	
164176

	
 
	
 
	
10.26
	
 
	
Keepwell.
	
 
	
165176

	
 
	
 
	
10.27
	
 
	
Dutch Guarantee Limitations.
	
 
	
165176

	
 
	
 
	
10.28
	
 
	
Language.
	
 
	
165177

	
 
	
 
	
10.29
	
 
	
Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions.
	
 
	
165177

	
 
	
 
	
10.30
	
 
	
Intercreditor Agreement.
	
 
	
166177

	
 
	
 
	
10.31
	
 
	
Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs.
	
 
	
177

	
 
	
 
	
10.32
	
 
	
Amendment and Restatement.
	
 
	
166178

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
SIGNATURES
	
 
	
S-1

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

 

 

(4)

 

 

SCHEDULES

 

	
 
	
1.01
	
Guarantors

	
 
	
1.02
	
Existing Letters of Credit

	
 
	
2.01
	
Commitments and Applicable Percentages

	
 
	
2.03
	
Existing Letters of Credit

	
 
	
304800153035005.01
	
Loan Parties Organizational Information 
	
 

	
 
	
5.03
	
Governmental Authorization; No Consents
	
 

	
 
	
5.06
	
Litigation 
	
 

	
 
	
5.08(b)(1)
	
Owned Real Estate 
	
 

	
 
	
5.08(b)(2)
	
Leased Real Estate
	
 

	
 
	
5.09
	
Environmental Matters

	
 
	
5.10
	
Insurance

	
 
	
5.13
	
Subsidiaries; Other Equity Investments

	
 
	
5.17
	
Intellectual Property Matters

	
 
	
5.18
	
Collective Bargaining Agreements

	
 
	
5.21(a)
	
DDAs

	
 
	
5.21(b)
	
Credit Card Arrangements

	
 
	
6.02
	
Financial and Collateral Reporting

	
 
	
7.01
	
Existing Liens

	
 
	
7.02
	
Existing Investments

	
 
	
7.03
	
Existing Indebtedness

	
 
	
10.02
	
Administrative Agent’s Office; Certain Addresses for Notices

 

 

EXHIBITS

 

Form of

 

A-1 Domestic Committed Loan Notice A-2 Canadian Committed Loan Notice B-1 Domestic Swing Line Loan Notice B-2 Canadian Swing Line Loan Notice C-1 Domestic Revolving Note

C-2    Canadian Revolving 

Note C-3    Domestic Swing Line 

Note C-4    Canadian Swing Line Note 

C-5    Foreign Note - Domestic

C-6    Foreign Note -– Canada C-7FILO Note

D    Assignment and Assumption 
E    Borrowing Base Certificate 
F    Compliance Certificate

 

(5)

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

This AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is entered into as of July 6, 2017, and as amended on April 15, 2020, among

 

SALLY HOLDINGS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, BEAUTY SYSTEMS GROUP, LLC, a DelawareVirginia limited liability company, and SALLY BEAUTY SUPPLY, LLC, a DelawareVirginia limited liability company (collectively, the “Domestic Borrowers”);

 

BEAUTY SYSTEMS GROUP (CANADA), INC., a New Brunswick corporation (the “Canadian Borrower”),

 

SBH FINANCE B.V., a private limited liability company, incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands (the “Foreign Borrower”),

 

the Persons named on Schedule 1.01 hereto (collectively, with each other Person that from time to time becomes a “Guarantor” hereunder, the “Guarantors”);

 

each Revolving Lender and each FILO Lender from time to time party hereto;

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent;

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. (acting through its Canada branch), as Canadian Agent; and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Syndication Agent.

WHEREAS, prior to the date of this Agreement, the Borrowers, the Guarantors, the lenders party thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent, Bank of America, N.A. (acting through its Canada branch), as Canadian agent, Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC, as syndication agent, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as documentation agent, previously entered into a Credit Agreement, dated as of November 12, 2010, as amended on June 8, 2012 and on July 26, 2013 (as so amended, the “Existing Credit Agreement”), pursuant to which the lenders party thereto provided the Borrowers with certain financial accommodations; and

 

WHEREAS, the undersigned desire to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement as provided herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual conditions and agreements set forth in this Agreement, and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the undersigned hereby agree that the Existing Credit Agreement shall be amended and restated in its entirety as follows (it being agreed that this Agreement shall not be deemed to evidence or result in a novation or repayment and reborrowing of the Obligations under, and as defined in, the Existing Credit Agreement):

 

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:

 

 

 

“2020 Revolving Domestic Commitment Increase” means an increase in the Revolving Commitments by an amount up to $100,000,000 on the First Amendment Effective Date.

 

“2022 Notes” has the meaning given to such term in the definition of “Notes Indenture”.

 

“Accelerated Borrowing Base Delivery Event” means either (a) the occurrence and continuance of any Event of Default, or (b) the failure of the Borrowers to maintain Excess Availability of at least the greater of (i) $40,000,00048,000,000, or (ii) twelve and one-half percent (12.5%) of the Loan Cap (as calculated without giving effect to the FILO Push Down Reserve). For purposes of this Agreement, the occurrence of an Accelerated Borrowing Base Delivery Event shall be deemed continuing, (A) so long as such Event of Default has not been waived, and/or (B) if the Accelerated Borrowing Base Delivery Event arises as a result of the Borrowers’ failure to achieve Excess Availability as required hereunder, until the date Excess Availability shall have been not less than the greater of (x) $40,000,00048,000,000 or (y) twelve and one-half percent (12.5%) of the Loan Cap (as calculated without giving effect to the FILO Push Down Reserve) for forty-five (45) consecutive days. The termination of an Accelerated Borrowing Base Delivery Event as provided herein shall in no way limit, waive or delay the occurrence of a subsequent Accelerated Borrowing Base Delivery Event in the event that the conditions set forth in this definition again arise.

 

“Accommodation Payment” as defined in Section 10.22(d).

 

“Account” means “accounts” as defined in the UCC and in the PPSA, (or to the extent governed by the Civil Code of Québec, defined as “claims” for the purposes of the Civil Code of Québec) and also means a right to payment of a monetary obligation, whether or not earned by performance, (a) for property that has been or is to be sold, leased, licensed, assigned, or otherwise disposed of, (b) for services rendered or to be rendered, or (c) arising out of the use of a credit or charge card or information contained on or for use with the card.

 

“Accounts Receivable Reporting Requirement” means, at the time of determination (i) Excess Availability is less than 40% of the Loan Cap (as calculated without giving effect to the FILO Push  Down Reserve) or (ii) Eligible Trade Receivables multiplied by the Receivables Advance Rate comprise greater than 12.5% of the Combined Borrowing Base.

 

“ACH” means automated clearing house transfers.

 

“Acquisition” means, with respect to any Person (a) an Investment in, or a purchase of a Controlling interest in, the Equity Interests of any other Person, (b) a purchase or other acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets or properties of, another Person or of any business unit  of another  Person, (c) any merger, amalgamation or consolidation of such Person with any other Person or other transaction or series of transactions resulting in the acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets, or a Controlling interest in the Equity Interests, of any Person, or (d) any acquisition of any Store locations of any Person, in each case in any transaction or group of transactions which are part of a common plan (other than the acquisition of any Store locations of any franchisees in the ordinary course of business).

 

“Acquisition/Investment/Debt Payment Conditions” means, at the time of determination with respect to any specified transaction or payment, that (a) no Default or Event of Default then exists or would arise as a result of entering into such transaction or the making of such payment, and (b) if after giving pro forma effect to such transaction or payment, Excess Availability for the 30-day period immediately preceding, and on the date of, such transaction or payment was equal to or greater than 15% of the Loan Cap (as calculated without giving effect to the FILO Push Down Reserve). If after giving pro forma effect to such transaction or payment, Excess Availability would be equal to or less than 40% of

 

- 2 -

 

the Loan Cap (as calculated without giving effect to the FILO Push Down Reserve), the Parent shall furnish the Administrative Agent with prior notice of any such transaction or payment which is subject to the Acquisition/Investment/Debt Payment Conditions, together with supporting documentation evidencing the satisfaction of the Excess Availability requirements, no less than five (5) Business Days prior to the consummation of any such transaction or payment.

 

“Additional Commitment Lender” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.15.

 

“Adjusted LIBOR Rate” means, with respect to any LIBOR Borrowing for any Interest Period,  an interest rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/16 of one percent (1%) and in no event less than zero) equal to the LIBOR Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by the Statutory  Reserve Rate. The Adjusted LIBOR Rate will be adjusted automatically as to all LIBOR Borrowings  then outstanding as of the effective date of any change in the Statutory Reserve Rate.

 

 

 

“Adjustment” has the meaning specified in Section 3.03(b).

 

“Adjustment Date” means the first day of each Fiscal Quarter.

 

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

 

“Administrative Agent’s Office” means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 10.02, or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify the Parent and the Lenders.

 

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

 

“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, (i) 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, (ii) any director, officer, managing member, partner, trustee, or beneficiary of that Person, (iii) any other Person directly or indirectly holding 10% or more of any class of the Equity Interests of that Person, and (iv) any other Person 10% or more of any class of whose Equity Interests is held directly or indirectly by that Person.

 

“Agent(s)” means, individually, the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, and collectively means all of them.

 

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

 

“Aggregate Revolving Commitments” means the sum of the Revolving Domestic Total Commitments and Canadian Commitments. As of the First Amendment Effective Date, the Aggregate Revolving Commitments are $600,000,000.

 

“Aggregate Total Commitments” means, at any time of calculation, without duplication, the sum of the Commitments. As of the First Amendment Effective Date, the Aggregate Total Commitments are

$500,000,000620,000,000.

 

“Agreement” means this Credit Agreement.

 

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“Allocable Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 10.22(d).

 

“Applicable Lenders” means the Required Lenders, Required Revolving Lenders, all affected Lenders, or all Lenders, as the context may require.

 

“Applicable Margin” means:

 

(a)From, from and after the First Amendment Effective Date and on each Adjustment Date thereafter, the Applicable Margin shall be determined from the following pricing grid based upon the Average Daily Availability as of the Fiscal Quarter ended immediately preceding such Adjustment Date; provided, however, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent may, and at the direction of the Required Lenders shall, immediately increase the Applicable Margin to that set forth in Level II (even if the Average Daily Availability requirements for a different Level have been met) and interest shall accrue at the Default Rate; provided further if any Borrowing Base Certificates are at any time restated or otherwise revised (including as a result of an audit) or if the information set forth in any Borrowing Base Certificates otherwise proves to be false or incorrect such that the Applicable Margin would have been higher than was otherwise in effect during any period, without constituting a waiver of any Default or Event of Default arising as a result thereof, interest due under this Agreement shall be immediately and retroactively recalculated at such higher rate for any applicable periods and shall be due and payable on demand.

 

	
Level
	
Average Daily Availability
	
LIBOR

Applicable Margin for Revolving Loans that are

LIBOR

Loans/BA Rate MarginLoans/ Euribor Rate MarginLoans
	
Applicable Margin for Revolving Loans

that are

Domestic Prime Rate  MarginLoans

/US Index Rate Margin/Loans Canadian Prime Rate   MarginLoans
	
Applicable Margin for FILO Loans

that are

LIBOR

Loans
	
Applicable Margin for FILO Loans

that are

Domestic Prime Rate Loans
	
 

	
I
	
Greater than or equal to 50% of the Loan Cap
	
2.00%
	
1.25%1.00%
	
3.50%
	
2.50%
	
0.25%

	
II
	
Less than 50% of the Loan Cap
	
2.25%
	
1.50%1.25%
	
3.75%
	
2.75%
	
0.50%

“Applicable Percentage” means with respect to (a) any Revolving Domestic Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Revolving Domestic Total Commitments represented by such Revolving Domestic Lender’s Revolving Domestic Commitment at such time, (b) any Canadian Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Canadian Total Commitments represented by such Canadian Lender’s Canadian Commitment at such time, and (c)

 

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with respect to any FILO Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of  the outstanding principal balance of the FILO Loan represented by such FILO Lender’s outstanding  FILO Loan at such time, (d) any Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the sum of the Revolving Domestic Commitments, the Canadian Commitments plus the outstanding portion of the FILO Loan, in each case represented by the sum of such Lender’s Aggregate TotalRevolving Commitments representedplus the outstanding portion of the FILO Loan held by such Lender’s Commitment at such time. If the Domestic Commitments and/or Canadian Commitmentscommitment of each Lender to make Loans and the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 2.06 or Section 8.02 or if the Aggregate TotalRevolving Commitments have expired, then the Applicable Percentages of each Lender shall be determined based on the Applicable Percentages of such Lender most recently in effect, giving effect to any subsequent assignments. The initial Applicable Percentages of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.

 

“Applicable Rate” means, at any time of calculation, the Applicable Margin for Loans which are LIBOR Rate Loans.

 

“Appraised Value” means the appraised orderly liquidation value, net of costs and expenses to be incurred in connection with any such liquidation, which value is expressed as a percentage of Cost of Eligible Inventory as set forth in the inventory stock ledger of the Domestic Loan Parties and the Canadian Borrower, which value shall be determined from time to time by the most recent appraisal undertaken by an independent appraiser engaged by the Administrative Agent.

 

“Approved Fund” means any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender, or (d) the same investment advisor or an advisor under common control with such Lender, Affiliate or advisor, as applicable.

 

“Arcadia” means Arcadia Beauty Labs LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, or any successor thereof.

 

“Arcadia Availability” means, as of any date of determination thereof by the Administrative Agent, the result, if a positive number, of:

 

(a)the Arcadia Borrowing Base minus

(b)the aggregate unpaid balance of Credit Extensions to, or for the account of, the Borrowers and attributable to the Arcadia Borrowing Base.

 

For purposes hereof, all Credit Extensions to the Foreign Borrower based on the Domestic Borrowing Base shall be deemed to have been made on account of Arcadia Availability and shall be attributable to the Arcadia Borrowing Base.

 

“Arcadia Borrowing Base” means, at any time of calculation, an amount equal to:

 

(a)the Cost of Eligible Inventory of Arcadia, net of Inventory Reserves, multiplied by the Inventory Advance Rate multiplied by the Appraised Value of Eligible Inventory;

 

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minus

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
the then amount of all Availability Reserves applicable to Arcadia.

 

“Arrangers” mean MLPFSBank of America and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, in their capacities as joint lead arrangers and joint book managers, and Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as joint lead arrangers and joint book managers for the First Amendment.

 

“Assignee Group” means two or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one another or  two or more Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor.

 

“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 D or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

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

 

“Audited Financial Statements” means the audited Consolidated balance sheet of the Parent and its Subsidiaries for the Fiscal Year ended September 30, 20162019, and the related Consolidated statements of income or operations, Shareholders’ Equity and cash flows for such Fiscal Year of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, including the notes thereto.

“Auto-Extension Letter of Credit” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.03(b)(iii). “Availability Period” means the period from and including the Effective Date to the earliest of

	
 
	
(a)
	
the Maturity Date, (b) the date of termination of the Aggregate Total Commitments pursuant to

Section 2.06, and (c) the date of termination of the Commitment of each Lender to make Loans and of the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions pursuant to Section 8.02.

 

“Availability Reserves” means such reserves as the Administrative Agent from time to time determines in its Permitted Discretion as being appropriate (a) to reflect the impediments to the Agents’ ability to realize upon the Collateral, (b) to reflect claims and liabilities that the Administrative Agent determines will need to be satisfied in connection with the realization upon the Collateral, (c) to reflect criteria, events, conditions, contingencies or risks which adversely affect any component of the Domestic Borrowing Base, Canadian Borrowing Base or, Arcadia Borrowing Base, the FILO Borrowing Base or the assets, business, financial performance or financial condition of any Loan Party, or (d) to reflect that  a Default or an Event of Default then exists. Without limiting the generality of the  foregoing,  Availability Reserves may include, in the Administrative Agent’s Permitted Discretion, (but are not limited to) reserves based on: (i) (A) rent for any Store locations, and (B) for each distribution center leased by a Loan Party unless the applicable lessor has delivered to the Collateral Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, a Collateral Access Agreement; (ii) customs duties, and other costs to release Inventory which is being imported into the United States or Canada; (iii) outstanding Taxes and other governmental charges, including, without limitation, ad valorem, real estate, personal property, sales, claims of the PBGC and other Taxes which may have priority over the interests of the Collateral Agent or

 

- 6 -

 

the Canadian Agent in any Collateral; (iv) salaries, wages, vacation pay and benefits due and owing to employees of any Loan Party, (v) Customer Credit Liabilities, (vi) customer deposits, (viii) reserves for reasonably anticipated changes in the Appraised Value of Eligible Inventory between appraisals, (viii) warehousemen’s, carrier’s or bailee’s charges and other Permitted Encumbrances which may have priority over the interests of the Collateral Agent or the Canadian Agent in any Collateral, (ix) amounts due to vendors on account of consigned goods (x) the Agents’ estimate of Canadian Priority Payable Reserves, (xi) reserves to reflect the liabilities and obligations of the Loan Parties with respect to Bank Products then provided or outstanding, and (xii) reserves to reflect the reasonably anticipated liabilities and obligations of the Loan Parties with respect to Cash Management Services then provided or outstanding. The amount of any Reserve established by the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have a reasonable relationship to the event, condition or other matter which is the basis for such Reserve. All such Reserves shall be established in good faith and without duplication for items already excluded from “Eligible Credit Card Receivables”, “Eligible Inventory” and “Eligible Trade Receivables” as set forth in the lettered clauses in the definitions thereof or reserves or criteria deducted in computing the Appraised Value of Eligible Inventory or the imposition of Inventory Reserves. To the extent required pursuant to Section 2.01(e), the Administrative Agent shall give the Borrowers three (3) Business Days prior written notice of the imposition of any Reserve and, upon delivery of such notice, the Administrative Agent shall be available to discuss the proposed Availability Reserves and the Borrowers may take such action as may be required so that the event, condition or other matter that is the basis for the Availability Reserve no longer exists or has been otherwise adequately addressed by the Borrowers to the reasonable satisfaction of the Administrative Agent.

 

“Average Daily Availability” shall mean the average daily Excess Availability for the immediately preceding Fiscal Quarter.

 

“BA Equivalent Loan” means any Canadian Loan in CD$ bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the BA Rate in accordance with the provisions of Article II.

 

“BA Equivalent Loan Borrowing” means any Committed Borrowing comprised of BA Equivalent Loans.

 

“BA Rate” means, for the Interest Period of each BA Equivalent Loan, the higher of:

 

	
 
	
(i)
	
the Rate Floor, and

 

(ii)the rate of interest per annum equal to the annual rates applicable to CD$ bankers’ acceptances having an identical or comparable term as the proposed BA Equivalent Loan displayed and identified as such on the display referred to as the “CDOR Page” (or any display substituted therefor) of Reuter Monitor Money Rates Service as at approximately 10:00 A.M. (Toronto time) on such day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, as of 10:00 A.M. (Toronto time) on the immediately preceding Business Day); provided that if such rates do not appear on the CDOR Page at such time on such date, the rate for such date will be the annual discount rate (rounded upward to the nearest whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%) as of 10:00 A.M. on such day at which a Canadian chartered bank listed on Schedule 1 of the Bank Act (Canada) as selected by the Canadian Agent is then offering to purchase CD$ bankers’ acceptances accepted by it having such specified term (or a term as closely as possible comparable to such specified term); and provided, further, in all events, such BA Rate shall not be less than 0%.

 

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

 

- 7 -

 

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

 

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

 

“Bank of America-Canada Branch” means Bank of America, N.A. (acting through its Canada branch), a banking corporation carrying on business under the Bank Act (Canada).

 

“Bank of Canada Overnight Rate” means, on any date of determination, the rate of interest charged by the Bank of Canada on one-day Canadian dollar loans to financial institutions, for such date.

 

“Bank Products” means any services or facilities provided to the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries by any Person that, at the time such Person enters into a definitive agreement to provide such services or facilities, is the Administrative Agent, the Canadian Agent, any Lender, or any of their respective branches or Affiliates, including, without limitation, on account of (a) Swap Contracts and (b) leasing,  but excluding Cash Management Services.

 

“BHC Act Affiliate” of a party means an “affiliate” (as such term is defined under, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 1841(k)) of such party.

 

“Blocked Account” has the meaning providedspecified in Section 6.12(a)(ii).

 

“Blocked Account Agreement” means, with respect to an account established by a Loan Party, an agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (if a party thereto) the Canadian Agent, establishing control (as defined in the UCC or other applicable Law) of such Blocked Account by the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of itself and the other Credit Parties) or the Canadian Agent (for the benefit of itself and the other Canadian Credit Parties) and whereby the bank maintaining such account agrees, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of a Trigger Event, to comply only with the instructions originated by the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, without the further consent of any Loan Party.

 

“Blocked Account Bank” means each bank with whom deposit accounts are maintained in which any funds of any of the Loan Parties from one or more DDAs are concentrated and with whom a Blocked Account Agreement has been, or is required to be, executed in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

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

 

“Borrowers” means, collectively, the Domestic Borrowers, the Canadian Borrower and the Foreign Borrower.

 

“Borrowing” means a Committed Borrowing or, a Swing Line Borrowing, or the borrowing of the FILO Loan on the First Amendment Effective Date, as the context may require.

 

“Borrowing Base Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto (with such changes therein as may be required by the Administrative Agent to reflect the components of and reserves against the Domestic Borrowing Base or the FILO Borrowing Base as provided for hereunder from time to time, and as may be required by the Canadian Agent to reflect the components of and reserves against the Canadian Borrowing Base as provided for hereunder from time to  time), executed and certified as being accurate and complete, by a Responsible Officer of the Parent (with

 

- 8 -

 

respect to the Domestic Borrowing Base and the FILO Borrowing Base) and the Canadian Borrower (with respect to the Canadian Borrowing Base) which shall include appropriate exhibits, schedules, supporting documentation, and additional reports as reasonably requested in advance by the Administrative Agent (with respect to the Domestic Borrowing Base and the FILO Borrowing Base) or the Canadian Agent (with respect to the Canadian Borrowing Base).

 

“Business Day” means (a) any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the state where the Administrative Agent’s Office is located and, (b) if such day relates to any LIBOR Rate Loan, means any such day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank market and the applicable Optional Currency in the relevant Eurocurrency Interbank Market, and (c) with respect to any Loan to be made in an Optional Currency, a day on which dealings in the relevant Optional Currency can be carried on in the principal financial center of the country in which  such currency is legal tender, provided that when used in connection with any Loan by a Canadian Lender, the term “Business Day” shall also exclude any day on which banks are authorized or required  by law to be closed in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, provided, however, that, with respect to notices and determinations in connection with, and payments of principal and interest on, Loans denominated in Euros, such day is also a day on which the Trans-European Automated Real-Time Gross Settlement Express Transfer System (TARGET) (or, if such clearing system ceases to be operative, such other clearing system (if any) determined by the Administrative Agent to be a suitable replacement) is open for settlement of payment in Euros.

 

“Canadian Agent” means Bank of America- Canada Branch, for its own benefit and the benefit  of the other Canadian Credit Parties, or any successor Canadian agent.

 

“Canadian Agent’s Office” means the Canadian Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 10.02, or such other address or account as the Canadian Agent may from time to time notify the Canadian Borrower and the Canadian Lenders.

 

“Canadian Availability” means, as of any date of determination thereof, the result, if a positive number, of:

 

(a)the Canadian Loan Cap minus

	
 
	
(b)
	
the Canadian Total Outstandings on such date.

 

In calculating Canadian Availability at any time and for any purpose under this Agreement any amount calculated or referenced in Dollars shall also refer to the Equivalent Amount in CD$.

 

“Canadian Borrower” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto and,  subject to the terms of this Agreement, includes the Foreign Borrower.

 

“Canadian Borrowing” means a Canadian Committed Borrowing made to the Canadian Borrower or the Foreign Borrower (to the extent based on Canadian Availability) or a Swing Line Borrowing made to the Canadian Borrower or the Foreign Borrower (to the extent based on Canadian Availability), as the context may require.

 

“Canadian Borrowing Base” means, at any time of calculation, an Equivalent Amount in Dollars equal to:

 

- 9 -

 

(a)the face amount of Eligible Credit Card Receivables of the Canadian Borrower multiplied by 90%;

 

plus

 

(b)the Cost of Eligible Inventory of the Canadian Borrower, net of Inventory Reserves, multiplied by the Inventory Advance Rate multiplied by the Appraised Value of Eligible Inventory of the Canadian Borrower;

 

plus

 

(c)the face amount of Eligible Trade Receivables of the Canadian Borrower multiplied by the Receivables Advance Rate;

 

minus

 

	
 
	
(d)
	
the then amount of all Availability Reserves relating to the Canadian Borrower.

 

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

 

“Canadian Committed Loan” means any loan at any time made by any Canadian Lender pursuant to Section 2.01.

 

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

 

“Canadian Concentration Account” has the meaning providedspecified in Section 6.12(c).

 

“Canadian Credit Extensions” mean each of the following: (a) a Canadian Borrowing and (b) a Canadian L/C Credit Extension.

 

“Canadian Credit Party” or “Canadian Credit Parties” means (a) individually, (i) each Canadian Lender and its branches and Affiliates, (ii) the Canadian Agent and its Affiliates, (iii) each L/C Issuer of any Canadian Letter of Credit, (iv) the Arrangers, (v) each beneficiary of any indemnification obligation undertaken by any Loan Party under any Loan Document with respect to the Canadian Liabilities, (vi) each holder of any Other Canadian Liabilities, and (vii) the successors and assigns of each of the foregoing, and (b) collectively, all of the foregoing.

 

“Canadian L/C Borrowing” means an extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Canadian Letter of Credit which has not been reimbursed on or prior to the date required to be  reimbursed by the Canadian Borrower or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) or refinanced as a Canadian Committed Borrowing.

 

- 10 -

 

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

 

“Canadian L/C Obligations” means, as at any date of determination and without duplication, the aggregate Stated Amount of all outstanding Canadian Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all Unreimbursed Amounts under Canadian Letters of Credit, including all Canadian L/C Borrowings.

 

“Canadian Lenders” means the Lenders having Canadian Commitments from time to time or at any time. Any Person may be a Canadian Lender only if it is a financial institution that is listed on Schedule I, II or III of the Bank Act (Canada), has received an approval to have a financial establishment in Canada pursuant to Section 522.21 of the Bank Act (Canada), is not a foreign bank for purposes of the Bank Act (Canada), or is not prohibited by applicable law, including the Bank Act (Canada), from having a Canadian Tranche Revolving Credit Commitment or making any Canadian Tranche Revolving Credit Loans or having any LC Exposure with respect to Canadian Tranche Letters of Credit under this Agreement.

 

“Canadian Letter of Credit” means each Letter of Credit issued hereunder for the account of the Canadian Borrower or the Foreign Borrower.

 

“Canadian Letter of Credit Sublimit” means an amount equal to $10,000,000. The Canadian Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Canadian Total Commitments.  A permanent reduction of the Canadian Total Commitments shall not require a corresponding pro rata reduction in the Canadian Letter of Credit Sublimit; provided, however, that if the Canadian Total Commitments are reduced to an amount less than the Canadian Letter of Credit Sublimit, then the Canadian Letter of Credit Sublimit shall be reduced to an amount equal to (or, at the Canadian  Borrower’s option, less than) the Canadian Total Commitments.

 

“Canadian Liabilities” means (a) all advances to, and debts (including principal, interest, fees, costs, and expenses), liabilities, obligations, covenants, indemnities, and duties of, any Canadian Loan Party arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Canadian Loan or Canadian Letter of Credit (including payments in respect of reimbursement of disbursements, interest thereon and obligations to provide cash collateral therefor), 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, fees, costs, expenses and indemnities that accrue after the commencement  by or against any Canadian 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, (b) any Other Canadian Liabilities, and (c) the Foreign Liabilities to the extent of any direct Borrowing by the Foreign Borrower or issuance of any Letter of Credit for the account of the Foreign Borrower based on Canadian Availability, in accordance with Section 2.01(c).

 

“Canadian Loan” means an extension of credit by a Canadian Lender to the Canadian Borrower or the Foreign Borrower (to the extent based on Canadian Availability) under Article II in the form of a Committed Loan or a Swing Line Loan.

 

“Canadian Loan Cap” means, at any time of determination, the lesser of (a) the Canadian Total Commitments and (b) the Canadian Borrowing Base.

 

“Canadian Loan Parties” means, collectively, the Canadian Borrower, the Foreign Borrower and each Canadian Subsidiary that is a Guarantor of the Canadian Liabilities. “Canadian Loan Party” means any one of such Persons.

 

- 11 -

 

“Canadian Note” means a promissory note made by the Canadian Borrower in favor of a Canadian Lender evidencing Canadian Loans  made by such Canadian Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit C-1.

 

“Canadian Overadvance” means a Canadian Credit Extension to the extent that, immediately  after the making of such Canadian Credit Extension, the aggregate principal balance of all Canadian  Total Outstandings exceeds the Canadian Loan Cap as then in effect.

 

“Canadian Pension Plan” means a pension plan that is registered under the Pension Benefits Act (Ontario) or other applicable pension benefits standards legislation of another Canadian province or territory and the Income Tax Act (Canada) and that is (a) maintained or sponsored by any Canadian Loan Party or any Canadian Subsidiary for its employees, (b) maintained pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement, or other arrangement under which more than one employer makes contributions and to which any Canadian Loan Party or any Canadian Subsidiary is making or accruing an obligation to make contributions, or (c) a plan with respect to which any Canadian Loan Party has incurred or may incur liability, including contingent liability either to such plan or to any Person or Governmental Authority, including the FSCO. For purposes of clarity, “Canadian Pension Plan” shall not include the group registered retirement savings plan in which the employees of any Canadian Loan Party or any Canadian Subsidiary participate and which is not subject to any pension benefits standards legislation or the registered pension plan provisions of the Income Tax Act (Canada).

 

“Canadian Prime Rate” means, for any day, the greater of (i) a fluctuating rate of interest per annum equal to the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by  Bank of America-Canada Branch as its reference rate of interest for loans made in CD$ and designated as its “prime” rate being a rate set by Bank of America-Canada Branch based upon various  factors, including Bank of America-Canada Branch’s costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans; provided that in the event that the Bank of America-Canada Branch (including any successor or assignor) does not at any time publicly announce a prime rate, such rate shall be the “prime rate” publicly announced by a Schedule 1 chartered bank in Canada selected by the Canadian Agent, (ii) the Bank of Canada Overnight Rate, plus 0.50%, and

(iii)the BA Rate for a one month Interest Period as determined on such day, plus 1.0%; and provided, further, in all events, such Canadian Prime Rate shall not be less than 0%. Any change in the prime rate announced by the Bank of America-Canada Branch shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change. Each interest rate based on the Canadian Prime Rate hereunder, shall be adjusted simultaneously with any change in the Canadian Prime Rate.

 

“Canadian Prime Rate Loan” means a Revolving Loan that bears interest based on the Canadian Prime Rate.

 

“Canadian Priority Payable Reserves” means, at any time, without duplication, the obligations, liabilities and indebtedness at such time which have, or would in any proceeding have, a trust, deemed trust, right of garnishment, right of distress, charge or statutory Lien imposed to provide for payment or Liens ranking or capable of ranking senior to or pari passu with Liens securing the Canadian Liabilities on any of the Collateral under federal, provincial, state, county, territorial, municipal, or local law including, to the extent that there is such a trust, statutory Liens or Liens in respect of the specified item that has or is capable of having such rank, claims for unremitted and accelerated rents, utilities, taxes (including sales taxes and goods and services taxes (“GST”) and harmonized sales taxes (“HST”), value added taxes, amounts deducted or withheld or not paid and remitted when due under the Income Tax Act (Canada), excise taxes, taxes payable pursuant to Part IX of the Excise Tax Act (Canada) or similar provincial or territorial Law), the claims of a clerk, servant, travelling salesperson, labourer or worker (whether full-time or part-time) who is owed wages (including any amounts protected by the Wage

 

- 12 -

 

Earner Protection Program Act (Canada)), salaries, commissions, disbursements, compensation or other amounts (such as union dues payable on behalf of employees) by the Loan Parties (but only to the extent that the claims of such parties may rank or be capable of ranking senior to or pari passu with Liens securing the Obligations on any of the Collateral), vacation pay, severance pay, employee source deductions, workers'’ compensation obligations, government royalties or pension fund obligations (including claims of FSCO and all amounts currently or past due and not contributed, remitted or paid with respect to any Canadian Pension Plan or under the Canada Pension Plan or the Pension Benefits Act of Ontario (or other applicable pension benefits standards legislation of another Canadian province or territory), and any amounts representing any unfunded liability, solvency deficiency or wind up deficiency with respect to any Canadian Pension Plan) (but only to the extent ranking or capable of ranking senior to or pari passu with Liens securing the Obligations on any of the Collateral), together with the aggregate value, determined in accordance with GAAP, of all Eligible Inventory which may be or may become subject to a right of a supplier to recover possession thereof or to exercise rights of revendication with respect thereto under any federal, provincial, state, county, municipal, territorial or local law, where such supplier'’s right may have priority over Liens securing the Obligations including Eligible Inventory subject to a right of a supplier to repossess goods pursuant to Section 81.1 of the BIA or the Civil Code of Québec.

 

“Canadian Security Documents” means each General Security Agreement, any deed of hypothec granted pursuant to the laws of the Province of Québec and each other security agreement or other instrument or document governed by the laws of any Canadian province and executed and delivered by any Canadian Loan Party to the Canadian Agent pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document granting a Lien on assets of any Canadian Loan Party for the benefit of the Canadian Credit Parties, as security for the Canadian Liabilities.

 

“Canadian Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of Canada or any province or territory thereof.

 

“Canadian Swing Line Note” means the promissory note of the Canadian Borrower substantially in the form of Exhibit C-3, payable to the order of the applicable Swing Line Lender, evidencing the Swing Line Loans made by the Swing Line Lender to the Canadian Borrower or to the Foreign Borrower (to the extent based on Canadian Availability).

 

“Canadian Swing Line Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $10,000,000 and (b) the Canadian Total Commitments. The Canadian Swing Line Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Canadian Total Commitments.

 

“Canadian Total Commitments” means the aggregate of the Canadian Commitments of all Canadian Lenders. On the First Amendment Effective Date, the Canadian Total Commitments are

$25,000,000.

 

“Canadian Total Outstandings”  means, without duplication, the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Canadian Loans and all Canadian L/C Obligations.

 

“Capital Expenditures” means, with respect to any Person for any period, (a) all expenditures made (whether made in the form of cash or other property) or costs incurred for the acquisition or improvement of fixed or capital assets of such Person (excluding normal replacements and maintenance which are properly charged to current operations), in each case that are (or should be) set forth as capital expenditures in a Consolidated statement of cash flows of such Person for such period, in each case prepared in accordance with GAAP, and (b) Capital Lease Obligations incurred by a Person during such period.

 

- 13 -

 

“Capital Lease Obligations” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as liabilities on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP and the amount of which obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Cash Collateral Account” means (i) in the case of the Domestic L/C Obligations, an account established by one or more of the Domestic Borrowers with the Administrative Agent, for its own benefit and the benefit of the other Domestic Credit Parties, at Bank of America under the sole and exclusive dominion and control of the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent or as the Administrative Agent shall otherwise direct, in which deposits are required to be made by the Domestic Borrowers in respect of the Domestic L/C Obligations in accordance with Section 2.03(g) or 8.02(c); and

(ii)in the case of the Canadian L/C Obligations, an account established by the Canadian Borrower with the Canadian Agent, for its own benefit and the benefit of the other Canadian Credit Parties, at Bank of America-Canada Branch under the sole and exclusive dominion and control of the Canadian Agent, in  the name of the Canadian Agent or as the Canadian Agent shall otherwise direct, in which deposits are required to be made by the Canadian Borrower in respect of the Canadian L/C Obligations in accordance with Section 2.03(g) or 8.02(c).

 

“Cash Collateralize” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(g). Derivatives of such term have corresponding meanings.

 

“Cash Management Services” means any cash management services or facilities provided to the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries by the Administrative Agent, the Canadian Agent or any Lender or any of their respective branches or Affiliates, including, without limitation, on account of: (a) ACH transactions, (b) controlled disbursement services, treasury, depository, overdraft, and electronic funds transfer services, (c) foreign exchange facilities, (d) credit card processing services, (e) purchase cards (f) electronic payables, and (g) credit or debit cards.

 

“CD$” or “Canadian Dollars” means lawful money of Canada.

 

“CERCLA” means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. § 9601 et seq.

 

“CERCLIS” means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Information System maintained by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

“CFC” means a Person that is a controlled foreign corporation under Section 957 of the Code. “Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the Effective Date, of any of the following:  (a)  the

adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any  change in any law, rule, regulation

or treaty or in the administration, interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or

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

(a)

- 14 -

 

“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 Exchange

Act), other than one or more Permitted Holders, shall be, directly or indirectly, the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except that a person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all securities that such person or group has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time (such right, an “option right”)) of shares of Voting Stock having more than 50% of the total voting power of all outstanding shares of Holdings (taking into account all such Equity Interests that such “person” or “group” has the right to acquire pursuant to any option right); or

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
the Continuing Directors shall cease to constitute a majority of the members of the Board of

Directors of Holdings; or

 

(c)any “change in control” as defined in the Term Loan Agreement or the Notes Indenture; or

 

(d)Holdings fails at any time to own, directly or indirectly, 100% of the Equity Interests of the Parent free and clear of all Liens, except where such failure is as a result of a transaction permitted by the Loan Documents; or

 

(e)the Parent fails at any time to own, directly or indirectly, 100% of the Equity Interests of each other Loan Party free and clear of all Liens (other than the Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent or the Canadian Agent, as the case may be), except where such failure is as a result of a transaction permitted by the Loan Documents.

 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and the regulations promulgated thereunder, as amended and in effect.

 

“Collateral” means any and all “Collateral” as defined in any applicable Security Document and all other property of any Loan Party that is or is intended under the terms of the Security Documents to  be subject to Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent (for the benefit of itself and the other Credit Parties)  or the Canadian Agent (for the benefit of itself and the other Canadian Credit Parties), as applicable.

 

“Collateral Access Agreement” means an agreement reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Agents executed by (a) a bailee or other Person in possession of Collateral, or (b) any landlord of Real Estate leased by any Loan Party, pursuant to which such Person (i) acknowledges the Collateral Agent’s or Canadian Agent’s, as applicable, Lien on the Collateral, (ii) releases or  subordinates such Person’s Liens in the Collateral held by such Person or located on such Real Estate,

(iii)provides the applicable Agent with access to the Collateral held by such bailee or other Person or located in or on such Real Estate, (iv) as to any landlord, provides the applicable Agent with a reasonable time to sell and dispose of the Collateral from such Real Estate, and (v) makes such other agreements with the Agents as the Agents may reasonably require.

 

“Collateral Agent” means Bank of America, acting in such capacity for its own benefit and the ratable benefit of the other Domestic Credit Parties.

 

“Combined Borrowing Base” means the sum of the Domestic Borrowing Base and, the Canadian Loan Cap and the FILO Borrowing Base.

 

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“Commercial Letter of Credit” means any letter of credit or similar instrument  (including, without limitation, bankers’ acceptances) issued for the purpose of providing the primary payment mechanism in connection with the purchase of any materials, goods or services by a Loan Party in the ordinary course of business of such Loan Party.

 

“Commitment” means, as to each Lender, its Revolving Domestic Commitment and, its Canadian Commitment and its FILO Commitment.

 

“Commitment Increase” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.15.

 

“Committed Borrowing” means each Canadian Committed Borrowing and each Domestic Committed Borrowing.

 

“Committed Loan” means any loan at any time made by any Revolving Domestic Lender and any Canadian Lender (including, without limitation, any Domestic Committed Loan and any Canadian Committed Loan) pursuant to Section 2.01.

 

“Committed Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Committed Borrowing, (b) a Conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of LIBOR Rate Loans or BA Equivalent Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(b), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 (Domestic Committed Loan Notice) or Exhibit A-2 (Canadian Committed Loan Notice), as applicable.

“Commodity Exchange Act” means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.). “Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit F. “Concentration Accounts” means, collectively, the Canadian Concentration Account and the

Domestic Concentration Account.

 

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

 

“Consolidated” means, when used to modify a financial term, test, statement, or report of a Person, the application or preparation of such term, test, statement or report (as applicable) based upon the consolidation, in accordance with GAAP, of the financial condition or operating results of such Person and its Subsidiaries.

 

“Consolidated EBITDA” means, at any date of determination, an amount equal to Consolidated Net Income of Holdings 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: (i) Consolidated Interest Charges, (ii) the provision for Federal, state, local and foreign income Taxes, (iii) depreciation and amortization expense and, (iv) all other non-cash charges and non-cash losses, including all non-cash compensation to officers, directors and employees paid in the form of Equity Interests and all write-downs of assets and goodwill, (v) all cash expenses incurred in connection with (A) any capital markets transaction (including any merger or acquisition transaction) for the  issuance of debt, equity or convertible security, and (B) the issuance of any Indebtedness (including the Obligations), (vi) losses incurred in any Disposition, (vii) fees, cash and expenses incurred in the early extinguishment of Indebtedness, (viii) non-cash losses or non-cash reserves incurred from or by discontinued operations, (ix) any loss accounted for by the equity method of accounting, net of any Investments made by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries in the Person which has incurred such loss

 

- 16 -

 

during such Measurement Period, (x) non-cash fees and expense reimbursements paid to members of the Board of Directors in connection with their service on such Board of Directors, and (xi) only with respect to determining compliance with Section 7.13 hereof, any Specified Equity Contribution, minus (b) the following to the extent included in calculating such Consolidated Net Income: (i) Federal, state, provincial, territorial, municipal, local and foreign income tax credits and (ii) all non-cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income (in each case of or by the Holdings and its Subsidiaries for such Measurement Period), all as determined on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, at any date of determination, the ratio of

(a) (i) Consolidated EBITDA for such period minus (ii) the unfinanced portion of all Capital  Expenditures (excluding any Capital Expenditure made with all or any portion of the proceeds, applied within twelve months of receipt thereof, from (x) any casualty insurance, condemnation or eminent domain, or (y) any sale of assets (other than Inventory) and excluding (z) any Capital Expenditure made with all or any portion of the proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests, provided that any such Capital Expenditure is made or committed to be made within six (6) months after the date of receipt of the initial proceeds from the sale of such Equity Interests) minus (iii) the aggregate amount of Federal, state, provincial, territorial, municipal, local and foreign income taxes paid in cash during such period to (b)   the Debt Service Charges, in each case, of or by Holdings and its Subsidiaries for the most recently completed Measurement Period, all as determined on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Consolidated Funded Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination, for Holdings and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis, without duplication, 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 and commercial), bankers’ acceptances and bank guaranties, (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, and (f) all Indebtedness of the types referred to in clauses (a) through (f) above of any partnership (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries is a general partner or joint venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to the Holdings and such Subsidiary.

 

“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, including, without limitation, all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and net costs under Swap Contracts, but excluding any non-cash or deferred interest financing costs and expense, and (b) the portion of rent expense with respect to such period under Capital Lease Obligations that is treated as interest in accordance with GAAP, minus interest income (accrued and received or receivable in cash for such period), in each case of or by Holdings and its Subsidiaries  for the most recently completed Measurement Period, all as determined on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Consolidated Net Income” means, as of any date of determination, the net income of Holdings and its Subsidiaries for the most recently completed Measurement Period, all as determined on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, provided, however, that there shall be excluded (a) all extraordinary and/or non-recurring and/or unusual gains, losses, items, credits and expenses for such Measurement Period, (b) the income (or loss) of any Person during such Measurement Period in which any Person (other than any Subsidiary of Holdings) has a joint interest, except to the extent of the amount

 

- 17 -

 

of cash dividends or other distributions actually paid in cash to Holdings and its Subsidiaries during such period, (c) the income (or loss) of any Person during such Measurement Period and accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or is merged into or consolidated with Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or that Person’s assets are acquired by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, and (d) the income of any direct or indirect Subsidiary of Holdings and its Subsidiaries to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Subsidiary of that income is not at the time permitted by operation of the terms of its Organization Documents or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to  that Subsidiary, except that Holdings’ and its Subsidiaries’ equity in any net loss of any such Subsidiary for such Measurement Period shall be included in determining Consolidated Net Income.

 

“Continuing Directors” means the directors of Holdings on the Effective Date and each other director if, in each case, such other director’s nomination for election to the board of directors of  Holdings is recommended by at least a majority of the then Continuing Directors.

 

“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.

 

“Convert”, “Conversion” and “Converted” each refers to a conversion of Committed Loans of one Type into Committed Loans of the other Type.

 

“Cost” means the lower of cost or market value of Inventory, based upon the Borrowers’ accounting practices, known to the Administrative Agent, which practices are in effect on the Effective Date as such calculated cost is determined from invoices received by the Borrowers, the Borrowers’ purchase journals or the Borrowers’ stock ledger. “Cost” does not include inventory capitalization costs or other non-purchase price charges (such as freight) used in the Borrowers’ calculation of cost of goods sold.

 

“Covenant Compliance Event” means either (a) that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, or (b) Excess Availability is less than the greater of (i) 10% of the Loan Cap (as calculated without giving effect to the FILO Push Down Reserve), or (ii) $40,000,00048,000,000. For purposes hereof, the occurrence of a Covenant Compliance Event shall be deemed continuing (A) so long as such Event of Default has not been waived, and/or (B) if the Covenant Compliance Event arises as a result of the Borrowers’ failure to achieve Excess Availability as required hereunder, until Excess Availability has exceeded the greater of (x) 10% of the Loan Cap (as calculated without giving effect to the FILO Push Down Reserve), or (y) $40,000,00048,000,000 for thirty (30) consecutive Business Days, in which case a Covenant Compliance Event shall no longer be deemed to be continuing for purposes of this Agreement. The termination of a Covenant Compliance as provided herein shall in no way limit, waive or delay the occurrence of a subsequent Covenant Compliance Event in the event that the conditions set forth in this definition again arise.

 

“Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in,  and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined  in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

 

“Covered Party” has the meaning specified in Section 10.31.

 

“Credit Card Notifications” has the meaning providedspecified in Section 6.12(a)(i).

 

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“Credit Card Receivables” means each “payment intangible” (as defined in the UCC) and each Account, together with all income, payments and proceeds thereof, owed by a major credit or debit card issuer (including, but not limited to, Visa, MasterCard and American Express and such other issuers approved by the Administrative Agent) to a Domestic Loan Party or to the Canadian Borrower resulting from charges by a customer of such Loan Party on credit or debit cards issued by such issuer in connection with the sale of goods by such Loan Party, or services performed by such Loan Party, in each case in the ordinary course of its business.

 

“Credit Extension” means each of (a) a Canadian Credit Extension and (b) a Domestic Credit Extension.

 

“Credit Party” or “Credit Parties” means collectively, each Canadian Credit Party and each Domestic Credit Party.

 

“Credit Party Expenses” means: (a) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by any of the Agents, MLPFS and their respective Affiliates, in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including, without limitation (but in any event subject to the limitations described below), (i) the reasonable and documented actual fees, charges and disbursements of (A) counsel for any of the Agents and their Affiliates (limited to not more than one primary counsel, one Canadian counsel and one European counsel and necessary local counsel (limited to one local counsel for each other jurisdiction)), (B) outside consultants for any of the Agents (solely after the occurrence of an Event of Default), (C) appraisers (but only to the extent expressly provided to be paid by the Borrowers  as set forth in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents), (D) commercial finance examinations (but only to the extent expressly provided to be paid by the Borrowers as set forth in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents), and (E) all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout or restructuring negotiations in respect of the Obligations, and (ii) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with (A) the syndication of the credit facility provided for herein, (B) the preparation, negotiation, administration, management, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the  provisions thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (C) the enforcement or protection of their rights in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or efforts to preserve, protect, collect, or enforce the Collateral or in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws, or (D) any workout or restructuring negotiations in respect of any Obligations; and (b) with respect to each L/C Issuer, all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of  any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder; and (c) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Credit Parties who are not the Agents, the L/C Issuer or any Affiliate of any of them in connection with the enforcement of the Credit Parties’ rights and remedies under any of the Loan Documents or applicable Law including in the course of any work-out or restructuring of the Loans or other Obligations during the pendency of any Event of Default, provided that such Credit Parties shall be entitled to reimbursement for no more than one counsel representing all such Credit Parties (absent a conflict of interest in which case the Credit Parties may engage and be reimbursed for additional counsel).

“Current Assets Collateral” means all the “ABL Priority Collateral” as defined in the  Intercreditor Agreement.

 

“Customer Credit Liabilities” means at any time, the aggregate remaining value at such time of

(a)outstanding gift certificates and gift cards of the Borrowers entitling the holder thereof to use all or a portion of the certificate or gift card to pay all or a portion of the purchase price for any Inventory, and

	
 
	
(b)
	
outstanding merchandise credits of the Borrowers.

	
 
	
(a)
	

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“DDA” means each checking, savings or other demand deposit account maintained by any of the Loan Parties. All funds in each DDA shall be conclusively presumed to be Collateral and proceeds of Collateral and the Agents and the Lenders shall have no duty to inquire as to the source of the amounts  on deposit in any DDA.

 

“Debt Service Charges” means for any Measurement Period, the sum of (a) Consolidated Interest Charges paid or required to be paid for such Measurement Period, plus (b) principal payments required to be made on account of Indebtedness (excluding the Obligations, any Synthetic Lease Obligations and any Indebtedness which has been refinanced at its maturity, but including, without limitation, Capital Lease Obligations), all payments of excess cash flow on account of any Indebtedness, and the full amount of  any non-recourse Indebtedness, and scheduled mandatory payments on account of Disqualified Stock (whether in the nature of dividends, redemption, repurchase or otherwise) required to be made during such period)) for such Measurement Period, in each case determined on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Debtor Relief Laws” means each of (i) the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, (ii) the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada), the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada) and the Winding-up and Restructuring Act (Canada), and (iii) all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States, Canada (including corporate statutes), 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 Letter of Credit Fees, a rate equal to the Applicable Rate plus two percent (2%) per annum, and (b) otherwise, when used with respect to Obligations, the Canadian Liabilities or the Foreign Liabilities, an interest rate two percent (2%) per annum in excess of the rate then applicable to such Obligation, Canadian Liability or Foreign Liability.

 

“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

 

“Defaulting Lender” means, subject to Section 2.16(b), any Lender that (a) has failed to (i) fund all or any portion of its Loans within two Business Days of the date such Loans were required to be funded hereunder (other than as a result of a good faith dispute), or (ii) pay to the Agents, the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder (including in respect of its participation in Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans) within two Business Days of the date when due (other than as a result of a good faith dispute), (b) has notified any Borrower, any Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender in writing that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations hereunder, or has made a public statement to that effect, (c) has failed, within two Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent or any Borrower, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers 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 Borrowers), or

(d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or (ii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity, or (iii) has become the subject of a  Bail-inIn Action, unless, in the case of any Lender subject to this clause (d), the Administrative Agent

(d)

- 20 -

 

shall have determined that such Lender intends, and has all approvals required to enable it, to continue to perform its obligations as a Lender hereunder; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any Equity Interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority so  long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender  (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender. Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under any one or more of clauses (a) through (d) above, and of the effective date of such status, shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a  Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.16(b)) as of the date established therefor by the Administrative Agent in a written notice of such determination, which shall be delivered by the Administrative Agent to the Borrowers, the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender and each other Lender promptly following such determination.

 

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

 

“Determination Date” shall mean the date upon which each of the following has occurred:

 

(a)The Canadian Commitments and/or the Revolving Domestic Commitments have been terminated by the Required Lenders (or are deemed terminated) upon the occurrence of an Event of Default; and

 

(b)The Obligations, the Foreign Liabilities and/or the Canadian Liabilities have been declared to be due and payable (or has become automatically due and payable) and have not been paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

“Disposition” or “Dispose” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (including any sale and leaseback transaction and any sale, transfer, license or other disposition of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions and whether effected pursuant to a Division or otherwise)) of any property (including, without limitation, any Equity Interests) 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.

 

“Disqualified Stock” means any Equity Interest that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible, or for which it is exchangeable, in each case at the option of the holder thereof), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is ninety-one (91) days after the date on which the Loans mature. The amount of Disqualified Stock deemed to be outstanding at any time for purposes of this Agreement will be the maximum amount that Holdings and its Subsidiaries may become obligated to pay upon maturity of, or pursuant to any mandatory redemption provisions of, such Disqualified Stock or portion thereof, plus accrued dividends.

 

- 21 -

 

“Dividing Person” has the meaning assigned to it in the definition of “Division.”

 

“Division” means the division of the assets, liabilities and/or obligations of a Person (the “Dividing Person”) among two or more Persons (whether pursuant to a “plan of division” or similar arrangement), which may or may not include the Dividing Person and pursuant to which the Dividing Person may or may not survive.

 

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

 

“Domestic Availability” means, as of any date of determination thereof by the Administrative Agent, the result, if a positive number, of:

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
The Revolving Domestic Loan Cap

 

Minus

 

(b)The aggregate unpaid balance of Credit Extensions (other than a FILO Loan) to, or for the account of, the Borrowers.

 

“Domestic Borrowers” means each of Sally Holdings LLC, Beauty Systems Group LLC, Sally Beauty Supply LLC and, subject to the terms of this Agreement (but excluding for purposes of the FILO Loan), the Foreign Borrower.

 

“Domestic Borrowing” means a Domestic Committed Borrowing or, a Swing Line Borrowing made to the Domestic Borrowers or the Foreign Borrower (to the extent based on Domestic Availability) or the borrowing of the FILO Loan on the First Amendment Effective Date, as the context may require.

 

“Domestic Borrowing Base” means, at any time of calculation, an amount equal to:

 

(a)the face amount of Eligible Credit Card Receivables of the Domestic Loan Parties multiplied by 90%;

 

plus

 

(b)the Cost of Eligible Inventory of the Domestic Loan Parties, net of Inventory Reserves, multiplied by the Inventory Advance Rate multiplied by the Appraised Value of Eligible Inventory of the Domestic Loan Parties;

 

plus

 

(c)the face amount of Eligible Trade Receivables of the Domestic Loan Parties multiplied by the Receivables Advance Rate;

 

minus

 

	
 
	
(d)
	
the then amount of all Availability Reserves;

 

minus

 

	
 
	
(e)
	
the then amount of the FILO Push Down Reserve.

	
 
	
(a)
	

- 22 -

 

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

 

“Domestic Committed Loan” means any loan at any time made by any Revolving Domestic Lender pursuant to Section 2.01.

 

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

 

“Domestic Concentration Account” has the meaning providedspecified in Section 6.12(c).

 

“Domestic Credit Extensions” mean each of the following: (a) a Domestic Borrowing and (b) a Domestic L/C Credit Extension.

 

“Domestic Credit Party” or “Domestic Credit Parties” means (a) individually, (i) each Domestic Lender and its Affiliates, (ii) the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates, (iii) each L/C Issuer of any Domestic Letter of Credit, (iv) the Arrangers, (v) each beneficiary of any indemnification obligation undertaken by any Loan Party under any Loan Document with respect to the Obligations, (vi) each holder of any Other Domestic Liabilities, and (vii) the successors and assigns of each of the foregoing, and (b) collectively, all of the foregoing.

 

“Domestic L/C Borrowing” means an extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Domestic Letter of Credit which has not been reimbursed on or prior to the date required to be  reimbursed by the Domestic Borrowers or by the Foreign Borrower pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) or refinanced as a Domestic Committed Borrowing.

 

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

 

“Domestic L/C Obligations” means, as at any date of determination and without duplication, the aggregate Stated Amount of all outstanding Domestic Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all Unreimbursed Amounts under Domestic Letters of Credit, including all Domestic L/C Borrowings.

 

“Domestic Lenders” means the Lenders havingRevolving Domestic Commitments from time to time or at any timeLenders and the FILO Lenders.

 

“Domestic Letter of Credit” means each Letter of Credit issued hereunder for the account of the Domestic Borrowers or the Foreign Borrower (to the extent based on Domestic Availability).

 

“Domestic Letter of Credit Sublimit” means an amount equal to $70,000,000. The Domestic Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Revolving Domestic Total Commitments.  A permanent reduction of the Revolving Domestic Total Commitments shall not require a corresponding pro rata reduction in the Domestic Letter of Credit Sublimit; provided, however, that if the Revolving

 

- 23 -

 

Domestic Total Commitments are reduced to an amount less than the Domestic Letter of Credit Sublimit, then the Domestic Letter of Credit Sublimit shall be reduced to an amount equal to (or, at Parent’s  option, less than) the Revolving Domestic Total Commitments.

 

“Domestic Loan” means an extension of credit by a Domestic Lender to the Domestic Borrowers or the Foreign Borrower (to the extent based on Domestic Availability) under Article II in the form of a Committed Loan or a Swing Line Loan.

 

“Domestic Loan Cap” means, at any time of determination, the lesser of (a) the Domestic Total Commitments or (b) the Domestic Borrowing Base.

 

“Domestic Loan Parties” means, collectively, the Domestic Borrowers and each Domestic Subsidiary that is a Guarantor of the Obligations. “Domestic Loan Party” means  any one of such  Persons.

 

“Domestic Note” means a promissory note made by the Domestic Borrowers in favor of a Revolving Domestic Lender evidencing Revolving Domestic Loans made by such Revolving Domestic Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit C-2.

 

“Domestic Overadvance” means a Domestic Credit Extension (other than the making of the  FILO Loan) to the extent that, immediately after the making of such Domestic Credit Extension, the aggregate principal balance of all Domestic Credit Extensions then outstanding exceeds the Revolving Domestic Loan Cap as then in effect.

 

“Domestic Parallel Debt” has the meaning specified in Section 9.18.

 

“Domestic Pension Plan” means any “employee pension benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), other than a Multiemployer Plan, that is subject to Title IV of ERISA and is sponsored or maintained by a Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate or to which a Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate contributes or has an obligation to contribute, or in the case of a multiple employer or other plan described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA, has made contributions at any time during the immediately preceding five plan years.

“Domestic Prime Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest based on the U.S. Prime Rate. “Domestic Principal Obligations” means the Obligations owing to the Credit Parties (other than

the Domestic Parallel Debt and the Obligations of the Domestic Loan Parties).

 

“Domestic Swing Line Note” means the promissory note of the Domestic Borrowers  substantially in the form of Exhibit C-4, payable to the order of the applicable Swing Line Lender, evidencing the Swing Line Loans made by such Swing Line Lender to the Domestic Borrowers or to the Foreign Borrower (to the extent based on Domestic Availability).

 

“Domestic Swing Line Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a)

$25,000,00060,000,000 and (b) the Revolving Domestic Total Commitments. The Domestic Swing Line Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Revolving Domestic Total Commitments.

 

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

 

“Domestic Total Commitments” means the aggregate of the Domestic Commitments of all Domestic Lenders. On the Effective Date, the Domestic Total Commitments are $500,000,000.

 

- 24 -

 

“Domestic Total Outstandings” means, without duplication, the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Domestic Loans and all Domestic L/C Obligations.

 

“Dutch FSA” means the Dutch Financial Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht, Wft) and its subordinated and implementing decrees and regulations (as amended and restated from time to time).

 

“Dutch Loan Party” means a Loan Party or any subsidiary thereof that is incorporated or organised under Dutch law.

 

“Dutch Pledge of Intragroup Loan Receivables” means the deed of pledge of intragroup loan receivables dated as of December 13, 2010 and governed by Dutch law, among the Foreign Borrower, as pledgor, and the Collateral Agent and the Canadian Agent, as pledgees, pursuant to which all intragroup loan receivables owed to the Foreign Borrower by any Foreign Subsidiary will be pledged in favor of the Collateral Agent and the Canadian Agent, and confirmed and ratified by the Foreign Borrower as of the Effective Date.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

“Effective Date” means the first date all the conditions precedent in Section 4.01 arewere satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 10.01.

 

“Eligible Assignee” means (a) a Credit Party or any of its Affiliates; (b) a bank, insurance company, or Person engaged in the business of making commercial loans, which Person, together with its Affiliates, has a combined capital and surplus in excess of $250,000,000; (c) an Approved Fund; (d) any Person to whom a Credit Party assigns its rights and obligations under this Agreement as part of an assignment and transfer of such Credit Party’s rights in and to a material portion of such Credit Party’s portfolio of asset based credit facilities, and (e) any other Person (other than a natural person) approved by (i) the Administrative Agent, and (ii) unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Parent (each such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, “Eligible Assignee” shall not include a Permitted Holder, a Loan Party or any of the Loan Parties’ or Permitted Holders Affiliates or Subsidiaries.

 

“Eligible Credit Card Receivables” means at the time of any determination thereof, each Credit Card Receivable that satisfies the following criteria at the time of creation and continues to meet the  same at the time of such determination: such Credit Card Receivable (i) has been earned by performance and represents the bona fide amounts due to a Domestic Loan Party or the Canadian Borrower, as applicable, from a credit card payment processor and/or credit card issuer, and in each case originated in the ordinary course of business of such Domestic Loan Party or Canadian Borrower, and (ii) is not

 

- 25 -

 

ineligible for inclusion in the calculation of the Domestic Borrowing Base or, the Canadian Borrowing Base or the FILO Borrowing Base, as applicable, pursuant to any of clauses (a) through (j) below. Without limiting the foregoing, to qualify as an Eligible Credit Card Receivable, a Credit Card  Receivable shall indicate no Person other than a Domestic Loan Party or the Canadian Borrower as payee or remittance party. In determining the amount to be so included, the face amount of a Credit Card Receivable shall be reduced by, without duplication, to the extent not reflected in such face amount, (i) the amount of all accrued and actual discounts, claims, credits or credits pending, promotional program allowances, price adjustments, finance charges or other allowances (including any amount that a Borrower may be obligated to rebate to a customer, a credit card payment processor, or credit card issuer pursuant to the terms of any agreement or understanding (written or oral)) and (ii) the aggregate amount of all cash received in respect of such Credit Card Receivable but not yet applied by the applicable Loan Parties to reduce the amount of such Credit Card Receivable. Except as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent, any Credit Card Receivable included within any of the following categories shall not constitute an Eligible Credit Card Receivable:

 

(a)Credit Card Receivables which do not constitute a “payment intangible” (as defined in the UCC) or an Account;

 

(b)Credit Card Receivables that have been outstanding for more than five (5) Business Days from the date of sale;

 

(c)Credit Card Receivables (i) that are not subject to a perfected first-priority security interest and Lien in favor of the Collateral Agent or Canadian Agent, as applicable, or

(ii) with respect to which a Domestic Loan Party or the Canadian Borrower does not have good, valid and marketable title thereto, free and clear of any Lien (other than Liens granted to the Collateral Agent or Canadian Agent, as applicable, pursuant to the Security Documents and Permitted Encumbrances);

 

(d)Credit Card Receivables which are disputed, are with recourse, or with respect to which a claim, counterclaim, offset or chargeback has been asserted (to the extent of such claim, counterclaim, offset or chargeback);

 

(e)Credit Card Receivables as to which the processor has the right under certain circumstances to require a Loan Party to repurchase the Credit Card Receivables from such credit card processor;

 

(f)Credit Card Receivables due from an issuer or payment processor of the applicable credit card which is the subject of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law;

 

(g)Credit Card Receivables which are not a valid, legally enforceable obligation of the applicable issuer with respect thereto;

 

(h)Credit Card Receivables which do not conform to all representations, warranties or other provisions in the Loan Documents relating to Credit Card Receivables;

 

(i)Credit Card Receivables owed to a Loan Party which is not a Material  Subsidiary and which is the subject of any case under any Debtor Relief Law; or

 

(j)Credit Card Receivables which the Administrative Agent determines in its Permitted Discretion to be uncertain of collection. 

(a)

- 26 -

 

“Eligible Inventory” means, as of the date of determination thereof, without duplication, items of Inventory of a Domestic Loan Party or the Canadian Borrower that are finished goods, merchantable and readily saleable to the public in the ordinary course of business, in each case that, (A) complies with each of the representations and warranties respecting Inventory made by the Loan Parties in the Loan Documents, and (B) is not excluded as ineligible by virtue of one or more of the criteria set forth below. The following items of Inventory shall not be included in Eligible Inventory:

 

(a)Inventory that is not solely owned by a Domestic Loan Party or the Canadian Borrower or a Domestic Loan Party or the Canadian Borrower does not have good and valid title thereto, free and clear of any Lien (other than (i) Liens granted to the Collateral Agent or Canadian Agent, as applicable, pursuant to the Security Documents, and (ii) Permitted Encumbrances);

 

(b)Inventory that is leased by or is on consignment to a Domestic Loan Party or the Canadian Borrower or which is consigned by a Domestic Loan Party or the Canadian Borrower  to a Person which is not a Loan Party;

 

(c)Inventory that is not located in the United States of America in the case of Inventory of a Domestic Borrower (excluding territories or possessions of the United States) or Canada in the case of Inventory of the Canadian Borrower (excluding territories or possessions thereof) at a location that is owned or leased by a Loan Party, except Inventory in transit between such owned or leased locations;

 

(d)Inventory that is comprised of goods which (i) are damaged, defective, “seconds,” or otherwise unmerchantable, (ii) are to be returned to the vendor, (iii) are obsolete or slow moving, or custom items, work-in-process, raw materials, or that constitute spare parts, promotional, marketing, packaging and shipping materials or supplies used or consumed in a Domestic Loan Parties’ or the Canadian Borrower’s business, (iv) are seasonal in nature and which have been packed away for sale in the subsequent season, (v) not in compliance with all standards imposed by any Governmental Authority having regulatory authority over such Inventory, its use or sale, or (vi) are bill and hold goods;

 

(e)Inventory that is not subject to a perfected first-priority security interest and Lien in favor of the Collateral Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable;

 

(f)Inventory that consists of samples, labels, bags, and other similar non-merchandise categories;

 

	
 
	
(g)
	
Inventory that is not insured in compliance with the provisions of Section 5.10

hereof;

 

(h)Inventory that has been sold but not yet delivered or as to which a Loan Party  has accepted a deposit;

 

(i)Inventory that is subject to any licensing, patent, royalty, trademark, trade name or copyright agreement with any third party from which any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries has received notice of a dispute in respect of any such agreement, or which would require the payment of fees or royalties to, or the consent of, the licensor under such agreement for any sale or other disposition of such Inventory by the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, unless the Administrative Agent has imposed a Reserve for the payment of any such fees or royalties;

(a)

- 27 -

 

(j)Inventory of a Loan Party which is not a Material Subsidiary and which is the subject of any case under any Debtor Relief Law; or

 

(k)Inventory acquired in a Permitted Acquisition and which is not of the type usually sold in the ordinary course of the Loan Parties’ business, unless and until the Administrative Agent has completed or received (A) an appraisal of such Inventory from appraisers satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and establishes Inventory Reserves (if applicable) therefor, and otherwise agrees that such Inventory shall be deemed  Eligible Inventory, and (B) such other due diligence as the Agents may require, all of the results of the foregoing to be reasonably satisfactory to the Agents.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrative Agent may, from time to time, in the exercise of its Permitted Discretion, on not less than three (3) Business Days’ prior notice to the Parent, change the criteria for Eligible Inventory as reflected on the Borrowing Base Certificate which the Administrative Agent has determined in the exercise of its Permitted Discretion could adversely affect, or would reasonably be expected to adversely affect, Eligible Inventory in any material respect. Any such change in criteria shall have a reasonable relationship to the event, condition or other circumstance that is the basis for such change. Upon delivery of the notice of such change pursuant to the foregoing sentence, the Administrative Agent shall be available to discuss the proposed change, and the applicable Borrower may take such action as may be required so that the event, condition or circumstance that is the basis for such change no longer exists, in a manner and to the extent reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in the exercise of its Permitted Discretion. Any Inventory of the Loan Parties that is not Eligible Inventory shall nevertheless be part of the Collateral as and to the extent provided in the Security Documents.

 

“Eligible Trade Receivables” means Accounts arising from the sale of the Domestic  Loan Parties’ or the Canadian Borrower’s Inventory (other than those consisting of Credit Card Receivables) that satisfies the following criteria at the time of creation and continues to meet the same at the time of such determination: such Account (i) has been earned by performance and represents the bona fide amounts due to a Domestic Loan Party or the Canadian Borrower from an account debtor, and in each case originated in the ordinary course of business, and (ii) in each case is acceptable to the  Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion, and is not ineligible for inclusion in the calculation of the Domestic Borrowing Base or, the Canadian Borrowing Base or the FILO Borrowing Base, as applicable, pursuant  to any of clauses (a) through (u) below.  Without limiting the foregoing, to qualify  as an Eligible Trade Receivable, an Account shall indicate no Person other than a Domestic Loan Party  or the Canadian Borrower as payee or remittance party. In determining the amount to be so included, the face amount of an Account shall be reduced by, without duplication, to the extent not reflected in such face amount, (i) the amount of all accrued and actual discounts, claims, credits or credits pending, promotional program allowances, price adjustments, finance charges or other allowances (including any amount that a Loan Party may be obligated to rebate to a customer pursuant to the terms of  any agreement or understanding (written or oral)) and (ii) the aggregate amount of all cash received in respect of such Account but not yet applied by the Loan Parties to reduce the amount of such Eligible Trade Receivable. Any Account included within any of the following categories shall not constitute an Eligible Trade Receivable:

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
Accounts that are not evidenced by an invoice;

 

(b)Accounts that the account debtor has failed to pay within ninety (90) days of original invoice date;

(a)

- 28 -

 

(c)Accounts owed by an account debtor (or its Affiliates) where 50% or more of the total amount of all Accounts owed by that account debtor (or its Affiliates) are deemed ineligible under clause (b) above;

 

(d)Accounts having any credit balances greater than ninety (90) days past their invoice date,

 

(e)Accounts with respect to an Account Debtor whose total obligations owing to Borrowers or Subsidiary Guarantors exceed 10% of all Eligible Accounts, to the extent of the obligations owing by such Account Debtor in excess of such percentage; provided, however,  that, in each case, the amount of Eligible Accounts that are excluded because they exceed the foregoing percentage shall be determined by the Administrative Agent based on all of the otherwise Eligible Accounts prior to giving effect to any eliminations based upon the foregoing concentration limit,

 

(f)Accounts (i) that are not subject to a perfected first-priority security interest and Lien in favor of the Collateral Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, or (ii) with respect to which a Domestic Loan Party or the Canadian Borrower does not have good, valid and marketable title thereto, free and clear of any Lien (other than Liens granted to the Collateral Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, pursuant to the Security Documents and Permitted Encumbrances);

 

(g)Accounts which are disputed or with respect to which a claim, counterclaim, offset or chargeback has been asserted, but only to the extent of  such dispute, counterclaim, offset or chargeback;

 

(h)Accounts which arise out of any sale made not in the ordinary course of  business, made on a basis other than upon credit terms usual to the business of the Loan Parties;

 

	
 
	
(i)
	
Accounts which are owed by any Affiliate or any employee of a Loan Party;

 

(j)Accounts for which all consents, approvals or authorizations of, or registrations or declarations with any Governmental Authority required to be obtained, effected or given in connection with the performance of such Account by the account debtor or in connection with  the enforcement of such Account by the Agents have not been duly obtained, effected or given and are not in full force and effect;

 

(k)Accounts due from an account debtor which is the subject of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, has had a trustee or receiver appointed for all or a substantial part of its property, has made an assignment for the benefit of creditors or has suspended its business or is the subject to Sanctions;

 

(l)Accounts due from (i) the federal government of the United States of America unless such Accounts have been assigned by the applicable Borrower to the  Administrative Agent in accordance with the Federal Assignment of Claims Act of 1940 or (ii) the federal government of Canada or a political subdivision thereof, or any province or territory, or any municipality or department or agency or instrumentality thereof unless the provisions of the Financial Administration Act (Canada) or any applicable provincial, territorial or municipal law of similar purpose and effect restricting the assignment thereof, as the case may be, have been complied with, or any other Governmental Authority except to the extent reasonably acceptable to the Agents;

(a)

- 29 -

 

(m)Accounts (i) owing from any Person that is also a supplier to or creditor of a Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries unless such Person has waived any right of setoff in a manner acceptable to the Administrative Agent, or (ii) representing any manufacturer’s or supplier’s credits, discounts, incentive plans or similar arrangements entitling a Loan Party or  any of its Subsidiaries to discounts on future purchase therefrom;

 

(n)Accounts arising out of sales on a bill-and-hold, guaranteed sale, sale-or-return, sale on approval or consignment basis or subject to any right of return;

 

(o)Accounts arising out of sales to account debtors outside the United States (with respect to Accounts of a Domestic Borrower) or Canada (with respect to Accounts of the Canadian Borrower), unless such Accounts are fully backed by an irrevocable letter of credit on terms, and issued by a financial institution, acceptable to the Administrative Agent and such irrevocable letter of credit is in the possession of, and drawable by, the Administrative Agent, or Canadian Agent, as applicable or other assurances of payment have been provided as determined in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion;

 

	
 
	
(p)
	
Accounts evidenced by a promissory note or other instrument;

 

	
 
	
(q)
	
Accounts consisting of amounts due from vendors as rebates or allowances;

 

(r)Accounts which are in excess of the credit limit for such account debtor established by the Loan Parties in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices;

 

(s)Accounts which include extended payment terms (datings) beyond those generally furnished to other account debtors in the ordinary course of business;

 

(t)Accounts owed to a Loan Party which is not a Material Subsidiary and which is the subject of any case under any Debtor Relief Law;

 

(u)Accounts which the Administrative Agent determines in its Permitted Discretion to be uncertain of collection; or

 

(k) Accounts  acquired  in  a  Permitted  Acquisition,  unless  and until the Agents (i) have completed due diligence with respect to such Accounts as the Agents may require, all of the results of the foregoing to be reasonably satisfactory to the Agents, and (ii) establish Receivables Reserves (if applicable) therefor.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrative Agent may, from time to time, in the exercise of its Permitted Discretion, on not less than three (3) Business Days’ prior notice to the Parent, change the criteria for Eligible Trade Receivables as reflected on the Borrowing Base Certificate which the Administrative Agent has determined in the exercise of its Permitted Discretion could adversely affect, or would reasonably be expected to adversely affect, Eligible Trade Receivables in any material respect. Any such change in criteria shall have a reasonable relationship to the event, condition or other circumstance that is the basis for such change. Upon delivery of the notice of such change pursuant to the foregoing sentence, the Administrative Agent shall be available to discuss the proposed change, and the applicable Borrower may take such action as may be required so that the event, condition or circumstance that is the basis for such change no longer exists, in a manner and to the extent reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in the exercise of its Permitted Discretion. Any Accounts of the Loan

 

- 30 -

 

Parties that are not Eligible Trade Receivables shall nevertheless be part of the Collateral as and to the extent provided in the Security Documents.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Accounts Receivable Reporting Requirement is not then in effect and the Borrowers have not elected to provide detailed reporting of Accounts, then 20% of all Accounts (whether or not eligible) as set forth in the most recent Borrowing Base Certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent shall be deemed ineligible and, other than the requirement that in all events the determination of eligibility shall require compliance with subsections (f), (h) and (t) above, no further determination of eligibility (including any adjustments or determinations of eligibility using the Administrative Agent’s Permitted Discretion) set forth in this definition or otherwise shall be made, except that the foregoing shall in no way limit the right of the Administrative Agent to establish and maintain the Dilution Reserve (as defined in the definition of Reserves). Any calculation or report made pursuant to this paragraph will be on the same basis that the Administrative Agent and the Loan Parties’ utilized prior to the Effective Date in agreeing to the foregoing provision.

 

“Environmental Laws” means any and all federal, state, provincial, territorial, municipal, local, and foreign statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements or governmental restrictions relating to pollution  and the protection of the environment or the release of any materials into the environment, including those related to Hazardous Materials, air emissions and discharges to waste or public systems.

 

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

 

“Equipment” shall mean “equipment”, as defined in the UCC or in the PPSA, and shall also  mean all furniture, store fixtures, motor vehicles, rolling stock, machinery, office equipment, plant equipment, tools, dies, molds, and other goods, property, and assets which are used and/or were purchased for use in the operation or furtherance of a Loan Party’s business, and any and all accessions  or additions thereto, and substitutions therefor.

 

“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.

 

“Equivalent CD$ Amount” means, on any date, the rate at which Canadian Dollars may be exchanged into Dollars on the basis of the Spot Rate. In the event that such rate does not appear on such Reuters page, “Equivalent Amount” shall mean, on any date, the amount of Dollars into which an amount of Canadian Dollars may be converted or the amount of Canadian Dollars into which an amount of

 

- 31 -

 

Dollars may be converted, in either case, at, in the case of the Canadian Borrower, the Canadian Agent’s spot buying rate in Toronto as at approximately 12:00 noon (Toronto time) on such date and, in the case of a Domestic Borrower, the Administrative Agent’s spot buying rate in New York as at approximately 12:00 noon (New York City time) on the immediately preceding Business Day.

 

“Equivalent Amount” means, as applicable, (a) the Equivalent CD$ Amount, and (b) with respect to any other Optional Currency, the equivalent amount thereof determined by the Administrative Agent at such time on the basis of the Spot Rate.

 

“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 Loan Parties 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 Domestic Pension Plan; (b) a withdrawal by a Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate from a Domestic Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it 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 a 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, the treatment of a plan amendment as a termination under Sections 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Domestic Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (e) the institution by the PBGC of proceedings to terminate a Domestic Pension Plan; (f) any event or condition which constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Domestic Pension Plan; (g) the determination that any Domestic Pension Plan is considered an at-risk plan or a plan in endangered or critical status within the meaning of Sections 430, 431 and 432 of the Code or Sections 303, 304 and 305 of ERISA; or (h) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon a Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate.

 

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

 

“Euros” and the designation “€”: the currency introduced on January 1, 1999 at the start of the third stage of European economic and monetary union pursuant to the Treaty (expressed in euros).

“Euribor Rate” means for any Interest Period with respect to a Euribor Rate Loan, means the higher of:

 

	
 
	
(i)
	
the Rate Floor, and

 

(ii)the rate at which euro interbank term deposits in the applicable currency are being offered by one prime bank to another within the EMU zone as determined by the Administrative Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period, but in any event, not less than 0.0%.

 

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

 

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“Eurocurrency Interbank Market” means any lawful recognized market in which deposits of Dollars and the relevant Optional Currencies are offered by international banking units of United States banking institutions and by foreign banking institutions to each other and in which foreign currency and exchange operations are customarily conducted.

 

“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01. An Event of Default shall be deemed to be continuing unless and until that Event of Default has been duly waived as provided in Section 10.01 hereof.

 

“Excess Availability” means the difference between (a) the Loan Cap and (b) the outstanding Credit Extensions to the Borrowers.

 

“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 under the Facility Guaranty of, or the grant under a Loan Document by such Loan Party of a security interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any guaranty 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 10.26 hereof 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. If a Swap Obligation arises under a Master Agreement governing more than one Swap Contract, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to Swap Contracts for which such guaranty or security interest becomes illegal.

 

“Excluded Taxes” means with respect to any Agent, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any other Recipient, any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to any Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes (in lieu of net income taxes), and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its Lending Office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political  subdivision thereof)  or  (ii)  that  are  Other  Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a  Lender,

U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on  which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the BorrowerBorrowers under Section 10.13) or (ii) such Lender changes its Lending Office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 3.01(a)(ii) or (c), amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender became a party hereto or to such Lender immediately before it changed its Lending Office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 3.01(e), (d) in the case of a Foreign  Lender (other than a Canadian Lender or an assignee pursuant to a request by the Parent under Section 10.13) or L/C Issuer, any withholding tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender or L/C Issuer at the time such Foreign Lender or L/C Issuer becomes a party to this Agreement (or designates a new lending office) or is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s or L/C Issuer’s failure or inability (other than as a result of a Change in Law after such Foreign Lender or L/C Issuer becomes a party hereto) to comply with Section 3.01(e), except to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new Lending Office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from the Loan Parties with respect to such withholding tax pursuant  to Section 3.01(a), (e) in the case of a Canadian Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Canadian Borrower under Section 10.13) (i) any withholding tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such  Canadian  Lender  at  the  time  such  Canadian  Lender  becomes  a  party  to  this  Agreement  (or

 

- 33 -

 

designates a new Lending Office) or is attributable to such Canadian Lender’s failure or inability (other than as a result of a Change in Law) to comply with Section 3.01(e), except to the extent that such Canadian Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new Lending Office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from the Canadian Borrower with respect to such tax pursuant to Section 3.01(a), (ii) any tax that is imposed as a result of such Canadian Lender being a “specified shareholder” of any Canadian Loan Party for purposes of subsection 18(5) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) or not dealing at arm’s length with any such specified shareholder, and (iii) any tax that is imposed as a result of such Canadian Lender not dealing at arm’s length (within the meaning the Income Tax Act (Canada)) with any Canadian Loan Party, and (f) any Taxes imposed pursuant to FATCA. For the avoidance of doubt, any Participant that is entitled to the benefits of Section 3.01(a) shall be treated  as a Lender for purposes of this defined term.

 

“Executive Order” has the meaning set forthspecified in Section 10.18.

 

“Existing Credit Agreement” has the meaning specified in the preamble hereto. “Existing Obligations” has the meaning set forthspecified in Section 10.23.

“Existing Letters of Credit” means the letters of credit issued under the Existing Credit Agreement and set forth on Schedule 2.03 hereto.

 

“Facility Guaranty” means (a) a Guarantee of the Obligations (including, without limitation, for clarity, the Canadian Liabilities and the Foreign Liabilities) made by a Guarantor which is a Domestic Loan Party in favor of the Administrative Agent and the other Credit Parties, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (b) a Guarantee of the Canadian Liabilities made by  a  Guarantor which is a Canadian Loan Party in favor of the Canadian Agent and the other Canadian Credit Parties, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and (c) a Guarantee of the Foreign Liabilities made by the Canadian Borrower in favor of the Canadian Agent and the other Canadian Credit Parties, to the extent of any Credit Extensions received by the Foreign Borrower on account of Canadian Availability, each in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

“FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof and any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code.

 

“Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day, the rate per annum equal tocalculated by the weighted average of the rates on overnight FederalFederal Reserve Bank of New York based on such day’s federal funds transactions with members ofby depository institutions (as determined in such manner as the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers on such day, asBank of New York shall set forth on its public website from time to time) and published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York  on the Business Day next succeeding such dayBusiness Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York  as the federal funds effective rate; 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; and provided, further, in all events, such Federal Funds Rate shall not be less than 0%as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

 

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“Fee Letter” means, the First Amendment Fee Letter, as may be amended, supplemented or replaced and in effect from time to time.

 

“FILO Borrowing Base” means, at any time of calculation, an amount equal to:

 

(a)the face amount of Eligible Credit Card Receivables of the Domestic Loan Parties multiplied by 5%;

 

plus

 

(b)the Cost of Eligible Inventory of the Domestic Loan Parties, net of Inventory Reserves, multiplied by 5% multiplied by the Appraised Value of Eligible Inventory of the Domestic Loan Parties;

 

plus

 

(c)the face amount of Eligible Trade Receivables of the Domestic Loan Parties multiplied by 5%.

 

 “FILO Commitment” means, as to each FILO Lender, its obligation to make the FILO Loan to the Domestic Borrowers on the First Amendment Effective Date pursuant to Section 2.01 in the amount set forth opposite such FILO Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01.

 

“FILO Lenders” means Lenders holding any portion of the FILO Loan from time to time or at any time.

 

“FILO Loan” means the extension of credit by the FILO Lenders to the Domestic Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.01 on the First Amendment Effective Date in the original principal amount of

$20,000,000.

 

“FILO Note” means a promissory note made by the Domestic Borrower in favor of a FILO Lender evidencing the portion of the FILO Loan made by such FILO Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit C-7.

 

“FILO Push Down Reserve” means the amount, if any, by which the Outstanding Amount of the FILO Loan exceeds the FILO Borrowing Base.

 

“First Amendment” means that certain First Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement by and among the Loan Parties, the Lenders party thereto, and the Agents, dated as of the  First Amendment Effective Date.

 

“First Amendment Effective Date” means April 15, 2020.

 

“First Amendment Fee Letter” means the letter agreement, dated May 19, 2017,entitled “First Amendment Fee Letter” among the Parent,Borrowers and the Administrative Agent and MLPFSdated as of April 15, 2020.

 

“Fiscal Month” means any fiscal month of any Fiscal Year, which month shall generally end on the last day of each calendar month in accordance with the fiscal accounting calendar of the Loan Parties.

 

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“Fiscal Quarter” means any fiscal quarter of any Fiscal Year, which quarters shall generally end on the last day of each March, June, September or December of such Fiscal Year in accordance with the fiscal accounting calendar of the Loan Parties.

 

“Fiscal Year” means any period of twelve (12) consecutive months ending on September 30 of each calendar year.

 

“Foreign Assets Control Regulations” has the meaning set forthspecified in Section 10.18.

 

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

 

“Foreign Lender” means any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which the Parent is resident for tax purposes. For purposes of this definition, the United States, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.

 

“Foreign Liabilities” means (a) all advances to, and debts (including principal, interest, fees, costs, and expenses), liabilities, obligations, covenants, indemnities, and duties of, the Foreign Borrower arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan or Letter of Credit (including payments in respect of reimbursement of disbursements, interest thereon and obligations to provide cash collateral therefor), 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, fees, costs, expenses and indemnities that accrue after the commencement by or against the Foreign Borrower 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, fees, expenses and other amounts are allowed  claims in such proceeding.

 

“Foreign Note” means a promissory note made by the Foreign Borrower in favor of a Canadian Lender evidencing Canadian Loans made by such Canadian Lender to the Foreign Borrower,  substantially in the form of Exhibit C-6, or a promissory note made by the Foreign Borrower in favor of a Revolving Domestic Lender evidencing Revolving Domestic Loans made by such Revolving Domestic Lender to the Foreign Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit C-5.

 

“Foreign Parallel Debt” has the meaning specified in Section 9.19.

 

“Foreign Principal Obligations” means the Obligations owing to the Credit Parties (other than the Foreign Parallel Debt).

 

“Foreign Subsidiary” means each Subsidiary of the Parent (i) which is organized and existing under the laws of any jurisdiction outside of the United States of America or (ii) that is a Foreign Subsidiary Holdco, or (iii) that is a direct Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary.  For the avoidance of  doubt, any Subsidiary of the Parent that is organized and existing under the laws of Puerto Rico shall be a Foreign Subsidiary.

 

“Foreign Subsidiary Holdco” means any Subsidiary of the Parent, so long as such Subsidiary has no material assets other than securities or Indebtedness of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries (or Subsidiaries thereof), and intellectual property relating to such Foreign Subsidiaries (or Subsidiaries thereof) and other assets relating to an ownership interest in any such securities, Indebtedness or Subsidiaries.

 

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

 

- 36 -

 

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

 

“Fronting Fee” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(j).

 

“FSCO” means the Financial Services Commission of Ontario and any Person succeeding to the functions thereof and includes the Ontario Superintendent of Financial Services and any other Governmental Authority empowered or created by the Pension Benefits Act (Ontario) or any Governmental Authority of any other Canadian jurisdiction exercising similar functions in respect of any Canadian Pension Plan of any Canadian Loan Party and any Governmental Authority succeeding to the functions thereof.

 

“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 business.

 

“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; provided that, with respect to Foreign Subsidiaries of Parent organized under the laws  of Canada, or any province or territory thereof, unless GAAP is being applied, “GAAP” shall mean principles which are consistent with those promulgated or adopted by the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants and its predecessors (or successors) in effect and applicable to the accounting period in respect of which reference to GAAP is being made.

 

“General Security Agreements” means (a) the Second Amended and Restated General Security Agreement dated as of the Effective Date among the Canadian Borrower and the Canadian Agent for the benefit of the Canadian Credit Parties and (b) any other general security agreement governed by the laws of any Canadian province or territory entered into after the Effective Date by any Canadian Loan Party that is a Guarantor of the Canadian Liabilities, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

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

 

“Guarantee” means, as to any Person, (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation payable or performable by another Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation, (ii) to purchase or

 

- 37 -

 

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). 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.

 

“Guarantor” means (a) with respect to the Obligations (including, without limitation, the Canadian Liabilities and the Foreign Liabilities), the Persons named on Schedule 1.01 hereof as Guarantors and each other Person that shall be required to execute and deliver a Facility Guaranty of the Obligations pursuant to Section 6.11(a), (b) with respect to the Canadian Liabilities, the Persons named on Schedule 1.01 hereof as Canadian Guarantors (including the Foreign Borrower) and each other Person that shall be required to execute and deliver a Facility Guaranty of the Canadian Liabilities pursuant to Section 6.11(b), (c) with respect to the Foreign Liabilities, the Persons named on Schedule 1.01 hereof as Foreign Guarantors (including the other Canadian Loan Parties) and each other Person that shall be required to execute and deliver a Facility Guaranty of the Foreign Liabilities pursuant to Section 6.11(b), and (d) with respect to any Swap Obligation of a Specified Loan Party (determined before giving effect  to Section 10.26) under the Facility Guaranty, each Borrower.

 

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

 

“Holdings” means Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, the ultimate parent of  the Loan Parties, and any successor thereto.

 

“Honor Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(c)(i).

 

“Increase Effective Date” shall have the meaning provided therefor in Section 2.15(df).

 

 

 

“Incremental FILO Tranche” shall have the meaning provided therefor in Section 2.15(c).

 

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

 

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

(a)

- 38 -

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(f)indebtedness (a) in respect of any Capital Lease Obligation of any Person, the capitalized amount thereof that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP, and (b) in respect of any Synthetic Lease Obligation of any Person, 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, agreement or instrument were accounted for as a capital lease;

 

	
 
	
(g)
	
all obligations on account of Disqualified Stock; and

 

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

 

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

 

“Indemnified Taxes” means (a) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document and

(b) to the extent not otherwise described in (a), Other Taxes. “Indemnitees” has the meaning specified in Section 10.04(b). “Information” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07.

“Intellectual Property” means all present and future: trade secrets, know-how and other proprietary information; trademarks, trademark applications, internet domain names, service marks, trade dress, trade names, business names, designs, logos, slogans (and all translations, adaptations, derivations and combinations of the foregoing) indicia and other source and/or business identifiers, and all registrations or applications for registrations which have heretofore been or may hereafter be issued thereon throughout the world; copyrights and copyright applications; (including copyrights for computer programs) and all tangible and intangible property embodying the copyrights, unpatented inventions (whether or not patentable); patents and patent applications; industrial design applications and registered industrial designs; license agreements related to any of the foregoing and income therefrom; books, records, writings, computer tapes or disks, flow diagrams, specification sheets, computer  software, source codes, object codes, executable code, data, databases and other physical manifestations,

 

- 39 -

 

embodiments or incorporations of any of the foregoing; all other intellectual property; and all common law and other rights throughout the world in and to all of the foregoing.

 

“Intercreditor Agreement” means that certain Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of the Effective Date, by and between the Administrative Agent and the Term Agent and acknowledged and agreed to by the applicable Loan Parties, as amended and in effect from time to time, as the same may be amended, amended and restated, modified, supplemented or replaced in accordance therewith and herewith.

 

“Interest Payment Date” means, (a) as to any LIBOR Rate Loan, Euribor Rate Loan, or BA Equivalent Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such LIBOR Rate Loan, Euribor Rate Loan or BA Equivalent Loan and the Maturity Date; provided, however, that if any Interest Period for a LIBOR Rate Loan, Euribor Rate Loan or BA Equivalent Loan exceeds three months, the date that falls every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be an Interest Payment Date; and

(b)as to any Prime Rate Loan (including a Swing Line Loan), the first calendar day of each April, July, October and January and the Maturity Date.

 

“Interest Period” means, as to each LIBOR Rate Loan, Euribor Rate Loan, or BA Equivalent Loan, the period commencing on the date such Committed Borrowing is disbursed, converted into or continued as such Type of Committed Borrowing and ending on the date one, two, three or six months thereafter, as selected by the Parent, the Canadian Borrower or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, in its Committed Loan Notice; provided that:

 

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

 

(ii)any Interest Period 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;

 

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

 

(iv)notwithstanding the provisions of clause (iii), no Interest Period shall have a duration of less than one (1) month, and if any Interest Period applicable to a LIBOR Rate Loan, Euribor Rate Loan or a BA Equivalent Loan, as applicable, would be for a shorter period, such Interest Period shall not be available hereunder.

 

For purposes hereof, the date of a Committed Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Committed Borrowing is made and thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Committed Borrowing.

 

“Intermediate Holdco” means Sally Investment Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, the direct parent of the Parent, or any successor thereto.

 

“Internal Control Event” means a material weakness in, or fraud that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in, Holdings and/or its Subsidiaries’ internal controls over financial reporting, in each case as described in the Securities Laws.

 

“Inventory” means all “inventory” as defined in the UCC or the PPSA, as applicable, and shall also include, without limitation, all: (a) goods which (i) are leased by a Person as lessor, (ii) are held by a

 

- 40 -

 

Person for sale or lease or to be furnished under a contract of service, (iii) are furnished by a Person  under a contract of service, or (iv) consist of raw materials, work in process, or materials used or consumed in a business; (b) goods of said description in transit; (c) goods of said description which are returned, repossessed or rejected; and (d) packaging, advertising, and shipping materials related to any of the foregoing.

 

“Inventory Advance Rate” means (i) so long as no portion of the FILO Loan is outstanding, during the period beginning June 1st and ending September 30th of each year, 92.5%, and (ii) at all other times, 90%, and (ii) at all times that any portion of the FILO Loan is outstanding, 90%, and upon the repayment in full of the FILO Loan, then the Inventory Advance Rate shall be as set forth in clause (i) above.

 

“Inventory Reserves” means such reserves as may be established from time to time by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion with respect to the determination of the saleability, at retail, of the Eligible Inventory or which reflect such other factors as affect the market value of the Eligible Inventory. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Inventory Reserves may, in the Administrative Agent’s Permitted Discretion, include (but are not limited to) reserves based on:

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
obsolescence;

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
seasonality;

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
shrink;

 

	
 
	
(d)
	
imbalance;

 

	
 
	
(e)
	
change in Inventory character;

 

	
 
	
(f)
	
change in Inventory composition;

 

	
 
	
(g)
	
change in Inventory mix;

 

	
 
	
(h)
	
mark-downs (both permanent and point of sale);

 

(i)retail mark-ons and mark-ups inconsistent with prior period practice and performance, industry standards, current business plans or advertising calendar and planned advertising events;

 

	
 
	
(j)
	
out-of-date and/or expired Inventory; and

 

	
 
	
(k)
	
seller’s reclamation or repossession rights under any Debtor Relief Laws.

 

The amount of any Reserve established by the Administrative Agent hereunder shall  have a reasonable relationship to the event, condition or other matter which is the basis for such Reserve. All such Reserves shall be established in good faith and without duplication for items already excluded from “Eligible Credit Card Receivables”, “Eligible Inventory” and “Eligible Trade Receivables” as set forth in the lettered clauses in the definitions thereof or Reserves or criteria deducted in computing the Appraised Value of Eligible Inventory or the imposition of Availability Reserves. To the extent required pursuant to Section 2.01(e), the Administrative Agent shall give the Borrowers three (3) Business Days prior written notice of the imposition of any Reserve and, upon delivery of such notice, the Administrative Agent shall be available to discuss the proposed Inventory Reserves and the Borrowers may take such action as may be

 

- 41 -

 

required so that the event, condition or other matter that is the basis for the Inventory Reserve no longer exists or has been otherwise adequately addressed by the Borrowers to the reasonable satisfaction of the Administrative Agent.

 

“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) any Acquisition. 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.

 

“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

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

 

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

 

“Joinder Agreement” means an agreement, in form satisfactory to the Administrative Agent pursuant to which, among other things, a Person becomes a party to, and bound by the terms of, this Agreement and/or the other Loan Documents in the same capacity and to the same extent as either a Borrower or a Guarantor, as the Administrative Agent may determine.

 

“Landlord Lien State” means such state(s) or province(s) or territory(ies) in which a landlord’s claim for rent may have priority over the Lien of the Collateral Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, in any of the Collateral.

 

“Laws” means each international, foreign, federal, state, provincial, territorial, municipal and local statute, treaty, rule, guideline, regulation, ordinance, code and administrative or judicial precedent  or authority, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and each applicable  administrative order, directed duty, request, license, authorization and permit of, and agreement with, any Governmental Authority, in each case whether or not having the force of law.

 

“L/C Advance” means, (a) with respect to each Revolving Domestic Lender, such Lender’s funding of its participation in any L/C Borrowing in accordance with its Applicable Percentage of all Revolving Domestic Lenders, and (b) with respect to each Canadian Lender, such funding of its participation in any L/C or Borrowing in accordance with Applicable Percentage of all Canadian  Lenders.

 

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

 

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

 

“L/C Issuer” means Bank of America, in its capacity as the issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, and any other Lender as requested by the Parent and acceptable to the Administrative Agent. The L/C

 

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Issuer may, in its reasonable discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates or branches of the L/C Issuer, in which case the term “L/C Issuer” shall include any such Affiliate or branch with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate or branch.

 

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

 

“Lease” means any agreement, whether written or oral, no matter how styled or structured, pursuant to which a Loan Party is entitled to the use or occupancy of any real property for any period of time.

 

“Lender” means each DomesticRevolving Lender and each CanadianFILO Lender and, as the context requires, includes the Swing Line Lender. Any Lender may, in its reasonable discretion, arrange for one or more Loans to be made by Affiliates or branches of such Lender, in which case the term “Lender” shall include any such Affiliate or branch with respect to Loans made by such Affiliate or branch.

 

“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 Parent and the Administrative Agent and the Canadian Agent, as applicable

 

“Letter of Credit” means each Standby Letter of Credit and each Commercial Letter of Credit issued hereunder, and shall include the Existing Letters of Credit. Letters of Credit issued hereunder may be denominated in the same currencies as Loans may be denominated, as elected by the Borrowers.

 

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

 

“Letter of Credit Expiration Date” means the day that is seven (7) days prior to the Maturity Date then in effect (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day).

 

“Letter of Credit Fee” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(i). “LIBOR Borrowing” means a Borrowing comprised of LIBOR Rate Loans. “LIBOR Rate” means the higher of:

	
 
	
(i)
	
the Rate Floor, and

 

(ii)(a) for any Interest Period with respect to a LIBOR Rate Loan, the rate per annum rate of interest determined by the Administrative Agent at or about 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to an interest period for a term equivalent to such period, equal to the London Interbank Offered Rate, or comparable or successor rate approved by the Administrative Agent for the applicable currency, as administered by ICE Benchmark Administration or any other Person that takes over the administration of such rate for U.S. Dollars for a period equal in length to such Interest Period (“LIBOR”) as published on the applicable ReutersBloomberg screen page (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time); provided, that any

(i)

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comparable or successor rate shall be applied by the Administrative Agent, if administratively feasible, in a manner consistent with market practice at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, for Dollar deposits (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period; and

 

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

 

“LIBOR Rate Loan” means a Committed Loan or the portion of the FILO Loan, as applicable, that bears interest at a rate based on the Adjusted LIBOR Rate.

 

“LIBOR Screen Rate” means the LIBOR quote on the applicable screen page the Administrative Agent designates to determine LIBOR (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time).

 

“LIBOR Successor Rate” has the meaning specified in Section 3.03(b).

 

“LIBOR Successor Rate Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any proposed LIBOR Successor Rate, any conforming changes to the definition of U.S. Prime Rate, Interest Period, timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest and other technical, administrative or operational matters as may be appropriate, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, to reflect the adoption and implementation of such LIBOR Successor Rate and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent determines that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or that no market practice for the administration of such LIBOR Successor Rate exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent determines is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement).

 

“Lien” means (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge, or preference, priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement in the nature of a security interest of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale, Capital Lease Obligation, Synthetic Lease Obligation, or other title retention agreement, any easement, right of way or other encumbrance on title to real property, and any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) and, with respect to the Canadian Loan Parties, also includes any deemed trust or prior claim in, on or of such asset and (b) in the case of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities.

 

“Liquidation” means the exercise by the Agents or the Collateral Agent of those rights and remedies accorded to such Agents under the Loan Documents and applicable Laws as a creditor of the Loan Parties with respect to the realization on the Collateral, including (after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default) the conduct by the Loan Parties acting with the consent of the Administrative Agent, of any public, private or “going-out-of-business”, “store closing” or other similar sale or any other disposition of the Collateral for the purpose of liquidating the Collateral. Derivations of the word “Liquidation” (such as “Liquidate”) are used with like meaning in this Agreement.

 

“Liquidation Percentage” shall mean, for any Lender, a fraction, the numerator of which is the sum (without duplication) of such Lender'’s Revolving Domestic Commitment and Canadian Commitment on the Determination Date and the denominator of which is the Aggregate Total Commitments of all Lenders on the Determination Date.

 

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“Loan” means a DomesticRevolving Loan and a CanadianFILO Loan.

 

“Loan Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a).

 

“Loan Cap” means, at any time of determination, the lesser of (a) the Aggregate TotalRevolving Commitments plus the Outstanding Amount of the FILO Loan or (b) the Combined Borrowing Base.

 

“Loan Documents” means this Agreement, each Note, each Issuer Document, the Fee Letter, all Borrowing Base Certificates, the Blocked Account Agreements, the Credit Card Notifications, the Security Documents, each Facility Guaranty, the Intercreditor Agreement and any other instrument or agreement now or hereafter executed and delivered in connection herewith, or in connection with any transaction arising out of any Cash Management Services and Bank Products provided by any Lender or any of its Affiliates, each as amended and in effect from time to time; provided that for purposes of Section 8.01, Section 9.01(a) and (b), Section 10.01 (other than clause (j)), the second paragraph of Section 10.03, and Section 10.06, the term “Loan Documents” shall not include any instrument or agreement now or hereafter executed and delivered in connection with any transaction arising out of any Cash Management Services and Bank Products provided by any Lender or any of its Affiliates.

 

“Loan Parties” means, collectively, the Domestic Loan Parties and the Canadian Loan Parties (and for clarity includes the Foreign Borrower). “Loan Party” means any one of such Persons.

 

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

 

“Management Investors” means the collective reference to the officers, directors, employees and other members of the management of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, or family members or relatives thereof or trusts, partnerships or limited liability companies for the benefit of any of the foregoing, or any of their heirs, executors, successors and legal representatives, who at any particular date  shall  beneficially own or have the right to acquire, directly or indirectly, common stock of Holdings.

 

“Master Agreement” means 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, together with any related schedules thereto.

 

“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, operations, property or condition (financial or otherwise) of Holdings and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, provided that, as of the First Amendment Effective Date, the temporary closure of the Loan Parties’ store locations and other operational disruptions affecting the Loan Parties, in each case as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic, shall not be deemed to have resulted in a Material Adverse Effect, or (b) the legality, validity, binding effect, or enforceability as to any Loan Party thereto of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or the rights or remedies of the Agents and the Lenders under the Loan Documents or with respect to the Collateral comprising the U.S.Domestic Borrowing Base, the FILO Borrowing Base and the Canadian Borrowing Base, in each case taken as a whole.

 

“Material Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (other than the Obligations) of the Loan Parties in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $20,000,000. For purposes of determining the amount of Material Indebtedness at any time, (a) the amount of the obligations in respect of any Swap Contract at such time shall be calculated at the Swap Termination Value thereof, and (b) all amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit arrangement shall be included. In all events, Indebtedness under the Term Loan Documents and the Notes Indenture constitutes  Material Indebtedness.

 

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“Material Subsidiary” means, as of the end of any Fiscal Quarter, any Subsidiary of Holdings (a) whose Consolidated EBITDA for the period of (4) consecutive Fiscal Quarters ending on such date exceeds five percent (5%) of Consolidated EBITDA of Holdings for such period or (b) that owns five percent (5%) of consolidated total assets of Holdings on a Consolidated basis.

 

“Maturity Date” means the earlier to occur of (x) July 6, 2022 and (y) the date which is ninety

(90) days prior to the maturity date of the 2022 Notes.

 

“Maximum Rate” has the meaning set forthspecified in Section 10.09.

 

“Measurement Period” means, at any date of determination, the most recently completed twelve Fiscal Months of Holdings and its Subsidiaries for which financial statements have been or, if a Default under Section 6.01 then exists, were required to have been, delivered.

 

“MLPFS” means Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated.

 

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

 

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

 

“Net Proceeds” means (a) with respect to any Disposition by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, the excess, if any, of (i) the sum of cash and cash equivalents received in connection with such transaction (including any cash or cash equivalents received by way of deferred payment pursuant to, or by monetization of, a note receivable or otherwise, but only as and when so received) over (ii) the sum of (A) the principal amount of any Indebtedness that is secured by the applicable asset by a Lien permitted hereunder which is senior to the Collateral Agent’s Lien on such asset and that is required to   be repaid (or to establish an escrow for the future repayment thereof) in connection with such transaction (other than Indebtedness under the Loan Documents), (B) the reasonable and customary out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such Loan Party or such Subsidiary in connection with such transaction (including, without limitation, appraisals, and brokerage, legal, title and recording or transfer tax expenses and commissions) paid by any Loan Party to third parties (other than Affiliates)), and (C) unless a Trigger Event is then continuing, taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be payable as a result thereof; and

 

(b)      with respect to the incurrence or issuance of any Indebtedness by any Loan Party or any   of its Subsidiaries, the excess of (i) the sum of the cash and cash equivalents received in connection with such transaction over (ii) the underwriting discounts and commissions, and other reasonable and customary out-of-pocket expenses, incurred by such Loan Party or such Subsidiary in connection therewith.

 

“Non-Consenting Lender” has the meaning set forthspecified in Section 10.01.

 

“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).

 

“Note” means either a Domestic Note, a Canadian Note, a FILO Note or a Foreign Note, as the context may require.

 

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“Notes Indenture” means that certain Indenture dated as of May 18, 2012 by Sally Holdings,  LLC and Sally Capital Inc., as Issuers (collectively, the “Issuers”) in favor of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 18, 2012 by the Issuers, the Guarantors set forth therein, and the Trustee, pursuant to which the Issuers  issued their 5.75% Senior Notes due 2022 (the “2022 Notes”), as further supplemented by Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 29, 2013, pursuant to which the Issuers issued their 5.50% Senior Notes due 2023, and as further supplemented by Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 3, 2015, pursuant to which the Issuers issued their 5.625% Senior Notes due 2025, and any Permitted Refinancing thereof.

 

“NPL” means the National Priorities List under CERCLA.

 

“Obligations” means (a) all advances to, and debts (including principal, interest, fees, costs, and expenses), liabilities, obligations, covenants, indemnities, and duties of, any Loan Party arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan (including Loans incurred pursuant to Section

2.15hereof) or Letter of Credit (including payments in respect of reimbursement of disbursements, interest thereon and obligations to provide cash collateral therefor), 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, fees, costs, expenses and indemnities 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, fees costs, expenses and indemnities are allowed claims in such proceeding, and (b) any Other Liabilities; provided that Obligations of a Loan Party shall exclude any Excluded Swap Obligations with respect to such Loan Party. Without limiting the foregoing, for purposes of clarity, whenever used herein the term “Obligations” shall include all Canadian Liabilities and Foreign Liabilities.

 

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

 

“Optional Currency” means Euros, Pounds Sterling and Canadian dollars.

 

“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 equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization 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, (d) with respect to any unlimited liability company, the memorandum of association and articles of association (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); and (e) in each case, all shareholder or other equity holder agreements, voting trusts and similar arrangements to which such Person is a party or which is applicable to its Equity Interests and all other arrangements relating to the Control or management of such Person.

 

“Original Closing Date” means November 12, 2010.

 

“Other Canadian Liabilities” means any obligation on account of (a) any Cash Management Services furnished to any of the Canadian Loan Parties or any of their Canadian Subsidiaries and/or (b) any transaction which arises out of any Bank Product entered into with any Canadian Loan Party.

 

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

 

“Other Domestic Liabilities” means any obligation on account of: (a) any Cash Management Services furnished to any of the Domestic Loan Parties or any of their Domestic Subsidiaries and/or (b) any transaction which arises out of any Bank Product entered into with any Domestic Loan Party.

 

“Other Liabilities” means, collectively, all Other Canadian Liabilities and all Other Domestic Liabilities.

 

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

 

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

 

“Overadvance” means either a Canadian Overadvance or a Domestic Overadvance. “Parallel Debt” has the meaning specified in Section 9.18.

“Parent” means Sally Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, or any successor

thereto.

 

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

 

“ParticipationParticipant Register” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 10.06(d).

 

“Payment Conditions” means, at the time of determination with respect to any Restricted Payment, that (a) no Default or Event of Default then exists or would arise as a result of the making of such Restricted Payment, and (b) if after giving pro forma effect to such Restricted Payment, either (i) (x) Excess Availability for the 30-day period immediately preceding, and on the date of, such Restricted Payment was equal to or greater than 15% of the Loan Cap (as calculated without giving effect to the FILO Push Down Reserve), and (y) the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, for the most recent Measurement Period, is equal to or greater than 1.0:1.0, or (ii) Excess Availability for the 30-day period immediately preceding, and on the date of, such Restricted Payment was equal to or greater than 20% of the Loan Cap (as calculated without giving effect to the FILO Push Down Reserve). If after giving pro forma effect to such Restricted Payment, Excess Availability would be equal to or less than 40% of the

 

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Loan Cap (as calculated without giving effect to the FILO Push Down Reserve), the Parent shall furnish the Administrative Agent with prior notice of any such Restricted Payment which is subject to the Payment Conditions, together with supporting documentation evidencing the satisfaction of the Excess Availability requirements and the satisfaction of the required Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, no less than five (5) Business Days prior to the consummation of any such Restricted Payment.

 

“Payment in Full” means the payment in full in cash of all Obligations (or with respect to the Canadian Borrower, all Canadian Liabilities and with respect to the Foreign Borrower, all Foreign Liabilities), including, without limitation, with respect to amounts available to be drawn under outstanding Letters of Credit, the cancellation of such Letters of Credit or the delivery or provision of money or backstop irrevocable letters of credit, in form, on terms, and issued by a financial institution reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, in respect thereof in an amount equal to 105% of the L/C Obligations.

 

“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. “PCAOB” means the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

“Permitted Acquisition” means an Acquisition in which all of the following conditions are satisfied:

 

(a)No Default then exists or would arise from the consummation of such Acquisition;

 

(b)If any proceeds from Credit Extensions are being utilized to consummate such Acquisition, such Acquisition shall have been approved by the Board of Directors of the Person (or similar governing body if such Person is not a corporation) which is the subject of such Acquisition and such Person shall not have announced that it will oppose such Acquisition or shall not have commenced any action which alleges that such Acquisition shall violate applicable Law;

 

(c)After giving effect to the Acquisition, if the Acquisition is an Acquisition of Equity Interests, a Loan Party shall acquire and own, directly or indirectly, a majority of the Equity Interests in the Person being acquired and shall Control a majority of any voting interests or shall otherwise Control the governance of the Person being acquired; and

 

(d)The total consideration (excluding consideration in the form of Equity Interests) paid for all such Acquisitions in any Fiscal Year (i) shall not exceed $30,000,000 in  the aggregate as long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from  such Acquisition, transaction or payment, but the Acquisition/Investment/Debt Payment Conditions are not satisfied, and (ii) without limitation as to amount if, after giving pro forma effect to such Acquisition, transaction or payment, the Acquisition/Investment/Debt Payment Conditions are satisfied.

 

“Permitted Canadian Overadvance” means a Canadian Overadvance made by the Canadian Agent, in its discretion, which:

 

(a)is made to maintain, protect or preserve the Collateral of the Canadian Borrower and/or the Canadian Credit Parties’ rights under the Loan Documents or which is otherwise for the benefit of the Credit Parties; or

(a)

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(b)is made to enhance the likelihood of, or maximize the amount of, repayment of any of the Canadian Liabilities; or

 

(c)is made to pay any other amount chargeable to any Canadian Loan Party hereunder or under any other Loan Document; and

 

(d)together with all other Permitted Canadian Overadvances then outstanding, shall not (i) exceed at any time $1,250,000 or (ii) unless a Liquidation is occurring, remain outstanding for more than forty-five (45) consecutive Business Days, unless in each case, the Required Revolving Lenders otherwise agree;

 

provided, that the foregoing shall not (i) modify or abrogate any of the provisions of Section 2.03 regarding each Canadian Lender’s obligations with respect to Canadian Letters of Credit, or (ii) result in any claim or liability against the Canadian Agent (regardless of the amount of any Canadian Overadvance) for Unintentional Canadian Overadvances and such Unintentional Canadian Overadvances shall not reduce the amount of Permitted Canadian Overadvances allowed hereunder, and provided further, that in no event shall the Canadian Agent make a Canadian Overadvance, if after giving effect thereto, the principal amount of the Canadian Credit Extensions would exceed the Canadian Total Commitments (as in effect prior to any termination of the Canadian Commitments pursuant to Section 2.06 hereof).

 

“Permitted Cure Securities” means common equity securities or other equity securities of Holdings, Intermediate Holdco or the Parent that do not constitute Disqualified Capital Stock and the issuance of which does not result in a Change of Control.

 

“Permitted Discretion” means the commercially reasonable judgment of the Administrative  Agent exercised in good faith in accordance with customary business practices for comparable asset-based lending transactions. In exercising such judgment, the Administrative Agent may consider any factors which it reasonably determines (a) with respect to any Collateral issues, will or reasonably could be expected to adversely affect in any material respect the value of the Collateral, the  enforceability or priority of the applicable Agent’s Liens thereon or the amount which any Agent, the Lenders or any L/C Issuer would be likely to receive (after giving consideration to delays in payment and costs of enforcement) in the liquidation of such Collateral, or (b) is evidence that any collateral report or financial information delivered to such Agent by any Person on behalf of the applicable Borrower is incomplete, inaccurate or misleading in any material respect, or (c) creates or reasonably could be expected to create a Default or Event of Default. In exercising such judgment, the Administrative Agent may also consider, without duplication, such factors already included in or tested by the definition of Eligible Inventory or Eligible Accounts, as well as any of the following: (i) changes after the Effective Date in any material respect in demand for, pricing of, or product mix of Inventory; (ii) changes after the Effective Date in any material respect in any concentration of risk with respect to Accounts; (iii) any  other factors or circumstances that will or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (iv) any other factors arising after the Effective Date that change in any material respect the credit risk of lending to the Borrowers on the security of the Collateral.

 

“Permitted Domestic Overadvance” means a Domestic Overadvance made by the Administrative Agent, in its discretion, which:

 

(a)is made to maintain, protect or preserve the Collateral and/or the Credit Parties’ rights under the Loan Documents or which is otherwise for the benefit of the Credit Parties; or

(a)

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(b)is made to enhance the likelihood of, or to maximize the amount of, repayment  of any Obligation; or

 

(c)is made to pay any other amount chargeable to any Loan Party hereunder or any other Loan Document; and

 

(d)together with all other Permitted Domestic Overadvances then outstanding, shall not (i) exceed at any time the lesser of $20,000,000 or five percent (5%) of the Domestic Borrowing Base at any time or (ii) unless a Liquidation is occurring, remain outstanding for more than forty-five (45) consecutive Business Days, unless in each case, the Required Revolving Lenders otherwise agree;

 

provided, that the foregoing shall not (i) modify or abrogate any of the provisions of Section 2.03 regarding each Revolving Domestic Lender’s obligations with respect to Domestic Letters of Credit, or (ii) result in any claim or liability against the Administrative Agent (regardless of the amount of any Domestic Overadvance) for Unintentional Domestic Overadvances, and such Unintentional Domestic Overadvances” shall not reduce the amount of Permitted Domestic Overadvances allowed hereunder, and provided further, that in no event shall the Administrative Agent make a Domestic Overadvance, if after giving effect thereto, the principal amount of the Revolving Domestic Credit ExtensionsTotal Outstandings would exceed the Revolving Domestic Total Commitments (as in effect prior to any termination of the Revolving Domestic Commitments pursuant to Section 2.06 hereof).

 

“Permitted Encumbrances” means:

 

(a)Liens imposed by law for Taxes that are not yet due, or the nonpayment of which in the aggregate would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or are being contested in compliance with Section 6.04;

 

(b)carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s and other like Liens (other than Liens described in clause (j) below) imposed by applicable Laws, arising   in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations that are not overdue by more than sixty (60) days or are being contested in compliance with Section 6.04;

 

(c)pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security or similar laws or regulations, other than any Lien imposed by ERISA or other applicable Law relating to Canadian Pension Plans (except Liens arising in respect of employee contributions withheld from pay but not yet due to be remitted to a Canadian Pension Plan);

 

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

 

(e)Liens in respect of judgments that would not constitute an Event of Default hereunder;

 

(f)easements, covenants, conditions, restrictions, building code laws, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way and similar encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the affected property or materially interfere with the ordinary

(a)

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conduct of business of a Loan Party and such other minor title defects or survey matters that are disclosed by current surveys that, in each case, do not materially interfere with the current use of the real property;

 

(g)Liens existing on the Effective Date and listed on Schedule 7.01 and any renewals, extensions or Permitted Refinancings thereof;

 

(h)Liens on fixed or capital assets acquired by any Loan Party which are permitted under Section 7.03(a) so long as (i) such Liens and the Indebtedness secured thereby are incurred prior to or within ninety (90) days after such acquisition, (ii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the cost of acquisition of such fixed or capital assets and (iii) such Liens shall  not extend to any other property or assets of the Loan Parties;

 

	
 
	
(i)
	
Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent and the Canadian Agent;

 

(j)Liens of landlords or of mortgagees of landlords arising by operation of law or pursuant toin respect of rent not in default (after the termsexpiration of real property leases, provided that the rental payments secured thereby are not yet due and payableall grace or cure periods with respect thereto and excluding any such defaults which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently pursued and available to Loan Parties and  with respect to which adequate reserves have been set aside on its books to the extent required by GAAP), and (ii) Liens of landlords or of mortgagees of landlords on fixtures and equipment located on premises leased by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

 

(k)Liens on the Collateral of the Domestic Loan Parties securing the Indebtedness arising under the Term Loan Documents, having the priority set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement;

 

(l)Liens on property (i) of any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party and (ii) that does not constitute Collateral; provided that, if requested by the Administrative Agent, and if such property is deemed by the Collateral Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, reasonably necessary to be utilized to realize upon, and maximize the amounts recovered on any liquidation of, any of the Collateral included in the Combined Borrowing Base, such Liens are subject to an intercreditor agreement between the applicable Agent and the holder of such Lien so as to permit the Collateral Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, access to and use of such property for a reasonable period of time to collect upon, effect a liquidation of, or otherwise exercise rights with respect to, the Collateral, all on such terms and conditions reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion;

 

(m)Liens on Intellectual Property; provided that such Liens result from the granting of licenses in the ordinary course of business to any Person to use such Intellectual Property or such foreign patents, patent applications, trademarks, trademark applications, trade names, copyrights, technology, know-how or processes, as the case may be and, if requested by the Administrative Agent, and if such property is deemed by the Collateral Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, reasonably necessary to be utilized to realize upon, and maximize the amounts recovered on any liquidation of, any of the Collateral included in the Combined Borrowing Base, such Liens are subject to an intercreditor agreement between the applicable Agent and the holder of such Lien so as to permit the Collateral Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, access to and use of such property for a reasonable period of time to collect upon, effect a liquidation of, or otherwise exercise rights with respect to, the Collateral, all on such

(a)

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terms and conditions reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion;

 

(n)the rights reserved to or vested in Governmental Authorities by statutory provisions or the terms of leases, licenses and franchises, grants or permits, in each case, which affect any land and which allow such Governmental Authorities to terminate the leases, licenses, franchises, grants or permits or to require annual or other periodic payments as a condition to the continuance thereof;

 

(o)Liens on property subject to Sale and Leaseback Transactions and general intangibles related thereto; provided that, if requested by the Administrative Agent, such Liens are subject to an intercreditor agreement between the Administrative Agent and the holder of  such Lien so as to permit the Collateral Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, access to  and use of such property for a reasonable period of  time to collect upon, effect a liquidation of, or otherwise exercise rights with respect to, the Collateral, all on such terms and conditions reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion;

 

(p)any encumbrance or restriction (including put and call agreements) with respect to the Equity Interests of any joint venture or similar arrangement pursuant to the joint venture or similar agreement with respect to such joint venture or similar arrangement, provided that no  such encumbrance or restriction affects in any way the ability of the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries to comply with their obligations under the Loan Documents;

 

(q)Possessory Liens in favor of brokers and dealers arising in connection with the acquisition or disposition of Investments owned as of the date hereofEffective Date and  Permitted Investments, provided that such liens (a) attach only to such Investments and (b)  secure only obligations incurred in the ordinary course and arising in connection with the acquisition or disposition of such Investments and not any obligation in connection with margin financing;

 

(r)Liens arising solely by virtue of any statutory or common law provisions relating to banker’s liens, liens in favor of securities intermediaries, rights of setoff or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts or securities accounts or other funds maintained with depository institutions or securities intermediaries;

 

(s)Liens arising from precautionary UCC or PPSA filings regarding “true” operating leases or, to the extent permitted under the Loan Documents, the consignment of goods to a Loan Party;

 

(t)voluntary Liens on property (other than property of the type included in the Combined Borrowing Base) in existence at the time such property is acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition or on such property of a Subsidiary of a Loan Party in existence at the  time such Subsidiary is acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition; provided, that such Liens are not incurred in connection with or in anticipation of such Permitted Acquisition and do not attach to any other assets of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary;

 

(u)Liens in favor of customs and revenues authorities imposed by applicable Laws arising in the ordinary course of business in connection with the importation of goods and securing obligations (i) that are not overdue by more than thirty (30) days, or (ii)(A) that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (B) the applicable Loan Party or Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with

(a)

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GAAP and (C) such contest effectively suspends collection of the contested obligation and enforcement of any Lien securing such obligation;

 

	
 
	
(v)
	
Liens in favor of Loan Parties; and

(w)Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(b)  and  (c). “Permitted Holders” means (i) any of the Management Investors and their respective Affiliates;

and (ii) any Person acting in the capacity of an underwriter in connection with a public or private offering of Equity Interests of Holdings. In addition, any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) whose status as a “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) constitutes or results in a Change of Control in respect of which a Change of Control Offer is made in accordance with the requirements of the Notes Indenture, together with its Affiliates, shall thereafter constitute Permitted Holders.

 

“Permitted Investments” means each of the following:

 

(a)readily marketable obligations issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States of America or, with respect to the Canadian Loan Parties, Canada (or by any agency or instrumentality of the United States of America or Canada, as applicable) 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 of America or Canada, as applicable, is pledged in support thereof;

 

(b)commercial paper issued by any Person organized under the laws of any state of the United States of America or Canada or any province thereof and rated, at the time of acquisition thereof, 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 180 days from the date of acquisition thereof;

 

(c)time deposits with, or insured certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances of, any commercial bank that (i) (A) is a Lender or (B) is organized under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia (or with respect to the Canadian Loan Parties, Canada or any province or territory thereof)  or is the principal banking subsidiary of a bank holding company organized under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, and is a member of the Federal Reserve System, (ii) issues  (or the parent of which issues) commercial paper rated as described in clause (b) of this  definition and (iii) has combined capital and surplus of at least $1,000,000,000, in each case with maturities of not more than 180 days from the date of acquisition thereof;

 

	
 
	
(d)
	
fully collateralized repurchase agreements with a term of not more than thirty

(30) days for securities described in clause (a) above (without regard to the limitation on maturity contained in such clause) and entered into with a financial institution satisfying the criteria described in clause (c) above or with any primary dealer and having a market value at the time that such repurchase agreement is entered into of not less than 100% of the repurchase obligation of such counterparty entity with whom such repurchase agreement has been entered into;

 

(e)Investments, classified in accordance with GAAP as current assets of the Loan Parties, in any money market fund, mutual fund, or other investment companies that are registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, which are administered by financial institutions that have the highest rating obtainable from either Moody’s or S&P, and

(a)

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which invest solely in one or more of the types of securities described in clauses (a) through (d) above;

 

(f)Investments existing on the Effective Date, and set forth on Schedule 7.02, but not any increase in the amount thereof or any other modification of the terms thereof;

 

(g)(i) Investments by any Loan Party and their respective Subsidiaries in their respective direct and indirect Subsidiaries outstanding on the Effective Date, (ii) additional Investments by any Loan Party and its Subsidiaries in Loan Parties, (iii) additional Investments by Subsidiaries of the Loan Parties that are not Loan Parties in other Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties and (iv) so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from such Investment, additional Investments by the Loan Parties in wholly-owned Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties; provided that to the extent such Investment includes Intellectual Property material and necessary for the operation of the assets of the Loan Parties  and their Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, which constitute Collateral, such Intellectual Property shall be subject to a non-exclusive royalty-free worldwide license in favor of the Agents for the purpose of the Agents’ exercise of rights and remedies under this Agreement in connection with the Collateral;

 

(h)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;

 

	
 
	
(i)
	
Guarantees of Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03;

 

(j)so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from such Investment, Investments by any Loan Party in Swap Contracts permitted hereunder;

 

(k)Investments received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of, or settlement of delinquent accounts and disputes with, customers and suppliers, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

 

(l)advances to officers, directors and employees of the Loan Parties and Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business in an amount consistent with past practice for travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes;

 

	
 
	
(m)
	
Investments constituting Permitted Acquisitions;

 

(n)other Investments not specifically set forth above not to exceed $2,500,000 in the aggregate in any Fiscal Year;

 

(o)other Investments not specifically set forth above, in any Fiscal Year (i) shall not exceed $30,000,000 in the aggregate as long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from such transaction or payment, but the Acquisition/Investment/Debt Payment Conditions are not satisfied, and (ii) without limitation as to amount if, after giving pro forma effect to such transaction or payment, the Acquisition/Investment/Debt Payment Conditions are satisfied; and

(a)

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(p)Investments by Foreign Subsidiaries in cash equivalents customarily purchased by companies in the European Union as part of their cash management policies and having a credit quality substantially equivalent to those set forth in clauses (a) through (e) of this definition, and otherwise consistent with past practice of such Foreign Subsidiaries;

 

provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) after the occurrence and during the  continuance of a Trigger Event, no such Investments specified in clauses (a) through (e) and clauses (n) and (o) shall be permitted to be made unless either (A) no Revolving Loans are then outstanding, or (B) the Investment is a temporary Investment pending expiration of an Interest Period for a Revolving Loan that is a LIBOR Rate Loan, the proceeds of which Investment will be applied to the Obligations after the expiration of such Interest Period.

 

 “Permitted Overadvance” means either a Permitted Canadian Overadvance or a Permitted Domestic Overadvance.

 

“Permitted Pro Forma Adjustments” as applied to any Person or business unit acquired or disposed of on or after the Effective Date means any adjustment to the actual results of operations of  such Person or business unit (a) that are permitted to be recognized in pro forma financial statements prepared in accordance with Regulation S-X of the Securities Act of 1933 or (b) that otherwise reflect verifiable and adequately documented severance payments and reductions in, among other items, officer and employee compensation, insurance expenses, interest expense, rental expense, and other overhead expense, and other quantifiable expenses which are not anticipated to be incurred on an ongoing basis following consummation of such acquisitions or dispositions, in each case, with respect to this clause (b) only, as approved by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion.

 

“Permitted Refinancing” means, with respect to any Person, any Indebtedness issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund (collectively, to “Refinance”), the Indebtedness being Refinanced (or previous refinancings thereof constituting a Permitted Refinancing); provided, that (a) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Permitted Refinancing does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness so Refinanced (plus unpaid accrued interest and premiums thereon and underwriting discounts, defeasance costs, fees, commissions and expenses), (b) the weighted average life to maturity of such Permitted Refinancing is greater than or equal to the weighted average life to maturity of the Indebtedness being Refinanced, (c) if the Indebtedness being Refinanced is subordinated in right  of payment to the Obligations under this Agreement, such Permitted Refinancing shall either be (i) unsecured or (ii) subordinated in right of payment to such Obligations on terms at least as favorable to  the Credit Parties as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being Refinanced,

(d)the interest rate applicable to any such Permitted Refinancing shall not exceed the then applicable market interest rate (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of Holdings), (e) if requested by the Administrative Agent, if such Permitted Refinancing includes security consisting of (i) any of the Collateral included in the Combined Borrowing Base, or (ii) any real or personal properties (including, without limitation, licensees or transferees of Intellectual Property) which the Collateral Agent or the Canadian Agent as applicable, reasonably deems necessary to be utilized to realize upon, and maximize the amounts recovered on any liquidation of, any of the Collateral included in the Combined Borrowing Base, the Person providing such Permitted Refinancing shall have entered into an intercreditor agreement with the applicable Agent so as to permit the Collateral Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, access to and use of such property for a reasonable period of time to collect upon, effect a liquidation of, or otherwise exercise rights with respect to, the Collateral, all on such terms and conditions reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion, and (f) at the time thereof, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

(d)

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

 

“Plan” means, collectively, each Domestic Pension Plan and each Canadian Pension Plan. “Platform” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

“PPSA” means the Personal Property Security Act of Ontario (or any successor statute)  or similar legislation of any other Canadian jurisdiction, including, without limitation, the Civil Code of Quebec, the laws of which are required by such legislation to be applied in connection with the issue, perfection, enforcement, opposability, priority, validity or effect of security interests or other applicable Liens.

 

“Pounds Sterling” means pounds in lawful currency of the United Kingdom. “Prepayment Event” means:

(a)any Disposition (including pursuant to a sale and leaseback transaction) of any Collateral of a Loan Party included in the Combined Borrowing Base (excluding sales of Inventory in the ordinary course of business), unless the proceeds therefrom are required to be paid to the holder of a Lien on such Collateral having priority over the Lien of the Collateral Agent or Canadian Agent, as applicable;

 

(b)if a Trigger Event then exists or would arise by reason of such Disposition, any Disposition (including pursuant to a sale and leaseback transaction) of any Current Assets Collateral outside of the ordinary course of business, unless the proceeds therefrom are required to be paid to the holder of a Lien on such property or asset;

 

(c)any casualty or other insured damage to, or any taking under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding of (and payments in lieu thereof), Collateral of a Loan Party included in the Combined Borrowing Base, unless (i) the proceeds therefrom are required to be paid to the holder of a Lien on such Collateral having priority over the Lien of the Collateral Agent or Canadian Agent, as applicable, or (ii) as long as a Trigger Event has not occurred and is not continuing, the proceeds therefrom are utilized for purposes of replacing or repairing the Collateral in respect of which such proceeds, awards or payments were received, or are otherwise used to purchase assets useful in the business of the Loan Parties, within 180 days of the occurrence of the damage to or loss of the Collateral being repaired or replaced; or

 

(d)if a Trigger Event then exists or would arise by reason of such damage or taking, any casualty or other insured damage to, or any taking under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding of (and payments in lieu thereof), any property or asset of a Loan Party (including, without limitation, Collateral), unless the proceeds therefrom are required to be paid to the holder of a Lien on such Collateral having priority over the Lien of  the Collateral Agent or Canadian Agent, as applicable.

 

“Prime Rate Loan” means a Canadian Prime Rate Loan, a US Index Rate Loan, or a Domestic Prime Rate Loan, as the context may require.

 

“Principal Obligations” means the Obligations owing to the Lenders (other than each Loan Party’s Parallel Debt).

 

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“Professional Market Party” means a professional market party (professionele marktpartij) within the meaning of the Dutch FSA and the Definition Decree FSA (Besluit Definitiebepalingen Wft) and any regulation promulgated thereunder, as amended from time to time.

 

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

 

“QFC Credit Support” has the meaning specified in Section 10.31.

 

“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.

 

“Rate Floor” means 0.75% per annum.

 

“Real Estate” means all Leases and all land, together with the buildings, structures, parking  areas, and other improvements thereon, now or hereafter owned or leased by any Loan Party, including  all easements, rights-of-way, and similar rights relating thereto and all leases, tenancies, and occupancies thereof.

 

“Receivables Advance Rate” means (i) 80% if the Accounts Receivable Reporting Requirement is not then in effect, and (ii) 85% if either (x) the Accounts Receivable Reporting Requirement is then in effect or (y) the Borrowers elect at their option to provide the detailed accounts receivables reporting as required by Section 6.02(c) as if the Account Receivable Reporting Requirement was in effect at such time.

 

“Receivables Reserves” means such Reserves as may be established from time to time by the Administrative Agent in the Administrative Agent’s Permitted Discretion with respect to the determination of the collectability in the ordinary course of Eligible Trade Receivables.

 

“Recipient” means (a) the Administrative Agent, (b) any Lender or (c) any L/C Issuer, as applicable.

 

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

 

“Registered Public Accounting Firm” has the meaning specified by the Securities Laws and shall be independent of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as prescribed by the Securities Laws.

 

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

 

“Relevant Governmental Body” means the Federal Reserve Board and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for the purpose of recommending a benchmark rate to replace LIBOR in loan agreements similar to this Agreement.

 

“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.

 

“Reports” has the meaning providedspecified in Section 9.12(b).

 

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

 

“Required Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders holding more than 50% of Applicable Percentage of all Lenders of the sum of the Aggregate TotalRevolving Commitments and the Outstanding Amount of the FILO Loan or, if the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02, Lenders holding in the aggregate more than 50% of the Total Outstandings (with the aggregate amount of each Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans being deemed “held” by such Lender for purposes of this definition); provided that the 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.

 

“Required Revolving Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders holding more than 50% of Applicable Percentage of all Lenders of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments or, if the commitment of each Revolving Lender to make Revolving Loans and the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02, Lenders holding in the aggregate more than 50% of the Total Revolving Outstandings (with the aggregate amount of each Revolving Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans being deemed “held” by such Lender for purposes of this definition); provided that the Revolving Commitment of, and the portion of the Total Revolving Outstandings held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Revolving Lenders.

 

“Reserves” means all (if any) Inventory Reserves, Availability Reserves and, Receivables Reserves and the FILO Push Down Reserve. Borrowing Base Certificates shall include detailed reporting of ineligible Accounts if the Accounts Receivable Reporting Requirement is then in effect. Borrowing Base Certificates shall include a deemed ineligible Accounts amount of 20% of reported Accounts (as set forth in the definition of Eligible Trade Receivables) and a deemed Dilution Reserve of 8.1% of reported Accounts (in each case, without detailed reporting of ineligible Accounts) if the Accounts Receivable Reporting Requirement is not in effect; provided, however, that the Borrowers may, at their election at any time, provide detailed reporting of Accounts (and report actual ineligibility and dilution for purposes of determining the applicable Reserves and the Combined Borrowing Base) even if the Accounts Receivable Reporting Requirement is not then in effect.

 

“Responsible Officer” means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, treasurer or assistant treasurer of a Loan Party or any of the other individuals designated in writing to the Administrative Agent by an existing Responsible Officer of a Loan Party as an authorized signatory of any certificate or other document to be delivered hereunder. 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 such Person’s stockholders, partners or members (or the equivalent of any thereof), or any

 

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option, warrant or other right to acquire any such dividend or other distribution or payment. Without limiting the foregoing, “Restricted Payments” with respect to any Person shall also include all payments made by such Person with any proceeds of a dissolution or liquidation of such Person.

 

 

“Revolving Commitment” means, as to each Lender, its Revolving Domestic Commitment and  its Canadian Commitment.

 

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

 

  “Revolving Domestic Lenders” means the Lenders having Revolving Domestic Commitments from time to time or at any time. 

 

  “Revolving Domestic Loan” means an extension of credit by a Revolving Domestic Lender to the Domestic Borrowers or the Foreign Borrower (to the extent based on Domestic Availability) under Article II in the form of a Committed Loan or a Swing Line Loan.

 

“Revolving Domestic Loan Cap” means, at any time of determination, the lesser of (a) the Revolving Domestic Total Commitments or (b) the Domestic Borrowing Base.

 

“Revolving Domestic Total Commitments” means the aggregate of the Revolving Domestic Commitments of all Revolving Domestic Lenders. On the First Effective Date, the Revolving Domestic Total Commitments are $600,000,000.

 

“Revolving Domestic Total Outstandings” means, without duplication, the aggregate  Outstanding Amount of all Revolving Domestic Loans and all Domestic L/C Obligations.

 

 “Revolving Lenders” means the Revolving Domestic Lenders and the Canadian Lenders.

 

“Revolving Loan” means a Revolving Domestic Loan and a Canadian Loan.

 

  “Revolving Loan Cap” means, at any time of determination, the lesser of (a) the Aggregate Revolving Commitments or (b) the Domestic Borrowing Base plus the Canadian Borrowing Base.

 

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

 

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

 

“Sarbanes-Oxley” means the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

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“Scheduled Unavailability Date” has the meaning specified in Section 3.03(b).

 

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

 

“Secured Funded Indebtedness” means Consolidated Funded Indebtedness that is secured by Liens on the property or assets of the Borrowers and the Loan Parties (other than property or assets held in a defeasance or similar trust or arrangement for the benefit of the Indebtedness secured thereby).

 

“Secured Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Secured  Funded Indebtedness (net of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of Holdings and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount not to exceed $100,000,000) to (b) Consolidated EBITDA, in each case of Holdings and its Subsidiaries for the most recently completed Measurement Period, all as determined on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Securities Laws” means, collectively, the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Sarbanes-Oxley, and the applicable accounting and auditing principles, rules, standards and practices promulgated, approved or incorporated by the SEC or the PCAOB; and all applicable securities laws in each province and territory of Canada and the respective regulations, rules regulations, blanket orders and blanket rulings under such laws together with applicable published policy statements and notices of the securities regulator of each such province and territory.

 

“Security Agreement” means the Second Amended and Restated Security Agreement dated as of the Effective Date among the Domestic Loan Parties and the Collateral Agent.

 

“Security Documents” means the Security Agreement, the Canadian Security Documents, the Dutch Pledge of Intragroup Loan Receivables, the Blocked Account Agreements, the Credit Card Notifications, and each other security agreement or other instrument or document executed and delivered by or on behalf of any Loan Party to the Collateral Agent or the Canadian Agent pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document granting a Lien to secure any of the Obligations or the Canadian Liabilities or the Foreign Liabilities, as applicable.

 

“Settlement Date” has the meaning providedspecified in Section 2.14(a).

 

“Shareholders’ Equity” means, as of any date of determination, Consolidated  shareholders’ equity of Holdings and its Subsidiaries as of that date determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Shrink” means Inventory which has been lost, misplaced, stolen, or is otherwise unaccounted

for.

 

“SOFR” with respect to any day means the secured overnight financing rate published for such day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, as the administrator of the benchmark (or a successor administrator) on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s website (or any successor source) and, in  each case, that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body.

 

“SOFR-Based Rate” means SOFR or Term SOFR.

 

“Solvent” and “Solvency” means, with respect to any Person on a particular date, that on such date (a) at fair valuation, all of the properties and assets of such Person are greater than the sum of the debts, including contingent liabilities, of such Person, (b) the present fair saleable value of the properties and assets of such Person is not less than the amount that would be required to pay the probable liability

 

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of such Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured, (c) such Person is able to realize upon its properties and assets and pay its debts and other liabilities, contingent obligations and other commitments as they mature in the normal course of business, (d) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts beyond such Person’s ability to pay as such debts mature, (e)  such Person is not engaged in a business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in a business or transaction, for which such Person’s properties and assets would constitute unreasonably small capital after giving due consideration to the prevailing practices in the industry in which such Person is engaged, and (f) such Person is not "“insolvent"” within the meaning of Section 101(32) of the Bankruptcy Code and, in the case of any Canadian Loan Party, is not an “insolvent person” within the meaning of such  term in the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada), as applicable.  The amount of all guarantees or  other contingent liabilities at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in light of all the facts and circumstances existing at the time, can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

 

“Specified Equity Contribution” means any cash equity contribution made to Holdings, Intermediate Holdings or Parent in exchange for Permitted Cure Securities; provided that (a)(i) such cash equity contribution and (ii) the contribution of any proceeds therefrom to Holdings, Intermediate Holdings or Parent occur (x) after the Effective Date and (y) on or prior to the date that is 10 days after the date on which the financial statements are required to be delivered for a Fiscal Quarter (or Fiscal Year), (b) the Parent identifies such equity contribution as a “Specified Equity Contribution”, (c) in each four (4) Fiscal Quarter period, there shall exist a period of at least two (2) consecutive Fiscal Quarters in respect of which no Specified Equity Contribution shall have been made, (d) the amount of any Specified Equity Contribution included in the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA hereunder shall be limited to  the amount required to effect compliance with Section 7.13 hereof, and (e) the Specified Equity Contribution shall not be included for purposes of any calculation under this Agreement other than for  the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA for purposes of compliance with Section 7.13 only.

 

“Specified Loan Party” means any Loan Party that is not then an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act (determined prior to giving effect to Section 10.26).

 

“Spot Rate” means the rate determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate quoted as the spot rate for purchase by the Administrative Agent of such Optional Currency with Dollars through its principal foreign exchange trading office at approximately 11:00 a.m. on the date two (2) Business Days prior to the date of such determination; provided that the Administrative Agent may obtain such spot rate from another financial institution designated by it.

 

“Standby Letter of Credit” means any Letter of Credit that is not a Commercial Letter of Credit and that (a) is used in lieu or in support of performance guaranties or performance, surety or similar bonds, (b) is used in lieu or in support of stay or appeal bonds, (c) supports the payment of insurance premiums for reasonably necessary casualty insurance carried by any of the Loan Parties, or (d) supports payment or performance for identified purchases or exchanges of products or services.

 

“Stated Amount” means at any time the maximum amount for which a Letter of Credit may be honored.

 

“Statutory Reserve Rate” means a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is  the number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentages (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as  a decimal established by the FRB to which the Administrative Agent is subject with respect to the Adjusted LIBOR Rate, for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency Liabilities” in Regulation D of the Board). Such reserve percentages shall include those imposed pursuant to such Regulation D. LIBOR Rate Loans shall be deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to be subject

 

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to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under such Regulation D or any comparable regulation. The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.

 

“Store” means any retail store (which may include any real property, fixtures, equipment, inventory and other property related thereto) operated, or to be operated, by any Loan Party.

 

“Subordinated Indebtedness” means Indebtedness which is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the prior Payment in Full of the Obligations and termination of the Aggregate Total Commitments and which is in form and on terms approved in writing by the Administrative Agent.

 

“Subsidiary” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, unlimited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of Equity Interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body 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 a Loan Party.

 

“Substantial Liquidation” means either (a) the Liquidation of substantially all of the Collateral (other than Collateral from the Foreign Borrower), or (b) the sale or other disposition of substantially all of the Collateral (other than Collateral from the Foreign Borrower) by the Loan Parties.

 

“Supported QFC” has the meaning specified in Section 10.31.

 

“Swap Contract” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and

(b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any Master Agreement, including any such obligations or liabilities under such Master Agreement.

 

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

 

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

 

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“Swing Line” means the revolving credit facility made available by the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.04.

“Swing Line Borrowing” means a borrowing of a Swing Line Loan pursuant to Section 2.04. “Swing Line Lender” means Bank of America, in its capacity as provider of Swing Line Loans to

the Domestic Borrowers (and to the extent based on Domestic Availability, the Foreign Borrower), and

Bank of America-Canada Branch, in its capacity as provider of Swing Line Loans to the Canadian Borrower (and to the extent based on Canadian Availability, the Foreign Borrower), or any successor swing line lender hereunder.

 

“Swing Line Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(a), and shall include all such  Loans made by the Swing Line Lender to the Domestic Borrowers, the Canadian Borrower or the Foreign Borrower.

 

“Swing Line Loan Notice” means a notice of a Swing Line Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.04(b), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit B-1 (Domestic Swing Line  Loan Notice) or Exhibit B-2 (Canadian Swing Line Loan Notice), as applicable.

 

“Swing Line Note” means the Domestic Swing Line Note and the Canadian Swing Line Note, as the context may require.

 

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

 

“Target Amount” means with respect to any DDA, an amount which, when aggregated with all other Target Amounts remaining on deposit in all DDAs at any one time, does not exceed $7,500,000 (such aggregate amount to be determined no less frequently than on a monthly basis).

 

“Tax Sharing Agreement” means the Tax Sharing Agreement among Holdings and the Parent dated as of November 16, 2006, as the same may be amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

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

 

“Term Agent” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent under the Term Loan Agreement and any successor thereto.

 

“Term Loan Agreement” means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of July 6, 2017, by and among Holdings, Intermediate Holdco, Sally Holdings LLC, Sally Capital Inc., the lenders party thereto and the Term Agent, as the same may be amended, restated, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced from time to time in one or more agreements (in each case with the  same or new lenders, institutional investors or agents), including any agreement extending the maturity thereof or otherwise restructuring all or any portion of the Indebtedness thereunder or increasing the

 

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amount loaned or issued thereunder or altering the maturity thereof, in each case as and to the extent permitted by this Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

“Term Loan Documents” means, collectively, the Term Loan Agreement and all security agreements, guarantees, pledge agreements and other agreements or instruments executed in connection therewith.

 

“Term SOFR” means the forward-looking term rate for any period that is approximately (as determined by the Administrative Agent) as long as any of the Interest Period options set forth in the definition of “Interest Period” and that is based on SOFR and that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body, in each case as published on an information service as selected by the Administrative Agent from time to time in its reasonable discretion.

 

“Termination Date” means the earliest to occur of (i) the Maturity Date, (ii) the date on which   the maturity of the Obligations is accelerated (or deemed accelerated) and the Commitments are irrevocably terminated (or deemed terminated) in accordance with Article VIII, or (iii) the termination of the Aggregate Total Commitments in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.06 hereof.

 

“Total Outstandings” means the aggregate of all Total Revolving Outstandings and the Outstanding Amount of the FILO Loan, and, without duplication, all Foreign Liabilities.

 

“Total Revolving Outstandings” means the aggregate of all Canadian Total Outstandings and all Revolving Domestic Total Outstandings and, without duplication, all Foreign Liabilities.

 

“Trading with the Enemy Act” has the meaning set forthspecified in Section 10.18.

 

“Trigger Event” means either (a) the occurrence and continuance of any Event of Default, or (b) the   failure   of   the   Borrowers   to   maintain   Excess   Availability   of   at   least   the   greater   of   (i)

$50,000,00060,000,000, or (ii) twelve and one-half percent (12.5%) of the Loan Cap (as calculated without giving effect to the FILO Push Down Reserve). For purposes of this Agreement, the occurrence of a Trigger Event shall be deemed continuing, (A) so long as such Event of Default has not been waived, and/or (B) if the Trigger Event arises as a result of the Borrowers’ failure to achieve Excess Availability as  required  hereunder,  until  the  date Excess Availability shall have been not less than the greater of (x)

$50,000,00060,000,000 or (y) twelve and one-half percent (12.5%) of the Loan Cap (as calculated without giving effect to the FILO Push Down Reserve) for forty-five (45) consecutive days; provided that for the purposes of Section 6.12 a Trigger Event may be discontinued only three (3) times during the term of this Agreement notwithstanding that the Event of Default has been waived or that Excess Availability shall have been not less than the amounts required above for forty-five (45) consecutive days. The termination of a Trigger Event as provided herein shall in no way limit, waive or delay the occurrence of a subsequent Trigger Event in the event that the conditions set forth in this definition again arise.

 

“Type” means, with respect to a  Committed Loan or the outstanding portion of the FILO Loan, its character as a Prime Rate Loan, a LIBOR Rate Loan, a Euribor Rate Loan or a BA Equivalent Loan.

 

“UCC” or “Uniform Commercial Code” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York; provided, however, that if a term is defined in Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code differently than in another Article thereof, the term shall have the meaning  set forth in Article 9; provided further that, if by reason of mandatory provisions of law, perfection, or   the effect of perfection or non-perfection, of a security interest in any Collateral or the availability of any remedy hereunder is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in a jurisdiction other than the State of New York, “Uniform Commercial Code” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect

 

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in such other jurisdiction for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such perfection or effect of perfection or non-perfection or availability of such remedy, as the case may be.

 

“UFCA” has the meaning specified in Section 10.22(d). “UFTA” has the meaning specified in Section 10.22(d).

“Unfunded Pension Liability” means the excess of a Domestic Pension Plan’s benefit liabilities under Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA, over the current value of that Domestic Pension Plan’s assets, determined in accordance with the assumptions used for funding the Domestic Pension Plan pursuant to Section 412 of the Code for the applicable plan year.

 

“Unintentional Canadian Overadvance” means a Canadian Overadvance which, to the Agents’ knowledge, did not constitute a Canadian Overadvance when made but which has become a Canadian Overadvance resulting from changed circumstances beyond the control of the Credit Parties, including, without limitation, a reduction in the Appraised Value of property or assets included in the Canadian Borrowing Base or misrepresentation by the Canadian Loan Parties.

 

“Unintentional Domestic Overadvance” means a Domestic Overadvance which, to the Administrative Agent’s knowledge, did not constitute a Domestic Overadvance when made but which  has become a Domestic Overadvance resulting from changed circumstances beyond the control of the Credit Parties, including, without limitation, a reduction in the Appraised Value of property or assets included in the Domestic Borrowing Base or the FILO Borrowing Base or misrepresentation by the Loan Parties.

 

“U.S. Special Resolution Regimes” has the meaning specified in Section 10.31.

 

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

 

“USA PATRIOT Act” means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, as amended.

 

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

 

“US Index Rate” means, for any day, a floating rate equal to the annual rate of interest determined by the Canadian Agent which is equal to the greatest of (a) the annual rate of interest announced from time to time by Bank of America-Canada Branch , as being its reference rate in effect on such date (or if such date is not a Business Day, on the Business Day immediately preceding such date) for determining interest rates on Dollar denominated commercial loans made by it  in Canada, in each case regardless of whether such bank actually charges such rate of interest in connection with extensions of credit in Dollars to debtors, (b) the Federal Funds Rate for such day plus one-half of one percent (0.50%) or (c) the LIBOR Rate for a thirty (30) day interest period as determined on such day, plus 1.0%; provided that such US Index Rate shall not be less than 0%.  Each change in any interest rate provided  for in the Agreement based upon the US Index Rate shall take effect at the time of such change in the US Index Rate.

 

“US Index Rate Loan” means a Loan or portion thereof made to the Canadian Borrower or the Foreign Borrower (to the extent based on Canadian Availability) denominated in US Dollars bearing interest at a rate based on the US Index Rate.

 

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

 

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“U.S. Prime 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,”, (b) the Federal Funds Rate for such day plus one-half of one percent (0.50%) or and (c) the LIBOR Rate for a 30 day interest period as determined on such day, plus 1.0%; provided that such U.S. Prime Rateplus 1.00% (which rate, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not be less than 0%the Rate Floor). 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. If the U.S. Prime Rate is being used as an alternate rate of interest pursuant to Section 3.03 hereof, then the  U.S. Prime Rate shall be the greater of clauses (a) and (b) above and shall be determined without reference to clause (c) above.

 

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

 

“Voting Stock” means Equity Interests entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (or Persons performing similar functions).

 

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

 

	
 
	
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, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, restatements, 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 “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document, shall be construed  to refer to such Loan Document in its entirety and not to any particular provision thereof, (iv) all references in a Loan Document to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed  to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory rules, regulations, orders and provisions consolidating, amending replacing or interpreting such law and any reference to any law or regulation shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified 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.

 

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(b)
	
In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the

word “from” means “from and including;” the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding;” and the word “through” means “to and including.”

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience

of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

	
 
	
(d)
	
Any other undefined term contained in any of the Loan Documents shall, unless the

context indicates otherwise, have the meaning provided for such term in the  Uniform Commercial Code or the PPSA, as the context may require, to the extent the same are used or defined therein.

 

	
 
	
(e)
	
Any reference herein to a merger, transfer, consolidation, amalgamation, consolidation,

assignment, sale, disposition or transfer, or similar term, shall be deemed to apply to a division of or by a limited liability company, or an allocation of assets to a series of a limited liability company (or the unwinding of such a division or allocation), as if it were a merger, transfer, consolidation, amalgamation, consolidation, assignment, sale, disposition or transfer, or similar term, as applicable, to, of or with a separate Person. Any division of a limited liability company shall constitute a separate Person hereunder (and each division of any limited liability company that is a Subsidiary, joint venture or any other like term shall also constitute such a Person or entity).

 

	
 
	
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.

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
Changes in GAAP. If at any time any change in GAAP would affect the computation of

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

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any obligations of a Person under a lease (whether

existing now or entered into in the future) that is not (or would not be) a Capital Lease  Obligation under GAAP as in effect on the Effective Date, shall not be treated as a Capital Lease Obligation solely as a result of the adoption of changes in GAAP subsequent to the Effective Date.

 

	
 
	
(d)
	
For purposes of making all financial calculations to determine compliance with this

Credit Agreement, all components of such calculations shall be adjusted to include or exclude, as

 

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the case may be, without duplication, such components of such calculations attributable to any business or assets that have been acquired or disposed of by the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries, including through Permitted Acquisitions, after the first day of the  applicable period of determination and prior to the end of such period, as determined in good faith by the Borrowers utilizing Permitted Pro Forma Adjustments, and such financial calculation will be determined based on the most recent period for which Financial Statements were required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01, with such adjustments calculated as if the applicable acquisitions or dispositions had been consummated on the first day of such period.

 

	
 
	
1.04
	
Rounding. Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Loan Parties pursuant to this

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

 

	
 
	
1.05
	
Times  of  Day.Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be

references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).

 

	
 
	
1.06
	
Letter of Credit Amounts. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to the amount of a

Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the Stated Amount of such Letter of Credit in effect at such time; provided, however, that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms of any Issuer Documents related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the Stated Amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the maximum Stated Amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum Stated Amount is in effect at such time.

 

	
 
	
1.07
	
Currency Equivalents Generally.Any amount specified in this Agreement (other than in

Articles II, IX and X) or any of the other Loan Documents to be in Dollars shall also include the Equivalent Amount in any currency other than Dollars.

 

	
 
	
1.08
	
Québec Matters. For purposes of any assets, liabilities, Collateral or entities located in the

Province of Québec and for all other purposes pursuant to which the interpretation or construction of this Agreement may be subject to the laws of the Province of Québec or a court or tribunal exercising jurisdiction in the Province of Québec, (a) “personal property” shall include “movable property”, (b)  “real property” or “real estate” shall include “immovable property”, (c) “tangible property” shall include “corporeal property”, (d) “intangible property” shall include “incorporeal property”, (e) “security interest”, “mortgage” and “security” shall include a “hypothec”, “right of retention”, “prior claim” and a resolutory clause, (f) all references to filing, perfection, priority, remedies, registering or recording under the UCC or a PPSA shall include publication under the Civil Code of Québec, (g) all references to “perfection” of or “perfected” security or security interest shall include a reference to an “opposable” or “set up” hypothec, security or security interest as against third parties, (h) any “right of offset”, "“right of setoff"” or similar expression shall include a “right of compensation”, (i) “goods” shall include  “corporeal movable property” other than chattel paper, documents of title, instruments, money and securities, (j) an “agent” shall include a “mandatary”, (k) “construction security” shall include “legal hypothecs”, (l) “joint and several” shall include “solidary”, (m) “gross negligence or willful misconduct” shall be deemed to be “intentional or gross fault”, (n) “beneficial ownership” shall include “ownership on behalf of another as mandatary”; (o) “easement” shall include “servitude”, (p) “priority” shall include “prior claim”, (q) “survey” shall include “certificate of location and plan”, (r) “state” shall include “province”, (s) “fee simple title” shall include “absolute ownership”, and (t) “accounts” shall include “claims”.

 

	
 
	
1.09
	
Dutch Matters.

	
 
	
1.01
	

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In this Agreement, where it relates to a Dutch entity, a reference to:

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
a necessary action to authorize, where applicable, includes without limitation the

approval of the general meeting (algemene vergadering);

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
a winding-up, administration or dissolution includes a Dutch entity being: (A) declared

bankrupt (failliet verklaard); and (B) dissolved (ontbonden);

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
a moratorium includes surseance van betaling and granted a moratorium includes

surseance verleend;

 

	
 
	
(d)
	
a trustee in bankruptcy includes a curator;

 

	
 
	
(e)
	
an administrator includes a bewindvoerder;

 

	
 
	
(f)
	
a receiver or an administrative receiver does not include a curator or bewindvoerder; and

 

	
 
	
(g)
	
an attachment includes a beslag.

 

1.10Interest Rates. The Administrative Agent does not warrant, nor accept responsibility,

nor shall the Administrative Agent have any liability with respect to the administration, submission or any other matter related to the rates in the definition of “LIBOR Rate” or with respect to any rate that is an alternative or replacement for or successor to any of such rate (including, without limitation, any LIBOR Successor Rate) or the effect of any of the foregoing, or of any LIBOR Successor Rate Conforming Changes.

 

ARTICLE II

THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS

 

	
 
	
2.01
	
Committed Loans; Reserves. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each

Revolving Domestic Lender severally agrees to make Domestic Committed Loans to the Domestic Borrowers and the Foreign Borrower (subject to the provisions of subsection (c) below), from time to time, on any Business Day during the Availability Period, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the lesser of (x) the amount of the Revolving Domestic Commitment of such Revolving Domestic Lender, or (y) the Applicable Percentage of the Domestic Borrowing Base for such Revolving Domestic Lender; subject in each case to the following limitations:

 

	
 
	
(i)
	
after giving effect to any Domestic Committed Borrowing, the

Revolving Domestic Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Revolving Domestic Loan Cap,

 

	
 
	
(ii)
	
after giving effect to any Domestic Committed Borrowing, the aggregate

Outstanding Amount of the Domestic Committed Loans of any Revolving Domestic Lender, plus the Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Domestic L/C Obligations for such Revolving Domestic Lender, plus such Revolving Domestic Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans made to the Domestic Borrowers shall not exceed the Revolving Domestic Commitment of such Revolving Domestic Lender, and

 

	
 
	
(iii)
	
the Outstanding Amount of all Domestic L/C Obligations shall not at

any time exceed the Domestic Letter of Credit Sublimit.

 

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Within the limits of the Revolving Domestic Commitment for each Revolving Domestic Lender, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Domestic Borrowers (and the Foreign Borrower subject to the limitations provided herein) may borrow under this Section 2.01, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.01.

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Canadian Lender severally agrees to

make Canadian Committed Loans to the Canadian Borrower and the Foreign Borrower (subject to the provisions of subsection (c) below), from time to time, on any Business Day during the Availability Period, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the lesser of (x) the amount of the Canadian Commitment of such Canadian Lender, or (y) the Applicable Percentage of the Canadian Borrowing Base for such Canadian Lender; subject in each case to the following limitations:

 

	
 
	
(i)
	
after giving effect to any Canadian Committed Borrowing, the Total

Canadian Outstandings shall not exceed the Canadian Loan Cap,

 

	
 
	
(ii)
	
after giving effect to any Canadian Committed Borrowing, the aggregate

Outstanding Amount of the Canadian Committed Loans of any Canadian Lender, plus the Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Canadian L/C Obligations for such Canadian Lender, plus such Canadian Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans made to the Canadian Borrower, shall not exceed the Canadian Commitment of such Canadian Lender, and

 

	
 
	
(iii)
	
the Outstanding Amount of all Canadian L/C Obligations shall not at any

time exceed the Canadian Letter of Credit Sublimit.

 

Within the limits of the Canadian Commitment for each Canadian Lender, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Canadian Borrower (and the Foreign Borrower subject to the limitations provided herein) may borrow under this Section 2.01, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.01.

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Foreign Borrower may directly obtain

Revolving Domestic Loans and Canadian Loans from time to time only if and to the extent that the following conditions are satisfied:

 

	
 
	
(i)
	
the Foreign Borrower must have utilized all then remaining Arcadia

Availability (or the Domestic Borrowers shall have borrowed all such remaining Arcadia Availability, made an Investment in the amount of such remaining Arcadia Availability in Arcadia and Arcadia shall have made an Investment in the amount of such remaining Arcadia Availability in the Foreign Borrower);

 

	
 
	
(ii)
	
after  full  utilization  pursuant  to  subsection  (i),  above,  the  Foreign

Borrower must have utilized all then remaining Canadian Availability (or the Canadian Borrower shall have borrowed all then remaining Canadian Availability and made an Investment in the amount of such remaining Canadian Availability in the Foreign Borrower);

 

	
 
	
(iii)
	
after giving effect to the proposed direct Borrowing by the Foreign

Borrower, Excess Availability shall be greater than 60% of the Revolving Domestic Loan Cap (excluding the Arcadia Borrowing Base); and

 

	
 
	
(iv)
	
all other conditions precedent to the obtaining of Credit Extensions by

the Borrowers shall have been satisfied.

 

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(d)
	
The Inventory Reserves, the FILO Push Down Reserve and the Availability Reserves as of the

First Amendment Effective Date are set forth in the Borrowing Base Certificate delivered on the First Amendment Effective Date.

 

	
 
	
(e)
	
Subject to the restrictions otherwise set forth in this Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall

have the right, at any time and from time to time after the First Amendment Effective Date in its Permitted Discretion to establish, modify or eliminate Reserves upon three (3) Business Days prior notice to the Borrowers, (during which period the Administrative Agent shall be available to discuss any such proposed Reserve with the Borrowers); provided that no such prior notice shall be required for (1) changes to any Reserves resulting solely by virtue of mathematical calculations of the amount of the Reserve in accordance with the methodology of calculation previously utilized (such as, but not limited to, Rent and Customer Credit Liabilities), or (2) changes to Reserves or establishment of additional Reserves if a Material Adverse Effect has occurred or it would be reasonably likely that a Material Adverse Effect to the Lenders would occur were such Reserve not changed or established prior to the expiration of such three (3) Business Day period, or (3) any changes to Reserves during the continuance of any Event of Default.

 

	
 
	
(f)
	
Each FILO Lender severally agrees, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, to make its

portion of the FILO Loan to the Domestic Borrowers on the First Amendment Effective Date in a principal amount equal to its FILO Commitment. Amounts repaid in respect of the FILO Loan may not  be reborrowed. Upon each applicable FILO Lender’s making of its portion of the FILO Loan on the First Amendment Effective Date, the FILO Commitment of such FILO Lender shall be terminated.

 

	
 
	
2.02
	
Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans and FILO Loan.

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
Interest Rate Elections.

 

	
 
	
(i)
	
Domestic Committed Loans made to the Domestic Borrowers or to the

Foreign Borrower and the outstanding portion of the FILO Loan made to the Domestic Borrowers shall be either Domestic Prime Rate Loans or LIBOR Rate Loans, as the Parent, on behalf of the Domestic Borrowers or the Foreign Borrower, may request subject to and in accordance with this Section 2.02; provided that all Domestic Committed Loans made in Euros shall solely be Euribor Rate Loans and all Revolving Domestic Loans made in Pounds Sterling shall be LIBOR Rate Loans. All Swing Line Loans made to the Domestic Borrowers or the Foreign Borrower shall be only made in Dollars and shall be only Domestic Prime Rate Loans.

 

	
 
	
(ii)
	
Canadian Committed Loans made to the Canadian Borrower shall be

either Canadian Prime Rate Loans or BA Equivalent Loans (if made in CD$), LIBOR Rate Loans or US Index Rate Loans (if in Dollars) or LIBOR Rate Loans (if in Pounds Sterling), as the Canadian Borrower may request subject to and in accordance with this Section 2.02, and Canadian Committed Loans made to the Foreign Borrower shall be either Euribor Rate Loans (if in Euros) or LIBOR Rate Loans (if in Pounds Sterling), as the Foreign Borrower may request subject to and in accordance with this Section 2.02. All Swing Line Loans made to the Canadian Borrower or the Foreign Borrower shall be made only in CD$ or Dollars and shall be only Canadian Prime Rate Loans or U.S. Index Rate Loans, as applicable.

 

	
 
	
(iii)
	
Subject to the other provisions of this Section 2.02, Committed

Borrowings of more than one Type may be incurred at the same time.

 

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(b)
	
Each Committed Borrowing, each conversion of a Committed Loan or the outstanding

FILO Loan from one Type to another, and each continuation of Loans shall be made upon the irrevocable notice of the Parent on behalf of the Domestic Borrowers, by the Canadian Borrower or by Foreign Borrower, as applicable, to the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, which may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (i) three (3) Business Days prior to the requested date of any Committed Borrowing of, or the FILO Loan, as applicable, or continuation of Euribor Rate Loans, LIBOR Rate Loans or BA Equivalent Loans or of any conversion of any such Loans to Loans of a different Type, (ii) four (4) Business Days prior to  the requested date of any Committed Borrowing to be made in an Optional Currency of, conversion to, or continuation of Euribor Rate Loans, LIBOR Rate Loans or BA Equivalent Loans in an Optional Currency or of any conversion of any such Loans to Loans of a different Type, and (iii) on the requested date of any Committed Borrowing or the FILO Loan, as applicable, of any of Canadian Prime Rate Loans, Domestic Prime Rate Loans or US Index Rate Loans. Each telephonic notice pursuant to this Section 2.02(b) must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, of a written Committed Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Parent, the Canadian Borrower or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable. Each Committed Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of LIBOR Rate Loans, Euribor Rate Loans or BA Equivalent Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof (or the Equivalent Amount thereof). Except as provided in Sections 2.03(c) and 2.04(c), each Committed Borrowing of or conversion to Canadian Prime Rate Loans Loan, U.S. Index Rate Loans, or Domestic Prime Rate Loans, as applicable, shall be in a principal amount of

$500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof (or the Equivalent Amount thereof).

Each Committed Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether  the request is for a Committed Borrowing or the FILO Loan, as applicable, a conversion of Committed Loans or the outstanding portion of the FILO Loan, as applicable, from one Type to the other, or a continuation of LIBOR Rate Loans, BA Equivalent Loans, or Euribor Rate Loans,

(ii) the requested date of the Committed Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Committed Loans or the outstanding portion of the FILO Loan, as applicable, to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Committed Loans or the outstanding FILO Loan, as applicable, to be borrowed or to which existing Committed Loans or the outstanding portion of the FILO Loan, as applicable, are to be converted, (v) whether such Committed Loan is to be made in Dollars, Canadian Dollars or another Optional Currency, and (vi) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto, provided that any request for Optional Currency shall comply with the provisions of Section 2.02(b) hereof. If (x) the request fails to specify a Type of Committed Loan or the outstanding portion of the FILO Loan, as applicable, in a Committed Loan Notice or the currency in which such Committed Loan is to be made or if the Parent, the Canadian Borrower, or the Foreign Borrower, as the case may be, fails to give a timely notice of a conversion or  continuation of a LIBOR Rate Loan, Euribor Rate Loan, or a BA Equivalent Loan, then the applicable Committed Loans or the outstanding portion of the FILO Loan, as applicable, shall be made as, or converted to, Domestic Prime Rate Loans made in Dollars or Canadian Prime Rate Loans made in CD$, as applicable. Any such automatic conversion to Prime Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable LIBOR Rate Loans, Euribor Rate Loan or BA Equivalent Loans, or (y) fails to specify an Interest Period for a LIBOR Rate Loan, Euribor Rate Loan, or a BA Equivalent Loan, it will be deemed  to have specified an Interest Period of one month. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, a Swing Line Loan may not be converted to a LIBOR Rate Loan, Euribor Rate Loan or a BA Equivalent Loan.

 

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(c)
	
Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Agents shall promptly notify each

Revolving Domestic Lender or Canadian Lender, as the case may be, of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable Committed Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Parent, on behalf of the Domestic Borrower or by the Canadian Borrower or by the Foreign Borrower, the Agents shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Prime Rate Loans described in Section 2.02(b). Each Revolving Domestic Lender and each Canadian Lender shall make the amount of its applicable Committed Loan available to the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as the case may be, in immediately available funds at the applicable Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on  the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (and, if such Committed Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section 4.01), the applicable Agent shall use reasonable efforts to make all funds so received available to the applicable Borrowers in like funds by no later than 4:00 p.m.  on the day of receipt by the applicable Agent, either by (i) crediting either the account of the Parent, the Canadian Borrower or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, on the books of Bank of America or Bank of America-Canada Branch, as applicable, 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 applicable Agent by the Parent, the Canadian Borrower or by the Foreign Borrower; provided, however, that (A) if, on the date a Committed Loan Notice with respect to a Canadian Committed Borrowing is given by the Canadian Borrower or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, there are Canadian L/C Borrowings outstanding, then the proceeds of such Canadian Committed Borrowing, first, shall be applied to the payment in full of any such Canadian L/C Borrowings, and second, shall be made available to the Canadian Borrower or the Foreign Borrower as provided above; or (B) if, on the date a Committed Loan Notice with  respect to a Domestic Committed Borrowing is given by the Parent on behalf of the Domestic Borrowers or the Foreign Borrower, there are Domestic L/C Borrowings outstanding, then the proceeds of such Domestic Committed Borrowing, first, shall be applied to the payment in full of any such Domestic L/C Borrowings, and second, shall be made available to the Domestic Borrowers or the Foreign Borrower as provided above.

 

	
 
	
(d)
	
In the event that any Borrower fails to pay any interest, fee, service charge, Credit Party

Expenses, or other payment to which any Lender or any Agent is entitled from the such Borrower pursuant hereto when due, or at any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of a Trigger Event, the applicable Agent, without the request of any Loan Party, may advance such interest, fee, service charge, Credit Party Expenses, or other payment to which any Lender or any Agent is entitled from the applicable Borrower pursuant hereto or any other Loan Document and may charge the same to the Loan Account with respect to the Domestic Credit Extensions or Canadian Credit Extensions, as applicable, notwithstanding that a Domestic Overadvance or a Canadian Overadvance may result thereby. The Agents shall advise the Parent of any such advance or charge by the Administrative Agent promptly after the making thereof, and the Canadian Agent shall advise the Canadian Borrower of any such advance or charge by the Canadian Agent promptly after the making thereof. Such action on the part of the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent shall not constitute a waiver of the applicable Credit Party’s rights and the applicable Borrowers’ obligations under Section 2.05(c). Any amount which is added to the principal balance of the applicable Loan Account as provided in this Section 2.02(c) shall be deemed to be a Domestic Prime Rate Loan or a Canadian Prime Rate Loan, as applicable.

 

	
 
	
(e)
	
Except as otherwise provided herein, a LIBOR Rate Loan, a Euribor Rate Loan or a BA

Equivalent Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest  Period for such  Loan.During the existence of an Event of Default, no Loans may be requested as,

 

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converted to or continued as LIBOR Rate Loans, Euribor Rate Loans or BA Equivalent Loans without the Consentconsent of the Required Lenders.

 

	
 
	
(f)
	
The applicable Agent shall promptly notify the Parent, the Canadian Borrower, the

Foreign Borrower and the applicable Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Euribor Rate Loans, BA Equivalent Loans, or LIBOR Rate Loans upon determination of such interest rate. At any time that Prime Rate Loans are outstanding, the applicable Agent shall promptly notify the Parent, the Canadian Borrower, the Foreign Borrower and the applicable Lenders of any change in the U.S. Prime Rate, US Index Rate or Canadian Prime Rate promptly following the public announcement of such change.

 

	
 
	
(g)
	
After giving effect to all Committed Borrowings, all conversions of Committed Loans  or

the outstanding FILO Loan, as applicable, from one Type to another in accordance with the terms hereof, and all continuations of Committed Loans or the outstanding FILO Loan, as applicable,  as the same Type, there shall not be more than five (5(i) ten (10) Interest Periods in effect with respect to Domestic Committed Loans and not be more than, (ii) one (1) Interest Period in effect with respect to the FILO Loan that is a LIBOR Rate Loan, (iii) five (5) Interest Periods in effect with respect to Canadian Committed Loans.

 

	
 
	
(h)
	
None of the Agents, the Lenders, or the L/C Issuer shall have any obligation to make any

Revolving Loan or to provide any Letter of Credit if an Overadvance would result. The Administrative Agent may, in its discretion, make Permitted Domestic Overadvances without the consent of any Lender or any L/C Issuer and each Revolving Domestic Lender shall be bound thereby. The Canadian Agent may, in its discretion, make Permitted Canadian Overadvances without the consent of any Lender, or any L/C Issuer and each Canadian Lender shall be bound thereby. Any Permitted Overadvance may constitute a Swing Line Loan and shall bear interest at the U.S. Prime Rate or the Canadian Prime Rate, as applicable. All Permitted OveradvanceOveradvances are for the account of the applicable Borrowers and shall be repaid  on demand. The making of any such Permitted Overadvance on any one occasion shall not obligate any Agent or any Lender to make or permit any Permitted Overadvance on any other occasion or to permit such Permitted Overadvances to remain outstanding. The making by any Agent of a Permitted Overadvance shall not modify or abrogate any of the provisions of Section

2.03regarding the Revolving Lenders’ obligations to purchase participations with respect to Letters of Credit or of Section 2.04 regarding the Revolving Lenders’ obligations to purchase participations with respect to Swing Line Loans. Neither the Administrative Agent nor the Canadian Agent shall have any liability for, and no Loan Party or Credit Party shall have the  right to, or shall, bring any claim of any kind whatsoever against the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent with respect to Unintentional Canadian Overadvances or Unintentional  Domestic Overadvances regardless of the amount of any such Overadvance(s).

 

	
 
	
2.03
	
Letters of Credit.

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
The Letter of Credit Commitment.

 

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (A) each L/C Issuer agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the Revolving Lenders set forth in this Section 2.03, (1) from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Original Closing Date until the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, to issue Letters of Credit for the account of any Borrower (provided that any Canadian Letter of Credit may only be for the benefit of any Canadian Loan Party or the Foreign Borrower), and to amend or  extend Letters of Credit previously issued by it, in accordance with Section 2.03(b) below, and (2) to honor drawings under the Letters of Credit, (B) each Revolving Domestic Lender severally agrees to

 

- 75 -

 

participate in Domestic Letters of Credit and any drawings thereunder; provided that, after giving effect  to any L/C Credit Extension with respect to any Domestic Letter of Credit, the provisions of Section 2.01(a) shall not have been breached, and (C) each Canadian Lender severally agrees to participate in Canadian Letters of Credit and any drawings thereunder; provided that, after giving effect to any Canadian L/C Credit Extension, the provisions of Section 2.01(a) shall not have been breached. Each request by a Borrower for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be a representation by all Borrowers that the L/C Credit Extension so requested complies with the conditions set forth in the proviso to the preceding sentence. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the terms  and conditions hereof, each Borrower’s ability to obtain Letters of Credit shall be fully revolving, and accordingly such Borrower may, during the foregoing period, obtain Letters of Credit  to replace Letters of Credit that have expired or that have been drawn upon and reimbursed. Any L/C Issuer (other than Bank of America or any of its branches or Affiliates) shall notify the applicable Agent in writing on each Business Day of all Letters of Credit issued on the prior Business Day by such L/C Issuer, provided that

(i)until the applicable Agent advises any such L/C Issuer that the provisions of Section 4.02 are not satisfied, or (ii) the aggregate amount of the Letters of Credit issued in any such week exceeds such amount as shall be agreed by the Agents and the L/C Issuer, such L/C Issuer shall be required to so notify the Agents in writing only once each week of the Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer during the immediately preceding week as well as the daily amounts outstanding for the prior week, such notice to be furnished on such day of the week as the Agents and such L/C Issuer may agree. All Existing Letters of Credit shall be deemed to have been issued pursuant hereto, and from and after the Effective Date  shall be subject to and governed by the terms and conditions hereof.

 

	
 
	
(i)
	
The L/C Issuers shall not issue any Letter of Credit, if:

 

	
 
	
(A)
	
subject to Section 2.03(b)(iii), the expiry date of such requested

Standby Letter of Credit would occur more than twelve months after the date of issuance or last extension, unless the Required Revolving Lenders have approved such expiry date; or

 

	
 
	
(B)
	
subject to Section 2.03(b)(iii), the expiry date of such requested

Commercial Letter of Credit would occur more than 120 days after the date of issuance or last extension, unless the Required Revolving Lenders have approved such expiry date; or

 

	
 
	
(C)
	
the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur

after the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, unless either such Letter of Credit is Cash Collateralized on or prior to the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit or all the Revolving Lenders have approved such expiry date.

 

	
 
	
(ii)
	
The L/C Issuers shall not be required to issue any Letter of Credit

without the prior consent of the Agents if:

 

	
 
	
(A)
	
any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or

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

 

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(B)
	
the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more

policies of such L/C Issuer applicable to letters of credit generally;

 

	
 
	
(C)
	
such Letter of Credit contains any provisions for automatic

reinstatement of the Stated Amount after any drawing thereunder; or

 

	
 
	
(D)
	
any Revolving Lender is at that time a Defaulting Lender, unless

the L/C Issuer has entered into arrangements, including the delivery of Cash Collateral, satisfactory to the L/C Issuer (in its reasonable discretion) with the Borrowers or such Revolving Lender to eliminate the 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 (x) the Letter of Credit then proposed to be issued or (y) that Letter of Credit and all other L/C Obligations as to which the L/C Issuer has actual or potential Fronting Exposure, as it may elect in its sole discretion.

 

	
 
	
(iii)
	
The L/C Issuers shall not amend any Letter of Credit if the L/C Issuers

would not be permitted at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof or if the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit does not accept the proposed amendment to such Letter of Credit.

 

	
 
	
(iv)
	
The L/C Issuers shall act on behalf of the applicable Revolving Lenders

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

 

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

 

	
 
	
(i)
	
Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be,

upon the request of the Parent on behalf of the Domestic Borrowers, the Canadian Borrower, or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, delivered to the L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the Canadian Agent) in the form of a Letter of Credit Application, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Parent, the Canadian Borrower, or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable. Such Letter of Credit Application must be received by the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the Canadian Agent, not later than 11:00 a.m. at least two (2) Business Days (or such later date and time as the Administrative Agent, or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, and the 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. In the case of a request for an initial issuance of a Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the L/C Issuer: (A) whether such Letter of Credit is to be a Domestic Letter of Credit or a Canadian Letter of Credit, and the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (B) the amount 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 identity of the Borrower for the account of which such Letter of Credit is requested to be issued; and (H) such other matters as the L/C Issuer may reasonably require. In the case  of a request for an amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the L/C Issuer: (A) the Letter of Credit to be

 

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amended; (B) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (C) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (D) such other matters as the L/C Issuer may require. Additionally, the applicable Borrower shall furnish to the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the Canadian Agent, such other documents and information pertaining to such requested Letter of Credit issuance or amendment, including any Issuer Documents, as the L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent may require.

 

	
 
	
(ii)
	
Promptly after receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the L/C Issuer

will confirm with the Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the Canadian Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the Canadian Agent has received a copy of such Letter of Credit Application from the Parent, the Canadian Borrower, or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, and, if not, the L/C Issuer will provide the Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the Canadian Agent, with a copy thereof. Unless the L/C Issuer has received written notice from any Revolving Lender, the Administrative Agent, the Canadian Agent or any Loan Party, at least one (1) Business Day prior to the requested date of issuance or amendment of the applicable Letter of Credit, that one or more applicable conditions contained in Article IV shall not then be satisfied or unless the L/C Issuer would not be permitted, or would have no obligation, at such time to issue such Letter of Credit under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of Section 2.03(a)(ii) or otherwise), then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the L/C Issuer shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for  the account of the applicable Borrower or enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may be, in each case in accordance with the L/C Issuer’s usual and customary business practices. Immediately upon the issuance or amendment of each Letter of Credit, each Revolving Domestic Lender or each Canadian Lender, as applicable, shall be deemed to (without any further action), and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally severally agrees to, purchase from the L/C Issuer, without recourse or warranty, a risk participation in such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the product of such Revolving Domestic Lender’s or Canadian Lender’s Applicable Percentage, as applicable times the Stated Amount of such Letter of Credit. Upon any change in the Revolving Domestic Commitments or the Canadian Commitments under this Agreement, it is hereby agreed that with respect to all L/C Obligations, there shall be an automatic adjustment to the participations hereby created to reflect any new Applicable Percentages of the assigning and assignee Revolving Domestic Lenders or Canadian Lenders, as the case may be.

 

	
 
	
(iii)
	
If the Parent on behalf of the Domestic Borrowers, the Canadian

Borrower, or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the L/C Issuer may, in its sole and absolute discretion, agree to issue a Standby Letter of Credit that has automatic extension provisions (each, an “Auto-Extension Letter of Credit”); provided  that any such Auto-Extension Letter of Credit must permit the L/C Issuer to prevent any such extension  at least once in each twelve-month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Standby 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 Standby Letter of Credit is issued. Unless otherwise directed by the L/C Issuer, the Parent, the Canadian Borrower, or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, shall not be required to make a specific request to the L/C Issuer for any such extension.  Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, the Revolving Lenders shall  be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the L/C Issuer to permit the extension of such Standby Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the Letter of Credit Expiration Date; provided, however, that the L/C Issuer shall not permit any such extension if (A) the L/C Issuer has determined that it would not be permitted, or would have no obligation, at such time to issue such Standby Letter of Credit in its revised form (as extended) under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of clauses (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 (5) Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date (1) from the Administrative Agent that the Required Revolving Lenders have

 

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elected not to permit such extension or (2) from the Administrative Agent, the Canadian Agent, or any Revolving Lender that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied, and in each such case directing the L/C Issuer not to permit such extension.

 

	
 
	
(iv)
	
Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a

Letter of Credit to an advising bank with respect thereto or to the beneficiary thereof, the L/C Issuer will also deliver to the Parent and the Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the Canadian Agent, a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
Drawings and Reimbursements; Funding of Participations.

 

	
 
	
(i)
	
Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of any notice

of a drawing under such Letter of Credit, the L/C Issuer shall notify the Parent, the Canadian Borrower,  or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, and the Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the Canadian Agent, thereof; provided, however, that any failure to give or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve the applicable Borrower of its obligation to reimburse the L/C Issuer and the applicable Revolving Lenders with respect to any such payment. Not later than 11:00 a.m. on the first (1st) Business Day after the date of any payment by the L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit (each such date, an “Honor Date”), the applicable Borrower shall reimburse the L/C Issuer through the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the amount of such drawing. If such Borrower fails to so reimburse the L/C Issuer by such time, the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, shall promptly notify each Revolving Domestic Lender or each Canadian Lender, as applicable, of the Honor Date, the amount of the unreimbursed drawing (the “Unreimbursed Amount”), and the amount of such Revolving Domestic Lender’s or Canadian Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof, as applicable. In such event, the Domestic Borrowers, the Canadian Borrower, or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, shall be deemed to have requested a Committed Borrowing of Domestic Prime Rate Loans, Canadian Prime Rate Loans or US Index Rate Loans, as applicable, 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 Prime Rate Loans, but subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Revolving Domestic Total Commitments or the Canadian Total Commitments, as applicable, and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than the delivery of a Committed Loan Notice). Any notice given by the L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent pursuant to this Section 2.03(c)(i) may be given by telephone if immediately confirmed in writing; provided that the lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice.

 

	
 
	
(ii)
	
Each Revolving Domestic Lender or Canadian Lender, as the case may

be, shall upon any notice delivered pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) make funds available to the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, for the account of the L/C Issuer at the Administrative Agent’s Office or the Canadian Agent’s Office, as applicable, in an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the Unreimbursed Amount not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in such notice by the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, whereupon, subject to the provisions of Section 2.03(c)(iii), each Revolving Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Domestic Prime Rate Loan to the Domestic Borrowers (or the Foreign Borrower if based on Domestic Availability), or a Canadian Prime Rate Loan or a US Index Rate Loan to the Canadian Borrower (or the Foreign Borrower if based on Canadian Availability), as applicable, in such amount. The Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, shall remit the funds so received to the L/C Issuer.

 

	
 
	
(iii)
	
With respect to any Unreimbursed Amount that is not fully refinanced

by a Committed Borrowing of Prime Rate Loans because the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 cannot

 

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be satisfied or for any other reason, the Domestic Borrowers, the Canadian Borrower, or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, shall be deemed to have incurred from the L/C Issuer an L/C Borrowing in the amount of the Unreimbursed Amount that is not so refinanced, which 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 Revolving Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(ii) shall be deemed payment in respect of its participation in such L/C Borrowing and shall constitute an L/C Advance from such Revolving Lender in satisfaction of its participation  obligation under this Section 2.03.

 

	
 
	
(iv)
	
Until each applicable Revolving Lender funds its Committed Loan or

L/C Advance pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) to reimburse the L/C Issuer for any amount drawn under any Letter of Credit, interest in respect of such Revolving Domestic Lender’s or Canadian Lender’s Applicable Percentage, as applicable, of such amount shall be solely for the account of the L/C Issuer.

 

	
 
	
(v)
	
Each Revolving Lender’s obligation to make Committed Loans or L/C

Advances to reimburse the L/C Issuer for amounts drawn under 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 Revolving Lender may have against the L/C Issuer, any Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever; (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided, however, that each Revolving Lender’s obligation to make Committed Loans pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than delivery of a Committed Loan Notice). No such making of an L/C Advance shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrowers to reimburse the L/C Issuer for the amount of any payment made by the L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit, together with interest as provided herein.

 

	
 
	
(vi)
	
If any Revolving Lender fails to make available to the Administrative

Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, for the account of the L/C Issuer any amount required to be paid by such Revolving Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03(c) by the time specified in Section 2.03(c)(ii), the L/C Issuer shall be entitled to recover from such Revolving Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable), 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 L/C Issuer at a rate per annum equal to the greater of (A) the Federal Funds Rate, with respect to the Administrative Agent or payments due to the Canadian Agent in Dollars, and the Bank of Canada Overnight Rate with respect to payments due to the Canadian Agent in Canadian Dollars or any Optional Currency, and (B) a rate determined by the L/C Issuer in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation plus any administrative, processing or similar  fees customarily charged by the L/C Issuer in connection with the foregoing. If such Revolving Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such  Revolving Lender’s Committed Loan included in the relevant Committed Borrowing or L/C Advance in respect of the relevant L/C Borrowing, as the case may be. A certificate of the L/C Issuer submitted to any Revolving Lender (through the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (vi) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

	
 
	
(d)
	
Repayment of Participations.

 

	
 
	
(i)
	
At any time after the L/C Issuer has made a payment under any Letter of

Credit and has received from any Revolving Lender such Revolving Lender’s L/C Advance in respect of such payment in accordance with Section 2.03(c), if the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, receives for the account of the L/C Issuer any payment in respect of the related Unreimbursed Amount or interest thereon (whether directly from the applicable Borrowers or otherwise, including

 

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proceeds of Cash Collateral applied thereto by the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable), the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, will distribute to the applicable Revolving Domestic Lender or Canadian Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Revolving Lender’s L/C Advance was outstanding) in the same funds as those received by the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable.

 

	
 
	
(ii)
	
If any payment received by the Administrative Agent or the Canadian

Agent, as applicable, for the account of the 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 L/C Issuer in its discretion), each Revolving Domestic Lender or Canadian Lender, as applicable, shall pay to the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, for the account of the L/C Issuer its Applicable Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned by such Revolving Lender, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate, with respect to the Administrative Agent or payments due to the Canadian Agent in Dollars, and the Bank of Canada Overnight Rate with respect to payments due to the Canadian Agent in Canadian Dollars or other Optional Currency, from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Revolving 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 each Borrower to reimburse the L/C Issuer for each

drawing under each Letter of Credit and to repay each 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 Letter of Credit, this

Agreement, or any other Loan Document;

 

	
 
	
(ii)
	
the existence of any claim, counterclaim, setoff, defense or other right

that any Borrower or any Subsidiary may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be  acting), the L/C Issuer or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by such 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

Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under such Letter of Credit;

 

	
 
	
(iv)
	
any payment by the L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit against

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

 

	
 
	
(v)
	
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, any Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries; or

 

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(vi)
	
the fact that any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

 

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

 

	
 
	
(f)
	
Role of L/C Issuer. Each Revolving Lender and the Borrowers agree that, in paying any drawing

under a Letter of Credit, the L/C Issuer shall not have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than any sight draft, certificates and documents expressly required by the Letter of Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such document or the authority of the Person executing or delivering any such document. None of the L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent, the Canadian Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of the L/C Issuer shall be liable to any Revolving Lender for (i) any action taken or omitted in connection herewith at the request or with the approval of the Revolving Lenders or the Required Revolving Lenders, as applicable;

(ii)any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct; (iii) any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit or any error in interpretation of technical terms; or (iv) the due execution, effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any document or instrument related  to any Letter of Credit or Issuer Document. The Borrowers hereby assume all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee with respect to its use of any Letter of Credit; provided, however, that this assumption is not intended to, and shall not, preclude the Borrowers’ pursuing such rights and remedies as it may have against the beneficiary or transferee at law or under any other agreement. None of the L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent, the Canadian Agent, any of their  respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of the L/C Issuer shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in clauses (i) through (v) of Section 2.03(e); provided, however, that anything in such clauses to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrowers may have a claim against the L/C Issuer, and the L/C Issuer may be liable to the Borrowers, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or exemplary, damages suffered by the Borrowers which the Borrowers prove were caused by the L/C Issuer'’s willful misconduct or gross negligence or  the L/C Issuer'’s willful failure to pay under any 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 Letter of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, the 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 (or the L/C Issuer may refuse to accept and make payment upon  such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit), and the 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 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 L/C Issuer may send a 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)
	
Cash Collateral. Upon the written request of the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as

applicable,  (or if an Event of Default is continuing, the applicable L/C Issuer) if, as of the Letter of  Credit Expiration Date, any L/C Obligation (other than L/C Borrowings) for any reason remains outstanding, then, the Domestic Borrowers shall, in each case, promptly Cash Collateralize the then Outstanding Amount of all Domestic L/C Obligations (other than Domestic L/C Borrowings) and the

 

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Canadian Borrower shall, in each case, promptly Cash Collateralize the then Outstanding Amount of all Canadian L/C Obligations (other than Canadian L/C Borrowings). Sections 2.05 and 8.02(c) set forth certain additional requirements to deliver Cash Collateral hereunder. For purposes of this Section 2.03, Section 2.05 and Section 8.02(c), “Cash Collateralize” means to pledge and deposit into the applicable Cash Collateral Account or deliver to the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, for the benefit of the L/C Issuer and the Revolving Domestic Lenders or the Canadian Lenders, as  applicable, as collateral for the Domestic L/C Obligations or the Canadian L/C Obligations, as  applicable, cash or deposit account balances in an amount equal to one hundred five percent (105%) of the Outstanding Amount of all Domestic L/C Obligations (other than Domestic L/C Borrowings) or the Canadian L/C Obligations (other than Canadian L/C Borrowings), as applicable, pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent or the  Canadian Agent, as applicable, and the L/C Issuer (which documents are hereby consented to by the Revolving Lenders). Derivatives of such term have corresponding meanings. The Domestic Borrowers hereby grant to the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of itself and the other Credit Parties) a security interest in, and Lien on, all such cash, deposit accounts and all balances in the Cash Collateral Account established by the Domestic Loan Parties and all proceeds of the foregoing to secure the Secured Obligations (as defined in the Security Agreement) of the Domestic Loan Parties. The Canadian Loan Parties hereby grant to the Canadian Agent a security interest in, and Lien on, all such cash, deposit accounts and all balances in the Cash Collateral Account established by the Canadian Loan Parties and  all proceeds of the foregoing to secure the Canadian Liabilities. Cash Collateral shall be maintained in Cash Collateral Accounts at Bank of America or Bank of America-Canada Branch, as applicable. If at  any time the Administrative Agent reasonably determines that any funds held by it as Cash Collateral are subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of itself and the other Domestic Credit Parties) or that the total amount of such funds is less than 105% of the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Domestic L/C Obligations (other than Domestic L/C Borrowings), the Domestic Borrowers 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) such aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Domestic L/C Obligations (other than Domestic L/C Borrowings) over (y) the total amount of funds, if any, then held by the Administrative Agent as Cash Collateral that the Administrative Agent reasonably determines to be free and clear of any such  right and claim. If at any time the Canadian Agent reasonably determines that any funds held by it as Cash Collateral are subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Canadian Agent (for the benefit of itself and the other Canadian Credit Parties) or that the total amount of such funds is less than 105% of the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Canadian L/C Obligations (other than Canadian L/C Borrowings), the Canadian Borrower will, forthwith upon demand by the Canadian Agent, pay to the Canadian Agent, as additional funds to be deposited as Cash Collateral, an amount equal to the excess of

	
 
	
(x)
	
such aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Canadian L/C Obligations (other than Canadian L/C

Borrowings) over (y) the total amount of funds, if any, then held by the Canadian Agent as Cash Collateral that the Canadian Agent reasonably determines to be free and clear of any such right and  claim. Upon the drawing of any 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 L/C Issuer and, to the extent not so applied, shall thereafter be applied to satisfy other Obligations in the manner specified  in Section 2.05, Section 8.03 and Section 8.038.04.

 

	
 
	
(h)
	
Applicability of ISP and UCP. Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the L/C Issuer and the

Parent or the Canadian Borrower, as applicable, when a Letter of Credit is issued (including any such agreement applicable to an Existing Letter of Credit), (i) the rules of the ISP shall apply to each Standby Letter of Credit, and (ii) the rules of the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, as most recently published by the International Chamber of Commerce at the time of issuance shall apply to each Commercial Letter of Credit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the L/C Issuer shall not be responsible to  the Borrowers for, and the L/C Issuer’s rights and remedies against the Borrowers shall not be impaired

 

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by, any action or inaction of the L/C Issuer required or permitted under any law, order, or practice that is required or permitted to be applied to any Letter of Credit or this Agreement, including the Law or any order of a jurisdiction where the L/C Issuer or the beneficiary is located, the practice stated in the ISP or UCP, as applicable, or in the decisions, opinions, practice statements, or official commentary of the ICC Banking Commission, the Bankers Association for Finance and Trade - International Financial Services Association (BAFT-IFSA), or the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice, whether or not any Letter of Credit chooses such law or practice.

 

	
 
	
(i)
	
Letter of Credit Fees. The Domestic Borrowers shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the

account of the Revolving Domestic Lenders, the Canadian Borrower and the Foreign Borrower shall pay to the Canadian Agent, for the account of the Canadian Lenders, as applicable, each in accordance with  its Applicable Percentage, a Letter of Credit fee (the “Letter of Credit Fee”) for (i) in the case of the  Letter of Credit Fee payable by the Domestic Borrowers, each Domestic Letter of Credit equal to the Applicable Rate multiplied by the daily Stated Amount under each such Domestic Letter of Credit (whether or not such maximum amount is then in effect under such Domestic Letter of Credit) and (ii) in the case of the Letter of Credit Fee payable by the Canadian Borrower, each Canadian Letter of Credit equal to the Applicable Rate multiplied by the daily Stated Amount under each such Canadian Letter of Credit (whether or not such maximum amount is then in effect under such Canadian Letter of Credit).   For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of the Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.06.  Letter of Credit Fees shall   be (i) due and payable on the first calendar day of each April, July, October and January, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such 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 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, (x) if an Event of Default exists as a result of any amount payable under any Loan Document not having been paid when due (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, all  Letter  of Credit Fees shall accrue at the Default Rate and thereafter such Letter of Credit Fees shall accrue at the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law so long as such Event of Default is continuing, and (y) while any other Event of Default exists, Administrative Agent may, and upon the request of the Required Revolving Lenders shall, notify the Parent that all Letter of Credit Fees shall accrue at the Default Rate and thereafter such Letter of Credit Fees shall accrue at the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law so long as such Event of Default is continuing.

 

	
 
	
(j)
	
Fronting Fee and Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to L/C Issuer. The Domestic

Borrowers, the Canadian Borrower and the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, shall pay directly to the L/C Issuer for its own account a fronting fee (the “Fronting Fee”) at a rate equal to 0.125% per annum, computed on the daily amount available to be drawn under each Letter of Credit and payable on a quarterly basis in arrears. Such Fronting Fees shall be due and payable on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of the Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.06. In addition, the Domestic Borrowers, the  Canadian Borrower and the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, shall pay directly to the L/C Issuer for its own  account the customary issuance, presentation, amendment and other processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of the L/C Issuer relating to Letters of Credit as from time to time in effect. Such customary fees and standard costs and charges are due and payable on demand and are nonrefundable.

 

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(k)
	
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.

 

	
 
	
2.04
	
Swing Line Loans.

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
The Swing Line. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swing Line Lender

agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Revolving Lenders set forth in this Section 2.04, to from time to time on any Business Day during the Availability Period, make loans (each such loan, a “Swing Line Loan”) (i) to the Domestic Borrowers or the Foreign Borrower (subject to the provisions of Section 2.01(c)) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of the Domestic Swing Line Sublimit, notwithstanding the fact that the Outstanding Amount of such Swing  Line Loans made to the Domestic Borrowers and the Foreign Borrower, when aggregated with the Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of Domestic Committed Loans and Domestic L/C Obligations of the Revolving Lender acting as Swing Line Lender, may exceed the amount of such Revolving Lender’s Applicable Percentage; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Swing Line Loan made to the Domestic Borrowers and the Foreign Borrower, the provisions of Section 2.01(a) shall not have been breached; and (ii) to the Canadian Borrower or the Foreign Borrower (subject to the provisions of Section 2.01(c)) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of the Canadian Swing Line Sublimit, notwithstanding the fact that the Outstanding Amount of such Swing Line Loans made to the Canadian Borrower and the Foreign Borrower, when aggregated with the Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of Canadian Committed Loans and Canadian L/C Obligations of the Revolving Lender acting as Swing Line Lender, may exceed the amount of such Revolving Lender’s Applicable Percentage; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Swing Line Loan made to the Canadian Borrower and the Foreign Borrower, the provisions of Section 2.01(b) shall not have been breached, and further provided that the Swing Line Lender shall not be obligated to make any Swing Line Loan if it shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that it has, or by such Credit Extension may have, Fronting Exposure).  No Borrower  shall use the proceeds of any Swing Line Loan to refinance any outstanding Swing Line Loan.  Within  the foregoing limits, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrowers may borrow under this Section 2.04, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.04. Each Swing Line Loan shall bear interest only at a rate based on the U.S. Prime Rate, the Canadian Prime Rate or the

U.S. Index Rate, as applicable.  Immediately upon the making of a Swing Line Loan to the Domestic

Borrowers and the Foreign Borrower, each Revolving Domestic Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Swing Line Lender a risk participation in such Swing Line Loan in an amount equal to the product of such Revolving Lender’s Applicable Percentage times the amount of such Swing Line Loan made to the Domestic Borrowers and the Foreign Borrower (based on Domestic Availability). Immediately upon the making of a Swing Line Loan to the Canadian Borrower, each Canadian Lender and the Foreign Borrower shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Swing Line Lender a risk participation in such Swing Line Loan in an amount equal to the product of such Revolving Lender’s Applicable Percentage times the amount of such Swing Line Loan made to the Canadian Borrower and the Foreign Borrower (based on Canadian Availability). The Swing Line Lender shall have all of the benefits and immunities (A) provided to the Administrative Agent and the Canadian Agent in Article IX with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by the Swing Line Lender in connection with Swing Line Loans made by it or proposed to be made by it as if the term “Administrative Agent” and “Canadian Agent” as used in Article IX included the Swing Line Lender with respect to such acts or omissions, and (B) as additionally provided herein with respect to the Swing Line Lender.

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
Swing  Line  Borrowing  Procedures.Each  Swing  Line  Borrowing  shall  be  made  upon  the

irrevocable notice of the Parent on behalf of the Domestic Borrowers, the Foreign Borrower or the Canadian  Borrower,  as  applicable,  to  the  Swing  Line  Lender  and  the  Administrative  Agent  or the

 

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Canadian Agent, as applicable, which may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, not later than 1:00 p.m. on the requested borrowing date, and shall specify (i) the amount to be borrowed, which shall be a minimum of $100,000 or the Equivalent Amount thereof, and (ii) the requested borrowing date, which shall be a Business Day. Each such telephonic notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, of a written Swing Line Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Parent, the Canadian Borrower, or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable. Promptly after receipt by the Swing Line Lender of any telephonic Swing Line Loan Notice, the Swing Line Lender will confirm with the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, has also received such Swing Line Loan Notice and, if not, the Swing Line Lender will notify the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable (by telephone or in writing) of the contents thereof. Unless the Swing Line Lender has  received notice (by telephone or in writing) from the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent at the request of the Required Revolving Lenders prior to 2:00 p.m. on the date of the proposed Swing Line Borrowing (A) directing the Swing Line Lender not to make such Swing Line Loan as a result of the limitations  set  forth  in  the  proviso  in  clause (i) or clause (ii) to the first sentence of Section 2.04(a), or

(B)  that  one  or  more  of  the  applicable  conditions  specified  in Article  IV  is  not then satisfied, then,

subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Swing Line Lender may, in its discretion, not later than 3:00 p.m. on the borrowing date specified in such Swing Line Loan Notice, make the amount of its  Swing Line Loan available to the Domestic Borrowers, the Canadian Borrower or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, at its office by crediting the account of such Borrower or such other account as directed by the applicable Borrower, as applicable, on the books of the Swing Line Lender in immediately available funds.

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
Refinancing of Swing Line Loans.

 

	
 
	
(i)
	
The Swing Line Lender, at any time in its sole and absolute discretion,

may request, on behalf of the Domestic Borrowers, the Canadian Borrower or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable (which hereby irrevocably authorize the Swing Line Lender to so request on their behalf), that each Revolving Domestic Lender or each Canadian Lender, as applicable, make a Prime Rate Loan in an amount equal to such Revolving Domestic Lender’s or Canadian Lender’s Applicable Percentage, as the case may be, of the amount of Swing Line Loans then outstanding to the Domestic Borrowers or the Canadian Borrower or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable; provided that the Swing Line Lender shall settle the Swing Line Loans with the Revolving Lenders weekly in accordance  with Section 2.14(a). 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 Prime Rate Loans, but subject to the unutilized portion of the Revolving Domestic Total Commitments or the Canadian Total Commitments, as applicable, and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02. The Swing Line Lender shall furnish the Parent, the Canadian Borrower or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, with a copy of the applicable Committed Loan Notice promptly after delivering such notice to the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable. Each Revolving Domestic Lender or each Canadian Lender, as applicable, shall make an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the amount specified in such Committed Loan Notice available to the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, in immediately available funds for the account of the Swing Line Lender at the Administrative Agent’s Office or the Canadian Agent’s Office, as applicable, 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 Domestic Lender or each Canadian Lender, as applicable, that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Domestic Prime Rate Loan to the Domestic Borrowers or a Canadian Prime Rate Loan or U.S. Index

 

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Rate Loan, as applicable, to the Canadian Borrower, as applicable, in such amount. The Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, shall remit the funds so received to the Swing Line Lender.

 

	
 
	
(ii)
	
If for any reason any Swing Line Loan cannot be refinanced by such a

Committed Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.04(c)(i), the request for Prime Rate Loans submitted by the Swing Line Lender as set forth herein shall be deemed to be a request by the Swing Line Lender that each of the applicable Revolving Lenders fund its risk participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan and each such Revolving Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, for the account of the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.04(c)(i) shall be deemed payment in respect of such participation.

 

	
 
	
(iii)
	
If any Revolving Lender fails to make available to the Administrative

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

 

	
 
	
(iv)
	
Each Revolving Lender’s obligation to make Committed Loans or to

purchase and fund risk participations in Swing Line Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Revolving Lender may have against the Swing Line Lender, the Borrowers 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 Revolving Lender’s obligation to make Committed Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02. No such funding of risk participations shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of any Borrower to repay Swing Line Loans, together with interest as provided herein.

 

	
 
	
(d)
	
Repayment of Participations.

 

	
 
	
(i)
	
At any time after any Revolving Lender has purchased and funded a risk

participation in a Swing Line Loan, if the Swing Line Lender or the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Swing Line Lender receives any payment on account of such Swing Line Loan, the Swing Line Lender will distribute such payment to the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent shall distribute such payment to the applicable Revolving Domestic Lender or Canadian Lender, its Applicable Percentage of such payment (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Revolving Lender’s risk participation was funded) in the same funds as those received by the Swing Line Lender.

 

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(ii)
	
If any payment received by the Swing Line Lender or the Administrative

Agent on behalf of the Swing Line Lender in respect of principal or interest on any Swing Line Loan made to a Domestic Borrower is required to be returned by the Swing Line Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.05 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Swing Line Lender in its discretion), each Revolving Domestic Lender shall pay to the Swing Line Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative  Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate.  The Administrative Agent will make such demand upon the request of the Swing Line Lender.   The obligations of the Revolving Domestic Lenders under this clause shall survive the Payment in Full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

	
 
	
(iii)
	
If any payment received by the Swing Line Lender in respect of

principal or interest on any Swing Line Loan made to the Canadian Borrower is required to be returned  by the Swing Line Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.05 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Swing Line Lender in its discretion), each Canadian Lender shall  pay to the Swing Line Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof on demand of the Canadian 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 Bank of Canada Overnight Rate with respect to payments due to the Canadian Agent in Canadian Dollars and the Federal Funds Rate with respect to payments due to the Canadian Agent in Dollars. The Canadian Agent will make such demand upon the request of the Swing Line Lender. The obligations of the Canadian Lenders under this clause shall survive the Payment in Full of the Canadian Liabilities and the termination of this Agreement.

 

	
 
	
(e)
	
Interest for Account of Swing Line Lender. The Swing Line Lender shall be responsible for

invoicing the Borrowers for interest on the Swing Line Loans. Until each Revolving Lender funds its Prime Rate Loan or risk participation pursuant to this Section 2.04 to refinance such Revolving Domestic Lender’s or Canadian Lender’s Applicable Percentage, as applicable, of any Swing Line Loan, interest in respect of such Applicable Percentage shall be solely for the account of the Swing Line Lender.

 

	
 
	
(f)
	
Payments Directly to Swing Line Lender. The Borrowers shall make all payments of principal

and interest in respect of the Swing Line Loans directly to the Swing Line Lender at the office specified by the Swing Line Lender in writing to the Parent.

 

	
 
	
2.05
	
Prepayments.

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
The Borrowers may, upon irrevocable notice from the Parent to the Administrative Agent (except

as set forth below) (with respect to Committed Loans made to Domestic Borrowers or the Foreign Borrower based on Domestic Availability) or from the Canadian Borrower to the Canadian Agent (with respect to Committed Loans made to the Canadian Borrower or the Foreign Borrower based on Canadian Availability), at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Committed Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that: (i) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, not later than 11:00 a.m. (A) three Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of LIBOR Rate Loans, Euribor Rate Loans or BA Equivalent Loans and (B) on the date of prepayment of Prime Rate Loans; (ii) any voluntary prepayment of LIBOR Rate Loans, Euribor Rate Loans or BA Equivalent Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of

$500,000 in excess thereof (or the Equivalent Amount thereof); and (iii) any voluntary prepayment of Prime Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof (or the Equivalent Amount 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 LIBOR Rate Loans, Euribor Rate Loans or BA Equivalent Loans, the Interest Period(s) of such Loans.  The Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable,

 

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will promptly notify each Revolving Domestic Lender or Canadian Lender, as applicable, of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Revolving Domestic Lender’s or Canadian Lender’s Applicable  Percentage  of such prepayment.If such notice is given by the Parent or the Canadian Borrower, the applicable Borrowers 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 LIBOR Rate Loan, Euribor Rate Loan or a BA Equivalent Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05. Each such prepayment shall be applied to the Committed Loans of the Revolving Domestic Lenders or Canadian Lenders, as the case may be, in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Parent may rescind any notice of prepayment provided pursuant to this Section 2.05(a) if such prepayment was to have been made with the proceeds of a refinancing of all or part of the Committed Loans hereunder or from the proceeds of an asset sale or a similar transaction, which refinancing or, asset sale or similar transaction shall not have been consummated or shall otherwise have been delayed.

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
The Borrowers may, upon irrevocable notice to the Swing Line Lender (except as set forth

below) (with a copy to the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable), at any time or from time to time, voluntarily prepay Swing Line Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, not later than 1:00 p.m. on the date of the prepayment, and (ii) any such prepayment shall be in a minimum principal amount of $100,000 or the Equivalent Amount thereof, as applicable, or, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment. If such notice is given, the applicable Borrowers, as applicable, shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due  and payable on the date specified therein. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Borrowers may rescind any notice of prepayment provided pursuant to this Section 2.05(b) if such prepayment was to have been made with the proceeds of a refinancing of all part of the Swing Line  Loans hereunder or from the proceeds of an asset sale or similar transaction, which refinancing or, asset sale or similar transaction shall not have been consummated or shall otherwise have been delayed.

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
Except as provided in this Section 2.05(c), the FILO Loan may not be voluntarily prepaid in

whole or in part until all other Obligations have been paid in full in cash, all L/C Obligations have been Cash Collateralized and the Aggregate Revolving Commitments have been terminated. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, as long as the Payment Conditions are satisfied at the time of and immediately after giving pro forma effect to such prepayment, the FILO Loan may be voluntarily prepaid, in whole or in part. Any voluntary prepayment of the FILO Loan permitted by this clause (c) may be made by the Domestic Borrowers upon irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent; 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 any FILO Loan constituting LIBOR Rate Loans and (B) on the date of prepayment of any FILO Loan constituting Prime Rate Loans; (ii) any prepayment of any FILO Loan constituting LIBOR Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of

$500,000 in excess thereof; (iii) any prepayment of any FILO Loan constituting Prime Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof; and (iv) such notice may be conditioned upon the effectiveness of other transactions, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrowers (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment, and the Borrowers shall have delivered a certificate to the Administrative Agent duly executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrowers and attaching evidence (reasonably detailed and reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, including a reasonably detailed calculation) of the satisfaction of the Payment Conditions. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each FILO  Lender  of  its  receipt  of  each  such  notice,  and  of  the  amount  of  such  FILO  Lender’s  Applicable

 

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Percentage of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Domestic Borrowers, the Domestic Borrowers 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 LIBOR Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05. Subject to Section 2.16, each such prepayment shall be applied to the portion of the FILO Loan owed to each FILO Lender in accordance with its respective Applicable Percentage.

 

	
 
	
(d)
	
(c) If for any reason the Revolving Domestic Total Outstandings at any time exceed the

Revolving Domestic Loan Cap as then in effect, the Domestic Borrowers, and the Foreign Borrower to the extent the Foreign Borrower has directly obtained Revolving Domestic Loans, shall immediately prepay Domestic Committed Loans, Swing Line Loans made to the Domestic Borrowers, and Foreign Borrower, and Domestic L/C Borrowings and/or Cash Collateralize the Domestic L/C Obligations (other than Domestic L/C Borrowings) in an aggregate amount equal to such excess; provided, however, that  the Domestic Borrowers and the Foreign Borrower shall not be required to Cash Collateralize the Domestic L/C Obligations pursuant to this Section 2.05(c) unless after the prepayment in full of the Revolving Domestic Loans the Revolving Domestic Total Outstandings exceed the lesser of the Revolving Domestic Total Commitments or the Domestic Borrowing Base, each as then in effect. If after giving effect to the payments required in this Section 2.05(d) an excess remains, the Borrowers shall prepay the FILO Loan in the amount of such excess.

 

	
 
	
(e)
	
(d) If for any reason the Total Canadian Outstandings at any time exceed the Canadian Loan Cap

as then in effect, the Canadian Borrower, and the Foreign Borrower to the extent the Foreign Borrower has directly obtained Canadian Loans, shall immediately prepay Canadian Committed Loans, Swing Line Loans made to the Canadian Borrower, and Foreign Borrower, and Canadian L/C Borrowings and/or Cash Collateralize the Canadian L/C Obligations (other than Canadian L/C Borrowings) in an aggregate amount equal to such excess; provided, however, that the Canadian Borrower and the Foreign Borrower shall not be required to Cash Collateralize the Canadian L/C Obligations pursuant to this Section 2.05(d) unless after the prepayment in full of the Canadian Loans the Total Canadian Outstandings exceed the lesser of the Canadian Total Commitments or the Canadian Borrowing Base, each as then in effect.

 

	
 
	
(f)
	
(e) The Borrowers shall prepay the Revolving Loans in accordance with the provisions of

Section 6.12 hereof but without any permanent reduction in the respective Revolving Commitments.

 

	
 
	
(g)
	
(f) The Domestic Borrowers shall prepay the Revolving Domestic Loans, and the Canadian

Borrower shall prepay the Canadian Loans, in an amount equal to the Net Proceeds in excess of

$20,000,000 in any Fiscal Year received on account of a Prepayment Event (and if a Trigger Event is continuing, the provisions of clause (e) above shall govern). Nothing in this Section 2.05(fg) shall be construed to constitute any Agent'’s or any Lender'’s consent to any Prepayment Event that is not permitted by other provisions of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents but, in either event,  without any permanent reduction in the respective Revolving Commitments.

 

	
 
	
(h)
	
(g) Prepayments made on account of the Obligations under Section 2.05(d), first, shall be applied

ratably to the Domestic L/C Borrowings and the Swing Line Loans made to the Domestic Borrowers and the Foreign Borrower (to the extent based on Domestic Availability), second, shall be applied ratably to the outstanding Domestic Committed Loans, and third, shall be applied ratably to the Outstanding Amount of the FILO Loan, and fourth, the amount remaining, if any, after the prepayment in full of all such Domestic L/C Borrowings, Swing Line Loans and Domestic Committed Loans and the FILO Loan outstanding at such time may be retained by (or shall be returned to) the Domestic Borrowers for use in a manner not prohibited by this Agreement; provided that if a Default or Event of Default then exists, such Net Proceeds shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of Section 8.03 hereof or Section 8.04 hereof, as applicable.

 

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(i)
	
(h) Prepayments made on account of the Canadian Liabilities first, shall be applied ratably to the

Canadian L/C Borrowings and the Swing Line Loans made to the Canadian Borrower and the Foreign Borrower (to the extent based on Canadian Availability), second, shall be applied ratably to the outstanding Canadian Committed Loans, and third, the amount remaining, if any, after the prepayment in full of all such Canadian L/C Borrowings, Swing Line Loans made to the Canadian Borrower and Canadian Committed Loans outstanding at such time may be retained by (or shall be returned to) the Canadian Borrower for use in a manner not prohibited by this Agreement provided that if a Default or Event of Default then exists, such Net Proceeds shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of Section 8.03 hereof or Section 8.04 hereof, as applicable.

 

	
 
	
(j)
	
Prepayments made on account of the Obligations under Sections 2.05(e), (f) and (g), first, shall

be applied ratably to the Domestic L/C Borrowings and the Swing Line Loans made to the Domestic Borrowers and the Foreign Borrower (to the extent based on Domestic Availability), second, shall be applied ratably to the outstanding Domestic Committed Loans, and third, the amount remaining, if any, after the prepayment in full of all such Domestic L/C Borrowings, Swing Line Loans and Domestic Committed Loans and the FILO Loan outstanding at such time may be retained by (or shall be returned to) the Domestic Borrowers for use in a manner not prohibited by this Agreement; provided that if a Default or Event of Default then exists, such Net Proceeds shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of Section 8.03 hereof or Section 8.04 hereof, as applicable.

 

	
 
	
(k)
	
(i) In the case of Loans and Letters of Credit denominated in Optional Currencies, the

Administrative Agent shall with the delivery of each Borrowing Base Certificate, and may, at its discretion, at other times, recalculate the aggregate exposure under such Loans and Letters of Credit denominated in Optional Currencies at any time to account for fluctuations in exchange rates affecting  the Optional Currencies in which any such non-U.S. dollar loans and Letters of Credit are denominated. The Borrowers shall promptly make payments in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.05(c) and

(d) hereof, to the extent necessary as a result of any such recalculation.

 

	
 
	
2.06
	
Termination or Reduction of Commitments.

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
The Domestic Borrowers may, upon irrevocable notice from the Parent to the Administrative

Agent (except as set forth below), terminate the Revolving Domestic Total Commitments, the Domestic Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Domestic Swing Line Sublimit or from time to time permanently reduce in part the Revolving Domestic Total Commitments, the Domestic Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Domestic Swing Line Sublimit; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. three (3) 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 and (iii) the Domestic Borrowers shall not reduce (A) the Revolving Domestic Total Commitments if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments  hereunder, the Revolving Domestic Total Outstandings would exceed the Revolving Domestic Total Commitments, (B) the Domestic Letter of Credit Sublimit if, after giving effect thereto, the Outstanding Amount of Domestic L/C Obligations (other than Domestic L/C Borrowings) not fully Cash Collateralized hereunder would exceed the Domestic Letter of Credit Sublimit, and (C) the Domestic Swing Line Sublimit if, after giving effect thereto, and to any concurrent payments hereunder, the Outstanding Amount of Swing Line Loans made to the Domestic Borrowers hereunder would exceed the Domestic Swing Line Sublimit. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Domestic Borrowers may rescind any notice of reduction or termination of the Revolving Domestic Commitments provided pursuant to this Section 2.06(a), if such termination or reduction was to have been made with  the proceeds of a refinancing of all part of the Committed Loans hereunder or from the proceeds of an asset sale or a similar transaction, which refinancing or, asset sale or similar transaction shall not have been consummated or shall otherwise have been delayed.

 

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(b)
	
The Canadian Borrower may, upon irrevocable notice from the Canadian Borrower to the

Canadian Agent (except as set forth below), terminate the Canadian Total Commitments, the Canadian Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Canadian Swing Line Sublimit or from time to time permanently reduce in part the Canadian Total Commitments, the Canadian Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Canadian Swing Line Sublimit; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the Canadian Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (Toronto time) three (3) Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction, (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $2,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and (iii) the Canadian Borrower shall not reduce (A) the Canadian Total Commitments if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Total Canadian Outstandings would exceed the Canadian Total Commitments, (B) the Canadian Letter of Credit Sublimit if, after giving effect thereto, the Outstanding Amount of Canadian L/C Obligations (other than Canadian L/C Borrowings) not fully Cash Collateralized hereunder would exceed the Canadian Letter of Credit Sublimit, and (C) the Canadian Swing Line Sublimit if, after giving effect thereto, and to any concurrent payments hereunder, the Outstanding Amount of Swing Line Loans made to the Canadian Borrower hereunder would exceed the Canadian Swing Line Sublimit. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Canadian Borrower may rescind any notice of reduction or termination of the Canadian Commitments provided pursuant to this Section 2.06(b), if such termination or reduction was to have been made with the proceeds of a refinancing of all part of the Committed Loans hereunder or from the proceeds of an asset sale or a similar transaction, which refinancing or, asset sale or similar  transaction shall not have been consummated or shall otherwise have been delayed.

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
If, after giving effect to any reduction of the Revolving Domestic Total Commitments, the

Domestic Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Domestic Swing Line Sublimit exceeds the amount of the Revolving Domestic Total Commitments, such Domestic Letter of Credit Sublimit or Domestic Swing Line Sublimit shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such excess.

 

	
 
	
(d)
	
If, after giving effect to any reduction of the Canadian Total Commitments, the Canadian Letter

of Credit Sublimit or the Canadian Swing Line Sublimit exceeds the amount of the Canadian Total Commitments, such Canadian Letter of Credit Sublimit or Canadian Swing Line Sublimit shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such excess.

 

	
 
	
(e)
	
The Canadian Total Commitments, the Canadian Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Canadian

Swing Line Sublimit shall be automatically terminated without any further action of any Loan Party or any Credit Party upon the termination of the Revolving Domestic Commitments pursuant to Section 2.06(a) hereof.

 

	
 
	
(f)
	
The Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, will promptly notify the

Revolving Domestic Lenders or the Canadian Lenders, as applicable, of any termination or reduction made pursuant to this Section 2.06. Upon any reduction of the Revolving Domestic Total Commitments, the Revolving Domestic Commitment of each Revolving Domestic Lender shall be reduced by such Revolving Domestic Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such reduction amount. Upon any reduction of the Canadian Total Commitments, the Canadian Commitment of each Canadian Lender shall be reduced by such Canadian Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such reduction amount. All  fees  (including, without limitation, Commitment Fees and Letter of Credit Fees) and interest in respect of the Aggregate TotalRevolving Commitments accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Aggregate TotalRevolving Commitments shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.

 

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2.07
	
Repayment of Loans.

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
The Domestic Borrowers shall repay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the

Domestic Lenders on the Termination Date the aggregate principal amount of all Obligations outstanding on such date (including, without limitation, the aggregate principal amount of the FILO Loan).

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
The Canadian Borrower shall repay to the Canadian Agent, for the account of the Canadian

Lenders, on the Termination Date the aggregate principal amount of Canadian Liabilities outstanding on such date.

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
The Foreign Borrower shall repay to the Administrative Agent and the Canadian Agent, as

applicable, on the Termination Date the aggregate principal amount of Foreign Liabilities outstanding on such date.

 

	
 
	
2.08
	
Interest.

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
Subject to the provisions of Section 2.08(bc) below and Section 3.03(b): (i) each Revolving Loan

that is a LIBOR Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the Adjusted LIBOR Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Margin for the Revolving Loans that are LIBOR Rate Loans; (ii) each BA Equivalent Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a  rate per annum equal to the BA Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Margin; (iii) each Revolving Loan that is Domestic Prime Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the U.S. Prime Rate plus the Applicable Margin for the Revolving Loans that are Domestic Prime Rate Loans; (iv) each Canadian Prime Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date  at a rate per annum equal to the Canadian Prime Rate plus the Applicable Margin; (v) each US Index  Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the US Index Rate plus the Applicable Margin; (vi) each Euribor Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date  at a rate per annum equal to the Euribor Rate plus the Applicable Margin; (vii) each Swing Line Loan made to the Domestic Borrowers or the Foreign Borrower (to the extent based on Domestic Availability) shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the U.S. Prime Rate plus the Applicable Margin for Revolving Loans that are Domestic Prime Rate Loans; and (viii) each Swing Line Loan made to the Canadian Borrower or the Foreign Borrower (to the extent based on Canadian Availability) shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Canadian Prime Rate plus the Applicable Margin.

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
Subject  to the  provisions  of  Section 2.08(c)  below:  (i)  any portion of  the  FILO Loan that is a

LIBOR Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the LIBOR Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Margin for FILO Loans that are LIBOR Rate Loans; and (ii) any portion of the FILO Loan that is a Domestic Prime Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the U.S. Prime Rate plus the Applicable Margin for FILO Loans that are Domestic Prime Rate Loans.

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
(b) (i) If any amount payable under any Loan Document is not paid when due (after giving

effect to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, 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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(ii)
	
If any other Event of Default exists, then the Administrative Agent may,

and upon the request of the Required Lenders shall, notify the Parent that all outstanding Obligations  shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate and thereafter such Loans and L/C Obligations shall bear interest at the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws for so long as such or any other Event of Default is continuing.

 

	
 
	
(iii)
	
Accrued and unpaid interest on past due amounts (including interest on

past due interest to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws) shall be due and payable upon demand.

 

	
 
	
(d)
	
(c) Except as provided in Section 2.08(bc)(iii), interest on each Loan shall be due and payable in

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

 

	
 
	
2.09
	
Fees. In addition to certain fees described in subsections (i) and (j) of Section 2.03:

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
Commitment Fee. The Borrowers shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of each

Revolving Lender (other than a Defaulting Lender) in accordance with its Applicable Percentage, a commitment fee (the “Commitment Fee”) equal to 0.20% multiplied by the actual daily amount by which the Aggregate TotalRevolving Commitments exceed the Total Revolving Outstandings (excluding the principal amount of Swing Line Loans made to the Borrowers). The commitment feeCommitment 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 first calendar day of each April, July, October and January, commencing with the first such date to occur after the Effective Date, and on the last day of the Availability Period. The commitment feeCommitment Fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears.

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
Other Fees. The Borrowers shall pay to the Agents and the Arrangers for their own respective

accounts fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the Fee Letter. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

 

	
 
	
2.10
	
Computation of Interest and Fees.

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
All computations of interest for Prime Rate Loans and BA Equivalent Loans shall be made on

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

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
For the purposes of this Agreement and the Interest Act (Canada) and disclosure thereunder,

whenever any interest or any fee to be paid hereunder or in connection herewith is to be calculated on the basis of a 360-day or any other period of time that is less than a calendar year, the yearly rate of interest  to which the rate used in such calculation is equivalent is the rate so used multiplied by the actual number of days in the calendar year in which the same is to be ascertained and divided by three hundred and sixty

(360) or the number of days in such period, as applicable.

 

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(c)
	
If any provision of this Agreement or of any of the other Loan Documents would obligate a Loan

Party to make any payment of interest or other amount payable to any of the Administrative Agent, the Canadian Agent or any Lender under this Agreement or any other Loan Document in an amount or calculated at a rate which would be prohibited by law or would result in a receipt by any of the Administrative Agent, the Canadian Agent or any Lender of interest at a criminal rate (as such terms are construed under the Criminal Code (Canada)) then, notwithstanding such provisions, such amount or rate shall be deemed to have been adjusted with retroactive effect to the maximum amount or rate of interest, as the case may be, as would not be so prohibited by law or so result in a receipt by the Administrative Agent, the Canadian Agent or any Lender of interest at a criminal rate, such adjustment to be effected, to the extent necessary, as follows: (1) firstly, by reducing the amount or rate of interest required to be paid to the Administrative Agent, the Canadian Agent or any Lender under this Section 2.10, and (2) thereafter, by reducing any fees, commissions, premiums and other amounts required to be paid to the Administrative Agent, the Canadian Agent or any Lender which would constitute “interest” for purposes of Section 347 of the Criminal Code (Canada). Notwithstanding the foregoing, and after giving effect to all adjustments contemplated thereby, if the Administrative Agent, the Canadian Agent or any Lender shall have received an amount in excess of the maximum permitted by that Section of the Criminal Code (Canada), the Loan Parties shall be entitled, by notice in writing to the applicable Administrative Agent, Canadian Agent or Lender, to obtain reimbursement from such party in an amount equal to such excess and, pending such reimbursement, such amount shall be deemed to be an amount payable by the applicable Administrative Agent, Canadian Agent or Lender to the Canadian Borrower. Any amount or rate of interest referred to in this subsection (c) shall be determined in accordance with  generally accepted actuarial practices and principles as an effective annual rate of interest over the term that the applicable loan remains outstanding with the assumption that any charges, fees or expenses that fall within the meaning of “interest” (as defined in the Criminal Code (Canada)) shall be included in the calculation of such effective rate and, in the event of a dispute, a certificate of a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries appointed by the Canadian Agent shall be conclusive for the purposes of such determination.

 

	
 
	
(d)
	
All calculations of interest payable by the Loan Parties under this Agreement or any other Loan

Document are to be made on the basis of the nominal interest rate described herein and therein and not on the basis of effective yearly rates or on any other basis which gives effect to the principle of deemed reinvestment of interest which principle does not apply to any interest calculated under this Agreement or any Loan Document. The parties hereto acknowledge that there is a material difference between the  stated nominal interest rates and the effective yearly rates of interest and that they are capable of making the calculations required to determine such effective yearly rates of interest.

 

	
 
	
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 the Administrative Agent (with respect to Domestic Credit Extensions) and the Canadian Agent (with respect to Canadian Credit Extensions) (each, the “Loan Account”) in the ordinary course of business. In addition, each Lender may record in such Revolving Lender’s internal records, an appropriate notation evidencing the date and amount of each Loan from such Revolving Lender, each payment and prepayment of principal of any such Loan, and each payment of interest, fees and other amounts due in connection with the Obligations due to such Revolving Lender. The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent, the Canadian Agent 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 or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, in

 

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respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, shall control in the absence of manifest error. Upon the request of any Revolving Domestic Lender made through the Administrative Agent (who shall notify the Domestic Borrowers and the Foreign Borrower, if applicable), or any Canadian Lender through the Canadian Agent (who shall notify the Canadian Borrower and the Foreign Borrower, if applicable), the applicable Borrowers shall execute and deliver to such Revolving Lender (through the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable) a Note, which shall evidence such Revolving Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to its Note and endorse thereon the date,  Type  (if  applicable), amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto. Any failure to so attach or endorse, 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 or the  Canadian Liabilities, or the Foreign Liabilities, as applicable. Upon receipt of an affidavit and indemnity of a Lender as to the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of such Revolving Lender’s Note and upon cancellation of such Note, the applicable Borrowers will  issue, in lieu thereof, a replacement Note in favor of such Revolving Lender, in the same principal amount thereof and otherwise of like tenor  (subject to adjustment in the case of any assignments of such Revolving Lender’s Commitments).

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
In addition to the accounts and records referred to in Section 2.11(a), each Revolving Lender and

the Administrative Agent or, as applicable, the Canadian Agent, shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice accounts or records evidencing the purchases and sales by such Revolving Lender of participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent and the accounts and records of any Revolving Lender in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, 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 without condition or

deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrowers hereunder shall be made, as applicable, to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Domestic Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars and to the Canadian Agent, for the account of the respective Canadian Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the Canadian Agent’s Office, in each case, in immediately available funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified herein. The Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, will promptly distribute to each Domestic Lender or Canadian Lender, as applicable, its Applicable Percentage (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s Lending Office in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.14. All payments received by the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent after 2:00 p.m. shall, at the option of the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue. If any payment (other than with respect to payment of a LIBOR Rate Loan or a BA Equivalent Loan or a Euribor Rate Loan) to be made by the Borrowers shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
Currency. Loan shall be funded and payments shall be made in respect of Optional Currencies in

the applicable Optional Currency. Letters of Credit denominated in an Optional Currency shall be reimbursed by the applicable Borrower in that Optional Currency. All obligations of the Lenders with respect to Letters of Credit will be immediately due and payable in Dollars, provided that the amount of any amounts denominated in an Optional Currency will be redenominated into Dollars.

 

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(c)
	
(i)Funding by Lenders;  Presumption  by Administrative  Agent.   Unless the Administrative

Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, shall have received notice from a Revolving Lender prior to

(A)the proposed date of any Committed Borrowing of LIBOR Rate Loans or BA Equivalent Loans, as applicable (or in the case of any Committed Borrowing of Prime Rate Loans, prior to 1:00 p.m. on the date of such Committed Borrowing) or (B) the date that such Revolving Lender’s participation in a Letter of Credit or Swing Line Loan is required to be funded that such Revolving Lender will not make  available to the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, such Revolving Lender’s share of such Committed Borrowing or participation, the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, may assume that such Revolving Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.02 (or in the case of a Committed Borrowing of Prime Rate Loans, that such Revolving Lender has made such share available in accordance with and at the time required by Section 2.02), Section 2.03 or Section 2.04, as applicable, and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the applicable Borrowers, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, as applicable, a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Revolving Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, then the applicable Revolving Lender and the Domestic Borrowers or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, severally agree with respect to Revolving Domestic Committed Loans, and the Canadian Borrower or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, severally agrees with respect to Canadian Committed Loans, to pay to the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, forthwith on demand such corresponding amount in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to such Borrowers to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by a Revolving Domestic Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation plus any administrative processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing, (B) in the case of a payment to be made by a Canadian Lender, the greater of the  Bank of Canada Overnight Rate with respect to payments due to the Canadian Agent in Canadian Dollars and the Federal Funds Rate with respect to payments due to the Canadian Agent in Dollars, and a rate determined by the Canadian Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation plus any administrative processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Canadian Agent in connection with the foregoing, (C) in the case of a payment to be made by the Domestic Borrowers or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, the interest rate applicable to Domestic Prime Rate Loans and (D) in the case of a payment to be made by the Canadian Borrower or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, the interest rate applicable to Canadian Prime Rate Loans with respect to payments due in Canadian Dollars and the rate applicable to US Index Rate Loans with respect to payments due in Dollars. If the applicable Borrowers and such Revolving Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, shall promptly remit to such Borrowers the amount of such interest paid by such Borrowers for such period. If such Revolving Lender pays its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing or participation to the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Revolving Lender’s Committed Loan included in such Committed Borrowing or participation in such Letter of Credit or Swing Line Loan. Any payment by the Borrowers shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrowers may have against a Revolving Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable.

(ii) Payments by Borrowers; Presumptions by Administrative Agent and Canadian Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, shall have received notice from the Parent or the Canadian Borrower or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, as applicable, prior to the time at which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, for the account of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer hereunder that the Borrowers will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, may assume that

 

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the Borrowers have made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the amount due. In such event, if the Borrowers have not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer,  as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to, as applicable, the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, or the Canadian Agent, the greater of the Bank of Canada Overnight Rate with respect to payments due to the Canadian Agent in Canadian Dollars and the Federal Funds Rate with respect to payments due to the Canadian Agent in Dollars, and a rate determined by the Canadian Agent in accordance with banking rules on interbank compensation.

 

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

 

	
 
	
(d)
	
Failure to Satisfy Conditions Precedent. If any Lender makes available to the Administrative

Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided  in the foregoing provisions of this Article II, and such funds are not made available to the Borrowers by the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Article IV are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof (subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 4.02 hereof), the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, shall promptly return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.

 

	
 
	
(e)
	
Obligations of Lenders Several. The obligations of the Revolving Lenders hereunder to make

Committed Loans, to fund participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans, the obligations of  the FILO Lenders to make the FILO Loan and the obligations of the Lenders and to make payments hereunder are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Committed Loan, to fund any such participation or to make any payment hereunder on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Committed Loan, to purchase its participation or to make  its payment hereunder.

 

	
 
	
(f)
	
Funding Source. Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for

any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner.

 

	
 
	
2.13
	
Sharing of Payments by Lenders. If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or

counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of the Committed Loans made by it, or the participations in L/C Obligations or in Swing Line Loans held by it resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of such Committed Loans or participations and accrued interest thereon greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) if a Domestic Lender, notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and if a Canadian Lender, notify the Canadian Agent of such fact, and

(b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Committed Loans and subparticipations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans of the other applicable 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, provided that:

 

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(a)
	
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

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment made by any

Loan Party pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement (including the application of funds arising from the existence of a Defaulting Lender) or (y) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Committed Loans, FILO Loan or subparticipations in L/C Obligations or Swing Line Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrowers or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section 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.

 

	
 
	
2.14
	
Settlement Amongst Revolving Lenders.

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
The amount of each Revolving Lender’s Applicable Percentage of outstanding Loans (including

outstanding Swing Line Loans) shall be computed weekly (or more frequently in the Administrative Agent’s discretion) and shall be adjusted upward or downward based on all Revolving Loans (including Swing Line Loans) and repayments of Revolving Loans (including Swing Line Loans) received by the Administrative Agent (with respect to Revolving Domestic Loans) or the Canadian Agent (with respect  to Canadian Loans) as of 3:00 p.m. on the first Business Day (such date, the “Settlement  Date”) following the end of the period specified by the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable.

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
The Administrative Agent shall deliver to each of the Revolving Domestic Lenders and the

Canadian Agent shall deliver to the Canadian Lenders, promptly after a Settlement Date a summary statement of the amount of outstanding Committed Loans and Swing Line Loans for the period and the amount of repayments received for the period. As reflected on the summary statement, (i) the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, shall transfer to each Revolving Domestic Lender or Canadian Lender, as applicable, its Applicable Percentage of repayments, and (ii) each Revolving Lender shall transfer to the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable (as provided below) or the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, shall transfer to each Revolving Lender, such amounts as are necessary to insure that, after giving effect to all such transfers, the amount of Committed Loans made by each Revolving Lender shall be equal to such Revolving Lender’s Applicable Percentage of all Committed Loans outstanding as of such Settlement Date. If the summary statement requires transfers to be made to the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, by the Revolving Lenders and is received prior to 1:00 p.m. on a Business Day, such transfers shall be made in immediately available funds no later than 3:00 p.m. that day; and, if received after 1:00 p.m., then no later than 3:00 p.m. on the next Business Day. The obligation of each Revolving Lender to transfer such funds is irrevocable, unconditional and without recourse to or warranty by the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable. If and to the extent any Revolving Domestic Lender shall not have so made its transfer to the Administrative Agent, such Revolving Domestic Lender agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such amount, together with interest thereon, for each day from such date until the date such amount is paid to the Administrative Agent equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation plus any administrative, processing, or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing. If and to the

 

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extent any Canadian Lender shall not have so made its transfer to the Canadian Agent, such Canadian Lender agrees to pay to the Canadian Agent forthwith on demand such amount, together with interest thereon, for each day from such date until  the date such amount is paid to the Canadian Agent equal to the greater of the greater of the Bank of Canada Overnight Rate with respect to payments due to the Canadian Agent in Canadian Dollars and the Federal Funds Rate with respect to payments due to the Canadian Agent in Dollars, and a rate determined by the Canadian Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation plus any administrative processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Canadian Agent in connection with the foregoing.

 

	
 
	
2.15
	
Increase in CommitmentsIncremental Facilities. .

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
First Amendment Effective Date Increase. Each of the 2020 Revolving Domestic Commitment

Increase and the FILO Loan made on the First Amendment Effective Date shall be deemed to replace the provisions of this Section 2.15(a) as such provisions were in effect immediately preceding the First Amendment Effective Date.

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
(a)   Request   forCommitment Increase  Request.ProvidedFollowing   the   First Amendment

Effective Date, and provided no Default then exists or would arise therefrom, upon notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Revolving Lenders), the Parent may request (i) an increase  in  the  Revolving  Domestic  Total  Commitments  in  an  aggregate  amount  not  exceeding

$200,000,000 in the aggregate for all such increases (including the Incremental FILO Tranche described below),  and  (ii)  an  increase  in  the  Canadian  Total  Commitments  by  an  amount  not  to  exceed

$25,000,000, either in conjunction with an increase in the Revolving Domestic Total Commitments or as an increase in the Canadian Total Commitments only (each such increaseor, solely to the extent set forth in Section 2.15(c) below, provide commitments under a new term loan or revolving facility constituting an Incremental FILO Tranche) (each such increase, including any extensions of credit made thereunder, including the Incremental FILO Tranche, a “Commitment Increase”); provided that any such request for a Commitment Increase shall be in a minimum amount of $25,000,000 (or, in the case of the Canadian Facilityfacility, $10,000,000). At the time of sending such request for a Commitment  Increase, the  Parent (in consultation with the Administrative Agent) shall specify the time period within which each applicable Lender is requested to respond (which shall in no event be less than ten (10) Business Days from the date of delivery of such notice to the Lenders).

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
Incremental FILO Tranche. The Commitment Increase may be in the form of a separate “first-in,

last-out” or “last-out” term loan tranche in an aggregate amount not exceeding $10,000,000 (the “Incremental FILO Tranche”) and shall be on the same terms and pursuant to the same documentation applicable to the existing FILO Commitment hereunder.

 

	
 
	
(d)
	
(b) Lender Elections to Increase. EachFollowing the First Amendment Effective Date, each

Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent within such time period whether or not it agrees to increase its applicable Revolving Commitment or to participate in such Incremental FILO Tranche and, if so, whether by an amount equal to, greater than, or less than its’ Applicable Percentage of such requested Commitment Increase (each Lender agreeing to increase its Commitment, an “Existing Increasing Lender”). Any Lender not responding within such time period shall be deemed to have declined to increase its Revolving Commitment or to participate in such Incremental FILO Tranche.

 

	
 
	
(e)
	
(c) Notification by Administrative Agent; Additional Commitment Lenders. The Administrative

Agent shall notify the Parent and each applicable Lender of the Lenders’ responses to each request made hereunder for a Commitment Increase. To achieve the full amount of a requested Commitment Increase, to the extent that the existing applicable Lenders decline to increase their Revolving Commitments or to participate in such Incremental FILO Tranche, or decline to increase their Revolving Commitments to the

 

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amount requested by the Parent or to participate in such Incremental FILO Tranche, the Parent may, at its option, obtain other Persons which shall be Eligible Assignees to issue Revolving Commitments in the amount of the requested Commitment Increase or to participate in such Incremental FILO Tranche or request MLPFSBank of America or any of its Affiliates to, and MLPFSBank of America and such Affiliates shall, use its reasonable efforts to arrange for other Eligible Assignees to become a Domestic Lender or Canadian Lender, as applicable, hereunder and to issue commitments in an amount equal to the amount of the increase in the Domestic Total Commitments and CanadianAggregate Total Commitments requested by the Parent and not accepted by the existing applicable Lenders (and the Parent may also invite additional Eligible Assignees to become Lenders) (each such Eligible Assignee issuing a commitment and becoming a Lender, an “Additional Commitment Lender”), provided, however, that without the consent of the Administrative Agent, at no time shall the Revolving Commitment of any Additional Commitment Lender be less than $10,000,000.

 

	
 
	
(f)
	
(d)  Increase  Effective  Date and Allocations.IfFollowing the Domestic Total Commitments

orFirst Amendment Effective Date, if the Canadian TotalAggregate Commitments are increased in accordance with this Section 2.15, the Administrative Agent, in consultation with the Parent, shall determine the effective date (the “Increase Effective Date”) and the final allocation of such Commitment Increase. TheFollowing the First Amendment Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Parent and the Lenders of the final allocation of such Commitment Increase and the Increase Effective Date and on the Increase Effective Date (i) the Revolving Domestic Total Commitments, the Incremental FILO Tranche and Canadian Total Commitments, if applicable, and the Aggregate Total Commitments under, and for all purposes of, this Agreement shall be increased by the aggregate amount of such Commitment Increase, and (ii) Schedule 2.01 shall be deemed modified, without further action,  to reflect the revised Commitments and Applicable Percentages of the Lenders.

 

	
 
	
(g)
	
(e) Conditions to Effectiveness of Increase. AsFollowing the First Amendment Effective Date,

as a condition precedent to such increase, (i) the Parent shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of each Loan Party dated as of the Increase Effective Date (in sufficient copies for each Lender) signed by a Responsible Officer of such Loan Party (A) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by such Loan Party approving or consenting to such increase, and (B) in the case of the Borrowers, certifying that, before and after giving effect to such increase, (1) the representations and warranties contained in Article V and the other Loan Documents are true and correct on and as of the Increase Effective Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct as of such earlier date, and except that for   purposes of this Section 2.15, the representations and warranties contained in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 5.05 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01, (ii) the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, and any Additional Commitment Lender shall have executed and delivered a joinder to the Loan Documents in such form as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably require; (iii) the Borrowers shall have paid such fees and other compensation to the Additional Commitment Lenders and to any existing Lender increasing its Commitment as the Parent and such Additional Commitment Lenders shall agree; (iv) if the Parent has requested MLPFSBank of America or any of its Affiliates to seek additional Lenders pursuant to Section 2.15(ce), the Borrowers shall have paid such arrangement fees to MLPFSBank of America and such Affiliates as the Parent and MLPFSBank of America may agree; (v) the Borrowers shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders an opinion or opinions, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, from counsel to the Borrowers reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and dated such date; (vi) the Borrowers and the Additional Commitment Lender shall have delivered such other instruments, documents and agreements evidencing the Commitment Increase as the Administrative Agent may reasonably have requested; and (vii) no Default exists. The Borrowers shall prepay any Committed Loans outstanding on the Increase Effective Date (and pay any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05) to the extent necessary to keep the outstanding

 

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Committed Loans ratable with any revised Applicable Percentages arising from any nonratable increase in the Aggregate Revolving Commitments under this Section.

 

	
 
	
(h)
	
(f)No Obligation to Engage MLPFS. The Parent shall not be obligated to engage MLPFS

or any of its Affiliates to arrange any Commitment Increase; however, in no event shall any other person be so engaged by any Loan Party.

 

	
 
	
(i)
	
(g) Conflicting Provisions. This Section 2.15 shall supersede any provisions in Sections 2.13 or

10.01 to the contrary.

 

	
 
	
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 definitiondefinitions of “Required Lenders” and “Required Revolving Lenders” and Section 10.01.

 

	
 
	
(ii)
	
Defaulting Lender Waterfall. Any payment of principal, interest, fees or

other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article VIII or otherwise) 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 L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender hereunder; third, to Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuer’s Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender; fourth, as the Parent may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; fifth, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Parent, to be held in a deposit account and released pro  rata in order to (x) satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement and (y) Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuer’s future Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to future Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement; sixth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, the L/C Issuer or the 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 or Event  of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrowers as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrowers 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 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 Letters of Credit were issued at a time when the conditions set forth in Section

 

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4.02 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and 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 L/C Obligations owed to, such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded and unfunded participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with their Applicable Percentages hereunder without giving effect to Section 2.16(a)(iv). Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender  that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender 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 fee

payable under Section 2.09 for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Borrowers shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender).

 

	
 
	
(B)
	
Each Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive Letter of

Credit Fees for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender only to the extent allocable to its Applicable Percentage of the stated amount of Letters of Credit for which it has provided Cash Collateral pursuant to Section 2.03(g).

 

	
 
	
(C)
	
With respect to any fee payable under Section 2.09 or any Letter

of Credit Fee not required to be paid to any Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (A) or (B) above, the Borrowers 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 L/C Obligations or Swing Line Loans that has been reallocated to such Non-Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (iv) below, (y) pay to the L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender, as applicable, the amount of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender  to the extent allocable to such L/C Issuer’s or Swing Line Lender’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 L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans shall be reallocated among the Non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages (calculated without regard to such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment) but only to the extent that (x) the conditions set forth in Section

4.02 are satisfied at the time of such reallocation (and, unless the Borrowers shall have otherwise notified the Administrative Agent at such time, the Borrowers shall be deemed to have represented and warranted that such conditions are satisfied at such time), and

(y) such reallocation does not cause the aggregate Outstanding Amount of Obligations or Canadian Liabilities of any Non-Defaulting Lender to exceed such Non-Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Domestic Commitment or Canadian Commitment, as applicable. No reallocation hereunder shall constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder against a Defaulting Lender arising from that Lender having become a Defaulting Lender, including any claim of a Non-Defaulting Lender as a result of such Non-Defaulting Lender’s increased exposure following such reallocation.

 

	
 
	
(v)
	
Cash Collateral, Repayment of Swing Line Loans. If the reallocation

described in clause (a)(iv) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrowers

 

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shall, without prejudice to any right or remedy available to them hereunder or under applicable Law, (x) first, prepay Swing Line Loans in an amount equal to the Swing Line Lenders’ Fronting Exposure and (y) second, Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuers’ Fronting Exposure in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.03(g).

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
Defaulting Lender Cure. If the Parent, the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender

and the L/C Issuer agree in writing 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 that portion of outstanding Loans of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Committed Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letters of Credit and 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 Borrowers while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided, further, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

 

ARTICLE III

TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY; APPOINTMENT OF PARENT

 

	
 
	
3.01
	
Taxes.

 

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

purposes of this Section 3.01, the term “applicable Laws” includes FATCA.

 

	
 
	
(i)
	
Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Loan

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

 

	
 
	
(ii)
	
If any Loan Party or the Agent shall be required by any applicable Laws

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

 

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(b)
	
Payment   of   Other   Taxes by  the  Borrowers.Without limiting the provisions of

subsection (a) above, the Borrowers shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Law, or at the option of the Agent timely reimburse it for  the payment of, any Other Taxes.

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
Tax Indemnifications.

 

	
 
	
(i)
	
The Loan Parties shall, and each Loan Party does hereby, jointly and

severally indemnify each Recipient, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 3.01) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient, and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Lead BorrowerBorrowers by a Lender or the L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Agent), or by the Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender or the L/C Issuer, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

	
 
	
(ii)
	
Each Lender and the L/C Issuer shall, and does hereby, severally

indemnify, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, (x) the Agent against any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender or the L/C Issuer (but only to the extent that any Loan Party has not already indemnified the Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Loan Parties to do so), (y) the Agent and the Loan Parties, as applicable, against any  Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 10.06(d) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (z) the Agent and the Loan Parties, as applicable, against any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Agent or a Loan Party in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer hereby authorizes the Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be,  under this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any amount due to the Agent under this clause (ii).

 

	
 
	
(d)
	
Evidence of Payments. Upon request by the Lead BorrowerBorrowers or the Agent, as

the case may be, after any payment of Taxes by the Lead BorrowerBorrowers or by the Agent to  a Governmental Authority as provided in this Section 3.01, the Lead BorrowerBorrowers shall deliver to the Agent or the Agent shall deliver to the Lead BorrowerBorrowers, as the case may be, the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority  evidencing such payment, a copy of any return required by Laws to report such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Lead BorrowerBorrowers or the Agent, as the case may be.

 

	
 
	
(e)
	
Status of Lenders; Tax Documentation.

	
 
	
(a)
	

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(i)
	
Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of

withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Lead BorrowerBorrowers and the Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Lead BorrowerBorrowers or the Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Lead BorrowerBorrowers or the Agent as  will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding.In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Lead BorrowerBorrowers or the Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Lead BorrowerBorrowers or the Agent as will enable the Lead BorrowerBorrowers or the Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 3.01(e)(ii)(A), (ii)(B) and (ii)(D) below) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.

 

	
 
	
(ii)
	
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that the

Leadany Borrower is a U.S. Person,

 

	
 
	
(A)
	
any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Lead

BorrowerBorrowers and the Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of  the Lead BorrowerBorrowers or the Agent), executed originals of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;

 

	
 
	
(B)
	
any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do

so, deliver to the Lead BorrowerBorrowers and the Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of  the Lead BorrowerBorrowers or the Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:

 

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

(y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Loan Document, IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable, establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal  withholding Tax pursuant to the “business profits” or “other income” article of such tax treaty;

 

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

 

(III)in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code,

(x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section

 

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881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the BorrowerBorrowers within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable; or

 

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

 

	
 
	
(C)
	
any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do

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

 

	
 
	
(D)
	
if a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would

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

 

	
 
	
(iii)
	
Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously

delivered pursuant to this Section 3.01 expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Lead BorrowerBorrowers and the Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.

 

	
 
	
(f)
	
Treatment of Certain Refunds. Unless required by applicable Laws, at no time shall the

Agent have any obligation to file for or otherwise pursue on behalf of a Lender or the L/C Issuer, or have any obligation to pay to any Lender or the L/C Issuer, any refund of Taxes withheld or

 

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

 

	
 
	
(g)
	
For purposes of determining withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA, from and after

the effective date of this Agreement, the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent shall treat (and the Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent to treat) this Agreement as not qualifying as a “grandfathered obligation” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.1471-2(b)(2)(i).

 

	
 
	
(h)
	
Survival. Each party’s obligations under this Section 3.01 shall survive the resignation

or replacement of the Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender or  the L/C Issuer, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all other Obligations.

 

	
 
	
3.02
	
Illegality.IfSubject   to  the   provisions   set   forth  in  Section  3.03(b)  below,  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 make, maintain or fund LIBOR Rate Loans, BA Equivalent Loans or Euribor Rate Loans, as applicable, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the LIBOR Rate, the Euribor Rate or the BA Rate, as applicable, or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, Dollars in the London interbank market, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Parent through the Administrative Agent, (i) any obligation of such Lender to make or continue LIBOR Rate Loans, Euribor Rate Loans or BA Equivalent Loans, as applicable, or to convert Prime Rate Loans to LIBOR Rate Loans, Euribor Rate Loans or BA Equivalent Loans, as applicable, shall be suspended, and (ii) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender making or maintaining Prime Rate Loans the interest rate on which is determined by reference to the LIBOR Rate component of the U.S. Prime Rate or the US Index Rate, the interest rate on which Prime Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the LIBOR Rate component of the U.S. Prime Rate or the US Index Rate, in each case, until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Parent that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, the applicable Borrowers shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all LIBOR Rate Loans, Euribor Rate Loans and BA Equivalent Loans of such Lender to Prime Rate Loans either on the last day of the Interest Period

 

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therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such LIBOR Rate Loans, Euribor Rate Loans, or BA Equivalent Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Loans. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the applicable Borrowers shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.

 

(a)Inability to Determine Rates; LIBOR Successor Rate. If. 

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
Inability  to  Determine  Rates.Subject to Section 3.03(b) below, if the Required Lenders

determine that for any reason in connection with any request for a LIBOR Rate Loan, Euribor Rate Loan or a BA Equivalent Loan, or a conversion to or continuation thereof that (ai) with respect to LIBOR Rate Loans or Euribor Rate Loans only, Dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in the  London interbank market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such LIBOR Rate Loan or Euribor  Rate Loan, (bii) with respect to BA Equivalent Loans only, there is no market for bankers acceptances, (ciii) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the LIBOR Rate, Euribor Rate Loan or the BA Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed LIBOR Rate Loan, Euribor Rate Loan or BA Equivalent Loan, or (div) the LIBOR Rate, Euribor Rate or the BA Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed LIBOR Rate Loan, Euribor Rate Loan or BA Equivalent Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan, the Agents will promptly so notify the Borrowers and each Lender. Thereafter, (x) the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain LIBOR Rate Loans or of the Canadian Lenders to make or maintain BA Equivalent Loans or Euribor Rate Loans, as applicable, shall be suspended and (y) in respect of a determination with respect  to the LIBOR Rate component of the U.S. Prime Rate or the US Index Rate, the utilization of the LIBOR Rate component in determining the U.S. Prime Rate or the US Index Rate shall be suspended, in each case until the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable (but in either case upon the instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, the Parent or the Foreign Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Committed Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of LIBOR Rate Loans made to a Domestic Borrower or the Foreign Borrower (if based on Domestic Availability) or the Canadian Borrower or the Foreign Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Committed Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of LIBOR Rate Loans, Euribor  Rate Loans or BA Equivalent Loans, as applicable, made to the Canadian Borrower or the Foreign Borrower (based on Canadian Availability), as applicable, or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into either a request for a Domestic Committed Borrowing of Domestic Prime Rate Loans in the amount specified therein, or a request for a Canadian Committed Borrowing of Canadian Prime Rate Loans in the amount specified therein, as applicable.

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
LIBOR Successor Rate. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other

Loan Documents, if the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be  conclusive absent manifest error), or the Borrowers or Required Lenders notify the Administrative Agent (with, in the case of the Required Lenders, a copy to Borrowers) that the Borrowers or Required Lenders (as applicable) have determined, that:

 

	
 
	
(i)
	
adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining LIBOR for any

requested Interest Period, including, without limitation, because the LIBOR Screen Rate is not available or published on a current basis and such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary; or

 

	
 
	
(ii)
	
the administrator of the LIBOR Screen Rate or a Governmental Authority having

jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent has made a public statement identifying a specific  date after which LIBOR or the LIBOR Screen Rate shall no longer be made available, or used for determining the interest rate of loans, provided that, at the time of such statement, there is no successor administrator that is satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, that will continue to

 

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provide LIBOR after such specific date (such specific date, the “Scheduled Unavailability  Date”); or

 

	
 
	
(iii)
	
syndicated loans currently being executed, or that include language similar to

that contained in this Section 3.03, are being executed or amended (as applicable) to incorporate or adopt a new benchmark interest rate to replace LIBOR,

 

then, reasonably promptly after such determination by the Administrative Agent or receipt by the Administrative Agent of such notice, as applicable, the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers may amend this Agreement solely for the purpose of replacing LIBOR in accordance with this Section 3.03 with (x) one or more SOFR-Based Rates or (y) another alternate benchmark rate giving due consideration to any evolving or then existing convention for similar U.S. dollar denominated syndicated credit facilities for such alternative benchmarks and, in each case, including any mathematical or other adjustments to such benchmark giving due consideration to any evolving or then existing convention for similar U.S. dollar denominated syndicated credit facilities for such benchmarks, which adjustment or method for calculating such adjustment shall be published on an information service as selected by the Administrative Agent from time to time in its reasonable discretion and may be periodically updated (the “Adjustment;” and any such proposed rate, a “LIBOR Successor Rate”), and any such amendment shall become effective at 5:00 p.m. on the fifth Business Day after the Administrative Agent shall have posted such proposed amendment to all Lenders and the Borrowers unless, prior to such time, Lenders comprising the Required Lenders have delivered to the Administrative Agent written notice that such Required Lenders (A) in the case of an amendment to replace LIBOR with a rate described in clause (x), object to the Adjustment; or (B) in the case of an amendment to replace LIBOR with a rate described in clause (y), object to such amendment; provided that for the avoidance of doubt, in the case of clause (A), the Required Lenders shall not be entitled to object to any SOFR-Based Rate contained in any such amendment. Such LIBOR Successor Rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided that to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, such LIBOR Successor Rate shall be applied in a manner as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent.

 

If no LIBOR Successor Rate has been determined and the circumstances under clause (i) above exist or the Scheduled Unavailability Date has occurred (as applicable), the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Borrowers and each Lender. Thereafter, (x) the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain LIBOR Rate Loans shall be suspended, (to the extent of the affected LIBOR Rate Loans or Interest Periods), and (y) the LIBOR Rate component shall no longer be utilized in determining the U.S. Prime Rate or the US Index Rate. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrowers may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of LIBOR Rate Loans (to the extent of the affected LIBOR Rate Loans or Interest Periods) or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Committed Borrowing of U.S. Prime Rate Loans or the US Index Rate Loans (subject to the foregoing clause (y)) in the amount specified therein.

 

Notwithstanding anything else herein, any definition of LIBOR Successor Rate shall provide that in no event shall such LIBOR Successor Rate be less than zero for purposes of this Agreement.

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
In connection with the implementation of a LIBOR Successor Rate, the Administrative Agent

will have the right to make LIBOR Successor Rate Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such LIBOR Successor Rate Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement; provided that, with respect to any such amendment effected, the Administrative Agent shall post each such amendment implementing such

 

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LIBOR Successor Rate Conforming Changes to the Lenders reasonably promptly after such amendment becomes effective.

 

	
 
	
3.03
	
Increased Costs; Reserves on LIBOR 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 reflected in the LIBOR Rate) or the L/C Issuer;

 

	
 
	
(ii)
	
subject any Recipient to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes,

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

 

	
 
	
(iii)
	
impose on any Lender or the L/C Issuer or the London interbank market

any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or LIBOR Rate Loans, Euribor Rate Loans or BA Equivalent Loans made by such Lender or any 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 or maintaining any LIBOR Rate Loan, Euribor Rate Loan or BA Equivalent Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to increase the cost to such Lender or the L/C Issuer of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its obligation to participate in or to issue any Letter of Credit), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or the L/C Issuer hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon  request of such Lender or the L/C Issuer, the Loan Parties will pay to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
Capital Requirements. If any Lender or the L/C Issuer determines that any Change in Law

affecting such Lender or the L/C Issuer or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s or the  L/C Issuer’s holding company, if any, regarding capital requirements has had, or would have, the effect  of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s capital or on the capital or liquidity of such Lender’s or the 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 Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by the L/C Issuer, to a level below that which such Lender or the L/C Issuer or such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity), then from time to time the Loan Parties will pay to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the L/C Issuer or such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company, as the case may be, for any such reduction suffered.

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
Certificates for Reimbursement. A certificate of a Lender or the L/C Issuer setting forth the

amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or the L/C Issuer or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in subsection (a) or (b) of this Section and delivered to the Parent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The applicable Borrowers shall pay such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as

 

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the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.

 

	
 
	
(d)
	
Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or the 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 L/C Issuer’s right to demand such compensation, provided that the applicable Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or the L/C Issuer pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.04 for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than nine (9) months prior to the date that such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, notifies the Parent of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or the 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 (9) month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).

 

	
 
	
3.04
	
Compensation for Losses. Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Agents) from time

to time, each Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense incurred by it as a result of:

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any LIBOR Rate Loan, Euribor

Rate Loan, or BA Equivalent Loan made to such Borrower on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such LIBOR Rate Loan, Euribor Rate Loan or BA Equivalent Loan (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise);

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
any failure by such Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make

a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any LIBOR Rate Loan, Euribor Rate Loan or BA Equivalent Loan on the date or in the amount notified by the applicable Borrower; or

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
any assignment of a LIBOR Rate Loan, Euribor Rate Loan or BA Equivalent Loan made

to such Borrower on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by such Borrower pursuant to Section 10.13;

 

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

 

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

 

	
 
	
3.05
	
Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
Designation of a Different Lending Office. If any Lender or L/C Issuer requests compensation

under Section 3.04, or the Borrowers are required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or L/C Issuer or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender or L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any Lender or L/C Issuer gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, then such Lender or L/C Issuer shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender or L/C Issuer, such designation or assignment (i) would

 

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eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01 or Section 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 L/C Issuer to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender or L/C Issuer. The Borrowers hereby agree to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender or 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

Loan Party is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for  the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, the Borrowers may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 10.13.

 

	
 
	
3.06
	
Survival.All of the obligations of each Loan Party under this Article III shall survive

termination of the Aggregate Total Commitments and Payment in Full of all Obligations hereunder.

 

	
 
	
3.07
	
Designation of Parent as Borrowers’ Agent.

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
Each Domestic Borrower hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Parent as such

Domestic Borrower’s agent to obtain Credit Extensions, the proceeds of which shall be available to each Domestic Borrower for such uses as are permitted under this Agreement. As the disclosed principal for  its agent, each Domestic Borrower shall be obligated to each Credit Party on account of Credit  Extensions so made as if made directly by the applicable Credit Party to such Domestic Borrower, notwithstanding the manner by which such Credit Extensions are recorded on the books and records of the Parent and of any other Domestic Borrower. In addition, each Loan Party hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Parent as such Loan Party’s agent to represent such Loan Party in all respects under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. The Parent shall act as a conduit  for  each Borrower (including itself, as a “Borrower”) on whose behalf the Parent has requested a  Credit Extension. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any other Credit Party shall have any obligation to see  to the application of such proceeds therefrom.

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
Each Borrower recognizes that credit available to it hereunder is in excess of and on better terms

than it otherwise could obtain on and for its own account and that one of the reasons therefor is its  joining in the applicable credit facility contemplated herein with all other Borrowers. Consequently, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each Borrower hereby assumes, guarantees payment and performance of, and agrees to discharge all Obligations of each of the other Borrowers; provided that, notwithstanding anything herein or in any of the other Loan Documents to the contrary, the Canadian Loan Parties shall be liable only for the Canadian Liabilities and the Foreign Borrower shall be liable only for the Foreign Liabilities.

 

ARTICLE IV

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS

 

	
 
	
4.01
	
Conditions of Effective DateEffectiveness. The effectiveness of thisthe Agreement ison the

Effective Date was subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent as of the Effective Date:

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals,

telecopies or other electronic image scan transmission (e.g., “pdf” or “tif ” via e-mail) (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party or the Lenders, as applicable, each dated the Effective Date (or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the Effective Date) and each in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:

 

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(i)
	
executed counterparts of this Agreement sufficient in number for

distribution to the Administrative Agent, the Canadian Agent, each Lender and the Parent;

 

 

 

Note;

	
 
	
(ii)
	

	
 
		

a Note executed by the Borrowers in favor of each Lender requesting a

 

 

	
 
	
(iii)
	
such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates

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

 

	
 
	
(iv)
	
copies of each Loan Party’s Organization Documents and a certificate of

good standing (where applicable, or such other customary functionally equivalent certificates, to the extent available in the applicable jurisdiction) from such Loan Party’s jurisdiction of organization and from each jurisdiction where such Loan Party’s ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except to the extent that failure to so qualify in such jurisdiction would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

	
 
	
(v)
	
a favorable opinion of (x) Alston & Bird LLP, counsel to the Domestic

Loan Parties, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Domestic Lender, as to such matters concerning the Domestic Loan Parties and the Loan Documents as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request; (y) Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP, and local Canadian counsel, counsel to the Canadian Loan Parties, addressed to the Canadian Agent and each Canadian Lender, as to such matters concerning the Canadian Loan Parties and the Loan Documents as the Canadian Agent may reasonably request; and (z) Teekens Advocaten, counsel to the Foreign Borrower, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Domestic Lender and to the Canadian Agent and each Canadian Lender, as to such matters concerning the Foreign Borrower and the Loan Documents as the Administrative Agent and the Canadian Agent may  reasonably request;

 

	
 
	
(vi)
	
a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Parent certifying (A)

that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied, (B) that  there has been no event or circumstance since the date of the Audited Financial StatementsSeptember 30, 2016 that has had or would be reasonably expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, (C) to the Solvency of the Loan Parties as of the Effective Date after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby, and (D) either that (1) no consents, licenses or approvals are required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by such Loan Party and the validity against such Loan Party of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, or

(2) that all such consents, licenses and approvals have been obtained and are in full force and effect;

 

	
 
	
(vii)
	
the Security Documents and certificates evidencing any stock being

pledged thereunder, together with undated stock powers executed in blank, each duly

 

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executed by the applicable Loan Parties and the Loan Parties shall have used commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any Collateral Access Agreements reasonably requested by the Agents (failing which the Administrative Agent may establish Reserves against the Combined Borrowing Base);

 

 

 

Parties;

	
 
	
(viii)
	

	
 
		

all other Loan Documents, each duly executed by the applicable Loan

 

 

	
 
	
(ix)
	
results of searches or other evidence reasonably satisfactory to the

Agents (in each case dated as of a date reasonably satisfactory to the Agents) indicating the absence of Liens on the assets of the Loan Parties, except for Permitted Encumbrances and Liens for which termination statements and releases, satisfactions and releases or subordination agreements satisfactory to the Agents are being tendered concurrently with such extension of credit or other arrangements satisfactory to the Agents for the delivery of such termination statements and releases, satisfactions and discharges have been made;

 

	
 
	
(x)
	
(A)all documents and instruments, including Uniform Commercial

Code and PPSA financing statements, required by law or reasonably requested by the Agents to be filed, registered or recorded to create or perfect the Liens intended to be created under the Loan Documents and all such documents and instruments shall have been so filed, registered or recorded to the satisfaction of the Agents, (B) the Credit Card Notifications, and Blocked Account Agreements required pursuant to Section 6.12  hereof shall have been obtained, and (C) control agreements with respect to the Loan Parties’ securities and investment accounts have been obtained; and

 

	
 
	
(xi)
	
satisfactory evidence of insurance to be maintained by the Loan Parties

with respect to the Collateral, in each case reasonably satisfactory to the Agents and customary for transactions of this type.

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
After giving effect to this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereunder, and any

Credit Extensions made or outstanding as of the Effective Date, Excess Availability shall be not less than $200,000,000.

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
The Administrative Agent shall have received a Borrowing Base Certificate with respect

to the Domestic Borrowing Base and the Canadian Borrowing Base dated the Effective Date, relating to the month ended on May 31, 2017, and executed by a Responsible Officer of the Parent and by the Canadian Borrower.

 

	
 
	
(d)
	
The  Administrative  Agent  shall  be  reasonably  satisfied  that  any  financial statements

delivered to it and the Lenders fairly present the business and financial condition of the Loan Parties and that there has not been, nor has an event or condition occurred that would reasonably be expected, either individually or in the aggregate, to have, a Material Adverse Effect since September 30, 2016.

 

	
 
	
(e)
	
The Administrative Agent shall have received and be satisfied with financial projections

for the Parent and its Subsidiaries on an annual basis through the Maturity Date, including without limitation, (i) for the period through the BorrowerBorrowers’s Fiscal Year ending September 30, 2020, a Consolidated income statement, balance sheet, statement of cash flow and detailed business assumptions, and (ii) for each Fiscal Year thereafter, a Consolidated income statement only.

 

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(f)
	
There shall not be pending any litigation or other proceeding, the result of which, either

individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material  Adverse Effect.

 

	
 
	
(g)
	
All governmental consents and approvals, and all third party consents required for the

Loan Parties to consummate the financing, shall have been obtained by the Loan Parties other than those consents and approvals that, if not obtained, would not be reasonably expected, either individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

	
 
	
(h)
	
[Reserved].

 

	
 
	
(i)
	
The Administrative Agent shall have received reasonably satisfactory evidence that (i)

substantially concurrently with the funding under the Term Loan Agreement, an amount equal to

$850,000,000 in principal amount of notes issued under the indenture referenced in clause (ii) of the definition of Notes Indenture shall have been redeemed, and (ii) the Domestic Borrowers  shall have received at least $850,000,000 in gross cash proceeds from borrowings under the  Term Loan Agreement.

 

	
 
	
(j)
	
The Intercreditor Agreement and the Term Loan Documents required to be delivered

under the Term Loan Agreement on the Effective Date shall have been duly executed and delivered by each party thereto, and shall be in full force and effect.

 

	
 
	
(k)
	
The consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby shall not violate any Law or

any Organization Document.

 

	
 
	
(l)
	
All fees required to be paid to the Agents or MLPFSBank of America on or before the

Effective Date shall have been paid in full, and all fees required to be paid to the Lenders on or before the Effective Date shall have been paid in full.

 

	
 
	
(m)
	
The Borrowers shall have paid all fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the

Administrative Agent, the Canadian Agent and MLPFSBank of America to the extent invoiced prior to or on the Effective Date, plus such additional amounts of such fees, charges and disbursements as shall constitute its reasonable estimate of such fees, charges and disbursements incurred or to be incurred by it through the closing proceedings (provided that such estimate shall not thereafter preclude a final settling of accounts between the Borrowers and the Agents).

 

	
 
	
(n)
	
The Administrative Agent shall have received all documentation and other information

required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation the USA PATRIOT Act.

 

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of Section 9.04, 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 Consentedconsented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be  Consentedconsented 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 Effective Date specifying its objection thereto.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent any Collateral (other than to the extent that  a Lien on such Collateral may be perfected by (a) the filing of a filing of financing statements with respect to the relevant Collateral as required under the UCC or the PPSA, or (b) subject to

 

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the Intercreditor Agreement, the delivery of certificated Equity Interests of the Domestic Borrowers and Domestic Guarantors, together with a stock power, assignment separate from any such certificate or allonge duly executed in blank) is not or cannot be provided and/or perfected on the Effective Date after the Loan Parties’ use of commercially reasonable efforts to do so, the provision and/or perfection of such Collateral shall not constitute a condition precedent to the availability of the initial Credit Extension on the Effective Date and shall not affect the amount  of the initial Credit Extension available on the Effective Date, but shall be required to be delivered or perfected, as applicable, within sixty (60) days after the Effective Date (subject to extensions reasonably agreed to by the Agents).

 

	
 
	
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 Committed  Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of LIBOR Rate Loans, Euribor Rate Loans and BA Equivalent Loans) and of each L/C Issuer to issue each Letter of Credit is subject to the following conditions precedent:

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
The representations and warranties of each Loan Party contained in Article V or any

other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of  the date of such Credit Extension, except (i) 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, (ii) in the case of any representation and warranty qualified by materiality, they shall be true and correct in all respects and (iii) for purposes of this Section 4.02, the representations and warranties contained in subsections (a) and (b) of Section

5.05 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01.

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
No Default or Event of Default shall exist, or would result from such proposed Credit

Extension or from the application of the proceeds thereof.

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
The Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, if applicable, and, if applicable, the

L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.

 

	
 
	
(d)
	
After giving effect to the Credit Extension requested to be made on any such date and the

use of proceeds thereof, Excess Availability shall be greater than zero.

 

Each Request for a Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of a Committed Loan to another Type of Committed Loan or a continuation of LIBOR Rate Loans, BA Equivalent Loans or Euribor Rate Loans) submitted by the Parent or the Canadian Borrower, as applicable, shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Domestic Borrowers or the Canadian Borrower or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, 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. The conditions set forth in this Section 4.02 are for the sole benefit of the Credit Parties but unless and until the Required Revolving Lenders otherwise direct the Administrative Agent and the Canadian Agent (in accordance with the terms of this Agreement) to cease making Committed Loans, the Revolving Lenders will fund their Applicable Percentage of all Revolving Loans that are requested by the Parent or the Canadian Borrower, as applicable, of all L/C Advances required to be made hereunder and participate in all Swing Line Loans and Letters of Credit whenever made or issued in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, and which, notwithstanding the failure of the Loan Parties to comply with the provisions of this Article IV, are agreed to by the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable;

 

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provided that, the making of any such Revolving Loans or the issuance of any Letters of Credit in the event the provisions of this Article IV are not complied with shall not be deemed to be a modification or waiver by any Credit Party of the provisions of this Article IV on any future occasion or a waiver of any rights of the Credit Parties as a result of any such failure to comply.

 

ARTICLE V

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

To induce the Credit Parties to enter into this Agreement and to make Loans and to issue Letters of Credit hereunder, each Loan Party represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the other Credit Parties that:

 

	
 
	
5.01
	
Existence, Qualification and Power. Each Loan Party (a) is a corporation, limited liability

company, unlimited liability company, partnership or limited partnership, duly incorporated, organized or formed, validly existing and, where applicable, in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, organization or formation, (b) has all requisite power and authority and all requisite governmental licenses, permits, 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, where 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 would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Schedule 5.01 annexed hereto sets forth, as of the Effective Date, each Loan Party’s name as it appears in official filings in its state or province of incorporation or organization, its state or province of incorporation or organization, organization type, organization number, if any, issued by its state of incorporation or organization (in the case of each Domestic Loan Party), and its federal employer identification number (if any).

 

	
 
	
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, has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and does not and will not (a) contravene the terms of any of such Person'’s Organization Documents; (b) conflict with or result in any breach, termination, or contravention of, or constitute a default under, or require any payment to be made under (i) any material contract or any Material Indebtedness 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; (c) result   in or require the creation of any Lien upon any asset of any Loan Party (other than Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, under the Security Documents); or (d) violate any Law.

 

	
 
	
5.03
	
Governmental   Authorization;Other   Consents.No approval, consent, exemption,

authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is necessary or required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except for (a) consents, authorizations, notices and filings described in Schedule 5.45.03, all of which have been obtained or made prior to the Effective Date, (b) filings to perfect the Liens created by the Security Documents, (c) filings pursuant to the Assignment of Claims Act of 1940, as amended (31 U.S.C. § 3727 et seq.), in respect of Accounts of the Parent and its Subsidiaries the Obligor in respect of which is the United States of America or any department, agency or instrumentality thereof, (d) filings pursuant to the Financial Administration Act (Canada) in respect of accounts of the Parent and its Subsidiaries the Obligor in respect of which is Her Majesty the Queen in the right of Canada or any department, agency

 

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or instrumentality thereof and (e) consents, authorizations, notices and filings which the failure to obtain or make would 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, will

have been, duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is party thereto. This Agreement constitutes, and each other Loan Document when so delivered will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against each Loan Party that is party thereto in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

 

	
 
	
5.05
	
Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
The Audited Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently

applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; (ii) fairly present the financial condition of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; and (iii) show all Material Indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness.

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
The unaudited Consolidated balance sheet of the Parent and its Subsidiaries dated

MarchDecember 31, 20172019, and the related Consolidated statements of income or operations, Shareholders’ 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 the financial condition of the Parent 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 Audited Financial Statements, there has been no event or circumstance,

either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Collateral included in the Combined Borrowing Base, including, without limitation, which adversely affects in any material respect the value of such Collateral, the enforceability or priority of the applicable Agent’s Liens thereon or the amount which any Agent, the Lenders or L/C Issuer would be likely to receive (after giving consideration to delays in payment and costs of enforcement) in the liquidation of such Collateral.

 

	
 
	
(d)
	
To the best knowledge of the Parent, no Internal Control Event exists or has occurred since the

date of the Audited Financial Statements through the First Amendment Effective Date, that has resulted  in or would reasonably be expected to result in a misstatement in any material respect, in any financial information delivered or to be delivered to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders, of (i) covenant compliance calculations provided hereunder or (ii) the assets, liabilities, financial condition or results of operations of the Parent and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis.

 

	
 
	
(e)
	
To the best knowledge of the Parent, no Internal Control Event exists or has occurred since the

date of the Audited Financial Statements that has resulted in or would reasonably be expected to result in a misstatement in any material respect, in any financial information or Borrowing Base Certificate delivered or to be delivered to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders with respect to any components  of the Combined Borrowing Base.

 

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(f)
	
The Consolidated forecasted balance sheet and statements of income and cash flows of the

Parent and its Subsidiaries delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(d) were prepared in good faith on the basis of the assumptions stated therein, which assumptions were fair in light of the conditions existing at the time of delivery of such forecasts, and represented, at the time of delivery, the Loan Parties’ best estimate of its future financial performance.

 

	
 
	
5.06
	
Litigation.There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the

knowledge of the Loan Parties after due and diligent investigation, threatened or contemplated, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or against any of its properties or revenues that (a) purport to affect or pertain to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, or (b) except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 5.06, either individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

	
 
	
5.07
	
No Default. No Loan Party is in default under or with respect to, or party to, any Material

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

 

	
 
	
5.08
	
Ownership of Property; Liens.

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
Each of the Loan Parties has good record and marketable title in fee simple to or valid leasehold

interests in, all real property necessary or used in the ordinary conduct of its business, except for such defects in title as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each of the Loan Parties has good and marketable title to, valid leasehold interests in, or valid licenses to use all personal property and assets material to the ordinary conduct of its business.

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
Schedule 5.08(b)(1) sets forth the address (including street address, state, province or territory

and postal or zip code) of all Real Estate that is owned by the Loan Parties, together with a list of the holders of any mortgage or other Lien thereon as of the Effective Date. Each Loan Party has good, marketable and insurable fee simple title to the real property owned by such Loan Party or such Subsidiary, free and clear of all Liens, other than Permitted Encumbrances.  Schedule 5.08(b)(2) sets  forth the address (including street address, county, state, province and zip/postal code) of all Leases of  the Loan Parties as of the Effective Date.  As of the Effective Date each of such Leases is in full force  and effect and the Loan Parties are not in default of the terms thereof.

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
The property of each Loan Party is subject to no Liens other than Permitted Encumbrances.

 

	
 
	
(d)
	
Schedule 7.01 sets forth a complete and accurate list of all Liens on the property or assets of each

Loan Party, showing as of the Effective Date the lienholder thereof, the principal amount of the obligations secured thereby and the property or assets of such Loan Party or such Subsidiary subject thereto.

 

	
 
	
(e)
	
Schedule 7.02 sets forth a complete and accurate list of all Investments held by any Loan Party

on the Effective Date, showing as of the date hereofEffective Date the amount, obligor or issuer and maturity, if any, thereof.

 

	
 
	
(f)
	
Schedule 7.03 sets forth a complete and accurate list of all Material Indebtedness of each Loan

Party on the Effective Date, showing as of the date hereofEffective Date the amount, obligor or issuer  and maturity thereof.

 

	
 
	
5.09
	
Environmental Compliance.

	
 
	
5.01
	

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Except for events, conditions or circumstances that would not constitute a Material

Adverse Effect:

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
No Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof (i) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law or

to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law, (ii) has become subject to any Environmental Liability, (iii) has received notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or (iv) knows of any basis for any Environmental Liability.

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
Except as otherwise set forth in Schedule 5.09, none of the properties currently or formerly

owned or operated by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof is listed or proposed for listing on the NPL or on the CERCLIS or any analogous foreign, state or local list or is adjacent to any such property; there are no and never have been any underground or above-ground storage tanks or any surface impoundments, septic tanks, pits, sumps or lagoons in which Hazardous Materials are being or have been treated, stored or disposed on any property currently owned or operated by any Loan Party or, to the best of the knowledge of the Loan Parties, on any property formerly owned or operated by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof; there is no asbestos or asbestos-containing material on any property currently owned or operated by any Loan Party; and Hazardous Materials have not been released, discharged or disposed of on any property currently or formerly owned or operated by any Loan Party or any  Subsidiary thereof.

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
Except as otherwise set forth on Schedule 5,09, no Loan Party is undertaking, and no Loan Party

or any Subsidiary thereof has completed, either individually or together with other potentially responsible parties, any investigation or assessment or remedial or response action relating to any actual  or  threatened release, discharge or disposal of Hazardous Materials at any site, location or operation, either voluntarily or pursuant to the order of any Governmental Authority or the requirements of any Environmental Law; and all Hazardous Materials generated, used, treated, handled or stored at, or transported to or from, any property currently or formerly owned or operated by any Loan Party have been disposed of in a manner not reasonably expected to result in material liability to any Loan Party.

 

	
 
	
(d)
	
There is no judicial, administrative, or arbitral proceeding (including any notice of violation or

alleged violation) under any Environmental Law to which the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is, or to  the knowledge of the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is reasonably likely to be, named as a party that is pending or, to the knowledge of the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, threatened.

 

	
 
	
(e)
	
Neither the Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has entered into or agreed to any consent decree,

order, or settlement or other agreement, nor is subject to any judgment, decree, or order or other agreement, in any judicial, administrative, arbitral, or other forum, relating to compliance with or liability under any Environmental Law.

 

	
 
	
5.10
	
Insurance. Schedule 5.10 sets forth a complete and correct listing of all insurance that is (a)

maintained by the Loan Parties and (b) material to the business and operations of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, maintained by Subsidiaries other than Loan Parties, in each case as of the Effective Date, with the amounts insured (and any deductibles) set forth therein.

 

	
 
	
5.11
	
Taxes. The Loan Parties have filed all federal, state, provincial, territorial, municipal, local and

other material tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all federal, state, provincial, territorial, municipal, local and other material taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges levied or imposed upon them or their properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable, except  those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP, as to which Taxes no Lien has been filed and which

 

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contest effectively suspends the collection of the contested obligation and the enforcement of any Lien securing such obligation. There is no proposed tax assessment against any Loan Party or any Subsidiary that would, if made, have a Material Adverse Effect. No Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof is a party  to any tax sharing agreement.

 

	
 
	
5.12
	
Plans.

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
(i) Each Plan in respect of employees of any Domestic Loan Party is in compliance in all material

respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other federal or state Laws; (ii) each Domestic Pension Plan in respect of employees of any Domestic Loan Party that is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS or an application for such a letter is currently being processed by the IRS with respect thereto and, to the knowledge of the Parent, nothing has occurred which would prevent, or cause the loss of, such qualification; (iii) the Domestic Loan Parties and each ERISA Affiliate have made all required contributions to each Domestic Pension Plan, and no application for a funding waiver or an extension of any amortization period pursuant to Section 412 of the Code has been made with respect to any Domestic Pension Plan in respect of employees of any Domestic Loan Party; and (iv) no Lien imposed under the Code or ERISA exists or is likely to arise on account of any Domestic Pension Plan in respect of employees of any Domestic Loan Party.

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
There are no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Parent, threatened claims, actions or

lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
There has been no prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with

respect to any Plan that has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

	
 
	
(d)
	
Except as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (i) no

ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; (ii) no Domestic Pension Plan has any Unfunded Pension Liability; (iii) neither any Domestic Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Domestic Pension Plan (other than premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA); (iv) neither any Domestic Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability (and no event has occurred which, with the giving of notice under Section 4219 of ERISA,  would result in such liability) under Sections 4201 or 4243 of ERISA with respect to a Multiemployer Plan; and (v) neither any Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Sections 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA.

 

	
 
	
(e)
	
As of the First Amendment Effective Date, no Canadian Loan Party sponsors, maintains or

contributes to any Canadian Pension Plan.

 

	
 
	
(f)
	
[Reserved.]

 

	
 
	
(g)
	
With respect to any Plan under the laws of any foreign jurisdiction, none of the following events

or conditions exists and is continuing that, either individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: (a) substantial non-compliance with its terms and with the requirements of any and all applicable laws, statutes, rules, regulations and orders; (b) failure to be maintained, where required, in good standing with applicable regulatory authorities; (c) any obligation of the Parent or its Subsidiaries in connection with the termination or partial termination of, or withdrawal from, any such foreign plan; (d) any Lien on the property of the Parent or its Subsidiaries in favor of a

 

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Governmental Authority as a result of any action or inaction regarding such a foreign plan; (e) for each such foreign plan which is a funded or insured plan, failure to be funded or insured on an ongoing basis  to the extent required by applicable non-U.S. law (using actuarial methods and assumptions which are consistent with the valuations last filed with the applicable Governmental Authorities); (f) any facts that, to the best knowledge of the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, exist that would reasonably be expected to give rise to a dispute and any pending or threatened disputes that, to the best knowledge of the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, would reasonably be expected to result in a material liability to the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries concerning the assets of any such foreign plan (other than individual claims for the payment of benefits); and (g) failure to make all contributions in a timely manner to the extent required  by applicable non-U.S. law.

 

	
 
	
5.13
	
Subsidiaries; Equity Interests. As of the Effective Date, the Loan Parties have no Subsidiaries

other than those specifically disclosed in Part (a) of Schedule 5.13, which Schedule sets forth the legal name, jurisdiction of incorporation or formation and authorized Equity Interests of each such Subsidiary. 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 (or a Subsidiary of a Loan Party) in the amounts specified on Part (a) of Schedule 5.13 free and clear of all Liens except for those created under the Security Documents and other Permitted Encumbrances. Except as set forth in Schedule 5.13, as of the Effective Date, there are no outstanding rights to purchase any Equity Interests in any Subsidiary. As of the Effective Date, the Loan Parties have no equity investments in any other corporation or entity other than those specifically disclosed in Part (b) of Schedule 5.13. As of the Effective Date, all of the outstanding Equity Interests in the Loan Parties have been validly issued, and are fully paid and non-assessable and, other than with respect to the Parent, are owned in the amounts specified on Part (c) of Schedule 5.13  free and clear of all Liens except for those created under the Security Documents or under the Term Loan Documents (which Liens shall be subject to the Intercreditor Agreement). As of the Effective Date, the copies of the Organization Documents of each Loan Party and each amendment thereto provided  pursuant to Section 4.01 are true and correct copies of each such document, each of which is valid and in full force and effect.

 

	
 
	
5.14
	
Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act.

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
No Loan Party is engaged or will be engaged, principally or as one of its important activities, in

the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock. None of the proceeds  of the Credit Extensions shall be used directly or indirectly for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin stock, for the purpose of reducing or retiring any Indebtedness that was originally incurred to purchase or carry any margin stock or for any other purpose that might cause any of the Credit  Extensions to be considered a “purpose credit” within the meaning of Regulations T, U, or X issued by the FRB.

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
None of the Loan Parties, any Person Controlling any Loan Party, or any Subsidiary is or is

required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

	
 
	
5.15
	
Disclosure. As of the First Amendment Effective Date, each Loan Party has disclosed to the

Administrative Agent and the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which it is subject, and all other matters known to it, that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No report, financial statement, certificate  or other information furnished (whether in writing or orally) by or on behalf of any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder or under any other Loan Document (in each case,  as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of

 

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fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Loan Parties represent only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time.

 

	
 
	
5.16
	
Compliance with Laws. Each of the Loan Parties 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, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

	
 
	
5.17
	
Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc. The Loan Parties own, or possess the right to use, all of

the Intellectual Property, licenses, permits and other authorizations that are reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses, without conflicting with the material rights of any other Person which would give rise to a Material Adverse Effect. To the best knowledge of the Parent, no slogan or other advertising device, product, process, method, substance, part or other material now employed, or now contemplated to be employed, by any Loan Party infringes upon any rights held by any other Person. Except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 5.17, no claim or litigation regarding any of the foregoing is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Parent, threatened, which, either individually or in the  aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

	
 
	
5.18
	
Labor Matters. As of the Effective Date, there are no strikes, lockouts, slowdowns or other

material labor disputes against any Loan Party pending or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, threatened. The hours worked by and payments made to employees of the Loan Parties comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act and any other applicable federal, state, provincial, territorial, municipal, local  or foreign Law dealing with such matters except to the extent that any such violation would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Loan Party has incurred any material liability or obligation under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act or similar federal, state, provincial, territorial, municipal, local or foreign Law. All material payments due from any Loan Party,  or for which any material claim may be made against any Loan Party, on account of wages and employee health and welfare insurance and other benefits, have been paid or properly accrued in accordance with GAAP as a liability on the books of such Loan Party. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.18 no Loan Party is a party to or bound by any material collective bargaining agreement, management agreement, employment agreement, bonus, restricted stock, stock option, or stock appreciation plan or agreement or any similar plan, agreement or arrangement. There are no representation proceedings pending or, to any Loan Party’s knowledge, threatened to be filed with the National Labor Relations Board or other applicable Governmental Authority, and no labor organization or group of employees of any Loan Party has made a pending demand for recognition. There are no complaints, unfair labor practice charges, grievances, arbitrations, unfair employment practices charges or any other claims or complaints against any Loan Party pending or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, threatened to be filed with any Governmental Authority or arbitrator based on, arising out of, in connection with, or otherwise relating to the employment or termination of employment of any employee of any Loan Party that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents will not give rise to any right of termination or right of renegotiation on the part of any union under any collective bargaining agreement to which any Loan Party is bound.

 

	
 
	
5.19
	
Security Documents. The Security Documents create in favor of the Administrative Agent (for

the benefit of itself and the other Credit Parties) or the Canadian Agent (for the benefit of itself and the other Canadian Credit Parties), as applicable, a legal, valid, continuing and enforceable security interest in, and Lien on, the Collateral, and the Security Documents constitute, or will upon the filing of

 

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financing statements or other requisite registrations and recordations and/or the obtaining of “control”, in each case with respect to the relevant Collateral as required under the applicable UCC or similar legislation of any jurisdiction, including, without limitation, the PPSA and the Civil Code of Quebec, the creation of a perfected Lien on, and security interest in, all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties thereunder in such Collateral that may be perfected in the United States or Canada by filing, recording or registering a financing statement or analogous document or, to the extent required by the Loan Documents (it being understood that subsequent recordings in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, United States Copyright Office, Canadian Intellectual Property Office or a substitute or successor agency may be necessary to perfect a Lien on Intellectual Property acquired, register or applied for after the date hereofEffective Date). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Loan Parties shall have no obligation to prefect Liens on any Collateral in any jurisdiction outside the United States of America or Canada.

 

	
 
	
5.20
	
Solvency. After giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and before

and after giving effect to each Credit Extension, the Loan Parties, on a Consolidated basis, are Solvent. No transfer of property has been or will be made by any Loan Party and no obligation has been or will be incurred by any Loan Party in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents with the intent to hinder, delay, or defraud either present or future creditors of any Loan Party.

 

	
 
	
5.21
	
Deposit Accounts; Credit Card Arrangements.

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
Annexed hereto as Schedule 5.21(a) is a list of all DDAs maintained by the Loan Parties as of the

Effective Date, which Schedule includes, with respect to each DDA (i) the name and address of the depository; (ii) the account number(s) maintained with such depository; (iii) a contact person at such depository, and (iv) the identification of each Blocked Account Bank.

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
Annexed hereto as Schedule 5.21(b) is a list describing all arrangements as of the Effective Date

to which any Loan Party is a party with respect to the processing and/or payment to such Loan Party of the proceeds of any credit card charges and debit card charges for sales made by such Loan Party.

 

	
 
	
5.22
	
Brokers. No broker or finder brought about the obtaining, making or closing of the Loans or

transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents, and no Loan Party or Affiliate thereof has any obligation to any Person in respect of any finder’s or brokerage fees in connection therewith.

 

	
 
	
5.23
	
Customer and Trade Relations. As of the Effective Date, and except as described in Schedule

5.06 hereof, there exists no actual or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, threatened, termination or cancellation of, or any material adverse modification or change in the business relationship of any Loan Party with any supplier material to its operations except for those that would not constitute a Material Adverse Effect.

 

	
 
	
5.24
	
Casualty. As of the First Amendment Effective Date, neither the businesses nor the properties

of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries are affected by any fire, explosion, accident, strike, lockout  or other labor dispute, drought, storm, hail, earthquake, embargo, act of God or of the public enemy or other casualty (whether or not covered by insurance) that, either individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

	
 
	
5.25
	
Sanctions Concerns and Anti-Corruption Laws.

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
No Loan Party, nor any Subsidiary, nor, to the knowledge of the Loan Parties,

any director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or representative thereof, is an individual or entity

 

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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 the government of Canada or any other relevant sanctions authority of a relevant jurisdiction or (iii) located, organized or resident in a Designated Jurisdiction.

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
The Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries have conducted their business in

compliance with the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010, the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act (Canada) 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 and applicable Sanctions, and to the knowledge of each Borrower, the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries are in compliance with such anti-corruption laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects.

 

	
 
	
5.26
	
EEA Financial Institution. None of the Loan Parties is an EEA Financial Institution.

 

ARTICLE VI

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

 

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied (other than contingent indemnification claims for which a claim has not been asserted), or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, the Loan Parties 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 satisfactory to

the Administrative Agent:

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
within five (5) Business Days of the ninetieth (90th) day following the end of each Fiscal

Year of the Parent, a Consolidated balance sheet of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as at the end  of such Fiscal Year, and the related Consolidated statements of income or operations, Shareholders’ Equity and cash flows for such Fiscal Year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous Fiscal Year, all in reasonable detail and prepared   in accordance with GAAP, audited and accompanied by (i) a report and unqualified opinion of a Registered Public Accounting Firm of nationally recognized standing reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, 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 (it being agreed that the furnishing or filing of Holdings’ annual report on Form 10-K for such year as  filed with the SEC, shall satisfy this subsection 6.01(a) with respect to such year except with respect to the requirement that such financial statements be reported on without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception, or qualification arising out of the scope of the audit);

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
if the Borrowers maintain Excess Availability greater than twenty-five percent (25%) of

the Loan Cap (as calculated without giving effect to the FILO Push Down Reserve) for each of the prior three Fiscal Months, within five (5) Business Days of the forty-fifth (45th) day following the end of each of the Fiscal Quarters of each Fiscal Year of the Parent, a Consolidated balance sheet of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such Fiscal Quarter, and the related Consolidated statements of income or operations, Shareholders’ Equity and cash flows for such Fiscal Quarter and for the portion of the Parent’s Fiscal Year then ended, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for (A) the corresponding Fiscal Quarter of the previous

 

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Fiscal Year and (B) the corresponding portion of the previous Fiscal Year, all in reasonable detail, certified by a Responsible Officer of the Parent as fairly presenting the financial  condition, results of operations, Shareholders’ Equity and cash flows of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such Fiscal Quarter in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes (it being agreed that the furnishing of filing or the Holdings’ quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, as filed with the SEC, shall satisfy this subsection 6.01(b));

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
if the Borrowers fail to maintain Excess Availability greater than twenty-five percent

(25%) of the Loan Cap (as calculated without giving effect to the FILO Push Down Reserve) for the prior Fiscal Month, within five (5) days of the thirtieth (30th) day following the end of each of the Fiscal Months of each Fiscal Year of Holdings, a Consolidated balance sheet of Holdings as at the end of such Fiscal Month, and the related Consolidated statements of income or operations, and cash flows, and for the portion of Holdings’ Fiscal Year then ended, setting forth in each  case in comparative form the figures for (A) the corresponding Fiscal Month of the previous Fiscal Year and (B) the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, certified by a Responsible Officer of Holdings as fairly presenting the financial condition and results of operations and cash flows of Holdings as of the end of such Fiscal Month in  accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;

 

	
 
	
(d)
	
within five (5) Business Days of the ninetieth (90th) day following the end of each Fiscal

Year of the Parent, forecasts prepared by management of the Parent, in form consistent with past practice, of Canadian Availability, Domestic Availability, and Excess Availability and the Consolidated balance sheets and statements of income or operations and cash flows of the Parent and its Subsidiaries on a quarterly basis for the immediately following Fiscal Year (including the fiscal year in which the Maturity Date occurs).

 

	
 
	
6.02
	
Certificates;  Other  Information.Deliver to the Administrative Agent, in form and detail

satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Section 6.01(a), a

certificate of its Registered Public Accounting Firm certifying such financial statements and stating that in making the examination necessary for their certification of such financial statements, such Registered Public Accounting Firm has not obtained any knowledge of the existence of any Default under Section 7.13 (but only if, during the Fiscal Year, Section 7.13 was applicable) the financial covenants set forth herein or, if any such Default shall exist, stating the nature and status of such event (which certificate may be limited to the extent required by accounting rules or guidelines);

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in clauses (a), (b)

and (c) of Section 6.01, a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by a  Responsible Officer of Holdings, and in the event of any change in generally accepted accounting principles used in the preparation of such financial statements, Holdings shall also provide a statement of reconciliation conforming such financial statements to GAAP, and in the case of quarterly reporting only, a copy of management’s discussion and analysis with respect to such financial statements if not included in Holdings’ Form 10-Q;

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
(i) so long as no portion of the FILO Loan is outstanding, within ten (10) Business Days

after end of each Fiscal Quarter (or, if such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day), a certificate in the form of Exhibit E (a “Borrowing Base Certificate”) showing

 

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the Domestic Borrowing Base, Canadian Borrowing Base, Arcadia Borrowing Base, the FILO Borrowing Base and Combined Borrowing Base as of the close of business as of the last day of the immediately preceding Fiscal Quarter, each Borrowing Base Certificate to be certified as complete and correct by a Responsible Officer of the Parent or Holdings; provided that (x) at all times that any portion of the FILO Loan is outstanding, and (y) upon the repayment in full of the FILO Loan, at any time that the Borrowers have failed to maintain Excess Availability of at least sixty percent (60%) of the Loan Cap (as calculated without giving effect to the FILO Push Down Reserve), such Borrowing Base Certificate shall be delivered within ten (10) Business Days after end of each Fiscal Month (or, if such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day); and provided, further, that at any time that an Accelerated Borrowing Base Delivery Event has occurred and is continuing, such Borrowing Base Certificate shall be delivered on  Wednesday of each week (or, if Wednesday is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day), as of the close of business on the immediately preceding Saturday, and (ii) within one (1) Business Day after the consummation of the Disposition outside of the ordinary course of business of any Collateral included in the Domestic Borrowing Base or, the Canadian Borrowing Base or the FILO Borrowing Base, in each case either with a cost value as included in the Combined Borrowing Base of equal to or greater than $25,000,000, or in connection with the Disposition of Stores consisting of more than five percent (5%) of the number of the Borrowers’ Stores as of the beginning of such Fiscal Year, a Borrowing Base Certificate showing the Domestic Borrowing Base, Canadian Borrowing Base, the FILO Borrowing Base and Combined Borrowing Base after giving effect to the consummation of such Disposition. In connection with each Borrowing Base Certificate, if the Accounts Receivable Reporting Requirement is not in effect, the Borrowers’ reporting of Accounts shall be summary in nature and shall be from the Parent’s or Holdings’ then current financial statements with classification by only entity or business segment; if the Accounts Receivable Reporting Requirement is in effect (or the Borrowers elect to provide detailed Accounts reporting pursuant to the definition thereof) the Borrowers’ reporting of Accounts shall set forth in reasonable detail the aging and dilution thereof and incorporate appraisal and audit work with respect thereto;

 

	
 
	
(d)
	
promptly upon receipt, copies of any detailed audit reports, management letters or

recommendations submitted to the board of directors (or the audit committee of the board of directors) of any Loan Party by its Registered Public Accounting Firm in connection with the accounts or books of the Loan Parties or any Subsidiary, or any audit of any of them, including, without limitation, specifying any Internal Control Event, to the extent that any of the foregoing relates to any weaknesses in the reporting of any components of the Collateral included in the Combined Borrowing Base or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

	
 
	
(e)
	
promptly after the same are available, copies of each annual report, proxy or financial

statement or other material report or communication sent to the stockholders of Holdings, and copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which Holdings may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or with any national or foreign securities exchange or applicable Governmental Authority, and in any case not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto;

 

	
 
	
(f)
	
The financial and collateral reports described on Schedule 6.02 hereto, at the times set

forth in such Schedule;

 

	
 
	
(g)
	
promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any statement or report furnished to (i)

the Term Agent or any “Lender” under the Term Loan Agreement pursuant to the terms of the

 

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Term Loan Documents or (ii) any holder of debt securities of Holdings pursuant to the terms of the Notes Indenture or other public note issuance;

 

	
 
	
(h)
	
as soon as available, but in any event within thirty (30) days after the end of each Fiscal

Year of the Loan Parties, if requested by the Administrative Agent, a report summarizing the insurance coverage (specifying type, amount and carrier) in effect for each Loan Party and its Subsidiaries and containing such additional information as the Administrative Agent, or any Lender through the Administrative Agent, may reasonably specify;

 

	
 
	
(i)
	
promptly after the Administrative Agent’s request therefor, copies of all documents

evidencing Material Indebtedness;

 

	
 
	
(j)
	
promptly, and in any event within ten (10) days after receipt thereof by any Loan Party

or any Subsidiary thereof, copies of each notice or other correspondence received from any Governmental Authority (including, without limitation, the SEC (or comparable agency in any applicable non-U.S. jurisdiction)) concerning any proceeding with, or investigation or possible investigation or other inquiry by such Governmental Authority regarding financial or other operational results of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof or any other matter which, if adversely determined, would reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (unless the disclosure thereof would violate any attorney-client privilege or its disclosure would violate Applicableapplicable Law); and

 

	
 
	
(k)
	
promptly, such additional information regarding the business affairs, financial condition

or operations of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent (or any Lender through the Administrative Agent) may from time to time reasonably request, that would not violate the attorney-client privilege.

 

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 6.01 or pursuant to Section 6.02(e) (to the extent any such documents and the information required to be provided therewith as set forth above 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 Holdings posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on Holdings’ website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 10.02 or filed with the SEC; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on Holdings’ 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: (i) Holdings shall deliver paper copies of such documents to  the Administrative Agent or any Lender that requests Holdings 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) Holdings shall notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender (by telecopier 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 or to maintain copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Loan Parties with any such request for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents.

 

The Loan Parties hereby acknowledge that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Arranger will make available to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer materials and/or information provided by or on behalf  of the Loan Parties hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on Debt Domain, Syndtrak, IntraLinks or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”) and (b) certain of the Lenders may be “public-side” Lenders (i.e., Lenders that do not wish to receive material

 

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non-public information with respect to the Loan Parties or their securities) (each, a “Public Lender”).   The Loan Parties hereby agree that so long as any Loan Party is the issuer of any outstanding debt or equity securities that are registered or issued pursuant to a private offering or is actively contemplating issuing any such securities they will use commercially reasonable efforts to identify that portion of the Borrower Materials that may be distributed to the Public Lenders and that (w) all such Borrower Materials 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 Loan Parties shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Arranger, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information (although it may be sensitive and proprietary) with respect to the Loan Parties or their securities for purposes of all applicable 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 Investor”; and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Arranger shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Investor.”

 

	
 
	
6.03
	
Notices. Promptly notify the Administrative Agent after a Responsible Officer of the Parent

knows or reasonably should know thereof:

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default;

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
of any matter that has resulted or, if adversely determined (and such adverse

determination is reasonably likely) would result in, a Material Adverse Effect, including (i) breach or non-performance in a material respect of, or any default with respect to, Material Indebtedness of any Loan Party; (ii) any dispute, litigation, investigation, proceeding or suspension between any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof and any Governmental Authority; or (iii) the commencement of any litigation or proceeding affecting any Loan Party, including pursuant to any applicable Environmental Laws;

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
of (i) the occurrence of any ERISA Event, (ii) the complete or partial withdrawal by a

Canadian Loan Party from participation in a “multi-employer pension plan” as defined under the Pension Benefits Act (Ontario) or any similar type of plan subject to pension benefits standards legislation of another jurisdiction in Canada, or the termination in whole or in part of a Canadian Pension Plan, where such withdrawal or termination is reasonably expected to result in a material liability of the Canadian Loan Party; (iii) the creation of any Lien on the property of the Parent or its Subsidiaries in favor of the PBGC or a Plan (other than a Lien in respect of employee contributions withheld from pay but not yet remitted to a Canadian Pension Plan); provided, however, that no such notice will be required under clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above unless the event giving rise to such notice, when aggregated with all other such events under clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above, would be reasonably expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; or (iv) the first occurrence of an underfunding under a Single Employer Plan or Foreign Plan that exceeds 10% of the value of the assets of such Single Employer Plan or Foreign Plan, in each case, determined as of the most recent annual valuation date of such Single Employer Plan or Foreign Plan on the basis of the actuarial assumptions used to determine the funding requirements of such Single Employer Plan or Foreign Plan as of such date;

 

	
 
	
(d)
	
(i) of any release or discharge by the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries of any Hazardous

Materials required to be reported under applicable Environmental Laws to any Governmental Authority, unless the Parent reasonably determines that the total environmental costs arising out of such release or discharge would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

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(ii) any condition, circumstance, occurrence or event not previously disclosed in writing to the Administrative Agent that would reasonably be expected to result in liability or expense under applicable Environmental Laws, unless the Parent reasonably determines that the total environmental costs arising out of such condition, circumstance, occurrence or event would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or would not reasonably be expected to result in the imposition of any Lien or other material restriction on the title, ownership or transferability of any properties owned, leased or operated by the Parent or any of its  Subsidiaries that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and (iii) any proposed action to be taken by the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries that would reasonably be expected to subject the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries to any material additional or different requirements or liabilities under Environmental Laws, unless the Parent reasonably determines that the total environmental costs arising out of such proposed action would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

	
 
	
(e)
	
the occurrence of any default or event of default under the Notes Indenture;

 

	
 
	
(f)
	
of any material change in accounting policies (but only to the extent that such change

have any effect on the reporting or calculation of Collateral included in the Combined Borrowing Base) or financial reporting practices by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof;

 

	
 
	
(g)
	
of any change in Holdings’ senior executive officers;

 

	
 
	
(h)
	
of the discharge by Holdings’ of its present Registered Public Accounting Firm or any

withdrawal or resignation by such Registered Public Accounting Firm;

 

	
 
	
(i)
	
of any collective bargaining agreement or other labor contract to which a Loan Party

becomes a party, or the application for the certification of a collective bargaining agent;

 

	
 
	
(j)
	
of the filing of any Lien for unpaid Taxes against any Loan Party in excess of

$10,000,000;

 

	
 
	
(k)
	
of any loss, damage, destruction, or casualty to any portion of the Collateral in the

amount of $10,000,000 or more, whether or not covered by insurance; or the commencement of any action or proceeding for the taking of any interest in any portion of the Collateral in the amount of $10,000,000 or more under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding or if any material portion of the Collateral is damaged or destroyed; and

 

	
 
	
(l)
	
any and all default notices received under or with respect to any lease of any distribution

center where Collateral with a cost value in excess of $10,000,000, either individually or in the aggregate, is located or of any failure by any Loan Party to pay rent at any of such Loan Party’s locations if such failure continues for more than ten (10) days following the day on which such rent first came due and such failure would be reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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

 

	
 
	
6.04
	
Payment of Obligations. Except to the extent that the failure to make any of the following

payments would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable, all its obligations and liabilities, including (a) all tax liabilities,

 

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assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it or its properties or assets, (b) all lawful claims (including, without limitation, claims of landlords, warehousemen, customs brokers, and carriers) which, if unpaid, would by Law become a Lien upon its property; and (c) all Indebtedness, as and when due and payable, but subject to any subordination provisions contained in any instrument or agreement  evidencing such Indebtedness, except, in each case, where (i) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (ii) such Loan Party has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP, (iii) such contest effectively suspends collection of the contested obligation and enforcement of any Lien securing such obligation, and (iv) no Lien has been filed with respect thereto. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit the rights of the Agents with respect to determining Reserves pursuant to this Agreement.

 

	
 
	
6.05
	
Preservation of Existence, Etc.(a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal

existence and good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization or formation except in  a transaction permitted by Section 7.04 or 7.05; (b) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges, permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except to the extent that failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) preserve or renew all of its Intellectual Property, except to the extent such Intellectual Property is no longer used or useful in the conduct of the business of the Loan Parties.

 

	
 
	
6.06
	
Maintenance of Properties. (a) Maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and

equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted; and (b) make all necessary repairs thereto and renewals and replacements thereof except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

	
 
	
6.07
	
Maintenance of Insurance.

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
Maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies insurance on, or self

insurance, all properties material to the business of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in at least such amounts and against at least such risks (but including in any event public liability, product liability and business interruption) as are consistent with past practices of the Parent and its Subsidiaries and otherwise are usually insured against in the same general area by companies engaged in the same or a similar business.

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
Furnish to the Administrative Agent, upon written request, information in reasonable

detail as to the insurance carried.

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
Ensure that at all times the Collateral Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, shall

be named as additional insureds with respect to liability policies and the Collateral Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, shall be named as loss payee with respect to the property insurance maintained by the Loan Parties; provided that notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein contained, but subject to the provisions of Section 2.05(f) hereof, unless a Trigger Event shall have occurred and be continuing, the Agents shall turn over to the Parent any amounts received by it as loss payee under any property insurance covering any Collateral maintained by the Parent and its Subsidiaries, and, unless a Trigger Event shall have occurred and be  continuing, the Agents agree that the Parent and/or the applicable Subsidiary shall have the sole right to adjust or settle any claims under such insurance.

 

	
 
	
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 the failure to comply therewith would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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6.09
	
Books and Records; Accountants

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
Maintain proper books of record and account, in which full, true and correct entries in

conformity with GAAP in all material respects consistently applied shall be made of all financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Loan Parties or such Subsidiary, as the case may be; and (ii) maintain such books of record and account in material conformity with all applicable requirements of any Governmental Authority having regulatory jurisdiction over the Loan Parties or such Subsidiary, as the case may be.

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
At all times retain a Registered Public Accounting Firm of national standing and shall instruct

such Registered Public Accounting Firm, if a Trigger Event has occurred and is continuing, to cooperate with, and be available to, the Administrative Agent or its representatives to discuss the Loan Parties’ financial performance, financial condition, operating results, controls, and such other matters, within the scope of the retention of such Registered Public Accounting Firm, as may be raised by the Administrative Agent.

 

	
 
	
6.10
	
Inspection Rights

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
Permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent 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 Registered Public Accounting Firm, all at the expense of the Administrative Agent and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice to the Parent, without unreasonable interference with the Loan Parties’ business operation; provided, however, that when an Event of Default exists the Administrative Agent (or any of its representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Loan Parties at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice.

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
Upon the request of the Administrative Agent after reasonable prior notice, permit the

Administrative Agent or professionals (including investment bankers, consultants, accountants, lawyers and appraisers) retained by the Administrative Agent, independently of or in connection with the visits and inspections provided for in clause (a) above, to conduct appraisals, commercial finance examinations and other evaluations, including, without limitation, of (i) the Parent’s practices in the computation of the Domestic Borrowing Base, the Arcadia Borrowing Base and the ArcadiaFILO Borrowing Base and the Canadian Borrower’s practices in the computation of the Canadian Borrowing Base and (ii) the assets included in the Domestic Borrowing Base, the Canadian Borrowing Base, the Arcadia Borrowing Base and the ArcadiaFILO Borrowing Base and related financial information such as, but not limited to, sales, gross margins, payables, accruals and reserves. Except as provided in the next sentence, all such costs of such professionals shall be at the expense of the Administrative Agent. The Loan Parties acknowledge that the Administrative Agent and the Canadian Agent shall each undertake one (1) commercial finance examination in each twelve (12) month period at the Loan Parties’ expense; provided that if Excess Availability is less than 20% of the Loan Cap (as calculated without giving effect to the FILO Push  Down Reserve)at any time during such twelve (12) month period, the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, may, in its discretion, each undertake up to two (2) commercial finance examinations in each such twelve (12) month period at the Loan Parties’ expense, such expense to be reasonable and the Parent shall have the opportunity to review the invoices thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrative Agent may cause additional commercial finance examinations to be undertaken (x) as it in its discretion deems necessary or appropriate, at its own expense, without unreasonable interference with the Loan Parties’ business operation, or (y) if required by Law or if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, at the expense of the Loan Parties.

 

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(c)
	
Upon the request of the Administrative Agent after reasonable prior notice, permit the

Administrative Agent or professionals (including appraisers) retained by the Administrative Agent, independently of or in connection with the visits and inspections provided for in clause (a) above, to conduct appraisals of the Collateral, including, without limitation, the assets included in the Domestic Borrowing Base, the FILO Borrowing Base and the Canadian Borrowing Base. Except as provided in the next sentence, all such costs of such professionals shall be at the expense of the Administrative Agent. The Loan Parties acknowledge that the Administrative Agent and the Canadian Agent shall each undertake one (1) inventory appraisal in each twelve (12) month period at the Loan Parties’ expense; provided that if Excess Availability is less than 20% of the Loan Cap (as calculated without giving effect to the FILO Push Down Reserve) at any time, the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, may, in its discretion, each undertake up to two (2) inventory appraisals in each such twelve

(12) month period at the Loan Parties’ expense, such expense to be reasonable and the Parent shall have the opportunity to review the invoices thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrative Agent may cause additional appraisals to be undertaken (x) as it in its discretion deems necessary or  appropriate, at its own expense, without unreasonable interference with the Loan Parties’ business operation, or (y) if required by Law or if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, at the expense of the Loan Parties.

 

	
 
	
(d)
	
In addition to the provisions of clause (c) above, after the consummation of the Disposition

outside of the ordinary course of business of any Collateral included in the Domestic Borrowing Base,  the FILO Borrowing Base or the Canadian Borrowing Base, in each case either with a cost value as included in the Combined Borrowing Base of equal to or greater than $25,000,000, or in connection with the Disposition of Stores consisting of more than five percent (5%) of the number of the Borrowers’ Stores as of the beginning of such Fiscal Year, the Administrative Agent shall have the right to conduct an updated appraisal of the Inventory, at the Loan Parties’ expense.

 

	
 
	
6.11
	
Additional Loan Parties

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
If any Domestic Loan Party shall form or acquire a Subsidiary the Parent will notify the

Administrative Agent thereof and (i) if such Subsidiary is a Material Subsidiary but not a Foreign Subsidiary, the Parent will cause such Subsidiary to become a Loan Party hereunder and under each applicable Security Document within sixty (60) days after such Subsidiary is formed or acquired and promptly take such actions to create and perfect Liens on the assets of such Subsidiary of the same type comprising Collateral to secure the Obligations, and (ii) if  such Subsidiary is not a Material Subsidiary, at the request of the Administrative Agent the Parent will cause such Subsidiary to become a Loan Party hereunder and under each applicable Security Document within sixty (60) days after such Subsidiary is formed or acquired and promptly take such actions to create and perfect Liens on the assets of such Subsidiary of the same type comprising Collateral to secure the Obligations.

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
If the Canadian Borrower shall form or acquire a Subsidiary the Parent will notify the

Administrative Agent thereof and (i) if such Subsidiary is a Material Subsidiary organized under the laws of Canada or any province or territory thereof, the Canadian Borrower will cause such Subsidiary to become a Canadian Loan Party hereunder and under each applicable Canadian Security Document within sixty (60) days after such Subsidiary is formed or acquired and promptly take such actions to create and perfect Liens on the assets of such Subsidiary of the same type comprising Collateral to secure the Canadian Liabilities and the Foreign Liabilities, and (ii) if such Subsidiary is not a Material Subsidiary,  at the request of the Administrative Agent the Canadian Borrower will cause such Subsidiary to become  a Canadian Loan Party hereunder and under each applicable Canadian Security Document within sixty

(60) days after such Subsidiary is formed or acquired and promptly take such actions to create and  perfect Liens on the assets of such Subsidiary of the same type comprising Collateral to secure the Canadian Liabilities and the Foreign Liabilities.

 

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(c)
	
In connection with a Disposition permitted hereby, including a Disposition of the Equity Interests

of a Subsidiary, the Administrative Agent shall, at the expense of the Borrowers, release its Lien upon  the assets and/or Equity Interests subject to such Disposition and/or release the Guaranty of such Person subject to such Disposition of Equity Interests, all pursuant to such release documents as the Borrowers shall reasonably request.

 

	
 
	
6.12
	
Cash Management.

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
On or prior to the First Amendment Effective Date, the Loan Parties shall:

 

	
 
	
(i)
	
deliver to the Administrative Agent copies of notifications (each, a

“Credit Card Notification”) substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit G which have been executed on behalf of such Loan Party and delivered to such Loan Party’s credit card clearinghouses and processors listed on Schedule 5.21(b); and

 

	
 
	
(ii)
	
deliver to the Administrative Agent a Blocked Account Agreement

satisfactory in form and substance to the Agents with each Blocked Account Bank executed and delivered by the applicable Loan Party and such Blocked Account Bank (collectively, the “Blocked Accounts”).

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
ACH or wire transfer no less frequently than daily (and whether or not there are then any

outstanding Obligations) to a Blocked Account all amounts on deposit in each DDA and all payments  due from credit card processors.

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
Each Blocked Account Agreement shall require, after the occurrence and during the continuance

of a Trigger Event and notice from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, the ACH or wire transfer no less frequently than daily (and whether or not there are then any outstanding Obligations) to the concentration account maintained by the Administrative Agent at Bank of America (the “Domestic Concentration Account”) (in the case of any Domestic Loan Party) or maintained by the Canadian Agent at Bank of America-Canada Branch (the “Canadian Concentration Account”) (in the case of any  Canadian Loan Party) of all cash receipts and collections, including, without limitation, the following:

 

	
 
	
(i)
	
all available cash receipts from the sale of Inventory (including without

limitation, proceeds of credit card charges) and other assets (whether or not constituting Collateral);

 

	
 
	
(ii)
	
all proceeds of collections of Accounts;

 

	
 
	
(iii)
	
all Net Proceeds, and all other cash payments received by a Loan Party

from any Person or from any source or on account of any sale or other transaction or event, including, without limitation, any Prepayment Event;

 

	
 
	
(iv)
	
the then contents of each DDA (net of any minimum balance, not to

exceed in the aggregate for all DDAs the amount equal to the Target Amount); and

 

	
 
	
(v)
	
the then entire ledger balance of each Blocked Account (net of any

minimum balance, not to exceed $2,500, as may be required to be kept in the subject Blocked Account by the Blocked Account Bank).

 

The Loan Parties shall undertake all action which may be necessary to effectuate the foregoing ACH and wire transfers as and when required hereunder.

 

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(d)
	
The Domestic Concentration Account shall at all times be under the sole dominion and control of

the Collateral Agent, and the Canadian Concentration Account shall at all times be under the sole dominion and control of the Canadian Agent.  The Loan Parties hereby acknowledge and agree that (i)  the Loan Parties have no right of withdrawal from the Concentration Accounts, (ii) the funds on deposit  in each Domestic Concentration Account shall at all times be collateral security for the Obligations, (iii) the funds on deposit in each Canadian Concentration Account shall at all times be collateral security for all of the Canadian Liabilities and Foreign Liabilities and (iv) the funds on deposit in the Concentration Accounts shall be applied as provided in this Agreement. In the event that, notwithstanding the  provisions of this Section 6.12, any Loan Party receives or otherwise has dominion and control of any such proceeds or collections while a Trigger Event exists, such proceeds and collections shall be held in trust by such Loan Party for the Agents, shall not be commingled with any of such Loan Party’s other funds or deposited in any account of such Loan Party and shall, not later than the Business Day after receipt thereof, be deposited into the Domestic Concentration Account or the Canadian Concentration Account, as applicable, or dealt with in such other fashion as such Loan Party may be instructed by the Agents. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that no Obligations are outstanding any amounts deposited in the Domestic Concentration Account and the Canadian Concentration Account shall be disbursed by the Administrative Agent or Canadian Agent, as applicable to such depository accounts as may be designated by the applicable Borrower.

 

	
 
	
(e)
	
Upon the request of the Administrative Agent, the Loan Parties shall cause bank statements

and/or other reports to be delivered to the Agents not less often than monthly, accurately setting forth all amounts deposited in each Blocked Account to ensure the proper transfer of funds as set forth above.

 

	
 
	
6.13
	
Information Regarding the Collateral.

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
Furnish to the Administrative Agent at least thirty (30) days prior written notice of any change

in: (i) any Loan Party’s legal name; (ii) the location of any Loan Party’s chief executive office, registered office, its principal place of business, any office in which it maintains books or records relating to Collateral owned by it or any office or facility at which Collateral owned by it is located (including the establishment of any such new office or facility); (iii) any Loan Party’s organizational structure or jurisdiction of incorporation or formation; or (iv) any Loan Party’s Federal Taxpayer Identification Number or organizational identification number assigned to it by its jurisdiction of organization. The Loan Parties shall not effect or permit any change referred to in the preceding sentence unless the Loan Parties have timely furnished to the Administrative Agent all information, and executed all such documents and agreements, if any, requested by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent to be executed prior to the expiration of such thirty (30) day period in order for the Collateral Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, to continue at all times following such change to have a valid, legal and perfected first priority (subject to the Intercreditor Agreement) security interest, and Lien on, in all the Collateral for its own benefit and the benefit of the other applicable Credit Parties.

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
Should any of the information on any of the Schedules hereto become inaccurate or misleading

in any material respect as a result of changes after the Effective Date, advise the Administrative Agent in writing of such revisions or updates as may be necessary or appropriate to update or correct the same. From time to time as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, the Parent shall supplement each Schedule hereto, or any representation herein or in any other Loan Document, with respect to any matter arising after the Effective Date that, if existing or occurring on the Effective Date, would have been required to be set forth or described in such Schedule or as an exception to such representation or that is necessary to correct any information in such Schedule or representation which has been rendered inaccurate thereby (and, in the case of any supplements to any Schedule,  such Schedule shall be appropriately marked to show the changes made therein). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no supplement or revision to any Schedule or representation shall be deemed the Credit

 

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Parties’ consent to the matters reflected in such updated Schedules or revised representations nor permit the Loan Parties to undertake any actions otherwise prohibited hereunder or fail to undertake any action required hereunder from the restrictions and requirements in existence prior to the delivery of such updated Schedules or such revision of a representation; nor shall any such supplement or revision to any Schedule or representation be deemed the Credit Parties’ waiver of any Default resulting from the  matters disclosed therein.

 

	
 
	
6.14
	
Physical Inventories.

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
Cause not less than one (1) physical inventory to be undertaken, at the expense of the Loan

Parties, in each twelve (12) month period or periodic cycle counts, in each case consistent with past practices, conducted by such inventory takers as are satisfactory to the Agents and following such methodology as is consistent with the methodology used in the immediately preceding inventory or as otherwise may be satisfactory to the Agents. The Agents, at the expense of the Loan Parties, may participate in and/or observe each scheduled physical count of Inventory which is undertaken on behalf  of any Loan Party. The Parent or the Canadian Borrower, as applicable, upon the request of the Administrative Agent (which request may be made no more frequently than quarterly or if such information has been obtained in such quarter through the conduct of a commercial finance examination) shall provide the Agents with the results of such inventory (as well as of any other physical inventory undertaken by a Loan Party).

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
Permit any Agent, in its discretion, if any Default or Event of Default exists, to cause additional

such inventories to be taken as any such Agent determines (each, at the expense of the Loan Parties).

 

	
 
	
6.15
	
Environmental Laws.

 

(a)Conduct its operations and keep and maintain its Real Estate in material compliance with all

Environmental Laws; (b) obtain and renew all environmental permits necessary for its operations and properties except where such failure will not cause a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) implement any and all investigation, remediation, removal and response actions that are appropriate or necessary to maintain the value and marketability of the Real Estate or to otherwise comply with Environmental Laws pertaining to the presence, generation, treatment, storage, use, disposal, transportation or release of any Hazardous Materials on, at, in, under, above, to, from or about any of its Real Estate except where such failure will not cause a Material Adverse Effect, provided, however, that neither a Loan Party nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to undertake any such cleanup, removal, remedial or other action to the extent that its obligation to do so is being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings and adequate reserves have been set aside and are being maintained by the Loan Parties with respect to such circumstances in accordance with GAAP.

 

	
 
	
6.16
	
Further Assurances.

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
Execute any and all further documents, financing statements, filings, agreements and

instruments, and take all such further actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements, amendments to financing statements or other documents under the UCC, the PPSA or any other similar legislation), that may be required under any applicable Law, or which the Collateral Agent or the Canadian Agent may reasonably request, to effectuate the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents or to grant, preserve, protect or perfect the Liens created  or intended to be created by the Security Documents or the validity or priority of any such Lien, all at the expense of the Loan Parties. The Loan Parties also agree to provide to the Agents, from time to time upon request, evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Agents as to the perfection and priority of the Liens created or intended to be created by the Security Documents.

 

-137-

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
Upon the request of the Administrative Agent, use commercially reasonable efforts to

cause (i) any holder of a Lien on, or possession of, any of the Collateral included in  the Combined Borrowing Base to execute an intercreditor agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Agents, or (ii) any holder of a Lien on any real or personal properties (including, without limitation, licensees or transferees of Intellectual Property) which the Collateral Agent or the Canadian Agent as applicable, reasonably deems necessary to be utilized to realize upon, and maximize the amounts recovered on any liquidation of, any of the Collateral included in the Combined Borrowing Base, to execute and deliver a Collateral Access Agreement.

 

	
 
	
6.17
	
Compliance with Terms of LeaseholdsExcept as otherwise expressly permitted hereunder,

keep all Leases in full force and effect and not allow such Leases to lapse or be terminated, except, in any case, other than in the ordinary course of business or where the failure to do so, either individually or in the aggregate, would not be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

	
 
	
6.18
	
Maintenance of New York Process Agent. In the case of a Canadian Loan Party and the

Foreign Borrower, maintain in New York, New York or at such other location in the United States of America as may be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent a Person acting as agent to receive on its behalf and on behalf of its property service of process.

 

	
 
	
6.19
	
Canadian Pension Benefit Plans. Each Canadian Loan Party shall cause each of its Canadian

Pension Plans (other than any Canadian Pension Plan which is a “multi-employer pension plan”, as defined under the Pension Benefits Act (Ontario) or any similar type of plan subject to pension benefits standards legislation of another jurisdiction in Canada) to be duly registered and administered in all material respects in compliance with the Pension Benefits Act (Ontario) or other applicable pension benefits standards legislation and all other applicable laws (including regulations, orders and directives), and the terms of the Canadian Pension Plans and any agreements relating thereto. Each Canadian Loan Party shall ensure:

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
that no Lien arises on any of its assets in respect of any Canadian Pension Plan (other

than Liens in respect of employee contributions withheld from pay but not yet due to be remitted to any Canadian Pension Plan);

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
it makes all required contributions to any Canadian Pension Plan when due; and

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
that it does not maintain, sponsor or administer, contribute or otherwise become liable

for any Canadian Pension Plan which is a defined benefit plan.

 

ARTICLE VII NEGATIVE COVENANTS

 

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied (other than contingent indemnification claims for which a claim has not been asserted), or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, no Loan  Party shall 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; or assign or otherwise transfer any accounts or other rights to receive income, other than, as to all of the above, Permitted Encumbrances.

 

	
 
	
7.02
	
Investments. Make any Investments, except Permitted Investments.

	
 
	
7.01
	

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7.03
	
Secured Indebtedness.

 

Create, incur, assume, guarantee, suffer to exist or otherwise become or remain liable

with respect to, any Secured Funded Indebtedness, except:

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
Purchase money Indebtedness and Capital Lease Obligations, and any Permitted

Refinancing thereof;

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
Secured Funded Indebtedness incurred from time to time if, as of and after giving effect

to incurrence of such Indebtedness, the Secured Leverage Ratio shall not exceed 4.00 to 1.00 and any Permitted Refinancing thereof; provided that, unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent, if such Secured Funded Indebtedness includes security consisting of (i) any of the Collateral, or (ii) any other real or personal property (including, without limitation, licensees or transferees of Intellectual Property), which property is deemed by the Collateral Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, reasonably necessary to be utilized to realize upon, and maximize the amounts recovered on any liquidation of, any of the Collateral included in the Combined Borrowing Base, the holder of such Indebtedness shall have entered into an intercreditor agreement with the applicable Agent so as to permit the Collateral Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, access to and use of such property for a reasonable period of time to collect upon, effect a liquidation of, or otherwise exercise rights with respect to, the Collateral, all on such terms and conditions reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion; for clarity, such intercreditor agreement shall not include provisions subordinating  the debt (as opposed to the Liens on any Collateral) of the holder of such Secured Funded Indebtedness to the Obligations;

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
Secured Funded Indebtedness existing on the Effective Date and any Permitted

Refinancing thereof; and

 

	
 
	
(d)
	
Indebtedness arising under the Term Loan Documents and any Permitted Refinancing

thereof in accordance with the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

	
 
	
7.04
	
Fundamental Changes. Merge, dissolve, liquidate, amalgamate, consolidate with or into

another Person, (or agree to do any of the foregoing) (including, in each case, pursuant to a Division), except that, so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing prior to or immediately after giving effect to any action described below or would result therefrom:

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
any Subsidiary of Holdings which is not a Loan Party may merge, amalgamate or

consolidate with (i) a Loan Party, provided that the Loan Party shall be the continuing or surviving Person, or (ii) any other Person;

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
any Subsidiary of Holdings which is a Loan Party may merge, amalgamate or consolidate

into any Subsidiary which is a Loan Party or into a Borrower, provided that in any merger, amalgamation or consolidation involving a Borrower, a Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person;

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
in connection with a Permitted Acquisition, any Subsidiary of Holdings may merge or

amalgamate with or into or consolidate with any other Person or permit any other Person to merge, amalgamate with or into or consolidate with it; provided that (i) the Person surviving such merger or amalgamation shall be a wholly-owned Subsidiary of a Loan Party and (ii) in the case of any such merger to which any Loan Party is a party, such Loan Party is the surviving Person

 

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or, alternatively, such surviving Person executes the joinder documents contemplated by Section 6.11; and

 

	
 
	
(d)
	
any CFC that is not a Loan Party may merge into any CFC that is not a Loan Party.

 

	
 
	
(e)
	
Intermediate Holdco may dissolve or may merge or consolidate into another Person;

 

	
 
	
(f)
	
Holdings may merge or consolidate into another Person organized under the laws of the

United States so long as such transaction does not constitute a Change of Control; and

 

	
 
	
(g)
	
any merger, dissolution, amalgamation or consolidation to effectuate a Disposition

permitted hereunder may be consummated.

 

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

no Default or Event of Default then exists or would arise therefrom and the Net Proceeds thereof are applied to the Loans in accordance with Section 2.05 hereof (subject to the Intercreditor Agreement); provided if any such Disposition includes the Disposition of Intellectual Property used or useful in connection with the Collateral, the purchaser, assignee or other transferee thereof shall agree in writing to be bound by a non-exclusive royalty-free worldwide license of such Intellectual Property in favor of the Agent for use in connection with the exercise of the rights and remedies of the Credit Parties, which license shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agents, and provided further that in the case of a Disposition  of Intellectual Property by the Loan Parties or any Subsidiary to a third party, the transferee thereof shall be required to provide such a license only to the extent to which  the applicable license gives it a right to do so.

 

	
 
	
7.06
	
Restricted Payments. Declare or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, or incur

any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to do so, except that, so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing prior to or immediately after giving effect to any action described below or would result therefrom:

 

 

(a) Parent;

each Subsidiary of Parent may make Restricted Payments to any other Subsidiary or to

 

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
the Parent and each Subsidiary thereof may declare and make dividend payments or other

distributions payable solely in the common stock or other common Equity Interests of such Person;

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
the Parent may pay cash dividends, payments and distributions in an amount sufficient to

allow Holdings and Intermediate Holdco to pay expenses (other than taxes) incurred in the ordinary course of business, provided that, if Holdings or Intermediate Holdco shall own any material assets (other than the Equity Interests of Intermediate Holdco or the Parent or other assets relating to the Equity Interests of such Intermediate Holdco or the Parent), such cash dividends, payments and distributions made by the Parent with respect to Holdings and such Intermediate Holdco shall be limited to the reasonable and proportional share, as determined by the Parent in its reasonable discretion, of such expenses incurred by Holdings and the Intermediate Holdco solely relating or allocable to its Equity Interests in the Parent;

 

	
 
	
(d)
	
the Parent may pay cash dividends, payments and distributions in an amount sufficient to

cover reasonable and necessary expenses (including professional fees and expenses) (other than taxes) incurred by Holdings in connection with (i) registration, public offerings and exchange listing of equity or debt securities and maintenance of the same, (ii) reporting obligations under,

 

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or in connection with compliance with, applicable laws or applicable rules of any governmental, regulatory or self-regulatory body or stock exchange, this Agreement, the Notes Indenture or any other agreement or instrument relating to Indebtedness of any Loan Party or any of their Subsidiaries, and (iii) indemnification and reimbursement of directors, officers and employees in respect of liabilities relating to their serving in any such capacity, or obligations in respect of director and officer insurance (including premiums therefor), provided that, if Holdings or Intermediate Holdco shall own any material assets (other than the Equity Interests  of Intermediate Holdco or the Parent or other assets relating to the Equity Interests of such Intermediate Holdco or the Parent), such cash dividends, payments and distributions made by the Parent with respect to Holdings and such Intermediate Holdco shall be limited to the reasonable and proportional share, as determined by the Parent in its reasonable discretion, of such expenses incurred by Holdings solely relating or allocable to its Equity Interests in the Parent;

 

	
 
	
(e)
	
the Parent may pay, without duplication, cash dividends, payments and distributions (A)

pursuant to the Tax Sharing Agreement and (B) to pay or permit Holdings or  Intermediate Holdco to pay any Related Taxes; and

 

	
 
	
(f)
	
the Parent may pay cash dividends, payments and distributions to Intermediate Holdco

for distribution to Holdings, to enable the Holdings to pay cash dividends and repurchase its Equity Interests (i) in an aggregate amount not to exceed $30,000,000 in any Fiscal Year as long as, after giving pro forma effect to such dividend, payment and distribution, no Event of Default then exists or would arise as a result thereof, and (ii) without limitation as to amount if after giving pro forma effect to such distribution, payment or dividend, the Payment Conditions are satisfied.

 

	
 
	
7.07
	
Prepayments of Indebtedness. Prepay, redeem, purchase, defease or otherwise satisfy prior to

the scheduled maturity thereof in any manner any Indebtedness, or make any payment in violation of any subordination terms of any Subordinated Indebtedness, except (a) voluntary prepayments, repurchases, redemptions or defeasances of Consolidated Funded Indebtedness (i) in an aggregate amount not to exceed $30,000,000 in any Fiscal Year as long as no Event of Default then exists or would arise as a result of the making of such payment, and (ii) without limitation as to amount if the Acquisition/Investment/Debt Payment Conditions are satisfied, and (b) as long as no Event of Default then exists, Permitted Refinancings of any such Indebtedness.

 

	
 
	
7.08
	
Change in Nature of Business. Engage in any line of business substantially different from the

business conducted by the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries on the date hereofEffective Date or any business substantially related or incidental thereto or a reasonable extension thereof.

 

	
 
	
7.09
	
Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of (x) any Credit Extension (other than a FILO Loan),

whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, (a) 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 or (b) for any purposes other than (i) the financing of the acquisition of working capital assets, including the purchase of Inventory and Equipment in the ordinary course of business, (ii) to finance Capital Expenditures and Permitted Acquisitions (except to the extent restricted under the definition of Permitted Acquisitions) of the Loan Parties, and (iii) for general corporate purposes, in each case to the extent permitted under Law and the Loan Documents and (y) the FILO Loan for any purposes other than to repay the outstanding Revolving Loans and other Obligations.

 

	
 
	
7.10
	
Amendment of Material Documents.

	
 
	
7.10
	

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Except in connection with Permitted Refinancings thereof, amend, supplement, waive or otherwise modify any of the provisions of the Notes Indenture:

 

	
 
	
(i)
	
which shortens the fixed maturity or increases the principal amount of,

or increases the rate or shortens the time of payment of interest on, or increases the amount or shortens the time of payment of any principal or premium payable whether at maturity, at a date fixed for prepayment or by acceleration or otherwise of the Indebtedness evidenced by the Notes Indenture, or increases the amount of, or  accelerates the time of payment of, any fees or other amounts payable in connection therewith (except to the extent permitted by Section 7.07 hereof); or

 

	
 
	
(ii)
	
which otherwise adversely affects the interests of the Lenders as senior

secured creditors with respect to the Notes Indenture or the  interests of the Lenders under this Agreement or any other Loan Document in any material respect.

 

	
 
	
7.11
	
Fiscal Year.

 

Change the Fiscal Year of Holdings, or the accounting policies or reporting practices of the Loan Parties which would in any way materially change the reporting or calculation of any component of the Combined Borrowing Base, except as required by GAAP; provided that (a) the Parent may, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent, change its fiscal year to any other fiscal year reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, in which case, the Parent and the Administrative Agent will, and will be authorized by the Lenders to, make any adjustments to the Loan Documents that are necessary to reflect such change in Fiscal Year, and (b) the Loan Parties may change such accounting policies if such change is reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

	
 
	
7.12
	
Deposit Accounts; Credit Card Processors.

 

Open new DDAs or Blocked Accounts unless the Loan Parties shall promptly thereafter have delivered to the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, appropriate Blocked  Account Agreements consistent with the provisions of Section 6.12. No Loan Party shall maintain any bank accounts or enter into any agreements with credit card processors other than the ones expressly contemplated herein or in Section 6.12 hereof.

 

	
 
	
7.13
	
Consolidated   Fixed   Charge  Coverage  Ratio.During the continuance of a Covenant

Compliance Event, permit the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, calculated as of the last day of each month, on a trailing twelve (12) month basis (commencing with the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter or Fiscal Month, as the case may be, immediately prior to the date that the Covenant Compliance Event occurs for which the Borrowers have delivered a Compliance Certificate to the Agent in accordance with Section 6.02(b)) to be less than 1.0:1.0.

 

	
 
	
7.14
	
Limitations  on  Currency,  Commodity  and  Other  Hedging  Transactions.Enter into,

purchase or otherwise acquire agreements or arrangements relating to currency, commodity or other hedging except, to the extent and only to the extent that, such agreements or arrangements are entered into, purchased or otherwise acquired in the ordinary course of business of the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries with reputable financial institutions or vendors and not for purposes of speculation (any   such agreement or arrangement permitted by this subsection, a “Permitted Hedging Arrangement”).

 

	
 
	
7.15
	
Sanctions.Directly  or  indirectly,  use  any  Credit  Extension  or  the  proceeds  of  any Credit

Extension, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such Credit Extension or the proceeds of any Credit  Extension  to  any  Person,  to  fund  any  activities  of  or  business  with  any  Person,  or  in   any

 

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Designated Jurisdiction, that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of Sanctions, or in any other manner that will result in a violation by any Person (including any Person participating in the transaction, whether as Lender, Arranger, Agent, L/C Issuer or otherwise) of Sanctions.

 

	
 
	
7.16
	
Anti-Corruption Laws. Directly or indirectly, use any Credit Extension or the proceeds of any

Credit Extension for any purpose which would breach the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010, the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act (Canada) and other similar anti-corruption legislation in other jurisdictions.

 

ARTICLE VIII

EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

 

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

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
Non-Payment. The Borrowers or any other Loan Party fails (i) to pay when and as

required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Loan or any L/C Obligation, or deposit any funds as Cash Collateral in respect of L/C Obligations, or (ii) to pay any amount of interest on any Loan or any L/C Obligation, or pay any fee or other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Documents within three (3) Business Days of when due; or

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
Specific Covenants. (i) Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any term, covenant

or agreement contained in any of Section 6.01, 6.02 (except Section 6.02(c)), 6.03, 6.05, 6.07, 6.10, 6.11, or 6.12 or Article VII; or (ii) fails to perform its obligations under Section 6.02(c) within one Business Day after the date required for performance; or

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
Other Defaults.Any  Loan  Party fails  to  perform or  observe  any other  covenant   or

agreement (not specified in subsection (a) or (b) above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for a period ending on the earlier of

(i)the date thirty (30) days after a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party shall have discovered or should have discovered such default and (ii) the date fifteen (15) days after written notice has been given to the Parent by the Administrative Agent; or

 

	
 
	
(d)
	
Representations and Warranties. Any representation, warranty, certification or statement

of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of any Borrower or any other Loan Party herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith (including, without limitation, any Borrowing Base Certificate) shall be incorrect or misleading  in any material respect when made or deemed made; or

 

	
 
	
(e)
	
Cross-Default. (i) Any Loan Party (A) fails to make any payment when due (whether by

scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) in respect of any Material Indebtedness, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Material Indebtedness or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event occurs, the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Material Indebtedness or the beneficiary or beneficiaries of any Guarantee thereof (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness to be demanded or to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity, or such Guarantee to become payable or cash collateral in respect thereof to be demanded, and such event has not been waived or the holder of such Indebtedness has agreed and continues to forbear from exercising its rights on

 

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account thereof; 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 the Loan Party or such Subsidiary as a result thereof is greater than $20,000,000, unless such event described in (A) or (B) has been waived or the counterparty has agreed and continues to forbear from exercising its rights on  account thereof; or

 

	
 
	
(f)
	
Insolvency Proceedings, Etc. Any Borrower or any Material Subsidiary that is a Loan

Party institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding or makes any filing under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, interim receiver, monitor, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or a proceeding shall be commenced or a petition filed, without the application or consent of such Person, seeking or requesting the appointment of any receiver, interim receiver, monitor, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed and the appointment continues undischarged, undismissed or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or

 

	
 
	
(g)
	
Inability  to  Pay Debts; Attachment.(i) Any Loan Party or any Material Subsidiary

thereof becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due in the ordinary course of business, 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, which would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within thirty (30) days after its issuance or levy; or

 

	
 
	
(h)
	
Judgments. There is entered against any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof (i) one or

more judgments or orders for the payment of money in an aggregate amount (as to all such judgments and orders) exceeding $20,000,000 (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer is rated at least “A” by A.M. Best Company, has been notified of the potential claim and does not dispute coverage), or (ii) any one or more non-monetary judgments that have, or would 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 30 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment or order, by reason of a pending appeal, bonding or otherwise, is not in effect; or

 

	
 
	
(i)
	
ERISA. Any Person shall engage in any “prohibited transaction” (as defined in Section

406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) involving any Domestic Pension Plan, (ii) any “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined in Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived, shall exist with respect to any Domestic Pension Plan or any Lien in favor of the PBGC or a Domestic Pension Plan shall arise on the assets of either of the Parent or any Commonly Controlled Entity, (iii) a Reportable Event shall occur with respect to, or proceedings shall commence to have a trustee appointed, or a trustee shall be appointed, to administer or to terminate, any Single Employer Plan, which Reportable Event or commencement of proceedings

 

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or appointment of a trustee is in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent likely to result in the termination of such Plan for purposes of Title IV of ERISA, (iv) any Single Employer Plan shall terminate for purposes of Title IV of ERISA other than a standard termination pursuant to Section 4041(b) of ERISA, (v) either of the Parent or any Commonly Controlled Entity shall, or in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent is reasonably likely to, incur any liability in connection with a withdrawal from, or the Insolvency or Reorganization of, a Multiemployer Plan, or (vi) any other event or condition shall occur or exist with respect to a Domestic Pension Plan; and in each case in clauses (i) through (vi) above, such event or condition, together with all other such events or conditions, if any, would be reasonably expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

	
 
	
(j)
	
Canadian Pension Plan. Any event or condition shall occur or exist with respect to a

Canadian Pension Plan that would reasonably be expected to subject any Canadian Loan Party to any tax, penalty or other liabilities under the Pension Benefits Act (Ontario) or any other applicable pension benefits standards legislation or other applicable Laws, or if a Canadian Loan Party is in default with respect to required payments to a Canadian Pension Plan or any Lien arises on the assets of a Canadian Loan Party (save for contribution amounts not yet due) in connection with any Canadian Pension Plan, where any of the foregoing events, conditions, defaults or Liens would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

	
 
	
(k)
	
Invalidity of Loan Documents. (i) Any provision of any Loan Document, at any time

after its execution and delivery and for any reason, ceases to be in full force and effect; or any Loan Party or any other Person contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any provision of any Loan Document; or any Loan Party denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under any provision of any Loan Document, or purports to revoke, terminate or  rescind any provision of any Loan Document or seeks to avoid, limit or otherwise adversely affect any Lien purported to be created under any Security Document; or (ii) any Lien purported to be created under any Security Document shall cease to be, or shall be asserted by any Loan Party or any other Person not to be, a valid and perfected Lien on any Collateral, with the priority required by the applicable Security Document and the Intercreditor Agreement; or

 

	
 
	
(l)
	
Change of Control. There occurs any Change of Control; or

 

	
 
	
(m)
	
Cessation of Business. Except as otherwise expressly permitted hereunder, Holdings

and/or the Borrowers shall take any action to liquidate all or substantially all of its “Sally Beauty Supply” or “Beauty Systems Group” divisions in the United States or, unless the Canadian Borrower has terminated the Canadian Facilityfacility, Canada; or

 

	
 
	
(n)
	
Guaranty. The termination or attempted termination of any Facility Guaranty except as

expressly permitted hereunder or under any other Loan Document.

 

	
 
	
8.02
	
Remedies Upon Event of Default. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Agents,

may, or, at the request of the Required Lenders shall, take any or all of the following actions:

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
declare the Revolving Commitments of each Revolving Lender to make Revolving Loans

and any obligation of the L/C Issuer to make 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

 

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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 Loan Parties;

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
require that the Domestic Borrowers Cash Collateralize the Domestic L/C Obligations

(other than L/C Borrowings), and require that the Canadian Loan Parties Cash Collateralize the Canadian L/C Obligations (other than L/C Borrowings); and

 

	
 
	
(d)
	
whether or not the maturity of the Obligations shall have been accelerated pursuant

hereto, proceed to protect, enforce and exercise all rights and remedies of the Credit Parties  under this Agreement, any of the other Loan Documents or Law, including, but not limited to, by suit in equity, action at law or other appropriate proceeding, whether for the specific performance of any covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any instrument pursuant to which the Obligations are evidenced, and, if such amount shall have become due, by declaration or otherwise, proceed to enforce the payment thereof or any other legal or equitable right of the Credit Parties;

 

provided, however, that upon the entry of an order for relief (or similar order) with respect to any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof under any Debtor Relief Laws, the obligation of each Revolving Lender to make Revolving Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuer to make 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 Loan Parties to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations as aforesaid shall automatically become effective, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent, the Canadian Agent, the L/C Issuer or any Lender.

 

No remedy herein is intended to be exclusive of any other remedy and each and every remedy shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to every other remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute or any other provision of Law.

 

	
 
	
8.03
	
Application of Funds

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically

become immediately due and payable and the L/C Obligations have automatically been required to be Cash Collateralized as set forth in the proviso to Section 8.02), any amounts received from any Domestic Loan Party, from the liquidation of any Collateral of any Domestic Loan Party, or on account of the Obligations (other than the Canadian Liabilities), shall be applied by the Administrative Agent against  the Obligations in the following order:

 

First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations (excluding the Other Liabilities and the Canadian Liabilities) constituting fees, indemnities, Credit Party 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 (excluding the Other Liabilities  and the Canadian Liabilities) constituting indemnities, Credit Party Expenses, and other amounts (other than principal, interest and fees) payable to the Domestic Lenders and the L/C Issuer (on account of Domestic Letters of Credit) (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Domestic Lenders and the L/C Issuer (on account of Domestic Letters of Credit) and amounts payable under Article III), ratably among them in proportion to the amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;

 

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Third, to the extent not previously reimbursed by the Revolving Domestic Lenders, to payment to the Revolving Domestic Lenders of that portion of the Obligations constituting principal and accrued and unpaid interest on any Permitted Domestic Overadvances, ratably among the Revolving Domestic Lenders in proportion to the amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;

 

Fourth, to the extent that Swing Line Loans made to the Domestic Borrowers have not been refinanced by a Domestic Committed Loan, payment to the Swing Line Lender of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Swing Line Loans  made to the Domestic Borrowers;

 

Fifth, to the extent that Swing Line Loans made to the Domestic Borrowers have not  been refinanced by a Domestic Committed Loan, payment to the Swing Line Lender of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal on the Swing Line Loans made to the Domestic Borrowers;

 

Sixth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Revolving Domestic Loans, Domestic L/C Borrowings and other Obligations (other than the Canadian Liabilities), and fees (including Letter of Credit Fees, other than any  fees due on account of any Canadian Letter of Credit), ratably among the Revolving Domestic Lenders and the L/C Issuer in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Sixth payable to them;

 

Seventh, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of  the Revolving Domestic Loans and Domestic L/C Borrowings, and to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer, to Cash Collateralize that portion of Domestic L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of Domestic Letters of Credit, ratably among the Revolving Domestic Lenders and the L/C Issuer in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Seventh held by them;

 

Eighth, subject to Section 8.03(c), to the Canadian Agent to be held by the Canadian Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Canadian Lenders as cash collateral to payment of that portion of the Canadian Liabilities (excluding the Other Canadian Liabilities) constituting fees, indemnities, Credit Party Expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and  disbursements of counsel to the Canadian Agent and amounts payable under Article III) payable to the Canadian Agent, in its capacity as such;

 

Ninth, subject to Section 8.03(c), to the Canadian Agent to be held by the Canadian Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Canadian Lenders and the L/C Issuer as cash collateral to payment of that portion of the Canadian Liabilities (excluding the Other Canadian Liabilities) constituting indemnities, Credit Party Expenses, and other amounts (other than principal, interest and fees) payable to the Canadian Lenders and the L/C Issuer (on account of Canadian Letters of Credit) (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Domestic Lenders and the L/C Issuer (on account of Canadian Letters of Credit) and amounts payable under Article III), ratably among them in proportion to the amounts described in this clause Ninth payable to them;

 

Tenth, to the extent not previously reimbursed by the Canadian Lenders and subject to Section 8.03(c), to the Canadian Agent to be held by the Canadian Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Canadian Lenders as cash collateral to payment to the Canadian Lenders of that portion of the Canadian Liabilities constituting principal and accrued and unpaid interest on any Permitted

 

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Canadian Overadvances, ratably among the Canadian Lenders in proportion to the amounts described in this clause Tenth payable to them;

 

Eleventh, to the extent that Swing Line Loans made to the Canadian Borrower have not been refinanced by a Canadian Committed Loan and subject to Section 8.03(c), to the Canadian Agent to be held by the Canadian Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Canadian Lenders and the Swing Line Lender as cash collateral to payment to the Swing Line Lender of that portion of the Canadian Liabilities constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Swing Line Loans made to the Canadian Borrower;

 

Twelfth, to the extent that Swing Line Loans made to the Canadian Borrower have not been refinanced by a Canadian Committed Loan and subject to Section 8.03(c), to the Canadian Agent to be held by the Canadian Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Canadian Lenders and the Swing Line Lender as cash collateral to payment to the Swing Line Lender of that portion of the Canadian Liabilities constituting unpaid principal of the Swing Line Loans made to the Canadian Borrower;

 

Thirteenth, subject to Section 8.03(c), to the Canadian Agent to be held by the Canadian Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Canadian Lenders and the L/C Issuer as cash collateral to payment of that portion of the Canadian Liabilities constituting accrued and unpaid interest on  the Canadian Loans, Canadian L/C Borrowings and other Canadian Liabilities, and fees (including Letter of Credit Fees), ratably among the Canadian Lenders and the L/C Issuer in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Thirteenth payable to them;

 

Fourteenth, subject to Section 8.03(c), to the Canadian Agent to be held by the Canadian Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Canadian Lenders and the L/C Issuer as cash collateral to payment of that portion of the Canadian Liabilities constituting unpaid principal of the Canadian Loans, Canadian L/C Borrowings and the aggregate undrawn amount of Canadian Letters of Credit, ratably among the Canadian Lenders and the L/C Issuer in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourteenth held by them;

 

Fifteenth, to payment of all other Obligations (including without limitation the cash collateralization of unliquidated indemnification obligations for which a claim has been made as provided in Section 10.04, but excluding any Other Domestic Liabilities and Other Canadian Liabilities), ratably among the Credit Parties in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fifteenth held by them;

 

Sixteenth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations arising from Cash Management Services, ratably among the Credit Parties in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Sixteenth held by them;

 

Seventeenth, to payment of all other Obligations arising from Bank Products, ratably among the Credit Parties in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Seventeenth held by them; and

 

Last, the balance, if any, after the indefeasible Payment in Full of all of the Obligations and the termination of the Aggregate Total Commitments, to the Domestic Loan Parties or as otherwise required by Law.

 

Subject to Section 2.03(c), amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Domestic Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Seventh above shall be applied to satisfy drawings

 

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under such Domestic Letters of Credit as they occur. If any amount remains on deposit as Cash Collateral after all Domestic 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.

 

Any amounts received by the Canadian Agent pursuant to clauses Eighth through Seventeenth of Section 8.03(a) shall be held as cash collateral for the applicable Canadian Liabilities until the earlier of (i) the Substantial Liquidation of the Collateral granted by the Canadian Loan Parties to secure the Canadian Liabilities, or (ii) such date that the Canadian Agent and the Administrative Agent shall otherwise determine.

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically

become immediately due and payable and the L/C Obligations have automatically been required to be Cash Collateralized as set forth in the proviso to Section 8.02), any amounts received from any Canadian Loan Party, from the liquidation of any Collateral of any Canadian Loan Party, or on account of the Canadian Liabilities, shall be applied by the Canadian Agent against the Canadian Liabilities in the following order:

 

First, to payment of that portion of the Canadian Liabilities (excluding the Other Canadian Liabilities) constituting fees, indemnities, Credit Party Expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Canadian Agent and amounts payable under Article III) payable to the Canadian Agent, in its capacity as such;

 

Second, to payment of that portion of the Canadian Liabilities (excluding the Other Canadian Liabilities) constituting indemnities, Credit Party Expenses, and other amounts (other than principal, interest and fees) payable to the Canadian Lenders and the L/C Issuer (on account of Canadian Letters of Credit) (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Domestic Lenders and the L/C Issuer (on account of Canadian Letters of Credit) and amounts payable under Article III), ratably among them in proportion to the amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;

 

Third, to the extent not previously reimbursed by the Canadian Lenders, to the Canadian Agent to be applied to that portion of the Canadian Liabilities constituting principal and accrued and unpaid interest on any Permitted Canadian Overadvances, ratably among the Canadian Lenders in proportion to the amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;

 

Fourth, to the extent that Swing Line Loans made to the Canadian Borrower have not been refinanced by a Canadian Committed Loan, to payment to the Swing Line Lender of that portion of the Canadian Liabilities constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Swing Line Loans made to the Canadian Borrower;

 

Fifth, to the extent that Swing Line Loans made to the Canadian Borrower have not been refinanced by a Canadian Committed Loan, payment to the Swing Line Lender of that portion of the Canadian Liabilities constituting unpaid principal on the Swing Line Loans made to the Canadian Borrower;

 

Sixth, to payment of that portion of the Canadian Liabilities constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Canadian Loans, Canadian L/C Borrowings and other Canadian Liabilities, and fees (including Letter of Credit Fees due on account of Canadian Letters of Credit), ratably among the Canadian Lenders and the L/C Issuer in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Sixth payable to them;

 

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Seventh, to payment of that portion of the Canadian Liabilities constituting unpaid principal of the Canadian Loans, Canadian L/C Borrowings, and to Cash Collateralize that portion of Canadian L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of Canadian Letters of Credit, ratably among the Canadian Lenders and the L/C Issuer in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Seventh held by them;

 

Eighth, to payment of all other Canadian Liabilities (including without limitation the  cash collateralization of unliquidated indemnification obligations as provided in Section 10.04, but excluding, except as provided above, any Other Canadian Liabilities), ratably among the Credit Parties in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Eighth held by them;

 

Ninth, to payment of that portion of the Canadian Liabilities arising from Cash Management Services to the extent secured under the Security Documents, ratably among the Credit Parties in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Ninth held by  them;

 

Tenth, to payment of all other Canadian Liabilities arising from Bank Products to the extent secured under the Security Documents, ratably among the Credit Parties in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Tenth held by them; and

 

Last, the balance, if any, after the indefeasible Payment in Full of all of the Canadian Liabilities and the termination of the Canadian Total Commitments, to the Canadian Loan Parties or as otherwise required by Law.

 

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

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically

become immediately due and payable and the L/C Obligations have automatically been required to be Cash Collateralized as set forth in the proviso to Section 8.02), any amounts received from the Foreign Borrower, from the liquidation of any Collateral of the Foreign Borrower, or on account of the Obligations, shall be applied by the Agents against the Obligations and the Canadian Liabilities in the order set forth in clauses (a) and (b) above as the Agents shall determine.

 

	
 
	
8.04
	
Application of Proceeds while FILO Loan is Outstanding. Notwithstanding the provisions of

Section 8.03 above to the contrary, the Administrative Agent hereby acknowledges and agrees that, so long as any portion of the FILO Loan is outstanding, after the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable and the L/C Obligations have automatically been required to be Cash Collateralized as set forth in the proviso to Section 8.02), any amounts received from any Domestic Loan Party, from the liquidation of any Collateral of any Domestic Loan Party, or on account of the Obligations (other than the Canadian Liabilities), shall be applied by the Administrative Agent against the Obligations in the following order:

 

First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations (excluding the Other Liabilities and the Canadian Liabilities) constituting fees, indemnities, Credit Party 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;

 

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Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations (excluding the Other Liabilities  and the Canadian Liabilities) constituting indemnities, Credit Party Expenses, and other amounts (other than principal, interest and fees) payable to the Domestic Lenders and the L/C Issuer (on account of Domestic Letters of Credit) (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Domestic Lenders and the L/C Issuer (on account of Domestic Letters of Credit) and amounts payable under Article III), ratably among them in proportion to the amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;

 

Third, to the extent not previously reimbursed by the Revolving Domestic Lenders, to payment to the Revolving Domestic Lenders of that portion of the Obligations constituting principal and accrued and unpaid interest on any Permitted Domestic Overadvances, ratably among the Revolving Domestic Lenders in proportion to the amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;

 

Fourth, to the extent that Swing Line Loans made to the Domestic Borrowers have not been refinanced by a Domestic Committed Loan, payment to the Swing Line Lender of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Swing Line Loans  made to the Domestic Borrowers;

 

Fifth, to the extent that Swing Line Loans made to the Domestic Borrowers have not  been refinanced by a Domestic Committed Loan, payment to the Swing Line Lender of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal on the Swing Line Loans made to the Domestic Borrowers;

 

Sixth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Revolving Domestic Loans, Domestic L/C Borrowings and other Obligations (other than the Canadian Liabilities and the FILO Loan), and fees (including Letter of Credit Fees, other than any fees due on account of any Canadian Letter of Credit), ratably among the Revolving Domestic Lenders and the L/C Issuer in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Sixth payable to them;

 

Seventh, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of  the Revolving Domestic Loans and Domestic L/C Borrowings, and to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer, to Cash Collateralize that portion of Domestic L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of Domestic Letters of Credit, ratably among the Revolving Domestic Lenders and the L/C Issuer in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Seventh held by them;

 

Eighth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the FILO Loan, ratably among the FILO Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Eighth payable to them;

 

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

 

Tenth, subject to Section 8.03(c), to the Canadian Agent to be held by the Canadian Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Canadian Lenders as cash collateral to payment of that portion of the Canadian Liabilities (excluding the Other Canadian Liabilities) constituting fees, indemnities, Credit Party Expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and

 

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disbursements of counsel to the Canadian Agent and amounts payable under Article III) payable to the Canadian Agent, in its capacity as such;

 

Eleventh, subject to Section 8.03(c), to the Canadian Agent to be held by the Canadian Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Canadian Lenders and the L/C Issuer as cash collateral to payment of that portion of the Canadian Liabilities (excluding the Other Canadian Liabilities) constituting indemnities, Credit Party Expenses, and other amounts (other than principal, interest and fees) payable to the Canadian Lenders and the L/C Issuer (on account of Canadian Letters of Credit) (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Domestic Lenders and the L/C Issuer (on account of Canadian Letters of Credit) and amounts payable under Article III), ratably among them in proportion to the amounts described in this clause Eleventh payable  to them;

 

Twelfth, to the extent not previously reimbursed by the Canadian Lenders and subject to Section 8.03(c), to the Canadian Agent to be held by the Canadian Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Canadian Lenders as cash collateral to payment to the Canadian Lenders of that portion of the Canadian Liabilities constituting principal and accrued and unpaid interest on any Permitted Canadian Overadvances, ratably among the Canadian Lenders in proportion to the amounts described in this clause Twelfth payable to them;

 

Thirteenth, to the extent that Swing Line Loans made to the Canadian Borrower have not been refinanced by a Canadian Committed Loan and subject to Section 8.03(c), to the Canadian Agent to be held by the Canadian Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Canadian Lenders and the Swing Line Lender as cash collateral to payment to the Swing Line Lender of that portion of the Canadian Liabilities constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Swing Line Loans made to the Canadian Borrower;

 

Fourteenth, to the extent that Swing Line Loans made to the Canadian Borrower have not been refinanced by a Canadian Committed Loan and subject to Section 8.03(c), to the Canadian Agent to be held by the Canadian Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Canadian Lenders and the Swing Line Lender as cash collateral to payment to the Swing Line Lender of that portion of the Canadian Liabilities constituting unpaid principal of the Swing Line Loans made to the Canadian Borrower;

 

Fifteenth, subject to Section 8.03(c), to the Canadian Agent to be held by the Canadian Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Canadian Lenders and the L/C Issuer as cash collateral to payment of that portion of the Canadian Liabilities constituting accrued and unpaid interest on  the Canadian Loans, Canadian L/C Borrowings and other Canadian Liabilities, and fees (including Letter of Credit Fees), ratably among the Canadian Lenders and the L/C Issuer in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fifteenth payable to them;

 

Sixteenth, subject to Section 8.03(c), to the Canadian Agent to be held by the Canadian Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Canadian Lenders and the L/C Issuer as cash collateral to payment of that portion of the Canadian Liabilities constituting unpaid principal of the Canadian Loans, Canadian L/C Borrowings and the aggregate undrawn amount of Canadian Letters of Credit, ratably among the Canadian Lenders and the L/C Issuer in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Sixteenth held by them;

 

Seventeenth, to payment of all other Obligations (including without limitation the cash collateralization of unliquidated indemnification obligations for which a claim has been made as provided in Section 10.04, but excluding any Other Domestic Liabilities and Other Canadian

 

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Liabilities), ratably among the Credit Parties in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Seventeenth held by them;

 

Eighteenth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations arising from Cash Management Services, ratably among the Credit Parties in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Eighteenth held by them;

 

Nineteenth, to payment of all other Obligations arising from Bank Products, ratably among the Credit Parties in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Nineteenth held by them; and

 

Last, the balance, if any, after the indefeasible Payment in Full of all of the Obligations and the termination of the Aggregate Total Commitments, to the Domestic Loan Parties or as otherwise required by Law.

 

Subject to Section 2.03(c), amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Domestic Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Seventh above shall be applied to satisfy drawings under such Domestic Letters of Credit as they occur. If any amount remains on deposit as Cash Collateral after all Domestic 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.

 

Any amounts received by the Canadian Agent pursuant to clauses Tenth through Nineteenth of Section 8.04 shall be held as cash collateral for the applicable Canadian Liabilities until the earlier of (i) the Substantial Liquidation of the Collateral granted by the Canadian Loan Parties to secure the Canadian Liabilities, or (ii) such date that the Canadian Agent and the Administrative Agent shall otherwise determine.

 

For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained here, so long as any portion of the FILO Loan is outstanding, the Administrative Agent hereby agrees that any references to Section 8.03 in the Loan Documents shall be deemed to refer to this Section 8.04.

 

	
 
	
8.05
	
8.04 Waivers By Loan Parties. Except as otherwise provided for in this Agreement or by

applicable Law, each Loan Party waives (a) presentment, demand and protest and notice of presentment, dishonor, notice of intent to accelerate, notice of acceleration, protest, default, nonpayment, maturity, release, compromise, settlement, and hereby ratifies and confirms whatever any Agent may do in this regard, (b) all rights to notice and a hearing prior to any Agent’s taking possession or control of, or to any Agent’s replevy, attachment or levy upon, the Collateral or any bond or security that might be required  by any court prior to allowing either Agent to exercise any of its remedies, and (c) the benefit of all valuation, appraisal, marshaling and exemption Laws.

 

ARTICLE IX ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

 

	
 
	
9.01
	
Appointment and Authority.

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
Each of the Credit Parties 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.

 

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(b)
	
Each of the Credit Parties hereby irrevocably appoints Bank of America-Canada Branch to act on

its behalf as the Canadian Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Canadian Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Canadian Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
Each of the Lenders (in its capacities as a Lender), the Swing Line Lender and the L/C Issuer

hereby irrevocably appoints Bank of America as Collateral Agent and authorizes the Collateral Agent to act as the agent of such Lender, Swing Line Lender and the L/C Issuer for purposes of acquiring, holding and enforcing any and all Liens on Collateral granted by any of the Loan Parties to secure any of the Obligations and entering into the Intercreditor Agreement, together with such powers and discretion as  are reasonably incidental thereto. In this connection, the Collateral Agent and any co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact appointed by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.05 for purposes of holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral (or any portion thereof) granted under the Security Documents, or for exercising any rights and remedies thereunder at the direction of the Administrative Agent), shall be entitled to the benefits of all provisions of this Article IX and Article X, as though such co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact were the “collateral agent” under the Loan Documents, as if set forth in full herein with respect thereto.

 

	
 
	
(d)
	
Each of the Lenders (in its capacities as a Lender), the Swing Line Lender and the L/C Issuer

hereby irrevocably appoints Bank of America Canada-Branch as Canadian Agent and authorizes the Canadian Agent to act as the agent of such Lender, Swing Line Lender and the L/C Issuer for purposes of acquiring, holding and enforcing any and all Liens on Collateral granted by any of the Loan Parties to secure any of the Canadian Liabilities, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto. In this connection, the Canadian Agent and any co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact appointed by the Canadian Agent pursuant to Section 9.05 for purposes of holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral (or any portion thereof) granted under the Security Documents, or  for exercising any rights and remedies thereunder at the direction of the Canadian Agent), shall be  entitled to the benefits of all provisions of this Article IX and Article X, as though such co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys- in-fact were the "“collateral agent"” under the Loan Documents, as if set forth in full herein with respect thereto.

 

	
 
	
(e)
	
Without limiting the powers of the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, for the purposes

of holding any hypothec granted to the Attorney (as defined below) pursuant to the laws of the Province of Québec to secure the prompt payment and performance of any and all Obligations by any Loan Party, each of the Credit Parties hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Canadian Agent as the hypothecary representative (within the meaning of Article 2692 of the Civil Code of Quebec) for all present and future Credit Parties (in such capacity, the “Attorney”), and to enter into, to take and to hold on its behalf, and for its benefit, any deed of hypothec granted under the laws of the Province of Quebec, and to exercise such powers and duties that are conferred upon the Attorney under any such deed of hypothec. The Attorney shall: (i) have the right and authority to exercise, except as may be otherwise specifically restricted by the terms hereof, all rights and remedies given to the Attorney pursuant to any such deed of hypothec and applicable law, and (ii) benefit from and be subject to all provisions hereof with respect to the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, mutatis mutandis, including, without limitation, all such provisions with respect to the liability or responsibility to and indemnification by the Credit Parties and Loan Parties. Any Person who becomes a Credit Party shall, by its execution of an Assignment and Assumption, be deemed to have consented to and confirmed the appointment of the Attorney as the person acting as hypothecary representative and to have ratified, as of the date it becomes a Credit Party, all actions taken by the Attorney in such capacity. The substitution of the Canadian Agent pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX shall also constitute the substitution of it as the Attorney.

 

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(f)
	
[Reserved].

 

	
 
	
(g)
	
The provisions of this Section 9.01 are for the benefit of the Agents, the Domestic Lenders and

the L/C Issuer, and no Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions (other than the provisions of Section 9.06).

 

	
 
	
9.02
	
Rights as a Lender. The Persons serving as the Agents hereunder shall have the same rights and

powers in their capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though they were not the Administrative Agent, the Canadian Agent or the Collateral 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, the Canadian Agent or the Collateral Agent hereunder in its individual capacity.  Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as  the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Loan Parties or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent, the Canadian Agent or the Collateral Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

 

	
 
	
9.03
	
Exculpatory Provisions. The Agents shall not have any duties or obligations except those

expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Agents:

 

	
 
	
(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, the Canadian Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, 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 no Agent shall be required to take any action that, in its respective opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose such Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable 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 Loan Parties or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent, the Canadian Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Arranger or any of their Affiliates in any capacity.

 

No Agent shall be liable to any Credit Party for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the Consentconsent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as such 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 final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

The Agents shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given to such Agent by the Loan Parties, a Lender or the L/C Issuer. In the event that the Agents obtains such actual knowledge or receives such a notice, the Agents shall give prompt notice thereof to each of the other Lenders. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Agents shall take such action with respect to such Default or Event of Default as shall be reasonably

 

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directed by the Required Lenders. Unless and until the Agents shall have received such direction, the Agents may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect to any such Default or Event of Default as they shall deem advisable in the best interest of the Credit Parties. In no event shall the Agents be required to comply with any such directions to the extent that any Agent believes that its compliance with such directions would be unlawful.

 

The Agents 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 or Event of Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or the creation, perfection or priority of any Lien purported to be created by the Security Documents and subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, (v) the value or the sufficiency of any Collateral, or (vi) 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 Agents.

 

	
 
	
9.04
	
Reliance by Agents.

 

Each 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, but not limited to, 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. Each 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 of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or the L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent and the Canadian Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or the L/C Issuer unless the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, shall have received written notice to the contrary from such Lender or the L/C Issuer prior to the making of such Loan or the  issuance of such Letter of Credit. Each Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for any Loan Party), 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. Each 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 such Agent. Each Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Agents 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 such Agent.

 

	
 
	
9.06
	
Resignation of Agents. Any Agent may at any time give written notice of its resignation to the

Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Parent. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Parent, to appoint a successor, which, in the case of any Agent, 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 and shall, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the  time of such appointment, be reasonably acceptable to the Parent (whose consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), and in the case of the Canadian Agent, shall be a financial institution that is listed on Schedule I, II or III of the Bank Act (Canada), has received an approval to have a

 

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financial establishment in Canada pursuant to Section 522.21 of the Bank Act (Canada) or is not a foreign bank for purposes of the Bank Act (Canada) and shall, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such appointment, be reasonably acceptable to the Canadian Borrower (whose consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed). If no such successor shall have been  so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days  after the retiring Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Agent may on behalf of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, appoint a successor Administrative Agent or Canadian Agent, as applicable, meeting the qualifications set forth above; provided that if the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent shall notify the Parent and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (1) the retiring Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any Collateral held by such Person on behalf of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring Administrative Agent or Canadian Agent, as applicable, shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent or Canadian Agent, as applicable, is appointed) and (2) all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent or Canadian Agent, as applicable, shall instead be made by or to each Lender and the L/C Issuer directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent or Canadian Agent, as applicable, as provided for above in this Section 9.06. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent or Canadian Agent, as applicable, hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Agent, and the retiring 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 Borrowers to a successor Administrative Agent or Canadian Agent, as applicable, shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Parent and such successor. After the retiring Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 10.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring 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 Agent was acting as Administrative Agent or Canadian Agent hereunder.

 

	
 
	
9.07
	
Non-Reliance on Agents and Other Lenders. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer acknowledges

that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Agents, the Arranger 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 L/C Issuer also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Agents, the Arranger 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. Except as provided in Section 9.12, the Agents and the Arranger shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide any Credit Party with any other credit or other information concerning the affairs, financial condition or business of any Loan Party that may come into the possession of the Agents or the Arranger.

 

	
 
	
9.08
	
No Other Duties, Etc.Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the

Bookrunners, Arrangers or Syndication Agent 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 an Agent, the Collateral Agent, a Lender or the L/C Issuer hereunder.

 

	
 
	
9.09
	
Agents 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 Agents (irrespective of

 

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whether the principal of any Loan or L/C Obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Agents shall have made any demand on the Loan Parties) 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, 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 L/C Issuer, the Agents and the other Credit Parties (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders,  the L/C Issuer, the Agents, such Credit Parties and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, the L/C Issuer the Agents and such Credit Parties under Sections 2.03(i), 2.03(j), 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, interim receiver, assignee, trustee, monitor, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and the L/C Issuer to make such payments to the Agents and, if the Agents shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, to pay to the Agents any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Agents and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Agents under Sections 2.09 and 10.04.

 

Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Agents to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender or the L/C Issuer any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or the L/C Issuer or to authorize the Agents to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender or the L/C Issuer in any such proceeding.

 

	
 
	
9.10
	
Collateral  and Guaranty Matters.The Credit Parties irrevocably authorize the Collateral

Agent and the Canadian Agent, at their option and in their discretion to, or, in the event of any Disposition permitted hereunder, the Collateral Agent or the Canadian Agent shall,

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
release any Lien on any property granted to or held by any Agent under any Loan

Document (i) upon termination of the Aggregate Total Commitments and Payment in Full, (ii) solely with respect to any Lien on any property of the Canadian Loan Parties, upon termination  of the Canadian Total Commitments and Payment in Full of all Canadian Liabilities, (iii) that is Disposed of or to be Disposed of as part of or in connection with any Disposition permitted hereunder or under any other Loan Document, or (iv) if approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders in accordance with Section 10.01;

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent or

the Canadian Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted by clause (h) of the definition of Permitted Encumbrances; and

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
release any Guarantor from its obligations under any Facility Guaranty and each other

applicable Loan Document if such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary as a result of a transaction permitted hereunder, provided that no such release shall occur if such Guarantor continues to be  a guarantor in respect of the Term Loan Agreement.

 

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Upon request by any Agent at any time, 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) will confirm in writing the Collateral Agent’s or the Canadian Agent’s authority to release or subordinate its interest in particular types or items of property, or to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Facility Guaranty and each other applicable Loan Document pursuant to this Section 9.10. In each case as specified in this Section 9.10, the Collateral Agent or the Canadian Agent will, at the Loan Parties’ expense, execute and deliver to the applicable Loan Party such documents as such Loan Party may reasonably request to evidence the release of such item of Collateral from the assignment and Lien granted under the Security Documents or to subordinate its interest in such item, or to release such Guarantor from its obligations under the Facility Guaranty, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents and this Section 9.10.

 

	
 
	
9.11
	
Notice of Transfer.

 

The Agents may deem and treat a Lender party to this Agreement as the owner of such Lender’s portion of the Loans and Commitments for all purposes, unless and until, and except to the extent, an Assignment and Assumption shall have become effective as set forth in Section 10.06.

 

	
 
	
9.12
	
Reports and Financial Statements.

 

By signing this Agreement, each Lender:

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
agrees to promptly furnish the Agents with a summary of all Other Domestic Liabilities

or Other Canadian Liabilities due or to become due to such Lender. In connection with any distributions to be made hereunder, the Administrative Agent and the Canadian Agent shall be entitled to assume that no amounts are due to any Lender on account of Other Liabilities unless the Agents have received written notice thereof from such Lender;

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
is deemed to have requested that the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as

applicable, furnish such Lender, promptly after they become available, copies of all financial statements, Borrowing Base Certificates, notices or other written communications required to be delivered by any Loan Party hereunder and all commercial finance examinations and appraisals of the Collateral received by the Agents (collectively, the “Reports”) and the Administrative Agent and the Canadian Agent each hereby agrees to honor each such request;

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
expressly agrees and acknowledges that neither the Administrative Agent nor the

Canadian Agent makes any representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the Reports, and  shall not be liable for any information contained in any Report;

 

	
 
	
(d)
	
expressly agrees and acknowledges that the Reports are not comprehensive audits or

examinations, that the Agents, or any other party performing any audit or examination will inspect only specific information regarding the Loan Parties and will rely significantly upon the Loan Parties'’ books and records, as well as on representations of the Loan Parties'’ personnel;

 

	
 
	
(e)
	
agrees to keep all Reports confidential in accordance with the provisions of Section

10.07 hereof; and

 

	
 
	
(f)
	
without limiting the generality of any other indemnification provision contained in this

Agreement, agrees: (i) to hold the Agents and any such other Person preparing a Report harmless from any action the indemnifying Lender may take or conclusion the indemnifying Lender may reach or draw from any Report in connection with any Credit Extensions that the indemnifying

 

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Lender has made or may make to the Borrowers, or the indemnifying Lender'’s participation in, or the indemnifying Lender'’s purchase of, a Loan or Loans; and (ii) to pay and protect, and indemnify, defend, and hold the Agents and any such other Lender preparing a Report harmless from and against, the claims, actions, proceedings, damages, costs, expenses, and other amounts (including attorney costs) incurred by the Agents and any such other Person preparing a Report  as the direct or indirect result of any third parties who might obtain all or part of any Report through the indemnifying Lender.

 

	
 
	
9.13
	
Agency for Perfection.

 

Each Agent and Lender hereby appoints each other Agent and Lender as agent for the purpose of perfecting Liens for the benefit of the Agents and the Lenders, in assets which, in accordance with  Article 9 of the UCC, the PPSA or any other applicable Law of the United States or Canada can be perfected only by possession. Should any Lender (other than the Agents) obtain possession of any such Collateral, such Lender shall notify the Agents thereof, and, promptly upon the Administrative Agent’s  or the Canadian Agent’s request therefor, shall deliver such Collateral to the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, or otherwise deal with such Collateral in accordance with the Administrative Agent’s or the Canadian Agent’s instructions.

 

	
 
	
9.14
	
Indemnification  of  Agents.The Lenders shall indemnify the Agents (to the extent not

reimbursed by the Loan Parties and without limiting the obligations of Loan Parties hereunder), ratably according to their Applicable Percentages in effect on the date on which indemnification is sought under this Section 9.14 (or, if indemnification is sought after the date upon which the Aggregate Total Commitments shall have terminated and indefeasible Payment in Full, ratably in accordance with their Applicable Percentages immediately prior to such date), from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever that may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against any Agent in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any action taken or omitted to be taken by any Agent in connection therewith; provided, that no Lender shall be liable for any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulting from such Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

	
 
	
9.15
	
Relation among Lenders. The Lenders are not partners or co-venturers, and no Lender shall be

liable for the acts or omissions of, or (except as otherwise set forth herein in case of the Agents) authorized to act for, any other Lender.

 

	
 
	
9.16
	
Reserved.

 

	
 
	
9.17
	
Risk Participation.

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
Upon the earlier of Substantial Liquidation or the Determination Date, if all Canadian Liabilities

and the Foreign Liabilities incurred under the Canadian Borrowing Base have not been repaid in full (other than the Other Liabilities of the Canadian Borrower and its Subsidiaries), then the Domestic Lenders shall purchase from the Canadian Lenders (on the date of Substantial Liquidation or the Determination Date, as applicable) such portion of the Canadian Liabilities (other than Other Liabilities relating to the Canadian Borrower and its Subsidiaries) so that each Lender shall, after giving effect to any such purchases, hold its Liquidation Percentage of all outstanding Canadian Liabilities and all other Obligations.

 

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(b)
	
Upon the earlier of Substantial Liquidation or the Determination Date, if all Obligations of the

Domestic Borrowers (including the Foreign Liabilities but excluding those Obligations relating to the Canadian Liabilities or the Other Liabilities of the Domestic Borrowers) have not been repaid in full,  then the Canadian Lenders shall purchase from the Domestic Lenders (on the date of Substantial Liquidation or the Determination Date, as applicable) such portion of such Obligations so that each Lender shall, after giving effect to any such purchases, hold its Liquidation Percentage of all outstanding Obligations of the Domestic Borrowers and the Canadian Liabilities.

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
All purchases of Obligations under this Section 9.17 shall be at par, for cash, with no premium,

discount or reduction.

 

	
 
	
(d)
	
No Lender shall be responsible for any default of any other Lender in respect of any other

Lender'’s obligations under this Section 9.17, nor shall the obligations of any Lender hereunder be increased as a result of such default of any other Lender. Each Lender shall be obligated to the extent provided herein regardless of the failure of any other Lender to fulfill its obligations hereunder.

 

	
 
	
(e)
	
Each Lender shall execute such instruments, documents and agreements and do such other

actions as may be necessary or proper in order to carry out more fully the provisions and purposes of this Section 9.17 and the purchase of Obligations or the Canadian Liabilities, as applicable, as provided herein.

 

	
 
	
(f)
	
The obligations of each Lender under this Section 9.17 are irrevocable and unconditional and

shall not be subject to any qualification or exception whatsoever including, without limitation, lack of validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any of the Loan Documents or the existence of any claim, setoff, defense or other right which any Loan Party may have at any time against any of the Lenders.

 

	
 
	
(g)
	
No fees required to be paid on any assignment pursuant to Section 10.06 of this Agreement shall

be payable in connection with any assignment under this Section 9.17.

 

	
 
	
9.18
	
Domestic Parallel Debt

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
Each Loan Party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally undertakes to pay to the

Collateral Agent as a separate and independent obligation an amount equal to the total amount owed from time to time by such Loan Party to any Credit Party in respect of its Domestic Principal Obligations as they may exist from time to time. The payment undertaking of each  Loan Party to the Collateral Agent under this Section 9.18 (a) is hereinafter referred to as a “Domestic Parallel Debt”. Each Domestic Parallel Debt will be payable in the currency or currencies of the relevant Domestic Principal Obligations.

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
For the avoidance of doubt it is confirmed that Section 9.18(a) means that each Domestic

Parallel Debt constitutes a payment obligation of the relevant Loan Party to the Collateral Agent which is separate and independent from, and without prejudice to, its Domestic Principal Obligations and shall become due and payable to the Collateral Agent as soon as, and to the extent that, any amount owed by such Loan Party to the relevant Credit Party under its Domestic Principal Obligations becomes due and payable.

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
Each of the parties to this Agreement acknowledges that each Domestic Parallel Debt

represents the Collateral Agent’s own claim to receive payment of such Domestic Parallel Debt from the relevant Loan Party and that the amount which may become due and payable by a Loan Party under its Domestic Parallel Debt pursuant to this Section 9.18 shall never exceed the total

 

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amount which becomes due and payable by such Loan Party to the Credit Parties under its Domestic Principal Obligations.

 

	
 
	
(d)
	
Notwithstanding any of the other provisions of this Section 9.18:

 

	
 
	
(i)
	
any amount due and payable by a Loan Party under its Parallel Debt

shall, to the extent such Loan Party shall have paid any amounts to any Credit Party  under its Domestic Principal Obligations or any Credit Party otherwise receives any amount in payment of such Domestic Principal Obligations (other than by virtue of Section 9.18 (f)), be decreased by equivalent amounts as if such amounts were received directly in payment of such Domestic Parallel Debt on the date of receipt by the relevant Credit Party of such amount in payment of such Domestic Principal Obligations; and

 

	
 
	
(ii)
	
to the extent that any Loan Party shall have paid any amounts to the

Collateral Agent under its Domestic Parallel Debt or the Collateral Agent shall have otherwise received monies in payment of such Parallel Debt, the Domestic Principal Obligations of such Loan Party to the relevant Credit Parties shall be decreased by equivalent amounts as if such amounts were received directly in payment of such Domestic Principal Obligations on the date of receipt by the Collateral Agent of such amount in payment of such Domestic Parallel Debt.

 

	
 
	
(e)
	
For the purpose of this Section 9.18 the Collateral Agent acts in its own name and on

behalf of itself but for the benefit of the Credit Parties and any security right granted to the Collateral Agent to secure the Domestic Parallel Debt is granted to the Collateral Agent in its capacity of sole creditor of the Domestic Parallel Debt.

 

	
 
	
(f)
	
All payments received by the Collateral Agent shall be applied towards payment of the

relevant Domestic Parallel Debt, whereupon the Collateral Agent shall distribute such amounts to the Credit Parties who are creditors in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

	
 
	
9.19
	
Foreign Parallel Debt

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
Each Loan Party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally undertakes to pay to the

Canadian Agent as a separate and independent obligation an amount equal to the total amount owed from time to time by such Loan Party to any Credit Party in respect of its Foreign Principal Obligations as they may exist from time to time. The payment undertaking of each Loan Party to the Canadian Agent under this Section 9.19 (a) is hereinafter referred to as a “Foreign Parallel Debt”. Each Foreign Parallel Debt will be payable in the currency or currencies of the relevant Foreign Principal Obligations.

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
For the avoidance of doubt it is confirmed that Section 9.19 (a) means that each Foreign

Parallel Debt constitutes a payment obligation of the relevant Loan Party to the Canadian Agent which is separate and independent from, and without prejudice to, its Foreign Principal Obligations and shall become due and payable to the Canadian Agent as soon as, and to the  extent that, any amount owed by such Loan Party to the relevant Credit Party under its Foreign Principal Obligations becomes due and payable.

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
Each of the parties to this Agreement acknowledges that each Foreign Parallel Debt

represents the Canadian Agent’s own claim to receive payment of such Foreign Parallel Debt from the relevant Loan Party and that the amount which may become due and payable by a Loan Party under its Foreign Parallel Debt pursuant to this Section 9.19 shall never exceed the total

 

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amount which becomes due and payable by such Loan Party to the Credit Parties under its Foreign Principal Obligations.

 

	
 
	
(d)
	
Notwithstanding any of the other provisions of this Section 9.19:

 

	
 
	
(i)
	
any amount due and payable by a Loan Party under its Foreign Parallel

Debt shall, to the extent such Loan Party shall have paid any amounts to any Credit Party under its Foreign Principal Obligations or any Credit Party otherwise receives any amount in payment of such Foreign Principal Obligations (other than by virtue of Section 9.19 (f)), be decreased by equivalent amounts as if such amounts were received directly in payment of such Foreign Parallel Debt on the date of receipt by the relevant Credit Party of such amount in payment of such Foreign Principal Obligations; and

 

	
 
	
(ii)
	
to the extent that any Loan Party shall have paid any amounts to the

Canadian Agent under its Foreign Parallel Debt or the Canadian Agent shall have otherwise received monies in payment of such Foreign Parallel Debt, the Foreign Principal Obligations of such Loan Party to the relevant Credit Party shall be decreased by equivalent amounts as if such amounts were received directly in payment of such Foreign Principal Obligations on the date of receipt by the Canadian Agent of such amount in payment of such Foreign Parallel Debt.

 

	
 
	
(e)
	
For the purpose of this Section 9.19 the Canadian Agent acts in its own name and on

behalf of itself but for the benefit of the Credit Parties and any security right granted to the Canadian Agent to secure the Foreign Parallel Debt is granted to the Canadian Agent in its capacity of sole creditor of the Foreign Parallel Debt.

 

	
 
	
(f)
	
All payments received by the Canadian Agent shall be applied towards payment of the

relevant Foreign Parallel Debt, whereupon the Canadian Agent shall distribute such amounts to the Credit Parties who are creditors in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

	
 
	
9.20
	
Parallel Debt Savings Clause. Notwithstanding any provision of Section 9.18 and 9.19 or any

other provision of this Agreement, neither the Canadian Loan Parties nor the Foreign Borrower shall be liable for the payment of the Obligations incurred by the Domestic Borrowers (other than the Foreign Borrower) and Domestic Loan Parties. Rather, it is the intent of Sections 9.18 and 9.19 to create parallel debts for purpose of Dutch law.

 

ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS

 

	
 
	
10.01
	
Amendments, Etc.NoSubject to Section 3.03(b), no amendment or waiver of any provision of

this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by any Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Administrative Agent, with the Consentconsent of the Required Lenders, and the Parent or the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, and each such waiver or Consentconsent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment

terminated pursuant to Section 8.02) without the written Consentconsent of such Lender;

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for (i) any

scheduled payment (including the Maturity Date) of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due

 

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hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents without the written Consentconsent of each Lender directly affected thereby (it being understood that postponements of the date for mandatory prepayments required by Section 2.05 may be made with the consent of the Required Lenders and shall not be subject to this clause (b)) or (ii) any scheduled or mandatory reduction of the Aggregate TotalRevolving Commitments hereunder or under any other Loan Document, without the written Consentconsent of each Lender directly affected thereby;

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or L/C

Borrowing, or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document, without the written Consentconsent of each Lender directly affected thereby; provided, however, that only the Consentconsent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary (i) to amend the definition of “Default Rate” or to waive any obligation of the Borrowers to pay interest or Letter of Credit Fees at the Default Rate;

 

	
 
	
(d)
	
change Section 2.13 or, Section 8.03 or Section 8.04 without the written Consentconsent

of each Lender directly affected thereby;

 

	
 
	
(e)
	
change any provision of this Section or the definitiondefinitions of “Required Lenders”,

“Required Revolving 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, or consent to the assignment or transfer by any Loan Parties of any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, in each case without the written Consentconsent of each Lender;

 

	
 
	
(f)
	
except as expressly permitted hereunder or under any other Loan Document, release, or

limit the liability of, any Loan Party without the written Consentconsent of each Lender;

 

	
 
	
(g)
	
except for Dispositions permitted under Section 7.05 hereof or as provided in Section

9.10, release all or substantially all of the Collateral from the Liens of the Security Documents without the written Consentconsent of each Lender;

 

	
 
	
(h)
	
change the definition of the term “Domestic Borrowing Base”, “Canadian Borrowing

Base”, “FILO Borrowing Base”, “Combined Borrowing Base” or any component definition of either term, if as a result thereof the amount of credit available to the Borrowers hereunder would be increased without the written Consentconsent of each Lender, provided that the foregoing  shall not limit the discretion of the Administrative Agent to change, establish or eliminate any Reserves with respect to the Domestic Borrowing Base, or the Canadian Agent to change, establish or eliminate any Reserves with respect to the Canadian Borrowing Base even if such change or elimination results in an increase in the amount of credit available to the Borrowers hereunder;

 

	
 
	
(i)
	
modify the definition of “Domestic Permitted Domestic Overadvance” or the definition

of “Canadian Permitted Canadian Overadvance” so as to increase the amount thereof or, except as provided in such definitions, the time period for a Permitted Domestic Permitted Overadvance or a Permitted Canadian Permitted Overadvance without the written Consentconsent of each Revolving Lender; and

 

	
 
	
(j)
	
except as expressly permitted herein or in any other Loan Document, subordinate the

Obligations hereunder or the Liens granted hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, to any other Indebtedness or Lien, as the case may be without the written Consentconsent of each Lender;

 

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and, provided further, that (i) no amendment, waiver or Consentconsent shall, unless in writing and signed by the L/C Issuer in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the L/C Issuer under this Agreement or any Issuer Document relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to be  issued by it; (ii) no amendment, waiver or Consentconsent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Swing Line Lender in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Swing  Line Lender under this Agreement; (iii) no amendment, waiver or Consentconsent 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; (iv) no amendment, waiver or Consentconsent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Collateral Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Collateral Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (v) no amendment, waiver or Consentconsent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Canadian Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Canadian Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and (vi) the Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or Consentconsent hereunder, except that  the Commitment of such Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such 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 Agents and the Borrowers

(y) to add one or more additional credit facilities to this Agreement and to permit the extensions of credit from time to time outstanding thereunder and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof to share ratably in the benefits of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with the existing Obligations and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof, and (z) to include, as appropriate, the Lenders holding such credit facilities in any required vote or action of the Applicable Lenders.

 

If any Lender does not Consentconsent (a “Non-Consenting Lender”) to a proposed amendment, waiver, consent or release with respect to any Loan Document that requires the Consentconsent of each Lender and that has been approved by the Required Lenders, the Parent may replace such Non-Consenting Lender in accordance with Section 10.13; provided that such amendment, waiver, consent or release can be effected as a result of the assignment contemplated by such Section (together with all other such assignments required by the Parent to be made pursuant to this paragraph).

 

	
 
	
10.02
	
Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communications.

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
Notices Generally. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted

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

 

	
 
	
(i)
	
if to the Loan Parties, the Agents, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line

Lender, to the address, telecopier 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, telecopier number, electronic mail

address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire.

 

Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by telecopier shall be deemed to have been given

 

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when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient). Notices delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in subsection (b) below, shall be effective as provided in such subsection (b).

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the L/C

Issuer hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent or the Canadian Agent, as applicable, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or the L/C Issuer pursuant to Article II if such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Parent or the Canadian Agent and the Canadian Borrower may, in their 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), provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient, 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.

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
The Platform. THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” THE

AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM. In no event shall the

Agents or any of their Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have any liability to any Loan Party, any Lender, the 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 the Loan Parties’ or the Agent Parties’ transmission of Borrower Materials through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided, however, that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to any Loan Party, any Lender, the 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 Loan Parties, the Agents, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line

Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Parent, the Agents, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender. In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address,

 

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contact name, telephone number, telecopier number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender.

 

	
 
	
(e)
	
Reliance by Agents, L/C Issuer and Lenders. The Agents, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders shall

be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Committed Loan Notices and Swing Line Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Loan Parties even if (i) such notices were  not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. The Loan Parties shall indemnify the Agents, the 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 the Loan Parties. All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Agents may be recorded by the Agents, and  each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

 

	
 
	
10.03
	
No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure by any Credit Party to exercise, and no delay by

any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Loan Document preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any  other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided herein and in the other Loan Documents are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan or issuance of a Letter of Credit shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether any Credit Party may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time.

 

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 Agents in accordance with Section 8.02 for the benefit of all the Lenders and the L/C Issuer; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Agents from exercising on their own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in their capacity as Agents) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (b) the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender from exercising the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, or (c) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 10.08 (subject to the terms of Section 2.13); and provided, further, that if at any time there is no Person acting as Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Agents pursuant to Section 8.02 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b) and (c) of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.13, any Lender may, (a) with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders, (b) without limiting the Agent’s rights under Section 9.09 file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the 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 such Lender allowed in such judicial proceeding; and (c) exercise rights and remedies (other than against the Collateral) under any agreements relating to Bank Products and Cash Management Services furnished by such Lender.

 

	
 
	
10.04
	
Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
Costs and Expenses. The Borrowers shall pay all Credit Party Expenses.

	
 
	
(a)
	

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(b)
	
Indemnification by the Loan Parties. The Loan Parties shall indemnify the Agents (and any

sub-agent thereof), the Arrangers, each other Credit Party, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless (on an after tax basis) from, any and all losses, claims, causes of action, damages, liabilities, settlement payments, costs, and related expenses (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any external counsel for any Indemnitee), incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by any Borrower 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 Agents (and any sub-agents thereof) and their Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by the L/C Issuer to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, (iv) any claims of, or amounts paid by any Credit Party to, a Blocked Account Bank or  other Person which has entered into a control agreement with any Credit Party hereunder, or (v) 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 any Borrower or any other Loan Party or any of the Loan Parties’ directors, shareholders or creditors, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto, in all cases, whether or not caused by or arising, in whole or in part, out of the comparative, contributory or sole negligence of the Indemnitee; 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 bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or (y) result from a claim brought by a Borrower or any other Loan Party against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee'’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if the Borrowers or such Loan Party has obtained a final and non-appealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided further that with respect to the Canadian Loan Parties, “Indemnitees” shall only refer to the Canadian Credit Parties and each Related Party of the Canadian Credit Parties; and provided further that reimbursement of legal expenses shall be limited to the expenses of one counsel (and any necessary local counsel) per  Indemnitee. Without limiting the provisions of Section 3.01(c), for the avoidance of doubt, this Section 10.04(b) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages and costs arising from any non-Tax claim.

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. To the fullest extent permitted by Law, the Loan Parties

shall not assert, and hereby waive, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnitee 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. None of the Credit Parties, or their agents or employees shall be liable for any loss or damage insured by the insurance policies required to be maintained under

 

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Section 6.07. Each Loan Party shall  look solely to its insurance companies or any other parties other  than the Credit Parties for the recovery of such loss or damage and such insurance companies shall have no rights of subrogation against any Credit Party or its agents or employees. If, however, the insurance policies do not provide waiver of subrogation rights against such parties, as required above, then the  Loan Parties hereby agree, to the extent permitted by law, to waive their right of recovery, if any, against the Credit Parties and their agents and employees.

 

	
 
	
(d)
	
Payments. All amounts due under this Section shall be payable on demand therefor.

 

	
 
	
(e)
	
Survival.The agreements in this Section shall survive the resignation of any Agent, the

SwinglineSwing Line Lender, and the L/C Issuer, the assignment of any Commitment or Loan by any Lender, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Total 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 the Loan Parties is made

to any Credit Party, or any Credit Party 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 such Credit Party in its discretion) to be repaid to a receiver, interim receiver, trustee, monitor, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer, 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, (b) each Revolving Domestic Lender and the L/C Issuer (with respect to Domestic Letters of Credit) severally agrees to pay to the Agents upon demand its Applicable Percentage (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Agents, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect, and (c) each Canadian Lender and the L/C Issuer (with respect to Canadian Letters of Credit) severally agrees to pay to the Canadian Agent upon demand its Applicable Percentage (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Canadian 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 Canadian Prime Rate from to time in effect. The obligations of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer under clause (b) and clause (c) 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 no Loan Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the prior written Consentconsent of the Agents and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an Eligible Assignee in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.06(b), (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection 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 subsection (d) of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Credit Parties) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

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(b)
	
Assignments by Lenders. Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more Eligible 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 L/C Obligations and in Swing Line  Loans) at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

 

	
 
	
(i)
	
Minimum Amounts.

 

	
 
	
(A)
	
in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of

the assigning Lender'’s Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it or in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to a  Lender, no minimum amount need be assigned; and

 

	
 
	
(B)
	
in any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A)of this Section,

the aggregate amount of the Revolving Domestic Commitment or Canadian Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Revolving Domestic Loans or Canadian 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 unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing, the Parent otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided, however, that concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee Group and concurrent assignments from members of an Assignee Group to a single Eligible Assignee (or to an Eligible Assignee and members of its Assignee Group) will be treated as a single assignment for purposes of determining whether such minimum amount has been met;

 

	
 
	
(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 Revolving Domestic Loans or the Revolving Domestic Commitment assigned or the Canadian Loans or the Canadian Commitment assigned, as applicable, except that this clause (ii) shall not apply to the Swing Line Lender’s rights and obligations in respect of Swing Line Loans;

 

	
 
	
(iii)
	
Required Consents. No consent shall be required for any assignment

except to the extent required by subsection (b)(i)(B) of this Section and, in addition:

 

	
 
	
(A)
	
the consent of the Parent (such consent not to be unreasonably

withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (1) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender; and

 

	
 
	
(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 Commitment if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender; and

 

	
 
	
(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 of $3,500, provided, however, that the Administrative Agent may,

 

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in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment. The assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

 

	
 
	
(v)
	
Restrictions  on  Canadian  Lenders.Unless otherwise agreed by the

Administrative Agent, no Person may be a Canadian Lender unless it (or any of its Affiliates) also has a Revolving Domestic Commitment in an amount at least equal to its Canadian Commitment.

 

	
 
	
(vi)
	
Assignments to Canadian Lenders. The amount assigned by a Canadian

Lender to its assignee (each such an assignee a “New Canadian Lender”) in relation to  a Canadian Loan and/or commitments under this Agreement made available to any Dutch Loan Party shall be at least EUR 100,000 (or its equivalent in another currency) or, if it is less, the  New Canadian Lender shall confirm in writing to the relevant Dutch Loan Party that such New Canadian Lender is a Professional Market Party.

 

	
 
	
(vii)
	
Representation by New Canadian Lender. If on the date on which a New

Canadian Lender becomes a Canadian Lender, such Canadian Lender participates in Canadian Loans that may be made available to a Dutch Loan Party and the amount of such participation shall be less than EUR 100,000 (or its equivalent in another currency) and it is a requirement under Dutch law that such New Canadian Lender be a Professional Market Party, such New Canadian Lender will make a representation that it is a Professional Market Party and will undertake, to the extent necessary, to provide its reasonable assistance to each Dutch Loan Party in verifying such New Canadian Lender’s status as a Professional Market Party.

 

	
 
	
(viii)
	
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 sub-participations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Parent 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 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 Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under applicable Law without compliance with the provisions of this  paragraph, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.

 

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c) of  this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the Eligible 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,

 

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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, the Borrowers (at their expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or  transfer  by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with Section 10.06(d).

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
Register. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary 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 and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts of the Loans and L/C Obligations owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, absent manifest error, and the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Parent and any Lender at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

	
 
	
(d)
	
Participations. Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Loan

Parties or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person or the Loan Parties or any of the Loan Parties’ 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 Revolving Domestic Commitment, Canadian Commitment and/or the Loans (including such Lender’s participations in L/C Obligations and/or Swing Line Loans) owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender'’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Loan Parties, the Agents, the Lenders and the 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. Any Participant shall agree in writing to comply with all confidentiality obligations set forth in Section 10.07 as if such Participant was a Lender hereunder.

 

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. Subject to subsection (e) of this Section, the Loan Parties agree 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). 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  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 Borrowers, 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

 

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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, to the extent applicable, is required under Section 3.01 of this Agreement. 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)
	
Limitations upon Participant Rights. A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater

payment under Section 3.01 or 3.04 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Parent'’s prior written consent.  A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were   a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 3.01 unless the Parent is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Loan Parties, to comply with Section 3.01(e) as though it were a Lender.

 

	
 
	
(f)
	
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.

 

	
 
	
(g)
	
Electronic Execution of Assignments. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words

of like import in any Assignment and Assumption shall be deemed to include electronic signatures 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 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.

 

	
 
	
(h)
	
Resignation as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender after Assignment or Resignation.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if at any time Bank of America or Bank of America Canada-Branch assigns all of its Commitment and Loans pursuant to subsection (b) above, or resigns as Administrative Agent or Canadian Agent in accordance with the provisions of Section 9.06, Bank of America or Bank of America Canada-Branch and its Affiliates may, (i) upon thirty (30) days’ notice to the Parent and the Lenders, resign as an L/C Issuer and/or (ii) with duplication of any notice required under Section 9.06, upon thirty (30) days’ notice to the Parent, resign as a Swing Line Lender.  In the event of any such resignation as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, the Parent shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a successor L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender hereunder; provided, however, that no failure by the Parent to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of Bank  of America or Bank of America Canada-Branch as an L/C Issuer or a Swing Line Lender, as the case may be. If Bank of America or Bank of America Canada-Branch and its Affiliates resigns as L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to make Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c)). Upon the appointment of a successor L/C Issuer and/or Swing Line Lender, (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as  the case may be, (b) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to Bank

 

of America or Bank of America Canada-Branch to effectively assume the obligations of Bank of America

 

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or Bank of America Canada-Branch and any of its Affiliates with respect to such Letters of Credit, and

(c)the successor Swing Line Lender shall repay all outstanding Obligations with respect to Swing Line Loans due to the resigning Swing Line Lender.

 

	
 
	
10.07
	
Treatment  of  Certain Information; Confidentiality.Each of the Credit Parties agrees to

maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates, Approved Funds, and to its and its Affiliates’ and Approved Funds’ respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, funding sources, attorneys, advisors and representatives (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 requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by Laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party  hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement  of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the  same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any Swap Contract or derivative transaction relating to any Loan Party and its obligations, (g) with the consent of the Parent or (h) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (y) becomes available to any Credit Party or any of their respective Affiliates on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Loan Parties.

 

For purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Loan Parties or any Subsidiary thereof relating to the Loan Parties or any Subsidiary thereof or their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to any Credit Party on a non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by the Loan Parties or any Subsidiary thereof, provided that, in the case of information received from any Loan Party or any Subsidiary after the date hereofEffective Date, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with  its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

 

Each of the Credit Parties acknowledges that (a) the Information may include material non-public information concerning the Loan Parties 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 Law, including Federal and state securities Laws.

 

	
 
	
10.08
	
Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or if any Lender

shall have been served with a trustee process or similar attachment relating to property of a Loan Party, each Lender, the L/C Issuer and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, after obtaining the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in  whatever currency) or other property at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender, the L/C Issuer or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrowers or any other Loan Party against any and all of the Obligations now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, regardless of the adequacy of the Collateral, and irrespective of whether or not such Lender or the L/C Issuer shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrowers or such Loan Party may be contingent or

 

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unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Lender or the L/C Issuer different from the branch or office 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 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. The rights of each Lender, the L/C Issuer and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, the L/C Issuer or their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer agrees to notify the Parent 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, any amounts of the Canadian Loan Parties so offset shall be applied solely to the Canadian Liabilities.

 

	
 
	
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 Law (the “Maximum Rate”). If the Administrative Agent, the Canadian 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 and the other Obligations or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal and other Obligations, refunded to the Borrowers. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by 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 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 and the other Loan Documents constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy, pdf or other electronic transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

	
 
	
10.11
	
Survival. 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 Credit Parties, regardless of any investigation made by any Credit Party or on their behalf and notwithstanding that any Credit Party 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 Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding. Further, the provisions of Sections 3.01, 3.04, 3.05 and 10.04 and Article IX shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the repayment of the Obligations, the expiration or termination of the Letters of Credit and the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof. In connection with the termination of this Agreement and the release and termination

 

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of the security interests in the Collateral, the Agents may require such indemnities and collateral security as they shall reasonably deem necessary or appropriate to protect the Credit Parties against (x) loss on account of credits previously applied to the Obligations that may subsequently be reversed or revoked,

(y) any obligations that may thereafter arise with respect to the Other Liabilities, and (z) any Obligations that may thereafter arise under Section 10.04 hereof.

 

	
 
	
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 Agent, the L/C Issuer or the 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 any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or if the

Borrowers (other than the Foreign Borrower) are required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or a Non-Consenting Lender, then the Borrowers may, at their sole expense and effort (in the case of the Canadian Borrower, only in respect of any Canadian Lender), 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 and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Section 3.01 and 3.04) to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
the Borrowers shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee 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 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 Borrowers (in the case of all other amounts);

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under

Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter;

 

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

 

	
 
	
(e)
	
in the case of an assignment resulting from a Lender becoming a Non-Consenting

Lender, the applicable assignee shall have consented to the applicable amendment, waiver or consent.

 

A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of  a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrowers to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

 

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10.14
	
Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED

IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
SUBMISSION   TO   JURISDICTION.EACH LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND

UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY, BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE LOAN PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE LOAN PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT  IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT ANY CREDIT PARTY MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST ANY LOAN PARTY OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
WAIVER OF VENUE. EACH LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY

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

 

	
 
	
(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 LAW.

 

	
 
	
(e)
	
ACTIONS COMMENCED BY LOAN PARTIES. EACH LOAN PARTY AGREES THAT

ANY ACTION COMMENCED BY ANY LOAN PARTY ASSERTING ANY CLAIM OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL BE BROUGHT SOLELY IN A COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY OR ANY FEDERAL COURT SITTING THEREIN AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT MAY ELECT IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION AND CONSENTS TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS WITH RESPECT TO ANY SUCH ACTION.

 

	
 
	
10.15
	
Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO

THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR

 

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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.

 

	
 
	
10.16
	
No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. In connection with all aspects of each transaction

contemplated hereby, the Loan Parties each acknowledge and agree that: (i) the credit facility provided for hereunder and any related arranging or other services in connection therewith (including in  connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document)  are an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Loan Parties, on the one hand, and the Credit Parties, on the other hand, and each of the Loan Parties is capable of evaluating and understanding and understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents (including any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or thereof);

(ii)in connection with the process leading to such transaction, the each Credit Party is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the financial advisor, agent or fiduciary, for the Loan Parties or any of their respective Affiliates, stockholders, creditors or employees or any other Person; (iii) none of the Credit Parties has assumed or will assume an advisory, agency or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Loan Parties with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto, including with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document (irrespective of whether any of the Credit Parties has advised or is currently advising any Loan Party or any of its Affiliates on other matters) and none of the Credit Parties has any obligation to any Loan Party or any of its Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; (iv) the Credit Parties and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates, and none of the Credit Parties has any obligation to disclose any of such interests by virtue of any advisory, agency or fiduciary relationship;  and (v) the Credit Parties have not provided and will not provide any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby (including any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document) and each of the Loan Parties has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate. Each of the Loan Parties hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that it may have against each of the Credit Parties with respect to any breach or alleged breach  of  agency or fiduciary duty.

 

	
 
	
10.17
	
USA PATRIOT Act Notice; Proceeds of Crime Act. Each Lender that is subject to the USA

PATRIOT Act and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Loan Parties that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act and all applicable “know your customer” rules, regulations and procedures applicable to such Lender in Canada), 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 USA PATRIOT Act. Each Loan Party is in compliance, in all material respects, with the USA PATRIOT Act and the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (Canada) (the “Proceeds of Crime Act”). No part of the proceeds of the Loans will be used by the Loan Parties, directly or indirectly, for  any purpose which would contravene or breach the Proceeds of Crime Act or for any payments to any governmental official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political

 

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office, or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010, the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act (Canada) or similar legislation of another jurisdiction. The Loan Parties shall, promptly following a request by the Agent or any Lender, provide all documentation and other information that the 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 USA PATRIOT Act and the Proceeds of Crime Act.

 

	
 
	
10.18
	
Foreign Asset Control Regulations. Neither of the advance of the Loans, the issuance of

Letters of Credit nor the use of the proceeds of any thereof will violate the Trading With the Enemy Act (50 U.S.C. § 1 et seq., as amended) (the "“Trading With the Enemy Act"”) or any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) (the "“Foreign Assets Control Regulations"”) or any enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto (which for the avoidance of doubt shall include, but shall not be limited to (a) Executive Order 13224 of September 21, 2001 Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism (66 Fed. Reg. 49079 (2001)) (the "“Executive Order"”) and (b) the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (Public Law 107-56)). Furthermore, none of  the  Borrowers or their Affiliates (a) is or will become a "“blocked person"” as described in the Executive Order, the Trading With the Enemy Act or the Foreign Assets Control Regulations or (b) engages or will engage in any dealings or transactions, or be otherwise associated, with any such "“blocked person"” or  in any manner violative of any such order.

 

	
 
	
10.19
	
Time of the Essence. Time is of the essence of the Loan Documents.

 

	
 
	
10.20
	
Designation as Senior Debt. All Obligations shall be “Designated Senior Indebtedness” for

purposes of and as defined in the Senior Subordinated Note certain Indenture and all supplemental indentures thereto.

 

	
 
	
10.21
	
Press Releases.

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
Each Credit Party executing this Agreement agrees that neither it nor its Affiliates will in the

future issue any press releases or other public disclosure using the name of any Agent or their respective Affiliates or referring to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents without at least two (2) Business Days’ prior notice to the Agents and without the prior written consent of the Agents unless (and only to the extent that) such Credit Party or Affiliate is required to do so under Law and then, in any event, such Credit Party or Affiliate will consult with the Agents before issuing such press release or other public disclosure,

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
Each Loan Party consents to the publication by any Agent or any Lender of advertising material

relating to the financing transactions contemplated by this Agreement using any Loan Party’s name, product photographs, logo or trademark. Such Agent or such Lender shall provide a draft reasonably in advance of any advertising material to the Parent for review and comment prior to the  publication thereof.  The Agents reserve the right to provide to industry trade organizations information necessary  and customary for inclusion in league table measurements.

 

	
 
	
10.22
	
Additional Waivers.

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
Except as provided herein or in any other Loan Document or pursuant to any amendment or

waiver executed pursuant to Section 10.01, (i) the Obligations (including, for avoidance of doubt, the Canadian Liabilities and the Foreign Liabilities) are the joint and several obligation of each Domestic

 

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Loan Party; (ii) the Canadian Liabilities and the Foreign Liabilities are the joint and several obligation of each Canadian Loan Party; and (iii) the Foreign Liabilities are the joint and several obligations of each Loan Party. To the fullest extent  permitted by applicable Law, the obligations of each Loan Party shall not be affected by (i) the failure of any Credit Party to assert any claim or demand or to enforce or exercise any right or remedy against any other Loan Party under the provisions of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or otherwise, (ii) any release of any other Loan Party from any of the terms or provisions of, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or (iii) the failure to perfect any security interest in, or the release of, any of the Collateral or other security held by or on behalf of any Agent, the Collateral Agent or any other Credit Party.

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
Except as provided herein or in any other Loan Document or pursuant to any amendment or

waiver executed pursuant to Section 10.01, the Obligations of each Loan Party shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason (other than the indefeasible Payment in Full in cash of the Obligations after the termination of the Aggregate Total Commitments), including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise of any of the Obligations, and shall not be subject to any defense or setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of any of the Obligations or otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Obligations of each Loan Party shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by the failure of any Agent or any other Credit Party to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy under this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, by any waiver or modification of any provision of any thereof, any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of any of the Obligations, or by any other act or omission that may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of any Loan Party or that would otherwise operate as a discharge of any Loan Party as a matter of law or equity (other than the indefeasible Payment in Full in cash of all of the Obligations after the termination of the Aggregate Total Commitments).

 

	
 
	
(c)
	
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, each Loan Party waives any defense based on

or arising out of any defense of any other Loan Party or the unenforceability of the Obligations or any  part thereof from any cause, or the cessation from any cause of the liability of any other Loan Party, other than the indefeasible Payment in Full in cash of all the Obligations after the termination of the Aggregate Total Commitments. The Agents and the Collateral Agent may, at their election, foreclose on  any security held by one or more of them by one or more judicial or non-judicial sales, accept an assignment of any such security in lieu of foreclosure, compromise or adjust any part of the Obligations, make any other accommodation with any other Loan Party, or exercise any other right or remedy available to them against any other Loan Party, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of any Loan Party hereunder except to the extent that indefeasible Payment in Full of all the Obligations has occurred and the Aggregate Total Commitments have been terminated. Each Loan Party waives any defense arising  out of any such election even though such election operates, pursuant to applicable Law, to impair or to extinguish any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of such Loan Party against any other Loan Party, as the case may be, or any security.

 

	
 
	
(d)
	
Upon payment by any Loan Party of any Obligations, all rights of such Loan Party against any

other Loan Party arising as a result thereof by way of right of subrogation, contribution, reimbursement, indemnity or otherwise shall in all respects be subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior indefeasible Payment in Full in cash of all the Obligations after the termination of the Aggregate Total Commitments. Any indebtedness of any Loan Party now or hereafter held by any other Loan Party is hereby subordinated in right of payment to the prior indefeasible Payment in Full of the Obligations and the termination of the Aggregate Total Commitments. If any amount shall erroneously be paid to any Loan Party on account of (i) such subrogation, contribution, reimbursement, indemnity or similar right or

(ii) any such indebtedness of any Loan Party, such amount shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Credit Parties and shall forthwith be paid to the applicable Agent to be credited against the payment of

 

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the applicable Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Subject to the foregoing, to the extent that any Borrower or Guarantor shall, under this Agreement as a joint and several obligor, repay any of the Obligations constituting Loans made to another Borrower hereunder or other Obligations incurred directly and primarily by any other Borrower (an "“Accommodation Payment"”), then the Borrower or Guarantor making such Accommodation Payment shall be entitled to contribution and indemnification from, and be reimbursed by, each of the other Loan Parties in an amount, (x) for each of such other Domestic Borrower, equal to a fraction of such Accommodation Payment, the numerator of which fraction is such other Domestic Borrower’s Allocable Amount and the denominator of which is the sum of the Allocable Amounts of all of the Domestic Borrowers, or (y) for the Canadian Loan Parties or the Foreign Borrower, in an amount equal to such Accommodation Payment. As of any date of determination, the "“Allocable Amount"” of each Domestic Borrower shall be equal to the maximum amount of liability for Accommodation Payments which could be asserted against such Domestic Borrower hereunder without

(a) rendering such Domestic Borrower "“insolvent"” within the meaning of Section 101 (31) of the Bankruptcy Code, Section 2 of the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act ("“UFTA"”) or Section 2 of the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act ("“UFCA"”), (b) leaving such Domestic Borrower with unreasonably small capital or assets, within the meaning of Section 548 of the Bankruptcy Code, Section 4 of the UFTA, or Section 5 of the UFCA, or (c) leaving such Domestic Borrower unable to pay its debts as they become due within the meaning of Section 548 of the Bankruptcy Code or Section 4 of the  UFTA, or Section 5 of the UFCA.

 

	
 
	
10.23
	
Judgment Currency

 

(a)If, for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court in any jurisdiction with respect to this

Agreement or any other Loan Document, it becomes necessary to convert into a particular currency (the “Judgment Currency”) any amount due under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document in any currency other than the Judgment Currency (the “Currency Due”), then conversion shall be made at the rate of exchange prevailing on the Business Day before the day on which judgment is given. For this purpose “rate of exchange” means the rate at which the applicable Agent is able, on the relevant date, to purchase the Currency Due with the Judgment Currency in accordance with its normal practice for the applicable currency conversion in the wholesale market. In the event that there is a change in the rate of exchange prevailing between the conversion date and the date of actual payment of the amount due, the Loan Parties will pay such additional amount (if any, but in any event not a lesser amount) as may be necessary to ensure that the amount paid in the Judgment Currency, when converted at the rate of exchange prevailing on the date of payment, will produce the amount of Currency Due which could have been purchased with the amount of Judgment Currency stipulated in the judgment or judicial order at the rate of exchange prevailing on the conversion date. If the amount of the Currency Due which the applicable Agent is so able to purchase is less than the amount of the Currency Due originally due to it, the applicable Loan Party shall indemnify and save the Agents, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders harmless from and against all loss or damage arising as a result of such deficiency. This indemnity shall constitute an obligation separate and independent from the other obligations contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, shall give rise to a separate and independent cause of action, shall apply irrespective of any indulgence granted by any Agent from time to time and shall continue in full force  and effect notwithstanding any judgment or order for a liquidated sum in respect of an amount due under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or under any judgment or order.

 

	
 
	
10.24
	
No Strict Construction.

 

The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement.  In

the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as

 

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if drafted jointly by the parties hereto and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provisions of this Agreement.

 

	
 
	
10.25
	
Attachments.

 

The exhibits, schedules and annexes attached to this Agreement are incorporated herein and shall

be considered a part of this Agreement for the purposes stated herein, except that in the event of any conflict between any of the provisions of such exhibits and the provisions of this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall prevail.

 

	
 
	
10.26
	
Keepwell.

 

Each Loan Party that is a Qualified ECP Guarantor at the time the Facility Guaranty or the grant

of a security interest under the Loan Documents, in each case, by any Specified Loan Party 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 the Facility Guaranty voidable under applicable Law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not for any greater amount). The obligations and undertakings of each Qualified ECP Guarantor under this Section shall remain in full force and effect until Payment in Full of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid and performed in full. Each Loan Party intends this Section to constitute, and this Section shall be deemed to constitute, a guarantee of the obligations of, and a “keepwell, support, or other agreement” for the benefit of, each Specified Loan Party for all purposes of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

	
 
	
10.27
	
Dutch Guarantee Limitations.

 

In view of the articles of association of the Foreign Borrower, the guarantee, indemnity and other

obligations of the Foreign Borrower expressed to be assumed shall be deemed not to be assumed by the Foreign Borrower to the extent that the same would constitute unlawful financial assistance within the meaning of any applicable financial assistance rules, if any (the “Prohibition”) and the provisions of the Foreign Borrower shall be construed accordingly. For the avoidance of doubt it is expressly acknowledged that the Foreign Borrower will continue to guarantee all such obligations which, if included, do not constitute a violation of the Prohibition.

 

	
 
	
10.28
	
Language.

 

The parties herein have expressly requested that this Agreement and all related documents be

drawn up in the English language. A la demande expresse des parties aux présentes, cette convention et tout document y afférent ont été rédigés en langue anglaise.

 

	
 
	
10.29
	
Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement,

arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any Lender that is an EEA Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the write-downWrite-Down and conversion powersConversion Powers of an EEA Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

 

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(a)
	
the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by an EEA Resolution

Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any Lender that is an EEA Financial Institution; and

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
the effects of any Bail-inIn Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:

 

	
 
	
(i)
	
a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;

 

	
 
	
(ii)
	
a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other

instruments of ownership in such EEA Financial Institution, its parent undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or

 

	
 
	
(iii)
	
the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the

exercise of the write-downWrite-Down and conversion powersConversion Powers of any EEA Resolution Authority.

 

	
 
	
10.30
	
Intercreditor Agreement. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Liens and

security interests granted to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Security Documents, and the exercise of any right or remedy by the Collateral Agent hereunder or thereunder, are subject to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement. In the event of any conflict between the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and the terms of this Agreement, the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement shall govern and control.

 

	
 
	
10.31
	
Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs. To the extent that the Loan Documents

provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for any Swap Contract or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support, “QFC Credit Support”, and each such QFC, a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the “U.S. Special Resolution Regimes”) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Loan Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States):

 

(a)In the event a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a “Covered Party”) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the  United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Loan Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Loan Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Defaulting Lender shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support.

(a)

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10.32
	
10.31 Amendment and Restatement. This Agreement is an amendment and restatement of the

Existing Credit Agreement, it being acknowledged and agreed that as of the Effective Date, all  obligations outstanding under or in connection with the Existing Credit Agreement and any of the other Loan Documents (such obligations, collectively, the “Existing Obligations”) constitute obligations under this Agreement. This Agreement is in no way intended to constitute a novation of the Existing Credit Agreement or the Existing Obligations. With respect to (i) any date or time period occurring and ending prior to the Effective Date,  the Existing Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall govern the respective rights and obligations of any party or parties hereto also party thereto and shall for such purposes remain in full force and effect, and (ii) any date or time period occurring or ending on or after the Effective Date, the rights and obligations of the parties hereto shall be governed by this Agreement (including, without limitation, the exhibits and schedules hereto) and the other Loan Documents. From and after the Effective Date, any reference to the Existing Credit Agreement in any of the other Loan Documents executed or issued by and/or delivered to any one or more parties hereto pursuant to or in connection therewith shall be deemed to be a reference to this Agreement, and the provisions of this Agreement shall prevail in the event of any conflict or inconsistency between such provisions and those of the Existing Credit Agreement.

 

Without limiting the generality of Section 10.3110.32, the parties agree that:

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
all Existing Obligations outstanding as at the Effective Date shall, as of the Effective Date, be deemed to be obligations outstanding hereunder and subject to the terms of this Agreement, and
	
 

 

	
 
	
(b)
	
each of the other Loan Documents (other than the Existing Credit Agreement) is hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects and shall continue in full force and effect, unamended, except that (A) any references therein to the Existing Credit Agreement shall be deemed to refer to this Agreement, and (B) any security granted or guarantee given pursuant to or in connection with the Existing Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall continue to secure or guarantee, as applicable, the obligations of the Loan Parties arising pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement (including all such obligations arising initially pursuant to or in connection with the Existing Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents).
	
 

 

 

[SIGNATURES ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES]

 

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

 

SALLY HOLDINGS LLC

as Domestic Borrower

 

By:   

 

Name:  

 

Title: 

 

 

BEAUTY SYSTEMS GROUP LLC

as Domestic Borrower

 

By:   

 

Name:   

 

Title: 

 

 

SALLY BEAUTY SUPPLY LLC

as Domestic Borrower

 

By:   

 

Name:   

 

Title: 

 

 

BEAUTY SYSTEMS GROUP (CANADA),

INC. as Canadian Borrower

 

By:   

 

Name:   

 

Title: 

 

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

SBH FINANCE B.V.

as Foreign Borrower

 

By: Name:  Heidi van Ocken Title: director B

 

By:  Name: SGG Management (Netherlands) B.V. Title: director A

 

On behalf of SGG Management (Netherlands) B.V.

 

 

By: Name: SGG Management (Netherlands) B.V. Title:director A

 

On behalf of SGG Management (Netherlands) B.V.

 

 

By:  Name: Sally Beauty Worldwide Holdings B.V. Title: director A

 

On behalf of Sally Beauty Worldwide Holdings B.V.

 

 

By: Name: Sally Beauty Worldwide Holdings B.V. Title: director A

 

On behalf of Sally Beauty Worldwide Holdings B.V.

 

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

THE PERSONS LISTED ON SCHEDULE 1.01 HERETO

as Guarantors

 

By:   

 

Name:   

 

Title: 

 

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as

Administrative Agent and as Collateral Agent

 

By:   

 

Name:   

 

Title:   

 

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. (ACTING THROUGH ITS CANADA BRANCH), as

Canadian Agent

 

By:   

 

Name:   

 

Title:   

 

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Revolving Domestic Lender, as a FILO Lender, Domestic L/C Issuer and Domestic Swing Line Lender

 

By:   

 

Name:   

 

Title:   

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. (ACTING THROUGH ITS CANADA BRANCH), as a

Canadian Lender and Canadian Swing Line Lender

 

By:   

 

Name:   

 

Title:   

 

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

By:   

 

Name:   

 

Title:   

 

 

WELLS FARGO CAPITAL FINANCE CORPORATION CANADA

 

By:   

 

Name:   

 

Title:   

 

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.

 

By:   

 

Name:   

 

Title:   

 

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

[LENDERS]

 

By:   

 

Name:   

 

Title:   

 

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00307-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00307-of-00352.parquet"}]]