Document:

Exhibit 10.3 Amendment 6 Restated Loan Facility 2nd Amended

EXHIBIT 10.3

SIXTH AMENDMENT TO 
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LOAN FACILITY AGREEMENT AND GUARANTY

THIS SIXTH AMENDMENT TO SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LOAN FACILITY AGREEMENT AND GUARANTY (this “Amendment”), is made and entered into as of October 8, 2013, by and among AARON’S, INC., a Georgia corporation (“Sponsor”), each of the lending institutions listed on the signature pages hereto (such lenders, the “Participants”) and SUNTRUST BANK, a banking corporation organized and existing under the laws of Georgia having its principal office in Atlanta, Georgia, as Servicer (in such capacity, the “Servicer”).

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, the Sponsor, the Participants and the Servicer are parties to a certain Second Amended and Restated Loan Facility Agreement and Guaranty, dated as of June 18, 2010, as amended by that certain First Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Loan Facility Agreement and Guaranty dated as of March 31, 2011, by that certain Second Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Loan Facility Agreement and Guaranty dated as of May 18, 2011, by that certain Third Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Loan Facility Agreement and Guaranty dated as of July 1, 2011, by that certain Fourth Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Loan Facility Agreement and Guaranty dated as of May 16, 2012 and by that certain Fifth Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Loan Facility Agreement and Guaranty dated as of December 13, 2012 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Loan Facility Agreement”; capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Loan Facility Agreement), pursuant to which the Participants have made certain financial accommodations available to the Sponsor; 

WHEREAS, the Sponsor has requested that the Participants and the Servicer amend certain provisions of the Loan Facility Agreement, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Participants are willing to do so; 

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency and receipt of all of which are acknowledged, the Sponsor, the Participants and the Servicer agree as follows:

1.    Amendments.  

(a)  Section 6.1(e) of the Loan Facility Agreement is hereby replaced in its entirety with the following:
(e)    promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all functions of said Commission, or with any national securities exchange, or distributed by the Sponsor to its shareholders generally, as the case may be, it being agreed that the requirements of this subsection may be satisfied by the delivery of the applicable reports, statements or other materials to the Securities and Exchange Commission to the extent that such reports, statements or other materials are available to the Lenders on EDGAR; and

(b)  Section 8.5 of the Loan Facility Agreement is hereby replaced in its entirety with the following:

    

Section 8.5       Restricted Payments.  The Sponsor will not, and will not permit its Subsidiaries to, declare or make, or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any dividend on any class of its stock, or make any payment on account of, or set apart assets for a sinking or other analogous fund for, the purchase, redemption, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition of, any shares of common stock or Indebtedness subordinated to the Guaranteed Obligations of the Sponsor or any options, warrants, or other rights to purchase such common stock or such subordinated Indebtedness, whether now or hereafter outstanding (each, a “Restricted Payment”), except for  (i) dividends payable by the Sponsor solely in shares of any class of its common stock, (ii) Restricted Payments made by any Guarantor to the Sponsor or to another Guarantor and (iii) other Restricted Payments made by the Sponsor in cash so long as after giving pro forma effect to the payment thereof, (x) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom and (y) the Sponsor and its Subsidiaries would be in pro forma compliance with the financial covenants in Article VII measured as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered hereunder.

2.    Conditions to Effectiveness of this Amendment. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Amendment and without affecting in any manner the rights of the Participants hereunder, it is understood and agreed that this Amendment shall not become effective, and the Sponsor shall have no rights under this Amendment, until the Servicer shall have received (i) executed counterparts to this Amendment from the Sponsor, each of the Guarantors and the Participants and (ii) amendments to the 2011 Note Agreement and the Revolving Credit Agreement, in each case in form and substance satisfactory to the Servicer and making equivalent modifications to those set forth above.

3.    Representations and Warranties.  To induce the Participants and the Servicer to enter into this Amendment, each Credit Party hereby represents and warrants to the Participants and the Servicer that: 

(a)    The execution, delivery and performance by such Credit Party of this Amendment (i) are within such Credit Party’s power and authority; (ii) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate and shareholder action; (iii) are not in contravention of any provision of such Credit Party’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws or other organizational documents; (iv) do not violate any law or regulation, or any order or decree of any Governmental Authority; (v) do not conflict with or result in the breach or termination of, constitute a default under or accelerate any performance required by, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, lease, agreement or other instrument to which such Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which such Credit Party or any such Subsidiary or any of their respective property is bound; (vi) do not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any of the property of such Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries; and (vii) do not require the consent or approval of any Governmental Authority or any other person;

(b)    This Amendment has been duly executed and delivered for the benefit of or on behalf of each Credit Party and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of each Credit Party, enforceable against such Credit Party in accordance with its terms except as the enforceability hereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws affecting creditors’ rights and remedies in general;

(c)    After giving effect to this Amendment, the representations and warranties contained in the Loan Facility Agreement and the other Operative Documents are true and correct in all material respects, and no Credit Event or Unmatured Credit Event has occurred and is continuing as of the date hereof; and

2

    

(d)    After giving effect to this Amendment, all Participation Certificates previously issued remain in full force and effect.

4.    Reaffirmation of Guaranty.  Each Guarantor consents to the execution and delivery by the Sponsor of this Amendment and jointly and severally ratify and confirm the terms of the Guaranty Agreement with respect to the indebtedness now or hereafter outstanding under the Loan Facility Agreement as amended hereby and all promissory notes issued thereunder. Each Guarantor acknowledges that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other document evidencing any indebtedness of the Sponsor to the Participants or any other obligation of the Sponsor, or any actions now or hereafter taken by the Participants with respect to any obligation of the Sponsor, the Guaranty Agreement (and in the case of Sponsor, the guaranty as set forth in Article X of the Loan Facility Agreement) (i) is and shall continue to be a primary, absolute and unconditional obligation of such Guarantor, except as may be specifically set forth in the Guaranty Agreement (or in the case of Sponsor, the guaranty provisions set forth in Article X of the Loan Facility Agreement), and (ii) is and shall continue to be in full force and effect in accordance with its terms.  Nothing contained herein to the contrary shall release, discharge, modify, change or affect the original liability of the Guarantors under the  Guaranty Agreement (or in the case of Sponsor, the guaranty provisions set forth in Article X of the Loan Facility Agreement).  

5.    Effect of Amendment.  Except as set forth expressly herein, all terms of the Loan Facility Agreement, as amended hereby, and the other Operative Documents shall be and remain in full force and effect and shall constitute the legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the Sponsor to the Participants and the Servicer.  The execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Amendment shall not, except as expressly provided herein, operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of the Participants under the Loan Facility Agreement, nor constitute a waiver of any provision of the Loan Facility Agreement.  This Amendment shall constitute an Operative Document for all purposes of the Loan Facility Agreement.

6.    Governing Law.   This Amendment shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Georgia and all applicable federal laws of the United States of America.

7.    No Novation.  This Amendment is not intended by the parties to be, and shall not be construed to be, a novation of the Loan Facility Agreement or an accord and satisfaction in regard thereto.

8.    Costs and Expenses.  The Sponsor agrees to pay on demand all reasonable costs and expenses of the Servicer in connection with the preparation, execution and delivery of this Amendment, including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses of outside counsel for the Servicer with respect thereto.

9.    Counterparts.  This Amendment may be executed by one or more of the parties hereto in any number of separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which, taken together, shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Amendment by facsimile transmission or by electronic mail in pdf form shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.

10.    Binding Nature.  This Amendment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto, their respective successors, successors-in-titles, and assigns.

11.    Entire Understanding.  This Amendment sets forth the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the matters set forth herein, and shall supersede any prior negotiations or agreements, whether written or oral, with respect thereto.

3

    

[Signature Pages To Follow]

4

    

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed, under seal in the case of the Sponsor and the Guarantors, by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

                            
SPONSOR:

AARON’S, INC.

By: /s/ Gilbert L. Danielson    
Name: Gilbert L. Danielson
Title: Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer    

GUARANTORS:

AARON INVESTMENT COMPANY, as
Guarantor
                        

By: /s/ Gilbert L. Danielson            
     Name: Gilbert L. Danielson
     Title: Vice President and Treasurer

                

AARON’S PRODUCTION COMPANY, as
Guarantor
                        

By: /s/ Gilbert L. Danielson            
Name: Gilbert L. Danielson
Title: Vice President and Treasurer 

                        
99 LTO, LLC, as Guarantor
    
By: AARON’S, INC., its Sole Manager

By: /s/ Gilbert L. Danielson    
Name: Gilbert L. Danielson
Title: Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO SIXTH AMENDMENT TO 
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LOAN FACILITY AGREEEMENT]

    

SERVICER:

SUNTRUST BANK

By: /s/ Kelly Gunter            
Name: Kelly Gunter
Title:   Director

                            

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO SIXTH AMENDMENT TO 
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LOAN FACILITY AGREEEMENT]

    

PARTICIPANTS:

SUNTRUST BANK

By: /s/ Kelly Gunter            
Name: Kelly Gunter
Title:   Director

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO SIXTH AMENDMENT TO 
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LOAN FACILITY AGREEEMENT]

    

WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. 

By:    /s/ Ashley Walsh            
Name: Ashley Walsh
Title:   Vice President

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO SIXTH AMENDMENT TO 
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LOAN FACILITY AGREEEMENT]

    

REGIONS BANK

By: /s/ Scott J. Rossman            
  Name: Scott J. Rossman
  Title:    Senior Vice President

        

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO SIXTH AMENDMENT TO 
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LOAN FACILITY AGREEEMENT]

    

BRANCH BANKING AND TRUST COMPANY

By: /s/ Bradley Echols            
      Name:  Bradley Echols
      Title:    Senior Vice President
 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO SIXTH AMENDMENT TO 
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LOAN FACILITY AGREEEMENT]

    

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.

By:/s/ Ryan Maples                
Name: Ryan Maples
Title:  Vice President

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO SIXTH AMENDMENT TO 
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LOAN FACILITY AGREEEMENT]creditagmt10913.htm

        

 

	   Exhibit 10.1
	
 

 

Execution Version

 

 

                                                                                  

 

 

FIFTH AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

dated as of

 

October 9, 2013

 

among

 

 

ACXIOM CORPORATION

 

the other parties hereto,

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.

 

as the Administrative Agent,

 

and

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

 

THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD. AND

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

as Syndication Agents

 

and

 

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC,

 

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED,

 

THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD. AND

 

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC

 

as Joint Bookrunners and Joint Lead Arrangers

 

and

 

SUNTRUST BANK,

 

PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

 

REGIONS BANK AND

 

COMPASS BANK

 

as Co-Documentation Agents

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Page

 

 

	
  

	
ARTICLE I. Definitions                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1

 

	
Section 1.01.

	
Defined Terms 

	
1

	
Section 1.02.

	
Classification of Loans and Borrowings 

	
28

	
Section 1.03.

	
Terms Generally 

	
28

	
Section 1.04.

	
Accounting Terms; GAAP; Pro Forma Calculations 

	
29

	
Section 1.05.

	
Conversion of Foreign Currencies 

	
30

	
Section 1.06.

	
Status of Obligations 

	
30

 

	
  

	
ARTICLE II.  The Credits                                                                                            30

 

	
Section 2.01.

	
Commitments 

	
30

	
Section 2.02.

	
Loans and Borrowings 

	
31

	
Section 2.03.

	
Requests for Borrowings 

	
31

	
Section 2.04.

	
Swingline Loans 

	
32

	
Section 2.05.

	
Letters of Credit 

	
34

	
Section 2.06.

	
Funding of Borrowings 

	
38

	
Section 2.07.

	
Interest Elections 

	
38

	
Section 2.08.

	
Termination and Reduction of Commitments 

	
40

	
Section 2.09.

	
Repayment and Amortization of Loans; Evidence of Debt 

	
40

	
Section 2.10.

	
Prepayments 

	
42

	
Section 2.11.

	
Fees 

	
44

	
Section 2.12.

	
Interest 

	
45

	
Section 2.13.

	
Alternate Rate of Interest 

	
46

	
Section 2.14.

	
Increased Costs and Capital Adequacy 

	
46

	
Section 2.15.

	
Break Funding Payments 

	
48

	
Section 2.16.

	
Taxes 

	
48

	
Section 2.17.

	
Payments Generally; Allocation of Proceeds; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set–Offs 

	
52

	
Section 2.18.

	
Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders 

	
55

	
Section 2.19.

	
Determination of Dollar Amounts 

	
55

	
Section 2.20.

	
Increase of Revolving Commitments 

	
56

	
Section 2.21.

	
Defaulting Lenders 

	
56

	
Section 2.22.

	
Illegality 

	
58

 

 

	
  

	
ARTICLE III. Representations and Warranties                                                                            58

 

	
Section 3.01.

	
Organization; Powers 

	
58

	
Section 3.02.

	
Authorization; Enforceability 

	
59

	
Section 3.03.

	
Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts 

	
59

	
Section 3.04.

	
Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change 

	
59

	
Section 3.05.

	
Properties 

	
59

	
Section 3.06.

	
Litigation and Environmental Matters 

	
60

	
Section 3.07.

	
Compliance with Laws and Agreements 

	
60

	
Section 3.08.

	
Investment Company Status 

	
60

	
Section 3.09.

	
Taxes 

	
60

	
Section 3.10.

	
ERISA 

	
60

 

 

  

-i-

  

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

	 	 (Continued)	 

 

Page

 

	
Section 3.11.

	
Disclosure 

	
61

	
Section 3.12.

	
Subsidiaries 

	
61

	
Section 3.13.

	
Insurance 

	
61

	
Section 3.14.

	
Labor Matters 

	
61

	
Section 3.15.

	
Solvency 

	
61

	
Section 3.16.

	
Margin Securities 

	
62

	
Section 3.17.

	
Perfection of Security Interests 

	
62

	
Section 3.18.

	
Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions 

	
62

 

	
  

	
ARTICLE IV. Conditions                                                                                   63

 

	
Section 4.01.

	
Effective Date 

	
63

	
Section 4.02.

	
Each Credit Event 

	
64

	
Section 4.03.

	
Effective Date Advances and Adjustments 

	
65

 

	
  

	
ARTICLE V. Affirmative Covenants                                                                                   65

 

	
Section 5.01.

	
Financial Statements and Other Information 

	
65

	
Section 5.02.

	
Notices of Material Events 

	
66

	
Section 5.03.

	
Existence; Conduct of Business 

	
67

	
Section 5.04.

	
Payment of Obligations 

	
67

	
Section 5.05.

	
Maintenance of Properties 

	
67

	
Section 5.06.

	
Insurance 

	
67

	
Section 5.07.

	
Books and Records; Inspection and Audit Rights 

	
67

	
Section 5.08.

	
Compliance with Laws 

	
68

	
Section 5.09.

	
Use of Proceeds and Letters of Credit 

	
68

	
Section 5.10.

	
Additional Subsidiary Guarantors 

	
68

	
Section 5.11.

	
Minimum Guarantee and Pledge Requirement 

	
69

	
Section 5.12.

	
Further Assurances 

	
69

	
Section 5.13.

	
Post-Closing Matters 

	
69

 

	
  

	
ARTICLE VI. Negative Covenants                                                                                       69

 

	
Section 6.01.

	
Indebtedness 

	
69

	
Section 6.02.

	
Liens 

	
71

	
Section 6.03.

	
Fundamental Changes 

	
72

	
Section 6.04.

	
Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions 

	
73

	
Section 6.05.

	
Asset Sales 

	
74

	
Section 6.06.

	
Restricted Payments 

	
75

	
Section 6.07.

	
Transactions with Affiliates 

	
76

	
Section 6.08.

	
Restrictive Agreements 

	
76

	
Section 6.09.

	
Change in Fiscal Year 

	
76

	
Section 6.10.

	
Swap Agreements 

	
77

	
Section 6.11.

	
Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions 

	
77

 

	
  

	
ARTICLE VII. Financial Covenants                                                                                  77

 

	
Section 7.01.

	
Leverage Ratio 

	
77

 

  

-ii-

  

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

	 	 (Continued)	 

 

Page

	
Section 7.02.

	
Fixed Charge Coverage 

	
77

 

	
  

	
ARTICLE VIII. Events of Default                                                                                  77

 

 

	
  

	
ARTICLE IX. Administrative Agent                                                                                      79

 

	
Section 9.01.

	
Appointment 

	
79

	
Section 9.02.

	
Rights as a Lender 

	
79

	
Section 9.03.

	
Limitation on Duties and Immunities 

	
80

	
Section 9.04.

	
Reliance on Third Parties 

	
80

	
Section 9.05.

	
Subagents 

	
80

	
Section 9.06.

	
Successor Administrative Agent 

	
81

	
Section 9.07.

	
Independent Credit Decisions 

	
81

	
Section 9.08.

	
Other Agents 

	
81

	
Section 9.09.

	
Powers and Immunities of Issuing Bank 

	
81

	
Section 9.10.

	
Lender and Lender Affiliate Rights 

	
82

	
Section 9.11.

	
Representative 

	
82

 

	
  

	
ARTICLE X. Miscellaneous                                                                                      83

 

	
Section 10.01.

	
Notices 

	
83

	
Section 10.02.

	
Waivers; Amendments 

	
85

	
Section 10.03.

	
Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver 

	
86

	
Section 10.04.

	
Successors and Assigns 

	
88

	
Section 10.05.

	
Survival 

	
91

	
Section 10.06.

	
Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution; Amendment and Restatement of Existing Agreement 

	
92

	
Section 10.07.

	
Severability 

	
93

	
Section 10.08.

	
Right of Setoff 

	
93

	
Section 10.09.

	
Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process 

	
93

	
Section 10.10.

	
WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL 

	
94

	
Section 10.11.

	
Headings 

	
94

	
Section 10.12.

	
Confidentiality 

	
94

	
Section 10.13.

	
Maximum Interest Rate 

	
95

	
Section 10.14.

	
Intercompany Subordination 

	
96

	
Section 10.15.

	
Judgment Currency 

	
97

	
Section 10.16.

	
USA PATRIOT Act 

	
97

	
Section 10.17.

	
Independence of Covenants 

	
97

	
Section 10.18.

	
Release of Subsidiary Guarantors 

	
97

	
Section 10.19.

	
Appointment for Perfection 

	
98

	
Section 10.20.

	
No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility 

	
98

 

  

-iii-  

  

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

	 	 (Continued)	 

 

EXHIBITS

 

EXHIBIT A                      –  Form of Assignment and Assumption

EXHIBIT B                      –  Form of Opinion of Borrower’s Counsel

EXHIBIT C                      –  Form of Increased Commitment Supplement

EXHIBIT D                      –  Form of Security Agreement

EXHIBIT E                      –  Form of Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement

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

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

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

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

EXHIBIT G-1                                –  Form of Borrowing Request

EXHIBIT G-2                                –  Form of Interest Election Request

 

 

SCHEDULES

 

SCHEDULE 2.01                                –           Commitments

SCHEDULE 3.01                                –           Effective Date Subsidiary Guarantors

SCHEDULE 3.12                                –           Subsidiaries

SCHEDULE 5.13                                –           Post-Closing Matters

SCHEDULE 6.01                                –           Existing Indebtedness

SCHEDULE 6.02                                –           Existing Liens

SCHEDULE 6.04                                –           Existing Investments

SCHEDULE 6.08                                –           Existing Restrictions

 

 

  

-iv-  

  

FIFTH AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

This FIFTH AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) dated as of October 9, 2013, is among ACXIOM CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation, the lenders party hereto and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as the administrative agent.

 

RECITALS:

 

A.           The Borrower, the lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the administrative agent, and certain other parties entered into that certain Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of September 15, 2006 (as such agreement was amended and otherwise modified from time to time, the “Existing Agreement”).

 

B.           The parties hereto now desire to amend and restate the Existing Agreement as herein set forth.

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

 

ARTICLE I.

 

Definitions

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

“Acquiring Company” has the meaning specified in Section 6.04.

 

“Adjusted EBITDA” means, for any period (the “Subject Period”), the total of the following calculated without duplication for such period: (a) Borrower’s EBITDA; plus (b), on a pro forma basis, the EBITDA attributable to each Prior Target or, as applicable, to the assets acquired from such Prior Target, for any portion of such Subject Period occurring prior to the date of the acquisition of such Prior Target or such related assets but only to the extent such pro forma EBITDA can be established in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent based on financial statements of the Prior Target prepared in accordance with GAAP; minus (c) the EBITDA of each Prior Company and, as applicable but without duplication, the EBITDA of Borrower and each Subsidiary attributable to all Prior Assets, in each case for any portion of such Subject Period occurring prior to the date of the disposal of such Prior Companies or Prior Assets.

 

“Adjusted LIBO 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 LIBO Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by (b) the Statutory Reserve Rate.

 

“Administrative Agent” means JPMorgan (including its branches and affiliates) in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders hereunder.

 

  

  

  

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

 

“Affected Foreign Subsidiary” means any Foreign Subsidiary to the extent such Foreign Subsidiary acting as a Subsidiary Guarantor would cause a Deemed Dividend Problem.

 

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

 

“Agent Parties” has the meaning specified in Section 10.01(d)(ii).

 

“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% and (c) the Adjusted LIBO Rate for a one month Interest Period on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) plus 1%, provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the Adjusted LIBO Rate for any day shall be based on the rate appearing on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 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 LIBO 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 LIBO Rate, respectively.

 

“Alternative Rate” has the meaning specified in Section 2.13(a).

 

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

 

“Applicable Percentage” means, with respect to any Lender, (a) with respect to Revolving Loans, LC Exposure or Swingline Loans, the percentage equal to a fraction the numerator of which is such Lender’s Revolving Commitment and the denominator of which is the aggregate Revolving Commitments of all Revolving Lenders (if the Revolving Commitments have terminated or expired, the Applicable Percentages shall be determined based upon the Revolving Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments); provided that in the case of Section 2.21 when a Defaulting Lender shall exist, any such Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Commitment shall be disregarded in the calculation and (b) with respect to the Term Loans, a percentage equal to a fraction the numerator of which is such Lender’s outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans and the denominator of which is the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans of all Term Lenders.

 

“Applicable Rate” means, with respect to any Eurocurrency Loan, ABR Loan or the commitment fees payable hereunder with respect to the Revolving Commitments, as the case may be, the applicable rate per annum set forth below under the caption “LIBO Rate Spread,” “ABR Spread” or “Revolving Credit Loan Commitment Fee Rate,” as the case may be, opposite the category in the table below which corresponds with the actual Leverage Ratio as of the most recent determination date; provided that from and including the Effective Date until the first date that the Applicable Rate is determined as set forth below in this definition, the “Applicable Rate” shall be the applicable rate per annum set forth below in Category 3:

 

	
Leverage Ratio

	
LIBO Rate Spread

	
ABR Spread

	
Revolving  Credit Loan Commitment Fee Rate

 

  

2

  

	
Category 1

≥ 2.50 to 1.00

	
2.50%

	
1.50%

	
0.45%

	
Category 2

≥2.00 to 1.00

but

< 2.50 to 1.00

	
2.25%

	
1.25%

	
0.40%

	
Category 3

≥1.50 to 1.00

but

< 2.00 to 1.00

	
2.00%

	
1.00%

	
0.35%

	
Category 4

≥1.00 to 1.00

but

< 1.50 to 1.00

	
1.75%

	
0.75%

	
0.30%

	
Category 5

<1.00 to 1.00

	
1.50%

	
0.50%

	
0.25%

 

 

For purposes of the foregoing, (a) the Leverage Ratio shall be determined as of the end of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower’s fiscal year based upon the Borrower’s consolidated financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or (b), beginning with the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2013 and (b) each change in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Leverage Ratio shall be effective during the period commencing on and including the date of delivery to the Administrative Agent of such consolidated financial statements indicating such change and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change; provided that the Leverage Ratio shall be deemed to be in Category 1 with respect to the table above:  (i) at any time that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or (ii) at the option of the Administrative Agent or at the request of the Required Lenders, if the Borrower fails to deliver the consolidated financial statements required to be delivered by it pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or (b), during the period from the expiration of the time for delivery thereof until such consolidated financial statements are delivered.  In the event that a miscalculation of the Leverage Ratio by the Borrower results in the application of a lower Applicable Rate than the Applicable Rate that would otherwise have been applied given a correct calculation of the Leverage Ratio, the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, the amount that is equal to the difference, if positive, of (A) the amount due to the Administrative Agent after applying the correct Applicable Rate and (B) the amount paid to the Administrative Agent after applying the incorrect Applicable Rate.

 

“Approved Fund” has the meaning specified in Section 10.04.

 

“Asset Sale” has the meaning specified in Section 6.05.

 

“Asset Value” means, with respect to the Borrower as of the date of determination, the sum of the book values of the following for Borrower and the Subsidiaries calculated on a consolidated basis:  (a) accounts receivable and (b) property, plant and equipment net of accumulated depreciation and amortization.

 

“Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption agreement entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 10.04), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

  

3

  

“AUD Bank Bill Reference Rate” means for any Loans in AUD, the AUD Screen Rate or, if applicable pursuant to the terms of Section 2.13(a), the applicable Reference Bank Rate.

 

“AUD Screen Rate” means, with respect to any Interest Period, the average bid reference rate administered by the Australian Financial Markets Association (or any other Person that takes over the administration of such rate) for AUD bills of exchange with a tenor equal in length to such Interest Period as displayed on page BBSY of the Reuters screen or, in the event such rate does not appear on such Reuters page, on any successor or substitute page on such screen that displays such rate, or on the appropriate page of such other information service that publishes such rate as shall be selected by the Administrative Agent from time to time in its reasonable discretion.

 

“Australian Dollars,” “AUD” and “A$” denote the lawful currency of the Commonwealth of Australia.

 

“Available Currency” means (i) Dollars, (ii) Pounds Sterling, (iii) Euro, (iv) Australian Dollars and (v) any other currency that is (x) a lawful currency (other than Dollars) that is readily available and freely transferable and convertible into Dollars, (y) available in the London interbank deposit market and (z) agreed to by the Administrative Agent and each of the Revolving Lenders.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

“Borrower” means Acxiom Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

 

  

4

  

“Borrowing” means (a) Revolving 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, (b) a Term Loan 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 or (c) a Swingline Loan.

 

“Borrowing Minimum” means (a) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in Dollars (other than ABR and Swingline Borrowings) $2,000,000, (b) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in Euros, €2,000,000, (c) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in Pounds Sterling, £2,000,000, (d) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in Australian Dollars, A$2,000,000 and (e) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in any other Available Currency, the smallest amount of such Available Currency that is an integral multiple of 250,000 units of such currency and that has an Equivalent Amount of $2,000,000 or more.

 

“Borrowing Multiple” means (a) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in Dollars, $250,000, (b) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in Euros, €250,000, (c) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in Pounds Sterling, £250,000, (d) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in Australian Dollars, A$250,000 and (e) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in any other Available Currency, 250,000 units of such currency.

 

“Borrowing Request” means a request by the Borrower for a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03 or Section 2.04, as applicable, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit G-1.

 

“Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York, Houston, Texas, or Dallas, Texas are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided that, when used in connection with a Eurocurrency Loan for a LIBOR Quoted Currency, the term “Business Day” shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open for general business in London; and in addition, with respect to any date for the payment or purchase of, or the fixing of an interest rate in relation to, any Non-Quoted Currency, the term “Business Day” shall exclude any day on which banks are not open for general business in the principal financial center of that currency and, if the Borrowings or LC Disbursements which are the subject of a borrowing, drawing, payment, reimbursement or rate selection are denominated in Euro, the term “Business Day” shall also exclude any day on which the TARGET2 payment system is not open for the settlement of payment in Euro.

 

“Capital Expenditures” means, for any period: (a) the capitalized software development costs, (b) the capitalized data acquisition costs and (c) the capital expenditures of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries, in each case of clause (a), (b) and (c), as set forth (or as should be set forth) in the investing activities section of the consolidated statement of cash flow of the Borrower for such period prepared in accordance with GAAP.

 

“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 Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the 1934 Act and the rules of the SEC thereunder as in effect on the date hereof) of Equity Interests representing more than 30% of either the aggregate ordinary voting power or the aggregate equity value represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests in Borrower; or (b) the acquisition of direct or indirect Control of the Borrower by any Person or group.

 

  

5

  

“Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement (or with respect to any Lender, if later, the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender), of any of the following:  (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority, or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rules, guideline, requirement or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided however, that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements and directives thereunder, issued in connection therewith or in implementation thereof, and (ii) all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements and directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law” regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued or implemented.

 

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

 

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

 

“Co-Documentation Agent” means each of SunTrust Bank, PNC Bank, National Association, Regions Bank and Compass Bank in its capacity as a co-documentation agent for the credit facilities evidenced by this Agreement.

 

“Collateral” means any and all property owned, leased or operated by a Person to the extent covered by the Collateral Documents and any and all other property of any Loan Party, now existing or hereafter acquired, that may at any time be or become subject to a security interest or Lien in favor of Administrative Agent, on behalf of itself and the Secured Parties, to secure the Secured Obligations.

 

“Collateral Documents” means, collectively, the Security Agreement and all other agreements, instruments and documents executed in connection with this Agreement that are intended to create, perfect or evidence Liens to secure the Secured Obligations, including, without limitation, all other security agreements, pledge agreements, mortgages, deeds of trust, loan agreements, notes, guarantees, subordination agreements, pledges, powers of attorney, consents, assignments, contracts, fee letters, notices, leases, financing statements and all other written matter whether heretofore, now, or hereafter executed by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and delivered to the Administrative Agent.

 

“Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the sum of such Lender’s Revolving Commitment and Term Loan Commitment.  The initial amount of each Lender’s Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01, or in the Assignment and Assumption or other documentation contemplated hereby pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Commitment, as applicable.

 

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

 

“Communications” has the meaning specified in Section 10.01(d)(ii).

 

“Computation Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.19.

 

  

6

  

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

 

“Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period and any Person (a “Subject Person”), such Subject Person’s consolidated net income (or loss) determined in accordance with GAAP, but excluding any extraordinary, nonrecurring, nonoperating or noncash gains or losses, including or in addition, the following:

 

(a)           the income (or loss) of any Person (other than a subsidiary) in which the Subject Person or a subsidiary has an ownership interest; provided, however, that (A) Consolidated Net Income shall include amounts in respect of the income of such Person when actually received in cash by the Subject Person or such subsidiary in the form of dividends or similar distributions and (B) Consolidated Net Income shall be reduced by the aggregate amount of all Investments, regardless of the form thereof, made by the Subject Person or any of its subsidiaries in such Person for the purpose of funding any deficit or loss of such Person;

 

(b)           the income of any subsidiary to the extent the payment of such income in the form of a distribution or repayment of any Indebtedness to the Subject Person or a subsidiary is not permitted, whether on account of any restriction in by–laws, articles of incorporation or similar governing document, any agreement or any law, statute, judgment, decree or governmental order, rule or regulation applicable to such subsidiary;

 

(c)           any gains or losses accrued on foreign currency receivables or on foreign currency payables of the Subject Person or a subsidiary organized under the laws of the United States which are not realized in a cash transaction;

 

(d)           the equivalent Dollar Amount of that portion of the income or loss of any foreign subsidiary or of any foreign Person (other than a subsidiary) in which the Subject Person or subsidiary has an ownership interest that is attributable to the increases or decreases due to the fluctuation of a foreign currency exchange rate after the Effective Date;

 

(e)           the income or loss of any Person acquired by the Subject Person or a subsidiary for any period prior to the date of such acquisition; and

 

(f)           the income from any sale of assets in which the accounting basis of such assets had been the book value of any Person acquired by the Subject Person or a subsidiary prior to the date such Person became a subsidiary or was merged into or consolidated with the Subject Person or a subsidiary.

 

The gains or losses of the type described in clauses (a) through (f) of this definition shall only be excluded in determining consolidated net income if the aggregate amount of such gains or losses exceed, in either case (i.e., gains or losses), $1,000,000 in the period of calculation.  If a gain or loss is to be excluded from the calculation of consolidated net income pursuant to the foregoing $1,000,000 threshold, the whole gain or loss shall be excluded, not just that amount in excess of the threshold.

 

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

 

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

 

  

7

  

“Credit Exposure” means, as to any Lender at any time, the sum of (a) such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure at such time, plus (b) an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of its Term Loans outstanding at such time.

 

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

 

“Deemed Dividend Problem” means, with respect to any Foreign Subsidiary, such Foreign Subsidiary’s accumulated and undistributed earnings and profits being deemed to be repatriated to the Borrower or the applicable parent Domestic Subsidiary under Section 956 of the Code and the effect of such repatriation causing materially adverse tax consequences to the Borrower or such parent Domestic Subsidiary, in each case as determined by the Borrower in its commercially reasonable judgment acting in good faith and in consultation with its legal and tax advisors.

 

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

 

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

 

“Disclosed Matters” means all the matters disclosed in the Borrower’s reports to the SEC on form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2013 and on form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013.

 

“Dollar Amount” of any currency at any date means (i) the amount of such currency if such currency is Dollars or (ii) the equivalent amount thereof in Dollars if such currency is a Foreign Currency, calculated on the basis of the Exchange Rate for such currency, on or as of the most recent Computation Date provided for in Section 2.19.

 

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

 

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

 

  

8

  

“EBITDA” means, for any period and any Person, the total of the following each calculated without duplication on a consolidated basis for such period:  (a) Consolidated Net Income; plus (b) any provision for (or less any benefit from) income or franchise taxes included in determining Consolidated Net Income; plus (c) interest expense (including the interest portion of Capital Lease Obligations) deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income; plus (d) amortization and depreciation expense deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income; plus (e) non-cash stock or stock option compensation expenses deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income.

 

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

 

“Effective Date” means the date on which the conditions specified in Section 4.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 10.02).

 

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

 

“Electronic System” means any electronic system, including e-mail, e-fax, Intralinks®, ClearPar® and any other Internet or extranet-based site, whether such electronic system is owned, operated or hosted by the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank and any of its respective Related Parties or any other Person, providing for access to data protected by passcodes or other security system.

 

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

 

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

 

“Equity Interests” means shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person and any option, warrant or other right relating thereto.  The term “Equity Interest” shall not include any Indebtedness convertible into 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 but shall include the shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests issued upon the actual conversion of such Indebtedness.

 

“Equivalent Amount” of any currency with respect to any amount of Dollars at any date means the equivalent in such currency of such amount of Dollars, calculated on the basis of the Exchange Rate for such other currency at 11:00 a.m., London time, on the date on or as of which such amount is to be determined.

 

  

9

  

“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 failure to satisfy the “minimum funding standard” (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(c) of the Code or Section 302(c) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (d) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (e) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (f) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.

 

“Euro” and/or “€” means the single currency of the Participating Member States.

 

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

 

“Eurocurrency Payment Office” of the Administrative Agent means, for each Foreign Currency, the office, branch, affiliate or correspondent bank of the Administrative Agent for such currency as specified from time to time by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower and each Lender.

 

“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Article VIII.

 

“Excess Percentage” means, with respect to any Asset Sale that satisfies the requirements of Section 6.05(a), other than any Asset Sale previously consummated pursuant to Section 6.05(d), the quotient of (a) the amount by which (i) the aggregate book value of the assets sold, transferred, leased or otherwise disposed of after the Effective Date (excluding the book value of all Asset Sales previously consummated pursuant to Section 6.05(d)) after giving effect to such Asset Sale exceeds (ii) 30% of the consolidated total assets of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries as of the date the applicable Asset Sale is consummated (including the book value of all Asset Sales previously consummated pursuant to Section 6.05(d)) divided by (b) the aggregate book value of the assets sold, transferred, leased or otherwise disposed of after the Effective Date (excluding the book value of all Asset Sales previously consummated pursuant to Section 6.05(d)) after giving effect to such Asset Sale.

 

“Exchange Rate” means, on any day, with respect to any Foreign Currency, the rate at which such Foreign Currency may be exchanged into Dollars, as set forth at approximately 11:00 a.m., Local Time, on such date on the Reuters World Currency Page for such Foreign Currency.  In the event that such rate does not appear on any Reuters World Currency Page, 

 

  

10

  

the Exchange Rate with respect to such Foreign Currency shall be determined by reference to such other publicly available service for displaying exchange rates as may be reasonably selected by the Administrative Agent or, in the event no such service is selected, such Exchange Rate shall instead be calculated on the basis of the arithmetical mean of the buy and sell spot rates of exchange of the Administrative Agent for such Foreign Currency on the London market at 11:00 a.m., Local Time, on such date for the purchase of Dollars with such Foreign Currency, for delivery two Business Days later; provided, that if at the time of any such determination, for any reason, no such spot rate is being quoted, the Administrative Agent, after consultation with the Borrower, may use any reasonable method it deems appropriate to determine such rate, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

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

 

“Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable lending office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, U.S. Federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 2.18(b)) or (ii) such Lender changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 2.16, amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender acquired the applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment or to such Lender immediately before it changed its lending office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 2.16(f) and (d) any U.S. Federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.

 

“Existing Agreement” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.

 

“FACTA” 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 agreement 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 Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it..

 

  

11

  

“Financial Officer” means the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower or another authorized officer or employee of the Borrower approved by the Administrative Agent and having similar functions.

 

“Fixed Charges” has the meaning specified in Section 7.02.

 

“Foreign Currencies” means Available Currencies other than Dollars.

 

“Foreign Currency LC Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of (a) the Dollar Amount of the aggregate undrawn and unexpired amount of all outstanding Foreign Currency Letters of Credit at such time plus (b) the aggregate principal Dollar Amount of all LC Disbursements in respect of Foreign Currency Letters of Credit that have not yet been reimbursed at such time.

 

“Foreign Currency Letter of Credit” means a Letter of Credit denominated in a Foreign Currency.

 

“Foreign Currency Sublimit” means $20,000,000.

 

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

 

“Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia.

 

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

 

“Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States of America, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.

 

“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 (including any obligations under an operating lease) 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 (including the lessor under an operating lease) 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.

 

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

 

  

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“Impacted Interest Period” has the meaning specified in the definition of LIBO Rate.

 

“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, (d) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding current accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (e) all Capital 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, (g) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers’ acceptances, (h) indebtedness in respect of mandatory redemption or mandatory dividend rights on Equity Interests but excluding dividends or other obligations payable solely in additional Equity Interest, (i) all obligations of such Person, contingent or otherwise, for the payment of money under any noncompete, consulting or similar agreement entered into with the seller of a Target or any other similar arrangements providing for the deferred payment of the purchase price for an acquisition permitted hereby or an acquisition consummated prior to the date hereof but only to the extent such amount is required to be characterized as a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP, (j) all obligations of such Person under any Swap Agreement but not including the amount of such obligations to the extent that they may be settled with the Equity Interest of the Borrower, and (k) all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others.  The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor.  The amount of the obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of any Swap Agreement shall, at any time of determination and for all purposes under this Agreement, 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 giving effect to current market conditions notwithstanding any contrary treatment in accordance with GAAP.

 

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

 

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

 

“Information” has the meaning specified in Section 10.12.

 

“Interest Election Request” means a request by the Borrower to convert or continue a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.07 in the form attached hereto as Exhibit G-2.

 

“Interest Payment Date” means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan (other than a Swingline Loan), the last day of each March, June, September and December commencing the first such date after the Effective Date and the Maturity Date, (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 the Maturity Date, and (c) with respect to any Swingline Loan, the day that such Loan is required to be repaid and the Maturity Date.

 

  

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“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 (i) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless, 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 (ii) any Interest Period pertaining to a Eurocurrency Borrowing 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.

 

“Interpolated Rate” means, at any time, for any Interest Period, the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) to be equal to the rate that results from interpolating on a linear basis between: (a) the applicable Screen Rate for the longest period (for which the applicable Screen Rate is available for the applicable currency) that is shorter than the Impacted Interest Period and (b) the applicable Screen Rate for the shortest period (for which such Screen Rate is available for the applicable currency) that exceeds the Impacted Interest Period, in each case, as of the Specified Time on the Quotation Day for such Interest Period.

 

“Investment” means, with respect to any Person, (a) the acquisition, purchase or ownership of any Equity Interests or evidences of indebtedness or other securities (including any option, warrant or other right to acquire any of the foregoing) issued by any other Person, (b) any loans or advances to any other Person, (c) any Guarantee of any obligations of any other Person, or (d) any other investment or any other acquisition of any Equity Interest in any other Person, and (e) the purchase or other acquisition of (in one transaction or a series of transactions) all or substantially all the assets of any other Person or all or substantially all the assets of any other Person constituting a business unit.

 

“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

“Issuing Bank” means JPMorgan, in its capacity as the issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, and its successors in such capacity as provided in Section 2.05(i).  The Issuing Bank may, in its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates of the Issuing Bank or by no more than two of the Lenders designated by the Borrower and approved by the Administrative Agent, in which case the term “Issuing Bank” shall include any such Affiliate or Lender with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate or Lender.

 

“JPMorgan” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

  

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“Lenders” means the Persons listed on Schedule 2.01 and any other Person that shall have become a Lender hereunder pursuant to Section 2.20 or pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption.  Unless the context otherwise requires, the term “Lenders” includes the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Bank.

 

“Letter of Credit” means any letter of credit issued pursuant to this Agreement or outstanding under the Existing Agreement on the Effective Date.

 

“Leverage Ratio” means, on any date, the ratio of Total Indebtedness as of the most recent fiscal quarter end to Adjusted EBITDA for the four quarters then most recently ended.

 

“LIBOR Quoted Currency” means Dollars, Pounds Sterling and Euros.

 

“LIBO Rate” means, (a) with respect to (i) any Eurocurrency Borrowing in any LIBOR Quoted Currency and for any applicable Interest Period, the LIBOR Screen Rate as of the Specified Time on the Quotation Day for such currency and Interest Period; provided that if any LIBOR Screen Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement and (ii) any Eurocurrency Borrowing in any Non-Quoted Currency and for any applicable Interest Period, the applicable Local Screen Rate for such Non-Quoted Currency as of the Specified Time and on the Quotation Day for such currency and Interest Period; provided that if any Local Screen Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement; provided that, if a LIBOR Screen Rate or a Local Screen Rate, as applicable, shall not be available at the applicable time for the applicable Interest Period (the “Impacted Interest Period”), then the LIBO Rate for such currency and Interest Period shall be the Interpolated  Rate; provided that, if any Interpolated Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement and (b) when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, means that such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, bears interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate.  It is understood and agreed that all of the terms and conditions of this definition of “LIBO Rate” shall be subject to Section 2.13.

 

“LIBOR Screen Rate” means, with respect to any Interest Period, the London interbank offered rate administered by the British Bankers Association (or any other Person that takes over the administration of such rate) for such LIBOR Quoted Currency for a period equal in length to such Interest Period as displayed on pages LIBOR01 or LIBOR02 of the Reuters screen or, in the event such rate does not appear on either of such Reuters pages, on any successor or substitute page on such screen that displays such rate, or on the appropriate page of such other information service that publishes such rate as shall be selected by the Administrative Agent from time to time in its reasonable discretion.

 

“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 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, any promissory notes issued pursuant to Section 2.09(e), any Letter of Credit applications, the Collateral Documents, the Subsidiary Guaranty, and all other agreements, instruments, documents and certificates identified in Section 4.01 executed and delivered to, or in favor of, the Administrative Agent or any Lenders and including all other pledges, powers of attorney, consents, assignments, contracts, notices, letter of credit agreements and all other written matter whether heretofore, now or hereafter executed by or on behalf of any Loan Party, or any employee of any Loan Party, and delivered to the Administrative Agent or any 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.

 

  

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

 

“Loans” means the loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement. Loans may be identified by Type, the applicable Available Currency or the facility under which such Loans was made (i.e., by Class) as described in Section 1.02.

 

“Local Screen Rate” means the AUD Screen Rate.

 

“Local Time” means (i) New York City time in the case of a Loan, Borrowing or LC Disbursement denominated in Dollars and (ii) local time in the case of a Loan, Borrowing or LC Disbursement denominated in a Foreign Currency (it being understood that such local time means London, England time unless otherwise notified by the Administrative Agent).

 

“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, assets, operations or financial condition of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor to perform any of its obligations under any Loan Document or (c) the validity, enforceability or collectibility of the Loans or LC Disbursements or the ability of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to enforce a material provision of any Loan Document.

 

“Material Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of one or more of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount exceeding a Dollar Amount equal to $25,000,000 (other than the Loans and Letters of Credit and other than Indebtedness owed to the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor).

 

“Material Subsidiary” means, as of any date of determination, any Subsidiary that either (a) has assets having a book value as of such date equal to or greater than 5% of the consolidated total assets of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries as determined in accordance with GAAP, or (b) accounts for 5% or more of the gross revenue of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries as determined in accordance with GAAP for the most recently ended four fiscal quarter period ending on or prior to such date of determination.  Each Subsidiary that is designated as an Additional Material Subsidiary pursuant to Section 5.11 shall be, as of the date of designation, a “Material Subsidiary.”  For the avoidance of doubt, a subsidiary of a Material Subsidiary shall not be deemed to be a Material Subsidiary unless such subsidiary itself meets the requirements of this definition.

 

“Maturity Date” means October 9, 2018.

 

“Minimum Guarantee and Pledge Requirement” means the requirement that, at any date of determination, either (a) the Subsidiary Guarantors account for at least 80%, in the aggregate, of the gross revenue of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as determined in accordance with GAAP for the most-recently ended four fiscal quarter period ending on or prior to such date of determination; or (b) all Domestic Subsidiaries and Foreign Subsidiaries that are not Affected Foreign Subsidiaries are Subsidiary Guarantors.  For avoidance of doubt, this requirement shall not require any Affected Foreign Subsidiary to become a party to the Subsidiary Guaranty or the Security Agreement.

 

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

 

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

 

  

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“Net Proceeds” means, with respect to any event (a) the cash proceeds received in respect of such event including (i) any cash received in respect of any non-cash proceeds (including any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or purchase price adjustment receivable or otherwise, but excluding any interest payments), but only as and when received, (ii) in the case of a casualty, insurance proceeds, and (iii) in the case of a condemnation or similar event, condemnation awards and similar payments net of (b) the sum of (i) all reasonable fees and out–of–pocket expenses paid by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries to third parties (other than Affiliates) in connection with such event, including any sales commissions, investment banking fees, or underwriting discounts, (ii) in the case of a sale, transfer or other disposition of an asset (including pursuant to a sale and leaseback transaction or a casualty or a condemnation or similar proceeding), the amount of all payments required to be made by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries as a result of such event to repay Indebtedness (other than Loans) secured by such asset or otherwise subject to mandatory prepayment as a result of such event, and (iii) the amount of all taxes paid (or reasonably estimated to be payable) by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, and the amount of any reserves established by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries to fund contingent liabilities reasonably estimated to be payable, in the case of (A) taxes during the year that such event occurred or the next succeeding year and that are directly attributable to such event (as determined reasonably and in good faith by the chief financial officer of the Borrower) and (B) in the case of reserves for contingent liabilities, during the period of any contractual indemnification obligation or statute of limitation imposed upon the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

“Non-Consenting Lenders” has the meaning specified in Section 10.02(e).

 

“Non-Quoted Currency” means Australian Dollars.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

  

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“Overnight Foreign Currency Rate” means, for any amount payable in a Foreign Currency, the rate of interest per annum as determined by the Administrative Agent at which overnight or weekend deposits in the relevant currency (or if such amount due remains unpaid for more than three Business Days, then for such other period of time as the Administrative Agent may elect) for delivery in immediately available and freely transferable funds would be offered by the Administrative Agent to major banks in the interbank market upon request of such major banks for the relevant currency as determined above and in an amount comparable to the unpaid principal amount of the related Credit Event, plus any taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, charges or withholdings imposed upon, or charged to, the Administrative Agent by any relevant correspondent bank in respect of such amount in such relevant currency.

 

“Outstanding Investment” means for any Person, as of any date of determination, the sum, without duplication, of: (a) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all loans and advances then outstanding and made by such Person under the permissions of Section 6.04(l) on or after the Effective Date and the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all loans and advances then proposed to be made by such Person under the permissions of Section 6.04(l); plus (b) the aggregate outstanding amount of all sums Guaranteed pursuant to Guarantees made by such Person under the permissions of Section 6.04(l) on or after the Effective Date and the aggregate outstanding amount of all sums Guaranteed pursuant to Guarantees then proposed to be made by such Person under the permissions of Section 6.04(l); plus (c) the aggregate book value of all other Investments then held by such Person which were made under the permissions of Section 6.04(l) on or after the Effective Date and then proposed to be made by such Person under the permissions of Section 6.04(l).  For purposes of clarity, it is understood that Investments made prior to the Effective Date and Investments that are permitted by any provision of Section 6.04 other than subsection Section 6.04(l) thereof are not included in the definition of Outstanding Investments.

 

“Participant” has the meaning specified in Section 10.04.

 

“Participant Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.04(c).

 

“Participating Member State” means any member state of the European Union that adopts or has adopted the euro as its lawful currency in accordance with legislation of the European Union relating to economic and monetary union.

 

“Patriot Act” has the meaning specified in Section 10.16.

 

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

 

“Permitted Acquisition” means the purchase or acquisition by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of all the Equity Interests of any Person (including the acquisition of such Equity Interests in a series of related transactions comprising a tender offer followed by a merger), all or substantially all the assets of a Person or all or substantially all the assets constituting a business unit of a Person if:

 

(a)           the Target is involved in a similar type of business activities as the Borrower or a Subsidiary;

 

(b)           the proposed acquisition is an acquisition of the stock of a Target, the acquisition will be structured so that the acquired stock will be owned by Borrower or a Subsidiary or, simultaneously with the acquisition or following a tender offer for Equity Interests of the Target, the Borrower or a Subsidiary will merge with the Target, in the case of a merger with the Borrower, with the Borrower surviving and, in the case of a Subsidiary, with either the applicable Subsidiary or the Target surviving.  If the proposed acquisition is an acquisition of assets, the acquisition will be structured so that Borrower or a Subsidiary wholly and directly owned by Borrower will acquire the assets;

 

  

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(c)           the Purchase Price for such proposed acquisition is greater than $25,000,000, then the Borrower shall have provided to the Administrative Agent and each Lender prior to or on the date that the proposed acquisition is to be consummated the following:  (i) the name of the Target; (ii) a description of the nature of the Target’s business; and (iii) a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower (1) certifying that no Default exists or could reasonably be expected to occur as a result of the proposed acquisition, and (2) demonstrating compliance with the criteria set forth in paragraph (g) of Section 6.04 and that the Borrower is and on a pro forma basis will continue to be, in compliance with the financial covenants of this Agreement; and

 

(d)           such acquisition has been: (i) either approved by the Board of Directors of the Target (or the holders of its Equity Interests), or recommended by such Board of Directors to the holders of the Equity Interests of such Target, or (ii) in the event the corporation, partnership or other organization or entity which is the Target is in bankruptcy, approved by the bankruptcy court or another court of competent jurisdiction.

 

“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 and other like Liens imposed by law, arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations that are not overdue by more than 120 days and are not being enforced 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 or regulations;

 

(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 under paragraph (k) of Article VIII;

 

(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 Subsidiary;

 

(g)           Liens arising from filing UCC financing statements regarding leases permitted by this Agreement;

 

(h)           leases or subleases of equipment to customers in the ordinary course of business;

 

  

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(i)           licenses of intellectual property granted by Borrower or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

 

(j)           leases or subleases entered into by Borrower or a Subsidiary in good faith with respect to its property not used in its business and which do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Borrower or any Subsidiary; and

 

(k)           Liens incurred by Borrower with the consent of the Required Lenders;

 

provided that the term “Permitted Encumbrances” shall not include any Lien described in clauses (a) through (j) above that secures Indebtedness for borrowed money.

 

“Permitted Investments” means:

 

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

 

(b)           investments in commercial paper maturing within 270 days from the date of acquisition thereof and having, at such date of acquisition, a rating of A–2 or better by S&P or P–2 or better by Moody’s;

 

(c)           investments in certificates of deposit, banker’s acceptances and time deposits maturing within 180 days from the date of acquisition thereof issued or guaranteed by or placed with, and money market deposit accounts issued or offered by, any domestic office of any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or any State thereof which has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000;

 

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

 

(e)           investments in corporate debt securities maturing within 270 days from the date of acquisition thereof and having, at such date of acquisition, a rating of BBB- or better by S&P or Baa3 or better by Moody’s;

 

(f)           investments in municipal securities having, at the date of acquisition thereof, a rating of AA or better by S&P or Aa or better by Moody’s, provided that the Borrower has the right to put such securities back to the issuer or seller thereof at least once every 60 days; and

 

(g)           investments in money market funds that (i) comply with the criteria set forth in Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 2a–7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, (ii) are rated AA by S&P and Aa by Moody’s and (iii) have portfolio assets of at least $5,000,000,000.

 

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

 

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

 

  

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

 

“Prepayment Event” means:

 

(a)           any Asset Sale consummated pursuant to Section 6.05(a) in excess of the Prepayment Threshold ; or

 

(b)           any Asset Sale consummated pursuant to Section 6.05(d); or

 

(c)           any casualty or other insured damage to, or any taking under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding of, any asset of the Borrower or any Domestic Subsidiary; or

 

(d)           the incurrence by the Borrower or any Domestic Subsidiary of any Indebtedness other than Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01.

 

“Prepayment Threshold” has the meaning specified in Section 6.05(a).

 

“Prime Rate” means the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by JPMorgan (or its successor) as its prime rate in effect at its principal office in New York City; each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced as being effective.

 

“Prior Agreements” means, collectively, the (a) Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of March 24, 2005 among the Borrower, the lenders party thereto, JPMorgan, as the agent and certain other parties thereto, (b) Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of February 5, 2003 among the Borrower, the lenders party thereto, JPMorgan, as the agent and certain other parties thereto; (c) Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of January 28, 2002 among the Borrower, the lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank (now JPMorgan), as the agent and certain other parties thereto; and (d) Credit Agreement dated December 29, 1999 among the Borrower, the lenders party thereto, Chase Bank of Texas, National Association (now JPMorgan), as the agent, as such Credit Agreements were amended and otherwise modified from time to time.

 

“Prior Assets” means assets that have been disposed of by the Borrower or a Subsidiary in a transaction with an unaffiliated third party permitted by this Agreement that would not make the seller a “Prior Company” but would constitute all or substantially all of the assets of a division or branch of the Borrower or such Subsidiary.

 

“Prior Company” means any Subsidiary with respect to which all of its Equity Interests have been disposed of, or all or substantially all of whose assets have been disposed of, in each case, in a transaction with an unaffiliated third party permitted by this Agreement.

 

“Prior Target” means all Targets acquired or whose assets have been acquired in a transaction permitted by Section 6.04 or approved by the applicable Lenders pursuant to this Agreement (or, to the extent applicable, pursuant to the Existing Agreement).

 

“Purchase Money Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of a Person incurred to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of any fixed or capital assets or any data or software (but excluding the  

 

  

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acquisition of assets which constitute a business unit of a Person); provided that:  (A) such Indebtedness (other than any Indebtedness incurred in connection with any sale and leaseback transactions permitted hereby) and any Lien securing the payment thereof is incurred prior to or within 90 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement; (B) such Indebtedness, at the time it is originally incurred, does not exceed the amount of the purchase price at the time of acquisition or the costs of construction or improvement, as the case may be, of the applicable assets; and (C) the Liens securing such Indebtedness encumber only the assets acquired, constructed or improved with the Indebtedness incurred and no other asset of the Person.  Purchase Money Indebtedness shall also include: (A)any Indebtedness of the type described in the first sentence of this definition which is a Capital Lease Obligation; (B)  any Indebtedness assumed by a Person in connection with such Person’s acquisition of the asset (including any assumption of a Capital Lease Obligation of a third party customer of such Person in connection with (1) an outsourcing agreement entered into with such third party in the ordinary course of such Person’s business and (2) the transfer to such Person of the assets financed by the Capital Lease Obligation assumed); and (C) any extension, renewal, replacement or other modification of Purchase Money Indebtedness as long as, in connection with any such modification, the outstanding principal amount is not increased unless the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof immediately after giving effect to such extension, renewal, replacement or other modification does not exceed the market value of the applicable assets as then most recently determined in connection with such modification.

 

“Purchase Price” means, as of any date of determination and with respect to a proposed acquisition, the purchase price to be paid for the Target or its assets, including all cash consideration paid (whether classified as purchase price, noncompete or consulting payments or otherwise), the value of all other assets to be transferred by the purchaser in connection with such acquisition to the seller (including any stock issued to the seller) all valued in accordance with the applicable purchase agreement and the outstanding principal amount of all Indebtedness of the Target or the seller assumed or acquired in connection with such acquisition.

 

“Quotation Day” means, with respect to any Eurocurrency Borrowing for any Interest Period, (i) if the currency is Pounds Sterling or AUD, the first day of such Interest Period, (ii) if the currency is Euro, two TARGET Days before the first day of such Interest Period, (iii) for any other currency, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period (unless, in each case, market practice differs in the relevant market where the LIBO Rate for such currency is to be determined, in which case the Quotation Day will be determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with market practice in such market (and if quotations would normally be given on more than one day, then the Quotation Day will be the last of those days)).

 

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

 

“Reference Bank Rate” means the arithmetic mean of the rates (rounded upwards to four decimal places) supplied to the Administrative Agent at its request by the Reference Banks (as the case may be) as of the Specified Time on the Quotation Day for Loans in the applicable currency and the applicable Interest Period:

 

(a)  in relation to Loans in AUD, as the bid rate observed by the relevant Reference Bank for AUD denominated bank accepted bills and negotiable certificates of deposit issued by banks which are for the time being designated "Prime Banks" by the Australian Financial Markets Association that have a remaining maturity equal to the relevant period; and

 

  

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(b)  in relation to Loans denominated in any LIBOR Quoted Currency, as the rate at which the relevant Reference Bank could borrow funds in the London interbank market in the relevant currency and for the relevant period, were it to do so by asking for and then accepting interbank offers in reasonable market size in that currency and for that period.

 

“Reference Banks” means JPMorgan and such other banks as may be appointed by the Administrative Agent in consultation with the Borrower.

 

“Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.04.

 

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

 

“Required Lenders” means, at any time, Lenders having Credit Exposures and unused Commitments representing more than 50% of the sum of the total Credit Exposures and unused Commitments at such time.

 

“Restricted Payment” means:  (i) any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property but not including any dividend or other distribution to the extent paid by the issuance of Equity Interests of the Borrower or any Subsidiary) with respect to any Equity Interests in the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property but not including any payment to the extent settled by the issuance of Equity Interests of the Borrower or any Subsidiary) including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any Equity Interests in the Borrower or any Subsidiary (including any dividend, other distribution or other payment in respect of Equity Interests under a Synthetic Purchase Agreement but not including any dividend, other distribution or payment under a Synthetic Purchase Agreement to the extent paid or settled by the issuance of Equity Interests of the Borrower or any Subsidiary) and (ii) any payment or other distribution (whether in cash securities or other property but not including any payment or other distribution to the extent settled by the issuance of Equity Interests of the Borrower or any Subsidiary) of or in respect of principal of or interest on any Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any payment or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property but not including any payment or other distribution to the extent settled by the issuance of Equity Interests of the Borrower or any Subsidiary), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such Indebtedness.  A dividend or other distribution made with respect to any Equity Interests in the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall not be a “Restricted Payment” to the extent that it is offset against the net cash proceeds received by the Borrower or any Subsidiary from the substantially concurrent issue or sale of other Equity Interests of the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

 

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

 

“Revolving Commitments” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment, if any, to make Revolving Loans and to acquire participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum aggregate amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure hereunder, as such commitment may be (a) reduced or terminated from time to time pursuant to Section 2.08, (b) increased from time to time pursuant to Section 2.20 and (c) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 10.04.  The initial amount of each Lender's Revolving Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01, or in the applicable documentation pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Revolving Commitment pursuant to the terms hereof, as applicable.  As of the Effective Date, the aggregate amount of the Revolving Lenders’ Revolving Commitments is $300,000,000.

 

  

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

 

“Revolving Lender” means a Lender with a Revolving Commitment or, if the Revolving Commitments have terminated or expired, a Lender with Revolving Credit Exposure.

 

“Revolving Loan” means advances made pursuant to paragraph (b) of Section 2.01.

 

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

 

“Sanctioned Country” means, at any time, a country or territory which is the subject or target of any Sanctions.

 

“Sanctioned Person” means, at any time, (a) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by OFAC, the U.S. Department of State, the or by the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or any EU member state, (b) any Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country or (c) any Person Controlled by any such Person.

 

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

 

“Sanctions List” means any of the lists of specifically designated nationals or designated persons or entities (or equivalent) held by the U.S. government and administered by OFAC, the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Department of Commerce or the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the United Nations Security Council or any similar list maintained by the European Union, any other EU Member State or any other U.S. government entity, in each case as the same may be amended, supplemented or substituted from time to time.

 

“Screen Rate” means the LIBOR Screen Rate and each Local Screen Rate collectively and individually as the context may require.

 

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

“Secured Obligations” means all Obligations, together with all Swap Obligations and Banking Services Obligations owing to one or more Lenders or their respective Affiliates by any Loan Party; provided that the definition of “Secured Obligations” shall not create or include any guarantee by any Loan Party of (or grant of security interest by any Loan Party to support, as applicable) any Excluded Swap Obligations of such Loan Party for purposes of determining any obligations of any Loan Party.

 

“Secured Parties” means the holders of the Secured Obligations from time to time and shall include (i) each Lender and the Issuing Bank in respect of its Loans and LC Exposure respectively, (ii) the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders in respect of all other present and future obligations and liabilities of any Loan Party of every type and description arising under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (iii) each Lender and affiliate of such Lender in respect of Swap Agreements and Banking Services Agreements entered into with such Person by any Loan Party, (iv) each indemnified party under Section 10.03 in respect of the obligations and liabilities of the Borrower to such Person hereunder and of any Loan Party under the other Loan Documents, and (v) their respective successors and (in the case of a Lender, permitted) transferees and assigns.

 

  

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“Securities Act” means the United States Securities Act of 1933.

 

“Security Agreement” means the Third Amended and Restated Security Agreement dated as of even date herewith executed by Borrower, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Administrative Agent in substantially the form of Exhibit D attached hereto.

 

“Senior Indebtedness” means Total Indebtedness less Subordinated Indebtedness.

 

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

 

“Specified Time” means (i) in relation to a Loan in AUD, as of 11:00 a.m., Sydney, Australia time; and (ii)  in relation to a Loan in a LIBOR Quoted Currency, as of 11:00 a.m., London time.

 

“Statutory Reserve Rate” means a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve, liquid asset, fees or similar requirements (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves or other requirements) established by any central bank, monetary authority, the Board, the Financial Conduct Authority, the Prudential Regulation Authority, the European Central Bank or other Governmental Authority for any category of deposits or liabilities customarily used to fund loans in the applicable currency, expressed in the case of each such requirement as a decimal.  Such reserve, liquid asset, fees or similar requirements shall include those imposed pursuant to Regulation D of the Board.  Eurocurrency Loans shall be deemed to be subject to such reserve, liquid asset, fee or similar requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under any applicable law, rule or regulation, including Regulation D of the Board.  The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve, liquid asset or similar requirement.

 

“Subject Period” has the meaning specified in the definition of the term “Consolidated Net Income.”

 

“Subordinated Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of the  Borrower or any Subsidiary the payment of which is subordinated to payment of the Secured Obligations on terms satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

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

 

  

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“Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Borrower.

 

“Subsidiary Guarantor” means each Material Subsidiary that is a party to the Subsidiary Guaranty and each other Subsidiary that becomes a party to the Subsidiary Guaranty pursuant to Section 5.10 or the definition of Minimum Guarantee and Pledge Requirement or otherwise.  The Subsidiary Guarantors on the Effective Date are identified as such in Schedule 3.01 hereto.

 

 “Subsidiary Guaranty” means the Second Amended and Restated Guaranty Agreement dated as of even date herewith executed by certain Subsidiaries for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in substantially the form of Exhibit E attached hereto.

 

“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.

 

“Swap Obligations” means any and all obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor), under (a) any and all Swap Agreements permitted hereunder with a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, and (b) any and all cancellations, buy backs, reversals, terminations or assignments of any such Swap Agreement transaction.

 

“Swingline Exposure” means, at any time, the aggregate principal Dollar Amount of all Swingline Loans outstanding at such time.  The Swingline Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the total Swingline Exposure at such time.

 

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

 

“Swingline Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.04.

 

“Syndication Agent” means each of Bank of America, N.A., The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association in its capacity as syndication agent for the credit facilities evidenced by this Agreement.

 

“Synthetic Purchase Agreement” means any agreement pursuant to which the Borrower or a Subsidiary is or may become obligated to make any payment (i) in connection with the purchase by any third party of any Equity Interest or subordinated Indebtedness or (ii) the amount of which is determined by reference to the price or value at any time of any Equity Interest or subordinated Indebtedness; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only to current or former directors, officers or employees of the Borrower or the Subsidiaries (or to their heirs or estates) shall be deemed to be a Synthetic Purchase Agreement.

 

“Target” means a Person who is proposed to be acquired or whose assets are proposed to be acquired in a transaction permitted by Section 6.04.

 

“TARGET2” means the Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross Settlement Express Transfer (TARGET2) payment system (or, if such payment system ceases to be operative, such other payment system reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent to be a suitable replacement) for the settlement of payments in Euros.

 

  

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

 

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

 

“Term Loan Commitment” means (a) as to any Term Lender, the aggregate commitment of such Term Lender to make Term Loans as set forth on Schedule 2.01 or in the most recent Assignment Agreement or other documentation contemplated hereby executed by such Term Lender and (b) as to all Term Lenders, the aggregate commitment of all Term Lenders to make Term Loans, which aggregate commitment shall be $300,000,000 on the date of this Agreement.  After advancing the Term Loan, each reference to a Term Lender’s Term Loan Commitment shall refer to that Term Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Term Loans.

 

“Term Loans” means the term loans made by the Term Loan Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01.

 

“Term Loan Lender” means a Lender with a Term Loan Commitment or an outstanding Term Loan.

 

“Total Indebtedness” means, at the time of determination, the sum of the following determined for Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis (without duplication): (a) the amount of outstanding Loans under this Agreement as of the date of determination; plus (b) all obligations for borrowed money, other than the Loans, or with respect to deposits or advances of any kind; plus (c) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures, or other similar instruments, other than the Loans; plus (d) all obligations of such Person upon which interest charges are customarily paid, other than the Loans; plus (e) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person (excluding trade accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business); plus (f) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding (i) current accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business, (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 below) 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); plus (g) all obligations of others secured by (or for which the holder of such obligations 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 obligations secured thereby have been assumed (provided that for purposes of this clause (g) the amount of any such Indebtedness shall be deemed not to exceed the higher of the market value or the book value of such assets); plus (h) all Capital Lease Obligations; plus (i) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person:  (i) 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 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 Business Day following payment on the letter of credit); and (ii) arising under all Guarantees of such Person; plus (j) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers’ acceptances; plus (k) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, for the payment of money under any non–compete, consulting or similar agreement entered into with the seller of a Target or any other arrangements 

 

 

  

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providing for the deferred payment of the purchase price for an acquisition; plus (l) the net obligation arising in connection with Swap Agreements and preferred Equity Interests; minus (m) to the extent included in clauses (a) through (l) of this definition, the amount reflected on the Borrower’s consolidated balance sheet as software license liabilities.  The deferred purchase price of property or services to be paid through earnings of the purchaser to the extent such amount is not characterized as liabilities in accordance with GAAP shall not be included in “Total Indebtedness”.

 

“Transferring Subsidiary” has the meaning specified in Section 6.04.

 

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

 

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

 

“U.S. Person” means 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 2.16(f)(ii)(B)(3).

 

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

 

“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” means any Loan Party and the Administrative Agent.

 

Section 1.02. Classification of Loans and Borrowings.  For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a “Revolving Loan”, “Swingline Loans” or “Term Loan”) or by Type (e.g., a “Eurocurrency Loan”) or by the Available Currency in which it is denominated (e.g., “Dollar Loans”) or by the Class, Type and Available Currency (e.g., a “Eurocurrency Revolving Dollar Loan”) or any combination of the foregoing.  Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a “Revolving Borrowing”) or by Type (e.g., a “Eurocurrency Borrowing”) or by the Available Currency in which it is denominated (e.g., “Dollar Borrowings”) or by Class, Type and Available Currency (e.g., a “Eurocurrency Revolving Dollar Borrowing”) or by any combination of the foregoing.

 

Section 1.03. Terms Generally.  The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined.  Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms.  The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”.  The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”.  The word “law” shall be construed as referring to all statutes, rules, regulations, codes and other laws (including official rulings and interpretations thereunder having the force of law or with which 

 

  

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

 

Section 1.04. Accounting Terms; GAAP; Pro Forma Calculations.  (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 Administrative Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the date hereof in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision  amended in accordance herewith.  Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made (i) without giving effect to any election under Accounting Standards Codification 825-10-25 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of the Borrower or any Subsidiary at “fair value”, as defined therein and (ii) without giving effect to any treatment of Indebtedness in respect of convertible debt instruments under Accounting Standards Codification 470-20 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any such Indebtedness in a reduced or bifurcated manner as described therein, and such Indebtedness shall at all times be valued at the full stated principal amount thereof.

 

(b) All pro forma computations required to be made hereunder giving effect to any acquisition or disposition, or issuance, incurrence or assumption of Indebtedness, or other transaction shall in each case be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto (and, in the case of any pro forma computation made hereunder to determine whether such acquisition or disposition, or issuance, incurrence or assumption of Indebtedness, or other 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) as if such transaction had occurred on the first day of the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending with the most recent fiscal quarter for which financial statements shall have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or 5.01(b) (or, prior to the delivery of any such financial statements, ending with the last fiscal quarter included in the financial statements referred to in Section 3.04(a)), and, to the extent applicable, to the historical earnings and cash flows associated with the assets acquired or disposed of (but without giving effect to any synergies or cost savings) 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).

 

  

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Section 1.05. Conversion of Foreign Currencies.

 

(a) Dollar Equivalents.  The Administrative Agent may determine the Dollar Amount of any amount as required hereby, and a determination thereof by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  The Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, rely on any determination of any Dollar Amount by the Borrower.

 

(b) Rounding–Off.  The Administrative Agent may set up appropriate rounding–off mechanisms or otherwise round–off amounts hereunder to the nearest higher or lower amount in whole Dollars, Pounds Sterling, Euros, Australian Dollars or smaller denomination thereof to ensure amounts owing by any party hereunder or that otherwise need to be calculated or converted hereunder are expressed in whole Dollars, whole Pounds Sterling, whole Euros, whole Australian Dollars or in whole smaller denomination thereof, as may be necessary or appropriate.

 

Section 1.06. Status of Obligations.  In the event that the Borrower or any other Loan Party shall at any time issue or have outstanding any Subordinated Indebtedness, the Borrower shall take or cause such other Loan Party to take all such actions as shall be necessary to cause the Secured Obligations to constitute senior indebtedness (however denominated) in respect of such Subordinated Indebtedness and to enable the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to have and exercise any payment blockage or other remedies available or potentially available to holders of senior indebtedness under the terms of such Subordinated Indebtedness.  Without limiting the foregoing, the Secured Obligations are hereby designated as “senior indebtedness” and as “designated senior indebtedness” and words of similar import under and in respect of any indenture or other agreement or instrument under which such Subordinated Indebtedness is outstanding and are further given all such other designations as shall be required under the terms of any such Subordinated Indebtedness in order that the Lenders may have and exercise any payment blockage or other remedies available or potentially available to holders of senior indebtedness under the terms of such Subordinated Indebtedness.

 

ARTICLE II.

 

The Credits

 

Section 2.01. Commitments.  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (a) each Revolving Lender (severally and not jointly) agrees to make Revolving Loans to the Borrower in Available Currencies from time to time during the Revolving Availability Period in an aggregate principal amount that will not result in (i) subject to Sections 2.10(b) and 2.19, the Dollar Amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding such Lender’s Revolving Commitment, (ii) subject to Sections 2.10(b) and 2.19, the sum of the Dollar Amount of the total Revolving Credit Exposures exceeding the aggregate Revolving Commitments or (iii) subject to Sections 2.10(b) and 2.19, the Dollar Amount of the total outstanding Revolving Loans and LC Exposure, in each case denominated in Foreign Currencies, exceeding the Foreign Currency Sublimit, and (b) each Term Lender with a Term Loan Commitment (severally and not jointly) agrees to make a Term Loan to the Borrower in Dollars on the Effective Date, in an amount equal to such Lender’s Term Loan Commitment by making immediately available funds available to the Administrative Agent’s designated account, not later than the time specified by the Administrative Agent.  Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans.  Amounts repaid or prepaid in respect of Term Loans may not be reborrowed.

 

  

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Section 2.02. Loans and Borrowings.

 

(a) Allocation Among Lenders.  Each Loan (other than a Swingline Loan) shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Loans of the same Class and Type made by the applicable Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Commitments of the applicable Class.  The failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder; provided that the Commitments of the Lenders are several and no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lender’s failure to make Loans as required.  Any Swingline Loan shall be made in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.04.  The Term Loans shall amortize as set forth in Section 2.09.

 

(b) Types of Borrowings.  Subject to Section 2.13, each Revolving Borrowing and Term Loan Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Eurocurrency Loans as the Borrower may request in accordance herewith; provided that each ABR Loan shall only be made in Dollars.  Each Swingline Loan shall be an ABR Loan.  Each 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 (and in the case of an Affiliate, the provisions of Section 2.13, Section 2.14, Section 2.15 and Section 2.16 shall apply to such Affiliate to the same extent as to such Lender, but such Affiliate shall be subject to Section 2.15,  Section 2.16 and Section 2.18 as if it were a party to this Agreement); 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.

 

(c) Minimum Amounts.  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 the applicable Borrowing Multiple and not less than the applicable Borrowing Minimum.  At the time that each ABR Revolving Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $50,000 and not less than $50,000; provided that an ABR Revolving Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount that is equal to the entire unused balance of the total Revolving Commitments or that is required to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.05(e).  Borrowings of more than one Type and Class may be outstanding at the same time; provided that there shall not at any time be more than a total of 15 Eurocurrency Borrowings of varying maturities outstanding under the Revolving Loans and the Term Loans.

 

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

 

Section 2.03. Requests for Borrowings.  To request a Borrowing, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request (a) by irrevocable telephonic notice promptly followed by a written confirmation of such request (via a written Borrowing Request signed by the Borrower) in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, not later than 2:00 p.m., New York City time, three Business Days (in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in Dollars) or by irrevocable written notice (via a written Borrowing Request signed by the Borrower) not later than 11:00 a.m. Local Time, four Business Days (in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in a Foreign Currency), in each case before the date of the proposed Borrowing or (b) by irrevocable telephonic notice promptly followed by a written confirmation of such request (via a written Borrowing Request signed by the Borrower) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 2:00 p.m., New York City time, one Business Day before the date of the proposed Borrowing; provided that any such notice of an ABR Revolving Borrowing to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.05(e) may be given not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date of the proposed Borrowing.  Each such telephonic Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Borrowing Request signed by the Borrower.  Each such telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:

 

  

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(i) whether the requested Borrowing is to be a Revolving Borrowing or a Term Borrowing;

 

(ii) the aggregate amount of such Borrowing;

 

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

 

(iv) whether such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurocurrency Borrowing;

 

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

 

(vi) the location and number of the Borrower’s account to which funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of Section 2.06.

 

If no election as to the Type of Borrowing is specified, then, in the case of a Borrowing denominated in Dollars, 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.  Promptly following receipt of a Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lender’s Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.

 

Section 2.04. Swingline Loans.

 

(a) Commitment.  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swingline Lender agrees to make advances in Dollars (each such advance, herein a “Swingline Loan”) to the Borrower from time to time during the Revolving Availability Period in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding that will not result in:  (i) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Swingline Loans exceeding $30,000,000; or (ii) the Dollar Amount of the total Revolving Credit Exposures exceeding the total Revolving Commitments; provided that the Swingline Lender shall not be required to make a Swingline Loan to refinance an outstanding Swingline Loan.  Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Swingline Loans.

 

(b) Request for Swingline Borrowing.  To request a Swingline Loan, the Borrower shall notify the Swingline Lender of such request by telephone (confirmed in writing) not later than 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on the day of a proposed Borrowing.  Each such telephonic Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Borrowing Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Borrower.  Each such telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:

 

(i) the aggregate amount of such Borrowing;

 

  

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

 

(iii) the location and number of the Borrower’s account to which funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of Section 2.06.

 

Each such notice shall be irrevocable.  The Swingline Lender shall make each Swingline Loan available to the Borrower by means of a credit to the general deposit account of the Borrower with the Swingline Lender or by wire transfer, automated clearing house debit or interbank transfer to such other account, accounts or Persons as may be designated from time to time by the Borrower (or, in the case of a Swingline Loan made to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.05(e), by remittance to the applicable Issuing Bank) by 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on the requested date of such Swingline Loan.

 

(c) Types of Swingline Borrowings.  Subject to Section 2.13, each Swingline Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans.

 

(d) Minimum Amounts.  At the time that each Swingline Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $10,000 and not less than $50,000.

 

(e) Participations in Swingline Loans.  The Swingline Lender may by written notice given to the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on any Business Day require the Revolving Lenders to acquire participations on such Business Day in all or a portion of the Swingline Loans outstanding.  Such notice shall specify the aggregate amount of Swingline Loans in which Revolving Lenders will participate.  Promptly upon receipt of such notice, the Administrative Agent will give notice thereof to each Revolving Lender, specifying in such notice such Revolving Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans.  Each Revolving Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees, upon receipt of notice as provided above, to pay to the Administrative Agent in Dollars, for the account of the Swingline Lender, the amount of such Revolving Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans.  Each Revolving Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations in Swingline Loans pursuant to this paragraph is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Revolving Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.  Each Revolving Lender shall comply with its obligation under this paragraph by wire transfer of Dollars in immediately available funds, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.06 with respect to Revolving Loans made by such Revolving Lender (and Section 2.06 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Lenders), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the Swingline Lender the amounts so received by it from the Revolving Lenders.  The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower of any participations in any Swingline Loan acquired pursuant to this paragraph, and thereafter payments in respect of such Swingline Loan shall be made to the Administrative Agent and not to the Swingline Lender.  Any amounts received by the Swingline Lender from the Borrower (or other party on behalf of the Borrower) in respect of a Swingline Loan after receipt by the Swingline Lender of the proceeds of a sale of participations therein shall be promptly remitted to the Administrative Agent; any such amounts received by the Administrative Agent shall be promptly remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Revolving Lenders that shall have made their payments pursuant to this paragraph and to the Swingline Lender, as their interests may appear; provided that any such payment so remitted shall be repaid to the Swingline Lender or to the Administrative Agent, as applicable, if and to the extent such payment is required to be refunded to the Borrower for any reason.  The purchase of participations in a Swingline Loan pursuant to this paragraph shall not relieve the Borrower of any default in the payment thereof.

 

  

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Section 2.05. Letters of Credit.

 

(a) General.  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may request the issuance of Letters of Credit denominated in Available Currencies as the applicant thereof for the support of its or its Subsidiaries’ obligations, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank, at any time and from time to time during the Revolving Availability Period.  In the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any form of letter of credit application or other agreement submitted by the Borrower to, or entered into by the Borrower with, the Issuing Bank relating to any Letter of Credit, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control.  The Borrower unconditionally and irrevocably agrees that, in connection with any Letter of Credit issued for the support of any Subsidiary’s obligations as provided in the first sentence of this paragraph, the Borrower will be fully responsible for the reimbursement of LC Disbursements in accordance with the terms hereof, the payment of interest thereon and the payment of fees due under Section 2.11(b) to the same extent as if it were the sole account party in respect of such Letter of Credit (the Borrower hereby irrevocably waiving any defenses that might otherwise be available to it as a guarantor or surety of the obligations of such a Subsidiary that is an account party in respect of any such Letter of Credit).

 

(b) Notice of Issuance, Amendment, Renewal, Extension; Certain Conditions.  To request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or the amendment, renewal or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the Borrower shall hand deliver or telecopy (or transmit by electronic communication, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the Issuing Bank) to the Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent (reasonably in advance of the requested date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension) a notice requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit, or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended, renewed or extended, and specifying the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (which shall be a Business Day), the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with paragraph (c) of this Section), the amount of such Letter of Credit, the Available Currency applicable thereto, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof and such other information as shall be necessary to prepare, amend, renew or extend such Letter of Credit.  If requested by the Issuing Bank, the Borrower also shall submit a letter of credit application on the Issuing Bank’s standard form in connection with any request for a Letter of Credit.  A Letter of Credit shall be issued, amended, renewed or extended only if (and upon issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of each Letter of Credit the Borrower shall be deemed to represent and warrant that), after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (i) subject to Sections 2.10(b) and 2.19, the Dollar Amount of the LC Exposure shall not exceed $75,000,000, (ii) subject to Sections 2.10(b) and 2.19, the sum of the Dollar Amount of the total Revolving Credit Exposures shall not exceed the aggregate Revolving Commitments and (iii) subject to Sections 2.10(b) and 2.19, the Dollar Amount of the total outstanding Revolving Loans and LC Exposure, in each case denominated in Foreign Currencies, shall not exceed the Foreign Currency Sublimit.

 

(c) Expiration Date.  Each Letter of Credit shall expire (or be subject to termination by notice from the Issuing Bank to the beneficiary thereof) at or prior to the close of business on the earlier of (i) the date one year after the date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any renewal or extension thereof, one year after such renewal or extension) (provided that any Letter of Credit with a one year term may provide for the renewal thereof for additional one year periods not to extend past the date in clause (ii) below and (ii) the date that is five Business Days prior to the Maturity Date.

 

(d) Participations.  By the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or an amendment to a Letter of Credit increasing the amount thereof) and without any further action on the part of the Issuing Bank or the Revolving Lenders, the Issuing Bank hereby grants to each Revolving Lender, and each Revolving Lender hereby acquires from the Issuing Bank, a participation in such Letter of Credit equal to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit.  In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each Revolving Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the

 

  

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Issuing Bank, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of each LC Disbursement made by the Issuing Bank and not reimbursed by the Borrower on the date due as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section, or of any reimbursement payment required to be refunded to the Borrower for any reason.  Each Revolving Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations pursuant to this paragraph in respect of Letters of Credit is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including any amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.

 

(e) Reimbursement.  If the Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement by paying to the Administrative Agent in Dollars the Dollar Amount equal to such LC Disbursement, calculated as of the date the Issuing Bank made such LC Disbursement (or if the Issuing Bank shall so elect in its sole discretion by notice to the Borrower, in such other Available Currency which was paid by the Issuing Bank pursuant to such LC Disbursement in an amount equal to such LC Disbursement) not later than 12:00 noon, Local Time, on the date that such LC Disbursement is made, if the Borrower shall have received notice of such LC Disbursement prior to 10:00 a.m., Local Time, on such date, or, if such notice has not been received by the Borrower prior to such time on such date, then not later than 12:00 noon, Local Time, on the Business Day immediately following the day that the Borrower receives such notice, if such notice is not received prior to such time on the day of receipt; provided that, if such LC Disbursement is not less than the Dollar Amount of $1,000,000 (other than with respect to a Swingline Loan), the Borrower may, subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section 2.03 or Section 2.04 that such payment be financed with (i) to the extent such LC Disbursement was made in Dollars, an ABR Revolving Borrowing, Eurocurrency Revolving Borrowing or Swingline Loan in Dollars in an amount equal to such LC Disbursement or (ii) to the extent that such LC Disbursement was made in a Foreign Currency, a Eurocurrency Revolving Borrowing in such Foreign Currency in an amount equal to such LC Disbursement and, in each case, to the extent so financed, the Borrower’s obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting ABR Revolving Borrowing, Eurocurrency Revolving Borrowing or Swingline Loan, as applicable.  If the Borrower fails to make such payment when due, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Revolving Lender of the applicable LC Disbursement, the payment then due from the Borrower in respect thereof and such Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof.  Promptly following receipt of such notice, each Revolving Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent its Applicable Percentage of the payment then due from the Borrower, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.06 with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.06 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Revolving Lenders), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the Issuing Bank the amounts so received by it from the Revolving Lenders.  Promptly following receipt by the Administrative Agent of any payment from the Borrower pursuant to this paragraph, the Administrative Agent shall distribute such payment to the Issuing Bank or, to the extent that Revolving Lenders have made payments pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse the Issuing Bank, then to such Lenders and the Issuing Bank as their interests may appear.  Any payment made by a Revolving Lender pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse the Issuing Bank for any LC Disbursement (other than the funding of ABR Revolving Loans or a Swingline Loan as contemplated above) shall not constitute a Loan and shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation to reimburse such LC Disbursement.  If the Borrower’s reimbursement of, or obligation to reimburse, any amounts in any Foreign Currency would subject the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender to any Indemnified Tax that would not be payable if such reimbursement were made or required to be made in Dollars, the Borrower shall, at its option, either (x) pay the amount of any such tax requested by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or the relevant Lender or (y) reimburse each LC Disbursement made in such Foreign Currency in Dollars, in an amount equal to the Equivalent Amount, calculated using the applicable Exchange Rates, on the date such LC Disbursement is made, of such LC Disbursement.

 

  

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(f) Obligations Absolute.  The Borrower’s obligation to reimburse LC Disbursements as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under any and all circumstances whatsoever and irrespective of (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit or this Agreement, or any term or provision therein, (ii) any draft or other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent or invalid in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect, (iii) payment by an Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit, or (iv) any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of setoff against, the Borrower’s obligations hereunder.  The Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Issuing Banks, or any of their Related Parties, shall not have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in the preceding sentence), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of an Issuing Bank.  The foregoing provisions of this paragraph (f) shall not be construed to excuse an Issuing Bank from liability to the Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable law) suffered by the Borrower that are caused by such Issuing Bank’s failure to exercise care when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof.  The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of an Issuing Bank (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), an Issuing Bank shall be deemed to have exercised care in each such determination.  In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the parties agree that, with respect to documents presented which appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, an Issuing Bank may, in its sole discretion, either accept and make payment upon such documents without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit.

 

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

 

(h) Interim Interest.  If an Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement, then, unless the Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement in full on the date such LC Disbursement is made, the unpaid amount thereof shall bear interest, for each day from and including the date such LC Disbursement is made to but excluding the date that the Borrower reimburses such LC Disbursement, at the rate per annum then applicable to ABR Revolving Loans (or in the case such LC Disbursement is denominated in a Foreign Currency, at the Overnight Foreign Currency Rate for such Available Currency plus the then effective Applicable Rate with respect to Eurocurrency Revolving Loans); provided that, if the Borrower fails to reimburse such LC Disbursement when due pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section, then Section 2.12(c) shall apply.  Interest accrued pursuant to this paragraph shall be for the account of the applicable Issuing Bank, except that interest accrued on and after the date of payment by any Revolving Lender pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section to reimburse an Issuing Bank shall be for the account of such Revolving Lender to the extent of such payment.

 

  

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

 

(j) Cash Collateralization.  If any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, on the Business Day that the Borrower receives notice from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders (or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated, Revolving Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 50% of the total LC Exposure) demanding the deposit of cash collateral pursuant to this paragraph, the Borrower shall deposit in an account with the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the Revolving Lenders (the “LC Collateral Account”), an amount, in cash, in the applicable Available Currency equal to the LC Exposure as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon; provided that (i) the portions of such amount attributable to undrawn Foreign Currency Letters of Credit or LC Disbursements in a Foreign Currency that the Borrower is not late in reimbursing shall be deposited in the applicable Foreign Currencies in the actual amounts of such undrawn Letters of Credit and LC Disbursements and (ii) the obligation to deposit such cash collateral shall become effective immediately, and such deposit shall become immediately due and payable, without demand or other notice of any kind, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default with respect to the Borrower described in paragraph (h) or (i) of Article VIII.  For the purposes of this paragraph, the Foreign Currency LC Exposure shall be calculated using the applicable Exchange Rate on the date notice demanding cash collateralization is delivered to the Borrower.  The Borrower also shall deposit cash collateral pursuant to this paragraph as and to the extent required by Section 2.10(b).  Each such deposit shall be held by the Administrative Agent as collateral for the payment and performance of the Secured Obligations.  The Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over such account and the Borrower hereby grants the Administrative Agent a security interest in the LC Collateral Account.  Other than any interest earned on the investment of such deposits, which investments shall be made at the option and sole discretion of the Administrative Agent and at the Borrower’s risk and expense, such deposits shall not bear interest.  Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in such account.  Moneys in such account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse the Issuing Bank for LC Disbursements for which it has not been reimbursed and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Borrower for the LC Exposure at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated (but subject to the consent of Revolving Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 50% of the total LC Exposure) be applied to satisfy the other Secured Obligations in accordance with the terms of paragraph (b) of Section 2.17.  If the Borrower is required to provide an amount of cash collateral hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default, such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Borrower within three Business Days after all Events of Default have been cured or waived.

 

  

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Section 2.06. Funding of Borrowings.

 

(a) Lender Funding.  Each Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds (i) in the case of Loans denominated in Dollars, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders and (ii) in the case of each Loan denominated in a Foreign Currency, by 12:00 noon, Local Time, in the city of the Administrative Agent’s Eurocurrency Payment Office for such currency and at such Eurocurrency Payment Office for such currency; provided that Term Loans shall be made as provided in Section 2.01(b); provided that Swingline Loans shall be made as provided in Section 2.04.  The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Borrower by promptly crediting the amounts so received, in like funds, to (x) an account of the Borrower maintained with the Administrative Agent and designated by the Borrower in the applicable Borrowing Request, in the case of Loans denominated in Dollars and (y) an account of the Borrower in the relevant jurisdiction and designated by the Borrower in the applicable Borrowing Request, in the case of Loans denominated in a Foreign Currency; provided that ABR Revolving Loans made to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.05(e) shall be remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Issuing Bank.

 

(b) Failure to Fund.  Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount.  In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation (including without limitation the Overnight Foreign Currency Rate in the case of Loans denominated in a Foreign Currency) or (ii) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to ABR Loans.  If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing.

 

Section 2.07. Interest Elections.

 

(a) Types of Borrowings.  Each Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request and, in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request.  Thereafter, the Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a 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 each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing.  This Section shall not apply to Swingline Borrowings, which may not be converted or continued.

 

(b) Notice of Election.  To make an election pursuant to this Section, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such election (by telephone or irrevocable written notice in the case of a Borrowing denominated 

 

  

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in Dollars or by irrevocable written notice (via an Interest Election Request signed by the Borrower) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in a Foreign Currency) by the time that a Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.03 if the Borrower were requesting a Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election to be made on the effective date of such election.  Each such telephonic Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Interest Election Request signed by the Borrower.  Notwithstanding any contrary provision herein, this Section shall not be construed to permit the Borrower to (i) change the currency of any Borrowing, (ii) elect an Interest Period for Eurocurrency Loans that does not comply with Section 2.02(d) or (iii) convert any Borrowing to a Borrowing of a Type not available under the Class of Commitments pursuant to which such Borrowing was made.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

If any such Interest Election Request requests a Eurocurrency Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration.  Promptly following receipt of an Interest Election Request, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of such Lender’s portion of each resulting Borrowing.

 

(d) Failure to Designate.  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(i) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in Dollars, such Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing and (ii) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in a Foreign Currency in respect of which the Borrower shall have failed to deliver an Interest Election Request prior to the third Business Day preceding the end of such Interest Period, such Borrowing shall automatically continue as a Eurocurrency Borrowing in the same Available Currency with an Interest Period of one month unless such Eurocurrency Borrowing is or was repaid in accordance with Section 2.11.  Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent, at the request of the Required Lenders, so notifies the Borrower, then, so long as an Event of Default is continuing (i) no outstanding Borrowing denominated in Dollars may be converted to or continued as a Eurocurrency Borrowing, (ii) unless repaid, each Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in Dollars shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto and (iii) unless repaid, each Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in a Foreign Currency shall automatically be continued as a Eurocurrency Borrowing with an Interest Period of one month.

 

  

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Section 2.08. Termination and Reduction of Commitments.

 

(a) Mandatory Termination.  Unless previously terminated, (i) the Term Loan Commitments shall terminate at 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Effective Date and (ii) the Revolving Commitments shall terminate on the Maturity Date.

 

(b) Mandatory Reduction From Prepayment Events.  In the case of any Prepayment Event (excluding any event described in clause (c) of the definition thereof) (i) if the amount of Net Proceeds from such Prepayment Event required to be used to prepay Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.10(c) exceeds the aggregate Term Loans then outstanding (the “Mandatory Term Loan Prepayment Amount”), then the Revolving Commitments shall be automatically and permanently reduced by the amount by which such Net Proceeds exceed the Mandatory Term Loan Prepayment Amount or (ii) if no Term Loans are outstanding at such time, the Revolving Commitments shall be automatically and permanently reduced by the full amount of the Net Proceeds from such Prepayment Event that would otherwise have been required to be applied to the Term Loans.

 

(c) Optional Termination and Reduction.  The Borrower may at any time terminate, or from time to time reduce, the Commitments of any Class; provided that (i) each reduction shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $10,000,000 or the remaining amount of such Commitment; (ii) the Revolving Commitments may not be reduced below the amount of the commitments to make Swingline Loans unless such commitments are also reduced; and (iii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Revolving Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the Revolving Loans in accordance with Section 2.10, the sum of the Revolving Credit Exposures would exceed the total Revolving Commitments.

 

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

 

Section 2.09. Repayment and Amortization of Loans; Evidence of Debt.

 

(a) Promise to Pay.  The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Loan on the Maturity Date in the currency of such Loan and (ii) to the Swingline Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Swingline Loan on the earlier of the Maturity Date and the first date after such Swingline Loan is made that is the 15th or last day of a calendar month and is at least two Business Days after such Swingline Loan is made; provided that on each date that a Revolving Borrowing is made, the Borrower shall repay all Swingline Loans then outstanding.  The Borrower shall repay Term Loans as provided in paragraph (f).

 

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

 

  

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

 

(d) Prima Facie Evidence.  The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraphs (b) or (c) of this Section shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein; provided that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

(e) Request for Note.  Any Lender may request that Loans of any Class made by it be evidenced by a promissory note.  In such event, the Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to the order of such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns) and in a form approved by the Administrative Agent.  Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 10.04) 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).

 

(f) Amortization of Term Loans.

 

(i) The Borrower shall repay Term Loans on each date set forth below in the aggregate principal amount set forth opposite such date (as adjusted from time to time pursuant to Section 2.10):

 

	
Installment

 

	
Quarter Ending/Payment Date

 

	
Payment Due

 

	
1.

	
December 31, 2013

	
$3,750,000.00

	
2.

	
March 31, 2014

	
$3,750,000.00

	
3.

	
June 30, 2014

	
$3,750,000.00

	
4.

	
September 30, 2014

	
$3,750,000.00

	
5.

	
December 31, 2014

	
$7,500,000.00

	
6.

	
March 31, 2015

	
$7,500,000.00

	
7.

	
June 30, 2015

	
$7,500,000.00

	
8.

	
September 30, 2015

	
$7,500,000.00

 

  

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9.

	
December 31, 2015

	
$7,500,000.00

	
10.

	
March 31, 2016

	
$7,500,000.00

	
11.

	
June 30, 2016

	
$7,500,000.00

	
12.

	
September 30, 2016

	
$7,500,000.00

	
13.

	
December 31, 2016

	
$7,500,000.00

	
14.

	
March 31, 2017

	
$7,500,000.00

	
15.

	
June 30, 2017

	
$7,500,000.00

	
16.

	
September 30, 2017

	
$7,500,000.00

	
17.

	
December 31, 2017

	
$11,250,000.00

	
18.

	
March 31, 2018

	
$11,250,000.00

	
19.

	
June 30, 2018

	
$11,250,000.00

	
20.

	
Maturity

	
$161,250,000.00

 

 

To the extent not previously repaid, all unpaid Term Loans shall be paid in full in Dollars by the Borrower on the Maturity Date.

 

Section 2.10. Prepayments.

 

(a) Optional Prepayment.  The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing in whole or in part without premium or penalty except for amounts paid in accordance with Section 2.15, subject to the requirements of this Section.  Optional prepayments of the Term Loans shall be applied to the installments due thereunder in the inverse order of maturity.

 

(b) Mandatory Prepayment of Revolving Loans.  If at any time, (i) other than as a result of fluctuations in currency exchange rates, (A) the sum of the aggregate principal Dollar Amount of all of the Revolving Credit Exposures (calculated, with respect to those Credit Events denominated in Foreign Currencies, as of the most recent Computation Date with respect to each such Credit Event) exceeds the aggregate Revolving Commitments (including as a result of any mandatory Revolving Commitment reduction effected pursuant to Section 2.08(b)) or (B) the sum of the aggregate principal Dollar Amount of all of the outstanding Revolving Credit Exposures denominated in Foreign Currencies (the “Foreign Currency Exposure”) (so calculated), as of the most recent Computation Date with respect to each such Credit Event, exceeds the Foreign Currency Sublimit or (ii) solely as a result of fluctuations in currency exchange rates, (A) the sum of the aggregate principal Dollar Amount of all of the  Revolving Credit Exposures (so calculated) exceeds 105% of the aggregate Revolving Commitments or (B) the Foreign Currency Exposure, as of the most recent Computation Date with respect to each such Credit Event, exceeds 105% of the Foreign Currency Sublimit, then the Borrower shall in each case immediately repay Borrowings or cash collateralize LC Exposure in an account with the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.05(j), as applicable, in an aggregate principal amount sufficient to cause (x) the aggregate Dollar Amount of all Revolving Credit Exposures (so calculated) to be less than or equal to the aggregate Revolving Commitments and (y) the Foreign Currency Exposure to be less than or equal to the Foreign Currency Sublimit, as applicable.

 

  

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(c) Mandatory Prepayment from Net Proceeds of Prepayment Event.  In the event and on each occasion that any Net Proceeds are received by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Domestic Subsidiary in respect of any Prepayment Event, the Borrower shall, within three Business Days after such Net Proceeds are received, prepay Term Loans in an aggregate amount equal to such Net Proceeds (but in the case of any such event described in such clause (a) of the definition of Prepayment Event, only the amount equal to the Excess Percentage of such Net Proceeds from the applicable Asset Sale); provided that:

 

(i) in the case of any event described in clauses (a), (b) or (c) of the definition of Prepayment Event, if the Borrower or any Subsidiary intends to apply such Net Proceeds from such event within one year after receipt of such Net Proceeds to acquire or repair assets to be used in the business of the Borrower, then no prepayment shall be required pursuant to this paragraph in respect of such event except (A) to the extent of any such Net Proceeds therefrom that have not been so applied within one year after receipt of such Net Proceeds, at which time a prepayment shall be required in an amount equal to such Net Proceeds that have not been so applied or (B) if at the time of the proposed application of such Net Proceeds, a Default exists, then at that time, a prepayment shall be required in an amount equal to such Net Proceeds; and

 

(ii) Net Proceeds from a single Prepayment Event shall not be required to be used to prepay Term Loans under this Section 2.10(c) if the aggregate amount of Net Proceeds received from such Prepayment Event do not exceed $1,000,000 unless such Net Proceeds, when added to the aggregate amount of Net Proceeds received from all Prepayment Events occurring in the same fiscal year that are not reinvested pursuant to this Section 2.10(c) exceed $1,000,000 (in which event the aggregate amount of such Net Proceeds from all such Prepayment Events in excess of $1,000,000, shall then be required to be used to prepay the Term Loans under this paragraph (c)).

 

(d) Designation of Borrowing.  Prior to any optional or mandatory prepayment of Borrowings hereunder, the Borrower shall select the Borrowing or Borrowings to be prepaid and shall specify such selection in the notice of such prepayment pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section.

 

(e) Notice of Prepayment.  The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent (and, in the case of prepayment of a Swingline Loan, the Swingline Lender) by telephone (confirmed by telecopy) 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 (in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in Dollars) or not later than 11:00 a.m. Local Time, four Business Days (in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in a Foreign Currency), in each case before the date of prepayment, (ii) in the case of prepayment of an ABR Borrowing or a Swingline Borrowing, not later than 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date of prepayment.  Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date, the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid and, in the case of a mandatory prepayment, a reasonably detailed calculation of the amount of such prepayment; provided that, if a notice of optional prepayment is given in connection with a conditional notice of termination of the Revolving Commitments as contemplated by Section 2.08, then such notice of prepayment may be revoked if such notice of termination is revoked in accordance with Section 2.08.  Promptly following receipt of any such notice (other than a notice relating solely to Swingline Loans), the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof.  Each partial prepayment of any Borrowing shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of an advance of a Borrowing of the same Type as provided in Section 2.02, except:  (i) as necessary to apply fully the required amount of a mandatory prepayment; (ii) ABR Loans may be prepaid in minimum amounts equal to $50,000 or the

 

  

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outstanding principal amount of such Loans; and (iii) Swingline Loans may be prepaid in any amount.  Each prepayment of a Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing.  Prepayments shall be accompanied by (i) accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.12 and (ii) break funding payments pursuant to Section 2.15.  Mandatory prepayments of Term Loans shall be applied to the remaining amortization payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.09(f) in the inverse order of maturity.

 

Section 2.11. Fees.

 

(a) Commitment Fees.  The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender a commitment fee, which shall accrue at the Applicable Rate (which, until the Borrower’s delivery of its first compliance certificate pursuant to Section 5.01(c), will be 0.35%) on the average daily amount of the unused Revolving Commitment of such Lender during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the date on which such Revolving Commitment terminates.  All commitment fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).  For purposes of computing commitment fees, the Revolving Commitment of a Revolving Lender shall be deemed to be used to the extent of the outstanding Revolving Loans and LC Exposure of such Lender (and the Swingline Exposure of such Lender shall be disregarded for such purpose).

 

(b) Letter of Credit Fees.  The Borrower agrees to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender a participation fee with respect to its participations in Letters of Credit, which shall accrue at the same Applicable Rate as interest on Eurocurrency Revolving Borrowings on the average daily Dollar Amount of such Lender’s LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date on which such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Commitment terminates and the date on which such Lender ceases to have any LC Exposure, and (ii) to each Issuing Bank, for its own account, a fronting fee, which shall accrue at the rate of 0.125% per annum on the average daily Dollar Amount of the LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) applicable to the Letters of Credit it has issued during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date of termination of the Revolving Commitments and the date on which there ceases to be any LC Exposure, as well as each Issuing Bank’s standard fees and commissions with respect to the issuance, amendment, cancellation, negotiation, transfer, presentment, renewal or extension of its Letters of Credit or processing of drawings thereunder.  Participation fees and fronting fees accrued through and including the last day of March, June, September and December of each year shall be payable on the third Business Day following such last day, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Effective Date; provided that all such fees shall be payable on the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate and any such fees accruing after the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate shall be payable on demand.  Any other fees payable to an Issuing Bank pursuant to this paragraph shall be payable within 10 days after demand.  All participation fees and fronting fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).  Participation fees and fronting fees in respect of Letters of Credit denominated in Dollars shall be paid in Dollars, and participation fees and fronting fees in respect of Letters of Credit denominated in a Foreign Currency shall be paid in such Foreign Currency.

 

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

 

  

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(d) Payment of Fees.  All fees payable hereunder shall be paid on the dates due, in Dollars (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Section 2.11) and immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent (or to the applicable Issuing Bank, in the case of fees payable to it) for distribution, in the case of commitment fees and participation fees, to the Lenders entitled thereto.  Except in the case of errors in payment which have been confirmed by Administrative Agent, fees paid shall not be refundable under any circumstances.

 

Section 2.12. Interest.

 

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

 

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

 

(c) Default Rate.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any principal of or interest on any Loan or any fee or other amount payable by the Borrower hereunder is not paid when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, 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 ABR Loan, 2% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loan as provided in the preceding paragraphs of this Section, (ii) with respect to Eurocurrency Loans, until the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, the rate otherwise applicable thereto as provided in the preceding paragraphs of this Section plus 2% and after the end of the Interest Period therefor:  (A) if such Eurocurrency Loan is a Dollar Loan, the Alternative Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate plus 2% and (B) if such Eurocurrency Loan is denominated in an Available Currency other than Dollars, the rate per annum applicable to Eurocurrency Loans of the applicable Class and the applicable Available Currency with a one month Interest Period as the same may change each day plus 2%; or (iii) in the case of any other amount, 2% plus the rate applicable to ABR Borrowings as provided in paragraph (a) of this Section.

 

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

 

(e) Basis of Accrual.  All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, except that:  (i) (A) interest computed by reference to the Alternate Base Rate at times when the Alternate Base Rate is based on the Prime Rate and (B) interest computed by reference to the AUD Bank Bill Reference Rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days and (ii) with respect to any Available Currency as to which a 365 day year is customarily used as a basis for such calculation, then interests with respect to Loans denominated in such Available Currency shall be computed on such basis.  Interest in all cases shall be calculated and payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).  The applicable Alternate Base Rate, Adjusted LIBO Rate or LIBO Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  The Administrative Agent shall, at the request of the Borrower, deliver to the Borrower a statement showing the quotations used by the Administrative Agent in determining any interest rates pursuant to this Section 2.12.

 

  

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Section 2.13. Alternate Rate of Interest.

 

(a) If at the time that the Administrative Agent shall seek to determine the relevant Screen Rate on the Quotation Day for any Interest Period for a Eurocurrency Borrowing the applicable Screen Rate shall not be available for such Interest Period and/or for the applicable currency with respect to such Eurocurrency Borrowing for any reason and the Administrative Agent shall determine that it is not possible to determine the Interpolated Rate (which conclusion shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error), then the applicable Reference Bank Rate shall be the Eurocurrency Rate for such Interest Period for such Eurocurrency Borrowing; provided that if any Reference Bank Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement;  provided, further,  however,  that if less than two Reference Banks shall supply a rate to the Administrative Agent for purposes of determining the LIBO Rate for such Eurocurrency Borrowing, (i) if such Borrowing shall be requested in Dollars, then such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing at the Alternate Base Rate and (ii) if such Borrowing shall be requested in any Foreign Currency, the LIBO Rate for such Borrowing shall be equal to the rate determined by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion after consultation with the Borrower and as consented to in writing by the Required Lenders (the “Alternative Rate”), provided, however, that until such time as the aforesaid rate shall be determined and so consented to by the Required Lenders, Borrowings shall not be available in such non-dollar currency.

 

(b) If prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurocurrency Borrowing:

 

(i) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that through no fault of the Administrative Agent adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable, for a Loan in the applicable currency or for the applicable Interest Period; or

 

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

 

then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders by telephone or telecopy as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in the applicable Available Currency or for the applicable Interest Period, as the case may be, shall be ineffective and, if the affected currency is Dollars, such Borrowing (unless prepaid) shall be continued as, or converted to, an ABR Borrowing, (ii) if the affected currency is Dollars and any Borrowing Request requests a Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in Dollars, such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing and (iii) if the affected currency is a Foreign Currency and any Borrowing Request requests a Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in such affected currency, then the LIBO Rate for such Borrowing shall be equal to the Alternative Rate.

 

Section 2.14. Increased Costs and Capital Adequacy.

 

  

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender or such other Recipient of making, continuing, converting into or maintaining any Loan or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan (including, without limitation, pursuant to any conversion of any Borrowing denominated in an Available Currency into a Borrowing denominated in any other Available Currency) or to increase the cost to such Lender, the Issuing Bank or such other Recipient of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit (including, without limitation, pursuant to any conversion of any Borrowing denominated in an Available Currency into a Borrowing denominated in any other Available Currency) or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender, the Issuing Bank or such other Recipient hereunder, whether of principal, interest or otherwise (including, without limitation, pursuant to any conversion of any Borrowing denominated in an Available Currency into a Borrowing denominated in any other Available Currency), then the Borrower will pay to such Lender, the Issuing Bank or such other Recipient, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender, the Issuing Bank or such other Recipient, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

 

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

 

(c) Certificate Claiming Compensation.  A certificate of a Lender or an Issuing Bank setting forth (i) the amount or amounts (including a description of the method of calculating such amount or amounts), necessary to compensate such Lender or such Issuing Bank or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section and (ii) the applicable Change in Law and other facts that give rise to such amount or amounts shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  The Borrower shall pay such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.

 

  

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

 

Section 2.15. 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 or as a result of the operation of Section 2.10, Section 2.18 or Section 2.20), (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 on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice may be revoked under Section 2.10(e) 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 pursuant to Section 2.18 or Section 2.20, then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense (including any loss, cost or expense due to currency exchange rates or exchange controls) attributable to such event.  In the case of a Eurocurrency Loan, such loss, cost or expense to any Lender shall be deemed to include:  (i) an amount determined by such Lender to be the excess, if any, of (A) the amount of interest which would have accrued on the principal amount of such Loan had such event not occurred, at the Adjusted LIBO Rate that would have been applicable to such Loan, for the period from the date of such event to the last day of the then current Interest Period therefor (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or continue, for the period that would have been the Interest Period for such Loan), over (B) the amount of interest which would accrue on such principal amount for such period at the interest rate which such Lender would bid were it to bid, at the commencement of such period, for deposits in the applicable Available Currency of a comparable amount and period from other banks in the applicable market utilized to determine the related LIBO Rate; (ii) any loss incurred in liquidating or closing out any foreign currency contract; and (iii) any loss arising from any change in the value of Dollars in relation to any Loan made in another Available Currency which was not paid on the date due.  A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower, shall set forth the method of calculating such amount or amounts and shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.

 

Section 2.16. Taxes.

 

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

 

  

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

 

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

 

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

 

(e) Indemnification by the Lenders.  Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within ten days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that any Loan Party has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Loan Parties to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 10.04(c) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority.  A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this paragraph (e).

 

(f) Status of Lenders.

 

(i) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding.  In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such

 

  

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documentation set forth in Section 2.16(f)(ii)(A), (ii)(B) and (ii)(D) below) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

  

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

 

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

 

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

 

(g) Treatment of Certain Refunds.  If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 2.16 (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.16), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section 2.16 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund).  Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this paragraph (g) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (g), in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this paragraph (g) the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the indemnified party would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid.  This paragraph shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.

 

  

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

 

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

 

Section 2.17. Payments Generally; Allocation of Proceeds; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set–Offs.

 

(a) Payments Generally.  The Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest, fees or reimbursement of LC Disbursements, or of amounts payable under Sections 2.14, 2.15 or 2.16, or otherwise) prior to (i) in the case of payments denominated in Dollars, 1:00 p.m., New York City time and (ii) in the case of payments denominated in a Foreign Currency, 12:00 noon, Local Time, in the city of the Administrative Agent’s Eurocurrency Payment Office for such currency, in each case on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without set-off or counterclaim.  Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon.  All such payments shall be made (i) in the same currency in which the applicable Credit Event was made (or where such currency has been converted to euro, in euro) and (ii) to the Administrative Agent at its offices in New York, New York or, in the case of a Credit Event denominated in a Foreign Currency, the Administrative Agent’s Eurocurrency Payment Office for such currency, except payments to be made directly to the Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender as expressly provided herein and except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.14, 2.15 or 2.16 and 10.03 and the other paragraphs of this Section 2.17  shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto.  The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments denominated in the same currency received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof.  If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, if, after the making of any Credit Event in any Foreign Currency, currency control or exchange regulations are imposed in the country which issues such currency with the result that the type of currency in which the Credit Event was made (the “Original Currency”) no longer exists or the Borrower is not able to make payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders in such Original Currency, then all payments to be made by the Borrower hereunder in such currency shall instead be made when due in Dollars in an amount equal to the Dollar Amount (as of the date of repayment) of such payment due, it being the intention of the parties hereto that the Borrower takes all risks of the imposition of any such currency control or exchange regulations.

 

(b) Allocation of Proceeds.  Any proceeds of Collateral received by the Administrative Agent (i) not constituting (A) 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 (B) a mandatory prepayment (which shall be applied in accordance with Section 2.10) or (ii) after an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent so elects or the Required Lenders so direct, such funds shall be applied ratably first, to pay any fees, indemnities, or expense reimbursements including amounts then due to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank from the Borrower, second, to pay any fees or expense reimbursements then due to the Lenders from the Borrower, third, to pay interest then due and payable on the Loans ratably, fourth, to prepay principal on the Loans and unreimbursed LC Disbursements and any other amounts owing with respect to Banking Services Obligations and Swap Obligations ratably, fifth, to pay an amount to the Administrative Agent equal to 105% of the aggregate undrawn face amount

 

  

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of all outstanding Letters of Credit and the aggregate amount of any unpaid LC Disbursements, to be held as cash collateral for such Obligations, and sixth, to the payment of any other Secured Obligation due to the Administrative Agent or any Lender by the Borrower.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, amounts received from any Loan Party shall not be applied to any Excluded Swap Obligation of such Loan Party.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, unless so directed by the Borrower, or unless a Default is in existence, none of the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall apply any payment which it receives to any Eurocurrency Loan of a Class, except (a) on the expiration date of the Interest Period applicable to any such Eurocurrency Loan or (b) in the event, and only to the extent, that there are no outstanding ABR Loans of the same Class and, in any event, the Borrower shall pay the break funding payment required in accordance with Section 2.15.  The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have the continuing and exclusive right to apply and reverse and reapply any and all such proceeds and payments to any portion of the Secured Obligations.

 

(c) [Intentionally Omitted].

 

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

 

(e) Payment Assumption.  Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the relevant Lenders or an Issuing Bank hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the applicable Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount due.  In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the relevant Lenders or the applicable Issuing Bank, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or Issuing Bank with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation (including without limitation the Overnight Foreign Currency Rate in the case of Loans denominated in a Foreign Currency).

 

  

  

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(f) Default by Lender.  If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.04(d), 2.05(d) or (e), 2.06(b), 2.17(e) or 10.03(c), then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), (i) apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender and for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender or the Issuing Bank to satisfy such Lender’s obligations to it under such Section until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid and/or (ii) hold any such amounts in a segregated account over which the Administrative Agent shall have exclusive control as cash collateral for, and application to, any future funding obligations of such Lender under any such Section; in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii) above, in any order as determined by the Administrative Agent in its discretion.

 

(g) Incorrect Distribution.  If any Secured Party receives any proceeds in an amount in excess of the amount such Person is entitled to receive under the terms hereof, such Person shall (a) hold such excess proceeds in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent until paid over to the Administrative Agent and (b) shall promptly pay the excess amount of such proceeds to the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent shall promptly distribute the amount so received to the Secured Parties entitled thereto in accordance with the terms of this Section 2.17.

 

(h) Return of Proceeds.  If at any time payment, in whole or in part, of any proceeds distributed hereunder is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by the Administrative Agent or by any Secured Party as a preference, fraudulent conveyance or otherwise under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law, then each Person receiving any portion of such proceeds agrees, upon demand, to return the portion of such proceeds it has received to the Person responsible for restoring or returning such proceeds.

 

(i) Proceeds Received Directly by a Secured Party.  If any Secured Party receives any proceeds as a result of the exercise of the right of set–off, banker’s lien or similar right (other than pursuant to the exercise of the right of set–off, banker’s lien or similar right exercised to satisfy any Banking Services Obligations) such Person shall:  (a) notify the Administrative Agent in writing of the nature of such receipt, the date of the receipt and the amount thereof; (b) deduct from the proceeds received any costs or expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred in connection with the acquisition of such proceeds; (c) hold the remaining amount of such proceeds in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent until paid over to the Administrative Agent; and (d) pay the remaining amount of such proceeds to the Administrative Agent promptly upon receipt thereof.  Upon receipt, the Administrative Agent shall promptly distribute the proceeds so received in accordance with Section 2.17(b).

 

(j) Non–Cash Proceeds.  Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, if the Administrative Agent shall ever acquire any Collateral through foreclosure or by a conveyance in lieu of foreclosure or by retaining any of the Collateral in satisfaction of all or part of the Secured Obligations or if any Proceeds received by the Administrative Agent (or received directly by any Secured Party) to be distributed and shared pursuant to this Article II are in a form other than immediately available funds, the Person receiving such Collateral or Proceeds shall not be required to remit any share thereof under the terms hereof and the Secured Parties shall only be entitled to their undivided interests in the Collateral or non–cash Proceeds as determined hereby.  The Secured Parties shall receive the applicable share of any immediately available funds consisting of Proceeds from such Collateral or proceeds of such non–cash Proceeds so acquired only if and when paid in connection with the subsequent disposition thereof.  While any Collateral or other property to be shared pursuant to this Article II is held by the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.17(j), the Administrative Agent shall hold such Collateral or other property for the benefit of the Secured Parties in accordance with their undivided interest therein and all matters relating to the management, operation, further disposition or any other aspect of such Collateral or other property shall be resolved by the agreement of the Required Lenders.

 

  

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Section 2.18. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

 

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

 

(b) Replacement.  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.14, or if the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.16, or if any Revolving Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender or a Non-Consenting Lender (as provided in Section 10.02), then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 10.04), 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 Administrative Agent (and if a Revolving Commitment is being assigned, the Issuing Banks and Swingline Lender), which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder (including any amounts due under Section 2.15 other than in connection with an assignment resulting from a Lender’s default in its obligations to fund Loans), 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 2.16 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.14, 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.

 

Section 2.19. Determination of Dollar Amounts.

 

The Administrative Agent will determine the Dollar Amount of:

 

(a) each Eurocurrency Borrowing as of the date two Business Days prior to the date of such Borrowing or, if applicable, the date of conversion/continuation of any Borrowing as a Eurocurrency Borrowing,

 

(b) the LC Exposure as of the date of each request for the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit, and

 

  

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(c) all outstanding Credit Events on and as of the last Business Day of each calendar quarter and on any other Business Day elected by the Administrative Agent in its discretion or, during the continuation of an Event of Default, upon instruction by the Required Lenders.

 

(d) Each day upon or as of which the Administrative Agent determines Dollar Amounts as described in the preceding clauses (a), (b) and (c) is herein described as a “Computation Date” with respect to each Credit Event for which a Dollar Amount is determined on or as of such day.

 

Section 2.20. Increase of Revolving Commitments.  By written notice sent to the Administrative Agent (which the Administrative Agent shall promptly distribute to the Revolving Lenders), the Borrower may request an increase of the aggregate amount of the Revolving Commitments:  (i) by an aggregate amount equal to any integral multiple of $5,000,000 and (ii) by an amount not to exceed $150,000,000; provided that (i) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (ii) the aggregate amount of the Revolving Commitments shall not previously have been increased more than four times pursuant to this Section 2.20.  Each Revolving Lender, in its sole and absolute discretion, shall determine whether it will increase its Revolving Commitment.  If one or more of the Revolving Lenders will not be increasing its Revolving Commitment pursuant to such request, then, with notice to the Administrative Agent and the other Revolving Lenders, another one or more financial institutions, each as approved by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (a “New Lender”), may commit to provide an amount equal to the aggregate amount of the requested increase that will not be provided by the existing Revolving Lenders (the “Increase Amount”); provided that the Revolving Commitment of each New Lender shall be at least $5,000,000 and the maximum number of New Lenders shall be five.  Upon receipt of notice from the Administrative Agent to the Lenders and the Borrower that the Revolving Lenders, or sufficient Revolving Lenders and New Lenders, have agreed to commit to an aggregate amount equal to the Increase Amount (or such lesser amount as the Borrower shall agree, which shall be at least $5,000,000 and an integral multiple of $5,000,000 in excess thereof), then:  provided that no Default exists at such time or after giving effect to the requested increase, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Revolving Lenders willing to increase their respective Revolving Commitments and the New Lenders (if any) shall execute and deliver an Increased Commitment Supplement (herein so called) in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C. If all existing Revolving Lenders shall not have provided their pro rata portion of the requested increase, then after giving effect to the requested increase the outstanding Revolving Loans may not be held pro rata in accordance with the new Revolving Commitments.  In order to remedy the foregoing, on the effective date of the Increased Commitment Supplement the Revolving Lenders shall make advances among themselves, such advances to be in amounts sufficient so that after giving effect thereto, the Revolving Loans shall be held by the Revolving Lenders pro rata according to their respective Revolving Commitments.  The advances made by a Revolving Lender under this Section 2.20 shall be deemed to be a purchase of a corresponding amount of the Revolving Loans of one or more of the Revolving Lenders who received the advances.  The Revolving Commitments of the Revolving Lenders who do not agree to increase their Revolving Commitments cannot be reduced or otherwise changed pursuant to this Section 2.20.

 

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

 

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

 

(b) Suspension of Voting.  the Revolving Commitment and Revolving Credit Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether the Required Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment, waiver or other modification pursuant to Section 10.02); provided that except as otherwise provided in Section 10.02, this clause (b) shall not apply to the vote of a Defaulting Lender in the case of an amendment, waiver or other modification requiring the consent of such Lender or each Lender directly affected thereby;

 

  

  

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(c) Participation Exposure.  if any Swingline Exposure or LC Exposure exists at the time a Revolving Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender then:

 

(i) Reallocation.  all or any part of such Swingline Exposure and LC Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall be reallocated among the non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages, but only to the extent that (x) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (y) the sum of all non-Defaulting Lenders’ Revolving Credit Exposures plus such Defaulting Lender’s Swingline Exposure and LC Exposure does not exceed the total of all non-Defaulting Lenders’ Revolving Commitments;

 

(ii) Payment and Cash Collateralization.  if the reallocation described in clause (i) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrower shall within one Business Day following notice by the Administrative Agent (x) first, prepay such Swingline Exposure and (y) second, cash collateralize for the benefit of the Issuing Bank only the obligations corresponding to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure (after giving effect to any partial reallocation pursuant to clause (i) above) in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.05(j) for so long as such LC Exposure is outstanding;

 

(iii) Suspension of Letter of Credit Fee.  if the Borrower cash collateralizes any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure pursuant to this Section 2.21(c), the Borrower shall not be required to pay any fees to such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.11(b) with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure during the period such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure is cash collateralized;

 

(iv) Reallocation of Fees.  if the LC Exposure of the non-Defaulting Lenders is reallocated pursuant to this Section 2.21(c), then the fees payable to the Revolving Lenders pursuant to Section 2.11(a) and Section 2.11(b) shall be adjusted in accordance with such non-Defaulting Lenders’ Applicable Percentages; and

 

(v) Issuing Bank Entitled to Fees.  if any Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure is neither cash collateralized nor reallocated pursuant to Section 2.21(c), then, without prejudice to any rights or remedies of the Issuing Bank or any Revolving Lender hereunder, all and letter of credit fees payable under Section 2.11(b) with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure shall be payable to the Issuing Bank until and to the extent that such LC Exposure is cash collateralized and/or reallocated; and

 

(d) Suspension of Swingline Loans and Letters of Credit.  So long as any Revolving Lender is a Defaulting Lender, the Swingline Lender shall not be required to fund any Swingline Loan and the Issuing Bank shall not be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless it is satisfied that the related exposure will be 100% covered by the Revolving Commitments of the non-Defaulting Lenders and/or cash collateral will be provided by the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.21(c), and participating interests in any such newly issued or increased Letter of Credit or newly made Swingline Loan shall be allocated among non-Defaulting Lenders in a manner consistent with Section 2.21(c)(i) (and Defaulting Lenders shall not participate therein).

 

If (i) a Bankruptcy Event with respect to a Lender Parent shall occur following the date hereof and for so long as such event shall continue or (ii) the Swingline Lender or the Issuing Bank has a good faith belief that any 

 

  

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Lender has defaulted in fulfilling its obligations under one or more other agreements in which such Lender commits to extend credit, the Swingline Lender shall not be required to fund any Swingline Loan and the Issuing Bank shall not be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless the Swingline Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, shall have entered into arrangements with the Borrower or such Lender, satisfactory to the Swingline Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, to defease any risk to it in respect of such Lender hereunder.

 

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

 

Section 2.22. Illegality.  If any Lender determines that any law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its lending office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Adjusted LIBO Rate, or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, Dollars in the London interbank market, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, (i) any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Adjusted LIBO Rate Loans or to convert ABR Loans to Eurocurrency Loans shall be suspended, and (ii) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender making or maintaining ABR Loans the interest rate on which is determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate component of the Alternate Base Rate, the interest rate on which ABR Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate component of the Alternate Base Rate, in each case until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist.  Upon receipt of such notice, (x) the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all Eurocurrency Loans of such Lender to ABR Loans (the interest rate on which ABR Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate component of the Base Rate), either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurocurrency Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurocurrency Loans and (y) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon the Adjusted LIBO Rate, the Administrative Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Alternate Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate component thereof until the Administrative Agent is advised in writing by such Lender that it is no longer illegal  for such Lender to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Adjusted LIBO Rate.  Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.

 

ARTICLE III.

 

Representations and Warranties

 

The Borrower represents and warrants to the Lenders that:

 

Section 3.01. Organization; Powers.  Each of the Borrower and each Subsidiary is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, every jurisdiction where such qualification is required, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  

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Section 3.02. Authorization; Enforceability.  The Loan Documents to be entered into by the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor are within their respective corporate powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate and, if required, stockholder action.  This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower and constitutes, and each other Loan Document to which the Borrower or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors is to be a party, when executed and delivered, will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of, the Borrower or such Subsidiary Guarantor (as the case may be), enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

 

Section 3.03. Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts.  The execution, performance and delivery of the Loan Documents by the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors:  (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with (other than the inclusion of this Agreement as an exhibit to routine filings under the 1934 Act or any other action by any Governmental Authority except for such consents, approvals, registrations and filings which have already been obtained or made, (b) will not violate any applicable law or regulation or the charter, by–laws or other organizational documents of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries or any order of any Governmental Authority, (c) will not violate in any material respect or result in a material default under any indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries, or its or their assets, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries, and (d) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries.

 

Section 3.04. Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change.

 

(a) Financial Statements.  The Borrower has heretofore furnished to the Lenders its consolidated balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows (i) as of and for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013 reported on by independent public accountants, and (ii) as of and for the fiscal quarter and the portion of the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013, certified by its chief financial officer.  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, subject to year–end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes in the case of the statements referred to in clause (ii) above.

 

(b) Contingent Liabilities, etc.  Except:  (i) as disclosed in the financial statements referred to above or the notes thereto and (ii) for the Disclosed Matters, none of the Borrower or the Subsidiaries has, as of the Effective Date, any contingent liabilities, unusual long–term commitments or unrealized losses which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c) Material Adverse Change.  Except for the Disclosed Matters, since March 31, 2013 there has been no material adverse change in the business, assets, operations or financial condition of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

 

Section 3.05. Properties.

 

(a) Title.  Each of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries has good title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all its real and personal property material to its business (including its Collateral), except for minor defects in title that do not interfere with its ability to conduct its business as currently conducted or to utilize such properties for their intended purposes free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Encumbrances and Liens permitted by Section 6.02;

 

  

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(b) Intellectual Property.  Each of the Borrower and the 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 the Subsidiaries does not infringe upon the rights of any other Person, except for any such infringements that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

 

Section 3.06. Litigation and Environmental Matters.

 

(a) Pending Actions.  There are no actions, suits or proceedings by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against or affecting the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries (i) as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination and that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) that involve any of the Loan Documents.

 

(b) Environmental Matters.  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 the Subsidiaries (i) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law, (ii) has become subject to any Environmental Liability, (iii) has received notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or (iv) knows of any basis for any Environmental Liability.

 

(c) Material Adverse Effect.  The Disclosed Matters, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.  Since the date of this Agreement, there has been no change in the status of the Disclosed Matters that, individually or in the aggregate, has resulted in, or materially increased the likelihood of, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 3.07. Compliance with Laws and Agreements.  Each of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries is in compliance with all laws, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property and all indentures, agreements and other instruments binding upon it or its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.  No Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

Section 3.08. 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.

 

Section 3.09. Taxes.  Each of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries has timely filed or caused to be filed all Tax returns and reports required to have been filed and has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes required to have been paid by it, except (a) Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on its books adequate reserves or (b) to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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 present value of all accumulated benefit obligations under each Plan (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87) did not, 

 

  

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as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed by more than $5,000,000 of the fair market value of the assets of such Plan, and the present value of all accumulated benefit obligations of all underfunded Plans (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed by more than $5,000,000 of the fair market value of the assets of all such underfunded Plans.

 

Section 3.11. Disclosure.  The Borrower has disclosed to the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries is subject, and all other matters known to any of them, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.  No reports, financial statements, certificates or other information furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document delivered hereunder or thereunder (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) 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 to be reasonable at the time such projections were delivered to the Lenders.

 

Section 3.12. Subsidiaries.  As of the Effective Date, Borrower has no Subsidiaries other than those listed on Schedule 3.12 hereto and those Subsidiaries owned by Foreign Subsidiaries (which are not listed on Schedule 3.12).  As of the Effective Date, Schedule 3.12 sets forth the jurisdiction of incorporation or organization of each Subsidiary directly owned by the Borrower and each Domestic Subsidiary, the percentage of Borrower’s ownership of the outstanding Equity Interests of each Subsidiary directly owned by Borrower, the percentage of each Subsidiary’s ownership of the outstanding Equity Interests of each Domestic Subsidiary and the authorized, issued and outstanding Equity Interests of each Subsidiary directly owned by the Borrower and each Domestic Subsidiary.

 

Section 3.13. Insurance.  Each of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries maintain with financially sound and reputable insurers, insurance with respect to its properties and business against such casualties and contingencies and in such amounts as are usually carried by businesses engaged in similar activities as the Borrower and the Subsidiaries and located in similar geographic areas in which the Borrower and the Subsidiaries operate.

 

Section 3.14. Labor Matters.  As of the Effective Date, there are no strikes, lockouts or slowdowns against the Borrower or any Subsidiary pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened.  The hours worked by and payments made to employees of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries 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 in any material respect.  All material amounts 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.

 

Section 3.15. Solvency.  Immediately following the making of each Loan and after giving effect to the application of the proceeds of such Loans:  (a) the fair value of the assets of Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor, at a fair valuation, will exceed its debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise; (b) the present fair saleable value of the property of Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor will be greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of its debts and other liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured; (c) Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor will be able to

 

  

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pay its debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured; and (d) Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor will not have unreasonably small capital with which to conduct the business in which it is engaged as such business is now conducted and is proposed to be conducted following the Effective Date.  As used in this Section 3.15, the term “fair value” means the amount at which the applicable assets would change hands between a willing buyer and a willing seller within a reasonable time, each having reasonable knowledge of the relevant facts, neither being under any compulsion to act, with equity to both and “present fair saleable value” means the amount that may be realized if the applicable company’s aggregate assets are sold with reasonable promptness in an arm’s length transaction under present conditions for the sale of a comparable business enterprises.

 

Section 3.16. Margin Securities.  Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulations U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), and no part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used to purchase or carry any margin stock or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock.

 

Section 3.17. Perfection of Security Interests.  The Security Agreement creates in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties a valid and enforceable security interest in the Collateral to secure the Secured Obligations.  With respect to each of the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor, upon the filing of UCC-1 Financing Statements under the UCC in the jurisdiction of its organization naming it as the debtor, the Administrative Agent as the secured party and describing the property it owns which is included as Collateral, the security interest in that portion of the Collateral, in which a security interest may be perfected by filing of a financing statement under the UCC, will be perfected and will be prior to any other financing statement or other Lien, except for Permitted Encumbrances described in clauses (b), (c) and (d) of such definition and Liens permitted pursuant to Section 6.02(b) and (d).  Upon delivery to the Administrative Agent of the certificates evidencing the Equity Interests of the Domestic Subsidiaries included in the Collateral that constitute “certificated securities” as defined in the applicable UCC and duly executed blank stock powers relating thereto, the security interest in favor of the Administrative Agent granted under the Security Agreement therein will be perfected and will be prior to any other security interest created under the UCC and such security interest will otherwise be acquired by the Administrative Agent free of any adverse claims.

 

Section 3.18. Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions.  The Borrower has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions, and the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective officers and employees and to the knowledge of the Borrower its directors and agents, are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects.  None of (a) the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any of their respective directors, officers or employees, or (b) to the knowledge of the Borrower, any agent of the Borrower or any Subsidiary that will act in any capacity in connection with or benefit from the credit facility established hereby, is a Sanctioned Person.   No Borrowing or Letter of Credit, use of proceeds or other transaction contemplated by this Agreement will violate Anti-Corruption Laws or applicable Sanctions.

 

  

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ARTICLE IV.

 

Conditions

 

Section 4.01. Effective Date.  The effectiveness of this Agreement to amend and restate the Existing Agreement as herein contemplated and the obligations of the Lenders to make Loans hereunder shall not become effective until the date on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 10.02):

 

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

 

(b) The Administrative Agent shall have received a favorable written opinion (addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and dated the Effective Date) of counsel for the Borrower, covering such matters relating to the Borrower, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Loan Documents as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request.  The Borrower hereby requests such counsel to deliver such opinions.

 

(c) The Administrative Agent shall have received the Subsidiary Guaranty and the Security Agreement duly executed by the parties thereto (such that the Minimum Guarantee and Pledge Requirement shall then be satisfied).

 

(d) The Administrative Agent shall have received such documents and certificates as the Administrative Agent or its counsel may reasonably request relating to the organization, existence and good standing of the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor, the power and authority of Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor to execute, deliver and perform the Loan Documents to which each is a party and any other legal matters relating to the Borrower, any Subsidiary Guarantor or the Loan Documents, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.

 

(e) Subject to the terms of Section 4.02 of the Security Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall have received stock certificates representing all of the outstanding capital stock or other Equity Interests of each Material Subsidiary (other than Acxiom CDC, Inc. or any of its subsidiaries and any Foreign Subsidiary owned by a Foreign Subsidiary) owned by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor as of the Effective Date (except that stock certificates representing capital stock or other Equity Interests issued by a Foreign Subsidiary shall be limited to 65% of the outstanding Equity Interest of such Foreign Subsidiary), and stock powers and instruments of transfer, endorsed in blank, with respect to such stock certificates.

 

(f) Subject to the terms of Section 4.02 of the Security Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall have received all documentation, including amendments to UCC financing statements, required by law or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to be filed, registered or recorded to create or perfect the Liens intended to be created under the Security Agreement;

 

(g) The loans under the Existing Agreement shall have been refinanced in full by Loans hereunder and all commitments to extend credit thereunder shall have been terminated;

 

(h) The Administrative Agent and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC shall have received all fees and other amounts due and payable on or prior to the Effective Date, including with respect to the Administrative Agent and JP Morgan Securities LLC only, to the extent invoiced, reimbursement or payment of all out–of–pocket expenses (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel) required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower hereunder or under any other Loan Document.

 

  

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(i) The Administrative Agent shall have received satisfactory evidence that all consents and approvals required to be obtained from any Governmental Authority or other Person shall have been obtained.

 

(j) The Administrative Agent shall have received payment of an amount equal to all unpaid interest and fees accrued under the Existing Agreement to the Effective Date, together with all other fees, expenses and other charges outstanding thereunder, including any charges due under Section 2.15 of the Existing Agreement arising as a result of the termination of the Interest Periods thereunder on the Effective Date.

 

(k) The Borrower shall have made a repayment of the loans outstanding on the Effective Date under the Existing Agreement to the extent necessary so that the total Revolving Credit Exposure will not exceed the total Revolving Commitments under this Agreement as of the Effective Date.

 

(l) The representations and warranties of the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors set forth in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects.

 

(m) No Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

 

The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the Effective Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations of the Lenders to make Loans shall not become effective unless each of the foregoing conditions is satisfied (or waived pursuant to Section 10.02) at or prior to 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on October 15, 2013 (and, in the event such conditions are not so satisfied or waived, the Commitments shall terminate at such time).

 

Section 4.02. Each Credit Event.  The obligations of each Lender to make a Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing is subject to receipt of the request therefor in accordance herewith and to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

 

(a) The representations and warranties of the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors set forth in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Borrowing, except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of such earlier date.

 

(b) At the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

 

(c) At the time of and immediately after such Borrowing, the Revolving Credit Exposures shall not exceed the Revolving Commitments, and the combined aggregate Dollar Amount of all Foreign Currency Loans shall not exceed the Foreign Currency Sublimit.

 

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

 

  

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Section 4.03. Effective Date Advances and Adjustments.  On the Effective Date, the aggregate amount of the revolving commitments under the Existing Agreement is changed hereunder but not all Lenders are participating in the Revolving Commitments based on their pro rata percentages established under the Existing Agreement.  As a result, the revolving loans outstanding under the Existing Agreement which are continued hereunder will not be held pro rata by the Lenders in accordance with their Applicable Percentages determined hereunder.  To remedy the foregoing, on the Effective Date and upon fulfillment of the conditions in Section 4.01, the Lenders shall make advances among themselves (which may be through the Administrative Agent) so that after giving effect thereto the Revolving Loans will be held by the Lenders, pro rata in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages hereunder.  The advances made on the Effective Date under this Section by each Lender whose Applicable Percentage is new or has increased under this Agreement (as compared to its applicable percentage under the Existing Agreement) shall be deemed to be a purchase of a corresponding amount of the Revolving Loans of the Lender or Lenders whose Applicable Percentage has decreased (as compared to its applicable percentage under the Existing Agreement).  The advances made under this Section shall be ABR Borrowings.

 

ARTICLE V.

 

Affirmative Covenants

 

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

 

Section 5.01. Financial Statements and Other Information.  The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

 

(a) Annual Audit.  Within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, (i) its audited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all reported on by 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 the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied and (ii) the Borrower’s unaudited consolidating balance sheet and related statement of operations as of the end of and for such year, both certified by one of its Financial Officers as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidating basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied;

 

(b) Quarterly Financial Statements.  Within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower, its unaudited consolidated balance sheet and related 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 and its unaudited consolidating balance sheet and statement of operations for the same period, all certified by one of its Financial Officers as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated and consolidating basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year–end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;

 

  

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(c) Compliance Certificate.  Concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under paragraph (a) or (b) above or notice of delivery to the SEC of financial statements under paragraph (f) below, a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower (i) certifying as to whether a Default has occurred and, if a Default has occurred, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto, (ii) setting forth reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating compliance with Article VII, (iii) setting forth reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating the calculation of the Leverage Ratio for determining the Applicable Rate, (iv) certifying as to the Borrower’s compliance with Section 2.10(c) for the period covered by such financial statements, (v) stating whether any change in GAAP or in the application thereof has occurred since the date of the Borrower’s audited financial statements referred to in Section 3.04 and, if any such change has occurred, specifying the effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying such certificate and (vi) and setting forth calculations demonstrating whether the Minimum Guarantee and Pledge Requirement is then satisfied in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.11;

 

(d) Accountants Report.  Concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under paragraph (a) above, a certificate of the accounting firm that reported on such financial statements stating whether they obtained knowledge during the course of their examination of any failure of the Borrower  to comply with the terms, covenants, provisions or conditions of Article VII insofar as they relate to accounting matters (which certificate may be limited to the extent required by accounting rules or guidelines);

 

(e) Annual Budget.  If requested by the Administrative Agent, a detailed consolidated budget for the fiscal year designated by the Administrative Agent (including a projected consolidated balance sheet and related statements of projected operations and cash flow as of the end of and for such fiscal year and setting forth the assumptions used for purposes of preparing such budget) and, promptly when available, any significant revisions of any such budget delivered under this paragraph;

 

(f) Governmental Reports.  Promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all annual and quarterly reports and proxy statements filed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary with the SEC (or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all of the functions of SEC) which reports and statements may be furnished electronically and all other material reports or statements filed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary with SEC or with any national securities exchange, or distributed by the Borrower to its shareholders generally, as the case may be, which reports and statements may be furnished electronically; provided, that the financial statements or other information required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a), Section 5.01(b) or this Section 5.01(f) shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date on which the Borrower provides notice to the Administrative Agent that such information has been posted on the SEC’s website on the Internet at www.sec.gov, or at another website identified in such notice and accessible by the Lenders without charge.  For purposes of clarification, such notice may be included in a certificate delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(c); and

 

(g) Other Information.  Promptly following any reasonable request therefor, such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of any Loan Document (including, the compliance with the provisions of Section 6.01(n), Section 6.04(h), Section 6.05 and Section 6.06(e)), as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request.

 

Section 5.02. Notices of Material Events.  The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender prompt written notice of the following:

 

(a) the occurrence of any Default;

 

  

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

 

(c) the occurrence of any ERISA Event that, alone or together with any other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding $10,000,000; and

 

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

 

Each notice delivered under this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of a 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.  The Borrower will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to, do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 6.03 or other disposition permitted under Section 6.05.  The Borrower will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to, do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect the rights, licenses, permits, privileges, franchises, patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade names material to the conduct of its business except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 5.04. Payment of Obligations.  The Borrower will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to, pay its Indebtedness and other obligations, including Tax liabilities, before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (a) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (b) the Borrower or such Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP, (c) 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.  The Borrower will, and will cause each of the 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. Insurance.  The Borrower will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to, maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance with respect to its properties and business against such casualties and contingencies and in such amounts as shall be in accordance with the general practices of businesses engaged in similar activities as the Borrower and the Subsidiaries and in similar geographic areas in which the Borrower and the Subsidiaries operate, containing such terms, in such forms and for such periods as may be reasonable and prudent.  The Borrower will furnish to the Lenders, upon request of the Administrative Agent, information in reasonable detail as to the insurance so maintained.

 

Section 5.07. Books and Records; Inspection and Audit Rights.  The Borrower will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to, keep proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries are made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities.  The Borrower will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to, permit any representatives designated by the Administrative Agent or any 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 and as often as reasonably requested.

 

  

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Section 5.08. Compliance with Laws.  The Borrower will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to, comply with all laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property (including Environmental Laws), except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.  The Borrower will maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with  Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions.

 

Section 5.09. Use of Proceeds and Letters of Credit.  The proceeds of the (a) Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans will be used to finance the working capital needs of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and for other general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and (b) Term Loans will be used to refinance certain Indebtedness, to pay transaction costs and expenses and for other general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business. 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 U and X.  Letters of Credit will be issued only to support the general corporate needs of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries.

 

Section 5.10. Additional Subsidiary Guarantors.  If any Material Subsidiary (other than an Affected Foreign Subsidiary) is formed or acquired after the Effective Date, or if any Subsidiary is required to become a Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder pursuant to Section 5.11, the Borrower will:

 

(a)            notify the Administrative Agent thereof;

 

(b)           within 30 days (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree, in its sole discretion) after such Subsidiary is formed, acquired or designated, as applicable cause such Subsidiary to become a party to the Subsidiary Guaranty and the Security Agreement pursuant to the completion and execution of a Subsidiary Joinder Agreement (as such term is defined in the Security Agreement) and promptly take such actions to create and perfect Liens in accordance with the terms of the Security Agreement to secure the Secured Obligations as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request;

 

(c)           within 30 days (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree, in its sole discretion) after such Subsidiary is formed, acquired or designated, as applicable, cause such Subsidiary to:

 

(i)           execute and deliver such documents, organizational documents, certificates, resolutions and opinions of the type referred to in Sections 4.01(b), (d), (e) and (f) with respect to each such Subsidiary, and its entry into the Subsidiary Guaranty and the Security Agreement;

 

(ii)           execute and deliver any and all further documentation and take such further action as the Administrative Agent may deem necessary or reasonably appropriate to:

 

(1)            grant, perfect and protect such Liens;

 

(2)            to evidence the authority of such Subsidiary to grant such Liens;

 

  

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(3)            for the Administrative Agent to obtain the full benefits of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, but subject to the exclusions set forth in the Security Agreement; and

 

(iii)            cause the Equity Interests issued by such Subsidiary Guarantor to be pledged pursuant to the Security Agreement by the owner thereof.

 

Section 5.11. Minimum Guarantee and Pledge Requirement.  Concurrently with each delivery of financial statements pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or Section 5.01(b) or notice of delivery of such financial statements to the SEC pursuant to Section 5.01(f), the Borrower will determine whether the Minimum Guarantee and Pledge Requirement is then satisfied, and provide notice (including reasonably detailed calculations with respect thereto) of the outcome of such determination to the Administrative Agent.  If the Minimum Guarantee and Pledge Requirement is not then satisfied, the Borrower will (a) promptly (and in any event within five Business Days (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree, in its sole discretion) after delivery of the notice provided pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence) identify to the Administrative Agent those Subsidiaries that are to become Subsidiary Guarantors (regardless of any such Subsidiary’s non-status as a “Material Subsidiary”) in order to satisfy the Minimum Guarantee and Pledge Requirement, and (b) take such actions as required by Sections 5.10(b) and (c) with respect to those Subsidiaries that are to become Subsidiary Guarantors.

 

Section 5.12. Further Assurances.  The Borrower will execute, and will cause each Subsidiary Guarantor to execute, any and all further documents, agreements and instruments, and take all such further actions, which may be required under any applicable law, or which either the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may reasonably request, to effectuate the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents all at the expense of the Borrower.

 

Section 5.13. Post-Closing Matters. Within ten Business Days after the Effective Date (a) provide the Administrative Agent with evidence that the UCC-1 financing statements listed on Part One of Schedule 5.13 have been terminated and (b) use commercially reasonable efforts to amend the UCC-1 financing statements listed on Part Two of Schedule 5.13 (with the form of any such UCC-3 or other amendment filed pursuant to this clause (b) to be subject to the satisfaction of the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion) and provide the Administrative Agent with evidence of the same.

 

ARTICLE VI.

 

Negative Covenants

 

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

 

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

 

(a) Indebtedness created under the Loan Documents;

 

(b) Indebtedness existing on the Effective Date and set forth in Schedule 6.01 and extensions, renewals, replacements and other modifications of any such Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof or result in an earlier maturity date or decreased weighted average life thereof (collectively, “Refinancing Indebtedness”);

 

  

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(c) Indebtedness owed by the Borrower to a Subsidiary Guarantor or by a Subsidiary Guarantor to the Borrower or another Subsidiary Guarantor;

 

(d) Guarantees by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of any Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor;

 

(e) Indebtedness owed by a Foreign Subsidiary to Borrower or owed by a Affected Foreign Subsidiary to another Affected Foreign Subsidiary incurred in accordance with the restrictions set forth in Section 6.04(l);

 

(f) Guarantees provided in accordance with the restrictions set forth in Section 6.04(l) by the Borrower or a Subsidiary of Indebtedness of a Foreign Subsidiary;

 

(g) Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of business with respect to surety and appeal bonds, performance and return–of–money bonds, and other similar obligations not exceeding at any time outstanding a Dollar Amount equal to $25,000,000 in aggregate liability;

 

(h) Indebtedness constituting of obligations to reimburse worker’s compensation insurance companies for claims paid by such companies on Borrower’s or a Subsidiaries’ behalf in accordance with the policies issued to Borrower and the Subsidiaries;

 

(i) Indebtedness arising in connection with Swap Agreements entered into in accordance with Section 6.10;

 

(j) Indebtedness arising as a result of the licensing of software or data by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries;

 

(k) Indebtedness consisting of 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;

 

(l) Indebtedness consisting of 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 below) 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);

 

(m) 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;

 

(n) So long as no Default exists at the time of incurring such Indebtedness or would result therefrom and the Borrower would be in pro forma compliance with Article VII after giving effect to the following Indebtedness created, incurred or assumed, the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors may create, incur or assume:

 

(i) Purchase Money Indebtedness;

 

(ii) unsecured Indebtedness (other than obligations in respect of Swap Agreements and Guarantees of Indebtedness of others);

 

  

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(iii) in addition to Purchase Money Indebtedness, other secured Indebtedness of the Borrower, and for the avoidance of doubt not the Subsidiary Guarantors, (other than obligations of the Borrower under any Swap Agreement and Guarantees of Indebtedness of others); provided that as of the date of the incurrence of such Indebtedness and after giving effect thereto the aggregate principal Dollar Amount of such secured Indebtedness then outstanding (not including any Purchase Money Indebtedness) shall not exceed $30,000,000 at any time;

 

(o) So long as no Default exists at the time of incurring such Indebtedness or would result therefrom and the Borrower would be in pro forma compliance with Article VII after giving effect to the Indebtedness created, incurred or assumed, the following Indebtedness shall be permitted:

 

(i) unsecured Indebtedness (other than obligations in respect of Swap Agreements, Guarantees of Indebtedness of others and Indebtedness in respect of mandatory redemption or mandatory dividend rights on Equity Interests) of Subsidiaries that are not Subsidiary Guarantors incurred after the Effective Date and owed to any Person other than the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor; provided that as of the date of the incurrence of such Indebtedness under the permissions of this clause (i) and after giving effect thereto, the aggregate principal Dollar Amount of all such Indebtedness incurred under the permissions of this clause (i) then outstanding (excluding the principal Dollar Amount of the Indebtedness incurred under the other permissions of clause (ii) below) shall not exceed (a) $50,000,000 with respect to all Domestic Subsidiaries that are not Subsidiary Guarantors and (b) $15,000,000 with respect to all Foreign Subsidiaries; and

 

(ii) Purchase Money Indebtedness or other secured Indebtedness of the Foreign Subsidiaries which is owed to any Person other than the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor; provided the aggregate outstanding principal Dollar Amount of all such Purchase Money Indebtedness or other secured Indebtedness owed by the Foreign Subsidiaries (including, any such Indebtedness outstanding on the Effective Date and identified on Schedule 6.01) shall not at any time exceed $25,000,000 in the aggregate.

 

Section 6.02. Liens.  The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it, except:

 

(a) Permitted Encumbrances and Liens created by the Security Agreement and the other Loan Documents;

 

(b) Any Lien on any asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary existing on the Effective Date and set forth in Schedule 6.02; provided that (i) such Lien shall not apply to any other asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary and (ii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date hereof and extensions, renewals, replacements and other modifications thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;

 

(c) Liens in favor of Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor;

 

(d) Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof granted in the ordinary course to secure the financing of insurance premiums with respect thereto, not to exceed $10,000,000;

 

(e) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

  

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(f) 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(l);  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;

 

(g) Bankers’ Liens, rights of setoff and other similar Liens existing solely with respect to cash and cash equivalents on deposit in one or more accounts maintained by Borrower or any Subsidiary, in each case granted in the ordinary course of business in favor of the bank or banks with which such accounts are maintained, securing amounts owing to such bank with respect to treasury, depositary and cash management services or automated clearinghouse transfer of funds;

 

(h) The following Liens which may only be created, incurred or assumed if no Default exists at the time of creating, incurring or assuming such Lien or would result therefrom:

 

(i) Liens on assets of the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01(n)(i);

 

(ii) Liens on assets of the Foreign Subsidiaries securing Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01(o)(ii); and

 

(iii) Liens on assets of the Borrower that are not required to be Collateral securing Indebtedness of the Borrower permitted by Section 6.01(n)(iii).

 

Section 6.03. Fundamental Changes.

 

(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 liquidate or dissolve, except that, if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Default shall exist:  (i) any Subsidiary may merge into the Borrower in a transaction in which the Borrower is the surviving corporation, (ii) any Material Subsidiary may merge into or consolidate with any other Subsidiary if the surviving Person assumes the obligations of the applicable Material Subsidiary under the Loan Documents, if any, and is solvent as contemplated under Section 3.15 hereunder after giving effect to such merger or consolidation, except that a Material Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary may not be merged into or consolidated with a Foreign Subsidiary; (iii) any Subsidiary that is not party to the Subsidiary Guaranty may liquidate or dissolve if its assets are transferred to Borrower or a Material Subsidiary and 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 Lenders; (iv) Borrower or any Material Subsidiary may consolidate with or merge with any other Person in connection with an acquisition permitted by Section 6.04, so long as the Borrower or such Material Subsidiary is the surviving Person; and (v) any Subsidiary may merge into or consolidate with any other Person in connection with a transaction permitted by Section 6.05.

 

  

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(b) The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of the Subsidiaries to, engage to any material extent in any business other than businesses of the type conducted by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on the date of execution of this Agreement and businesses reasonably related thereto.

 

Section 6.04. Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions.  The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of the Subsidiaries to make or permit to exist any Investment except:

 

(a) Permitted Investments and Investments by Foreign Subsidiaries which are held or made outside the United States of the same or similar quality as the Permitted Investments;

 

(b) Investments existing on the Effective Date and set forth on Schedule 6.04;

 

(c) Investments by Borrower or any Subsidiary in, and the purchase by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of, Equity Interests of any Subsidiary Guarantor;

 

(d) Indebtedness (including Guarantees) permitted by paragraphs (c) and (d) of Section 6.01;

 

(e) Loans and advances to employees for business expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(f) the Borrower or any Subsidiary (the “Acquiring Company”) may acquire assets constituting a business unit of any Subsidiary (a “Transferring Subsidiary”) if the Acquiring Company assumes all the Transferring Subsidiary’s liabilities, including all liabilities of the Transferring Subsidiary under the Loan Documents to which it is a party and if all of the capital stock of the Transferring Subsidiary is owned directly or indirectly by the Acquiring Company (and, following such assignment and assumption, such Transferring Subsidiary may wind up, dissolve and liquidate) except that no Foreign Subsidiary may acquire assets of a Domestic Subsidiary in such a transaction;

 

(g) if no Default exists or would result therefrom, a Permitted Acquisition if, after giving pro forma effect to any Indebtedness and EBITDA of the Person to be acquired or to the assets to be acquired, either (i) Borrower shall have a Leverage Ratio of no more than 2.50 to 1.00 calculated as of the last day of the most recently-ended fiscal quarter of Borrower as if the proposed acquisition had occurred on the first day of the four fiscal quarter period ending on the last day of such fiscal quarter, or (ii) if such Leverage Ratio as so calculated is more than 2.50 to 1.00, then, with respect to this clause (ii), the Purchase Price for the proposed acquisition in question together with the Purchase Prices paid for all Permitted Acquisitions pursuant to this paragraph (g)(ii) consummated in the same fiscal year of Borrower does not exceed a Dollar Amount equal to $100,000,000;

 

(h) Investments received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of, or settlement of delinquent accounts and disputes with, customers and suppliers, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

 

(i) Investments consisting of the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons;

 

(j) Investments in the form of Swap Agreements permitted by Section 6.10;

 

(k) Investments received in connection with the disposition of any asset permitted by Section 6.05(a); and

 

  

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(l) in addition to the Investments permitted by paragraphs (a) through (k) of this Section 6.04, any other Investment by the Borrower or any Subsidiary; provided that as of the date of any such proposed Investment and after giving effect thereto:

 

(i) no Default exists; and

 

(ii) either:  (A) the Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 2.50 to 1.00 calculated on a pro forma basis as of the last day of the most recently-ended fiscal quarter of Borrower as if the Investment had occurred on the first day of the four fiscal quarter period ending on the last day of such fiscal quarter, or (B) if such Leverage Ratio as so calculated for such date is more 2.50 to 1.00, then, with respect to this clause (B):

 

(1) if the proposed Investment is to be made in, to or for the benefit of any Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor, then the Dollar Amount of the Outstanding Investments made in, to or for the benefit of all Subsidiaries that are not Subsidiary Guarantors is less than or equal to $50,000,000 in the aggregate; and

 

(2) if the proposed Investment is to be made in, to or for the benefit of a Person who is not a Subsidiary, then the Dollar Amount of the Outstanding Investments made in, to or for the benefit of Persons who are not Subsidiaries is less than or equal to $25,000,000 in the aggregate.

 

Section 6.05. Asset Sales.  The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of the Subsidiaries to, sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of any asset, including any Equity Interest owned by it, nor will the Borrower permit any of the Subsidiaries to issue any additional Equity Interest in such Subsidiary (each such action, an “Asset Sale”), except:

 

(a) any Asset Sale if (i) the aggregate book value of the assets sold, transferred, leased or otherwise disposed of after the Effective Date (excluding the book value of all Asset Sales previously consummated pursuant to Section 6.05(d)) after giving effect to such Asset Sale does not exceed 30% of the consolidated total assets of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries as of the date of determination (including the book value of all Asset Sales previously consummated pursuant to Section 6.05(d)), in each case as determined in accordance with GAAP, (the “Prepayment Threshold”) and (ii) the Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 2.00 to 1.00 calculated on a pro forma basis as of the last day of the most recently-ended fiscal quarter of Borrower as if the Asset Sale (including any Indebtedness prepaid substantially contemporaneously with the closing of such Asset Sale) had occurred on the first day of the four fiscal quarter period ending on the last day of such fiscal quarter; provided that if the aggregate book value of the assets sold, transferred, leased or otherwise disposed of pursuant to this Section 6.05(a) after the Effective Date after giving effect to such Asset Sale exceeds the Prepayment Threshold, Borrower shall be obligated to comply with the requirements of Section 2.08(b), Section 2.10(b) and Section 2.10(c), as applicable, with respect to the Excess Percentage of the Net Proceeds of such Asset Sale;

 

(b) any Asset Sale involving the sale, transfer or disposition of inventory, used or surplus equipment or Permitted Investments in the ordinary course of business or the sale, lease or sublease of equipment to customers in the ordinary course of business;

 

(c) any Asset Sale to the Borrower or a Subsidiary in accordance with Section 6.03; and

 

  

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(d) all other Asset Sales if Borrower complies with the requirements of Section 2.08(b), Section 2.10(b) and Section 2.10(c), as applicable, with respect to the Net Proceeds of each such Asset Sale;

 

provided that, no less than 10 Business Days prior to the consummation of any Asset Sale pursuant to this Section 6.05, the Borrower shall (other than with respect to Asset Sales pursuant to clauses (b) and (c) above and any other Asset Sales that none of the Net Proceeds thereof are required to be applied as a mandatory prepayment as set forth in Section 2.10(c)(ii)) deliver written notice to the Administrative Agent setting forth the details of such proposed Asset Sale and whether such Asset Sale shall be consummated pursuant to clause (a) or (d) above and with respect to an Asset Sale proposed to be consummated pursuant to clause (a) or (d) above, whether the Net Proceeds or any Excess Percentage of the Net Proceeds, as applicable, of such Asset Sale will be (1) reinvested in the business of the Borrower or (2) used to prepay the Term Loans and reduce the Revolving Commitments and prepay the Revolving Loans as necessary.  Such notice shall include a certification by a Financial Officer or other executive officer of the Borrower with respect to an Asset Sale proposed to be consummated pursuant to clause (a) above, that the requirements of clause (a) have been satisfied (including reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating compliance with all applicable provisions thereof).

 

All Asset Sales permitted by this Section 6.05 shall be made for fair value as determined by the Borrower in good faith. If 100% of the Equity Interests of a Subsidiary Guarantor are disposed of as permitted by this Section, the Administrative Agent is authorized to release such Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under the Loan Documents without the consent or agreement of any Lender in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.18.

 

Section 6.06. Restricted Payments.  The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, declare or make, or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, or incur any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to do so, except that:

 

(a) (i) So long as on the date of any such proposed Restricted Payment and after giving effect thereto, no Default exists, Borrower may declare and pay dividends ratably with respect to its common stock in an aggregate amount not to exceed $30,000,000 in any fiscal year of the Borrower and (ii) Subsidiaries may declare and pay dividends ratably with respect to their Equity Interests;

 

(b) Borrower and any Subsidiary may make regularly scheduled interest and principal payments as and when due in respect of any Indebtedness; provided that no such payments may be made in respect of Subordinated Indebtedness if as of the date of any such proposed payment and after giving effect thereto, a Default exists;

 

(c) So long as no Default has occurred and is continuing, Borrower and any Subsidiary may refinance any Indebtedness to the extent permitted by Section 6.01;

 

(d) Borrower and any Subsidiary may pay secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness;

 

(e) So long as on the date of any such payment and after giving effect thereto, no Default exists, Borrower and any Subsidiary may prepay permitted Purchase Money Indebtedness; and

 

(f) In addition to the Restricted Payments permitted by paragraphs (a) through (e) of this Section 6.06, the Borrower may declare and make any other Restricted Payment if:

 

  

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(i) as of the date of any such proposed Restricted Payment and after giving effect thereto, no Default exists; and

 

(ii) as of the date of such payment, either:  (A) the Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 2.25 to 1.00 calculated on a pro forma basis as of the last day of the most recently-ended fiscal quarter of Borrower as if the Restricted Payment had occurred on the first day of the four fiscal quarter period ending on the last day of such fiscal quarter, or (B) the Leverage Ratio as so calculated for such date is more than 2.25 to 1.00, then, with respect to Restricted Payments in reliance of this clause (B), the sum of the aggregate amount paid by the Borrower for Restricted Payments made under the permission of this paragraph (f) in the then current fiscal year plus the aggregate amount of the Restricted Payment to be made on such date does not exceed $50,000,000.

 

Section 6.07. Transactions with Affiliates.  The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, sell, lease or otherwise transfer any property or assets to, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any of its Affiliates, except:  (a) transactions in the ordinary course of business that are on 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 Subsidiary Guarantors not involving any other Affiliate, and (c) any Restricted Payments permitted by Section 6.06.

 

Section 6.08. Restrictive Agreements.  The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any  Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, enter into, incur or permit to exist any agreement or other arrangement that prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon (a) the ability of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to create, incur or permit to exist any Lien upon any of its property or assets, or (b) the ability of any Subsidiary to pay dividends or other distributions with respect to any shares of its capital stock or to make or repay loans or advances to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary or to Guarantee Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary; provided that (i) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions imposed by law or by any Loan Document, (ii) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions existing on the Effective Date and identified on Schedule 6.08 (but shall apply to any extension or renewal of, or any amendment or modification expanding in any material respect the scope of, any such restriction or condition), (iii) the foregoing shall not apply to customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of a Subsidiary pending such sale, provided such restrictions and conditions apply only to the Subsidiary that is to be sold and such sale is permitted hereunder, (iv) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions imposed by the documentation executed in connection with the financing permitted by clauses (ii) or (iii) of Section 6.01(n) as long as such restrictions and conditions:  (A) are no more onerous to the Borrower and the Subsidiaries and no more beneficial to the parties entitled to the protections thereof, than the restrictions and conditions hereunder and (B) permit the Borrower and the Subsidiaries to create, incur or permit to exist any Lien  on their respective assets (in addition to the Collateral) in favor of the Administrative Agent to secure the Secured Obligations, (v) paragraph (a) of the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement if such restrictions or conditions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness and (vi) paragraph (a) of the foregoing shall not apply to customary provisions in leases restricting the assignment thereof.

 

Section 6.09. Change in Fiscal Year.  Borrower will not change the manner in which either the last day of its fiscal year or the last days of the first three fiscal quarters of its fiscal year is calculated.

 

  

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Section 6.10. Swap Agreements.  Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into any Swap Agreement, except (a) Swap Agreements entered into to hedge or mitigate risks to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary has actual exposure (other than those in respect of Equity Interests of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries), 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 or investment of the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

 

Section 6.11. Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions.  The Borrower will not request any Borrowing or Letter of Credit, and the Borrower shall not use, and shall procure that its Subsidiaries and its or their respective directors, officers, employees and agents shall not use, the proceeds of any Borrowing or Letter of Credit (a) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws, (b) for the purpose of funding, financing or facilitating any activities, business or transaction of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country, or (c)  in any manner that would result in the violation of  any Sanctions applicable to any party hereto.

 

ARTICLE VII.

 

Financial Covenants

 

Section 7.01. Leverage Ratio.  As of the last day of each fiscal quarter, the Borrower shall not permit the Leverage Ratio to exceed 3.00 to 1.00.

 

Section 7.02. Fixed Charge Coverage.  As of the last day of each fiscal quarter, the Borrower shall not permit the ratio of (a) the sum of the following for Borrower and the Subsidiaries calculated on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP:  (i) Adjusted EBITDA; minus (ii) Capital Expenditures to (b) Fixed Charges, all calculated for the twelve months ending on the last day of such fiscal quarter, to be less than 1.25 to 1.00.  As used in this Section 7.02, “Fixed Charges” means for any period, the sum of the following for the Borrower and the Subsidiaries calculated on a consolidated basis without duplication for such period:  (a) the aggregate amount of interest, including payments in the nature of interest under Capitalized Lease Obligations and (b) the scheduled amortization of Indebtedness paid or payable.

 

ARTICLE VIII.

 

Events of Default

 

If any of the following events (“Events of Default”) shall occur:

 

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

 

(b) 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 this Agreement or any other Loan Document, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of five Business Days;

 

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

 

  

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(d) the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 5.02(a), Section 5.03, (with respect to the existence of the Borrower) Section 5.09, Section 5.10 or Section 5.11 or in Articles VI or VII;

 

(e) the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 5.02(b),  Section 5.02(c) and Section 5.02(d), and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of five Business Days after notice thereof from the Administrative Agent to the Borrower (which notice will be given at the request of any Lender);

 

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

 

(g) 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 (after taking into account any applicable grace period);

 

(h) any event or condition occurs that results in any Material Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or that enables or permits the holder or holders of any Material Indebtedness or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause any Material Indebtedness to become due, or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity; provided that this paragraph (g) shall not apply to secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness or to any Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary prepayment of such Indebtedness;

 

(i) an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or other relief in respect of the Borrower or any Subsidiary or its debts, or of a substantial part of its 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 the Borrower or any Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, and, in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed for 60 days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;

 

(j) the Borrower or any 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 (i) of this Article, (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Borrower or any 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;

 

(k) the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall become unable, admit in writing its inability, or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due;

 

  

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

 

(m) an ERISA Event shall have occurred that, in the opinion of the Required Lenders, when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, could or does result in a liability equal to or in excess of $10,000,000 or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(n) a Change in Control shall have occurred and a period of 60 days shall have elapsed after the occurrence thereof;

 

(o) any Lien purported to be created under any Loan Document shall cease to be, or shall be asserted by Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor not to be, a valid and perfected Lien on any Collateral, with the priority required hereby or thereby, except (i) as a result of the sale or other disposition of the applicable Collateral in a transaction permitted under the Loan Documents or (ii) as a result of the Administrative Agent’s failure to maintain possession of any certificates, promissory notes or other instruments delivered to it under the Security Agreement;

 

(p) either the Subsidiary Guaranty or the Security Agreement shall for any reason cease to be in full force and effect and valid, binding and enforceable against each Loan Party that is a party thereto in accordance with its terms after its date of execution, or the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor shall so state in writing;

 

then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to the Borrower described in paragraph (i) or (j) of this Article), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, by written notice to the Borrower, take either or both of the following actions, at the same or different times:  (i) terminate the Commitments, and thereupon the Commitments shall terminate immediately, and (ii) declare the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), and thereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other Secured Obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder, shall become due and payable immediately, without any further notice of intent to accelerate, notice of acceleration, presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower; and in case of any event with respect to the Borrower described in paragraph (i) or (j) of this Article, the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other Secured Obligations accrued hereunder, shall automatically become due and payable, without notice of intent to accelerate, notice of acceleration, presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower.  In addition to the other rights and remedies that the Lenders may have upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent may, and the Required Lenders may direct the Administrative Agent to, exercise the rights and remedies available to it under the Subsidiary Guaranty, the Security Agreement and the UCC.

 

ARTICLE IX.

 

Administrative Agent

 

Section 9.01. Appointment.  Each of the Lenders, each Affiliate of any Lender who is owed any Secured Obligations, and the Issuing Bank hereby irrevocably appoints the Administrative Agent as its agent (and confirms

 

  

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 and continues such appointment under the Existing Agreement) and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf, including execution of the other Loan Document, and to exercise such powers as are delegated to it by the terms of the Loan Documents, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.

 

Section 9.02. Rights as a Lender.  The bank serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent, and such bank and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if it were not the Administrative Agent hereunder.

 

Section 9.03. Limitation on Duties and Immunities.  The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth in the Loan Documents.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (a) the Administrative Agent shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing, (b) the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated by the Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 10.02), and (c) except as expressly set forth in the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any Subsidiaries that is communicated to or obtained by the bank serving as Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.  The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 10.02) or in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct.  The Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Default unless and until written notice thereof is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or a Lender, and the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with any Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered thereunder or in connection therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth in any Loan Document, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, (v) the creation or priority of Liens on the Collateral or the existence of the Collateral or (vi) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere in any Loan Document, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

 

Section 9.04. Reliance on Third Parties.  The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or sent by the proper Person.  The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon.  The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

 

Section 9.05. Subagents.  The Administrative Agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers through their respective Related Parties.  The exculpatory provisions of the preceding paragraphs shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.

 

  

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Section 9.06. Successor Administrative Agent.  Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Administrative Agent as provided in this paragraph, the Administrative Agent may resign at any time by notifying the Lenders, the Issuing Bank and the Borrower.  Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrower, to appoint a successor.  If no successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Bank, appoint a successor Administrative Agent which shall be a bank with an office in New York, New York, or an Affiliate of any such bank.  Upon the acceptance of its appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder.  The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor.  After the Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Article and Section 10.03 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while it was acting as Administrative Agent.

 

Section 9.07. Independent Credit Decisions.  Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that the extensions of credit made hereunder are commercial loans and letters of credit and not investments in a business enterprise or securities.  Each Lender further represents that it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans in the ordinary course of its business and has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement as a Lender, and to make, acquire or hold Loans hereunder.  Each Lender shall, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information (which may contain material, non-public information within the meaning of the United States securities laws concerning the Borrower and its Affiliates) as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder and in deciding whether or to the extent to which it will continue as a lender or assign or otherwise transfer its rights, interests and obligations hereunder.

 

Section 9.08. Other Agents.  None of the Syndication Agents or Co-Documentation Agents shall have any right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement other than those applicable to all Lenders as such.  Without limiting the foregoing, none of such Lenders shall have or be deemed to have a fiduciary relationship with any Lender.  Each Lender hereby makes the same acknowledgments with respect to the relevant Lenders in their respective capacities as a Syndication Agent or Co-Documentation Agent, as applicable, as it makes with respect to the Administrative Agent in the preceding paragraph.

 

Section 9.09. Powers and Immunities of Issuing Bank.  No Issuing Bank nor any of their respective Related Parties shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by any of them hereunder or otherwise in connection with any Loan Document except for its or their own gross negligence or willful misconduct.  Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, (a) no Issuing Bank shall have any duties or responsibilities except those expressly set forth in the Loan Documents, and shall not by reason of any Loan Document be a trustee or fiduciary for any Lender or for the Administrative Agent, (b) no Issuing Bank shall be required to initiate any litigation

 

  

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or collection proceedings under any Loan Document, (c) no Issuing Bank shall be responsible to any Lender or the Administrative Agent for any recitals, statements, representations, or warranties contained in any Loan Document, or any certificate or other documentation referred to or provided for in, or received by any of them under, any Loan Document, or for the value, validity, effectiveness, enforceability, or sufficiency of any Loan Document or any other documentation referred to or provided for therein or for any failure by any Person to perform any of its obligations thereunder, (d) an Issuing Bank may consult with legal counsel (including counsel for the Borrower), independent public accountants, and other experts selected by it and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants, or experts, and (e) shall incur no liability under or in respect of any Loan Document by acting upon any notice, consent, certificate, or other instrument or writing believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent by the proper party or parties.  As to any matters not expressly provided for by any Loan Document, each Issuing Bank shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, hereunder in accordance with instructions signed by the Required Lenders, and such instructions of the Required Lenders and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding on all of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent; provided, however, that no Issuing Bank shall be required to take any action which exposes it to personal liability or which is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law.

 

Section 9.10. Lender and Lender Affiliate Rights.  The Lenders are not partners or co-venturers, and no Lender shall be liable for the acts or omissions of, or (except as otherwise set forth herein in case of the Administrative Agent) authorized to act for, any other Lender.  The Administrative Agent shall have the exclusive right on behalf of the Lenders to enforce the payment of the principal of and interest on any Loan after the date such principal or interest has become due and payable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.  No Affiliate of any Lender shall have any right to give any direction to the Administrative Agent in the exercise of the Administrative Agent's rights and obligations under the Loan Documents nor does any such Affiliate have any right to consent to, or vote on, any matter hereunder.  The Administrative Agent shall have no duties or responsibilities to any Affiliate of any Lender except those expressly set forth in the Loan Documents.  Notwithstanding the foregoing:  (i) neither the Administrative Agent, the Borrower nor any Guarantor shall be obligated to deliver any notice or communication required to be delivered to any Lender under any Loan Documents to any Affiliate of any Lender; and (ii) no Affiliate of any Lender that is owed any Obligation shall be included in the determination of the Required Lenders or entitled to consent to, reject, or participate in any manner in any amendment, waiver or other modification of this Agreement or any other Loan Documents.  The Administrative Agent shall deal solely and directly with the related Lender of any such Affiliate in connection with all matters relating to the Loan Documents.  The Obligation owed to such Affiliate shall be considered the Obligation of its related Lender for all purposes under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and such Lender shall be solely responsible to the other parties hereto for all the obligations of such Affiliate under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

 

Section 9.11. Representative.  In its capacity, the Administrative Agent is a “representative” of the Secured Parties within the meaning of the term “secured party” as defined in the New York Uniform Commercial Code.  Each Lender authorizes the Administrative Agent to enter into each of the Collateral Documents to which it is a party and to take all action contemplated by such documents.  Each Lender agrees that no Secured Party (other than the Administrative Agent) shall have the right individually to seek to realize upon the security granted by any Collateral Document, it being understood and agreed that such rights and remedies may be exercised solely by the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties upon the terms of the Collateral Documents.  In the event that any Collateral is hereafter pledged by any Person as collateral security for the Secured Obligations, the Administrative Agent is hereby authorized, and hereby granted a power of attorney, to execute and deliver on behalf of the Secured Parties any Loan Documents necessary or appropriate to grant and perfect a Lien on such Collateral in favor of the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties.  The Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion, to release any Lien granted to or held by the Administrative Agent

 

  

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upon any Collateral (i) as described in Section 10.02; (ii) as permitted by, but only in accordance with, the terms of the applicable Loan Document; or (iii) if approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders, unless such release is required to be approved by all of the Lenders hereunder.  Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release particular types or items of Collateral pursuant hereto.  Upon any sale or transfer of assets constituting Collateral which is permitted pursuant to the terms of any Loan Document, or consented to in writing by the Required Lenders or all of the Lenders, as applicable, and upon at least five Business Days’ prior written request by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall (and is hereby irrevocably authorized by the Lenders to) execute such documents as may be necessary to evidence the release of the Liens granted to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties herein or pursuant hereto upon the Collateral that was sold or transferred; provided, however, that (i) the Administrative Agent shall not be required to execute any such document on terms which, in the Administrative Agent’s opinion, would expose the Administrative Agent to liability or create any obligation or entail any consequence other than the release of such Liens without recourse or warranty, and (ii) such release shall not in any manner discharge, affect or impair the Secured Obligations or any Liens upon (or obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of) all interests retained by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, including (without limitation) the proceeds of the sale, all of which shall continue to constitute part of the Collateral.

 

ARTICLE X.

 

Miscellaneous

 

Section 10.01. 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 telecopy, as follows:

 

(i) if to the Borrower, to it at 601 E. Third Street, Little Rock, Arkansas  72201, Attention of Chief Financial Officer (Telecopy No. 501–342–3913);

 

(ii) if to the Administrative Agent, (A) in the case of Borrowings denominated in Dollars, to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 10 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603, Attention of Darren Cunningham; Telecopy No. 888-292-9533 and (B) in the case of Borrowings denominated in Foreign Currencies, to J.P. Morgan Europe Limited, 25 Bank Street, Canary Wharf, London E14 5JP, Attention of The Manager, Loan & Agency Services (Telecopy No. 44 207 777 2360), and in each case with a copy to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 2200 Ross Avenue, 3rd Floor, Dallas, Texas 75201, Attention of Brandon Watkins (Telecopy No. (214) 965-2044);

 

(iii) if to the Issuing Bank, to it at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 10 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603, Attention of Darren Cunningham; Telecopy No. 888-292-9533;

 

(iv) if to the Swingline Lender, to it at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 10 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603, Attention of Darren Cunningham; Telecopy No. 888-292-9533; and

 

(v) if to any other Lender, to it at its address (or telecopy number) set forth in the most recent Administrative Questionnaire delivered to the Administrative Agent by such Lender in connection with the execution of this Agreement, the Existing Agreement, the Prior Agreements or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender became a party hereto or thereto.

 

  

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

 

(b) Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the Issuing Bank hereunder may be delivered or furnished by using Electronic Systems pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices pursuant to Article II unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lender.  The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

 

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

 

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

 

(d) Electronic Systems.

 

(i) The Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make Communications (as defined below) available to the Issuing Bank and the other Lenders by posting the Communications on Debt Domain, Intralinks, Syndtrak, ClearPar or a substantially similar Electronic System.

 

(ii) Any Electronic System used by the Administrative Agent is provided “as is” and “as available.”  The Agent Parties (as defined below) do not warrant the adequacy of such Electronic Systems and expressly disclaim liability for errors or omissions in the Communications.  No warranty of any kind, express, implied or statutory, including, without limitation, any warranty of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement of third-party rights or freedom from viruses or other code defects, is made by any Agent Party in connection with the Communications or any Electronic System.  In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have any liability to any Loan Party, any Lender, the Issuing Bank or any other Person or entity for damages of any kind, including, without limitation, direct or 

 

  

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indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of any Loan Party’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of Communications through an Electronic System.  “Communications” means, collectively, any notice, demand, communication, information, document or other material provided by or on behalf of any Loan Party pursuant to any Loan Document or the transactions contemplated therein which is distributed by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Bank by means of electronic communications pursuant to this Section, including through an Electronic System.

 

Section 10.02. Waivers; Amendments.

 

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

 

(b) Amendments.  Neither this Agreement nor any other Loan Document nor 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 by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided that no such agreement shall (i) increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender, (ii) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby, (iii) postpone the scheduled date of payment of the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement (including the Maturity Date), or any interest thereon, or any fees payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date of expiration of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby, (iv) change Section 2.17(b) or Section 2.17(d) in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby, without the written consent of each Lender, (v) change any of the provisions of this Section or the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other provision of any Loan Document specifying the number or percentage of Lenders (or Lenders of any Class) 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 (or Lenders of any Class, as the case may be), (vi) release all or substantially all of the Subsidiary Guarantors from the Subsidiary Guaranty without the consent of each Lender nor (vii) except as provided in clause (d) of this Section or in any Collateral Document, release all or substantially all of the Collateral, without the written consent of each Lender, provided, further, that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender, as the case may be (it being understood that any change to Section 2.21 shall require the consent of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no consent with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification of this Agreement shall be required of any Defaulting Lender, except with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification referred to in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) of the first proviso of this paragraph and then only in the event such Defaulting Lender shall be directly affected by such amendment, waiver or other modification.

 

  

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(c) Additional Credit.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement and any other Loan Document may be amended (or amended and restated) with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (x) to add one or more credit facilities to this Agreement and to permit extensions of credit from time to time outstanding thereunder and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof to share ratably in the benefits of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with the Revolving Loans, the Term Loans and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof and (y) to include appropriately the Lenders holding such credit facilities in any determination of the Required Lenders and Lenders.

 

(d) Collateral Release.  The Lenders hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, to execute and/or authorize such documents and to take such action to release any Liens granted to the Administrative Agent by the Loan Parties on any Collateral (i) upon the termination of all the Commitments, payment and satisfaction in full in cash of all Secured Obligations (other than Unliquidated Obligations), and the cash collateralization of all Unliquidated Obligations in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (ii) constituting property being sold or disposed of if the Borrower certifies to the Administrative Agent that the sale or disposition is made in compliance with the terms of this Agreement (and the Administrative Agent may rely conclusively on any such certificate, without further inquiry), (iii) constituting property leased to the Borrower or any Subsidiary under a lease which has expired or been terminated in a transaction permitted under this Agreement, or (iv) as required to effect any sale or other disposition of such Collateral in connection with any exercise of remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant to Article VIII.  Any such release shall not in any manner discharge, affect, or impair the Secured Obligations or any Liens (other than those expressly being released) upon (or obligations of the Loan Parties in respect of) all interests retained by the Loan Parties, including the proceeds of any sale, all of which shall continue to constitute part of the Collateral.

 

(e) Non-Consenting Lenders.  If, in connection with any proposed amendment, waiver or consent  requiring the consent of “each Lender” or “each Lender directly affected thereby,” the consent of the Required Lenders is obtained, but the consent of other necessary Lenders is not obtained (any such Lender whose consent is necessary but not obtained being referred to herein as a “Non-Consenting Lender”), then the Borrower may elect to replace a Non-Consenting Lender as a Lender party to this Agreement in accordance with Section 2.18(b).

 

(f) Amendment of Loan Documents.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein the Administrative Agent may, with the written consent of the Borrower only, amend, modify or supplement this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents to cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency.

 

Section 10.03. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

 

(a) Expenses.  The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out–of–pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and their respective Affiliates, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of outside counsel for the Administrative Agent and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC in connection with the syndication and distribution (including, without limitation, via the internet or through a service such as Intralinks) of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or

 

  

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not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), provided that so long as no Default exists, such counsel referenced above shall consist of one outside counsel (other than local counsel), (ii) all reasonable out–of–pocket expenses incurred by each Issuing Bank in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all out–of–pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender, in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with this Agreement and any other Loan Document, including its rights under this Section, or in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out–of–pocket expenses incurred during any workout or restructuring in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit.

 

(b) Borrower Indemnity.  THE BORROWER SHALL INDEMNIFY THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC, EACH ISSUING BANK, EACH LENDER, EACH SYNDICATION AGENT AND EACH CO-DOCUMENTATION AGENT AND EACH RELATED PARTY OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING PERSONS (EACH SUCH PERSON BEING CALLED AN “INDEMNITEE”) AGAINST, AND HOLD EACH INDEMNITEE HARMLESS FROM, ANY AND ALL LOSSES, CLAIMS, DAMAGES, LIABILITIES AND RELATED EXPENSES, INCLUDING THE FEES, CHARGES AND DISBURSEMENTS OF ANY COUNSEL FOR ANY INDEMNITEE, INCURRED BY OR ASSERTED AGAINST ANY INDEMNITEE ARISING OUT OF, IN CONNECTION WITH, OR AS A RESULT OF (I) THE EXECUTION OR DELIVERY OF ANY LOAN DOCUMENT, THE PRIOR AGREEMENTS, THE EXISTING AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER AGREEMENT OR INSTRUMENT CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY, THE PERFORMANCE BY THE PARTIES TO THE LOAN DOCUMENTS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OBLIGATIONS THEREUNDER OR THE CONSUMMATION OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY, (II) ANY LOAN OR LETTER OF CREDIT OR THE USE OF THE PROCEEDS THEREFROM (INCLUDING ANY REFUSAL BY AN ISSUING BANK TO HONOR A DEMAND FOR PAYMENT UNDER A LETTER OF CREDIT IF THE DOCUMENTS PRESENTED IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH DEMAND DO NOT STRICTLY COMPLY WITH THE TERMS OF SUCH LETTER OF CREDIT), (III) ANY ACTUAL OR ALLEGED PRESENCE OR RELEASE OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ON OR FROM ANY REAL PROPERTY CURRENTLY OR FORMERLY OWNED OR OPERATED BY THE BORROWER OR ANY OF THE SUBSIDIARIES, OR ANY ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITY RELATED IN ANY WAY TO THE BORROWER OR ANY OF THE SUBSIDIARIES, (IV) THE FAILURE TO PAY ANY LOAN OR LC DISBURSEMENT DENOMINATED IN AN AVAILABLE CURRENCY, OR ANY INTEREST THEREON, IN THE AVAILABLE CURRENCY IN WHICH SUCH LOAN WAS MADE OR APPLICABLE LETTER OF CREDIT ISSUED, OR (V) ANY ACTUAL OR PROSPECTIVE CLAIM, LITIGATION, INVESTIGATION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO ANY OF THE FOREGOING, WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY, WHETHER BROUGHT BY A THIRD PARTY OR BY THE BORROWER OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES, AND REGARDLESS OF WHETHER ANY INDEMNITEE IS A PARTY THERETO; PROVIDED THAT SUCH INDEMNITY SHALL NOT, AS TO ANY INDEMNITEE, BE AVAILABLE TO THE EXTENT THAT SUCH LOSSES, CLAIMS, DAMAGES, LIABILITIES OR RELATED EXPENSES ARE DETERMINED BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION BY FINAL AND NONAPPEALABLE JUDGMENT TO HAVE RESULTED FROM THE GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OF SUCH INDEMNITEE.  IT IS THE EXPRESSED INTENT OF THE PARTIES HERETO THAT THE INDEMNITY IN THIS SECTION 10.03(B) SHALL, AS TO ANY INDEMNITEE, BE AVAILABLE TO THE EXTENT THAT SUCH LOSSES, CLAIMS, DAMAGES, LIABILITIES OR RELATED EXPENSES ARE DETERMINED TO HAVE RESULTED FROM THE SOLE OR CONTRIBUTORY NEGLIGENCE OF SUCH INDEMNITEE.  THIS SECTION 10.03(B) SHALL NOT APPLY WITH RESPECT TO TAXES OTHER THAN ANY TAXES THAT REPRESENT LOSSES OR DAMAGES ARISING FROM ANY NON-TAX CLAIM.

 

  

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(c) Lenders’ Indemnity.  To the extent that the Borrower fails to pay any amount required to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, and each Revolving Lender severally agrees to pay to the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender, as the case may be, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount (it being understood that the Borrower’s failure to pay any such amount shall not relieve the Borrower of any default in the payment thereof); provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender in its capacity as such.

 

(d) Damage Waiver.  To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee (i) for any damages arising from the use by others of information or other materials obtained through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems (including the Internet), or (ii) on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the execution, delivery and performance by the Loan Parties of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof; provided that the Borrower shall not waive any claim against any Indemnitee for any liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements to the extent found in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee.

 

(e) Due on Demand.  All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than 15 days after written demand therefor.

 

Section 10.04. Successors and Assigns.

 

(a) Successors and Assigns.  The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of any Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), except that (i) the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section.  Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of any Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), Participants (to the extent provided in paragraph (c) of this Section) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

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

 

  

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(A) the Borrower (provided that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within five Business Days after having received notice thereof); provided, further, that no consent of the Borrower shall be required for an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund or, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any other assignee;

 

(B) the Administrative Agent; provided that no consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required for an assignment of all or any portion of a Term Loan to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund;

 

(C) the Issuing Bank; provided that no consent of the Issuing Bank shall be required for an assignment of all or any portion of a Term Loan; and

 

(D) the Swingline Lender; provided that no consent of the Swingline Lender shall be required for an assignment of all or any portion of a Term Loan.

 

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

 

(A) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment or Loans of any Class, the amount of the Commitment or Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than $5,000,000 or, in the case of a Term Loan, $1,000,000 unless each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, provided that no such consent of the Borrower shall be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;

 

(B) each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, provided that this clause shall not be construed to prohibit the assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations in respect of one Class of Commitments or Loans;

 

(C) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 (unless waived or reduced by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), such fee to be paid by either the assigning Lender or the assignee Lender or shared between such Lenders; and

 

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

 

  

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For the purposes of this Section 10.14(b), the terms “Approved Fund” and “Ineligible Institution” have the following meanings:

 

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

 

“Ineligible Institution” means (a) a natural person, (b) a Defaulting Lender, (c) the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its Affiliates, or (d) a company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural person or relative(s) thereof.

 

(iii) Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (b)(iv) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.14, 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 10.03).  Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 10.04 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (c) of this Section.

 

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

 

(v) Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, the assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section and any written consent to such assignment required by paragraph (b) of this Section, the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register; provided that if either the assigning Lender or the assignee shall have failed to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.04(d), 2.05(d), 2.05(e), 2.06(b), 2.17(e) or 10.03(c), the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information therein in the Register unless and until such payment shall have been made in full, together with all accrued interest thereon.  No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this clause.

 

(c) Participation.  Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (a “Participant”), other

 

  

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than an Ineligible Institution, in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged; (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations; and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.  Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in the first proviso to Section 10.02(b) that affects such Participant.  The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.14, Section 2.15 and Section 2.16 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 2.16(f) (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 2.16(f) shall be delivered to the participating Lender by the selling Lender)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section; provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Section 2.17 and Section 2.18 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this Section; and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.14 or Section 2.16, with respect to any participation, than its participating Lender would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation.  To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.17(d) as though it were a Lender.  Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any Commitments, Loans, Letters of Credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such Commitment, Loan, Letter of Credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations.  The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

 

(d) Pledge.  Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including without limitation any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank, and this Section 10.04 shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

 

Section 10.05. Survival.  All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Loan Parties in the Loan Documents and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and the making of any Loans and issuance of any Letters of Credit, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any 

 

  

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Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document is outstanding and unpaid or any Letter of Credit is outstanding and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated.  The provisions of Sections 2.14, 2.15, 2.16 and 2.17 and 10.03 and Article IX shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Letters of Credit and the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

 

Section 10.06. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution; Amendment and Restatement of Existing Agreement.

 

(a) This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract.  This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof.  Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy, e-mailed .pdf or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of the actual executed signature page shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.  The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to any  document to be signed in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be deemed to include Electronic Signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

 

(b) This Agreement amends and restates in its entirety the Existing Agreement.  The execution of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents executed in connection herewith does not extinguish the commitment under or the indebtedness outstanding in connection with the Existing Agreement nor does it constitute a novation with respect to such commitment or such indebtedness.  The Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders ratify and confirm each of the Loan Documents entered into prior to the Effective Date (but excluding the Existing Agreement) and agree that such Loan Documents continue to be legal, valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with their respective terms.  However, for all matters arising prior to the Effective Date (including the accrual and payment of interest and fees, and matters relating to indemnification and compliance with financial covenants), the terms of the Existing Agreement (as unmodified by this Agreement) shall control and are hereby ratified and confirmed.

 

(c) The Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor represents and warrants that as of the Effective Date there are no claims or offsets against or defenses or counterclaims to its obligations under the Existing Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents.  TO INDUCE THE LENDERS AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT, THE BORROWER AND EACH SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR WAIVES ANY AND ALL SUCH CLAIMS, OFFSETS, DEFENSES OR COUNTERCLAIMS, WHETHER KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, ARISING PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE AND RELATING TO THE LOAN DOCUMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.

 

  

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Section 10.07. Severability.  Any provision of this Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

Section 10.08. Right of Setoff.  If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender and each of its Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final and in whatever currency denominated) at any time held and other obligations at any time owing by such Lender or Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor against any of and all of the Secured Obligations 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.  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 10.09. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process.

 

(a) Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York.

 

(b) Jurisdiction.  THE BORROWER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY, BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE OR, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW.  NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, THE ISSUING BANK OR ANY LENDER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST ANY LOAN PARTY OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

 

(c) Venue.  The Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document in any court referred to in paragraph (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.

 

  

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(d) Service of Process.  Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 10.01.  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 10.10. 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 (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).  EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

 

Section 10.11. 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 10.12. Confidentiality.  Each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party to this Agreement, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any proposed Swap Agreements, (g) with the written consent of the Borrower or (h) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (ii) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower or any Subsidiary.  For the purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary relating to the Borrower, any Subsidiary or its or their business, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or such Subsidiary; provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential.  Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of 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.

 

  

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

 

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

 

Section 10.13. Maximum Interest Rate.

 

(a) Limit to Maximum Rate.  No interest rate specified in any Loan Document shall at any time exceed the Maximum Rate.  If at any time the interest rate (the “Contract Rate”) for any obligation under the Loan Documents shall exceed the Maximum Rate, thereby causing the interest accruing on such obligation to be limited to the Maximum Rate, then any subsequent reduction in the Contract Rate for such obligation shall not reduce the rate of interest on such obligation below the Maximum Rate until the aggregate amount of interest accrued on such obligation equals the aggregate amount of interest which would have accrued on such obligation if the Contract Rate for such obligation had at all times been in effect.  As used herein, the term “Maximum Rate” means, at any time with respect to any Lender, the maximum rate of nonusurious interest under applicable law that such Lender may charge Borrower.  The Maximum Rate shall be calculated in a manner that takes into account any and all fees, payments, and other charges contracted for, charged, or received in connection with the Loan Documents that constitute interest under applicable law.  Each change in any interest rate provided for herein based upon the Maximum Rate resulting from a change in the Maximum Rate shall take effect without notice to Borrower at the time of such change in the Maximum Rate.

 

(b) Savings Clause.  No provision of any Loan Document shall require the payment or the collection of interest in excess of the maximum amount permitted by applicable law.  If any excess of interest in such respect is hereby provided for, or shall be adjudicated to be so provided, in any Loan Document or otherwise in connection with this loan transaction, the provisions of this Section shall govern and prevail and neither Borrower nor the sureties, guarantors, successors, or assigns of Borrower shall be obligated to pay the excess amount of such interest or any other excess sum paid for the use, forbearance, or detention of sums loaned pursuant hereto.  In the event any Lender ever receives, collects, or applies as interest any such sum, such amount which would be in excess of the maximum amount permitted by applicable law shall be applied as a payment and reduction of the principal of the obligations outstanding hereunder, and, if the principal of the obligations outstanding hereunder has been paid in full, any remaining excess shall forthwith be paid to the Borrower.  In determining whether or not the interest paid or payable exceeds the Maximum Rate, Borrower and each Lender shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, (a) characterize any non–principal payment as an expense, fee, or premium rather than as interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the entire contemplated term of the obligations outstanding hereunder so that interest for the entire term does not exceed the Maximum Rate.

 

  

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Section 10.14. Intercompany Subordination.

 

(a) Debt Subordination.  Borrower agrees that the Intercompany Subordinated Indebtedness (as defined below) shall be subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Credit Facility Senior Indebtedness (as defined below) as herein provided.  The Intercompany Subordinated Indebtedness shall not be payable, and no payment of principal, interest or other amounts on account thereof, and no property or guarantee of any nature to secure or pay the Intercompany Subordinated Indebtedness shall be made or given, directly or indirectly by or on behalf of any Subsidiary Guarantor or received, accepted, retained or applied by Borrower unless and until the Credit Facility Senior Indebtedness shall have been paid in full in cash; provided that prior to the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, each Subsidiary Guarantor shall have the right to make payments, and the Borrower shall have the right to receive payments on the Intercompany Subordinated Indebtedness from time to time as may be determined by Borrower.  After the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, no payments of principal, interest or other amounts may be made or given, directly or indirectly, by or on behalf of any Subsidiary Guarantor or received, accepted, retained or applied by Borrower unless and until the Credit Facility Senior Indebtedness shall have been paid in full in cash.  If any sums shall be paid to Borrower by any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Person on account of the Intercompany Subordinated Indebtedness when such payment is not permitted hereunder, such sums shall be held in trust by the Borrower for the benefit of Administrative Agent and the Lenders and shall forthwith be paid to and applied by Administrative Agent against the Credit Facility Senior Indebtedness in accordance with the terms hereof.  For purposes of this Section 10.14, the term (i) “Intercompany Subordinated Indebtedness” means, with respect to a Subsidiary Guarantor, all indebtedness, liabilities, and obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor to Borrower, whether such indebtedness, liabilities, and obligations now exist or are hereafter incurred or arise, or are direct, indirect, contingent, primary, secondary, several, joint and several, or otherwise, and irrespective of whether such indebtedness, liabilities, or obligations are evidenced by a note, contract, open account, or otherwise, and irrespective of the Person or Persons in whose favor such indebtedness, obligations, or liabilities may, at their inception, have been, or may hereafter be created, or the manner in which they have been or may hereafter be acquired by Borrower and (ii) “Credit Facility Senior Indebtedness” means, with respect to each Subsidiary Guarantor, all of the obligations, indebtedness and liability of the such Subsidiary Guarantor to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders, or any of them, arising pursuant to the Subsidiary Guaranty or any of the other Loan Documents, whether now existing or hereafter arising, whether direct, indirect, related, unrelated, fixed, contingent, liquidated, unliquidated, joint, several, or joint and several, including any and all post–petition interest and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) whether or not allowed under any bankruptcy, insolvency, or other similar law.

 

(b) Lien Subordination.  Borrower agrees that any and all Liens (including any judgment liens), upon any Subsidiary Guarantor’s assets securing payment of any Subordinated Indebtedness shall be and remain inferior and subordinate to any and all Liens upon any Subsidiary Guarantor’s assets securing payment of the Senior Indebtedness or any part thereof, regardless of whether such Liens in favor of Borrower, Administrative Agent or any Lender presently exist or are hereafter created or attached.  Without the prior written consent of Administrative Agent, Borrower shall not (i) file suit against any Subsidiary Guarantor or exercise or enforce any other creditor’s right it may have against any Subsidiary Guarantor, or (ii) foreclose, repossess, sequester, or otherwise take steps or institute any action or proceedings (judicial or otherwise, including the commencement of, or joinder in, any liquidation, bankruptcy, rearrangement, debtor’s relief or insolvency proceeding) to enforce any obligations of any Subsidiary Guarantor to Borrower or any Liens held by Borrower on assets of any Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

  

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(c) Bankruptcy.  In the event of any receivership, bankruptcy, reorganization, rearrangement, debtor’s relief, or other insolvency proceeding involving any Subsidiary Guarantor as debtor, Administrative Agent shall have the right to prove and vote any claim under the Subordinated Indebtedness and to receive directly from the receiver, trustee or other court custodian all dividends, distributions, and payments made in respect of the Subordinated Indebtedness until the Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full in cash.  Administrative Agent may apply any such dividends, distributions, and payments against the Senior Indebtedness in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

(d) Notation of Indebtedness.  Borrower agrees that all promissory notes and other instruments evidencing Subordinated Indebtedness shall contain a specific written notice thereon that the indebtedness evidenced thereby is subordinated under the terms of this Section 10.14.

 

Section 10.15. Judgment Currency.  This is a loan transaction in which the specification of Pounds Sterling, Euro, AUD or Dollars is of the essence, and the stipulated currency shall in each instance be the currency of account and payment in all instances.  A payment obligation in one currency hereunder (the “Original Currency”) shall not be discharged by an amount paid in another currency (the “Other Currency”), whether pursuant to any judgment expressed in or converted into any Other Currency or in another place except to the extent that such tender or recovery results in the effective receipt by a party hereto of the full amount of the Original Currency payable to such party.  If for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert a sum due hereunder in the Original Currency into the Other Currency, the rate of exchange that shall be the applicable Exchange Rate.  The obligation of the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors in respect of any such sum due from it to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender under any Loan Document (in this Section 10.15 called an “Entitled Person”) shall, notwithstanding the rate of exchange actually applied in rendering such judgment, be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by such Entitled Person of any sum adjudged to be due hereunder in the Other Currency such Entitled Person may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase the Original Currency with the amount of the judgment currency so adjudged to be due; and the Borrower, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, agrees to indemnify such Entitled Person against, and to pay such Entitled Person on demand, in the Original Currency, the amount (if any) by which the sum originally due to such Entitled Person in the Original Currency hereunder exceeds the amount of the Other Currency so purchased.

 

Section 10.16. 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 Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the Patriot Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Patriot Act.

 

Section 10.17. Independence of Covenants.  All covenants under the Loan Documents shall be given independent effect so that if a particular action or condition is not permitted by any of such covenants, the fact that it would be permitted by an exception to, or be otherwise within the limitations of, another covenant shall not avoid the occurrence of a Default if such action is taken or such condition exists.

 

Section 10.18. Release of Subsidiary Guarantors.

 

(a) A Subsidiary Guarantor shall automatically be released from its obligations under the Subsidiary Guaranty and the Security Agreement upon the consummation of any transaction permitted by this Agreement as a result of which such Subsidiary Guarantor ceases to be a Subsidiary; provided that, if so required by this Agreement, the Required Lenders shall have consented to such transaction and the terms of such consent shall not have

 

  

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provided otherwise.  In connection with any termination or release pursuant to this Section, the Administrative Agent shall (and is hereby irrevocably authorized by each Lender to) execute and deliver to any Loan Party, at such Loan Party’s expense, all documents that such Loan Party shall reasonably request to evidence such termination or release.  Any execution and delivery of documents pursuant to this Section shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Administrative Agent.

 

(b) If the Minimum Guarantee and Pledge Requirement is then satisfied and the Borrower certifies to the Administrative Agent that such Minimum Guarantee and Pledge Requirement shall continue to be satisfied upon the release of one or more specifically identified Subsidiary Guarantors that is no longer a Material Subsidiary from the Subsidiary Guaranty and the Security Agreement (which certification (including the calculation of the Minimum Guarantee and Pledge Requirement therein) shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent), then upon the request of the Borrower, each such Subsidiary Guarantor that is no longer a Material Subsidiary shall promptly be released from its obligations under the Subsidiary Guaranty and the Security Agreement and the Administrative Agent shall take all reasonably necessary actions requested by the Borrower, all at the sole cost and expense of the Borrower, to effectuate the release of each such Subsidiary Guarantor from the Subsidiary Guaranty and the Security Agreement.

 

(c) At such time as the principal and interest on the Loans, all LC Disbursements, the fees, expenses and other amounts payable under the Loan Documents and the other Obligations (other than Banking Services Obligations, Swap Obligations and other Obligations expressly stated to survive such payment and termination) shall have been paid in full in cash, the Commitments shall have been terminated and no Letters of Credit shall be outstanding, the Subsidiary Guaranty and the Security Agreement and all obligations (other than those expressly stated to survive such termination) of each Subsidiary Guarantor thereunder shall automatically terminate, all without delivery of any instrument or performance of any act by any Person.

 

Section 10.19. Appointment for Perfection.  Each Lender hereby appoints each other Lender as its agent for the purpose of perfecting Liens, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties, in assets which, in accordance with Article 9 of the UCC or any other applicable law can be perfected only by possession.  Should any Lender (other than the Administrative Agent) obtain possession of any such Collateral, such Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent thereof, and, promptly upon the Administrative Agent’s request therefor shall deliver such Collateral to the Administrative Agent or otherwise deal with such Collateral in accordance with the Administrative Agent’s instructions.

 

Section 10.20. No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.  In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that: (i) (A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Lenders are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Borrower and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Lenders and their Affiliates, on the other hand, (B) the Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) the Borrower is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii) (A) each of the Lenders and their Affiliates is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Borrower or any of its Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) no Lender or any of its Affiliates has any obligation to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except, in the case of a Lender, those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other

 

  

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Loan Documents; and (iii) each of the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower and its Affiliates, and no Lender or any of its Affiliates has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower or its Affiliates.  To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Borrower hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against each of the Lenders and their Affiliates with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

 

 

[signature pages start on next page]

 

  

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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.

 

 

	 	
 BORROWER:

 

	 
	 	 ACXIOM CORPORATION, as the Borrower	 
	 	 	 
	 	 By: /s/ Jack W. McCrary, Jr.	 
	 	 Name: Jack W. McCrary, Jr.	 
	 	 Title: Vice President - Finance & Treasurer	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 

 

  

  

  

 

	 	
 

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

	 
	 	 	 
	 	 By: /s/ Brandon K. Watkins	 
	 	 Name: Brandon K. Watkins	 
	 	 Title: Vice President	 

 

  

  

  

	 	
BRANCH BANKING AND TRUST COMPANY, as a Lender

	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	 By: /s/ Janet L. Wheeler	 
	 	 Name: Janet L. Wheeler	 
	 	 Title: Vice President	 

 

  

  

  

  

	 	CAPITAL ONE BANK, as a Lender	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	 By: /s/ Kiel Johnson	 
	 	 Name: Kiel Johnson	 
	 	 Title: AVP	 

 

  

  

  

  

	 	REGIONS BANK, as a Lender	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	 By: /s/ Alan DeKeukelaere	 
	 	 Name: Alan DeKeukelaere	 
	 	 Title: Vice President	 

 

  

  

  

  

	 	PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	 By: /s/ Thomas S. Sherman	 
	 	 Name: Thomas S. Sherman	 
	 	 Title: Senior Vice President	 

 

  

  

  

  

	 	HSBC BANK USA, N.A., as a Lender	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	 By: /s/ Santiago Riviere	 
	 	 Name: Santiago Riviere	 
	 	 Title: Senior Vice President	 

 

  

  

  

  

	 	SUNTRUST BANK, as a Lender	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	 By: /s/ Henry J. Spark	 
	 	 Name: Henry J. Spark	 
	 	 Title: Vice President	 

 

  

  

  

  

	 	COMPASS BANK, as a Lender	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	 By: /s/ John Stacy	 
	 	 Name: John Stacy	 
	 	 Title: Senior Vice President	 

 

  

  

 

  

	 	THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD., as a Lender	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	 By: /s/ Richard Ong Pho	 
	 	 Name: Richard Ong Pho	 
	 	 Title: Director	 

 

  

  

  

  

	 	BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	 By: /s/ Lisa M. Chrzanowski	 
	 	 Name: Lisa M. Chrzanowski	 
	 	 Title: Vice President	 

 

  

  

  

 

  

	 	WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	 By: /s/ Catherine Hill	 
	 	 Name: Catherine Hill	 
	 	 Title: Assistant Vice President

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