Document:

TysonsFoodsIncTermLoanAgreement

	
	
	

TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

dated as of April 7, 2015

by

TYSON FOODS, INC.,
as Borrower

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Lender 

and

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED, 
as Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Bookruner

65324530_6

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	
				
	 
	 
	 
	Page

	ARTICLE I
	Definitions
	 
	2

	 
	Section 1.01
	Defined Terms
	2

	 
	Section 1.02
	Classification of Loans and Borrowings
	22

	 
	Section 1.03
	Terms Generally
	22

	 
	Section 1.04
	Accounting Terms; GAAP
	22

	 
	Section 1.05
	Currency Translations
	23

	ARTICLE II
	The Credits
	 
	23

	 
	Section 2.01
	The Commitments
	23

	 
	Section 2.02
	Loans and Borrowings
	23

	 
	Section 2.03
	Requests for Borrowings
	24

	 
	Section 2.04
	[Reserved]
	24

	 
	Section 2.05
	[Reserved]
	24

	 
	Section 2.06
	[Reserved]
	24

	 
	Section 2.07
	[Reserved]
	24

	 
	Section 2.08
	Interest Elections
	24

	 
	Section 2.09
	Optional Prepayment of Loans
	25

	 
	Section 2.10
	Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt
	26

	 
	Section 2.11
	[Reserved]
	26

	 
	Section 2.12
	[Reserved]
	26

	 
	Section 2.13
	Interest
	26

	 
	Section 2.14
	Alternate Rate of Interest
	27

	 
	Section 2.15
	Increased Costs
	27

	 
	Section 2.16
	Break Funding Payments
	28

	 
	Section 2.17
	Taxes
	29

	 
	Section 2.18
	Payments Generally; Allocation of Proceeds; Sharing of Set-offs
	31

	 
	Section 2.19
	Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders
	32

	ARTICLE III
	Representations and Warranties
	33

	 
	Section 3.01
	Organization; Powers
	33

	 
	Section 3.02
	Authorization; Enforceability
	33

	 
	Section 3.03
	Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts
	34

	 
	Section 3.04
	Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change
	34

	 
	Section 3.05
	Properties
	34

	 
	 
	 
	 

	 
	 
	 
	 

	 
	 
	 
	 

	 
	 
	 
	 

	 
	 
	 
	 

i

TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)

	
				
	 
	 
	 
	Page

	 
	Section 3.06
	Litigation and Environmental Matters
	34

	 
	Section 3.07
	Compliance with Laws and Agreements
	35

	 
	Section 3.08
	Investment Company Status
	35

	 
	Section 3.09
	Taxes
	35

	 
	Section 3.10
	ERISA
	35

	 
	Section 3.11
	Disclosure
	35

	 
	Section 3.12
	Insurance
	36

	 
	Section 3.13
	Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations
	36

	 
	Section 3.14
	Labor Matters
	36

	 
	Section 3.15
	Subsidiaries
	36

	 
	Section 3.16
	Event of Default
	36

	 
	Section 3.17
	OFAC
	36

	 
	Section 3.18
	Money Laundering, FCPA and Counter-Terrorist Financing Laws
	36

	 
	Section 3.19
	Solvency
	36

	ARTICLE IV
	Conditions
	 
	37

	 
	Section 4.01
	Closing Date
	37

	ARTICLE V
	Affirmative Covenants
	38

	 
	Section 5.01
	Financial Statements and Other Information
	38

	 
	Section 5.02
	Notices of Material Events
	39

	 
	Section 5.03
	Existence; Conduct of Business
	40

	 
	Section 5.04
	Payment of Obligations
	40

	 
	Section 5.05
	Maintenance of Properties
	40

	 
	Section 5.06
	Books and Records; Inspection Rights
	40

	 
	Section 5.07
	Compliance with Laws
	41

	 
	Section 5.08
	Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations
	41

	 
	Section 5.09
	Insurance
	41

	 
	Section 5.10
	[Reserved]
	41

	 
	Section 5.11
	Further Assurances
	41

	ARTICLE VI
	Negative Covenants
	41

	 
	Section 6.01
	Indebtedness
	42

	 
	Section 6.02
	Liens
	44

	 
	Section 6.03
	Fundamental Changes; Business Activities
	45

	 
	 
	 
	 

	 
	 
	 
	 

	 
	 
	 
	 

	 
	 
	 
	 

	 
	 
	 
	 

	 
	 
	 
	 

	 
	 
	 
	 

ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)

	
				
	 
	 
	 
	Page

	 
	Section 6.04
	Asset Sales
	46

	 
	Section 6.05
	[Reserved]
	46

	 
	Section 6.06
	Swap Agreements
	46

	 
	Section 6.07
	Transactions with Affiliates
	46

	 
	Section 6.08
	[Reserved]
	46

	 
	Section 6.09
	Interest Expense Coverage Ratio
	47

	 
	Section 6.10
	Debt to Capitalization Ratio
	47

	ARTICLE VII
	Events of Default
	47

	ARTICLE VIII
	[Reserved.]
	 
	49

	ARTICLE IX
	Miscellaneous
	49

	 
	Section 9.01
	Notices
	49

	 
	Section 9.02
	Waivers; Amendments
	50

	 
	Section 9.03
	Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver
	51

	 
	Section 9.04
	Successors and Assigns
	53

	 
	Section 9.05
	Survival
	55

	 
	Section 9.06
	Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness
	55

	 
	Section 9.07
	Severability
	55

	 
	Section 9.08
	Right of Setoff
	55

	 
	Section 9.09
	Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process
	56

	 
	Section 9.10
	WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL
	56

	 
	Section 9.11
	Headings
	56

	 
	Section 9.12
	Confidentiality
	56

	 
	Section 9.13
	USA PATRIOT Act
	57

	 
	Section 9.14
	No Fiduciary Relationship
	57

	 
	Section 9.15
	Interest Rate Limitation
	58

	 
	Section 9.16
	Release of Guarantees
	58

	 
	Section 9.17
	No Other Duties
	58

iii

	
		
	SCHEDULES:
	 

	Schedule I 
	– Pricing Schedule

	Schedule 3.06
	 – Disclosed Matters

	Schedule 6.01 
	 – Existing Indebtedness

	Schedule 6.02 
	 – Existing Liens

	 
	 

	EXHIBITS:
	 

	Exhibit A
	– [Reserved]

	Exhibit B 
	 – Form of Guarantee Agreement

	Exhibit C 
	– Form of Borrowing Request

	Exhibit D 
	– Form of Interest Election Request

	Exhibit E 
	– Form of Compliance Certificate

	Exhibit F 
	– Form of Solvency Certificate

	Exhibit G 
	– Form of Note

	Exhibit H 
	– Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

65324530_5

TERM LOAN AGREEMENT, dated as of April 6, 2015 (as it may be amended or modified from time to time, this “Agreement”), between TYSON FOODS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”) and Bank of America, N.A., as lender (the “Lender”).
The parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Definitions
SECTION 1.01    Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement and in any Schedules and Exhibits to this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:
“2016 Notes” means the Borrower’s 6.60% Senior Notes due 2016.
“ABR”, 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 Alternate Base Rate.
“Additional Obligations” has the meaning set forth in the Guarantee Agreement.
“Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate” means, with respect to any Eurocurrency Borrowing for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/16 of 1%) equal to (a) the Eurocurrency Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by (b) the Statutory Reserve Rate for such Interest Period.
“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; provided, however, that for purposes of Section 6.07, the term “Affiliate” shall also mean any Person that is an executive officer or director of the Person specified, any Person that directly or indirectly beneficially owns Equity Interests in the Person specified representing 10% or more of the aggregate ordinary voting power or the aggregate equity value represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests in the Person specified and any Person that would be an Affiliate of any such beneficial owner pursuant to this definition (but without giving effect to this proviso).
“Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble to this Agreement.
“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 Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day plus 1/2 of 1% per annum and (c) the Adjusted Eurocurrency 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% per annum, provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate for any day shall be based on the rate appearing on the Reuters LIBOR 01 page (or on any successor or substitute page of such page) 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 Federal Funds Effective Rate or the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate, respectively.
“Applicable Rate” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Pricing Schedule.

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“Approved Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course and that is administered or managed by (a) the Lender, (b) an Affiliate of the Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages the Lender.
“ASC 815” means Financial Accounting Standards Board, Accounting Standards Codification 815, Derivatives and Hedging (as such may be amended, supplemented or replaced).
“Board” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the U.S. (or any successor thereto).
“Borrower” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Borrowing” means the borrowing of Loans of the same Type, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurocurrency Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.
“Borrowing Request” means a request by the Borrower for a Borrowing of Loans in accordance with Section 2.03.
“Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed, provided that, when used in connection with a Eurocurrency Loan, the term “Business Day” shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open for dealings in dollar deposits in the London interbank market.
“Capital Lease Obligations” of any Person means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.
“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 Exchange Act, and the rules of the SEC thereunder as in effect on the Closing Date) other than the Permitted Holders of Equity Interests representing more than 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests in the Borrower or (b) a “Change of Control” (or other defined term having a similar purpose) as defined under any of the Covered Notes or in any document governing any refinancing thereof; provided, however, that for purposes of clause (a), the Permitted Holders shall be deemed to beneficially own any Equity Interests of the Borrower held by any other Person (the “parent entity”) so long as the Permitted Holders beneficially own (as so defined), directly or indirectly, in the aggregate a majority of the voting power of the Equity Interests of the parent entity.
“Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any rule, regulation, treaty or other law, (b) any change in any rule, regulation, treaty or other law or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (ii) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar 

3

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, implemented, promulgated or issued.
“Chief Financial Officer” means, with respect to any Person, the chief financial officer of such Person.
“Closing Date” means the date on which the conditions specified in Section 4.01 are satisfied (or waived).
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
“Commitment” means the obligation of the Lender to make the Loan to the Borrower on the Closing Date in a principal amount of $500,000,000.
“Competitor” means any Person (or a reasonably identifiable Affiliate of such Person) that competes with the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in the industries in which they conduct their business.
“Consolidated Cash Interest Expense” means, for any period, the excess of (a) the sum, without duplication, of (i) interest expense during such period (including imputed interest expense in respect of Capital Lease Obligations and taking into account net payments under Swap Agreements entered into to hedge interest rates that would be included in the computation of interest expense under GAAP to the extent such net payments are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP) of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, (ii) the interest expense that would be imputed for such period in respect of Synthetic Leases of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries if such Synthetic Leases were accounted for as Capital Lease Obligations, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, (iii) any interest or other financing costs becoming payable during such period in respect of Indebtedness of the Borrower or its consolidated Subsidiaries to the extent such interest or other financing costs shall have been capitalized rather than included in Consolidated Interest Expense for such period in accordance with GAAP, (iv) any cash payments made during such period in respect of amounts referred to in clause (b)(ii) below that were amortized or accrued in a previous period and (v) to the extent not otherwise included in Consolidated Interest Expense, commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges incurred in connection with Securitization Transactions which are payable to any person other than the Borrower or any Subsidiary, and any other amounts comparable to or in the nature of interest under any Securitization Transaction, including losses on the sale of assets relating to any receivables securitization transaction accounted for as a “true sale”, minus (b) the sum of (i) to the extent included in Consolidated Interest Expense for such period, noncash amounts attributable to amortization or write-off of capitalized interest or other financing costs paid in a previous period, (ii) to the extent included in Consolidated Interest Expense for such period, noncash amounts attributable to amortization of debt discounts or accrued interest payable in kind for such period, and (iii) to the extent included in such Consolidated Interest Expense for such period, noncash amounts attributable to Swap Agreements pursuant to GAAP, including as a result of the application of ASC 815. For purposes of calculating Consolidated Cash Interest Expense for any period, if during such period the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall have consummated a Material Acquisition or a Material Disposition, Consolidated Cash Interest Expense for such period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto in accordance with Section 1.04(b). 
“Consolidated EBITDA” means, for any period, Consolidated Net Income for such period plus (a) without duplication and to the extent deducted in determining such Consolidated Net Income, the sum of (i) Consolidated Interest Expense for such period, (ii) consolidated income tax 

4

expense for such period, (iii) all amounts attributable to depreciation and amortization for such period, (iv) extraordinary noncash losses for such period, (v) noncash charges to the extent solely attributable to unrealized losses under ASC 815 (provided that any cash payment made with respect to any such noncash charge shall be subtracted in computing Consolidated EBITDA during the period in which such cash payment is made (it being understood that the provision of cash collateral shall not constitute a “payment” for these purposes)), and (vi) noncash charges (including goodwill writedowns) for such period (provided  that any cash payment made with respect to any such noncash charge shall be subtracted in computing Consolidated EBITDA during the period in which such cash payment is made) and minus (b) without duplication and to the extent included in determining such Consolidated Net Income, the sum of (i) any extraordinary noncash gains for such period, (ii) noncash gains to the extent solely attributable to unrealized gains under ASC 815 (provided that any cash received with respect to any such noncash gain shall be added in computing Consolidated EBITDA during the period in which such cash is received) and (iii) nonrecurring noncash gains for such period (provided that any cash received with respect to any such nonrecurring noncash gain shall be added in computing Consolidated EBITDA during the period in which such cash is received), all determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of calculating Consolidated EBITDA for any period, if during such period the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall have consummated a Material Acquisition or a Material Disposition, Consolidated EBITDA for such period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto in accordance with Section 1.04(b).
“Consolidated Interest Expense” means, for any period, the interest expense of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of calculating Consolidated Interest Expense for any period, if during such period the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall have consummated a Material Acquisition or a Material Disposition, Consolidated Interest Expense for such period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto in accordance with Section 1.04(b).
“Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, the consolidated net income (or loss) of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries for such period (taken as a single accounting period) determined in conformity with GAAP, excluding (to the extent otherwise included therein) any gains or losses, together with any related provision for taxes, realized upon any sale of assets other than in the ordinary course of business; provided, however, that (other than for purposes of any calculation made on a Pro Forma Basis) there shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income the net income (or loss) of (a) any Person accrued prior to the earlier of the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower or any of its consolidated Subsidiaries or is merged into or consolidated with the Borrower or any of its consolidated Subsidiaries or such Person’s assets are acquired by the Borrower or any of its consolidated Subsidiaries or (b) any Variable Interest Entity.
“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means, at any date, total assets of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP minus (a) current liabilities (excluding short-term Indebtedness and the current portion of long-term Indebtedness) of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries and (b) goodwill and other intangible assets of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries, in each case determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
“Consolidated Total Capitalization” means, on any date, the sum as of such date of (a) Debt to Capitalization Ratio Indebtedness as of such date and (b) total shareholders’ equity as of such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
“Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies, or the dismissal or appointment of the management, of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “Controlling” and 

5

“Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto. Solely for purposes of the definition of “Affiliate”, “Control” shall also mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to vote 10% or more of the securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors (or persons performing similar functions) of a Person.
“Corporate Rating” means, at any time, (a) the Borrower’s corporate credit rating then in effect (or at any time when there is no corporate credit rating in effect, the Borrower’s Index Rating) from S&P, (b) the Borrower’s corporate family rating then in effect (or at any time when there is no corporate family rating in effect, the Borrower’s Index Rating) from Moody’s and (c) the Borrower’s issuer default rating then in effect (or at any time when there is no issuer default rating in effect, the Borrower’s Index Rating) from Fitch.
“Covered Notes” means each of the 2016 Notes, the Borrower’s 7% Notes due 2018, the Borrower’s 4.50% Senior Notes due 2022 and the Borrower’s 7% Senior Notes due 2028.
“Debt to Capitalization Ratio” means, on any date, the ratio of (a) Debt to Capitalization Ratio Indebtedness as of such date, to (b) Consolidated Total Capitalization as of such date.
“Debt to Capitalization Ratio Indebtedness” means, on any date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, Indebtedness for Borrowed Money as of such date, less, to the extent included in Indebtedness for Borrowed Money, the amount of Indebtedness of Variable Interest Entities (other than Indebtedness of any SPE Subsidiary) that is not also Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than a Variable Interest Entity that is not an SPE Subsidiary) of the type referred to in clause (2) of the definition of Indebtedness for Borrowed Money. Any reference in this Agreement to Debt to Capitalization Ratio Indebtedness of a Subsidiary shall exclude any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary that is owed to the Borrower or another Subsidiary, except to the extent such Indebtedness shall have been transferred or pledged to a Person other than the Borrower or a Subsidiary.
“Default” means any event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that upon notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.
“Disclosed Matters” means the actions, suits and proceedings and the environmental matters disclosed in Schedule 3.06 or in any SEC Filing.
“Disqualified Equity Interest” means, with respect to any Person, any Equity Interest in such Person that by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable, either mandatorily or at the option of the holder thereof), or upon the happening of any event or condition:
          (a)     matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Equity Interests in such Person that do not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests and cash in lieu of fractional shares of such Equity Interests), whether pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise;
         (b)     is convertible or exchangeable at the option of the holder thereof for Indebtedness or Equity Interests (other than solely for Equity Interests in such Person that do not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests and cash in lieu of fractional shares of such Equity Interests); or
         (c)     is redeemable (other than solely for Equity Interests in such Person that do not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests and cash in lieu of fractional shares of such Equity 

6

Interests) or is required to be repurchased by such Person or any of its Affiliates, in whole or in part, at the option of the holder thereof;
in each case, on or prior to the date one year after the latest Maturity Date hereunder; provided, however, that an Equity Interest in any Person that would not constitute a Disqualified Equity Interest but for terms thereof giving holders thereof the right to require such Person to redeem or purchase such Equity Interest upon the occurrence of an “asset sale” or a “change of control” occurring prior to the date one year after the latest Maturity Date hereunder shall not constitute a Disqualified Equity Interest if any such requirement becomes operative only after repayment in full of all the Loans and all other Obligations under the Loan Documents that are accrued and payable and the termination of the Commitments.
“Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of the U.S., any State thereof or the District of Columbia.
“dollars” or “$” refers to lawful money of the U.S.
“Environmental Laws” means all treaties, laws (including common law), rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions, notices or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by or with any Governmental Authority, relating in any way to the environment, the preservation or reclamation of natural resources, the generation, management, use, presence, release or threatened release of, or exposure to, any Hazardous Material or to health and safety matters.
“Environmental Liability” means liabilities, obligations, claims, actions, suits, judgments, or orders under or relating to any Environmental Law for any damages, injunctive relief, losses, fines, penalties, fees, expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys and consultants) or costs, whether contingent or otherwise, including those arising from or relating to (a) any actual or alleged violation of any Environmental Law or permit, license or approval issued thereunder, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment, disposal or arrangement for disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.
“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, 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.
“ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with the Borrower, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.
“ERISA Event” means (a) any “reportable event”, 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 complete or partial withdrawal of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan during a plan year in which it was a “substantial employer” as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization; (c) 

7

the filing of a notice of intent to terminate a Plan or the treatment of a Multiemployer Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 or 4041A of ERISA; (d) the institution of proceedings to terminate a Plan or a Multiemployer Plan by the PBGC; (e) the failure to make required contributions under Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA; (f) the failure of any Plan to satisfy the minimum funding standard (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA) applicable to such Plan; (g) a determination that any Plan is in “at risk” status (as defined in Section 430(i)(4) of the Code or Section 303(i)(4) of ERISA); (h) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice imposing Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is insolvent or is in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA, or in “endangered” or “critical” status (within the meaning of Section 432 of the Code or Section 305 of ERISA); (i) the occurrence of a non-exempt “prohibited transaction” (as defined in Section 4975 of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA) with respect to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is a “disqualified person” (within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code) or a “party in interest” (within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA) or with respect to which the Borrower or any such ERISA Affiliate could otherwise be liable in an amount that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and (j) any other event or condition which constitutes or might reasonably be expected to constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Plan or the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate.
“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 Eurocurrency Rate.
“Eurocurrency Rate” means, with respect to any Eurocurrency Borrowing for any Interest Period, the rate appearing on Reuters LIBOR 01 page (or on any successor or substitute page of such service, or any successor to or substitute for such service, providing rate quotations comparable to those currently provided on such page of such service, as determined by the Lender from time to time for purposes of providing quotations of interest rates applicable to dollar deposits in the London interbank market) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, as the rate for dollar deposits with a maturity comparable to such Interest Period. In the event that such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the “Eurocurrency Rate” with respect to such Eurocurrency Borrowing for such Interest Period shall be the rate at which dollar deposits of an amount comparable to the amount of such Eurocurrency Borrowing and for a maturity comparable to such Interest Period are offered by the principal London office of the Lender in immediately available funds in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period.
“Event of Default” has the meaning assigned to such term in Article VII.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Excluded Taxes” means, with respect to the Lender or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party hereunder or any other Loan Document, (a) any Other Connection Taxes, (b) U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by a Requirement of Law (including FATCA) in effect at the time a Foreign Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 2.19(b)), becomes a party to this Agreement (or designates a new lending office), with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of a Loan Party to such Foreign Lender, 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 with 

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respect to such withholding Tax under Section 2.17(a), or (c) Taxes attributable to the Lender’s failure to comply with Section 2.17(f).
“Existing Credit Agreement” means that certain Term Loan Agreement, dated as of July 15, 2014, among Tyson Foods, Inc., as borrower, the subsidiary borrowers party thereto, the lenders party thereto and Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., as administrative agent, as in effect immediately prior to the effectiveness of this Agreement on the Closing Date.
“Facility Rating” means, for any rating agency at any time, the rating then in effect from such rating agency applicable to the Obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement.
“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 Effective Rate” means, for any day, the weighted average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the quotations for such day for such transactions received by the Lender from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.
“Fitch” means Fitch Ratings, a wholly owned subsidiary of Fimalac, S.A.
“Foreign Lender” means any Lender (a) with respect to the Borrower (if the Borrower is not a U.S. Borrower) and any Tax, that is treated as foreign by the jurisdiction imposing such Tax and (b) with respect to the Borrower (if the Borrower is a U.S. Borrower), that (1) is not a “U.S. person” as defined by Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code (a “U.S. Person”), or (2) is a partnership or other entity treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes which is a U.S. Person, but only to the extent the beneficial owners (including indirect partners if its direct partners are partnerships or other entities treated as partnerships for United States Federal income tax purposes) are not U.S. Persons. “Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S., including those set forth in: (a) the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; (b) the Accounting Standards Codification of the Financial Accounting Standards Board; (c) such other statements by such other entity as are approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession; and (d) the rules and regulations of the SEC governing the inclusion of financial statements (including pro forma financial statements) in periodic reports required to be filed pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act, including opinions and pronouncements in staff accounting bulletins and similar written statements from the accounting staff of the SEC.
“Governmental Authority” means the government of the U.S., any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state, provisional, territorial or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national body such as the European Union or the European Central Bank) having jurisdiction over the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any Lender, as the context may require.

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“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 or other obligation 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 other obligation 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 or other obligation 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 other obligation or (d) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness or obligation, provided that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.
“Guarantee Agreement” means the Guarantee Agreement among the Borrower, the other Subsidiary Guarantors and the Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit B.
“Guarantee Requirement” means the requirement that:
(a)    the Lender shall have received on the Closing Date from each of the Borrower and TFM a counterpart of the Guarantee Agreement duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Person; and
(b)    if any Subsidiary (including TFM, in the event it shall have been released from its Guarantee under the Guarantee Agreement as provided in Section 9.16(b)) shall be or become actually or contingently liable under any Guarantee for any Material Indebtedness of the Borrower, the Lender shall have received a Guarantor Joinder Agreement, duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Subsidiary, together with documents and opinions of the type referred to in paragraph (e) of Section 4.01 with respect to such Subsidiary. 
“Guaranteed Obligations” means (a) all Obligations and (b) all Additional Obligations.
“Guaranteed Parties” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Guarantee Agreement.
“Guarantor Joinder Agreement” means a Supplement to the Guarantee Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit I to the Guarantee Agreement.
“Hazardous Materials” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including any petroleum products or byproducts and all other hydrocarbons, radon gas, molds, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, polychlorinated biphenyls, chlorofluorocarbons and all other ozone-depleting substances, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature that are prohibited, limited or regulated pursuant to, or that could give rise to liability under, any Environmental Law.
“incur” means create, incur, assume, Guarantee or otherwise become responsible for, and “incurred” and “incurrence” shall have correlative meanings.
“Indebtedness” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money or with respect to deposits or advances of any kind, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person 

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(excluding trade accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business and excluding obligations with respect to letters of credit securing such trade accounts payable entered into in the ordinary course of business of such Person to the extent such letters of credit are not drawn upon or, if and to the extent drawn upon, such drawings are reimbursed no later than the tenth Business Day following payment on the letter of credit), (d) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (including payments in respect of non-competition agreements or other arrangements representing acquisition consideration, in each case entered into in connection with an acquisition, but excluding (i) accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business on normal commercial terms and not overdue by more than 60 days, (ii) deferred compensation and (iii) any purchase price adjustment, earnout or deferred payment of a similar nature (other than in respect of non-competition agreements and other such arrangements referred to above) incurred in connection with an acquisition (but only to the extent that no payment has at the time accrued pursuant to such purchase price adjustment, earnout or deferred payment obligation)), (e) all Capital Lease Obligations and Synthetic Lease Obligations of such Person, (f) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit and letters of guaranty (other than obligations with respect to letters of credit securing obligations (other than obligations of other Persons described in clauses (a) through (e) above) entered into in the ordinary course of business of such Person to the extent such letters of credit are not drawn upon or, if and to the extent drawn upon, such drawing is reimbursed no later than the tenth Business Day following payment on the letter of credit), (g) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers’ acceptances, (h) all Disqualified Equity Interests in such Person, valued, as of the date of determination, at the greater of (i) the maximum aggregate amount that would be payable upon maturity, redemption, repayment or repurchase thereof (or of Disqualified Equity Interests or Indebtedness into which such Disqualified Equity Interests are convertible or exchangeable) and (ii) the maximum liquidation preference of such Disqualified Equity Interests, (i) 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, the amount of such Indebtedness being deemed to be the lesser of the fair market value (as determined reasonably and in good faith by the Chief Financial Officer of the Borrower) of such property or assets and the amount of the Indebtedness so secured, (j) all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others, and (k) all obligations of such Person in respect of Securitization Transactions (valued as set forth in the definition of Securitization Transaction). Indebtedness shall not include obligations under any operating lease of property that is not capitalized on the balance sheet of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, except that Synthetic Lease Obligations shall constitute Indebtedness. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other Person (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 other Person, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with the purchase by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of any business, the term “Indebtedness” will exclude post-closing payment adjustments to which the seller may become entitled to the extent such payment is determined by a final closing balance sheet or such payment depends on the performance of such business after the closing; provided, however, that, at the time of closing, the amount of any such payment is not determinable and, to the extent such payment thereafter becomes fixed and determined, the amount is paid within 60 days thereafter. The amount of Indebtedness of any Person at any date shall be the outstanding balance at such date of all obligations as described above; provided, however, that, in the case of Indebtedness sold by the obligor at a discount, the amount of such Indebtedness at any time shall be the accreted value thereof at such time. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the term “Indebtedness” shall not include cash interest thereon.
“Indebtedness for Borrowed Money” means the sum, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, of (1) all Indebtedness of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries of the types referred to in clauses (a), (b), (d), (e) and (k) (as determined in accordance with the second sentence 

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of the definition of Securitization Transaction) of the definition of Indebtedness plus (2) all Indebtedness of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries of the types referred to in clauses (f), (i) and (j) of the definition of Indebtedness in respect of such Indebtedness of others of the types referred to in such clauses (a), (b), (d), (e) and (k) (as determined in accordance with the second sentence of the definition of Securitization Transaction), but excluding Guarantees of third party grower Indebtedness. Any reference in this Agreement to Indebtedness for Borrowed Money of a Subsidiary shall exclude any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary that is owed to the Borrower or another Subsidiary, except to the extent such Indebtedness shall have been transferred or pledged to a Person other than the Borrower or a Subsidiary.
“Indemnified Taxes” means (a) Taxes other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by any Loan Party under any Loan Document and (b) Other Taxes.
“Index Rating” means, for any rating agency at any time, the rating then in effect from such rating agency applicable to the Borrower’s senior, unsecured, non-credit enhanced (other than by guarantees of subsidiaries that also guarantee the Obligations at such time) long-term debt for borrowed money.
“Indemnitee” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.03(b).
“Initial Lender” means Bank of America, N.A.
“Interest Election Request” means a request by the Borrower on behalf of the Borrower to convert or continue a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.08.
“Interest Payment Date” means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan, the last day of each of March, June, September, and December, (b) with respect to any Eurocurrency Loan, the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Eurocurrency 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 (c) with respect to any Loan, the applicable Maturity Date.
“Interest Period” means, with respect to any Eurocurrency 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 Borrower may elect, provided that (a) 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, in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing only, 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 (b) 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.
“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.
“Lender” means the Initial Lender and any other Person that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to Section 9.04, other than any such Person that shall have ceased to be a party hereto pursuant to Section 9.04.

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“Lead Arranger” means Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Bookrunner named on the cover 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.
“Loan Documents” means this Agreement, the Guarantee Agreement, any promissory notes issued pursuant to this Agreement and any Guarantor Joinder Agreement, as well as all other agreements, instruments, documents and certificates identified in Article IV or otherwise executed and delivered by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to, or in favor of, the Lender, including all powers of attorney, consents, assignments, contracts, notices and other written materials whether heretofore, now or hereafter executed by or on behalf of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any employee of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, and delivered to the Lender in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. Any reference in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to a Loan Document shall include all appendices, exhibits or schedules thereto and all amendments, restatements, supplements or other modifications thereto, and shall refer to this Agreement or such Loan Document as the same may be in effect at any and all times such reference becomes operative.
“Loan Party” means the Borrower and each Domestic Subsidiary that is a party to a Loan Document.
“Loans” means the term loan made by the Lender to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement.
“Margin Stock” means “margin stock” within the meaning of Regulations T, U and X of the Board.
“Material Acquisition” means any acquisition or a series of related acquisitions (other than solely among the Borrower and the Subsidiaries), of (a) Equity Interests in any Person if, after giving effect thereto, such Person will become a Subsidiary or (b) assets comprising all or substantially all the assets of (or all or substantially all the assets constituting a business unit, division, product line or line of business of) any Person; provided that the aggregate consideration therefor (including Indebtedness assumed in connection therewith, all obligations in respect of deferred purchase price (including obligations under any purchase price adjustment but excluding earnout or similar payments) and all other consideration payable in connection therewith (including payment obligations in respect of noncompetition agreements or other arrangements representing acquisition consideration)) exceeds $50,000,000.
“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, operations, properties, assets, condition (financial or otherwise) or liabilities (including contingent liabilities) of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (b) the ability of any Loan Party to perform its material obligations under any Loan Document to which it is a party, or (c) the rights of or benefits available to the Lender under this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
“Material Disposition” means any sale, transfer or other disposition, or a series of related sales, transfers or other dispositions (other than solely among the Borrower and the Subsidiaries), of (a) all or substantially all the issued and outstanding Equity Interests in any Person that are owned by the 

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Borrower or any Subsidiary or (b) assets comprising all or substantially all the assets of (or all or substantially all the assets constituting a business unit, division, product line or line of business of) any Person; provided that the aggregate consideration therefor (including Indebtedness assumed by the transferee in connection therewith, all obligations in respect of deferred purchase price (including obligations under any purchase price adjustment but excluding earnout or similar payments) and all other consideration payable in connection therewith (including payment obligations in respect of noncompetition agreements or other arrangements representing acquisition consideration)) exceeds $50,000,000.
“Material Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (other than the Loans), or obligations in respect of one or more Swap Agreements, of any one or more of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate outstanding principal amount exceeding $75,000,000. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “principal amount” of the obligations of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of any Swap Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that the Borrower or such Subsidiary would be required to pay if such Swap Agreement were terminated at such time.
“Material Subsidiary” means each Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Loan Party (a) the consolidated total assets of which equal 3.75% or more of the consolidated total assets of the Borrower or (b) the consolidated revenues of which equal 3.75% or more of the consolidated revenues of the Borrower, in each case as of the end of or for the most recent period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or 5.01(b) (or, prior to the first delivery of any such financial statements, as of the end of or for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower ended June 30, 2012); provided that if at the end of or for any such most recent period of four consecutive fiscal quarters the combined consolidated total assets or combined consolidated revenues of all Subsidiaries that under clauses (a) and (b) above would not constitute Material Subsidiaries shall have exceeded 10% of the consolidated total assets of the Borrower or 10% of the consolidated revenues of the Borrower (calculated without duplication of assets or revenues), then one or more of such excluded Subsidiaries shall for all purposes of this Agreement be deemed to be Material Subsidiaries in descending order based on the amounts of their consolidated total assets or consolidated revenues, as the case may be, until such excess shall have been eliminated.
“Maturity Date” means, as applicable, the earlier of (i) the date that is the three year anniversary of the Closing Date and (ii) the date of acceleration of the Loans pursuant to Article VII hereof.
“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. 
“Multiemployer Plan” means a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.
“Obligations” means (a) the due and punctual payment by the Borrower of (i) the principal of and interest (including interest accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding) on the Loans, when and as due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, upon one or more dates set for prepayment or otherwise and (ii) all other monetary obligations of the Borrower to any of the Guaranteed Parties under any Loan Document, including obligations to pay fees, expense reimbursement obligations and indemnification obligations, whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or otherwise (including monetary obligations incurred during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), (b) the due and punctual performance of all other obligations of the Borrower under or pursuant to any 

14

Loan Document and (c) the due and punctual payment and performance of all the obligations of each other Loan Party under or pursuant to each Loan Document (including monetary obligations incurred during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding).
“OFAC” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.17.
“Other Connection Taxes” means, with respect to the Lender or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party hereunder or under any other Loan Document, 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, or become a party to, performed its obligations or received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to, or enforced, any Loan Documents).
“Other Taxes” means any and all present or future recording, stamp, court or documentary Taxes and any other excise, transfer, sales, property, intangible, filing or similar Taxes arising from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, or from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, but excluding Excluded Taxes and Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 2.19(b)). 
“PACA” shall mean the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act, 1930, as amended, 7 U.S.C. Section 499a et. seq., as the same now exists or may from time to time hereafter be amended, modified, recodified or supplemented, together with all rules, regulations and interpretations thereunder or related thereto.
“Participant” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(c)(i).
“Participant Register” has the meaning specified in Section 9.04(c)(iv).
“PATRIOT Act” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.13.
“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA and any successor entity performing similar functions.
“Permitted Discretion” means a determination made in good faith and in the exercise of reasonable (from the perspective of a secured lender) business judgment.
“Permitted Encumbrances” means:
(a)    Liens imposed by law for Taxes that are not yet due or are being contested in compliance with Section 5.04;
(b)    carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s, landlord’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 5.04;
(c)    pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws;

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(d)    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;
(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 Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;
(g)    banker’s liens, rights of setoff or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained with depository institutions; provided that, except with respect to any deposit account or funds subject to the Lien of a Loan Document, such deposit accounts or funds are not established or deposited for the purpose of providing collateral for any Indebtedness and are not subject to restrictions on access by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of those required by applicable banking regulations;
(h)    Liens in favor of, or claims or rights of any producer, grower or seller of livestock, poultry or agricultural commodities under PACA, PSA or any similar state or federal laws or regulations;
(i)    any Lien, claim or right of any Governmental Authority arising under any law or regulation in any inventory or farm products allocable to any procurement contract with such Governmental Authority;
(j)    rights and claims of joint owners of livestock (other than poultry) under arrangements similar to TFM’s existing Alliance program;
(k)    [Reserved].
(l)    Liens arising by virtue of Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filings (or similar filings under applicable law) regarding operating leases entered into by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;
provided that the term “Permitted Encumbrances” shall not include any Lien securing Indebtedness.
“Permitted Holders” means (a) “members of the same family” of Mr. Don Tyson as defined in Section 447(e) of the Code and (b) any entity (including, but not limited to, any partnership, corporation, trust or limited liability company) in which one or more individuals described in clause (a) hereof possess over 50% of the voting power or beneficial interests.
“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 sponsored, maintained or contributed to, by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate.
“Pricing Schedule” means Schedule I attached hereto.

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“Prime Rate” means rate of interest per annum from time to time published in the “Money Rates” section of The Wall Street Journal as being the “Prime Lending Rate” or, if more than one rate is published as the Prime Lending Rate, then the highest of such rates (each change in the Prime Rate to be effective as of the date of publication in The Wall Street Journal of a “Prime Lending Rate” that is different from that published on the preceding domestic business day); provided, that in the event that The Wall Street Journal shall, for any reason, fail or cease to publish the Prime Lending Rate, the Lender shall choose a reasonably comparable index or source to use as the basis for the Prime Lending Rate.
“Pro Forma Basis” means, with respect to any test hereunder in connection with any event, that such test shall be calculated after giving effect on a pro forma basis for the period of such calculation to (i) such event as if it happened on the first day of such period or (ii) the incurrence of any Indebtedness by the Borrower or any Subsidiary and any incurrence, repayment, issuance or redemption of other Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary occurring at any time subsequent to the last day of such period and on or prior to the date of determination, as if such incurrence, repayment, issuance or redemption, as the case may be, occurred on the first day of such period (it being understood that, in connection with any such pro forma calculation prior to the delivery of financial statements for the first fiscal quarter ended after the Closing Date, such calculation shall be made in a manner satisfactory to the Lender in its Permitted Discretion).
“PSA” shall mean the Packers and Stockyard Act of 1921, 7 U.S.C. Section 181 et. seq., as the same now exists or may from time to time hereafter be amended, modified, recodified or supplemented, together with all rules, regulations and interpretations thereunder or related thereto.
“Refinancing Indebtedness” means, in respect of any Indebtedness (the “Original  Indebtedness”), any Indebtedness that extends, renews or refinances such Original Indebtedness (or any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) or, in addition in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary, Indebtedness (“Replacement Indebtedness”) of such Foreign Subsidiary that replaces Original Indebtedness of such Foreign Subsidiary or of any other Foreign Subsidiary organized under the laws of the same nation as such Foreign Subsidiary within 90 days after the repayment or prepayment of such Original Indebtedness; provided that (a) the principal amount of such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not exceed the principal amount of such Original Indebtedness (except to the extent used to finance accrued interest and premium (including tender or makewhole premiums) thereon and underwriting discounts, defeasance costs, fees, commissions and expenses), it being understood in the case of Replacement Indebtedness that is denominated in a currency different from that of the applicable Original Indebtedness that the principal amount of such Original Indebtedness shall be deemed to be equal to the amount in the currency of such Replacement Indebtedness that is equal to the principal amount of such Original Indebtedness based on the currency exchange rates applicable on the date such Replacement Indebtedness is incurred; (b) the maturity of such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not be earlier, and the weighted average life to maturity of such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not be shorter, than that of such Original Indebtedness; (c) such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not be required to be repaid, prepaid, redeemed, repurchased or defeased, whether on one or more fixed dates, upon the occurrence of one or more events or at the option of any holder thereof (except, in each case, upon the occurrence of an event of default or a change in control or as and to the extent such repayment, prepayment, redemption, repurchase or defeasance would have been required pursuant to the terms of such Original Indebtedness) prior to the earlier of (i) the maturity of such Original Indebtedness and (ii) the date that is six months after the Maturity Date hereunder; (d) such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not constitute an obligation of any Subsidiary that shall not have been (or, in the case of after-acquired Subsidiaries, shall not have been required to become) an obligor in respect of such Original Indebtedness (except that Refinancing Indebtedness of any Foreign Subsidiary may be Guaranteed by any other Foreign Subsidiary organized under the laws of the same nation as such Foreign Subsidiary), and shall not constitute an obligation of the Borrower if the Borrower shall not have been an obligor in respect of such Original Indebtedness, and, 

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in each case (except, in the case of Foreign Subsidiaries, to the extent specified in this clause (d)), shall constitute an obligation of such Subsidiary or of the Borrower only to the extent of their obligations in respect of such Original Indebtedness; (e) if such Original Indebtedness shall have been expressly subordinated to the Obligations, such Refinancing Indebtedness shall also be expressly subordinated to the Obligations on terms not less favorable in any material respect to the Lender; and (f) such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not be secured by any Lien on any asset other than the assets that secured such Original Indebtedness (or would have been required to secure such Original Indebtedness pursuant to the terms thereof) (except that Refinancing Indebtedness of any Foreign Subsidiary may be secured by Liens on assets of any other Foreign Subsidiary organized under the laws of the same nation as such Foreign Subsidiary) or by any Lien having a higher priority in respect of the Obligations than the Lien that secured such Original Indebtedness.
“Register” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(b).
“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.
“Required Lenders” means, Lenders holding Loans representing more than 50% of the sum of all Loans at such time.
“Requirement of Law” means, with respect to any Person, (a) the charter, articles or certificate of organization or incorporation and bylaws or other organizational or governing documents of such Person and (b) any statute, law, treaty, rule, regulation, order, decree, writ, injunction or determination of any arbitrator or court or other Governmental Authority (including Environmental Laws), in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.
“Responsible Officer” means any of the president, chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer, controller or chief accounting officer of the Borrower but, in any event, with respect to financial matters, the foregoing person that is responsible for preparing the financial statements and reports delivered hereunder.
“Restricted Payment” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interests in the Borrower 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, acquisition, cancelation or termination of any Equity Interests in the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, whether now or hereafter outstanding, or any option, warrant, or other right to acquire any such Equity Interests in the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any other payment that has a substantially similar effect to any of the foregoing.
“Sale/Leaseback Transaction” means an arrangement relating to property owned by the Borrower or any Subsidiary whereby the Borrower or such Subsidiary sells or transfers such property to any Person and the Borrower or any Subsidiary leases such property, or other property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property sold or transferred, from such Person or its Affiliates; provided, however, any such arrangement incurred in connection with the acquisition of property that is not capitalized on the balance sheet of the Borrower or any Subsidiary and is leased by the Borrower or any Subsidiary pursuant to an operating lease (other than a Synthetic Lease) shall not be considered a Sale/Leaseback Transaction.

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“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC business.
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.
“SEC Filing” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.11. 
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Securitization Transaction” means any arrangement under which the Borrower or any Subsidiary transfers accounts receivable and/or payment intangibles, interests therein and/or related assets and rights (a) to a trust, partnership, corporation, limited liability company or other entity (which may be an SPE Subsidiary), which transfer is funded in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, by the incurrence or issuance by the transferee or successor transferee (which may be an SPE Subsidiary) of Indebtedness, other securities or interests that are to receive payments from, or that represent interests in, the cash flow derived from such accounts receivable and/or payment intangibles, interests therein or related assets and rights, or (b) directly to one or more investors or other purchasers. The “amount” or “principal amount” of any Securitization Transaction shall be deemed at any time to be the aggregate principal, capital or stated amount (or the substantive equivalent of any of the foregoing) of the Indebtedness, other securities or interests referred to in the first sentence of this definition or, if there shall be no such principal, capital or stated amount (or the substantive equivalent of any of the foregoing), the uncollected amount of the accounts receivable or interests therein transferred pursuant to such Securitization Transaction, net of any such accounts receivables or interests therein that have been written off as uncollectible. Such “amount” or “principal amount” shall not include any amount of Indebtedness owing by any SPE Subsidiary to the Borrower or any Subsidiary to the extent that such intercompany Indebtedness has been incurred to finance, in part, the transfers of accounts receivable and/or payment intangibles, interests therein and/or related assets and rights to such SPE Subsidiary.
 “SPE Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary formed solely for the purpose of, and that engages only in, one or more Securitization Transactions and transactions related or incidental thereto.
“Solvency Certificate” means a certificate from the chief financial officer or other officer of equivalent duties of the Borrower demonstrating the solvency (on a consolidated basis) of the Borrower and its subsidiaries as of the Closing Date, on a pro forma basis for the Transactions, substantially in the form of Exhibit F hereto.
“Solvent” means, with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, (i) the sum of the debt (including contingent liabilities) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, does not exceed the fair value of the present assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (ii) the present fair saleable value of the assets of the Borrower and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liabilities (including contingent liabilities) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, on their debts as they become absolute and matured, (iii) the capital of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, is not unreasonably small in relation to the business of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and (iv) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, do not intend to incur, or believe that they will incur, debts (including current obligations and contingent liabilities) beyond their ability to pay such debts as they mature in the ordinary course of business. For the purposes hereof, the amount of any contingent liability at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in light of all of the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

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“Statutory Reserve Rate” means, for the Interest Period for any Eurocurrency Borrowing, 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 Lender is subject, 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. Eurocurrency Loans shall be deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under 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.
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person (the “parent”) at any date, (a) any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity 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 and (b) any other 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. Unless otherwise specified, “Subsidiary” means any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Borrower. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Dynamic Fuels, LLC shall not be a “Subsidiary” for any purpose under the Loan Documents, nor shall any Variable Interest Entity (other than an SPE Subsidiary) be a “Subsidiary” under the foregoing clause (b).
“Subsidiary Guarantor” means, at any time, each Subsidiary that is a party to the Guarantee Agreement at such time.
“Subsidiary Loan Party” means each Subsidiary that is a Loan Party.
“Swap Agreement” means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions, provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Borrower or the Subsidiaries shall be a Swap Agreement.
“Synthetic Lease” means, as to any Person, any lease (including leases that may be terminated by the lessee at any time) of real or personal property, or a combination thereof, (a) that is accounted for as an operating lease under GAAP and (b) in respect of which the lessee is deemed to own the property so leased for U.S. Federal income tax purposes, other than any such lease under which such Person is the lessor.
“Synthetic Lease Obligations” means, as to any Person, an amount equal to the capitalized amount of the remaining lease payments under any Synthetic Lease (determined, in the case of a Synthetic Lease providing for an option to purchase the leased property, as if such purchase were required at the end of the term thereof) that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP if such obligations were accounted for as Capital Lease Obligations. For purposes of Section 6.02, a Synthetic Lease Obligation shall be deemed to be secured by a Lien on the property being leased and such property shall be deemed to be owned by the lessee.

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 “Taxes” means any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, charges or withholdings imposed by any Governmental Authority including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
“TFM” means Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
“Total Assets” means the total consolidated assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries according to the relevant consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower.
“Total Commitment” means, at any time, the aggregate amount of the Commitments in effect at such time.
“Transactions” means the execution, delivery and performance by the Loan Parties of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which they are party, the borrowing of Loans, the use of the proceeds thereof and the other transactions contemplated by or related to the foregoing.
“Type”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate or the Alternate Base Rate.
“UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York or any other state the laws of which are required to be applied in connection with the issue of perfection of security interests.
“U.S.” means the United States of America.
“U.S. Borrower” means the Borrower if it is a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.
“U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.17(f).
“Variable Interest Entity” means any Person that is not a Subsidiary under clause (a) of the definition of such term but the accounts of which are consolidated with those of the Borrower under GAAP as a result of its status as a variable interest entity.
“wholly-owned Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person at any date, a subsidiary of such Person of which securities or other ownership interests representing 100% of the Equity Interests (other than directors’ qualifying shares) are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held by such Person or one or more wholly-owned Subsidiaries of such Person or by such Person and one or more wholly-owned Subsidiaries of such Person. Unless otherwise specified, “wholly-owned Subsidiary” means a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Borrower.
“Withdrawal Liability” means liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.
“Withholding Agent” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.17(a).

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SECTION 1.02    Classification of Loans and Borrowings. For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Type (e.g., a “Eurocurrency Loan”). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Type (e.g., a “Eurocurrency Borrowing”).
SECTION 1.03    Terms Generally. The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”. 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, amended and restated, 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 and (e) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.
SECTION 1.04    Accounting Terms; GAAP. (a)  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time, provided that, if the Borrower notifies the Lender that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision (including any definition) hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the Closing Date in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Lender notifies the Borrower that the Lender requests an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith. Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made (i) without giving effect to any election under Accounting Standards Codification 825-10-25 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of the Borrower or any Subsidiary at “fair value”, as defined therein, (ii) without giving effect to any treatment of Indebtedness in respect of convertible debt instruments under Accounting Standards Codification 470-20 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any such Indebtedness in a reduced or bifurcated manner as described therein, and such Indebtedness shall at all times be valued at the full stated principal amount thereof, and (iii) in a manner such that any obligations relating to a lease that was accounted for by a Person as an operating lease as of the Closing Date and any similar lease entered into after the Closing Date by such Person shall be accounted for as obligations relating to an operating lease and not as Capital Lease Obligations.
(b)    All pro forma computations required to be made hereunder giving effect to any Material Acquisition or Material Disposition shall be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis after giving pro forma effect thereto (and, in the case of any pro forma computations made hereunder to determine whether a transaction is permitted to be consummated hereunder, to any other such transaction consummated since the first day of the period covered by any component of such pro forma computation and on or prior to the date of such computation), and, to the extent applicable, to the historical earnings 

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and cash flows associated with the assets acquired or disposed of and any related incurrence or reduction of Indebtedness, all in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act. If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the date of determination had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Swap Agreement applicable to such Indebtedness if such Swap Agreement has a remaining term in excess of 12 months).
SECTION 1.05    Currency Translations. For purposes of any determination under Section 6.01, 6.02 or 6.05 or under paragraph (f), (g) or (k) of Article VII, all amounts incurred, outstanding or proposed to be incurred or outstanding in currencies other than dollars shall be translated into dollars at the currency exchange rates in effect on the date of such determination; provided that no Default or Event of Default shall arise as a result of any limitation set forth in dollars in Section 6.01, 6.02 or 6.05 being exceeded solely as a result of changes in currency exchange rates from those rates applicable at the time or times Indebtedness, Liens or Sale/Leaseback Transactions were initially consummated in reliance on the exceptions under such Sections.
ARTICLE II
The Credits
SECTION 2.01    The Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Lender agrees to make, in a single advance, a term loan to the Borrower on the Closing Date in an amount equal to the Lender’s Commitment.  All Loans shall be denominated in dollars. Any amount borrowed under this Section 2.01 and subsequently repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed.
SECTION 2.02    Loans and Borrowings. (a) Subject to Section 2.14, each Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Eurocurrency Loans as the Borrower may request in accordance herewith. The Lender at its option may make any Eurocurrency Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan, provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(b)    At the commencement of each Interest Period for any Eurocurrency Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000. At the time that each ABR Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000; provided that an ABR Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount that is equal to the entire unused balance of the Total Commitment. 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 ten Eurocurrency Borrowings outstanding in the aggregate for all Loans.
(c)    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Borrower shall not be entitled to request, or to elect to convert or continue, any Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto would end after the Maturity Date.

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SECTION 2.03    Requests for Borrowings. To request a Borrowing, the Borrower shall notify the Lender of such request by telephone (a) in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, three Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing or (b) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 12:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date of the proposed Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day).  Each such telephonic Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or facsimile or other electronic transmission to the Lender of a written Borrowing Request substantially in the form of Exhibit C signed by the Borrower, provided, however, that with respect to the Borrowing made on the Closing Date, the funding indemnity letter in form and substance satisfactory to the Lender shall be submitted together with such Borrowing Request. Each such telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall specify the following information:
(i)    the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing;
(ii)    the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;
(iii)    whether such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurocurrency Borrowing;
(iv)    in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, the initial Interest Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”;
(v)    the location and number of the Borrower’s account to which funds are to be disbursed; and
(vi)    that as of such date with respect to the Loans, the conditions set forth in Section 4.01 are satisfied.
If no election as to the Type of Borrowing is specified, then the requested Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period is specified with respect to any requested Eurocurrency Borrowing, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration.
SECTION 2.04    [Reserved].
SECTION 2.05    [Reserved].  
SECTION 2.06    [Reserved].
SECTION 2.07    [Reserved]. 
SECTION 2.08    Interest Elections. (a) Each Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request or designated by Section 2.03 and, in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request or designated by Section 2.03. Thereafter, the Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section. The Borrower may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing.
(b)    To make an election pursuant to this Section, the Borrower shall notify the Lender of such election by telephone by the time that a Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.03 if the Borrower was requesting a Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election to be 

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made on the effective date of such election. Each such telephonic Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or facsimile or by other electronic transmission to the Lender of a written Interest Election Request substantially in the form of Exhibit D signed by the Borrower.
(c)    Each telephonic and written Interest Election Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.03:
(i)    the Borrowing to which such Interest Election Request applies and, if different options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the portions thereof to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) below shall be specified for each resulting Borrowing);
(ii)    the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Interest Election Request, which shall be a Business Day;
(iii)    whether the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurocurrency Borrowing; and
(iv)    if the resulting Borrowing is a Eurocurrency 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” and permitted under Section 2.02(c).
If any such Interest Election Request requests a Eurocurrency Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration.
(d)    [Reserved].
(e)    If the Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to a Eurocurrency Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period such Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing. Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Required Lenders so notify the Borrower, then, so long as an Event of Default is continuing (i) no outstanding Borrowing may be converted to or continued as a Eurocurrency Borrowing and (ii) unless repaid, each Eurocurrency Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.
SECTION 2.09    Optional Prepayment of Loans. The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay without premium or penalty (other than, with respect to Eurocurrency Borrowings, payments that may become due under Section 2.16) any Borrowing in whole or in part, subject to the requirements of this Section; provided that each partial repayment of the Borrowings shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $2,500,000. The Borrower shall notify the Lender by telephone (confirmed by facsimile or by other electronic transmission) of any prepayment hereunder (i) in the case of prepayment of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, not later than 2:00 p.m., New York City time, three Business Days before the date of prepayment or (ii) in the case of prepayment of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date of prepayment (which shall be a Business Day). 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 a notice of optional prepayment may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities or the receipt of the proceeds from the issuance of other Indebtedness or any other event, in which case such notice of prepayment may be revoked by the 

25

Borrower (by notice to the Lender on or prior to the specified date) if such condition is not satisfied. Prepayments shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.13(d). Each prepayment of a Borrowing under this Section 2.09 shall not be reborrowed.
SECTION 2.10    Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt. (a) The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to repay the then outstanding principal amount of each Loan on the Maturity Date.
(b)    The Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to the Lender resulting from each Loan made by the Lender, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to the Lender from time to time hereunder.
(c)    [Reserved].
(d)    The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein, provided that the failure of the Lender to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loans and pay interest thereon in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(e)    The Lender may request that Loans made by it be evidenced by a promissory note. In such event, the Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to the Lender a promissory note, substantially in the form of Exhibit G, payable to the order of the Lender (or, if requested by the Lender, to the Lender and its registered assigns). Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 9.04) be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form payable to the order of the payee named therein (or, if such promissory note is a registered note, to such payee and its registered assigns).
SECTION 2.11    [Reserved].
SECTION 2.12    [Reserved].
SECTION 2.13    Interest. (a) The Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing shall bear interest at the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.
(b)    The Loans comprising each Eurocurrency Borrowing shall bear interest at the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Rate.
(c)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any principal of or interest on any Loan or any fee or other amount payable by the Borrower hereunder is not paid when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration, by mandatory prepayment 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, 2.00% per annum 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, 2.00% per annum plus the rate applicable to ABR Loans as provided in paragraph (a) of this Section.
(d)    Accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan, 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 Loan prior to the Maturity Date), 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 

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conversion of any Eurocurrency Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on the effective date of such conversion.
(e)    All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, except that interest computed by reference to the Alternate Base Rate at times when the Alternate Base Rate is based on the Prime Rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). The applicable Alternate Base Rate or Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate shall be determined by the Lender, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
SECTION 2.14    Alternate Rate of Interest. If prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for any Eurocurrency Borrowing:
(a)    the Lender determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate for such Interest Period; or
(b)    the Lender determines that the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to the Lender of making or maintaining the Loans included in such Borrowing for such Interest Period;
then the Lender shall give notice thereof to the Borrower by telephone (promptly confirmed in writing) or facsimile or by other electronic transmission as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the Lender notifies the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Eurocurrency Borrowing shall be ineffective and such Borrowing (unless prepaid) shall be converted to, or continued as, an ABR Borrowing and (ii) if any Borrowing Request requests a Eurocurrency Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing, provided that following the first day that such condition shall cease to exist, such Borrowings may be made as or converted to Eurocurrency Borrowings at the request of and in accordance with the elections of the Borrower.
SECTION 2.15    Increased Costs. (a) If any Change in Law shall:
(i)    impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, the Lender (except any such reserve requirement reflected in the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate);
(ii)    subject the Lender to any Taxes on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Excluded Taxes, (C) Other Connection Taxes or (D) income taxes on gross or net income, profits or revenue (including value-added or similar Taxes) or franchise taxes); or
(iii)    impose on the Lender or the London interbank market any other condition, cost, or expense affecting this Agreement or Eurocurrency Loans made by the Lender;
and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to the Lender of making, converting to, continuing or maintaining any Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan) or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by the Lender hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) and so long as the Lender is requiring reimbursement for such increased costs from 

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similarly situated borrowers under comparable credit facilities, then, upon the request of the Lender, the Borrower will pay to the Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate the Lender for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.
(b)    If the Lender determines that any Change in Law affecting the Lender or any lending office of the Lender or the Lender’s holding company, if any, regarding capital or liquidity requirements has had or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on the Lender’s capital or on the capital of the Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement or the Loans made by the Lender, to a level below that which the Lender or the Lender’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration the Lender’s policies and the policies of the Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy or liquidity), then, from time to time upon request of the Lender, the Borrower will pay to the Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate the Lender or the Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.
(c)    A certificate of the Lender setting forth in reasonable detail an explanation of the amount or amounts necessary to compensate the Lender or its respective holding companies, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay the Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 30 days after receipt thereof.
(d)    Failure or delay on the part of the Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of the Lender’s right to demand such compensation, provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate the Lender pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or reductions incurred more than 270 days prior to the date that the Lender notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of the Lender’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 270-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.
SECTION 2.16    Break Funding Payments. In the event of (a) the payment of any principal of any Eurocurrency 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 other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (c) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Eurocurrency Loan (or to convert any ABR Loan into a Eurocurrency Loan) on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice may be revoked under Section 2.09 and is revoked in accordance therewith) or (d) the assignment of any Eurocurrency Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower to replace a Lender pursuant to Section 2.19(b) or Section 9.02(c), then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate the Lender for the loss, cost and reasonable expense actually incurred (excluding loss of anticipated profits) by the Lender and attributable to such event. In the case of a Eurocurrency Loan, such loss, cost or expense to the Lender shall be deemed to include an amount determined by the Lender to be the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest that would have accrued on the principal amount of such Loan had such event not occurred, at the Eurocurrency Rate (without consideration of the Applicable Rate) that would have been applicable to such Loan, for the period from the date of such event to the last day of the then current Interest Period therefor (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or continue, for the period that would have been the Interest Period for such Loan), over (ii) the amount of interest that would accrue on such principal amount for such period at the interest rate that the Lender would bid were it to bid, at the commencement of such period, for dollar deposits of a comparable amount and period from other banks in the eurodollar market (without consideration of the Applicable Rate). A certificate of the Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that the Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower 

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shall pay the Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after the Borrower’s receipt thereof.
SECTION 2.17    Taxes. (a) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any Indemnified Taxes, provided that if any applicable law (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable Withholding Agent (as defined below)) requires the deduction or withholding of any Indemnified Tax from any such payment (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any such deduction or withholding required to be made by the applicable Loan Party, or, in the case of any Lender that is treated as a partnership for U.S. Federal income tax purposes, by such Lender for the account of any of its direct or indirect beneficial owners), the applicable Loan Party, the Lender or the applicable direct or indirect beneficial owner of a Lender (any such person a “Withholding Agent”) shall make such deductions and timely pay the full amount deducted 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 making all required deductions for Indemnified Taxes (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the Lender or its beneficial owner, as the case may be, receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made.
(b)    Without limiting the provisions of Section 2.17(a) above, the Loan Parties shall timely pay, or at the option of the Lender timely reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.
(c)    To the extent not paid, reimbursed or compensated pursuant to Section 2.17(a) or (b), the Loan Parties shall jointly and severally indemnify the Lender, within 10 days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes payable by the Lender (or its beneficial owner), as the case may be, on or with respect to any payment by or on account of any obligation of the Loan Parties under any Loan Document (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) 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 (except for any interest, penalties, or expenses determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Lender, as the case may be). A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by the Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(d)    [Reserved].
(e)    As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes by the Loan Parties to a Governmental Authority pursuant to Section 2.17(a), the Borrower shall deliver to the Lender 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 Lender.
(f)    Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of any applicable withholding tax with respect to payments under this Agreement shall deliver to the Borrower, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate. In addition, any Lender, if requested by the Borrower, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower as will enable the Borrower to determine that such Lender is not subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements.

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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, in the case of any withholding tax other than the U.S. Federal withholding Tax, the completion, execution and submission of such forms (other than such documentation set forth in clauses (i) through (v) of this paragraph (f) below) shall not be required if in the Foreign Lender’s judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Foreign Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense (or, in the case of a Change in Law, any incremental material unreimbursed cost or expense) or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Foreign Lender. Upon the reasonable request of the Borrower, any Lender shall update any form or certification previously delivered pursuant to this Section 2.17(f). If any form or certification previously delivered pursuant to this Section 2.17(f) expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect with respect to a Lender, such Lender shall promptly (and in any event within 10 days after such expiration, obsolescence or inaccuracy) notify the Borrower in writing of such expiration, obsolescence or inaccuracy and update the form or certification if it is legally eligible to do so.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that the Borrower is a U.S. Borrower, any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower (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 request of the Borrower), whichever of the following is applicable:
(i)    duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN claiming eligibility for benefits of an income tax treaty to which the U.S. is a party,
(ii)    duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service 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 H to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not (A) a “bank” within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (B) a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or (C) a “controlled foreign corporation” described in section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code and (D) the interest payments in question are not effectively connected with the United States trade or business conducted by such Lender (a “U.S. Tax Compliance  Certificate”) and (y) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN,
(iv)    to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner (for example, where the Foreign Lender is a partnership or participating Lender granting a typical participation), an Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY, accompanied by a Form W-8ECI, W-8BEN, U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate, Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that, if the Foreign Lender is a partnership (and not a participating Lender) and one or more beneficial owners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate on behalf of such beneficial owners, or
(v)    any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. Federal withholding Tax duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit the Borrower to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made.
Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification previously delivered by such Lender pursuant to this Section 2.17(f) expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any material respect, such 

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Lender shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Borrower in writing of such Lender’s legal inability to do so.
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 Withholding Agent, at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Withholding 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 Withholding Agent as may be necessary for the Withholding Agent to comply with its obligations under FATCA, 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 Section 2.17(f), the term “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.
(g)    [Reserved].
(h)    If the Lender determines, in its sole discretion, that it has received a refund of any Indemnified Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section (including additional amounts paid by the Borrower pursuant to this Section), it shall pay to the Borrower an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section with respect to the Indemnified Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including any Indemnified Taxes) of the Lender, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund); provided, that the Borrower, upon the request of the Lender, agrees to repay the amount paid over pursuant to this paragraph (h) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Lender in the event the Lender is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (h), in no event will the Lender be required to pay any amount to the Borrower the payment of which would place the Lender in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the Lender would have been in if the indemnification payments or additional amounts giving rise to such refund had never been paid. This clause shall not be construed to require the Lender to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the Borrower or any other Person.
(i)    Each party’s obligations under this Section 2.17 shall survive any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, termination of the Loan Documents and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations thereunder.
SECTION 2.18    Payments Generally; Allocation of Proceeds; Sharing of Set-offs. (a) The Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by them hereunder (whether of principal, interest, or fees, or of amounts payable under Section 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 or 9.03, or otherwise) at or prior to the time expressly required hereunder or under any other Loan Document for such payment (or, if no such time is expressly required, prior to 2:00 p.m., New York City time), on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without set-off or counterclaim. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Lender, 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 Lender at its offices at 901 Main Street Dallas, TX 75202-3714 or at such other address that the Lender shall advise the Borrower in writing. If any payment under any Loan Document 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 under any Loan Document shall be made in dollars.

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(b)    Prior to any repayment of any Borrowings hereunder (other than the repayment in full of all outstanding Borrowings on the scheduled date of such repayment), the Borrower shall select 
the Borrowing or Borrowings to be paid and shall notify the Lender by telephone (confirmed by facsimile) of such selection at the times and on the days provided in Section 2.09; provided that each repayment of Borrowings shall be applied to repay any outstanding ABR Borrowings before any other Borrowings. If the Borrower fails to make a timely selection of the Borrowing or Borrowings to be repaid (in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence) or prepaid (in accordance with Section 2.09), such payment shall be applied, first, to pay any outstanding ABR Borrowings and, second, to other Borrowings in the order of the remaining duration of their respective Interest Periods (the Borrowing with the shortest remaining Interest Period to be repaid first). Each repayment or prepayment of a Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in such Borrowing.
(c)    Any amounts received by the Lender in accordance with this Agreement or another Loan Document (i) not constituting a specific payment of principal, interest, fees or other sum payable under the Loan Documents (which shall be applied as specified by the Borrower) or (ii) after an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Lender so elects, shall be applied ratably to the Guaranteed Obligations as follows: first, to the payment of all costs and expenses incurred by the Lender in connection with such collection or sale or otherwise in connection with this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any of the Guaranteed Obligations, including all court costs and the fees and expenses of its agents and legal counsel, the repayment of all advances made by the Lender hereunder or under any other Loan Document on behalf of any Loan Party and any other costs or expenses incurred in connection with the exercise of any right or remedy hereunder or under any other Loan Document, second, to the payment in full of the Guaranteed Obligations (the amounts so applied to be distributed among the Guaranteed Parties pro rata in accordance with the amounts of the Guaranteed Obligations owed to them on the date of any such distribution) and third, to the Loan Parties, their successors or assigns, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, unless so directed by the Borrower or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Lender shall not apply any payment that it receives to a Eurocurrency Loan, except (x) on the expiration date of the Interest Period applicable to any such Eurocurrency Loan or (y) in the event, and only to the extent, that there are no outstanding ABR Loans and, in any such event, the Borrower shall pay any break funding payment required in accordance with Section 2.16. The Lender shall have the continuing and exclusive right to apply and reverse and reapply any and all such proceeds and payments to any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(d)    If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Lender to pay fully all amounts of principal, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first, towards payment of interest and fees then due 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 then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal then due to such parties.
SECTION 2.19    Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders. (a)If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to such Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.15 or 2.17, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to 

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such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment. 
(b)    If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Initial Lender, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 9.04), all its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (i) the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Initial Lender or the Required Lenders, which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts) and (iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.15 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.17, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments. A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.
ARTICLE III
Representations and Warranties

The Borrower represents and warrants to the Lender that as of the Closing Date:
SECTION 3.01    Organization; Powers. Each Loan Party (a) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority (i) to carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted, (ii) to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under each Loan Document to which it is a party and (iii) to effect the Transactions, and (c) is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, every jurisdiction where such qualification is required, except where the failure to so qualify, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.02    Authorization; Enforceability. The Transactions to be entered into by each Loan Party and the execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of the Loan Documents have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other action and, if required, action by the holders of such Loan Party’s Equity Interests. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower and constitutes, and each other Loan Document to which any Loan Party is to be a party, when executed and delivered by such Loan Party, will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower or such Loan Party (as the case may be), 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.

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SECTION 3.03    Governmental 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 material Requirement of Law applicable to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to the extent failure to comply with which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (c) will not violate the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiary, (d) will not violate or result in a material default under any material indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective assets, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any material payment to be made by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or give rise to a right of, or result in, termination, cancelation or acceleration of any material obligation thereunder and (e) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien (other than a Lien permitted under Section 6.02) on any asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary.
SECTION 3.04    Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change. (a) The Borrower has heretofore furnished to the Lender: (i) its consolidated balance sheet and consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows as of and for the fiscal year ended September 27, 2014, reported on by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent public accountants, and (ii) as of the Closing Date, the other financial statements described in clause (i) of Section 4.01(d) below. Such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries as of such dates and for such periods in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes and consolidated statements of stockholders’ equity in the case of the statements referred to in clause (ii) above.
(b)    Since September 27, 2014, there has not occurred any event, change or condition that has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.
(c)    The fair value of the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (both at fair valuation and at present fair saleable value) is greater than the total amount of liabilities (including contingent and unliquidated liabilities) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are able to pay all their liabilities as such liabilities mature and do not have unreasonably small capital with which to carry on their business. In computing the amount of contingent or unliquidated liabilities at any time, such liabilities will be computed at the amount which, in light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.
SECTION 3.05    Properties. (a) The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries has good title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all the real and personal property that is material to its business, free of all Liens other than Liens permitted by Section 6.02.
(b)    The Borrower and each of 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 Borrower and its Subsidiaries does not infringe in any material respect upon the rights of any other Person.
SECTION 3.06    Litigation 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 the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, threatened against or affecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (i) which could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect (other than the Disclosed Matters) or (ii) that involve any of the Loan Documents or the Transactions.

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(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 Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, registration or license or other approval required under any Environmental Law, (ii) has become subject to any Environmental Liability, (iii) has received notice of any pending or threatened claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or (iv) knows of any conditions or circumstances that could reasonably be expected to form the basis for any Environmental Liability.
SECTION 3.07    Compliance with Laws and Agreements. The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance with (a) all material Requirements of Law applicable to it or its property except with respect to any noncompliance therewith which could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect and (b) in all material respects, all indentures and material agreements and other instruments binding upon it or its property.
SECTION 3.08    Investment Company Status. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is an “investment company” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or is subject to registration under such Act.
SECTION 3.09    Taxes. The Borrower and each of the Subsidiaries (a) has timely filed or caused to be filed all Tax returns and reports required to have been filed, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, and (b) except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes required to have been paid by it, except any Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, provided that the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, has set aside on its books adequate reserves therefor in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 740, Income Taxes, and the failure to pay such Taxes could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No material Tax liens have been filed and no material claims are being asserted with respect to any Taxes.
SECTION 3.10    ERISA. 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 minimum funding standards of ERISA and the Code with respect to each Plan have been satisfied, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.11    Disclosure. None of (i) the Borrower’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended December 27, 2014 or its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 27, 2014, and the other filings of the Borrower made prior to January 30, 2015 with the SEC in 2014 or 2015 (collectively, the “SEC Filings”) or (ii) any of the other reports, financial statements, certificates or other information furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower to the Lender pursuant to any Loan Document or delivered thereunder (as modified or supplemented by other information then or theretofore furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower to the Lender in connection herewith), as of the date such disclosures are delivered, contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed by them to be reasonable at the time delivered (unless otherwise updated subsequent thereto, in which case such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed by it to be reasonable at the time updated).

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SECTION 3.12    Insurance. The properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies or through self-insurance and the Borrower believes that such insurance maintained by or on behalf of the Loan Parties and their subsidiaries is adequate. All premiums due in respect of such insurance have been paid.
SECTION 3.13    Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose, whether immediate, incidental or ultimate, of buying or carrying Margin Stock. 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.
SECTION 3.14    Labor Matters. There are no material strikes, lockouts or slowdowns or any other labor disputes against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or threatened, that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (other than the Disclosed Matters). The hours worked by and payments made to employees of the Borrower or any Subsidiary have not been in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act or any other applicable Federal, state, local or foreign law dealing with such matters except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (other than the Disclosed Matters). All payments due from the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or for which any claim may be made against the Borrower or any Subsidiary, on account of wages and employee health and welfare insurance and other benefits, have been paid or accrued as a liability on the books of the Borrower or such Subsidiary, to the extent the failure to do so could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (other than the Disclosed Matters). The consummation of the Transactions 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 the Borrower or any Subsidiary is bound.
SECTION 3.15    Subsidiaries. All of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests owned by any Loan Party in its Subsidiaries have been (to the extent such concepts are relevant with respect to such ownership interests) duly authorized and issued and are fully paid and nonassessable.
SECTION 3.16    Event of Default. No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.
SECTION 3.17    OFAC. None of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Borrower, any director, officer, employee, agent or controlled affiliate of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (a) is, or is owned or controlled by Persons that are, included on the list of “Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons” or (b) is otherwise currently the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”).
SECTION 3.18    Money Laundering, FCPA and Counter-Terrorist Financing Laws. Each Loan Party is in compliance, in all material respects, with the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the PATRIOT Act, the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and all other applicable anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing laws and regulations.
SECTION 3.19    Solvency. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries are, as of the Closing Date, upon giving effect to the Transactions and as of each date of making the Loans and the application of proceeds thereof, on a consolidated basis, Solvent.

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ARTICLE IV
Conditions
SECTION 4.01    Closing Date. The obligations of the Lender to make the Loans hereunder shall not become effective until each of the following conditions shall be satisfied or waived by the Lender:
(a)    Credit Agreement and Guarantee Agreement. The Lender (or its counsel) shall have received from each party hereto and each party to the Guarantee Agreement a counterpart of this Agreement and the Guarantee Agreement, respectively, signed on behalf of each party hereto and thereto, respectively (or written evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Lender (which may include a facsimile or other electronic transmission of a signed signature page) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement and the Guarantee Agreement).
(b)    Closing Certificates; Certified Certificates of Incorporation; Good Standing Certificates. The Lender shall have received (i) a certificate of each applicable Loan Party, dated the Closing Date and executed by its Secretary or Assistant Secretary, which shall (A) certify the resolutions of its Board of Directors, members or other body authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, (B) identify by name and title and bear the signatures of the officers of such Loan Party authorized to sign the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and (C) contain appropriate attachments, including the certificate or articles of incorporation or organization of such Loan Party certified by the relevant authority of the jurisdiction of organization of such Loan Party and a true and correct copy of its by-laws or operating, management or partnership agreement, and (ii) a long form good standing certificate for such Loan Party from its jurisdiction of organization.
(c)    Fees and Expenses. The Lender shall have received all fees required to be paid and due on the Closing Date and all expenses for which invoices have been presented at least 2 Business Days prior to the Closing Date (including the fees and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of McGuireWoods LLP, counsel to the Lender), on or prior the Closing Date.
(d)    Financial Statements. The Lender shall have received unaudited consolidated and (to the extent publicly available) consolidating balance sheets and related statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for each subsequent fiscal quarter ended subsequent to September 27, 2014 and at least 45 days prior to the Closing Date.
(e)    Opinions, Officer’s Certificates and Borrowing Request. The Lender shall have received (in each case dated as of the Closing Date): (i) a Solvency Certificate, (ii) a Borrowing Request in accordance with Section 2.03, and (iii) a favorable written opinion (addressed to the Lender and) of each of (A) Sidley Austin LLP, counsel for the Borrower and the Loan Parties, and (B) R. Read Hudson, Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Secretary of the Borrower, in each case covering such customary matters relating to the Loan Parties, the Loan Documents as the Lender shall reasonably request and in form reasonably acceptable to the Lender.  The Borrower hereby requests such counsel to deliver such opinions.
(f)    Know Your Customer” Requirements. At least three Business Days prior to the Closing Date, documentation required under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the PATRIOT Act, to the extent reasonably requested by any Lender at least ten Business Days prior to the Closing Date.

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ARTICLE V
Affirmative Covenants
Until the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees, expenses and other amounts payable under any Loan Document (other than contingent amounts not yet due) shall have been paid in full, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lender that:

SECTION 5.01    Financial Statements and Other Information. The Borrower will furnish to the Lender:
(a)    as soon as possible, but in any event within 75 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, the Borrower’s audited consolidated balance sheet and audited consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such year, and related notes thereto, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) 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 Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied;
(b)    as soon as available, but in any event within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower, the Borrower’s unaudited consolidated balance sheet and unaudited consolidated statements of operations 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 the Chief Financial Officer of the Borrower as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the 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 or deemed delivery of financial statements under paragraph (a) or (b) above (or, in the case of any such delivery under paragraph (a) above, within 75 days after the end of the applicable fiscal year of the Borrower) a certificate of the Chief Financial Officer of the Borrower substantially in the form of Exhibit E certifying (i) (solely in the case of financial statements delivered pursuant to paragraph (b) above) such financial statements as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the 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, (ii) 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, (iii) setting forth reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating compliance with the covenants contained in Sections 6.09 and 6.10 and, if as of the date of such financial statements the Borrower’s consolidated financial statements include the results of any Variable Interest Entity that is not a “Subsidiary” for purposes hereof, including a statement in sufficient detail of amounts in respect of Variable Interest Entities excluded in calculating such covenants, and (iv) stating whether any change in GAAP or in the application thereof that applies to the Borrower or any of its consolidated Subsidiaries has occurred since the later of the date of the Borrower’s most recent audited financial statements referred to in Section 3.04 and the date of the most recent prior certificate delivered pursuant to this paragraph (c) indicating such a change and, if any such change has occurred, specifying the effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying such certificate;

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(d)    concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under paragraph (a) of this Section, a certificate of the accounting firm that reported on such financial statements stating 
whether they obtained knowledge during the course of their audit of such financial statements of any failure of the Borrower to comply with the terms, covenants, provisions or conditions of Section 6.09 or Section 6.10 insofar as they relate to accounting matters and, if such accounting firm has obtained such knowledge of any failure to comply, a statement as to the nature thereof (which certificate may be limited to the extent required by accounting rules or guidelines);
(e)    promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials (other than registration statements on Form S-8 or any similar or successor form) filed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary with the SEC, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all of the functions of the SEC, or with any national securities exchange, or distributed by the Borrower to the holders of its Equity Interests generally, as the case may be;
(f)    promptly after Moody’s, S&P or Fitch shall have announced (i) a change in the Facility Rating or the Corporate Rating or in any rating established or deemed to have been established for any of the Covered Notes, (ii) that it shall no longer maintain a Facility Rating or a Corporate Rating, (iii) a change of its rating system or (iv) that it shall cease to be in the business of issuing credit facility ratings or corporate credit ratings, written notice of such development or rating change;
(g)    promptly following any reasonable request therefor from the Lender, copies of any documents described in Sections 101(k) or 101(l) of ERISA that any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate may request with respect to any Multiemployer Plan; provided that if the Loan Parties or any of the ERISA Affiliates have not requested such documents or notices from the administrator or sponsor of the applicable Multiemployer Plan, then, upon reasonable request of the Lender, the Loan Parties and/or the ERISA Affiliates shall promptly make a request for such documents or notices from such administrator or sponsor and the Borrower shall provide copies of such documents and notices promptly after receipt thereof; and
(h)    promptly following any reasonable request therefor, such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or compliance with the terms of this Agreement, as the Lender may reasonably request.
Information required to be delivered pursuant to Sections 5.01(a), (b), (e) and (f) shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date on which the Borrower provides notice to the Lender that such information has been posted on the SEC website on the Internet at www.sec.gov, or at another website identified in such notice and accessible by the Lender without charge, provided that such notice may be included in a certificate delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(c).
SECTION 5.02    Notices of Material Events. The Borrower will furnish to the Lender written notice promptly, but in any event within five Business Days of, any of the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the General Counsel or the Chief Financial Officer of the Borrower obtaining actual knowledge of the following:
(a)    the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default;
(b)    the filing or commencement of any action, suit or proceeding by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority against or, to the knowledge of the Chief Financial Officer or another executive officer of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, affecting the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

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(c)    the occurrence of any ERISA Event or any fact or circumstance that gives rise to a reasonable expectation that any ERISA Event will occur that, in either case, alone or together with any other ERISA Events that have occurred or are reasonably expected to occur, could reasonably be expected to result in a liability in excess of $50,000,000;
(d)    any event, notice or circumstance or any correspondence with any Governmental Authority (including with respect to any release into the indoor or outdoor environment of any Hazardous Material that is required by any applicable Environmental Law to be reported to a Governmental Authority) which could reasonably be expected to lead to any Material Adverse Effect; and
(e)    any other development (including notice of any Environmental Liability) that results in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.
Each notice delivered under this Section shall be accompanied by a written statement of the Chief Financial Officer or other executive officer of the 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 5.03    Existence; Conduct of Business. Each Loan Party will, and will cause its Subsidiaries to, do or cause to be done all things necessary to obtain, preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence and, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the rights, licenses, permits, privileges, franchises, patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade names material to the conduct of its business, provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 6.03 or other permitted disposition thereof under Section 6.04.
SECTION 5.04    Payment of Obligations. Each Loan Party will, and will cause its Subsidiaries to, pay or discharge all Material Indebtedness and all other material liabilities and obligations, including Taxes, before such liabilities 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 Borrower or such Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP, (c) no attempt is being made to effect collection, or such contest effectively suspends collection, of the contested obligation and the enforcement of any Lien securing such obligation and (d) the failure to make payment pending such contest could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 5.05    Maintenance of Properties. Each Loan Party will, and will cause its Subsidiaries to, keep and maintain all property material to the conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted.
SECTION 5.06    Books and Records; Inspection Rights. Each Loan Party will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, (i) 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 and (ii) in the case of each Loan Party, permit any representatives designated by Lender (including employees of the Lender or any consultants, accountants, lawyers and appraisers retained by the Lender), upon reasonable prior 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, all at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as reasonably requested (but no more frequently than annually unless an Event of Default exists) and all with a representative of the Borrower present.

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SECTION 5.07    Compliance with Laws. Each Loan Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply with all Requirements of Law with respect to it or its property, except where non-compliance could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or where the necessity of compliance therewith is contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings.
SECTION 5.08    Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations. (a) The proceeds of the Loans will be used to repay a portion of the obligations 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 or for the purpose of financing any unsolicited offer for the Equity Interests of any Person or any hostile acquisition. The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, perform such acts and deliver such documents that the Lender may reasonably request to ensure compliance with the Regulations of the Board, including Regulation T, U and X (including promptly completing, executing and delivering to the Lender Form FR U-1.
(b)    The Borrower will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the Loans, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds of the Loan to any Person, for the purpose of financing activities or business of or with any Person, or in any country or territory that, at the time of such financing, is the subject of any U.S. sanctions administered or enforced by OFAC, except to the extent licensed or otherwise approved by OFAC.
(c)    No part of the proceeds of the Loans will be used, directly or indirectly, for any payments to any governmental official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political 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, as amended.
SECTION 5.09    Insurance. The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies or through self-insurance, (i) insurance or self-insurance in such amounts (with no greater risk retention) and against such risks as is considered adequate by the Borrower, in its good faith judgment, and (ii) all other insurance as may be required by law. The Borrower will furnish to the Lender, upon the reasonable request of the Lender, information in reasonable detail as to the insurance so maintained.
SECTION 5.10    [Reserved]. 
SECTION 5.11    Further Assurances. The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, execute any and all further documents, agreements and instruments, and take all such further actions that may be required under any applicable law, or that Lender may reasonably request, to cause the Guarantee Requirement to be and remain satisfied at all times or otherwise to give effect to the provisions of the Loan Documents, all at the expense of the Loan Parties.
ARTICLE VI
Negative Covenants
Until the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees, expenses and other amounts payable under any Loan Document (other than contingent amounts not yet due) shall have been paid in full, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lender that:

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SECTION 6.01    Indebtedness. (a) The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness, except:
(i)    Indebtedness created under the Loan Documents;
(ii)    Indebtedness existing on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 6.01 and Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof;
(iii)    Indebtedness of the Borrower to any Subsidiary and of any Subsidiary to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary; provided that (A) such Indebtedness shall not have been transferred or pledged to any other Person (other than the Borrower or any Subsidiary) and (B) any such Indebtedness owing by any Loan Party shall be subordinated to the Obligations on terms customary for intercompany subordinated Indebtedness, as reasonably determined by the Lender;
(iv)    Guarantees by the Borrower of Indebtedness of any Subsidiary and by any Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary; provided that the Indebtedness so guaranteed shall not be prohibited by this Section;
(v)    Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary incurred to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of any fixed or capital assets, including Capital Lease Obligations, Synthetic Lease Obligations and any Indebtedness assumed in connection with the acquisition of any such assets, and Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof; provided that such Indebtedness is incurred prior to or within 180 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement;
(vi)    Indebtedness of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary (or of any Person not previously a Subsidiary that is merged or consolidated with or into a Subsidiary in a transaction permitted hereunder) after the date hereof, or Indebtedness of any Person that is assumed by any Subsidiary in connection with an acquisition of assets by such Subsidiary, and Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof; provided that (A) such original Indebtedness exists at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary (or is so merged or consolidated) or such assets are acquired and is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such Person becoming a Subsidiary (or such merger or consolidation) or such assets being acquired and (B) neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary (other than such Person or the Subsidiary with which such Person is merged or consolidated or that so assumes such Person’s Indebtedness) shall Guarantee or otherwise become liable for the payment of such Indebtedness;
(vii)    performance bonds, bid bonds, surety bonds, appeal bonds, completion Guarantees and similar obligations, in each case provided in the ordinary course of business or in connection with the enforcement of rights or claims of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or in connection with judgments that do not result in a Default or an Event of Default;
(viii)    Indebtedness owed to any Person providing workers’ compensation, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance, pursuant to reimbursement or indemnification obligations to such Person, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(ix)    Indebtedness under Swap Agreements permitted under Section 6.06;
(x)    Capital Lease Obligations in connection with any Sale/Leaseback Transactions;

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(xi)    Indebtedness owed in respect of overdrafts and related liabilities arising from treasury, depository and cash management services or in connection with any automated clearinghouse transfers of funds;
(xii)    Indebtedness consisting of indemnification, adjustment of purchase price, earnout or similar obligations (and Guarantees of such Indebtedness), in each case, incurred in connection with the disposition of any business, assets or a Subsidiary of the Borrower, other than Guarantees of Indebtedness incurred or assumed by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or Subsidiary for the purpose of financing or otherwise in connection with such acquisition; provided, however, that (A) such Indebtedness is not reflected on the balance sheet of the Borrower or any Subsidiary prepared in accordance with GAAP (contingent obligations referred to in a footnote to financial statements and not otherwise reflected on the balance sheet will not be deemed to be reflected on such balance sheet for purposes of this clause (A)) and (B) the maximum aggregate liability in respect of all such Indebtedness shall not exceed the gross proceeds, including the fair market value of non-cash proceeds (the fair market value of such non-cash proceeds being measured at the time such proceeds are received and without giving effect to any subsequent changes in value), actually received by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries in connection with such disposition;
(xiii)    (A) Guarantees by Foreign Subsidiaries of foreign third party grower obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business in an aggregate amount outstanding at any time, taken together with the grower obligations referred to in clause (B), not to exceed $500,000,000;
provided that each such Guarantee incurred by a Foreign Subsidiary shall be solely in respect of obligations of its own growers or the growers of a Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of the same nation as such Foreign Subsidiary; (B) Guarantees by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor of foreign third party grower obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business in an aggregate amount outstanding at any time not to exceed $100,000,000; and (C) Guarantees by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor of the obligations of third party growers located in the United States incurred in the ordinary course of business in an aggregate amount outstanding at any time not to exceed $200,000,000;
(xiv)    customer deposits and advance payments received in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices from customers for goods purchased in the ordinary course of business;
(xv)    Securitization Transactions the aggregate amount of which (as determined in accordance with the second sentence of the definition of Securitization Transaction) shall not exceed $500,000,000 at any time outstanding, provided that as of the date of the establishment of any Securitization Transaction no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom;
(xvi)    Indebtedness owing by any SPE Subsidiary to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary to the extent that such intercompany Indebtedness has been incurred to finance, in part, the transfers of accounts receivable and/or payment intangibles, interests therein and/or related assets and rights to such SPE Subsidiary in connection with a Securitization Transaction permitted pursuant to clause (xv) above;
(xvii)    Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries and Guarantees by the Borrower thereof not to exceed $500,000,000 at any time outstanding;

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(xviii)    other unsecured Indebtedness; provided that the aggregate principal amount of such unsecured Indebtedness of Subsidiaries outstanding under this clause (xviii) at any time, together with the aggregate principal amount of secured Indebtedness outstanding under clause (xix) at such time, shall not exceed 15% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets; and
(xix)    Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary secured by Liens permitted under Section 6.02(xiv); provided that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding under this clause (xix) at any time, together with the aggregate principal amount of unsecured Indebtedness of Subsidiaries outstanding under clause (xviii) at such time, shall not exceed 15% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.
(b)    Notwithstanding any provision of paragraph (a) of this Section, no Subsidiary shall be liable for any Material Indebtedness of the Borrower, under any Guarantee or otherwise, unless it shall also Guarantee the Obligations on terms, and under documentation, reasonably satisfactory to the Lender.
SECTION 6.02    Liens. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it, except:
(i)    Liens created under the Loan Documents;
(ii)    Permitted Encumbrances;
(iii)    any Lien on any asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary existing on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 6.02 (including any Lien that attaches by law to the proceeds thereof); provided that (A) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary and (B) such Lien shall secure only those obligations that it secures on the Closing Date or, with respect to any such obligations that shall have been extended, renewed or refinanced in accordance with Section 6.01, Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof;
(iv)    any Lien existing on any asset, including any Lien that attaches by law to the proceeds thereof, prior to the acquisition thereof by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or existing on any property or asset, including any Lien that attaches by law to the proceeds thereof, of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary or is merged or consolidated with the Borrower or any Subsidiary after the date hereof prior to the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary or is so merged or consolidated securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01(a)(vi); provided that (A) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition, merger or consolidation or such Person becoming a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (B) such Lien shall not apply to any other asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary and (C) such Lien shall secure only those obligations that it secures on the date of such acquisition, merger or consolidation or the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary, as the case may be, or, with respect to any such obligations that shall have been extended, renewed or refinanced in accordance with Section 6.01, Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof;
(v)    Liens on fixed or capital assets acquired, constructed or improved by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, including any Lien that attaches by law to the proceeds thereof; provided that (A) such Liens secure Indebtedness permitted by clause (a)(v) of Section 6.01, (B) such Liens and the Indebtedness secured thereby are incurred prior to or within 180 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement, (C) the Indebtedness 

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secured thereby does not exceed the cost of acquiring, constructing or improving such fixed or capital assets and any financing costs associated therewith and (D) such Liens shall not apply to any other property or asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary;
(vi)    in connection with the sale or transfer of all the Equity Interests in a Subsidiary in a transaction permitted under Section 6.04, customary rights and restrictions contained in agreements relating to such sale or transfer pending the completion thereof;
(vii)    in the case of any Subsidiary that is not a wholly-owned Subsidiary, any put and call arrangements, drag-along and tag-along rights and obligations, and transfer restrictions related to its Equity Interests set forth in its organizational documents or any related joint venture or similar agreement;
(viii)    any Lien on assets of any Foreign Subsidiary; provided that such Lien shall secure only Indebtedness or other obligations of such Foreign Subsidiary, or any other Foreign Subsidiary organized under the laws of the same nation as such Foreign Subsidiary, permitted hereunder;
(ix)    reservations, limitations, provisos and conditions expressed in any original grant from any federal Canadian Governmental Authority (in the case of Subsidiaries organized under the laws of Canada);
(x)    Liens arising under operating leases which are subject to the Personal Property Security Act (Alberta);
(xi)    Liens arising out of any Sale/Leaseback Transactions;
(xii)    Liens on cash, cash equivalents or marketable securities of the Borrower or any Subsidiary securing obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary under Swap Agreements permitted under Section 6.06;
(xiii)    sales or other transfers of accounts receivable, payment intangibles and related assets pursuant to, and Liens existing or deemed to exist in connection with, Securitization Transactions permitted under Section 6.01(a)(xv); and
(xiv)    other Liens on assets securing Indebtedness or other obligations in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed, together with the aggregate principal amount of unsecured Indebtedness of Subsidiaries outstanding under Section 6.01(a)(xviii) at such time, 15% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.
SECTION 6.03    Fundamental Changes; Business Activities. (a) The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, merge into or consolidate with any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it, or transfer all or substantially all its assets to any Person, or liquidate or dissolve, except that, if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (i) any Subsidiary may merge into or transfer all or substantially all its assets to another Subsidiary, (ii) any Person acquired in a transaction not otherwise prohibited by this Agreement may merge into or consolidate with, or transfer all or substantially all its assets to, (x) any Subsidiary in a transaction in which the surviving or acquiring entity is a Subsidiary, (y) any special purpose Subsidiary formed for the purpose of effecting an acquisition and not conducting any business or holding assets other than de minimis assets may merge into or consolidate with any Person to be acquired in a transaction not otherwise prohibited by this Agreement, and (z) the

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Borrower in a transaction in which the surviving or acquiring entity is the Borrower, (iii) any Subsidiary may merge into or consolidate with or transfer all or substantially all its assets to any Person in a transaction permitted under Section 6.04 in which the surviving or acquiring entity is not a Subsidiary, (iv) any Subsidiary may merge into or consolidate with or transfer all or substantially all its assets to the Borrower in a transaction in which the surviving or acquiring entity is the Borrower, and (v) any Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve if the Borrower determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of the Borrower and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lender.
(a)    The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, engage, to any material extent, in any business other than (i) the production, marketing and distribution of food products, any related food or agricultural products, processes or business, the production, marketing and distribution of renewable fuels, neutraceuticals, biotech products and other renewable products (or by-products), any other business in which the Borrower or any Subsidiary was engaged on the Closing Date, and any business related, ancillary or complementary to the foregoing, (ii) transfers to and agreements with SPE Subsidiaries relating to Securitization Transactions and (iii) in the case of SPE Subsidiaries, Securitization Transactions and transactions incidental or related thereto.
SECTION 6.04    Asset Sales. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of, in one transaction or a series of transactions, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all the assets of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except that the Borrower or any Subsidiary may transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of, in one transaction or a series of transactions, directly or indirectly, assets in each fiscal year if the cumulative book value of such assets in any fiscal year is less than 25% of the Borrower’s Total Assets at the beginning of such fiscal year.
SECTION 6.05    [Reserved].
SECTION 6.06    Swap Agreements. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, enter into any Swap Agreement, except (a) Swap Agreements entered into to hedge or mitigate risks to which the Borrower or a Subsidiary has actual exposure and (b) Swap Agreements entered into in order to effectively cap, collar or exchange interest rates (from fixed to floating rates, from one floating rate to another floating rate or otherwise) with respect to any interest-bearing liability, Indebtedness or investment of the Borrower or any Subsidiary; provided, that the Borrower may enter into put and call option agreements in order effectively to fix price ranges for the purchases of shares of the Borrower’s capital stock to be made pursuant to share repurchase programs approved by its board of directors.
SECTION 6.07    Transactions with Affiliates. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, sell, lease, license or otherwise transfer any assets to, or purchase, lease, license or otherwise acquire any assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any of its Affiliates, except (a) transactions in the ordinary course of business that are at prices and on terms and conditions not less favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary than could be obtained on an arm’s-length basis from unrelated third parties, (b) transactions between or among the Borrower and the Subsidiaries not involving any other Affiliate, (c) any Restricted Payment or (d) compensation and indemnification of, and other employment arrangements with, directors, officers and employees of the Borrower or such Subsidiary entered in the ordinary course of business.
SECTION 6.08    [Reserved].

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SECTION 6.09    Interest Expense Coverage Ratio. The Borrower will not permit the ratio of (i) Consolidated EBITDA to (ii) Consolidated Cash Interest Expense for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters to be less than 3.75 to 1.00.
SECTION 6.10    Debt to Capitalization Ratio. The Borrower will not permit the Debt to Capitalization Ratio to be more than 0.60 to 1.00 as of the last day of any fiscal quarter.
ARTICLE VII
Events of Default
If any of the following events (any such event, an “Event of Default”) shall occur:
(a)    the Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan when and as the same shall become due and payable;
(b)    the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in paragraph (a) of this Article) payable under any Loan Document, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of five Business Days or more;
(c)    any representation, warranty or statement made or deemed made by or on behalf of any Loan Party in or in connection with this Agreement or 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 or any other Loan Document or any amendment or modification hereof or thereof or waiver hereunder or thereunder, shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect (or, in the case of any representation, warranty or statement qualified by materiality, in any respect) when made or deemed made;
(d)    any Loan Party shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 5.02(a), 5.03 (with respect to any Loan Party’s existence), 5.08 or Article VI of this Agreement;
(e)    any Loan Party shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in any Loan Document (other than those specified in paragraph (a), (b) or (d) of this Article), and, except as otherwise provided in such Loan Document, such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 days after notice thereof from the Lender to the Borrower;
(f)    the 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 (or, if any grace periods shall be applicable, after the expiration of such grace periods);
(g)    any event or condition occurs (including the triggering of any change in control or similar event with respect to the Borrower) that results in any Material Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or the effect of which default or other event or condition is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of any Material Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders) to cause such Indebtedness to become due prior to its scheduled maturity or to require, with the giving of notice if required, any Material Indebtedness to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), prior to its stated 

47

maturity, provided that this paragraph (g) shall not apply to secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the sale, transfer or other disposition (including as a result of a casualty or condemnation event) of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness (to the extent such sale, transfer or other disposition is not prohibited under this Agreement); or there shall occur any event that constitutes a default, amortization event, event of termination or similar event under or in connection with any Securitization Transaction the obligations in respect of which constitute Material Indebtedness, or the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall fail to observe or perform any term, covenant, condition or agreement contained in or arising under any such Securitization Transaction, if, as a result of such event or failure, the lenders or purchasers thereunder or any agent acting on their behalf shall cause or be permitted to cause (with or without the giving of notice, the lapse of time or both) such Securitization Transaction or the commitments of the lenders or purchasers thereunder to terminate or cease to be fully available;
(h)    an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) bankruptcy, liquidation, winding up, dissolution, reorganization, examination, suspension of general operations or other relief in respect of a Loan Party or any Material Subsidiary or its debts, or of a substantial part of their assets, under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect or (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for a Loan Party or any Material Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, and, in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed or unstayed for 90 days or more or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;
(i)    any Loan Party or any Material Subsidiary shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any Federal, state 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 paragraph (h) of this Article, (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for any Loan Party 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 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;
(j)    any Loan Party or any Material Subsidiary shall become unable, admit in writing its inability or fail generally 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 $50,000,000 shall be rendered against any Loan Party, any Subsidiary or any combination thereof and the same shall remain unpaid or 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 Loan Party or any Subsidiary to enforce any such judgment;
(l)    an ERISA Event shall have occurred that, in the opinion of the Lender, when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(m)    [reserved];
(n)    a Change in Control shall occur; or

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(o)    the Guarantee Agreement shall fail to remain in full force or effect or any action shall be taken by any Loan Party to discontinue or to assert the invalidity or unenforceability of the Guarantee Agreement, or any Loan Party shall deny that it has any further liability under the Guarantee Agreement to which it is a party, or shall give notice to such effect,
then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to the Borrower described in paragraph (h) or (i) of this Article), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Lender may, by notice to the Loan Parties, take either or both of the following actions, at the same or different times: at any time after the Closing Date, 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 the Loan Parties accrued hereunder, shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Loan Parties; provided, however, that in case of any event with respect to the Borrower described in paragraph (h) or (i) of this Article, the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Loan Parties accrued hereunder, shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Loan Parties. Upon the occurrence and continuance of any Event of Default, the Lender may exercise any rights and remedies provided to the Lender under the Loan Documents or at law or equity, including all remedies provided under the UCC.
ARTICLE VIII
[Reserved.]
ARTICLE IX
Miscellaneous
SECTION 9.01    Notices. (a) Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and subject to paragraph (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by facsimile or by other electronic transmission, as follows:
(i)    if to any Loan Party, to the Borrower at:
2200 Don Tyson Parkway
Springdale, Arkansas 72762
Attention: Dennis Leatherby
Telecopy No.: (479) 757-4194
email: dennis.leatherby@tyson.com

with a copy to:

2200 Don Tyson Parkway
Springdale, Arkansas 72762
Attention: R. Read Hudson
Telecopy No.: (479) 757-6563
email: read.hudson@tyson.com

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(ii)    if to the Lender, to:
Bank of America, N.A.
901 Main Street
Dallas, TX 75202-3714
Attention: Arlene Minor
Telecopy No.: 214-290-9412
Telephone:      972-338-3807
email: Arlene.l.minor@baml.com

All such notices and other communications (i) sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received or (ii) sent by facsimile or by other electronic transmission shall be deemed to have been given when confirmed by telephone, facsimile or email, provided 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.
(b)    Any party hereto may change its address or telecopy number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Notices and other communications to the Lender hereunder may also be delivered or furnished by electronic communication. The Lender or the Borrower (on behalf of itself and the other Loan Parties) 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. All notices and other communications given to any party hereto in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the date of receipt.
SECTION 9.02    Waivers; Amendments. (a) No failure or delay by the Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Lender hereunder and under any other Loan Document are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of any Loan Document 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 shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the Lender may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time. No notice to or demand on the Borrower or any Loan Party in any case shall entitle the Borrower or any Loan Party to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.
(b)    None of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any provision hereof or thereof may be waived, amended or modified except, in the case of this Agreement, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower and the Required Lenders or, in the case of any other Loan Document, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Required Lenders and the Loan Party or Loan Parties that are parties thereto; provided that no such agreement shall (i) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or reduce the rate of interest thereon (other than the default rate of interest set forth in Section 2.13(c) on such Loans), or reduce or forgive any fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (ii) postpone the maturity of any Loan or any date for the payment of any interest or fees payable hereunder, or reduce or forgive the 

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amount of, waive or excuse any such payment without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iii) change the order of payments specified in Section 2.18(c) or change Section 2.18(d) in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby, without the written consent of each Lender adversely affected thereby, (iv) change any of the provisions of this Section or the percentage set forth in the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other provision of any Loan Document specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights thereunder or make any determination or grant any consent thereunder, without the written consent of each Lender (it being understood that, with the consent of the Required Lenders, additional extensions of credit pursuant to this Agreement may be included in the determination of the Required Lenders on substantially the same basis as the Commitments), or (v) except as otherwise expressly permitted hereunder, permit any Loan Party to assign its rights hereunder, release any Loan Party from its Guarantee under the Guarantee Agreement (except as expressly provided in the Guarantee Agreement or this Agreement) or limit its liability in respect of such Guarantee without the written consent of each Lender.
(c)    In connection with any proposed amendment, modification, waiver or termination (a “Proposed Change”) requiring the consent of each Lender or each affected Lender, if the consent of Lenders having outstanding Loans representing at least 66% of the sum of the total outstanding Loans at such time shall be obtained, but the consent to such Proposed Change of other Lenders whose consent is required shall not be obtained (any such Lender whose consent is necessary but has not been obtained being referred to as a “Non-Consenting Lender”), then, the Borrower may, at their sole expense and effort, upon notice to any such Non-Consenting Lender and the other Lenders, require such Non-Consenting Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 9.04), all its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement to an assignee acceptable to the Borrower that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that (i) the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent to such assignment of the Initial Lender or the Required Lenders, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, (ii) after giving effect to such assignment (and any simultaneous assignments by other Non-Consenting Lenders), sufficient consents shall have been obtained to effect such Proposed Change and (iii) such Non-Consenting Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Loan Parties (in the case of all other amounts).
SECTION 9.03    Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver. (a) The Borrower shall pay within thirty (30) days after receipt of a reasonably detailed, written invoice therefor, together with documentation supporting such reimbursement requests, (i) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses (including expenses incurred in connection with due diligence) incurred by the Initial Lender and its respective Affiliates (but limited, in the case of legal fees and expenses, to the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of a single counsel selected by the Initial Lender for all such Persons, taken as a whole (and, if reasonably necessary, one local counsel for each relevant jurisdiction for all such Persons, taken as a whole, as the Initial Lender may deem appropriate in its good faith judgment), in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery and administration of the Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions of the Loan Documents (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated) and (ii) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Lender (but limited, in the case of legal fees and expenses, and without duplication of such legal fees and expenses that are reimbursed pursuant to clause (a)(i) above, to the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of (i) a single counsel selected by the Lender for all such Persons, taken as a whole, and (ii) solely in the case of a potential or actual conflict of interest, one additional counsel to all affected Persons, taken as a whole (and, if reasonably necessary, one local counsel for each relevant jurisdiction for all such Persons, taken as a whole, as the Lender may deem appropriate in its good faith judgment)), in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in 

51

connection with the Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or in connection with the Loans made hereunder, including all such reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout or restructuring (and related negotiations) in respect of such Loans.
(b)    The Borrower shall indemnify the Lender and its Affiliates and the respective Related Parties 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, (provided that in the case of legal fees and expenses, the Borrower shall only be responsible for the reasonable and documented fees, disbursements and other charges of (i) a single counsel selected by the Lender for all such Indemnitees, taken as a whole, and (ii) solely in the case of a potential or actual conflict of interest, one additional counsel to all affected Indemnitees, taken as a whole (and, if reasonably necessary, one local counsel for each relevant jurisdiction for all such Indemnitees, taken as a whole, as the Lender may deem appropriate in its good faith judgment)), incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by the Borrower or any Subsidiary arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of the Loan Documents or any other agreement or instrument contemplated thereby, the performance by the parties to the Loan Documents of their respective obligations thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated thereby, (ii) any Loan or the use of the proceeds therefrom or (iii) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower or any Subsidiary 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 (any of the foregoing in clauses (i) through (iii), a “Proceeding”), provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that (x) such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the bad faith, gross negligence or wilful misconduct of, or material breach of this Agreement by, such Indemnitee (or such Indemnitee’s Related Parties), (y) the Lender has been indemnified under another provision of the Loan Documents or (z) such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses relate to disputes solely among the Indemnitees that are not arising out of any act or omission by the Borrower or any Affiliate of the Borrower. This Section 9.03(b) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses or damages arising from any non-Tax claim. All amounts due under this Section 9.03(b) shall be payable by the Borrower within 30 days (x) after written demand thereof, in the case of any indemnification claim and (y) after receipt of a reasonable detailed, written invoice therefor, together with documentation supporting such reimbursement requests, in the case of reimbursement of costs and expenses.
(c)    [Reserved].
(d)    To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, (i) no party shall assert, and each party hereby waives, any claim against any other party, 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 or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the Transactions, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof; provided that nothing in this clause (i) shall limit the indemnification obligations of the Borrower under this Section 9.03 to the extent such special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages are included in any third party claim in connection with which such Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder, and (ii) no party shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of information or other materials obtained through electronic, telecommunications or other information transmission systems unless such damages are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted 

52

from the bad faith, gross negligence or wilful misconduct of, or material breach of this Agreement by, such Indemnitee (or such Indemnitee’s Related Parties) or such other party.
(e)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Borrower shall not be liable for any settlement of any Proceeding effectuated without the Borrower’s prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), but, if settled with the Borrower’s written consent, or if there is a final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction against an Indemnitee in any such Proceeding for which the Borrower is required to indemnify such Indemnitee pursuant to this Section 9.03, the Borrower agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses by reason of such settlement or judgment in accordance with this Section 9.03. The Borrower shall not, without the prior written consent of the affected Indemnitee (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), settle, compromise, consent to the entry of any judgment in or otherwise seek to terminate any Proceeding in respect of which indemnification may be sought hereunder unless such settlement, compromise, consent or termination (i) includes an unconditional release of each Indemnitee from all liability arising out of such Proceeding or (ii) does not include a statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of such Indemnitee. Notwithstanding the above in this Section 9.03, each Indemnitee shall be obligated to refund or return any and all amounts paid by the Borrower under this Section 9.03 to such Indemnitee for any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses to the extent such Indemnitee is not entitled to payment of such amounts in accordance with the terms hereof.
SECTION 9.04    Successors and Assigns. (a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby except that the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower without such consent shall be null and void).  The Lender may at any time assign all or any part of its right and obligations to any other Person other than any natural person or any Competitor, with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) of the Borrower, provided that no consent of the Borrower shall be required for (I) an assignment to an Affiliate of the Lender, an Approved Fund or (II) if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any other assignee (it being agreed that, following such assignment, the Borrower shall be promptly notified thereof by the Lender); and provided further that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Lender within 10 Business Days after having received written notice thereof.  The Borrower agrees to execute any documents reasonably requested by the Lender in connection with any such assignment (which shall contain, without limitation, a representation and warranty from the assignee that such assignee is not a Competitor and such assignee shall deliver to the assigning Lender and the Borrower concurrently therewith any Tax forms required to be delivered pursuant to Section 2.17(f))).  All information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower to the Lender or its Affiliates may be furnished by the Lender to its Affiliates and to any actual or proposed assignee or participant.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Lender (x) shall not have any responsibility or obligation to determine whether any potential Lender is a Competitor and (y) shall not have any liability with respect to any assignment or participation made to a person that is a Competitor.
(b)    The Lender, acting for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices a copy of each assignment and assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the applicable Lenders and principal amount of the Loans owing to each applicable Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrower and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be 

53

available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.
(c)    (i) The Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person or any Competitor) (such Person, a “Participant”), provided that (A) such participation shall not increase the obligations of any Loan Party under any Loan Document, except as contemplated below, and (B) the Borrower, 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.
(ii)    For the avoidance of doubt, each Lender shall be responsible for the indemnity under Section 2.17(d) with respect to any payments made by such Lender to its Participant(s).
(iii)    Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce the Loan Documents and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of the Loan Documents, provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in the first proviso to Section 9.02(b) that affects such Participant. Subject to clauses (c)(iii) and (v) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16 and 2.17 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 2.17(f) (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 2.17(f) shall be delivered to the participating Lender)) to the same extent (but no greater than) as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 9.08 as though it were a Lender, provided that such Participant shall be subject to Section 2.18 as though it were a Lender.
(iv)    Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower and solely for tax purposes, 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 this Agreement (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register to any Person (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any Loans or its other obligations under any Loan Document) except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that Loan 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.
(v)    A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 or 9.08 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 Borrower’s prior written consent, provided that the Participant shall be subject to the provisions of Sections 2.18 and 2.19 as if it were an assignee under clause (b).
(d)    [Reserved]

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(e)    The Lender may at any time, without the consent of the Borrower, 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 or a central bank of any OECD nation , 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 the Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.
SECTION 9.05    Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Borrower and the other Loan Parties in the Loan Documents and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and the making of any Loans, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the 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 and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated. The provisions of Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03 shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Letters or Credit and the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof.
SECTION 9.06    Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. 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. Delivery of an executed signature page of this Agreement by electronic transmission (including in “.pdf” or “.tif” format) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES.  THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THE PARTIES. This Agreement shall become effective as provided in Section 4.01, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy or by other electronic transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
SECTION 9.07    Severability. Any provision of any Loan Document held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions thereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.
SECTION 9.08    Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Lender and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other obligations at any time owing by the Lender or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any of and all obligations of the Loan Parties now or hereafter existing under this Agreement held by such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under the Loan Documents and although such obligations may be unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of the Lender different 

55

from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligation. The rights of each Lender under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Lender may have.
SECTION 9.09    Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process. (a) This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York, without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof.
(b)    Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, 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 the Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document brought by it or any of its Affiliates shall be brought, and shall be heard and determined, exclusively in such New York State or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court. Each party 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 shall affect any right that the Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding to enforce any Guarantee or security interest against any Loan Party or any of its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.
(c)    Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection that 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 (b) 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.
(d)    Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.
SECTION 9.10    WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
SECTION 9.11    Headings. Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.
SECTION 9.12    Confidentiality. (a) The Lender agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its 

56

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 and shall keep such Information confidential and the disclosing party shall be responsible for any failure of such Persons to abide by this Section 9.12), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority (including the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and all successors thereto), (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 any other Loan Document, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions not less restrictive than 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 (in each case, other than to any Competitor or any other prospective assignee or Participant to whom the Borrower has affirmatively declined to provide its consent (to the extent such consent is required under this Agreement) to the assignment or participation of Loans or commitments under this Agreement) or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any Swap Agreement relating to the Loan Parties and their obligations, (g) with the consent of the Borrower, (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 the Lender on a non-confidential basis from a source other than a Loan Party that is not to the knowledge of the receiving party in violation of any confidentiality. For the purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from a Loan Party and/or its Related Parties or representatives relating to any Loan Party, its Subsidiaries or their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Lender on a non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by any Loan Party and/or its Related Parties or representatives, provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower and/or its Related Parties or any Subsidiary after the Closing Date, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential or is required to be delivered by a Loan Party hereunder. 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.
(b)    Each Lender acknowledges that Information as defined in Section 9.12(a) furnished to it pursuant to this Agreement may include material non-public Information concerning the Loan Parties and their 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 nonpublic Information in accordance with those procedures, applicable law, including Federal and state securities laws, and the terms hereof.
(c)    All information, including waivers and amendments, furnished by the Loan Parties, their Related Parties or representatives or the Lender pursuant to, or in the course of administering, this Agreement may contain material nonpublic Information about the Loan Parties and their Related Parties or their respective securities.
SECTION 9.13    USA PATRIOT Act. Each Lender that is subject to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “PATRIOT Act”) hereby notifies the Loan Parties that pursuant to the requirements of the Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Loan Parties, which information includes the names and addresses of the Loan Parties and other information that will allow such Lender to identify the Loan Parties in accordance with the Act.
SECTION 9.14    No Fiduciary Relationship. The Loan Parties agree that in connection with all aspects of the transactions contemplated hereby and any communications in connection therewith, 

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the Loan Parties, the Subsidiaries and their Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Lender and its Affiliates, on the other hand, will have a business relationship that does not create, by implication or otherwise, any fiduciary duty on the part of the Lender or its Affiliates, and no such duty will be deemed to have arisen in connection with any such transactions or communications.
SECTION 9.15    Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan, together with all fees, charges and other amounts which are treated as interest on such Loan under applicable law (collectively the “Charges”), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the “Maximum Rate”) that 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 Federal Funds Effective Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.
SECTION 9.16    Release of Guarantees. (1) A Subsidiary Loan Party (other than the Borrower) shall be automatically released from its obligations under the Loan Documents upon the consummation of any transaction permitted by this Agreement as a result of which (i) such Subsidiary Loan Party shall cease to be a Subsidiary and (ii) each other Guarantee by such Subsidiary Loan Party of any Material Indebtedness of the Borrower shall be released.
(a)    If (i) the 2016 Notes shall be redeemed, irrevocably defeased, prepaid or repaid in full, (ii) TFM’s Guarantee of the 2016 Notes shall have been terminated or (iii) TFM shall have been merged into the Borrower with the Borrower as the surviving entity, then, subject to the further condition that TFM at such time shall not be liable, directly or contingently, under any Guarantee for Material Indebtedness of the Borrower (unless such Guarantee of other Material Indebtedness shall also be released at such time), the Guarantee of TFM under the Guarantee Agreement shall be automatically released.
(b)    In connection with any termination or release pursuant to this Section, the Lender, upon receipt of any certificates or other documents reasonably requested by it to confirm compliance with this Agreement, shall promptly execute and deliver to the Borrower or the applicable Loan Party, at the Borrower’s expense, all documents that the Borrower or such Loan Party shall reasonably request to evidence such termination or release. 
SECTION 9.17    No Other Duties. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the Lead Arranger shall have no duties or obligations under this Agreement or any other Loan Document (except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Lender), but the Lead Arranger shall have the benefit of the indemnities provided for hereunder, and (ii) each Loan Party agrees not to make, and hereby waives, any claims based on any alleged fiduciary duty on the part of the Lead Arranger.

 [THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

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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 day and year first above written.
TYSON FOODS, INC.

By:    /s/ Dennis Leatherby        
Name: Dennis Leatherby
Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

[Signature Page to Term Loan Agreement]

Bank of America, N.A.,
as Lender 

By:    /s/ David Catherall            
Name:  David Catherall
Title:  Managing Director

[Signature Page to Term Loan Agreement]

1

Schedule I
Pricing Schedule
“Applicable Rate” means for any day, with respect to any ABR Loan or Eurocurrency Loan, the applicable rate per annum set forth below under the caption “ABR Spread” or “Eurocurrency Spread”, as the case may be, based upon the Facility Ratings, if available from each of S&P, Moody’s and Fitch, and, if the Facility Ratings are not available from each rating agency, based upon the Corporate Ratings, as of the dates listed below: 
	
			
	Applicable Ratings (S&P, Moody’s and Fitch)
	Applicable Rate

	ABR Spread
	Eurocurrency Spread

	Rating Level 1: ≥ BBB+/Baa1/BBB+
	0 bps
	100.0 bps

	Rating Level 2: BBB/Baa2/BBB
	12.5 bps
	112.5 bps

	Rating Level 3: BBB-/Baa3/BBB-
	37.5 bps
	137.5 bps

	Rating Level 4: BB+/Ba1/BB+
	62.5 bps
	162.5 bps

	Rating Level 5: ≤ BB/Ba2/BB or unrated
	87.5 bps
	187.5 bps

In the event of split Rating Levels, the ABR Spread and Eurocurrency Spread, as applicable, will be based upon the Rating Level in effect for two of the rating agencies, or, if all three rating agencies have different Rating Levels, then the ABR Spread and Eurocurrency Spread, as applicable, will be based upon the Rating Level that is between the Rating Levels of the other two rating agencies.  If the rating system of Moody’s, S&P or Fitch shall change, or if any such rating agency shall cease to be in the business of issuing credit facility ratings and corporate credit ratings (so that neither a Facility Rating nor a Corporate Rating is available from such rating agency), the Borrower and the Required Lenders shall negotiate in good faith to amend this definition to reflect such changed rating system or the non‐availability of such ratings from such rating agency and, pending the effectiveness of any such amendment, the rating of such rating agency shall be determined by reference to the rating most recently in effect from such rating agency prior to such change or cessation.

65324530_6Exhibit 10.1

 

Zep Inc.

SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

 

THIS AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), made and entered into as of this 25th day of March 2014, by and between Zep Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Steven Nichols (the “Executive”).

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, Executive is a key employee of the Company and an integral part of the Company’s management; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide Executive with certain benefits if Executive’s employment is terminated involuntarily under certain circumstances; and

 

WHEREAS, the Agreement is not intended to provide for the deferral of compensation within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), but rather, is intended to satisfy the short-term deferral exemption under Treasury Regulation (“Treas. Reg.”) §1.409A-1(b)(4) and/or the separation pay exemption under Treas. Reg. §1.409A-1(b)(9); and

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the respective agreements of the parties contained herein, it is agreed as follows:

 

1.                                      TERM OF AGREEMENT

 

Unless earlier terminated as hereinafter provided, this Agreement shall commence on the date hereof and shall be for a rolling, two-year term (the “Term”) and shall be deemed to extend automatically, without further action by either the Company or Executive, each day for an additional day, such that the remaining term of the Agreement shall continue to be two years; provided, however, that either party may, by written notice to the other, cause this Agreement to cease to extend automatically and, upon such notice, the “Term” of this Agreement shall be the two-year period following the date of such notice, and this Agreement shall terminate upon the expiration of such Term; provided, further, that in the event of a Change in Control (as defined in Section 2.3 below), the Term of this Agreement shall not expire prior to the expiration of three (3) years after the occurrence of a Change in Control.  This Agreement shall not be considered an employment agreement and in no way guarantees Executive the right to continue in the employment of the Company or its affiliates.  Executive’s employment is considered employment at will, subject to Executive’s right to receive payments and benefits upon certain terminations of employment as provided below.

 

As of the date hereof, this Agreement is intended to, and shall, supersede and replace in its entirety any prior severance agreement and the severance obligations contained in any employment letter agreement between Executive and the Company (or a predecessor to the Company).

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
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2.                                      DEFINITIONS.  For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings specified below:

 

2.1                               “Board” or “Board of Directors”.  The Board of Directors of Zep Inc., or its successor.

 

2.2                               “Cause”.  The involuntary termination of Executive by the Company for the following reasons shall constitute a termination for Cause:

 

a.                                      If termination shall have been the result of an act or acts by the Executive which have been found in an applicable court of law to constitute a felony (other than traffic-related offenses);

 

b.                                      If termination shall have been the result of an act or acts by the Executive which are determined in the good faith judgment of the Company to be in violation of law or of written policies of the Company and which result in material injury to the Company;

 

c.                                       If termination shall have been the result of an act or acts of dishonesty by the Executive resulting or intended to result directly or indirectly in gain or personal enrichment to the Executive at the expense of the Company; or

 

d.                                      Upon the continued failure by the Executive substantially to perform the duties reasonably assigned to Executive given Executive’s training and experience (other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due to mental or physical illness not constituting a Disability, as defined herein), after a demand in writing for substantial performance of such duties is delivered by the Company, which demand specifically identifies the manner in which the Company believes that the Executive has not substantially performed his duties, and such failure results in material injury to the Company.

 

If Executive’s employment is terminated for any reason, the supervising executive to whom Executive directly reports (the “Supervising Executive”) shall make an initial determination whether or not the termination was for Cause.  If the Supervising Executive determines that the termination was for Cause, then, within ten (10) days of such termination, the Company shall provide written notice to the Executive indicating that the termination was for Cause and noting that benefits will not be made available to the Executive pursuant to this Agreement.

 

2.3                               “Change in Control”.  For purposes of this Agreement, a “Change in Control” shall mean any of the following events:

 

a.             The acquisition (other than from the Company in an acquisition that is approved by the Incumbent Board, as defined herein) by any “Person” (as the term person is used for purposes of Sections 13(d) or 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”)), of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the 1934 Act) of twenty percent (20%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding voting securities; or

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
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b.                                      The individuals who, as of November 1, 2007, are members of the Board (the “Incumbent Board”), cease for any reason to constitute at least two-thirds of the Board; provided, however, that if the election, or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, of any new director was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Board, such new director shall, for purposes of this Agreement, be considered as a member of the Incumbent Board; or

 

c.                                       Consummation of a merger or consolidation involving the Company if the stockholders of the Company, immediately before such merger or consolidation, do not, as a result of such merger or consolidation, own, directly or indirectly, more than sixty percent (60%) of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the corporation resulting from such merger or consolidation in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately before such merger or consolidation; or

 

d.                                      Consummation of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or of the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur pursuant to Section 2.3 solely because twenty percent (20%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities is acquired by (i) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under one or more employee benefit plans maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (ii) any corporation which, immediately prior to such acquisition, is owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in the same proportion as their ownership of stock in the Company immediately prior to such acquisition.

 

2.4                               “Change in Control Agreement”.  An agreement between Executive and the Company providing for the payment of compensation and benefits to Executive in the event of Executive’s termination of employment under certain circumstances following a “change in control” of the Company (as defined in such agreement).

 

2.5                               “Company”.  Zep Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any successor to its business and/or assets.

 

2.6                               “Date of Termination”.  The date specified in the Notice of Termination (which may be immediate) as the date upon which the Executive experiences a Termination of Employment.

 

2.7                               “Disability”.  Disability means the Executive: (a) is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months; or (b) is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three (3) months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Company.  Medical determination of Disability may be made by either the

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
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Social Security Administration or by the provider of an accident or health plan covering employees of the Company provided that the definition of “disability” applied under such disability insurance program complies with the requirements of the preceding sentence.  Upon the request of the plan administrator, the Executive must submit proof to the Company of the Social Security Administration’s or the provider’s determination.

 

2.8                               “Good Reason”.  A “Good Reason” for termination by Executive of Executive’s employment with the Company shall mean the occurrence during the Term after the occurrence of a Change in Control, without Executive’s express consent, of any of the following acts by the Company, or failures by the Company to act, and such act or failure to act has not been corrected within thirty (30) days after written notice of such act, or failure to act, is given by Executive to the Company:

 

a.                                      A material diminution in the Executive’s base compensation which is defined, for purposes of this paragraph, as base salary;

 

b.                                      A material diminution in the Executive’s authority, duties, or responsibilities from those in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control;

 

c.                                       A material change in the geographic location at which the Executive must perform his services, which is defined, for purposes of this paragraph, as requiring the Executive to be based more than 50 miles from the primary workplace where Executive was based immediately prior to the Change in Control; or

 

d.                                      Any other action or inaction that constitutes a material breach by the Company of the agreement under which the Executive performs his services.

 

In no event shall a termination by the Executive be deemed to constitute a termination for Good Reason unless the Executive separates from service from the Company within two years of the initial existence of one of the events outlined in this Section 2.8.  In addition, a termination by the Executive will only constitute a termination for Good Reason if the Executive provides the Company with notice within ninety (90) days of the initial existence of one of the events outlined in this Section and the Company is provided thirty (30) days in which to remedy the event and not be required to pay the amount due under this Agreement if the event is so remedied.

 

2.9                               “Notice of Termination”.  A written notice from one party to the other party specifying the Date of Termination and setting forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances relating to the basis for termination of Executive’s employment.

 

2.10                        “Section 409A”.  Section 409A of the Code and the regulations and rulings thereunder.

 

2.11                        “Severance Period”.  A period equal to the lesser of (i) nine (9) months from the Executive’s Date of Termination or (ii) the number of months (rounded to the nearest month) from the Executive’s Date of Termination until the date he attains age 65.  In no event shall the Severance Period extend beyond December 31st of the second calendar year following the Date of Termination.

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
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2.12                        “Termination of Employment”.  With respect to the payment of all benefits under the Agreement, whether a “termination of employment” takes place is determined based upon the facts and circumstances surrounding the termination of the Executive’s employment and upon whether the Company and the Executive intended for the Executive to provide significant services for the Company following such termination.  A change in the Executive’s employment status will not be considered a termination of employment if:

 

a.                                      the Executive continues to provide services as an employee of the Company at an annual rate that is twenty percent (20%) or more of the services rendered, on average, during the immediately preceding three, full calendar years of employment (or, if employed less than three years, such lesser period) and the annual remuneration for such services is twenty percent (20%) or more of the average annual remuneration earned during the final three, full calendar years of employment (or, if less, such lesser period), or

 

b.                                      the Executive continues to provide services to the Company in a capacity other than as an employee at an annual rate that is fifty percent (50%) or more of the services rendered, on average, during the immediately preceding three, full calendar years of employment (or if employed less than three years, such lesser period), and the annual remuneration for such services is fifty percent (50%) or more of the average annual remuneration earned during the final, three full calendar years of employment (or if less, such lesser period).

 

For purposes of applying this definition, a reference to the Company shall also be deemed a reference to any affiliate thereof within the contemplation of Code Sections 414(b) and 414(c).

 

3.                                      SCOPE OF AGREEMENT

 

This Agreement provides for the payment of compensation and benefits to Executive in the event his employment (i) is involuntarily terminated by the Company without Cause, or (ii) is terminated by Executive for Good Reason.  If Executive is terminated by the Company for Cause, dies, incurs a Disability or voluntarily terminates employment (other than for Good Reason), this Agreement shall terminate, and Executive shall be entitled to no payments of compensation or benefits pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; provided that in such events, Executive will be entitled to whatever benefits are payable pursuant to the terms of any health, life insurance, disability, welfare, retirement, deferred compensation, or other plan or program maintained by the Company.

 

If, as a result of Executive’s termination of employment, Executive becomes entitled to compensation and benefits under this Agreement, under a Change in Control Agreement and/or under a policy or plan provided by the Company, Executive shall be entitled to choose to receive benefits under whichever agreement or plan provides Executive the greater aggregate compensation and benefits (and not under the other agreement) and there shall be no duplication of benefits.  The Executive will be fully bound by all of the terms and conditions of the agreement under which he chooses to receive benefits.  Except as provided in the preceding sentences, the severance pay and benefits provided for in Section 4 herein shall be in lieu of any other severance pay to which the Executive may be entitled under any Company severance plan, program or arrangement for a termination of employment covered by such circumstances.

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
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4.                                      BENEFITS UPON INVOLUNTARY TERMINATION WITHOUT CAUSE BY THE COMPANY OR FOR GOOD REASON

 

If Executive’s employment is involuntarily terminated by the Company during the term of this Agreement without Cause (and such termination does not arise as a result of Executive’s death or Disability), or if Executive terminates his employment with the Company for Good Reason, the Executive shall be entitled to the compensation and benefits described below, provided that Executive, as described in Section 4.5, executes a valid release of claims in such form as may be required by the Company.  In the event Executive is terminated without Cause or Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason, the Company may, in its discretion and to provide equitable treatment, grant benefits to Executive in addition to those provided below in circumstances where Executive suffers a diminution of projected benefits as a result of Executive’s termination prior to attainment of age 65, including without limitation, additional retirement benefits, provided that any such grant of additional benefits shall be consistent with the requirements of Code Section 409A, and no such grant shall be made which would violate Code Section 409A and the regulations and rulings thereunder.

 

With the exception of the applicable COBRA premiums provided under Section 4.2 and the outplacement services provided in Section 4.5 of this Agreement, those payments described in this Article 4 that exceed two times the lesser of:  (1) the amount of the Executive’s annualized compensation based upon the annual rate of pay the Executive received from the Company in the year preceding the year of the Executive’s termination, adjusted for any increase in compensation that the Executive would have expected to receive had the Executive not separated from service with the Company, and as defined under Treas. Reg. §1.409A-1(b)(9)((iii)(A)(1); or (2) the maximum amount that may be taken into account for a qualified plan under Code Section 401(a)(17) for the year in which the Date of Termination occurs shall be paid, on a ratable basis, not later than 2 1/2 months after the end of the year in which Date of Termination occurs.

 

4.1                               Severance Payment.  Executive shall continue to receive an amount equal to sixteen and two-tenths (16.2) months of his Base Salary (subject to withholding of all applicable taxes) for the entire Severance Period (as defined in Section 2.11 above), payable in the same manner as it was being paid on his Date of Termination.

 

4.2                               Health Care and Life Insurance.  The Company shall provide the following health care and life insurance benefits to the Executive:

 

a.                                      if the Executive shall elect to continue medical coverage under the Company’s group health plan pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”), the Company shall pay the difference between the applicable premium for COBRA continuation coverage and the active employee monthly premium cost until the earliest of: (a) the date on which the Executive is eligible to participate in another medical plan, (b) the first day of the month for which the Executive fails timely to remit the Executive’s potion of the premium, or (c) the end of the Severance Period.  Executive shall be responsible for the timely and proper election of COBRA continuation coverage for Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents.  Executive will be billed monthly for the continued medical coverage under COBRA and the Executive’s failure timely to pay Executive’s portion of the

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
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COBRA premium shall terminate the COBRA coverage and the Company’s obligations under this Section 4.2(a); and

 

b.                                      during the Severance Period or until such time as Executive obtains similar benefits as the result of obtaining other employment, the Company shall pay  the monthly premium for term life insurance in an amount equal to that in effect on the Executive’s Termination Date.

 

4.3                               Outplacement Services.  Executive will be provided with customary outplacement services by an outplacement firm selected by the Company for the Severance Period, provided that the Company’s total cost for such services shall not exceed an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of Executive’s Base Salary.

 

4.4                               Other Benefits.  Except as expressly provided herein, all other fringe benefits provided to Executive as an active employee of the Company shall cease on his Date of Termination, provided that any conversion or extension rights applicable to such benefits shall be made available to Executive at his Date of Termination or when such coverages otherwise cease at the end of the Severance Period.  Except as expressly provided herein, for all other plans sponsored by the Company, the Executive’s employment shall be treated as terminated on his Date of Termination, and Executive’s right to benefits shall be determined under the terms of such plans; provided, however, in no event will Executive be entitled to severance payments or benefits under any other severance plan, policy, program or agreement of the Company, except to the extent Executive is covered by a Change in Control Agreement.

 

4.5                               Release of Claims.  To be entitled to any of the compensation and benefits described above in this Section 4, Executive shall sign a release of claims substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.  No payments shall be made under this Section 4 until such release has been properly executed and delivered to the Company and until the expiration of the revocation period, if any, provided under the release.  If the release is not properly executed by the Executive and delivered to the Company within the reasonable time periods specified in the release, the Company’s obligations under this Section 4 will terminate.

 

4.6                               Nothing in this Agreement is intended to provide for the deferral of compensation within the meaning of Code Section 409A.  All payments hereunder are intended to satisfy the short-term deferral exemption under Treas. Reg. §1.409A-1(b)(4) and/or the separation pay exemption under Treas. Reg. §1.409A-1(b)(9), as may be amended.

 

5.                                      CONFIDENTIALITY, NON-SOLICITATION AND NON-COMPETITION

 

5.1                               Purpose and Reasonableness of Provisions.  Executive acknowledges that, prior to and during the Term of this Agreement, the Company has furnished and will furnish to Executive Confidential Information and Trade Secrets (as defined in Sections 5.11(a) and 5.11(b) respectively) which could be used by a competitor of the Company to the Company’s substantial detriment.  Moreover, the parties recognize that Executive, during the course of his employment with the Company, has and will develop important relationships with customers and others having valuable business relationships with the Company.  In view of the foregoing, Executive acknowledges and agrees that the restrictive covenants contained in this Section 5 and Exhibit B

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
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to the Agreement are reasonably necessary to protect the Company’s legitimate business interests and good will.

 

5.2                               Proprietary Rights.  All Confidential Information, Trade Secrets, and all physical and electronic embodiments thereof are confidential and are and will remain the sole and exclusive property of the Company.  The Executive must (1) immediately disclose to the Company all Confidential Information and Trade Secrets developed, conceived, received or disclosed, in whole or in part, by or to the Executive while Employed by the Company; (2) assign to the Company any right, title, or interest Executive may have in such Confidential Information and Trade Secrets, and (3) at the request and expense of the Company, do all things and sign all documents or instruments reasonably necessary in the opinion of the Company to eliminate any ambiguity as to the ownership by, and rights of, the Company in such Confidential Information and Trade Secrets, including, without limitation, providing full cooperation in litigation and other proceedings to establish or protect such right. The Executive agrees that any copyright in the expression of such Confidential Information or Trade Secrets shall be the property of the Company, and that any patent rights and any invention or novel devices or processes developed by the use of such Confidential Information or Trade Secrets shall be the exclusive property of the Company.

 

5.3                               Trade Secrets and Confidential Information.  During the term of employment and for so long as such information remains Confidential Information, Executive agrees that he shall protect any such Confidential Information and shall not, except in connection with the performance of his remaining duties for the Company, disclose or otherwise copy, reproduce, use, distribute or otherwise disseminate any such Confidential Information, or any physical embodiments thereof, to any person or entity.  Executive further agrees that he shall not, except in connection with the performance of his remaining duties for the Company, disclose or otherwise copy, reproduce, distribute or otherwise disseminate any Trade Secrets, or any physical embodiments thereof, to any person or entity.  Executive will, in no event, take any action causing, or fail to take any action necessary in order to prevent any Confidential Information or Trade Secrets disclosed to or developed by Executive to lose their character as such; provided, however, that Executive may make disclosures required by a valid order or subpoena issued by a court or administrative agency of competent jurisdiction, in which event Executive will promptly notify the Company of such order or subpoena to provide the Company an opportunity to protect its interests. Executive’s obligations under this Section 5.3 shall survive any expiration or termination of this Agreement, provided that Executive may, after such expiration or termination, disclose Confidential Information or Trade Secrets with the prior written consent of the Chief Executive Officer.

 

The Executive attests that, during his employment with the Company, he has not and will not offer, disclose or use on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of the Company, any information Executive received prior to employment by the Company, which was supplied to Executive confidentially or which Executive should reasonably know to be confidential, to any person, organization or entity other than the Company without the written approval of such person, organization or entity.

 

Nothing contained herein shall be in derogation or a limitation of the rights of the Company to enforce its rights or the duties of Executive under then applicable Georgia law

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
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relating to Trade Secrets including, in particular, the Georgia Trade Secrets Act, O.C.G.A. Sections 10-1-760, et seq.

 

5.4                               Return of Confidential Information and Trade Secrets; Return of Property.  Upon request by the Company and, in any event, upon termination of the employment of the Executive with the Company for any reason, Executive will promptly deliver to the Company all property belonging to the Company, including but without limitation, all Confidential Information and Trade Secrets and all embodiments thereof, all Company files, customer lists, management reports, memoranda, research, Company forms, financial data and reports and other documents (including all such data and documents in electronic form) supplied to or created by him in connection with his employment hereunder (including all copies of the foregoing) in his possession or control, and all of the Company’s equipment and other materials in his possession or control. Executive agrees not to keep copies of Company property. As part of this obligation, Executive agrees to provide all computers Executive utilized to conduct Company business to the Company at the Company’s option for imaging and deletion of Company Confidential Information and Trade Secret Information immediately upon Executive’s separation from the Company for any reason.  Executive’s obligations under this Section 5.4 shall survive any expiration or termination of this Agreement.

 

5.5                               Inventions.  The Executive does hereby assign to the Company the entire right, title and interest in any Invention (as defined in Section 5.11(d) below) which is made, conceived, either solely or jointly with others, during employment with the Company.  The Executive agrees to promptly disclose to the Company all such Inventions.  The Executive will, if requested, promptly execute and deliver to the Company a specific assignment of title for an Invention and will, at the expense of the Company, take all reasonably required action by the Company to patent, copyright or otherwise protect the Invention.

 

5.6                               Non-Competition.  The Executive agrees that, while employed by the Company and for a period equal to the Severance Period thereafter, Executive shall comply with the non-competition restrictions attached hereto as Exhibit B.  In the event of any material change in corporate organization (including, without limitation, spin-offs, split-offs, or public offerings of subsidiaries’ stock) on the part of the Direct Competitors set forth in Exhibit B hereto, the parties agree to amend Exhibit B, as necessary, at the Company’s request, in order to reflect such change.  Upon execution, each such written modification to Exhibit B shall represent an enforceable amendment to this Agreement and shall augment and supplant the definitions of the terms Executive Services or Direct Competitor as set forth in Exhibit B hereto.

 

5.7                               Non-Solicitation of Customers/Suppliers.  The Executive agrees that, during the course of employment with the Company, and for a period equal to the Severance Period thereafter, the Executive will not directly or indirectly (i) divert or attempt to divert any person, concern or entity which is furnished products or services by the Company from doing business with the Company or otherwise change its relationship with the Company negatively; or (ii) induce or attempt to induce any customer, supplier or service provider to cease being a customer, supplier or service provider of the Company or to otherwise change its relationship with the Company negatively.

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
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5.8                               Non-Solicitation of Employees.  The Executive agrees that, during the course of employment with the Company, and for a period equal to the Severance Period thereafter, the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, whether on behalf of the Executive or others, solicit, lure or attempt to solicit or lure away from employment by the Company any person employed by the Company.  The provision of this paragraph shall only apply to those persons employed by the Company at the time of solicitation or attempted solicitation.

 

5.9                               Injunctive Relief.  Executive acknowledges that if he breaches or threatens to breach any of the provisions of this Section 5 and/or Exhibit B to the Agreement, his actions may cause irreparable harm and damage to the Company which could not be compensated by damages alone.  Accordingly, if Executive breaches or threatens to breach any of the provisions of this Section 5 and/or Exhibit B to the Agreement, the Company shall be entitled to seek injunctive relief, in addition to any other rights or remedies the Company may have.  Executive hereby waives the requirement for a bond by the Company as a condition to seeking injunctive relief.  The existence of any claim or cause of action by Executive against the Company, whether predicated on this Agreement or otherwise, shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement by the Company of Executive’s agreements under this Section 5 and/or Exhibit B to the Agreement.

 

5.10                        Provisions Severable.  If any provision in this Section 5 and/or Exhibit B to the Agreement is determined to be in violation of any law, rule or regulation or otherwise unenforceable, and cannot be modified to be enforceable, such determination shall not affect the validity of any other provisions of this Agreement, but such other provisions shall remain in full force and effect.  Each and every provision, paragraph and subparagraph of this Section 5 and Exhibit B to the Agreement is severable from the other provisions, paragraphs and subparagraphs and constitutes a separate and distinct covenant.

 

5.11                        Definitions.  For purposes of this Section 5 and Exhibit B to the Agreement, the following definitions shall apply:

 

a.                                      “Confidential Information” means:

 

(i)                                     information relating to the Company’s Business (as defined in Exhibit B hereto) (A) which Executive develops, helps develop in conjunction with others, creates, or becomes aware as a consequence of or through Executive’s employment with the Company or any other arrangement or relationship with the Company; (B) which has value to the Company, actual or potential, from not being generally known by others who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use (whether or not such material or information is marked “confidential”).  For purposes of this Agreement, subject to the foregoing, and according to terminology commonly used by the Company, the Company’s Confidential Information shall include, but not be limited to, information pertaining to:  (1) Business Opportunities (as defined below); (2) data and compilations of data relating to the Company’s Business; (3) compilations of information about, and communications and agreements with, customers and potential customers of the Company; (4) computer software, hardware, network and internet technology utilized, modified or enhanced by the Company or by Executive in furtherance of Executive’s duties with the Company; (5) compilations of data concerning Company products, services, customers, and end users including but not limited to compilations concerning projected sales, new project timelines, inventory reports, sales, and cost and expense reports; (6) compilations of

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
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information about the Company’s employees and independent contracting consultants; (7) the Company’s financial information, including, without limitation, amounts charged to customers and amounts charged to the Company by its vendors, suppliers, and service providers; (8) proposals submitted to the Company’s customers, potential customers, wholesalers, distributors, vendors, suppliers and service providers; (9) the Company’s marketing strategies and compilations of marketing data; (10) compilations of data or information concerning, and communications and agreements with, vendors, suppliers and licensors to the Company and other sources of technology, products, services or components used in the Company’s Business; (11) any information concerning services requested and services performed on behalf of customers of the Company, including planned products or services; and (12) the Company’s research and development records and data.  Confidential Information also includes any summary, extract or analysis of such information together with information that has been received or disclosed to the Company by any third party as to which the Company has an obligation to treat as confidential.

 

(ii)                                  Confidential Information shall not include:

 

(A)                               Information generally available to the public other than as a result of improper disclosure by Executive;

 

(B)                               Information that becomes available to Executive from a source other than the Company (provided Executive has no knowledge that such information was obtained from a source in breach of a duty to the Company);

 

(C)                               Information disclosed pursuant to law, regulations or pursuant to a subpoena, court order or legal process; and/or

 

(D)                               Information obtained in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

b.                                      “Trade Secrets” includes Confidential Information constituting a trade secret under Georgia Law.

 

c.                                       “Business Opportunities” means all ideas, concepts or information received or developed (in whatever form) by Executive concerning any business, transaction or potential transaction within the Company’s Business that constitutes or may constitute an opportunity for the Company to earn a fee or income, which are opportunities in which the Company has gained a legal or equitable interest or expectancy growing out of a preexisting right or relationship with a current or prospective customer, specifically including those relationships that were initiated, nourished or developed at the Company’s expense.  All ideas, concepts and information concerning any Business Opportunity shall constitute Confidential Information (as defined in paragraph (a) above).

 

d.                                      “Inventions” means contributions, discoveries, improvements and ideas and works of authorship, whether or not patentable or copyrightable, (i) which relate directly to the Company’s Business, or (ii) which result from any work performed by Executive

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
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or by Executive’s fellow employees for the Company, or (iii) for which equipment, supplies, facilities, Confidential Information or Trade Secrets of the Company are used, or (iv) which is developed on the Company’s time.

 

e.                                       “Customers” means customers of the Company with whom Executive had material contact on behalf of the Company during the two-year period preceding the termination of Executive’s employment with the Company.

 

f.                                        “Company’s Business” shall have the meaning provided on Exhibit B.

 

g.                                       “Direct Competitor” shall have the meaning provided on Exhibit B.

 

h.                                      “Executive Services” shall mean the services performed by the Executive as provided on Exhibit B.

 

i.                                          “Territory” shall mean the areas identified in Section 2 of Exhibit B hereto.  Executive acknowledges that Executive has reviewed Exhibit B, which is incorporated herein by reference, and Executive acknowledges that Executive will perform Executive Services on behalf of the Company throughout the Territory.

 

6.                                      MISCELLANEOUS

 

6.1                               No Obligation to Mitigate.  Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for under this Agreement by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment provided for under this Agreement be reduced by any compensation earned by Executive as a result of employment by another employer after the Date of Termination or otherwise, except as provided in Section 4.2 with respect to benefits coverages.

 

6.2                               Contract Non-Assignable.  The parties acknowledge that this Agreement has been entered into due to, among other things, the special skills and knowledge of Executive, and agree that this Agreement may not be assigned or transferred by Executive.

 

6.3                               Successors; Binding Agreement.

 

a.                                      In addition to any obligations imposed by law upon any successor to the Company, the Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, or who acquires the stock of the Company, to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement, in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place.

 

b.                                      This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive’s personal or legal representative, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees.

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
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6.4                               Notices.  All notices, requests, demands and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered or seven days after mailing if mailed first class, certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

 

	
If   to the Company:
    	
 
    	
Zep   Inc.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Attention:   General Counsel
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
1310   Seaboard Industrial Blvd.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Atlanta,   GA 30318
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
If   to the Executive:
    	
 
    	
To   his last known address on file with the Company
    

 

Any party may change the address to which notices, requests, demands and other communications shall be delivered or mailed by giving notice thereof to the other party in the same manner provided herein.

 

6.5                               Provisions Severable.  If any provision or covenant, or any part thereof, of this Agreement should be held by any court to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, either in whole or in part, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions or covenants, or any part thereof, of this Agreement, all of which shall remain in full force and effect.

 

6.6                               Waiver.  Failure of either party to insist, in one or more instances, on performance by the other in strict accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver or relinquishment of any right granted in this Agreement or the future performance of any such term or condition or of any other term or condition of this Agreement, unless such waiver is contained in a writing signed by the party making the waiver.

 

6.7                               Amendments and Modifications.  This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a writing signed by both parties hereto, which makes specific reference to this Agreement.

 

6.8                               Governing Law.  The validity and effect of this Agreement shall be governed by and be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia.

 

6.9                               Disputes; Legal Fees; Indemnification.

 

a.                                        Disputes.  All claims by Executive for compensation and benefits under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be directed to and be determined by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, or his designee, provided that such designee shall not be the Supervising Executive (the Chief Executive Officer or such designee is hereinafter referred to as the “Administrator”).  Any denial by the Administrator of a claim for benefits under this Agreement shall be provided in writing to Executive within thirty (30) days of such decision and shall set forth the specific reasons for the denial and the specific provisions of this Agreement relied upon.  The Administrator shall afford a reasonable opportunity to Executive for a review of its decision denying a claim and shall further allow Executive to request in writing that the Administrator reconsider the denial of the claim within sixty (60) days after notification by the

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
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Administrator that Executive’s claim has been denied.  To the extent permitted by applicable law, any further dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration in Fulton County, Georgia, in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect for commercial arbitrations.  Judgment may be entered on the arbitrator’s award in any court having jurisdiction.

 

b.                                        Legal Fees.  If the Company involuntarily terminates Executive without Cause or Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason, then, in the event Executive incurs legal fees and other expenses in seeking to obtain or to enforce any rights or benefits provided by this Agreement and is successful to a significant extent in obtaining or enforcing any such rights or benefits through settlement, mediation, arbitration or otherwise, the Company shall promptly pay Executive’s reasonable legal fees and expenses and related costs incurred in enforcing this Agreement including, without limitation, attorneys fees and expenses, experts fees and expenses, and investigative fees.  Except to the extent provided in the preceding sentence, each party shall pay its own legal fees and other expenses associated with any dispute under this Agreement.

 

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

 

 

	
 
    	
Zep   Inc.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:   
    	
/s/   John K. Morgan
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
John   K. Morgan
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Chairman,   President and
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Chief   Executive Officer
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Executive:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/   Steven Nichols
    
	
 
    	
Steven Nichols
    

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
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EXHIBIT A

To Zep Inc.

SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

 

GENERAL RELEASE

 

a)             Released Claims:  The undersigned Executive of Zep Inc. (the “Company”), having entered into that certain Zep Inc. Severance Agreement dated September 13, 2010 (the “Agreement”), which Agreement is expressly incorporated herein by reference, hereby enters into the following General Release effective as of the date listed below.  This General Release must be executed and returned to Zep Inc., without modification, within thirty (30) days of the date of the termination of Executive’s employment in order for Executive to receive any of the compensation and benefits set forth in Section 4 of the Agreement.

 

Executive hereby irrevocably and unconditionally fully and finally releases, acquits and forever discharges all the claims described herein that he may now have against the Released Parties listed in Section (b), below, except that he is not releasing any claim that relates to:  (1) his right to enforce this General Release; (2) any rights or claims that arise after the execution of this General Release; or (3) any rights or claims that he cannot lawfully release.  Subject only to the exceptions just noted, Executive is releasing any and all claims, demands, actions, causes of action, liabilities, debts, losses, costs, expenses, or proceedings of every kind and nature, whether direct, contingent, or otherwise, known or unknown, past, present, or future, suspected or unsuspected, accrued or unaccrued, whether in law, equity, or otherwise, and whether in contract, warranty, tort, strict liability, or otherwise, which he now has, may have had at any time in the past, or may have at any time in the future arising or resulting from, or in any matter incidental to, any and every matter, thing, or event occurring or failing to occur at any time in the past up to and including the date of this General Release.  Executive understands that the claims he is releasing might arise under many different laws (including statutes, regulations, other administrative guidance, and common law doctrines), such as, but not limited to, the following:

 

Anti-discrimination and retaliation statutes, such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, national origin, religion, and sex and prohibits retaliation; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”), which prohibits age discrimination in employment; the Equal Pay Act, which prohibits paying men and women unequal pay for equal work; the Americans With Disabilities Act and Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibit discrimination based on disability; Sections 1981 and 1983 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, which prohibit discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion or sex; the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which prohibits retaliation against employees who participate in any investigation or proceeding related to an alleged violation of mail, wire, bank, or securities laws; Georgia anti-discrimination statutes, which prohibit retaliation and discrimination on the basis of age, disability, gender, race, color, religion, and national origin; and any other federal, state, or local laws prohibiting employment discrimination or retaliation.

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
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Federal employment statutes, such as the WARN Act, which requires that advance notice be given of certain work force reductions; the Executive Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, which, among other things, protects employee benefits; the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, which requires employers to provide leaves of absence under certain circumstances; and any other federal laws relating to employment, such as veterans’ reemployment rights laws.

 

Other laws, such as any federal, state, or local laws providing workers’ compensation benefits (except as otherwise prohibited by law), restricting an employer’s right to terminate employees, or otherwise regulating employment; any federal, state, or local law enforcing express or implied employment contracts or requiring an employer to deal with employees fairly or in good faith; any state and federal whistleblower laws, any other federal, state, or local laws providing recourse for alleged wrongful discharge, improper garnishment, assignment, or deduction from wages, health and/or safety violations, improper drug and/or alcohol testing, tort, physical or personal injury, emotional distress, fraud, negligence, negligent misrepresentation, abusive litigation, and similar or related claims, willful or negligent infliction of emotional harm, libel, slander, defamation and/or any other common law or statutory causes of action.

 

Examples of released claims, include, but are not limited to the following (except to the extent explicitly preserved by Section (a), above, of this General Release): (i) claims that in any way relate to allegations of alleged discrimination, retaliation or harassment; (ii) claims that in any way relate to Executive’s employment with the Company and/or its conclusion, such as claims for breach of contract, compensation, overtime wages, promotions, upgrades, bonuses, commissions, lost wages, or unused accrued vacation or sick pay; (iii) claims that in any way relate to any state law contract or tort causes of action; and (iv) any claims to attorneys’ fees, costs and/or expenses or other indemnities with respect to claims Executive is releasing.

 

b)             Released Parties:  The Released party/parties is/are Zep Inc., all current, future and former parents, subsidiaries, related companies, partnerships, or joint ventures related thereto, and, with respect to each of them, their predecessors and successors; and, with respect to each such entity, all of its past, present, and future employees, officers, directors, stockholders, owners, representatives, assigns, attorneys, agents, and any other persons acting by, through, under or in concert with any of the persons or entities listed in this subsection, and their successors (hereinafter the “Released Parties”).

 

c)              Unknown Claims:  Executive understands that he is releasing the Released Parties from claims that he may not know about as of the date of the execution of this General Release, and that is his knowing and voluntary intent even though Executive recognizes that someday he might learn that some or all of the facts he currently believes to be true are untrue and even though he might then regret having signed this General Release.  Nevertheless, Executive is expressly assuming that risk and agrees that this General Release shall remain effective in all respects in any such case.  Executive expressly waives all rights he might

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
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have under any law that is intended to protect him from waiving unknown claims.  Executive understands the significance of doing so.  If Executive resides in California, Executive hereby expressly waives the provisions of California Civil Code Section 1542, which provides as follows:  “A general release does not extend to claims which the creditor does not know or suspect to exist in his favor at the time of executing the release, which if known by him must have materially affected his settlement with the debtor.”  Moreover, this Release does not extend to those rights which, as a matter of law, cannot be waived, including but not limited to, unwaivable rights that Executive may have under the California Labor Code.

 

d)             Ownership of Claims: Executive represents and warrants that he has not sold, assigned or transferred any claim he is purporting to release, nor has he attempted to do so.  Executive expressly represents and warrants that he has the full legal authority to enter into this General Release for himself and his estate, and does not require the approval of anyone else.

 

e)              Pursuit of Released Claims:  Executive represents that he has not filed or caused to be filed any lawsuit, complaint, or charge with respect to any claim this General Release purports to waive, and he promises never to file or prosecute any lawsuit, complaint, or charge based on such claims.  This provision shall not apply to any non-waivable charges or claims brought before any governmental agency.  With respect to any such non-waivable claims, however, Executive agrees to waive his right (if any) to any monetary or other recovery, including but not limited to reinstatement, should any governmental agency or other third party pursue any claims on his behalf, either individually or as part of any class or collective action.

 

f)               FMLA and FLSA Rights Honored:  Executive acknowledges that he has received all of the leave from work for family and/or personal medical reasons and/or other benefits to which he believes he is entitled under Employer’s policy and the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (“FMLA”), as amended.  Executive has no pending request for FMLA leave with Employer; nor has Employer mistreated Executive in any way on account of any illness or injury to Executive or any member of Executive’s family.  Executive further acknowledges that he has received all of the monetary compensation, including hourly wages, salary and/or overtime compensation, to which he believes he is entitled under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”), as amended.

 

g)              ADEA Release Requirements Have Been Satisfied:  Executive understands that this General Release has to meet certain requirements to validly release any ADEA claims Executive might have had, and Executive represents and warrants that all such requirements have been satisfied.  Executive acknowledges that, before signing this General Release, he was given at least twenty-one (21) days to consider this General Release.  Executive further acknowledges that:  (1) he took advantage of as much of this period to consider this General Release as he wished before signing it; (2) he carefully read this General Release; (3) he fully understands it; (4) he entered into this General Release knowingly and voluntarily (i.e., free from fraud, duress, coercion, or mistake of fact); (5) this General Release is in writing and is understandable; (6) in this General Release, Executive waives current ADEA claims; (7) Executive has not waived future ADEA claims; (8) Executive is receiving valuable consideration in exchange for execution of this General Release that he would not otherwise be entitled to receive such consideration; and (9) Employer encourages Executive in writing

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
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to discuss this General Release with his attorney (at his own expense) before signing it, and that he has done so to the extent he deemed appropriate.

 

h)             Revocation:  For a period of at least seven (7) days following the execution of this General Release, Executive may revoke this General Release.  If Executive wishes to revoke this General Release in its entirety, he must make a revocation in writing which must be delivered by hand or confirmed facsimile before 5:00 p.m. of the seventh day of the revocation period to the General Counsel of Zep Inc. at 1310 Seaboard Industrial Boulevard, Atlanta, Georgia 30318, otherwise the revocation will not be effective.  If Executive timely revokes this General Release, Employer shall retain payments and benefits otherwise payable to Executive under the Agreement.

 

i)                 Access to Independent Legal Counsel; Knowing and Voluntary Execution:  EXECUTIVE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HE HAS BEEN ADVISED TO SEEK INDEPENDENT LEGAL COUNSEL OF HIS OWN CHOOSING IN CONNECTION WITH ENTERING INTO THIS GENERAL RELEASE.  EXECUTIVE FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT, IF DESIRED, HIS LEGAL COUNSEL HAS REVIEWED THIS GENERAL RELEASE, THAT EXECUTIVE FULLY UNDERSTANDS THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS GENERAL RELEASE AND THAT EXECUTIVE AGREES TO BE FULLY BOUND BY AND SUBJECT THERETO.  EXECUTIVE HAS CAREFULLY READ THIS GENERAL RELEASE AND KNOWS AND UNDERSTANDS THE CONTENTS THEREOF, AND THAT HE EXECUTES THE SAME AS HIS OWN FREE ACT AND DEED.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Executive has executed this General Release on the date set forth below.

 

 

	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
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Date:
    	
 
    

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
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EXHIBIT B

To Zep Inc.

SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

 

AGREED NON-COMPETITION RESTRICTIONS NEGOTIATED AND CONSENTED TO IN CONSIDERATION FOR SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

 

1.                                      DEFINITIONS

 

Capitalized terms contained herein shall have the same meaning as those defined terms set forth in the Severance Agreement.  In addition, the following terms used in this Exhibit “B” shall have the following meanings:

 

(A)                               “Direct Competitor” includes but is not limited to the following entities: (1) Ecolab Inc., including without limitation its Nalco Company; (2) Diversey Inc., a part of Sealed Air Corporation; (3) NCH Corporation; (4) State Chemical Manufacturing Company, a division of State Industrial Products Corporation; (5) Rochester Midland Corporation; (6) Swisher Hygiene, Inc.; (7) CRC Industries, Inc.; (8) S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.; (9) Newell Rubbermaid Inc.; (10) WD-40 Company; (11) Georgia-Pacific Corporation; (12) Gojo Industries, Inc.; (13) Arch Chemicals, Inc., a part of Lonza Group Ltd.; (14) RPM International, Inc.; (15) PLZ Aeroscience Corporation and all subsidiaries; (16) Church & Dwight Co., Inc.; (17) Proctor and Gamble; (18) Reckitt Benckiser plc; (19) Sunshine Makers, Inc.; (20) The Clorox Company; (21) Bayer, A.G.; (22) Spectrum Brands, Inc.; (23) The Scott’s Company; (24) Excelda Manufacturing; (25) Ashland Inc.; (26) Technical Chemical Company; and (27) Kimball Midwest, (28) Chemtura Corporation; (29) ChemStation International, Inc.; and (30) Safety-Kleen Systems Inc.;  as well as any of their respective affiliates, subsidiaries and/or parent companies that are either located or transact business within the Territory and are engaged in the Company Business (as that term is defined in subsection D herein), but only to the extent each, and only with respect to business operation(s) of each that, engage(s) in the manufacturing and/or sale of one or more of the classes of products that constitute the Company Business.

 

(B)                               “Executive Services” means those principal duties and responsibilities that Executive performs on behalf of the Company during his employment.

 

(C)                               “Restricted Period” means the “Severance Period” in the Severance Agreement, namely, a period equal to the lesser of (i) nine (9) months from the Executive’s Date of Termination or (ii) the number of months (rounded to the nearest month) from the Executive’s Date of Termination until the date he attains age 65.

 

(D)                               “Company Business” means the manufacture and/or sales of cleaning and maintenance solutions for commercial, industrial, institutional, and consumer customers, including, without limitation, the manufacture and/or sale of the following types of products:  anti-bacterial and industrial hand-care products; cleaners; degreasers; deodorizers; disinfectants,

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
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floor finishes; sanitizers; pest- and weed-control products; air-care products and delivery systems; and automotive maintenance chemicals.

 

2.                            ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

 

Executive acknowledges that during the period of his employment with the Company, he has rendered and will render executive, strategic and managerial services, including the Executive Services, to and for the Company throughout the United States, which are special, unusual, extraordinary, and of peculiar value to the Company.  Executive further acknowledges that the services he performs on behalf of the Company, including the Executive Services, are at a senior managerial level and are not limited in their territorial scope to any particular city, state, or region, but instead have nationwide impact throughout the United States (the “Territory”).  Executive further acknowledges and agrees that:  (a) the Company’s business is, at the very least, national in scope; (b) these restrictions are reasonable and necessary to protect the Confidential Information, business relationships, and goodwill of the Company; and (c) should Executive engage in or threaten to engage in activities in violation of these restrictions, it would cause the Company irreparable harm which would not be adequately and fully redressed by the payment of damages to the Company.  In addition to other remedies available to the Company, the Company shall accordingly be entitled to injunctive relief in any court of competent jurisdiction for any actual or threatened breach by Executive of the provisions of this Severance Agreement.  Executive further acknowledges that he will not be entitled to any compensation or benefits from the Company or any of its affiliates in the event of a final, non-appealable judgment that he materially breached his duties or obligations under this Severance Agreement.

 

3.                                      NON-COMPETITION

 

Executive agrees that, while employed by the Company and for a period equal to the Restricted Period thereafter, but only for such period as Base Salary is paid to Executive under Section 4.1 of the Severance Agreement, he will not, directly (i.e., as an officer or employee) or indirectly (i.e., as an independent contractor, consultant, advisor, board member, agent, shareholder, investor, joint venturer, or partner), provide or perform any of the Executive Services on behalf of any Direct Competitor anywhere within the Territory.  Nothing in this provision shall divest Executive from the right to acquire as a passive investor (with no involvement in the operations or management of the business) up to 1% of any class of securities which is:  (i) issued by any Direct Competitor, and (ii) publicly traded on a national securities exchange or over-the-counter market.

 

4.                                      SEPARABILITY

 

Executive acknowledges that the foregoing covenant in Section 3 of this Exhibit “B” is a separate and distinct obligation of Executive and is deemed to be separable from the remaining covenants and provisions of the Severance Agreement.  If any of the provisions of the foregoing covenant should ever be deemed to exceed the time, geographic, product, or other limitations permitted by applicable law in any jurisdiction, then such provisions shall be deemed reformed in such jurisdiction to the maximum time, geographic, product, or other limitations permitted by applicable law.  If any particular provision of the foregoing covenant is held to be invalid, the

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
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remainder of the covenant and the remaining provisions of the Severance Agreement shall not be affected thereby and shall remain in full force and effect.

 

5.                                      ENTIRE AGREEMENT

 

The foregoing covenant, together with the provisions set forth in Section 5.6 of the Severance Agreement, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to that subject matter, and supersedes any and all prior communications, agreements and understandings, written or oral, with respect to the same.  Notwithstanding the previous sentence, this Agreement is intended to complement and will not supersede the restrictive covenants in any other enforceable agreements between Employee and Company, if any.  No provision of this Exhibit B may be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is approved and agreed to in writing by both parties hereto.  Failure of either party to insist, in one or more instances, on performance by the other in strict accordance with the terms and conditions of this Exhibit B shall not be deemed a waiver or relinquishment of any right granted in this Exhibit B or the future performance of any such term or condition or of any other term or condition of this Exhibit B, unless such waiver is contained in a writing signed by the party making the waiver.  No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, express or implied, with respect to Executive’s non-competition obligations have been made by either party which are not set forth expressly in this Exhibit B and/or in the Severance Agreement.

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
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