300,000,000 REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY CREDIT AGREEMENT by and among BOB EVANS FARMS, INC., as Borrower and THE GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO and THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO and PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent and PNC CAPITAL MARKETS...
Exhibit 4.1
CUSIP: 00000XXX0
$300,000,000 REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY
by and among
XXX XXXXX FARMS, INC., as Borrower
and
THE GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO
and
THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO
and
PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent
and
PNC CAPITAL MARKETS LLC, as Co-Lead Arranger and Co-Bookrunner
and
X.X. XXXXXX SECURITIES LLC, as Co-Lead Arranger and Co-Bookrunner
and
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Syndication Agent
and
BANK OF AMERICA N.A. and FIFTH THIRD BANK, as Co-Documentation Agents
Dated as of December 16, 2011
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||
1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS |
1 | |||
1.1 Certain Definitions |
1 | |||
1.2 Construction |
24 | |||
1.3 Accounting Principles; Changes in GAAP |
24 | |||
2. REVOLVING CREDIT AND SWING LOAN FACILITIES |
25 | |||
2.1 Revolving Credit Commitments |
25 | |||
2.1.1 Revolving Credit Loans |
25 | |||
2.1.2 Swing Loan Commitment |
25 | |||
2.2 Nature of Lenders’ Obligations with Respect to Revolving Credit Loans |
26 | |||
2.3 Commitment Fees |
26 | |||
2.4 Reserved |
26 | |||
2.5 Revolving Credit Loan Requests; Swing Loan Requests |
26 | |||
2.5.1 Revolving Credit Loan Requests |
26 | |||
2.5.2 Swing Loan Requests |
27 | |||
2.6 Making Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Loans; Presumptions by the Administrative Agent; Repayment of Revolving Credit Loans; Borrowings to Repay Swing Loans |
27 | |||
2.6.1 Making Revolving Credit Loans |
27 | |||
2.6.2 Presumptions by the Administrative Agent |
27 | |||
2.6.3 Making Swing Loans |
28 | |||
2.6.4 Repayment of Revolving Credit Loans |
28 | |||
2.6.5 Borrowings to Repay Swing Loans |
28 | |||
2.6.6 Swing Loans Under Cash Management Agreements |
28 | |||
2.7 Notes |
29 | |||
2.8 Use of Proceeds |
29 | |||
2.9 Letter of Credit Subfacility |
29 | |||
2.9.1 Issuance of Letters of Credit |
29 | |||
2.9.2 Letter of Credit Fees |
30 | |||
2.9.3 Disbursements, Reimbursement |
30 | |||
2.9.4 Repayment of Participation Advances |
32 | |||
2.9.5 Documentation |
32 | |||
2.9.6 Determinations to Honor Drawing Requests |
32 | |||
2.9.7 Nature of Participation and Reimbursement Obligations |
33 | |||
2.9.8 Indemnity |
34 | |||
2.9.9 Liability for Acts and Omissions |
34 | |||
2.9.10 Issuing Lender Reporting Requirements |
36 | |||
2.9.11 Existing Letters of Credit |
36 | |||
2.10 Defaulting Lenders |
36 | |||
2.11 Reduction of Revolving Credit Commitment |
38 | |||
2.12 Increase in Revolving Credit Commitments |
38 | |||
2.12.1 Increasing Lenders and New Lenders |
38 | |||
2.12.2 Treatment of Outstanding Loans and Letters of Credit |
39 |
i
3. RESERVED |
40 | |||
4. INTEREST RATES |
40 | |||
4.1 Interest Rate Options |
40 | |||
4.1.1 Revolving Credit Interest Rate Options; Swing Line Interest Rate |
40 | |||
4.1.2 Rate Quotations |
40 | |||
4.2 Interest Periods |
41 | |||
4.2.1 Amount of Borrowing Tranche |
41 | |||
4.2.2 Renewals |
41 | |||
4.3 Interest After Default |
41 | |||
4.3.1 Letter of Credit Fees, Interest Rate |
41 | |||
4.3.2 Other Obligations |
41 | |||
4.3.3 Acknowledgment |
41 | |||
4.4 LIBOR Rate Unascertainable; Illegality; Increased Costs; Deposits Not Available |
41 | |||
4.4.1 Unascertainable |
41 | |||
4.4.2 Illegality; Increased Costs; Deposits Not Available |
42 | |||
4.4.3 Administrative Agent’s and Lender’s Rights |
42 | |||
4.5 Selection of Interest Rate Options |
43 | |||
5. PAYMENTS |
43 | |||
5.1 Payments |
43 | |||
5.2 Pro Rata Treatment of Lenders |
43 | |||
5.3 Sharing of Payments by Lenders |
44 | |||
5.4 Presumptions by Administrative Agent |
44 | |||
5.5 Interest Payment Dates |
45 | |||
5.6 Voluntary Prepayments |
45 | |||
5.6.1 Right to Prepay |
45 | |||
5.6.2 Replacement of a Lender |
46 | |||
5.7 Reserved |
46 | |||
5.8 Increased Costs |
46 | |||
5.8.1 Increased Costs Generally |
46 | |||
5.8.2 Capital Requirements |
47 | |||
5.8.3 Certificates for Reimbursement; Repayment of Outstanding Loans; Borrowing of New Loans |
47 | |||
5.8.4 Delay in Requests |
48 | |||
5.9 Taxes |
48 | |||
5.9.1 Issuing Lender |
48 | |||
5.9.2 Payments Free of Taxes |
48 | |||
5.9.3 Payment of Other Taxes by the Loan Parties |
48 | |||
5.9.4 Indemnification by the Loan Parties |
48 | |||
5.9.5 Indemnification by the Lenders |
49 | |||
5.9.6 Evidence of Payments |
49 | |||
5.9.7 Status of Lenders |
49 | |||
5.9.8 Treatment of Certain Refunds |
51 |
ii
5.9.9 Survival |
52 | |||
5.10 Indemnity |
52 | |||
5.11 Settlement Date Procedures |
52 | |||
6. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
53 | |||
6.1 Representations and Warranties |
53 | |||
6.1.1 Organization and Qualification; Power and Authority; Compliance With Laws; Title to Properties; Event of Default |
53 | |||
6.1.2 Subsidiaries and Owners; Investment Companies |
53 | |||
6.1.3 Validity and Binding Effect |
54 | |||
6.1.4 No Conflict; Material Agreements; Consents |
54 | |||
6.1.5 Litigation |
54 | |||
6.1.6 Financial Statements |
54 | |||
6.1.7 Margin Stock |
55 | |||
6.1.8 Full Disclosure |
55 | |||
6.1.9 Taxes |
55 | |||
6.1.10 Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, Licenses, Etc. |
55 | |||
6.1.11 Reserved |
56 | |||
6.1.12 Reserved |
56 | |||
6.1.13 ERISA Compliance |
56 | |||
6.1.14 Environmental Matters |
56 | |||
6.1.15 Solvency |
56 | |||
6.1.16 Senior Debt Status |
56 | |||
7. CONDITIONS OF LENDING AND ISSUANCE OF LETTERS OF CREDIT |
57 | |||
7.1 First Loans and Letters of Credit |
57 | |||
7.1.1 Deliveries |
57 | |||
7.1.2 Payment of Fees |
58 | |||
7.2 Each Loan or Letter of Credit |
58 | |||
8. COVENANTS |
58 | |||
8.1 Affirmative Covenants |
58 | |||
8.1.1 Preservation of Existence, Etc. |
58 | |||
8.1.2 Payment of Liabilities, Including Taxes, Etc. |
59 | |||
8.1.3 Maintenance of Properties, Insurance |
59 | |||
8.1.4 Reserved |
59 | |||
8.1.5 Visitation Rights |
59 | |||
8.1.6 Keeping of Records and Books of Account |
59 | |||
8.1.7 Compliance with Laws; Use of Proceeds |
59 | |||
8.1.8 Reserved |
60 | |||
8.1.9 Anti-Terrorism Laws |
60 | |||
8.2 Negative Covenants |
60 | |||
8.2.1 Indebtedness |
60 | |||
8.2.2 Liens; Negative Pledge |
61 | |||
8.2.3 Guaranties |
62 | |||
8.2.4 Loans and Investments |
62 |
iii
8.2.5 Restricted Payments |
63 | |||
8.2.6 Liquidations, Mergers, Consolidations, Acquisitions |
64 | |||
8.2.7 Dispositions of Assets or Subsidiaries |
64 | |||
8.2.8 Affiliate Transactions |
65 | |||
8.2.9 Subsidiaries |
65 | |||
8.2.10 Continuation of or Change in Business |
65 | |||
8.2.11 Fiscal Year |
66 | |||
8.2.12 Restriction on Subsidiaries |
66 | |||
8.2.13 Changes in Organizational Documents |
66 | |||
8.2.14 Note Purchase Agreement Financial Covenants |
66 | |||
8.2.15 Other Financial Covenants |
66 | |||
8.3 Reporting Requirements |
67 | |||
8.3.1 Quarterly Financial Statements |
67 | |||
8.3.2 Annual Financial Statements |
67 | |||
8.3.3 Compliance Certificate |
67 | |||
8.3.4 Notices |
68 | |||
9. DEFAULT |
68 | |||
9.1 Events of Default |
68 | |||
9.1.1 Payments Under Loan Documents |
68 | |||
9.1.2 Breach of Warranty |
69 | |||
9.1.3 Breach of Negative Covenants or Visitation Rights |
69 | |||
9.1.4 Breach of Other Covenants |
69 | |||
9.1.5 Defaults in Other Material Indebtedness |
69 | |||
9.1.6 Final Judgments or Orders |
69 | |||
9.1.7 Loan Document Unenforceable |
70 | |||
9.1.8 Proceedings Against Assets |
70 | |||
9.1.9 Events Relating to Plans or Multiemployer Plans |
70 | |||
9.1.10 Change in Control |
70 | |||
9.1.11 Insolvency Event |
70 | |||
9.2 Consequences of Event of Default |
70 | |||
9.2.1 Events of Default Other Than Bankruptcy, Insolvency or Reorganization Proceedings |
70 | |||
9.2.2 Bankruptcy, Insolvency or Reorganization Proceedings |
71 | |||
9.2.3 Set-off |
71 | |||
9.2.4 Application of Xxxxxxxx |
00 | |||
00. THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT |
72 | |||
10.1 Appointment and Authority |
72 | |||
10.2 Rights as a Lender |
72 | |||
10.3 Exculpatory Provisions |
72 | |||
10.4 Reliance by Administrative Agent |
73 | |||
10.5 Delegation of Duties |
73 | |||
10.6 Resignation of Administrative Agent |
74 | |||
10.7 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders |
74 | |||
10.8 No Other Duties, etc. |
75 |
iv
10.9 Administrative Agent's Fee |
75 | |||
10.10 Authorization to Release Guarantors |
75 | |||
10.11 No Reliance on Administrative Agent’s Customer Identification Program |
75 | |||
11. MISCELLANEOUS |
75 | |||
11.1 Modifications, Amendments or Waivers |
75 | |||
11.1.1 Increase of Commitment |
76 | |||
11.1.2 Extension of Payment; Reduction of Principal Interest or Fees; Modification of Terms of Payment |
76 | |||
11.1.3 Release of Guarantor |
76 | |||
11.1.4 Miscellaneous |
76 | |||
11.2 No Implied Waivers; Cumulative Remedies |
76 | |||
11.3 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver |
77 | |||
11.3.1 Costs and Expenses |
77 | |||
11.3.2 Indemnification by the Borrower |
77 | |||
11.3.3 Reimbursement by Lenders |
78 | |||
11.3.4 Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. |
78 | |||
11.3.5 Payments |
78 | |||
11.4 Holidays |
78 | |||
11.5 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication |
79 | |||
11.5.1 Notices Generally |
79 | |||
11.5.2 Electronic Communications |
79 | |||
11.5.3 Change of Address, Etc. |
80 | |||
11.6 Severability |
80 | |||
11.7 Duration; Survival |
80 | |||
11.8 Successors and Assigns |
80 | |||
11.8.1 Successors and Assigns Generally |
80 | |||
11.8.2 Assignments by Lenders |
80 | |||
11.8.3 Register |
82 | |||
11.8.4 Participations |
82 | |||
11.8.5 Certain Pledges; Successors and Assigns Generally |
83 | |||
11.9 Confidentiality |
83 | |||
11.9.1 General |
83 | |||
11.9.2 Sharing Information With Affiliates of the Lenders |
84 | |||
11.10 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness |
84 | |||
11.10.1 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness |
84 | |||
11.11 CHOICE OF LAW; SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF VENUE; SERVICE OF PROCESS; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL |
85 | |||
11.11.1 Governing Law |
85 | |||
11.11.2 SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION |
85 | |||
11.11.3 WAIVER OF VENUE |
85 | |||
11.11.4 SERVICE OF PROCESS |
86 | |||
11.11.5 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL |
86 | |||
11.12 USA Patriot Act Notice |
86 |
v
LIST OF SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS
SCHEDULES
SCHEDULE 1.1(A) |
— | PRICING GRID | ||
SCHEDULE 1.1(B) |
— | COMMITMENTS OF LENDERS AND ADDRESSES FOR NOTICES | ||
SCHEDULE 1.1(P) |
— | PERMITTED LIENS | ||
SCHEDULE 2.9.2 |
— | EXISTING LETTERS OF CREDIT | ||
SCHEDULE 6.1.1 |
— | QUALIFICATIONS TO DO BUSINESS | ||
SCHEDULE 6.1.2 |
— | SUBSIDIARIES | ||
SCHEDULE 7.1.1 |
— | OPINION OF COUNSEL | ||
SCHEDULE 8.2.1 |
— | PERMITTED INDEBTEDNESS | ||
EXHIBITS | ||||
EXHIBIT 1.1(A) |
— | ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT | ||
EXHIBIT 1.1(G)(1) |
— | GUARANTOR JOINDER | ||
EXHIBIT 1.1(G)(2) |
— | GUARANTY AGREEMENT | ||
EXHIBIT 1.1(N)(1) |
— | REVOLVING CREDIT NOTE | ||
EXHIBIT 1.1(N)(2) |
— | SWING LOAN NOTE | ||
EXHIBIT 2.4.1 |
— | LOAN REQUEST | ||
EXHIBIT 2.4.2 |
— | SWING LOAN REQUEST | ||
EXHIBIT 2.12.1 |
— | NEW LENDER JOINDER | ||
EXHIBIT 5.9.7(A) |
— | U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE (For Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes) | ||
EXHIBIT 5.9.7(B) |
— | U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE (For Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes) | ||
EXHIBIT 5.9.7(C) |
— | U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE (For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes) | ||
EXHIBIT 5.9.7(D) |
— | U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE (For Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes) | ||
EXHIBIT 8.3.3 |
— | QUARTERLY COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE |
vi
THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT (as hereafter amended, the “Agreement”) is dated as of December 16, 2011 and is made by and among XXX XXXXX FARMS, INC., an Ohio corporation (the “Borrower”), each of the GUARANTORS (as hereinafter defined), the LENDERS (as hereinafter defined), and PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders under this Agreement (hereinafter referred to in such capacity as the “Administrative Agent”).
The Borrower has requested the Lenders to provide a revolving credit facility to the Borrower in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $300,000,000. In consideration of their mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:
1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
1.1 Certain Definitions. In addition to words and terms defined elsewhere in this Agreement, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings, respectively, unless the context hereof clearly requires otherwise:
Adjusted Leverage Ratio shall mean, as of the end of any fiscal quarter, the ratio of (A) the sum of (i) consolidated Indebtedness on such date and (ii) six (6) times rental expense for the four (4) fiscal quarters then ending, in each case of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, determined and consolidated in accordance within GAAP, to (B) Consolidated EBITDAR for the four (4) fiscal quarters then ending.
Administrative Agent shall mean PNC Bank, National Association, and its successors and assigns.
Administrative Agent’s Fee shall have the meaning specified in Section 10.9 [Administrative Agent’s Fee].
Administrative Agent’s Letter shall have the meaning specified in Section 10.9 [Administrative Agent’s Fee].
Affiliate of any Person shall mean any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person. A Person shall be deemed to control another Person if the controlling Person owns ten percent (10%) or more of any class of voting securities (or other ownership interests) of the controlled Person or possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of the controlled Person, whether through ownership of stock, by contract or otherwise.
Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
Anti-Terrorism Laws shall mean any Laws relating to terrorism or money laundering, including Executive Order No. 13224, the USA Patriot Act, the Laws comprising or implementing the Bank Secrecy Act, and the Laws administered by the United States Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (as any of the foregoing Laws may from time to time be amended, renewed, extended, or replaced).
Applicable Commitment Fee Rate shall mean the percentage rate per annum based on the Adjusted Leverage Ratio then in effect according to the pricing grid on Schedule 1.1(A) below the heading “Commitment Fee.”
Applicable Letter of Credit Fee Rate shall mean the percentage rate per annum based on the Adjusted Leverage Ratio then in effect according to the pricing grid on Schedule 1.1(A) below the heading “Letter of Credit Fee (Standby)” or “Letter of Credit Fee (Commercial)”, as applicable.
Applicable Margin shall mean, as applicable:
(A) the percentage spread to be added to the Base Rate applicable to Revolving Credit Loans under the Base Rate Option based on the Adjusted Leverage Ratio then in effect according to the pricing grid on Schedule 1.1(A) below the heading “Revolving Credit Base Rate Spread”, or
(B) the percentage spread to be added to the LIBOR Rate applicable to Revolving Credit Loans under the LIBOR Rate Option based on the Adjusted Leverage Ratio then in effect according to the pricing grid on Schedule 1.1(A) below the heading “Revolving Credit LIBOR Rate Spread”.
Approved Fund shall mean any fund that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of 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.
Assignment and Assumption Agreement shall mean an assignment and assumption agreement entered into by a Lender and an assignee permitted under Section 11.8 [Successors and Assigns], in substantially the form of Exhibit 1.1(A).
Authorized Officer shall mean, with respect to the Borrower, the Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Controller, Secretary, Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer of the Borrower, with respect to the Parent, the Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Controller, Secretary, Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer of the Parent, and with respect to Mimi’s Café, the Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Controller, Secretary, Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer of Mimi’s Café, or, with respect to any Loan Party, such other individuals, designated by written notice to the Administrative Agent from such Loan Party, authorized to execute notices, reports and other documents on behalf of such Loan Party required hereunder. Any Loan Party may amend its list of such individuals from time to time by giving written notice of such amendment to the Administrative Agent.
2
Bankruptcy Code shall mean Title 11 of the United States Code entitled “Bankruptcy,” as now or hereafter in effect, or any successor thereto, as hereafter amended.
Base Rate shall mean, for any day, a fluctuating per annum rate of interest equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Open Rate, plus 0.5%, and (b) the Prime Rate, and (c) the Daily LIBOR Rate, plus 100 basis points (1.0%). Any change in the Base Rate (or any component thereof) shall take effect at the opening of business on the day such change occurs.
Base Rate Option shall mean the option of the Borrower to have Loans bear interest at the rate and under the terms set forth in Section 4.1.1.1 [Revolving Credit Base Rate Option].
Borrower shall mean Xxx Xxxxx Farms, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Ohio.
Borrowing Date shall mean, with respect to any Loan, the date for the making thereof or the renewal or conversion thereof at or to the same or a different Interest Rate Option, which shall be a Business Day.
Borrowing Tranche shall mean specified portions of Loans outstanding as follows: (i) any Loans to which a LIBOR Rate Option applies which become subject to the same Interest Rate Option under the same Loan Request by the Borrower and which have the same Interest Period shall constitute one Borrowing Tranche, and (ii) all Loans to which a Base Rate Option applies shall constitute one Borrowing Tranche.
Business Day shall mean any day other than a Saturday or Sunday or a legal holiday on which commercial banks are authorized or required to be closed for business in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and if the applicable Business Day relates to any Loan to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies, such day must also be a day on which dealings are carried on in the London interbank market.
Cash Management Agreements shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.6.6 [Swing Loans Under Cash Management Agreements].
Change in Control shall mean an event that shall be deemed to have occurred on any of the following:
(a) the existing directors (the “Incumbent Directors”) cease for any reason other than death to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board of the Parent; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director after the Closing Date whose election, or nomination for election by the Parent’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the then Incumbent Directors shall also be treated as an Incumbent Director;
(b) the acquisition by any person or group (within the meaning of Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act), other than any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Parent, of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of 30% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Parent entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the Parent;
3
(c) the consummation of a merger, consolidation or other business combination of the Parent with or into another entity, or the acquisition by the Parent of assets or shares or equity interests of another entity, as a result of which the stockholders of the Parent immediately prior to such merger, consolidation, other business combination or acquisition, do not, immediately thereafter, beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the entity resulting from such merger, consolidation or other business combination of the Parent; or
(d) the Parent shall cease to own beneficially and of record one hundred percent (100%) of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Borrower.
Change in Law shall mean the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any Law, (b) any change in any Law or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Official Body or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of Law) by any Official Body; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Xxxx-Xxxxx Xxxx Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, regulations, guidelines, interpretations or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith (whether or not having the force of Law) and (y) all requests, rules, regulations, guidelines, interpretations or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities (whether or not having the force of Law), 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, promulgated or implemented.
Closing Date shall mean December 16, 2011.
Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time, and any successor statute of similar import, and the rules and regulations thereunder, as from time to time in effect.
Commercial Letter of Credit shall mean a commercial letter of credit issued in respect of the purchase of goods or services in the ordinary course of business of a Loan Party or another Subsidiary of a Loan Party.
Commitment shall mean as to any Lender the aggregate of its Revolving Credit Commitment and, in the case of PNC, its Swing Loan Commitment, and Commitments shall mean the aggregate of the Revolving Credit Commitments and Swing Loan Commitment of all of the Lenders.
Commitment Fee shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.3 [Commitment Fees].
4
Compliance Certificate shall have the meaning specified in Section 8.3.3 [Compliance Certificate].
Connection Income Taxes shall mean Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes.
Consolidated EBITDAR shall mean, as of the end of any fiscal quarter (i) the sum of net income, depreciation, amortization, all adjustments deducted in determining net income and reflected in the GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation of Operating Income disclosed in the Parent’s earnings releases for such periods (provided cash charges shall not exceed $10,000,000 in any trailing twelve month period), other non-cash charges to net income, interest expense, income and franchise (or similar) Tax expense and rental expense (plus contingent store rent plus non-cash rent expense) minus (ii) non-cash credits to net income, in each case of the Parent and its Subsidiaries determined and consolidated in accordance with GAAP for the four (4) fiscal quarters then ending; provided, that notwithstanding any provision in the foregoing definition, if any non-cash charge determined pursuant to the foregoing definition is expected to result in any future cash payment, it shall be deemed to have been paid in cash for purposes of the foregoing calculation but shall be subject to the limitation that cash charges shall not exceed $10,000,000 in any trailing twelve month period.
Consolidated Subsidiary shall mean with respect to any Person at any date any Subsidiary of such Person or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of such Person in its consolidated financial statements if such statements were prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP.
Consolidated Total Assets shall mean, as of any date of determination, the total amount of all assets of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
Coverage Ratio shall mean, as of the end of any fiscal quarter, the ratio of Consolidated EBITDAR to the sum of (i) interest expense and (ii) rental expense, in each case of the Parent and its Subsidiaries determined and consolidated in accordance with GAAP for the four (4) fiscal quarters then ending.
Daily LIBOR Rate shall mean, for any day, the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent by dividing (x) the Published Rate by (y) a number equal to 1.00 minus the LIBOR Reserve Percentage on such day.
Defaulting Lender shall mean 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 Swing Loans or (iii) pay over to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender, PNC (as the Swing Loan Lender) or any Lender 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
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or the Administrative Agent 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 two Business Days after request by the Administrative Agent, 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 Swing Loans under this Agreement, provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon the Administrative Agent’s receipt of such certification in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (d) has become the subject of a Lender Bankruptcy Event or (e) has failed at any time to comply with the provisions of Section 5.3 with respect to purchasing participations from the other Lenders, whereby such Lender’s share of any payment received, whether by setoff or otherwise, is in excess of its Ratable Share of such payments due and payable to all of the Lenders.
As used in this definition and in Section 2.10 [Defaulting Lenders], the term “Lender Bankruptcy Event” means, with respect to any Person, such Person or such Person’s direct or indirect parent company 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 Lender Bankruptcy Event shall not result solely by virtue of any ownership interest, or the acquisition of any ownership interest, in such Person or such Person’s direct or indirect parent company by an Official Body or instrumentality thereof if, and only if, 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 Official Body or instrumentality) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made by such Person.
Dollar, Dollars, U.S. Dollars and the symbol $ shall mean lawful money of the United States of America.
Drawing Date shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.9.3 [Disbursements, Reimbursement].
Environmental Laws shall mean all applicable federal, state, local, tribal, territorial and foreign Laws (including common law), constitutions, statutes, treaties, regulations, rules, ordinances and codes and any consent decrees, settlement agreements, judgments, orders, directives, policies or programs issued by or entered into with an Official Body pertaining or relating to: (i) pollution or pollution control; (ii) protection of the environment and/or natural resources; (iii) the presence, use, management, generation, manufacture, processing, extraction, treatment, recycling, refining, reclamation, labeling, packaging, sale, transport, storage, collection, distribution, disposal or release or threat of release of hazardous substances; (iv) the presence of contamination; (v) the protection of endangered or threatened species; and (vi) the protection of environmentally sensitive areas.
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Equity Interests shall mean shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person, and any warrants, options or other rights entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any such equity interest.
ERISA shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time, and any successor statute of similar import, and the rules and regulations thereunder, as from time to time in effect.
ERISA Affiliate shall mean, at any time, any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control with the Borrower and are treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.
ERISA Event shall mean (a) a reportable event (under Section 4043 of ERISA and regulations thereunder) with respect to a Plan; (b) a withdrawal by Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization; (d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, the treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination under Sections 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (e) an event or condition which constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (f) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate.
ERISA Group shall mean, at any time, the Borrower and all members of a controlled group of corporations and all trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) under common control and all other entities which, together with the Borrower, are treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code.
Event of Default shall mean any of the events described in Section 9.1 [Events of Default] and referred to therein as an “Event of Default.”
Excluded Taxes shall mean 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, (i) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (a) 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 (b) that are Other Connection Taxes, (ii) 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
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on which (a) such Lender acquires such interest in such Loan or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 5.6.2 [Replacement of a Lender]) or (b) such Lender changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 5.9.7 [Status of Lenders], amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender became a party hereto or to such Lender immediately before it changed its lending office, (iii) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 5.9.7 [Status of Lenders], and (iv) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA (except to the extent imposed due to the failure of the Borrower to provide documentation or information to the IRS).
Executive Order No. 13224 shall mean the Executive Order No. 13224 on Terrorist Financing, effective September 24, 2001, as the same has been, or shall hereafter be, renewed, extended, amended or replaced.
Existing Letters of Credit shall mean each of the letters of credit issued by certain of the Lenders prior to the execution and effectiveness of this Agreement that are more fully described on Schedule 2.9.2 hereto.
Expiration Date shall mean, with respect to the Revolving Credit Commitments, December 16, 2016.
Fair Market Value means, at any time and with respect to any property, the sale value of such property that would be realized in an arm’s-length sale at such time between an informed and willing buyer and an informed and willing seller (neither being under a compulsion to buy or sell), as reasonably determined in the good faith opinion of a Loan Party’s or any Subsidiary of a Loan Party’s board of directors or one or more officers to whom authority to determine such value has been delegated by such board of directors.
FATCA shall mean Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with) and any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof.
Federal Funds Effective Rate for any day shall mean the rate per annum (based on a year of 360 days and actual days elapsed and rounded upward to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) announced by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or any successor) on such day as being the weighted average of the rates on overnight federal funds transactions arranged by federal funds brokers on the previous trading day, as computed and announced by such Federal Reserve Bank (or any successor) in substantially the same manner as such Federal Reserve Bank computes and announces the weighted average it refers to as the “Federal Funds Effective Rate” as of the date of this Agreement; provided, if such Federal Reserve Bank (or its successor) does not announce such rate on any day, the “Federal Funds Effective Rate” for such day shall be the Federal Funds Effective Rate for the last day on which such rate was announced.
Federal Funds Open Rate for any day shall mean the rate per annum (based on a year of 360 days and actual days elapsed) which is the daily federal funds open rate as quoted by ICAP North America, Inc. (or any successor) as set forth on the Bloomberg Screen BTMM for
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that day opposite the caption “OPEN” (or on such other substitute Bloomberg Screen that displays such rate), or as set forth on such other recognized electronic source used for the purpose of displaying such rate as selected by the Administrative Agent (for purposes of this definition, an “Alternate Source”) (or if such rate for such day does not appear on the Bloomberg Screen BTMM (or any substitute screen) or on any Alternate Source, or if there shall at any time, for any reason, no longer exist a Bloomberg Screen BTMM (or any substitute screen) or any Alternate Source, a comparable replacement rate determined by the Administrative Agent at such time (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error); provided, however, that if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Open Rate for such day shall be the “open” rate on the immediately preceding Business Day. If and when the Federal Funds Open Rate changes, the rate of interest with respect to any advance to which the Federal Funds Open Rate applies will change automatically without notice to the Borrower, effective on the date of any such change.
Foreign Lender shall mean (i) if the Borrower is a U.S. Person, a Lender that is not a U.S. Person, and (ii) if the Borrower is not a U.S. Person, a Lender that is resident or organized under the Laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes.
GAAP shall mean generally accepted accounting principles as are in effect from time to time, subject to the provisions of Section 1.3 [Accounting Principles], and applied on a consistent basis both as to classification of items and amounts; provided, however, that if it was permissible to use more than one principle at such time in respect of a particular accounting matter, “GAAP” shall, insofar as it relates to the Parent or any Subsidiary, refer to the principle then employed by the Parent or such Subsidiary with the agreement of its independent public accountants.
Guarantors shall mean, collectively, the Parent, Mimi’s Café and each other Person which joins this Agreement as a Guarantor after the date hereof, each of which is referred to herein as a Guarantor.
Guarantor Joinder shall mean a joinder by a Person as a Guarantor under the Loan Documents in the form of Exhibit 1.1(G)(1).
Guaranty as to any Person (the “guarantor”) means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, or (c) 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 Guaranty shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The amount of any Guaranty shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary Indebtedness in respect of which such Guaranty is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof (assuming such Person is required to perform thereunder) as determined by such Person in good faith.
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Guaranty Agreement shall mean the Continuing Agreement of Guaranty and Suretyship in substantially the form of Exhibit 1.1(G)(2) executed and delivered by each of the Guarantors.
Hedge Agreement shall mean (i) any interest rate swap agreement, any interest rate cap agreement, any interest rate collar agreement or other similar interest rate management agreement or arrangement, (ii) any currency swap or option agreement, foreign exchange contract, forward currency purchase agreement or similar currency management agreement or arrangement or (iii) any commodities hedging agreement.
Incorporated Financial Covenants shall have the meaning specified in Section 8.2.14 [Note Purchase Agreement Financial Covenants].
Increasing Lender shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.12.1 [Increasing Lenders and New Lenders].
Indebtedness shall mean, as to any Person at any time, without duplication, any and all indebtedness, obligations or liabilities (whether matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, or joint or several) of such Person for or in respect of: (i) borrowed money, (ii) amounts raised under or liabilities in respect of any note purchase or acceptance credit facility, (iii) reimbursement obligations (contingent or otherwise) under any letter of credit agreement, (iv) obligations under any Hedge Agreement, (v) the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding current accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business) and, for the avoidance of doubt, operating leases that are not required to be characterized as capitalized leases under GAAP, (vi) Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed, (vii) capitalized leases, (viii) obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit, (ix) asset securitization financings, (x) the full outstanding balance of trade receivables, notes or other instruments sold with full recourse (and the portion thereof subject to potential recourse, if sold with limited recourse, other than for breach of representations and/or warranties by the seller or its Affiliate), other than in any such case any thereof sold solely for purposes of collection of delinquent accounts, or (xi) any Guaranty of Indebtedness for borrowed money. The amount of any Indebtedness described in clause (iv) above on any date shall be deemed to be the amount, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Indebtedness, (a) for any date on or after the date such contracts have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the xxxx-to-market value(s) for such contracts, as determined based upon the average of three (3) or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such contracts (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender) thereof as of such date.
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Indemnified Taxes shall mean (i) 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 (ii) to the extent not otherwise described in the preceding clause (i), Other Taxes.
Indemnitee shall have the meaning specified in Section 11.3.2 [Indemnification by the Borrower].
Information shall mean all information received from the Loan Parties or any of their Subsidiaries relating to the Loan Parties or any of such Subsidiaries or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Lender on a non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by the Loan Parties or any of their Subsidiaries.
Insolvency Event shall mean, with respect to any Person, (i) the commencement of a voluntary case or proceeding by such Person under the Bankruptcy Code, (ii) the commencement of an involuntary case or proceeding against such Person under the Bankruptcy Code and the petition is not dismissed within 60 days after commencement of the case or proceeding, (iii) a custodian (as defined in the Bankruptcy Code) or a receiver, interim receiver, trustee or monitor, or any similar person under any insolvency law is appointed for, or takes charge of, all or substantially all of the property of such Person, (iv) such Person commences (including by way of applying for or consenting to the appointment of, or the taking of possession by, a rehabilitator, receiver, interim receiver, monitor, custodian, trustee, conservator or liquidator (collectively, a “conservator”) of such Person or all or any substantial portion of its property) any other proceeding under any reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of debt, relief of debtors, dissolution, insolvency, liquidation, rehabilitation, conservatorship or similar law of any jurisdiction whether now or hereafter in effect relating to such Person, (v) any such proceeding of the type set forth in clause (iv) above is commenced against such Person to the extent such proceeding is consented to by such Person or remains undismissed for a period of 60 days, (vi) such Person is adjudicated insolvent or bankrupt, (vii) any order of relief or other order approving any such case or proceeding is entered, (viii) such Person suffers any appointment of any conservator or the like for it or any substantial part of its property that continues undischarged or unstayed for a period of 60 days or (ix) such Person makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or generally does not pay its debts as such debts become due.
Interest Period shall mean the period of time selected by the Borrower in connection with (and to apply to) any election permitted hereunder by the Borrower to have Revolving Credit Loans bear interest under the LIBOR Rate Option. Subject to the last sentence of this definition, such period shall be one, two, three or six Months. Such Interest Period shall commence on the effective date of such Interest Rate Option, which shall be (i) the Borrowing Date if the Borrower is requesting new Loans, or (ii) the date of renewal of or conversion to the LIBOR Rate Option if the Borrower is renewing or converting to the LIBOR Rate Option applicable to outstanding Loans. Notwithstanding the second sentence hereof: (A) any Interest Period which would otherwise end on a date which is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day, and (B) the Borrower shall not select, convert to or renew an Interest Period for any portion of the Loans that would end after the Expiration Date.
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Interest Rate Option shall mean any LIBOR Rate Option or Base Rate Option.
IRS shall mean the United States Internal Revenue Service.
Issuing Lender shall mean PNC, in its individual capacity as issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, and any other Lender that Borrower, Administrative Agent and such other Lender may agree may from time to time issue Letters of Credit hereunder.
Joint Venture shall mean a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity in which any Person other than the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries holds, directly or indirectly, an equity interest.
Law shall mean any applicable law (including common law), constitution, statute, treaty, regulation, rule, ordinance, opinion, release, ruling, order, injunction, writ, decree, bond, judgment, authorization or approval, lien or award by or settlement agreement with any Official Body.
Lender Provided Hedge Agreement shall mean a Hedge Agreement which is provided by any Lender or its Affiliate and: (i) is documented in a standard International Swaps and Derivatives Association Agreement, and (ii) provides for the method of calculating the reimbursable amount of the provider’s credit exposure in a reasonable and customary manner.
Lenders shall mean the financial institutions named on Schedule 1.1(B) and their respective successors and assigns as permitted hereunder, each of which is referred to herein as a Lender.
Letter of Credit shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.9.1 [Issuance of Letters of Credit].
Letter of Credit Borrowing shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.9.3 [Disbursements, Reimbursement].
Letter of Credit Fee shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.9.2 [Letter of Credit Fees].
Letter of Credit Obligation shall mean, as of any date of determination, the aggregate amount available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit on such date (if any Letter of Credit shall increase in amount automatically in the future, such aggregate amount available to be drawn shall currently give effect to any such future increase) plus the aggregate Reimbursement Obligations and, without duplication, Letter of Credit Borrowings on such date.
Letter of Credit Sublimit shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.9.1 [Issuance of Letters of Credit].
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LIBOR Rate shall mean, with respect to the Loans comprising any Borrowing Tranche to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies for any Interest Period, the interest rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent by dividing (the resulting quotient rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100th of 1% per annum) (i) the rate which appears on the Bloomberg Page BBAM1 (or on such other substitute Bloomberg page that displays rates at which US dollar deposits are offered by leading banks in the London interbank deposit market), at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period as the London interbank offered rate for U.S. Dollars for an amount comparable to such Borrowing Tranche and having a borrowing date and a maturity comparable to such Interest Period (or if there shall at any time, for any reason, no longer exist a Bloomberg Page BBAM1 (or any substitute page), a comparable replacement rate determined by the Administrative Agent at such time (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error)), by (ii) a number equal to 1.00 minus the LIBOR Reserve Percentage. LIBOR may also be expressed by the following formula:
London interbank offered rates quoted by Bloomberg
LIBOR Rate = or appropriate successor as shown on Bloomberg Page BBAM1
1.00—LIBOR Reserve Percentage
The LIBOR Rate shall be adjusted with respect to any Loan to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies that is outstanding on the effective date of any change in the LIBOR Reserve Percentage as of such effective date. The Administrative Agent shall give prompt notice to the Borrower of the LIBOR Rate as determined or adjusted in accordance herewith, which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
LIBOR Rate Option shall mean the option of the Borrower to have Loans bear interest at the rate and under the terms set forth in Section 4.1.1.2 [Revolving Credit LIBOR Rate Option].
LIBOR Reserve Percentage shall mean as of any day the maximum percentage in effect on such day, as prescribed by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor) for determining the reserve requirements (including supplemental, marginal and emergency reserve requirements) with respect to eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency Liabilities”).
Lien shall mean any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, lien, security interest, charge or other encumbrance or security arrangement of any nature whatsoever, whether voluntarily or involuntarily given, including any conditional sale or title retention arrangement, and any assignment, deposit arrangement or lease intended as, or having the effect of, security and any filed financing statement or other notice of any of the foregoing (whether or not a lien or other encumbrance is created or exists at the time of the filing).
Loan Documents shall mean this Agreement, the Administrative Agent’s Letter, the Guaranty Agreement, the Notes, and any other instruments, certificates or documents delivered in connection herewith or therewith.
Loan Parties shall mean the Borrower and the Guarantors.
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Loan Request shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.5 [Revolving Credit Loan Requests; Swing Loan Requests].
Loans shall mean collectively and Loan shall mean separately all Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Loans or any Revolving Credit Loan or Swing Loan.
Material Adverse Change shall mean (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the operations, business, assets, liabilities (actual or contingent), or financial condition of the Parent and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the ability of any Loan Party to perform its obligations under any Loan Document, in each case to which it is a party; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against any Loan Party of any Loan Document to which it is a party.
Material Indebtedness shall mean, at any date, any Indebtedness (excluding any Indebtedness outstanding hereunder) having an aggregate outstanding principal amount of $20,000,000 or more.
Material Subsidiary shall mean (a) the Borrower , (b) BEF Foods, Inc. and (c) any other Subsidiary (i) the consolidated revenues of which for the most recent fiscal year of the Parent for which audited financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 8.3 [Reporting Requirements] were greater than ten percent (10%) of the Parent’s consolidated revenues for such fiscal year or (ii) that as of the end of such fiscal year comprised greater than ten percent (10%) of the Consolidated Total Assets as of such date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Subsidiary which guarantees the indebtedness under any Note Purchase Agreement or any other indebtedness under note issuances permitted under Section 8.2.1(ii)(b) shall be deemed to be a Material Subsidiary.
Mimi’s Café shall mean Mimi’s Café, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
Month, with respect to an Interest Period under the LIBOR Rate Option, shall mean the interval between the days in consecutive calendar months numerically corresponding to the first day of such Interest Period. If any LIBOR Rate Interest Period begins on a day of a calendar month for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the month in which such Interest Period is to end, the final month of such Interest Period shall be deemed to end on the last Business Day of such final month.
Multiemployer Plan shall mean any employee benefit plan which is a “multiemployer plan” within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA and to which the Borrower or any member of the ERISA Group is then making or accruing an obligation to make contributions or, within the preceding five Plan years, has made or had an obligation to make such contributions.
Net Proceeds means with respect to any sale of property by any Person an amount equal to (a) the aggregate amount of the consideration received by such Person in respect of such sale (valued at the Fair Market Value of such consideration at the time of such sale), minus (b) the sum of (i) all out of pocket costs and expenses actually incurred by such Person in connection with such sale, and (ii) all state, federal and foreign Taxes incurred, or to be incurred, by such Person in connection with such sale.
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New Lender shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.12.1 [Increasing Lenders and New Lenders].
Non-Consenting Lender shall have the meaning specified in Section 11.1 [Modifications, Amendments or Waivers].
Non-Loan Party Subsidiaries shall mean collectively all wholly-owned Subsidiaries of the Loan Parties which are not themselves Loan Parties.
Note Purchase Agreements shall mean, collectively, (a) the Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 28, 2004, by and among the Parent, the Borrower (as successor by merger to BEF Holding Co., Inc.) and the purchasers set forth therein, as amended by First Amendment, dated as of January 15, 2005 and Second Amendment, dated as of February 24, 2009; and (b) the Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 28, 2008, by and among the Parent, the Borrower (as successor by merger to BEF Holding Co., Inc.) and the purchasers set forth therein, as amended by First Amendment, dated as of February 24, 2009, as either of the foregoing are further amended, restated, modified or supplemented from time to time.
Notes shall mean, collectively, the promissory notes in the form of Exhibit 1.1(N)(1) evidencing the Revolving Credit Loans, and in the form of Exhibit 1.1(N)(2) evidencing the Swing Loan.
Obligation shall mean any obligation or liability of any of the Loan Parties, howsoever created, arising or evidenced, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, now or hereafter existing, or due or to become due, under or in connection with (i) this Agreement, the Notes, the Letters of Credit, the Administrative Agent’s Letter or any other Loan Document whether to the Administrative Agent, any of the Lenders or their Affiliates or other persons provided for under such Loan Documents, (ii) any Lender Provided Hedge Agreement and (iii) any Other Lender Provided Financial Service Product.
Official Body shall mean the government of the United States of America or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank) and any group or body charged with setting financial accounting or regulatory capital rules or standards (including, without limitation, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the Bank for International Settlements or the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision or any successor or similar authority to any of the foregoing).
Other Connection Taxes shall mean, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of such Recipient conducting or having conducted a sufficient level of ongoing business or income-generating activity in the jurisdiction imposing such Tax to subject it to Tax generally on the income or privilege of doing business or unretained earnings associated with such activity (but, without broadening the scope of the foregoing, not including any Tax imposed as a result of 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 Documents, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).
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Other Lender Provided Financial Service Product shall mean agreements or other arrangements under which any Lender or Affiliate of a Lender provides any of the following products or services to any of the Loan Parties: (a) credit cards, (b) credit card processing services, (c) debit cards, (d) purchase cards, (e) ACH transactions, or (f) cash management, including controlled disbursement, accounts or services.
Other Taxes shall mean 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 5.6.2 [Replacement of a Lender]).
Parent shall mean Xxx Xxxxx Farms, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
Participant has the meaning specified in Section 11.8.4 [Participations].
Participant Register shall have the meaning specified in Section 11.8.4 [Participations].
Participation Advance shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.9.3 [Disbursements, Reimbursement].
Payment Date shall mean the first day of each calendar quarter after the date hereof and on the Expiration Date or upon acceleration of the Notes.
Payment In Full shall mean the indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Loans and other Obligations hereunder (other than contingent indemnification and reimbursement obligations in respect of which no claim for payment has yet been asserted by the Person entitled thereto), termination of the Commitments and expiration, termination or cash collateralization of all Letters of Credit; provided that, for purposes of this definition only, the term “Obligations” shall not include any Other Lender Provided Financial Services Product.
PBGC shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation established pursuant to Subtitle A of Title IV of ERISA or any successor.
Permitted Acquisition shall mean a purchase or other acquisition by a Loan Party or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of a Loan Party of all of the capital stock, membership interests, partnership interests or other equity interests in, or all or substantially all of the property of, or any division of, any Person that, upon the consummation thereof, will be wholly-owned directly by a Loan Party or one or more of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries (including as a result of a merger or consolidation) where such purchase or other acquisition shall meet the following requirements:
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(i) the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of the target of such purchase or acquisition shall have approved the Permitted Acquisition;
(ii) the target of such purchase or other acquisition is in the same lines of business (including, without limitation, the restaurant industry) as, or lines of business substantially related, complementary (including, without limitation, the supply chain thereof) or incidental to the principal business of, the Parent and its Subsidiaries, considered as an entirety;
(iii) immediately before and after giving effect to such purchase or acquisition on a pro forma basis, (a) no Event of Default or Potential Default shall have occurred and be continuing, and (b) the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries shall be in compliance on a pro forma basis with the financial covenants set forth in this Agreement based on the most recently delivered Compliance Certificate; and
(iv) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent at least five (5) Business Days prior to the date on which any such proposed purchase or other acquisition involving total cash and non-cash consideration in excess of $100,000,000 is to be consummated, a certificate of a Authorized Officer, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, certifying that all of the requirements set forth in this definition have been satisfied or will be satisfied prior to the consummation of such purchase or other acquisition.
Permitted Investments shall mean:
(i) direct obligations of the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof or obligations backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America;
(ii) debt securities of United States Federal agencies and United States government sponsored enterprises which carry the explicit or implied guarantee of the United States Government, including the Government National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan Bank, the Federal Farm Credit Bank, the Federal National Mortgage Association, and the Student Loan Marketing Association;
(iii) corporate debt instruments (including Rule 144A debt securities) which are denominated and payable in U.S. dollars and are issued by companies which carry a rating of A1/A+ or better, or in the case of commercial paper are rated A2/P2 or better;
(iv) short-term tax exempt debt obligations of Governmental Authorities consisting of municipal notes, commercial paper, auction rate notes and floating rate notes rated A1/P1 by S&P and Xxxxx’x, municipal notes rated SP1/MIG-1 or better and bonds rated AA or better;
(v) demand deposits, time deposits or certificates of deposit maturing within one year in commercial banks whose obligations are rated A-1, A or the equivalent or better by Standard & Poor’s on the date of acquisition;
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(vi) United States money market funds that comply with the requirements of Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and are rated as least AA/Aa by S&P and Xxxxx’x;
(vii) investments made under the Cash Management Agreements or under cash management agreements with any other Lenders; and
(viii) any other investments that are made pursuant to any investment policy approved by the Parent’s board of directors and approved by the Administrative Agent in writing as “Permitted Investments” hereunder, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld.
Permitted Liens shall mean:
(i) Liens for Taxes, assessments, or similar charges, incurred in the ordinary course of business and which are not yet due and payable, or for Taxes, assessments or similar charges which are being contested in good faith; provided that the applicable Loan Party maintains such reserves or other appropriate provisions as shall be required by GAAP and pays all such Taxes, assessments or charges forthwith upon the commencement of proceedings to foreclose any such Lien;
(ii) Pledges or deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure payment of workmen’s compensation, or to participate in any fund in connection with workmen’s compensation, unemployment insurance, old-age pensions or other social security programs;
(iii) Liens of mechanics, materialmen, warehousemen, carriers, or other like Liens, securing obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business and Liens of landlords securing obligations to pay lease payments that are not yet due and payable or in default, or which are due and payable, provided, with respect to those which are due and payable, that the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate and lawful proceedings diligently conducted so long as levy and execution thereon have been stayed and continue to be stayed or if a final judgment is entered and such judgment is discharged within thirty (30) days of entry, and in either case that they do not, in the aggregate, materially impair the ability of any Loan Party to perform its Obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents;
(iv) Good-faith pledges or deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure performance of bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the repayment of borrowed money) or leases, not in excess of the aggregate amount due thereunder, or to secure statutory obligations, or surety, appeal, indemnity, performance or other similar bonds required in the ordinary course of business;
(v) (A) Leases or subleases granted to others and encumbrances consisting of zoning restrictions, easements or other restrictions on the use of real property and (B) other claims, Liens or encumbrances upon, and defects of title to, real or personal property, including any attachment of personal or real property or other legal process prior to adjudication of a dispute on the merits, provided, with respect to clause (B), that the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate and lawful proceedings diligently conducted so long as levy and execution thereon have been stayed and continue to be stayed or if a final judgment is entered and such judgment is discharged within thirty (30) days of entry, and in either case that they do not, in the aggregate, materially impair the ability of any Loan Party to perform its Obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents;
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(vi) Final judgments or orders for the payment of money that do not, in the aggregate, constitute an Event of Default under Section 9.1.6;
(vii) Liens on property leased by any Loan Party or Subsidiary of a Loan Party under operating leases securing obligations of such Loan Party or Subsidiary to the lessor under such leases;
(viii) Any Lien existing on the date of this Agreement and described on Schedule 1.1(P), provided that the principal amount secured thereby is not hereafter increased, and no additional assets become subject to such Lien;
(ix) Purchase Money Security Interests and capitalized leases; provided that the aggregate amount of loans and deferred payments secured by such Purchase Money Security Interests and capitalized leases, together with the aggregate amount of Indebtedness secured by Liens described in clauses (x) and (xi) of this definition, shall not exceed $50,000,000 in the aggregate (excluding for the purpose of this computation any loans or deferred payments secured by Liens described on Schedule 1.1(P)
(x) Liens incurred after the date of Closing given to secure the payment of Indebtedness permitted by Section 8.2.1(viii); provided that the aggregate amount of Indebtedness secured thereby, together with the aggregate amount of Indebtedness secured by Liens described in clauses (ix) and (xi) of this definition, shall not exceed $50,000,000 in the aggregate, including Liens existing on such property at the time of acquisition or construction thereof, provided, that the Lien shall attach solely to the property acquired, purchased, constructed or improved;
(xi) any Lien existing on property of a Person immediately prior to its being consolidated with or merged into the Borrower, a Loan Party or a Subsidiary thereof or its becoming a Subsidiary thereof, or any Lien existing on any property acquired by the Borrower, a Loan Party or a Subsidiary thereof at the time such property is so acquired (whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby shall have been assumed), provided that (i) no such Lien shall have been created or assumed in contemplation of such consolidation or merger or such Person’s becoming a Subsidiary of the Parent or such acquisition of property, (ii) each such Lien shall extend solely to the item or items of property so acquired and, if required by the terms of the instrument originally creating such Lien, other property which is an improvement to or is acquired for specific use in connection with such acquired property, and (iii) at the time of such incurrence and after giving effect thereto, no Event of Default would exist and, provided further, that the aggregate amount of Indebtedness secured thereby, together with the aggregate amount of Indebtedness secured by Liens described in clauses (ix) and (x) of this definition, shall not exceed $50,000,000 in the aggregate;
(xii) any extensions, renewals, refinancings or replacements of any Lien permitted by the preceding clauses (viii), (x) and (xi), provided that (A) no additional property shall be encumbered by such Liens, (B) the unpaid principal amount of the Indebtedness or other obligations secured thereby shall not be increased, and (C) at such time and immediately after giving effect thereto, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;
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(xiii) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.2.1(vii);
(xiv) Informational Uniform Commercial Code filings and Liens of sellers of goods to the Parent or its Subsidiaries arising under Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code or similar provisions of applicable law in the ordinary course of business, covering only the goods sold and securing only the unpaid purchase price for such goods and related expenses;
(xv) Liens on raw materials and inventory acquired in the ordinary course of business securing obligations in respect of Commercial Letters of Credit issued hereunder;
(xvi) Liens not otherwise permitted by this Section so long as the aggregate amount of Indebtedness or other obligations secured thereby does not exceed $25,000,000 in the aggregate;
(xvii) Liens on cash and securities in an amount not to exceed $25,000,000, used to secure Hedge Agreements permitted hereunder; and
(xviii) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.2.1(x).
Person shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, joint venture, government or political subdivision or agency thereof, or any other entity.
Plan shall mean an employee pension benefit plan (as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA, including a Multiple Employer Plan or other Plan described in Section 403(a) of ERISA, but excluding any Multiemployer Plan), which is covered by Title IV of ERISA or is subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Code and either (i) is sponsored by any member of the ERISA Group or to which a member of the ERISA Group contributes or has an obligation to contribute for employees of any member of the ERISA Group or (ii) has at any time within the preceding five years been sponsored by any entity which was at such time a member of the ERISA Group or to which a member of the ERISA Group contributes or has an obligation to contribute for employees of any entity which was at such time a member of the ERISA Group.
PNC shall mean PNC Bank, National Association, its successors and assigns.
Potential Default shall mean any event or condition which with notice or passage of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.
Prime Rate shall mean the interest rate per annum announced from time to time by the Administrative Agent at its Principal Office as its then prime rate, which rate may not be the lowest or most favorable rate then being charged commercial borrowers or others by the Administrative Agent. Any change in the Prime Rate shall take effect at the opening of business on the day such change is announced.
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Principal Office shall mean the main banking office of the Administrative Agent in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Public Filing shall mean (i) the Parent’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended Xxxxx 00, 0000, (xx) the Parent’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 29, 2011 and (iii) and any Current Reports of the Borrower on Form 8-K filed with the SEC after July 29, 2011 but before the Closing Date.
Published Rate shall mean the rate of interest published each Business Day in The Wall Street Journal “Money Rates” listing under the caption “London Interbank Offered Rates” for a one month period (or, if no such rate is published therein for any reason, then the Published Rate shall be the rate at which U.S. dollar deposits are offered by leading banks in the London interbank deposit market for a one month period as published in another publication selected by the Administrative Agent).
Purchase Money Security Interest shall mean Liens upon tangible personal property securing loans to any Loan Party or Subsidiary of a Loan Party or deferred payments by such Loan Party or Subsidiary for the purchase of such tangible personal property.
Ratable Share shall mean the proportion that a Lender’s Commitment (excluding the Swing Loan Commitment) bears to the Commitments (excluding the Swing Loan Commitment) of all of the Lenders, provided that in the case of Section 2.10 [Defaulting Lenders] when a Defaulting Lender shall exist, “Ratable Share” shall mean the percentage of the aggregate Commitments (disregarding any Defaulting Lender’s Commitment) represented by such Lender’s Commitment. If the Commitments have terminated or expired, the Ratable Share shall be determined based upon the Commitments (excluding the Swing Loan Commitment) most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments.
Recipient shall mean (i) the Administrative Agent, (ii) any Lender and (iii) the Issuing Lender, as applicable.
Reimbursement Obligation shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.9.3 [Disbursements, Reimbursement].
Related Parties shall mean, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and of such Person’s Affiliates.
Required Lenders shall mean Lenders (other than any Defaulting Lender) having more than 50% of the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments of the Lenders (excluding any Defaulting Lender) or, after the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments, the outstanding Revolving Credit Loans and Ratable Share of Letter of Credit Obligations of the Lenders (excluding any Defaulting Lender).
Required Share shall have the meaning specified in Section 5.11 [Settlement Date Procedures].
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Restricted Payment shall mean (a) any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interest of the Parent or any Subsidiary of the Parent or (b) any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of (i) the purchase, redemption, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any Equity Interest of the Parent or any Subsidiary of the Parent or (ii) any option, warrant or other right to acquire any such Equity Interest of the Parent or any Subsidiary of the Parent.
Revolving Credit Commitment shall mean, as to any Lender at any time, the amount initially set forth opposite its name on Schedule 1.1(B) in the column labeled “Amount of Commitment for Revolving Credit Loans,” as such Commitment is thereafter assigned or modified and Revolving Credit Commitments shall mean the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments of all of the Lenders.
Revolving Credit Loans shall mean collectively and Revolving Credit Loan shall mean separately all Revolving Credit Loans or any Revolving Credit Loan made by the Lenders or one of the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1 [Revolving Credit Commitments] or 2.9.3 [Disbursements, Reimbursement].
Revolving Facility Usage shall mean at any time the sum of the outstanding principal amount of Revolving Credit Loans, the outstanding Swing Loans, and the Letter of Credit Obligations.
Sale and Lease-Back Transaction shall mean any arrangement with any Person providing for the leasing by the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries of any property (except for temporary leases for a term, including any renewal thereof, of not more than one year and except for leases between the Parent and a Subsidiary or between Subsidiaries), which property has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Parent or such Subsidiary to such Person.
Settlement Date shall mean the Business Day on which the Administrative Agent elects to effect settlement pursuant Section 5.11 [Settlement Date Procedures].
Solvent shall mean, with respect to any Person on any date of determination, taking into account such right of reimbursement, contribution or similar right available to such Person from other Persons, that on such date (i) the fair value of the property of such Person is greater than the total amount of liabilities, including, without limitation, contingent liabilities, of such Person, (ii) the present fair saleable value of the assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured, (iii) such Person is able to realize upon its assets and pay its debts and other liabilities, contingent obligations and other commitments as they mature in the normal course of business, (iv) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Person’s ability to pay as such debts and liabilities mature, and (v) such Person is not engaged in business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in business or a transaction, for which such Person’s property would constitute unreasonably small capital after giving due consideration to the prevailing practice in the industry in which such Person is engaged. In computing the amount of contingent liabilities at any time, it is intended that such liabilities will be computed at the amount which, in light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.
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Standard & Poor’s shall mean Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The XxXxxx-Xxxx Companies, Inc.
Standby Letter of Credit shall mean a Letter of Credit issued to support obligations of one or more of the Loan Parties or Subsidiaries of Loan Parties, contingent or otherwise, which finance the working capital and business needs of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of business.
Statements shall have the meaning specified in Section 6.1.6.1 [Historical Statements].
Subsidiary of any Person at any time shall mean any corporation, trust, partnership, any limited liability company or other business entity (i) of which more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities or other interests normally entitled to vote for the election of one or more directors or trustees (regardless of any contingency which does or may suspend or dilute the voting rights) is at such time owned directly or indirectly by such Person or one or more of such Person’s Subsidiaries, or (ii) which is controlled or capable of being controlled by such Person or one or more of such Person’s Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Person that is not included as a “Consolidated Subsidiary” under GAAP shall not be a Subsidiary hereunder.
Subsidiary Equity Interests shall have the meaning specified in Section 6.1.2 [Subsidiaries and Owners; Investment Companies].
Swing Loan Commitment shall mean PNC’s commitment to make Swing Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1.2 [Swing Loan Commitment] hereof in an aggregate principal amount up to $30,000,000.
Swing Loan Note shall mean the Swing Loan Note of the Borrower in the form of Exhibit 1.1(N)(2) evidencing the Swing Loans, together with all amendments, extensions, renewals, replacements, refinancings or refundings thereof in whole or in part.
Swing Loan Request shall mean a request for Swing Loans made in accordance with Section 2.5.2 [Swing Loan Requests] hereof.
Swing Loans shall mean collectively and Swing Loan shall mean separately all Swing Loans or any Swing Loan made by PNC to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1.2 [Swing Loan Commitment] hereof.
Taxes shall mean all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Official Body, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
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USA Patriot Act shall mean the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, Public Law 107-56, as the same has been, or shall hereafter be, renewed, extended, amended or replaced.
U.S. Person shall mean any Person that is a “United States Person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.
U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate shall have the meaning specified in Section 5.9.7 [Status of Lenders].
Withholding Agent shall mean any Loan Party and the Administrative Agent.
1.2 Construction. Unless the context of this Agreement otherwise clearly requires, the following rules of construction shall apply to this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents: (i) references to the plural include the singular, the plural, the part and the whole and the words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”; (ii) the words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereunder,” “hereto” and similar terms in this Agreement or any other Loan Document refer to this Agreement or such other Loan Document as a whole; (iii) article, section, subsection, clause, schedule and exhibit references are to this Agreement or other Loan Document, as the case may be, unless otherwise specified; (iv) reference to any Person includes such Person’s successors and assigns; (v) reference to any agreement, including this Agreement and any other Loan Document together with the schedules and exhibits hereto or thereto, document or instrument means such agreement, document or instrument as amended, modified, replaced, substituted for, superseded or restated; (vi) relative to the determination of any period of time, “from” means “from and including,” “to” means “to but excluding,” and “through” means “through and including”; (vii) 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, (viii) section headings herein and in each other Loan Document are included for convenience and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or such Loan Document, and (ix) unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern Time.
1.3 Accounting Principles; Changes in GAAP. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, all computations and determinations as to accounting or financial matters and all financial statements to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be made and prepared in accordance with GAAP (including principles of consolidation where appropriate), and all accounting or financial terms shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms by GAAP; provided, however, that all accounting terms used in Section 8.2 [Negative Covenants] (and all defined terms used in the definition of any accounting term used in Section 8.2 shall have the meaning given to such terms (and defined terms) under GAAP as in effect on the date hereof applied on a basis consistent with those used in preparing Statements referred to in Section 6.1.6.1 [Historical Statements]. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent in writing that the Borrower wishes to amend any financial covenant in Section 8.2 of this Agreement, any related definition and/or the definition of the term Adjusted Leverage Ratio for purposes of interest, Letter of Credit Fee and Commitment Fee determinations to eliminate the effect of any change in GAAP occurring after the Closing Date
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on the operation of such financial covenants (including, without limitation, any change in the treatment of capital leases and/or operating leases) and/or interest, Letter of Credit Fee or Commitment Fee determinations (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower in writing that the Required Lenders wish to amend any financial covenant in Section 8.2, any related definition and/or the definition of the term Adjusted Leverage Ratio for purposes of interest, Letter of Credit Fee and Commitment Fee determinations to eliminate the effect of any such change in GAAP), then the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratios or requirements to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided that, until so amended, the Loan Parties’ compliance with such covenants and/or the definition of the term Adjusted Leverage Ratio for purposes of interest, Letter of Credit Fee and Commitment Fee determinations shall be determined on the basis of GAAP in effect immediately before the relevant change in GAAP became effective, until either such notice is withdrawn or such covenants or definitions are amended in a manner satisfactory to the Borrower and the Required Lenders, and the Loan Parties shall provide to the Administrative Agent, when they delivers their financial statements pursuant to Section 8.3.1 [Quarterly Financial Statements] and 8.3.2 [Annual Financial Statements] of this Agreement, such reconciliation statements as shall be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent. In furtherance of the foregoing, any such amendment addressing the impact of changes in GAAP as contemplated by the foregoing sentences shall be documented and effected at no cost to the Borrower other than the reimbursement of the Administrative Agent’s costs and expenses as contemplated by Section 11.3 [Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver]. Further, for purposes of determining compliance with any covenant (including the computation of any financial covenant) contained herein, Indebtedness of the Parent and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and the effects of FASB ASC 825 and FASB ASC 470-20 on financial liabilities shall be disregarded.
2. REVOLVING CREDIT AND SWING LOAN FACILITIES
2.1 Revolving Credit Commitments.
2.1.1 Revolving Credit Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof and relying upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, each Lender severally agrees to make Revolving Credit Loans to the Borrower at any time or from time to time on or after the date hereof to the Expiration Date; provided that after giving effect to each such Loan (i) the aggregate amount of Revolving Credit Loans from such Lender shall not exceed such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment minus such Lender’s Ratable Share of the Letter of Credit Obligations and (ii) the Revolving Facility Usage shall not exceed the Revolving Credit Commitments. Within such limits of time and amount and subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow pursuant to this Section 2.1.
2.1.2 Swing Loan Commitment. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof and relying upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, and in order to facilitate loans and repayments between Settlement Dates, PNC may, at its option, cancelable at any time for any reason whatsoever, make swing loans (the “Swing Loans”) to the Borrower at any time or from time to time after the date hereof to, but not including, the Expiration Date, in an aggregate principal amount up to but not in excess of $30,000,000, provided that after giving
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effect to such Loan, the Revolving Facility Usage shall not exceed the Revolving Credit Commitments. Within such limits of time and amount and subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow pursuant to this Section 2.1.2.
2.2 Nature of Lenders’ Obligations with Respect to Revolving Credit Loans. Each Lender shall be obligated to participate in each request for Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to Section 2.5 [Revolving Credit Loan Requests; Swing Loan Requests] in accordance with its Ratable Share. The aggregate of each Lender’s Revolving Credit Loans outstanding hereunder to the Borrower at any time shall never exceed its Revolving Credit Commitment minus its Ratable Share of the outstanding Swing Loans and Letter of Credit Obligations. The obligations of each Lender hereunder are several. The failure of any Lender to perform its obligations hereunder shall not affect the Obligations of the Borrower to any other party nor shall any other party be liable for the failure of such Lender to perform its obligations hereunder. The Lenders shall have no obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans hereunder on or after the Expiration Date.
2.3 Commitment Fees. Accruing from the date hereof until the Expiration Date, the Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender according to its Ratable Share, a nonrefundable commitment fee (the “Commitment Fee”) equal to the Applicable Commitment Fee Rate (computed on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed) multiplied by the average daily difference between the amount of (i) the Revolving Credit Commitments (for purposes of this computation, PNC’s Swing Loans shall be deemed to be borrowed amounts under its Revolving Credit Commitment) and (ii) the Revolving Facility Usage; provided, however, that any Commitment Fee accrued with respect to the Revolving Credit Commitment of a Defaulting Lender during the period prior to the time such Lender became a Defaulting Lender and unpaid at such time shall not be payable by the Borrower so long as such Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender except to the extent that such Commitment Fee shall otherwise have been due and payable by the Borrower prior to such time; and provided further that no Commitment Fee shall accrue with respect to the Revolving Commitment of a Defaulting Lender so long as such Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender. Subject to the proviso in the directly preceding sentence, all Commitment Fees shall be payable in arrears on each Payment Date.
2.4 Reserved.
2.5 Revolving Credit Loan Requests; Swing Loan Requests.
2.5.1 Revolving Credit Loan Requests. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Borrower may from time to time prior to the Expiration Date request the Lenders to make Revolving Credit Loans, or renew or convert the Interest Rate Option applicable to existing Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to Section 4.2 [Interest Periods], by delivering to the Administrative Agent, not later than Noon, (i) three (3) Business Days prior to the proposed Borrowing Date with respect to the making of Revolving Credit Loans to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies or the conversion to or the renewal of the LIBOR Rate Option for any Loans; and (ii) the same Business Day of the proposed Borrowing Date with respect to the making of a Revolving Credit Loan to which the Base Rate Option applies or the last day of the preceding Interest Period with respect to the conversion to the Base Rate Option for any Loan, of a duly completed request therefor substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.5.1 or a request by telephone
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immediately confirmed in writing by letter, facsimile or telex in such form (each, a “Loan Request”), it being understood that the Administrative Agent may rely on the authority of any individual making such a telephonic request without the necessity of receipt of such written confirmation. Each Loan Request shall be irrevocable and shall specify the aggregate amount of the proposed Loans comprising each Borrowing Tranche, and, if applicable, the Interest Period, which amounts shall be in (x) integral multiples of $500,000 and not less than $1,000,000 for each Borrowing Tranche under the LIBOR Rate Option, and (y) integral multiples of $100,000 and not less than $500,000 for each Borrowing Tranche under the Base Rate Option.
2.5.2 Swing Loan Requests. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Borrower may from time to time prior to the Expiration Date request PNC to make Swing Loans by delivery to PNC not later than 12:00 noon on the proposed Borrowing Date of a duly completed request therefor substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.5.2 hereto or a request by telephone immediately confirmed in writing by letter, facsimile or telex (each, a “Swing Loan Request”), it being understood that the Administrative Agent may rely on the authority of any individual making such a telephonic request without the necessity of receipt of such written confirmation. Each Swing Loan Request shall be irrevocable and shall specify the proposed Borrowing Date and the principal amount of such Swing Loan, which shall be not less than $100,000.
2.6 Making Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Loans; Presumptions by the Administrative Agent; Repayment of Revolving Credit Loans; Borrowings to Repay Swing Loans.
2.6.1 Making Revolving Credit Loans. The Administrative Agent shall, promptly after receipt by it of a Loan Request pursuant to Section 2.5 [Revolving Credit Loan Requests; Swing Loan Requests], notify the Lenders of its receipt of such Loan Request specifying the information provided by the Borrower and the apportionment among the Lenders of the requested Revolving Credit Loans as determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 2.2 [Nature of Lenders’ Obligations with Respect to Revolving Credit Loans]. Each Lender shall remit the principal amount of each Revolving Credit Loan to the Administrative Agent such that the Administrative Agent is able to, and the Administrative Agent shall, to the extent the Lenders have made funds available to it for such purpose and subject to Section 7.2 [Each Loan or Letter of Credit], fund such Revolving Credit Loans to the Borrower in U.S. Dollars and immediately available funds at the Principal Office prior to 2:00 p.m., on the applicable Borrowing Date; provided that if any Lender fails to remit such funds to the Administrative Agent in a timely manner, the Administrative Agent may elect in its sole discretion to fund with its own funds the Revolving Credit Loans of such Lender on such Borrowing Date, and such Lender shall be subject to the repayment obligation in Section 2.6.2 [Presumptions by the Administrative Agent].
2.6.2 Presumptions by the Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Loan that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Loan, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.6.1 [Making Revolving Credit Loans] and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event,
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if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Loan 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 a payment to be made by 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 and (ii) in the case of a payment to be made by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Loans under the Base Rate Option. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Loan to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Loan. Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.
2.6.3 Making Swing Loans. So long as PNC elects to make Swing Loans, PNC shall, after receipt by it of a Swing Loan Request pursuant to Section 2.5.2, [Swing Loan Requests] fund such Swing Loan to the Borrower in U.S. Dollars and immediately available funds at the Principal Office prior to 4:00 o’clock p.m. on the Borrowing Date.
2.6.4 Repayment of Revolving Credit Loans. The Borrower shall repay the Revolving Credit Loans together with all outstanding interest thereon on the Expiration Date.
2.6.5 Borrowings to Repay Swing Loans. PNC may, at its option, exercisable at any time for any reason whatsoever, demand repayment of the Swing Loans, and each Lender shall make a Revolving Credit Loan in an amount equal to such Lender’s Ratable Share of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Swing Loans, plus, if PNC so requests, accrued interest thereon, provided that no Lender shall be obligated in any event to make Revolving Credit Loans in excess of its Revolving Credit Commitment minus its Ratable Share of Letter of Credit Obligations. Revolving Credit Loans made pursuant to the preceding sentence shall bear interest at the Base Rate Option and shall be deemed to have been properly requested in accordance with Section 2.5.1 [Revolving Credit Loan Requests] without regard to any of the requirements of that provision. PNC shall provide notice to the Lenders (which may be telephonic or written notice by letter, facsimile or telex) that such Revolving Credit Loans are to be made under this Section 2.6.5 and of the apportionment among the Lenders, and the Lenders shall be unconditionally obligated to fund such Revolving Credit Loans (whether or not the conditions specified in Section 2.5.1 [Revolving Credit Loan Requests] are then satisfied) by the time PNC so requests, which shall not be earlier than 3:00 p.m. on the Business Day next after the date the Lenders receive such notice from PNC.
2.6.6 Swing Loans Under Cash Management Agreements. In addition to making Swing Loans pursuant to the foregoing provisions of Section 2.6.3 [Making Swing Loans], without the requirement for a specific request from the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.5.2 [Swing Loan Requests], PNC as the Swing Loan Lender may make Swing Loans to the Borrower in accordance with the provisions of the agreements between the Borrower and such Swing Loan Lender relating to the Borrower’s deposit, sweep and other accounts at such Swing Loan Lender and related arrangements and agreements regarding the management and investment of the Borrower’s cash assets as in effect from time to time (the “Cash Management Agreements”) to the extent of the daily aggregate net negative balance in the Borrower’s accounts which are subject to the provisions of the Cash Management Agreements. Swing
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Loans made pursuant to this Section 2.6.6 in accordance with the provisions of the Cash Management Agreements shall (i) be subject to the limitations as to aggregate amount set forth in Section 2.1.2 [Swing Loan Commitment], (ii) not be subject to the limitations as to individual amount set forth in Section 2.5.2 [Swing Loan Requests], (iii) be payable by the Borrower, both as to principal and interest, at the rates and times set forth in the Cash Management Agreements (but in no event later than the Expiration Date), (iv) not be made at any time after such Swing Loan Lender has received written notice of the occurrence of an Event of Default and so long as such shall continue to exist, or, unless consented to by the Required Lenders, a Potential Default and so long as such shall continue to exist, (v) if not repaid by the Borrower in accordance with the provisions of the Cash Management Agreements, be subject to each Lender’s obligation pursuant to Section 2.6.5 [Borrowings to Repay Swing Loans], and (vi) except as provided in the foregoing subsections (i) through (v), be subject to all of the terms and conditions of this Section 2.
2.7 Notes. The Obligation of the Borrower to repay the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Loans made to it by each Lender, together with interest thereon, shall be evidenced by a revolving credit Note and a swing Note, dated the Closing Date payable to the order of such Lender in a face amount equal to the Revolving Credit Commitment or Swing Loan Commitment, as applicable, of such Lender.
2.8 Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Loans shall be used to refinance existing indebtedness and for working capital and general corporate purposes, including without limitation capital expenditures, joint ventures and acquisitions.
2.9 Letter of Credit Subfacility.
2.9.1 Issuance of Letters of Credit. Borrower may at any time prior to the Expiration Date request the issuance of a Standby Letter of Credit or a Commercial Letter of Credit (each a “Letter of Credit”) on behalf of itself, Parent or a Subsidiary of the Parent, or the amendment or extension of an existing Letter of Credit, by delivering or having such other Loan Party deliver to the Issuing Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) a completed application and agreement for letters of credit, or request for such amendment or extension, as applicable, in such form as the Issuing Lender may specify from time to time by no later than 10:00 a.m. at least five (5) Business Days, or such shorter period as may be agreed to by the Issuing Lender, in advance of the proposed date of issuance. Promptly after receipt of any letter of credit application, the Issuing Lender shall confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of such Letter of Credit application and if not, such Issuing Lender will provide Administrative Agent with a copy thereof. Unless the Issuing Lender has received notice from any Lender, Administrative Agent or any Loan Party, at least one day prior to the requested date of issuance, amendment or extension of the applicable Letter of Credit, that one or more applicable conditions in Section 7 [Conditions of Lending and Issuance of Letters of Credit] is not satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof and in reliance on the agreements of the other Lenders set forth in this Section 2.9, the Issuing Lender or any of the Issuing Lender’s Affiliates will issue a Letter of Credit or agree to such amendment or extension, provided that, subject to the following paragraph in this Section 2.9.1, each Letter of Credit shall (A) have a maximum maturity of twelve (12) months from the date of issuance, and (B) in no event expire later than the Expiration
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Date and provided further that in no event shall (i) the Letter of Credit Obligations exceed, at any one time, $50,000,000 (the “Letter of Credit Sublimit”) or (ii) the Revolving Facility Usage exceed, at any one time, the Revolving Credit Commitments. Each request by the Borrower for the issuance, amendment or extension of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be a representation by the Borrower that it shall be in compliance with the preceding sentence and with Section 7 [Conditions of Lending and Issuance of Letters of Credit] after giving effect to the requested issuance, amendment or extension of such Letter of Credit. Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit to the beneficiary thereof, the applicable Issuing Lender will also deliver to Borrower and Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.
If the Borrower so requests in any Letter of Credit application, each Issuing Lender shall agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic renewal provisions; provided, however, that any Letter of Credit that has automatic renewal provisions must permit such Issuing Lender to prevent any such renewal at least once in each twelve-month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a day in each such twelve-month period to be agreed upon at the time such Letter of Credit is issued. Once any such Letter of Credit that has automatic renewal provisions has been issued, the applicable Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) such Issuing Lender to permit the renewal of such Letter of Credit at any time prior to an expiry date not later than the Expiration Date; provided, however, that such Issuing Lender shall not permit any such renewal if (i) such Issuing Lender has determined that it would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its renewed form under the terms hereof, or (ii) it has received notice (which must be in writing) on or before the day that is two (2) Business Days before the date that such Issuing Lender is permitted to send a notice of non-renewal from the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 7 [Conditions of Lending and Issuance of Letters of Credit] is not then satisfied.
2.9.2 Letter of Credit Fees. The Borrower shall pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the Lenders a fee (the “Letter of Credit Fee”) equal to the Applicable Letter of Credit Fee Rate, and (ii) to the Issuing Lender for its own account a fronting fee equal to 0.125% per annum (in each case computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and actual days elapsed), which fees shall be computed on the daily average Letter of Credit Obligations and shall be payable quarterly in arrears on each Payment Date following issuance of each Letter of Credit. The Borrower shall also pay to the Issuing Lender for the Issuing Lender’s sole account the Issuing Lender’s then in effect customary fees and administrative expenses payable with respect to the Letters of Credit as the Issuing Lender may generally charge or incur from time to time in connection with the issuance, maintenance, amendment (if any), assignment or transfer (if any), negotiation, and administration of Letters of Credit.
2.9.3 Disbursements, Reimbursement. Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit, each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Issuing Lender a participation in such Letter of Credit and each drawing thereunder in an amount equal to such Lender’s Ratable Share of the maximum amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit and the amount of such drawing, respectively.
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2.9.3.1 In the event of any request for a drawing under a Letter of Credit by the beneficiary or transferee thereof, the Issuing Lender will promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent thereof. Provided that it shall have received such notice by 11:00 a.m., the Borrower shall reimburse (such obligation to reimburse the Issuing Lender shall sometimes be referred to as a “Reimbursement Obligation”) the Issuing Lender prior to 2:00 p.m. on the date of such notice (each date upon which the Borrower has received notice prior to 11:00 a.m., a “Drawing Date”) by paying to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender an amount equal to the amount so paid by the Issuing Lender. In the event the Borrower fails to reimburse the Issuing Lender (through the Administrative Agent) for the full amount of any drawing under any Letter of Credit by 12:00 noon on the Drawing Date, the Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender thereof, and the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested that Revolving Credit Loans be made by the Lenders under the Base Rate Option to be disbursed on the Drawing Date under such Letter of Credit, subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Revolving Credit Commitment and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 7.2 [Each Loan or Letter of Credit] other than any notice requirements. Any notice given by the Administrative Agent or Issuing Lender pursuant to this Section 2.9.3.1 may be oral if immediately confirmed in writing; provided that the lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice.
2.9.3.2 Each Lender shall upon any notice pursuant to Section 2.9.3.1 make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender an amount in immediately available funds equal to its Ratable Share of the amount of the drawing, whereupon the participating Lenders shall (subject to Section 2.9.3 [Disbursement; Reimbursement]) each be deemed to have made a Revolving Credit Loan under the Base Rate Option to the Borrower in that amount. If any Lender so notified fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender the amount of such Lender’s Ratable Share of such amount by no later than 2:00 p.m. on the Drawing Date, then interest shall accrue on such Lender’s obligation to make such payment, from the Drawing Date to the date on which such Lender makes such payment (i) at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate during the first three (3) days following the Drawing Date and (ii) at a rate per annum equal to the rate applicable to Loans under the Revolving Credit Base Rate Option on and after the fourth day following the Drawing Date. The Administrative Agent and the Issuing Lender will promptly give notice (as described in Section 2.9.3.1 above) of the occurrence of the Drawing Date, but failure of the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Lender to give any such notice on the Drawing Date or in sufficient time to enable any Lender to effect such payment on such date shall not relieve such Lender from its obligation under this Section 2.9.3.2.
2.9.3.3 With respect to any unreimbursed drawing that is not converted into Revolving Credit Loans under the Base Rate Option to the Borrower in whole or in part as contemplated by Section 2.9.3.1, because of the Borrower’s failure to satisfy the conditions set forth in Section 7.2 [Each Loan or Letter of Credit] other than any notice requirements, or for any other reason, the Borrower shall be deemed to have incurred from the Issuing Lender a borrowing (each a “Letter of Credit Borrowing”) in the amount of such drawing. Such Letter of Credit Borrowing shall be due and payable on demand (together with interest) and shall bear interest at the rate per annum applicable to the Revolving Credit Loans under the Base Rate Option. Each Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender pursuant to Section 2.9.3 [Disbursements, Reimbursement] shall be deemed to be a payment in respect of its participation in such Letter of Credit Borrowing (each a “Participation Advance”) from such Lender in satisfaction of its participation obligation under this Section 2.9.3.
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2.9.4 Repayment of Participation Advances.
2.9.4.1 Upon (and only upon) receipt by the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender of immediately available funds from the Borrower (i) in reimbursement of any payment made by the Issuing Lender under the Letter of Credit with respect to which any Lender has made a Participation Advance to the Administrative Agent, or (ii) in payment of interest on such a payment made by the Issuing Lender under such a Letter of Credit, the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Issuing Lender will pay to each Lender, in the same funds as those received by the Administrative Agent, the amount of such Lender’s Ratable Share of such funds, except the Administrative Agent shall retain for the account of the Issuing Lender the amount of the Ratable Share of such funds of any Lender that did not make a Participation Advance in respect of such payment by the Issuing Lender.
2.9.4.2 If the Administrative Agent is required at any time to return to any Loan Party, or to a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian, or any official in any Insolvency Proceeding, any portion of any payment made by any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender pursuant to this Section in reimbursement of a payment made under the Letter of Credit or interest or fee thereon, each Lender shall, on demand of the Administrative Agent, forthwith return to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender the amount of its Ratable Share of any amounts so returned by the Administrative Agent plus interest thereon from the date such demand is made to the date such amounts are returned by such Lender to the Administrative Agent, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect from time to time.
2.9.5 Documentation. Each Loan Party agrees to be bound by the terms of the Issuing Lender’s application and agreement for letters of credit and the Issuing Lender’s written regulations and customary practices relating to letters of credit, though such interpretation may be different from such Loan Party’s own. In the event of a conflict between such application or agreement and this Agreement, this Agreement shall govern. For the avoidance of doubt, any Liens or setoff provisions created by, or otherwise provided for in, any such documentation (other than this Agreement or as set forth in clause (xv) of the definition of Permitted Liens) are deemed inoperative. It is understood and agreed that, except in the case of gross negligence, or willful misconduct, the Issuing Lender shall not be liable for any error, negligence and/or mistakes, whether of omission or commission, in following any Loan Party’s instructions or those contained in the Letters of Credit or any modifications, amendments or supplements thereto.
2.9.6 Determinations to Honor Drawing Requests. In determining whether to honor any request for drawing under any Letter of Credit by the beneficiary thereof, the Issuing Lender shall be responsible only to determine that the documents and certificates required to be delivered under such Letter of Credit have been delivered and that they comply on their face with the requirements of such Letter of Credit.
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2.9.7 Nature of Participation and Reimbursement Obligations. Each Lender’s obligation in accordance with this Agreement to make the Revolving Credit Loans or Participation Advances, as contemplated by Section 2.9.3 [Disbursements, Reimbursement], as a result of a drawing under a Letter of Credit, and the Obligations of the Borrower to reimburse the Issuing Lender upon a draw under a Letter of Credit, shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Section 2.9 under all circumstances, including the following circumstances:
(i) any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the Issuing Lender or any of its Affiliates, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, or which any Loan Party may have against the Issuing Lender or any of its Affiliates, any Lender or any other Person for any reason whatsoever;
(ii) the failure of any Loan Party or any other Person to comply, in connection with a Letter of Credit Borrowing, with the conditions set forth in Sections 2.1 [Revolving Credit Commitments], 2.5 [Revolving Credit Loan Requests; Swing Loan Requests], 2.6 [Making Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Loans; Etc.] or 7.2 [Each Loan or Letter of Credit] or as otherwise set forth in this Agreement for the making of a Revolving Credit Loan, it being acknowledged that such conditions are not required for the making of a Letter of Credit Borrowing and the obligation of the Lenders to make Participation Advances under Section 2.9.3 [Disbursements, Reimbursement];
(iii) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit;
(iv) any claim of breach of warranty that might be made by any Loan Party or any Lender against any beneficiary of a Letter of Credit, or the existence of any claim, set-off, recoupment, counterclaim, crossclaim, defense or other right which any Loan Party or any Lender may have at any time against a beneficiary, successor beneficiary any transferee or assignee of any Letter of Credit or the proceeds thereof (or any Persons for whom any such transferee may be acting), the Issuing Lender or its Affiliates or any Lender or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated herein or any unrelated transaction (including any underlying transaction between any Loan Party or Subsidiaries of a Loan Party and the beneficiary for which any Letter of Credit was procured);
(v) the lack of power or authority of any signer of (or any defect in or forgery of any signature or endorsement on) or the form of or lack of validity, sufficiency, accuracy, enforceability or genuineness of any draft, demand, instrument, certificate or other document presented under or in connection with any Letter of Credit, or any fraud or alleged fraud in connection with any Letter of Credit, or the transport of any property or provision of services relating to a Letter of Credit, in each case even if the Issuing Lender or any of its Affiliates has been notified thereof;
(vi) payment by the Issuing Lender or any of its Affiliates under any Letter of Credit against presentation of a demand, draft or certificate or other document which does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit;
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(vii) the solvency of, or any acts or omissions by, any beneficiary of any Letter of Credit, or any other Person having a role in any transaction or obligation relating to a Letter of Credit, or the existence, nature, quality, quantity, condition, value or other characteristic of any property or services relating to a Letter of Credit;
(viii) any failure by the Issuing Lender or any of its Affiliates to issue any Letter of Credit in the form requested by any Loan Party, unless the Issuing Lender has received written notice from such Loan Party of such failure within three Business Days after the Issuing Lender shall have furnished such Loan Party and the Administrative Agent a copy of such Letter of Credit and such error is material and no drawing has been made thereon prior to receipt of such notice;
(ix) any adverse change in the business, operations, properties, assets, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of any Loan Party or Subsidiaries of a Loan Party;
(x) any breach of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by any party thereto;
(xi) the occurrence or continuance of an Insolvency Proceeding with respect to any Loan Party;
(xii) the fact that an Event of Default or a Potential Default shall have occurred and be continuing;
(xiii) the fact that the Expiration Date shall have passed or this Agreement or the Commitments hereunder shall have been terminated; and
(xiv) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing.
2.9.8 Indemnity. Except as otherwise provided, and subject to the specific limitations set forth, in this Agreement, the Borrower hereby agrees to protect, indemnify, pay and save harmless the Issuing Lender and any of its Affiliates that has issued a Letter of Credit from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities, damages, Taxes, penalties, interest, judgments, losses, costs, charges and expenses (including reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of counsel and allocated costs of internal counsel) which the Issuing Lender or any of its Affiliates may incur or be subject to as a consequence, direct or indirect, of the issuance of any Letter of Credit, other than as a result of (A) the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Issuing Lender as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction or (B) the wrongful dishonor by the Issuing Lender or any of Issuing Lender’s Affiliates of a proper demand for payment made under any Letter of Credit, except if such dishonor resulted from any act or omission, whether rightful or wrongful, of any present or future de jure or de facto government or Official Body.
2.9.9 Liability for Acts and Omissions. As between any Loan Party and the Issuing Lender, or the Issuing Lender’s Affiliates, such Loan Party assumes all risks of the acts and omissions of, or misuse of the Letters of Credit by, the respective beneficiaries of such Letters of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, the Issuing Lender shall
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not be responsible for any of the following, including any losses or damages to any Loan Party or other Person or property relating therefrom: (i) the form, validity, sufficiency, accuracy, genuineness or legal effect of any document submitted by any party in connection with the application for an issuance of any such Letter of Credit, even if it should in fact prove to be in any or all respects invalid, insufficient, inaccurate, fraudulent or forged (even if the Issuing Lender or its Affiliates shall have been notified thereof); (ii) the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign any such Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason; (iii) the failure of the beneficiary of any such Letter of Credit, or any other party to which such Letter of Credit may be transferred, to comply fully with any conditions required in order to draw upon such Letter of Credit or any other claim of any Loan Party against any beneficiary of such Letter of Credit, or any such transferee, or any dispute between or among any Loan Party and any beneficiary of any Letter of Credit or any such transferee; (iv) errors, omissions, interruptions or delays in transmission or delivery of any messages, by mail, cable, telegraph, telex or otherwise, whether or not they be in cipher; (v) errors in interpretation of technical terms; (vi) any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under any such Letter of Credit or of the proceeds thereof; (vii) the misapplication by the beneficiary of any such Letter of Credit of the proceeds of any drawing under such Letter of Credit; or (viii) any consequences arising from causes beyond the control of the Issuing Lender or its Affiliates, as applicable, including any act or omission of any Official Body, and none of the above shall affect or impair, or prevent the vesting of, any of the Issuing Lender’s or its Affiliates rights or powers hereunder. Nothing in the preceding sentence shall relieve the Issuing Lender from liability for the Issuing Lender’s gross negligence or willful misconduct in connection with actions or omissions described in such clauses (i) through (viii) of such sentence. In no event shall the Issuing Lender or its Affiliates be liable to any Loan Party for any indirect, consequential, incidental, punitive, exemplary or special damages or expenses (including without limitation attorneys’ fees), or for any damages resulting from any change in the value of any property relating to a Letter of Credit.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Issuing Lender and each of its Affiliates (i) may rely on any oral or other communication believed in good faith by the Issuing Lender or such Affiliate to have been authorized or given by or on behalf of the applicant for a Letter of Credit, (ii) may honor any presentation if the documents presented appear on their face substantially to comply with the terms and conditions of the relevant Letter of Credit; (iii) may honor a previously dishonored presentation under a Letter of Credit, whether such dishonor was pursuant to a court order, to settle or compromise any claim of wrongful dishonor, or otherwise, and shall be entitled to reimbursement to the same extent as if such presentation had initially been honored, together with any interest paid by the Issuing Lender or its Affiliate; (iv) may honor any drawing that is payable upon presentation of a statement advising negotiation or payment, upon receipt of such statement (even if such statement indicates that a draft or other document is being delivered separately), and shall not be liable for any failure of any such draft or other document to arrive, or to conform in any way with the relevant Letter of Credit; (v) may pay any paying or negotiating bank claiming that it rightfully honored under the laws or practices of the place where such bank is located; and (vi) may settle or adjust any claim or demand made on the Issuing Lender or its Affiliate in any way related to any order issued at the applicant’s request to an air carrier, a letter of guarantee or of indemnity issued to a carrier or any similar document (each an “Order”) and honor any drawing in connection with any Letter of Credit that is the subject of such Order, notwithstanding that any drafts or other documents presented in connection with such Letter of Credit fail to conform in any way with such Letter of Credit.
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In furtherance and extension and not in limitation of the specific provisions set forth above, any action taken or omitted by the Issuing Lender or its Affiliates under or in connection with the Letters of Credit issued by it or any documents and certificates delivered thereunder, if taken or omitted in good faith, shall not put the Issuing Lender or its Affiliates under any resulting liability to the Borrower or any Lender.
2.9.10 Issuing Lender Reporting Requirements. Each Issuing Lender shall, on the first Business Day of each month, provide to Administrative Agent and Borrower a schedule of the Letters of Credit issued by it, in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent, showing the date of issuance of each Letter of Credit, the account party, the original face amount (if any), and the expiration date of any Letter of Credit outstanding at any time during the preceding month, and any other information relating to such Letter of Credit that the Administrative Agent may request.
2.9.11 Existing Letters of Credit. On and after the Closing Date, each Existing Letter of Credit shall be deemed to have been issued by the Lender that issued such Existing Letter of Credit and such Lender shall be deemed to be the “Issuing Lender” with respect to such Existing Letter of Credit pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and each Existing Letter of Credit shall constitute a Letter of Credit for all purposes hereof and under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. The Borrower agrees that it shall be liable with respect to any drawing made under any of the Existing Letters of Credit in accordance with this Section and the other provisions of this Agreement. Each Issuing Lender of an Existing Letter of Credit agrees that on and after the Closing Date (i) the fees applicable to each Existing Letter of Credit shall be the fees set forth in Section 2.9.2 [Letter of Credit Fees] and (ii) any reimbursement agreement in effect with respect to each Existing Letter of Credit shall be deemed terminated and each Existing Letter of Credit shall be governed by and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
2.10 Defaulting Lenders. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the following provisions shall apply for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender:
(i) fees shall cease to accrue on the unfunded portion of the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.3 [Commitment Fees];
(ii) the Commitment and outstanding Loans 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 11.1 [Modifications, Amendments or Waivers]); provided, that this clause (ii) 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 pursuant to Section 11.1 [Modifications, Amendments or Waivers];
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(iii) if any Swing Loans are outstanding or any Letter of Credit Obligations exist at the time such Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then:
(a) all or any part of the outstanding Swing Loans and Letter of Credit Obligations of such Defaulting Lender shall be reallocated among the non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Ratable Shares but only to the extent that (x) the Revolving Facility Usage does not exceed the total of all non-Defaulting Lenders’ Revolving Credit Commitments, and (y) no Potential Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at such time;
(b) if the reallocation described in clause (a) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected (after giving effect to any prepayment of Loans made by the Borrower in order to comply with clause (a) above), the Borrower shall within one Business Day following notice by the Administrative Agent (x) first, prepay such outstanding Swing Loans, and (y) second, cash collateralize for the benefit of the Issuing Lender the Borrower’s obligations corresponding to such Defaulting Lender’s Letter of Credit Obligations (after giving effect to any partial reallocation pursuant to clause (a) above) in an interest-bearing deposit account held at the Administrative Agent for so long as such Letter of Credit Obligations are outstanding;
(c) if the Borrower cash collateralizes any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s Letter of Credit Obligations pursuant to clause (b) above, the Borrower shall not be required to pay any fees to such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.9.2 [Letter of Credit Fees] with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s Letter of Credit Obligations during the period such Defaulting Lender’s Letter of Credit Obligations are cash collateralized;
(d) if the Letter of Credit Obligations of the non-Defaulting Lenders are reallocated pursuant to clause (a) above, then the fees payable to the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.9.2 shall be adjusted in accordance with such non-Defaulting Lenders’ Ratable Share; and
(e) if all or any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s Letter of Credit Obligations are neither reallocated nor cash collateralized pursuant to clause (a) or (b) above, then, without prejudice to any rights or remedies of the Issuing Lender or any other Lender hereunder, all Letter of Credit Fees payable under Section 2.9.2 with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s Letter of Credit Obligations shall be payable to the Issuing Lender (and not to such Defaulting Lender) until and to the extent that such Letter of Credit Obligations are reallocated and/or cash collateralized; and
(iv) so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender, PNC shall not be required to fund any Swing Loans and the Issuing Lender shall not be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless such Issuing Lender is satisfied that the related exposure and the Defaulting Lender’s then outstanding Letter of Credit Obligations will be 100% covered by the Revolving Credit Commitments of the non-Defaulting Lenders and/or cash collateral will be
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provided by the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.10(iii), and participating interests in any newly made Swing Loan or any newly issued or increased Letter of Credit shall be allocated among non-Defaulting Lenders in a manner consistent with Section 2.10(iii)(a) (and such Defaulting Lender shall not participate therein).
If (i) a Lender Bankruptcy Event with respect to a parent company of any Lender shall occur following the date hereof and for so long as such event shall continue, or (ii) PNC or the Issuing Lender has a good faith belief that any Lender has defaulted in fulfilling its obligations under one or more other agreements in which such Lender commits to extend credit, PNC shall not be required to fund any Swing Loan and the Issuing Lender shall not be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless PNC or the Issuing Lender, as the case may be, shall have entered into arrangements with the Borrower or such Lender, satisfactory to PNC or the Issuing Lender, as the case may be, to defease any risk to it in respect of such Lender hereunder.
In the event that the Administrative Agent, the Borrower, PNC and the Issuing Lender agree in writing that a Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused such Lender to be a Defaulting Lender, including the return of all cash collateralization funds to the Borrower, then the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, and the Ratable Share of the Swing Loans and Letter of Credit Obligations 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 Swing Loans) as the Administrative Agent shall determine may be necessary in order for such Lender to hold such Loans in accordance with its Ratable Share, and any cash collateral provided by the Borrower in accordance with this Section 2.10 shall be returned to the Borrower.
2.11 Reduction of Revolving Credit Commitment. The Borrower shall have the right at any time after the Closing Date upon five (5) days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent to permanently reduce (ratably among the Lenders in proportion to their Ratable Shares) the Revolving Credit Commitments, in a minimum amount of $5,000,000 and whole multiples of $1,000,000, or to terminate completely the Revolving Credit Commitments, without penalty or premium except as hereinafter set forth; provided that any such reduction or termination shall be accompanied by prepayment of the Notes, together with outstanding Commitment Fees, and the full amount of interest accrued on the principal sum to be prepaid (and all amounts referred to in Section 5.10 [Indemnity] hereof) to the extent necessary to cause the aggregate Revolving Facility Usage after giving effect to such prepayments to be equal to or less than the Revolving Credit Commitments as so reduced or terminated. Any notice to reduce the Revolving Credit Commitments under this Section 2.11 shall be irrevocable.
2.12 Increase in Revolving Credit Commitments.
2.12.1 Increasing Lenders and New Lenders. The Borrower may, at any time prior to the Expiration Date, but no more than five (5) times in the aggregate, request that (1) the current Lenders increase their Revolving Credit Commitments (any current Lender which elects to increase its Revolving Credit Commitment shall be referred to as an “Increasing Lender”) or (2) one or more new lenders (each a “New Lender”) join this Agreement and provide a Revolving Credit Commitment hereunder, subject to the following terms and conditions:
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2.12.1.1 No Obligation to Increase. No current Lender shall be obligated to increase its Revolving Credit Commitment and any increase in the Revolving Credit Commitment by any current Lender shall be in the sole discretion of such current Lender.
2.12.1.2 Defaults. There shall exist no Events of Default or Potential Default on the effective date of such increase after giving effect to such increase.
2.12.1.3 Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments. After giving effect to any such increase, the total Revolving Credit Commitments shall not exceed $450,000,000.
2.12.1.4 Minimum Revolving Credit Commitments. After giving effect to such increase, the amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments provided by each of the New Lenders and each of the Increasing Lenders shall be at least $25,000,000.
2.12.1.5 Reserved.
2.12.1.6 Notes. The Borrower shall execute and deliver (1) to each Increasing Lender a replacement revolving credit Note reflecting the new amount of such Increasing Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment after giving effect to the increase (and the prior Note issued to such Increasing Lender shall be deemed to be terminated) and (2) to each New Lender a revolving credit Note reflecting the amount of such New Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment.
2.12.1.7 Approval of New Lenders. Any New Lender shall be subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent, not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
2.12.1.8 Increasing Lenders. Each Increasing Lender shall confirm its agreement to increase its Revolving Credit Commitment pursuant to an acknowledgement in a form acceptable to the Administrative Agent, signed by it and the Borrower and delivered to the Administrative Agent at least five (5) days before the effective date of such increase.
2.12.1.9 New Lenders—Joinder. Each New Lender shall execute a lender joinder in substantially the form of Exhibit 2.12.1 pursuant to which such New Lender shall join and become a party to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with a Revolving Credit Commitment in the amount set forth in such lender joinder.
2.12.2 Treatment of Outstanding Loans and Letters of Credit.
2.12.2.1 Repayment of Outstanding Loans; Borrowing of New Loans. On the on the effective date of such increase, the Borrower shall repay all Loans then outstanding, subject to the Borrower’s indemnity obligations under Section 5.10 [Indemnity]; provided that it may borrow new Loans with a Borrowing Date on such date. Each of the Lenders shall participate in any new Loans made on or after such date in accordance with their respective Ratable Shares after giving effect to the increase in Revolving Credit Commitments contemplated by this Section 2.12.
2.12.2.2 Outstanding Letters of Credit. Repayment of Outstanding Loans; Borrowing of New Loans. On the effective date of such increase, each Increasing Lender
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and each New Lender (i) will be deemed to have purchased a participation in each then outstanding Letter of Credit equal to its Ratable Share of such Letter of Credit and the participation of each other Lender in such Letter of Credit shall be adjusted accordingly and (ii) will acquire, (and will pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of each Lender, in immediately available funds, an amount equal to) its Ratable Share of all outstanding Participation Advances.
3. RESERVED
4. INTEREST RATES
4.1 Interest Rate Options. The Borrower shall pay interest in respect of the outstanding unpaid principal amount of the Loans as selected by it from the Base Rate Option or LIBOR Rate Option set forth below applicable to the Loans, it being understood that, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Borrower may select different Interest Rate Options and different Interest Periods to apply simultaneously to the Loans comprising different Borrowing Tranches and may convert to or renew one or more Interest Rate Options with respect to all or any portion of the Loans comprising any Borrowing Tranche; provided that there shall not be at any one time outstanding more than seven (7) Borrowing Tranches in the aggregate among all of the Loans and provided further that if an Event of Default or Potential Default exists and is continuing, the Borrower may not request, convert to, or renew the LIBOR Rate Option for any Loans and the Required Lenders may demand that all existing Borrowing Tranches bearing interest under the LIBOR Rate Option shall be converted immediately to the Base Rate Option, subject to the obligation of the Borrower to pay any indemnity under Section 5.10 [Indemnity] in connection with such conversion. If at any time the designated rate applicable to any Loan made by any Lender exceeds such Lender’s highest lawful rate, the rate of interest on such Lender’s Loan shall be limited to such Lender’s highest lawful rate.
4.1.1 Revolving Credit Interest Rate Options; Swing Line Interest Rate. The Borrower shall have the right to select from the following Interest Rate Options applicable to the Revolving Credit Loans:
4.1.1.1 Revolving Credit Base Rate Option: A fluctuating rate per annum (computed on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed) equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin, such interest rate to change automatically from time to time effective as of the effective date of each change in the Base Rate; or
4.1.1.2 Revolving Credit LIBOR Rate Option: A rate per annum (computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and actual days elapsed) equal to the LIBOR Rate plus the Applicable Margin.
Subject to Section 4.3 [Interest After Default], only the Base Rate Option applicable to Revolving Credit Loans shall apply to the Swing Loans.
4.1.2 Rate Quotations. The Borrower may call the Administrative Agent on or before the date on which a Loan Request is to be delivered to receive an indication of the rates then in effect, but it is acknowledged that such projection shall not be binding on the Administrative Agent or the Lenders nor affect the rate of interest which thereafter is actually in effect when the election is made.
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4.2 Interest Periods. At any time when the Borrower shall select, convert to or renew a LIBOR Rate Option, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent thereof at least three (3) Business Days prior to the effective date of such LIBOR Rate Option by delivering a Loan Request. The notice shall specify an Interest Period during which such Interest Rate Option shall apply. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the following provisions shall apply to any selection of, renewal of, or conversion to a LIBOR Rate Option:
4.2.1 Amount of Borrowing Tranche. Each Borrowing Tranche of Loans under the LIBOR Rate Option shall be in integral multiples of $500,000 and not less than $1,000,000; and
4.2.2 Renewals. In the case of the renewal of a LIBOR Rate Option at the end of an Interest Period, the first day of the new Interest Period shall be the last day of the preceding Interest Period, without duplication in payment of interest for such day.
4.3 Interest After Default. To the extent permitted by Law, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default and until such time such Event of Default shall have been cured or waived, at the written direction by the Required Lenders to the Administrative Agent:
4.3.1 Letter of Credit Fees, Interest Rate. The Letter of Credit Fees and the rate of interest for each Loan otherwise applicable pursuant to Section 2.9.2 [Letter of Credit Fees] or Section 4.1 [Interest Rate Options], respectively, shall be increased by 2.0% per annum;
4.3.2 Other Obligations. Each other Obligation hereunder if not paid when due shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the rate of interest applicable under the Revolving Credit Base Rate Option plus an additional 2.0% per annum from the time such Obligation becomes due and payable and until it is paid in full; and
4.3.3 Acknowledgment. The Borrower acknowledges that the increase in rates referred to in this Section 4.3 reflects, among other things, the fact that such Loans or other amounts have become a substantially greater risk given their default status and that the Lenders are entitled to additional compensation for such risk; and all such interest shall be payable by Borrower upon demand by Administrative Agent.
4.4 LIBOR Rate Unascertainable; Illegality; Increased Costs; Deposits Not Available.
4.4.1 Unascertainable. If on any date on which a LIBOR Rate would otherwise be determined, the Administrative Agent shall have determined that:
(i) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining such LIBOR Rate, or
(ii) a contingency has occurred which materially and adversely affects the London interbank eurodollar market relating to the LIBOR Rate, then the Administrative Agent shall have the rights specified in Section 4.4.3 [Administrative Agent’s and Lender’s Rights].
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4.4.2 Illegality; Increased Costs; Deposits Not Available. If at any time any Lender shall have determined that:
(i) the making, maintenance or funding of any Loan to which a LIBOR Rate Option applies has been made impracticable or unlawful by compliance by such Lender in good faith with any Law or any interpretation or application thereof by any Official Body or with any request or directive of any such Official Body (whether or not having the force of Law), or
(ii) such LIBOR Rate Option will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lender of the establishment or maintenance of any such Loan, or
(iii) after making all reasonable efforts, deposits of the relevant amount in Dollars for the relevant Interest Period for a Loan, or to banks generally, to which a LIBOR Rate Option applies, respectively, are not available to such Lender with respect to such Loan, or to banks generally, in the interbank eurodollar market,
then the Administrative Agent shall have the rights specified in Section 4.4.3 [Administrative Agent’s and Lender’s Rights].
4.4.3 Administrative Agent’s and Lender’s Rights. In the case of any event specified in Section 4.4.1 [Unascertainable] above, the Administrative Agent shall promptly so notify the Lenders and the Borrower thereof, and in the case of an event specified in Section 4.4.2 [Illegality; Increased Costs; Deposits Not Available] above, such Lender shall promptly so notify the Administrative Agent and endorse a certificate to such notice as to the specific circumstances of such notice, and the Administrative Agent shall promptly send copies of such notice and certificate to the other Lenders and the Borrower. Upon such date as shall be specified in such notice (which shall not be earlier than the date such notice is given), the obligation of (A) the Lenders, in the case of such notice given by the Administrative Agent, or (B) such Lender, in the case of such notice given by such Lender, to allow the Borrower to select, convert to or renew a LIBOR Rate Option shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent shall have later notified the Borrower, or such Lender shall have later notified the Administrative Agent, of the Administrative Agent’s or such Lender’s, as the case may be, determination that the circumstances giving rise to such previous determination no longer exist. If at any time the Administrative Agent makes a determination under Section 4.4.1 [Unascertainable] and the Borrower has previously notified the Administrative Agent of its selection of, conversion to or renewal of a LIBOR Rate Option and such Interest Rate Option has not yet gone into effect, such notification shall be deemed to provide for selection of, conversion to or renewal of the Base Rate Option otherwise available with respect to such Loans. If any Lender notifies the Administrative Agent of a determination under Section 4.4.2 [Illegality; Increased Costs; Deposits Not Available], the Borrower shall, subject to the Borrower’s indemnification Obligations under Section 5.10 [Indemnity], as to any Loan of the Lender to which a LIBOR Rate Option applies, on the date specified in such notice either convert such Loan to the Base Rate Option otherwise available with respect to such Loan or prepay such Loan in accordance with Section 5.6 [Voluntary Prepayments]. Absent due notice from the Borrower of conversion or prepayment, such Loan shall automatically be converted to the Base Rate Option otherwise available with respect to such Loan upon such specified date.
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4.5 Selection of Interest Rate Options. If the Borrower fails to select a new Interest Period to apply to any Borrowing Tranche of Loans under the LIBOR Rate Option at the expiration of an existing Interest Period applicable to such Borrowing Tranche in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.2 [Interest Periods], the Borrower shall be deemed to have elected to continue such Borrowing Tranche as a Loan under the LIBOR Rate Option with the same Interest Period as the Borrowing Tranche of Loans that is then expiring so long as such Interest Period would not end after the Expiration Date; if such Interest Period would end after the Expiration Date, the Interest Period shall be reduced to the longest Interest Period which would not end after the Expiration Date and if no such Interest Period is available, the Borrower shall be deemed to have converted such Borrowing Tranche to the Revolving Credit Base Rate Option on the last day of the existing Interest Period.
5. PAYMENTS
5.1 Payments. All payments and prepayments to be made in respect of principal, interest, Commitment Fees, Letter of Credit Fees, Administrative Agent’s Fee or other fees or amounts due from the Borrower hereunder shall be payable prior to 1:00 p.m. on the date when due without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower, and without set-off, counterclaim or other deduction of any nature, and an action therefor shall immediately accrue. Such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent at the Principal Office for the account of PNC with respect to the Swing Loans and for the ratable accounts of the Lenders with respect to the Revolving Credit Loans in U.S. Dollars and in immediately available funds, and the Administrative Agent shall promptly distribute such amounts to the Lenders in immediately available funds; provided that in the event payments are received by 1:00 p.m. by the Administrative Agent with respect to the Loans and such payments are not distributed to the Lenders on the same day received by the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall pay the Lenders the Federal Funds Effective Rate with respect to the amount of such payments for each day held by the Administrative Agent and not distributed to the Lenders. The Administrative Agent’s and each Lender’s statement of account, ledger or other relevant record shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive as the statement of the amount of principal of and interest on the Loans and other amounts owing under this Agreement and shall be deemed an “account stated.”
5.2 Pro Rata Treatment of Lenders. Each borrowing of Revolving Credit Loans shall be allocated to each Lender according to its Ratable Share, and each selection of, conversion to or renewal of any Interest Rate Option and each payment or prepayment by the Borrower with respect to principal, interest, Commitment Fees and Letter of Credit Fees (but excluding the Administrative Agent’s Fee and the Issuing Lender’s fronting fee) shall (except as otherwise may be provided with respect to a Defaulting Lender and except as provided in Section 4.4.3 [Administrative Agent’s and Lender’s Rights] in the case of an event specified in Section 4.4 [LIBOR Rate Unascertainable; Etc.], 5.6.2 [Replacement of a Lender] or 5.8 [Increased Costs]) be payable ratably among the Lenders entitled to such payment in accordance with the amount of principal, interest, Commitment Fees and Letter of Credit Fees, as set forth in this Agreement. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, each borrowing or payment or prepayment by the Borrower of principal, interest, fees or other amounts from the Borrower with respect to Swing Loans shall be made by or to PNC according to Section 2.6.5 [Borrowings to Repay Swing Loans].
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5.3 Sharing of Payments by Lenders. If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff, counterclaim or banker’s lien, by receipt of voluntary payment, by realization upon security, or by any other non-pro rata source, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Loans or other obligations hereunder resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans and accrued interest thereon or other such obligations greater than the pro-rata share of the amount such Lender is entitled thereto, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans and such other obligations of the other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans and other amounts owing them, provided that:
(i) if any such participations 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, together with interest or other amounts, if any, required by Law (including court order) to be paid by the Lender or the holder making such purchase; and
(ii) the provisions of this Section 5.3 shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment made by the Loan Parties pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of the Loan Documents or (y) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or Participation Advances to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section 5.3 shall apply).
Each Loan Party consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable Law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against each Loan Party rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of each Loan Party in the amount of such participation.
5.4 Presumptions by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or the Issuing Lender 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 Issuing Lender, 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 Lenders or the Issuing Lender, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or the Issuing Lender, 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.
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5.5 Interest Payment Dates. Interest on Loans to which the Base Rate Option applies shall be due and payable in arrears on each Payment Date. Interest on Loans to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies shall be due and payable on the last day of each Interest Period for those Loans and, if such Interest Period is longer than three (3) Months, also on the 90th day of such Interest Period. Interest on the principal amount of each Loan or other monetary Obligation shall be due and payable on demand after such principal amount or other monetary Obligation becomes due and payable (whether on the stated Expiration Date, upon acceleration or otherwise).
5.6 Voluntary Prepayments.
5.6.1 Right to Prepay. The Borrower shall have the right at its option from time to time to prepay the Loans in whole or part without premium or penalty (except as provided in Section 5.6.2 [Replacement of a Lender] below, in Section 5.8 [Increased Costs] and Section 5.10 [Indemnity]). Any such prepayment shall not effect any reduction in the amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments. Whenever the Borrower desires to prepay any part of the Loans, it shall provide a prepayment notice to the Administrative Agent by 1:00 p.m. at least one (1) Business Day prior to the date of prepayment of the Revolving Credit Loans or no later than 1:00 p.m. on the date of prepayment of Swing Loans, setting forth the following information:
(a) the date, which shall be a Business Day, on which the proposed prepayment is to be made;
(b) a statement indicating the application of the prepayment between the Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Loans;
(c) a statement indicating the application of the prepayment between Loans to which the Base Rate Option applies and Loans to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies; and
(d) the total principal amount of such prepayment, which shall not be less than the lesser of (i) the Revolving Facility Usage or (ii) $50,000 for any Swing Loan or $100,000 for any Revolving Credit Loan.
All prepayment notices shall be irrevocable; provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, during the term of this Agreement, up to three (3) prepayment notices may be revoked provided in all events the Borrower shall make any payments required by Section 5.10 [Indemnity] in connection with such revocation. The principal amount of the Loans for which a prepayment notice is given, together with interest on such principal amount except with respect to Loans to which the Base Rate Option applies, shall be due and payable on the date specified in such prepayment notice as the date on which the proposed prepayment is to be made. Except as provided in Section 4.4.3 [Administrative Agent’s and Lender’s Rights], if the Borrower prepays a Loan but fails to specify the applicable Borrowing Tranche which the Borrower is prepaying, the prepayment shall be applied first to Loans to which the Base Rate Option applies, then to Loans to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies. Any prepayment hereunder shall be subject to the Borrower’s Obligation to indemnify the Lenders under Section 5.10 [Indemnity].
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5.6.2 Replacement of a Lender. In the event any Lender (i) gives notice under Section 4.4 [LIBOR Rate Unascertainable, Etc.], (ii) requests compensation under Section 5.8 [Increased Costs], or requires the Borrower to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amount to any Lender or any Official Body for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 5.9 [Taxes], (iii) is a Defaulting Lender, (iv) becomes subject to the control of an Official Body (other than normal and customary supervision), or (v) is a Non-Consenting Lender referred to in Section 11.1 [Modifications, Amendments or Waivers], then in any such event the Borrower may, at its sole expense, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 11.8 [Successors and Assigns]), all of its interests, rights (other than existing rights to payments pursuant to Sections 5.8 [Increased Costs] or 5.9 [Taxes]) and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents 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 paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee specified in Section 11.8 [Successors and Assigns];
(ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and Participation Advances, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 5.10 [Indemnity]) 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);
(iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 5.8.1 [Increased Costs Generally] or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 5.9 [Taxes], such assignment will result in the elimination or, with the written consent of the Borrower, a reduction, of such compensation or payments thereafter; and
(iv) such assignment does not conflict with applicable Law.
A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.
5.7 Reserved.
5.8 Increased Costs.
5.8.1 Increased Costs Generally. If any Change in Law shall:
(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender (except any reserve requirement reflected in the LIBOR Rate) or the Issuing Lender;
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(ii) subject any Recipient to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Taxes described in clauses (ii) through (iv) of the definition of Excluded Taxes and (C) Connection Income Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto; or
(iii) impose on any Lender, the Issuing Lender 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 in excess of the LIBOR Reserve Percentage;
and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender or such other Recipient of making, converting to, continuing or maintaining any Loan or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan, or to increase the cost to such Lender, the Issuing Lender or such other Recipient of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its obligation to participate in or to issue any Letter of Credit), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender, the Issuing Lender or other Recipient hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon notice from of such Lender, the Issuing Lender or other Recipient, the Borrower will pay to such Lender, the Issuing Lender or other Recipient, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender, the Issuing Lender or such other Recipient, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered. Such notice shall set forth in reasonable detail the basis for such Lender’s, the Issuing Lender’s, or such other Recipient’s determination. Such amount shall be due and payable by the Borrower to such Lender, the Issuing Lender or such other Recipient within ten (10) Business Days after the date on which such notice is given.
5.8.2 Capital Requirements. If any Lender or the Issuing Lender determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or the Issuing Lender or any lending office of such Lender or such Lender’s or the Issuing Lender’s holding company, if any, regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or the Issuing Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or the Issuing Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit or Swing Loans held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by the Issuing Lender, to a level below that which such Lender or the Issuing Lender or such Lender’s or the Issuing Lender’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or the Issuing Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or the Issuing Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time, within ten (10) Business Days after the date on which such Lender or such Issuing Lender gives notice to the Borrower, the Borrower will pay to such Lender or the Issuing Lender, as the case may be, without duplication with respect to any payments made pursuant to Section 5.8.1 [Increased Costs Generally],such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the Issuing Lender or such Lender’s or the Issuing Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered. Such notice shall set forth in reasonable detail the basis for such Lender’s or such Issuing Lender’s determination.
5.8.3 Certificates for Reimbursement; Repayment of Outstanding Loans; Borrowing of New Loans. A certificate of a Lender or the Issuing Lender setting forth the
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amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or the Issuing Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in Sections 5.8.1 [Increased Costs Generally] or 5.8.2 [Capital Requirements] and delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender or the Issuing Lender, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) Business Days after receipt thereof.
5.8.4 Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or the Issuing Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or the Issuing Lender’s right to demand such compensation, provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or the Issuing Lender pursuant to this Section for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than six (6) months prior to the date that such Lender or the Issuing Lender, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or the Issuing Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the six (6) month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).
5.9 Taxes.
5.9.1 Issuing Lender. For purposes of this Section 5.9, the term “Lender” includes the Issuing Lender.
5.9.2 Payments Free of Taxes. Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document shall be 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 Official Body in accordance with applicable Law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the applicable Loan Party under any Loan Document 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 5.9 [Taxes]) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.
5.9.3 Payment of Other Taxes by the Loan Parties. The Loan Parties shall timely pay to the relevant Official Body in accordance with applicable Law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes.
5.9.4 Indemnification by the Loan Parties. The Loan Parties shall jointly and severally indemnify each Recipient, within ten (10) Business 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 5.9 [Taxes]) 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 Official Body. 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.
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5.9.5 Indemnification by the Lenders. Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within ten (10) Business 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 any of the Loan Parties to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 11.8.4 [Participations] 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 Official Body. 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 Section 5.9.5.
5.9.6 Evidence of Payments. As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by any Loan Party to an Official Body pursuant to this Section 5.9 [Taxes], such Loan Party shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Official Body evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
5.9.7 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 Taxes or at a reduced rate of withholding Taxes. 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 documentation set forth in Section 5.9.7(ii)(A)—(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.
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(ii) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that the Borrower is a U.S. Borrower,
(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:
(a) 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;
(b) executed originals of IRS Form W-8ECI;
(c) 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 5.9.7(A) to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not (A) a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (B) a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or (C) a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN; or
(d) 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 5.9.7(B) or Exhibit 5.9.7(C), 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 5.9.7(D) on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;
(C) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be
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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.
5.9.8 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 5.9 [Taxes] (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 5.9 [Taxes]), 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 5.9 [Taxes] 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 Official Body with respect to such refund). Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party incurred in connection with obtaining such refund, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this Section 5.9.8 [Treatment of Certain Refunds] (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Official Body) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Official Body. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5.9.8 [Treatment of Certain Refunds]), in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this Section 5.9.8 [Treatment of Certain Refunds] 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 indemnification payments or additional amounts giving rise to such refund 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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5.9.9 Survival. Each party’s obligations under this Section 5.9 [Taxes] shall survive the resignation 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.
5.10 Indemnity. In addition to the compensation or payments required by Section 5.8 [Increased Costs]or Section 5.9 [Taxes], the Borrower shall indemnify each Lender for any liabilities, losses or expenses incurred by it (including without limitation any loss or cost in liquidating, employing or the redeployment of (i) deposits acquired to fund or maintain such Loan to which a LIBOR Rate Option applies or (ii) funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan and fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained, which such Lender sustains or incurs as a consequence of any:
(i) payment, prepayment, conversion or renewal of any Loan to which a LIBOR Rate Option applies on a day other than the last day of the corresponding Interest Period (whether or not such payment or prepayment is mandatory, voluntary or automatic and whether or not such payment or prepayment is then due), or
(ii) revocation by the Borrower or attempt by the Borrower to revoke (expressly, by later inconsistent notices or otherwise) in whole or part any Loan Requests under Section 2.5 [Revolving Credit Loan Requests; Swing Loan Requests] or Section 4.2 [Interest Periods] or notice relating to prepayments under Section 5.6 [Voluntary Prepayments],
in each case, with respect to a Loan to which a LIBOR Rate Option applies.
If any Lender sustains or incurs any such loss or expense, it shall from time to time notify the Borrower of the amount determined in good faith by such Lender (which determination may include such assumptions, allocations of costs and expenses and averaging or attribution methods as such Lender shall deem reasonable) to be necessary to indemnify such Lender for such loss or expense. Such notice shall set forth in reasonable detail the basis for such determination. Such amount shall be due and payable by the Borrower to such Lender ten (10) Business Days after such notice is given.
5.11 Settlement Date Procedures. In order to minimize the transfer of funds between the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, the Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow Swing Loans and PNC may make Swing Loans as provided in Section 2.1.2 [Swing Loan Commitments] hereof during the period between Settlement Dates. The Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of its Ratable Share of the total of the Revolving Credit Loans and the Swing Loans (each a “Required Share”). On such Settlement Date, each Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent the amount equal to the difference between its Required Share and its Revolving Credit Loans, and the Administrative Agent shall pay to each Lender its Ratable Share of all payments made by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent with respect to the Revolving Credit Loans. The Administrative Agent shall also effect settlement in accordance with the foregoing sentence on the proposed Borrowing Dates for Revolving Credit Loans and may at its option effect settlement on any other Business Day. These settlement procedures are established solely as a matter of administrative convenience, and nothing contained in this Section 5.11 shall relieve the Lenders of their obligations to fund Revolving Credit Loans on
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dates other than a Settlement Date pursuant to Section 2.1.2 [Swing Loan Commitment]. The Administrative Agent may at any time at its option for any reason whatsoever require each Lender to pay immediately to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s Ratable Share of the outstanding Revolving Credit Loans and each Lender may at any time require the Administrative Agent to pay immediately to such Lender its Ratable Share of all payments made by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent with respect to the Revolving Credit Loans.
6. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
6.1 Representations and Warranties. The Loan Parties represent and warrant to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders as follows:
6.1.1 Organization and Qualification; Power and Authority; Compliance With Laws; Title to Properties; Event of Default. Each Loan Party and each Subsidiary of each Loan Party (i) is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, (ii) has the lawful power to own or lease its properties and to engage in the business it presently conducts or proposes to conduct, (iii) is duly licensed or qualified and in good standing in each jurisdiction listed on Schedule 6.1.1 and in all other jurisdictions where the property owned or leased by it or the nature of the business transacted by it or both makes such licensing or qualification necessary, (iv) has full power to enter into, execute, deliver and carry out this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party, to incur the Indebtedness contemplated by the Loan Documents and to perform its Obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and all such actions have been duly authorized by all necessary proceedings on its part, (v) is in compliance with all applicable Laws (other than Environmental Laws which are specifically addressed in Section 6.1.14 [Environmental Matters]) in all jurisdictions in which any Loan Party or Subsidiary of any Party is presently or will be doing business, and (vi) has good and marketable title to or valid leasehold interest in all properties, assets and other rights which it purports to own or lease or which are reflected as owned or leased on its books and records, free and clear of all Liens and encumbrances, except Permitted Liens; except, in each case referred to in clause (i) with respect to any non-Loan Party Subsidiary and clauses (ii), (iii), (v) and (vi), to the extent such failure or non-compliance would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. No Event of Default exists or is continuing.
6.1.2 Subsidiaries and Owners; Investment Companies. Schedule 6.1.2 states, as of the Closing Date, (i) the name of each of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries, its jurisdiction of organization and the amount, percentage and type of equity interests in such Subsidiary (the “Subsidiary Equity Interests”), (ii) the name of each holder of an equity interest in the Borrower, the amount, percentage and type of such equity interest (the “Borrower Equity Interests”), and (iii) any options, warrants or other rights outstanding to purchase any such equity interests referred to in clause (i) or (iii) (collectively the “Equity Interests”). The Borrower and each Subsidiary of the Borrower has good and marketable title to all of the Subsidiary Equity Interests it purports to own, free and clear in each case of any Lien and all such Subsidiary Equity Interests have been validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. None of the Loan Parties or Subsidiaries of any Loan Party is an “investment company” registered or required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or under the “control” of an “investment company” as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 and shall not become such an “investment company” or under such “control.”
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6.1.3 Validity and Binding Effect. This Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents (i) has been duly and validly executed and delivered by each Loan Party, and (ii) constitutes, or will constitute, legal, valid and binding obligations of each Loan Party which is or will be a party thereto, enforceable against such Loan Party in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (whether enforcement is sought by proceedings in equity or at law).
6.1.4 No Conflict; Material Agreements; Consents. Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents by any Loan Party nor the consummation of the transactions herein or therein contemplated or compliance with the terms and provisions hereof or thereof by any of them will conflict with, constitute a default under or result in any breach of (i) the terms and conditions of the certificate of incorporation, bylaws, certificate of limited partnership, partnership agreement, certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement or other organizational documents of any Loan Party or (ii) any material Law or any material agreement or instrument or order, writ, judgment, injunction or decree to which any Loan Party is a party or by which it or any Loan Party is bound or to which it is subject, or result in the creation or enforcement of any Lien, charge or encumbrance whatsoever upon any property (now or hereafter acquired) of any Loan Party. There is no default under such material agreement (referred to above) and none of the Loan Parties or their Subsidiaries is bound by any contractual obligation, or subject to any restriction in any organization document, or any requirement of Law, in each case which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. No consent, approval, exemption, order or authorization of, or a registration or filing with, any Official Body or any other Person is required by any Law or any agreement in connection with the execution, delivery and carrying out of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
6.1.5 Litigation. Except as disclosed in the Public Filings, there are no actions, suits, proceedings or investigations pending or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, threatened against such Loan Party or any Subsidiary of such Loan Party at law or in equity before any Official Body which individually or in the aggregate would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. None of the Loan Parties or any Subsidiaries of any Loan Party is in violation of any order, writ, injunction or any decree of any Official Body which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.
6.1.6 Financial Statements.
6.1.6.1 Historical Statements. The Parent has delivered to the Administrative Agent copies of its audited consolidated year-end financial statements for and as of the end of the five (5) fiscal years ended the last Friday in April of 2007-2011. In addition, the Parent has delivered to the Administrative Agent copies of its unaudited consolidated interim financial statements for the fiscal year to date and as of the end of the fiscal quarter ended July 29, 2011 (all such annual and interim statements being collectively referred to as the “Statements”). The Statements taken as a whole are correct and complete and fairly represent in
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all material respects the consolidated financial condition of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as of the respective dates thereof and the results of operations for the fiscal periods then ended and have been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject (in the case of the interim statements) to the absence of footnotes and normal year-end audit adjustments.
6.1.6.2 No Material Adverse Change. Since April 29, 2011, no Material Adverse Change has occurred.
6.1.7 Margin Stock. None of the Loan Parties or any Subsidiaries of any Loan Party engages or intends to engage principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose, immediately, incidentally or ultimately, of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U, T or X as promulgated by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System). No part of the proceeds of any Loan has been or will be used, immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry any margin stock or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin stock or which is inconsistent with the provisions of the regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. None of the Loan Parties or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party holds or intends to hold margin stock in such amounts that more than 25% of the reasonable value of the assets of any Loan Party or Subsidiary of any Loan Party are or will be represented by margin stock.
6.1.8 Full Disclosure. Neither this Agreement nor any other Loan Document, nor any written certificate, statement, agreement or other documents, taken as a whole, furnished to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection herewith or therewith, contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained herein and therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrower only represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon reasonable assumptions at the time of delivery thereof (it being understood that such projections are subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, any of which are beyond the Borrower’s control, and that no assurance can be given that any particular projection will be realized and that actual results during the period or periods covered by the projections may differ significantly from the projected results and such differences may be material.
6.1.9 Taxes. The Parent and its Subsidiaries have filed all United States federal Tax returns and all other material Tax returns which are required to be filed and have paid all Taxes due pursuant to said returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, except such Taxes, if any, as are being contested in good faith and as to which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP and as to which no Lien exists. No Tax liens have been filed and no claims are being asserted with respect to any such Taxes. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in respect of any Taxes or other governmental charges are adequate.
6.1.10 Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, Licenses, Etc. Each Loan Party and each Subsidiary of each Loan Party owns or possesses the right to use all the material patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, licenses, registrations, franchises, permits and rights necessary to own and operate its properties and to carry on its business as presently
conducted and planned to be conducted by such Loan Party, without known possible, alleged or actual conflict with the rights of others), except to the extent that failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.
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6.1.11 Reserved.
6.1.12 Reserved.
6.1.13 ERISA Compliance. (i) Each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other federal or state Laws. Each Plan that is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS or an application for such a letter is currently being processed by the IRS with respect thereto and, to the best knowledge of Borrower, nothing has occurred which would prevent, or cause the loss of, such qualification. Borrower and each ERISA Affiliate have made all required contributions to each Plan, and no application for a funding waiver or an extension of any amortization period pursuant to Section 412 of the Code has been made with respect to any Plan, in each except to the extent that failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.
(ii) No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; (a) no Plan has any unfunded pension liability (i.e. excess of benefit liabilities over the current value of that Plan’s assets, determined in accordance with the assumptions used for funding the Plan for the applicable plan year); (b) neither Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Plan (other than premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA); (c) neither Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability (and no event has occurred which, with the giving of notice under Section 4219 of ERISA, would result in such liability) under Sections 4201 or 4243 of ERISA with respect to a Multiemployer Plan; and (d) neither Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Sections 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA, in each except to the extent that failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.
6.1.14 Environmental Matters. Each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries is and, to the knowledge of each respective Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries, has been in compliance with applicable Environmental Laws, except to the extent such non-compliance would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.
6.1.15 Solvency. Before and after giving effect to the initial Loans hereunder, the Parent and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis are Solvent.
6.1.16 Senior Debt Status. The Loan Parties will at all times ensure that the Obligations will be equal in priority of payment to the obligations owed by the Loan Parties to the holders of the notes under the Note Purchase Agreements or any other indebtedness under note issuances permitted under Section 8.2.1(ii)(b), and in no event shall the Loan Parties grant any Liens or security interests in any assets of the Loan Parties to the holders under the Note Purchase Agreements or any other indebtedness under note issuances permitted under Section 8.2.1(ii)(b) without granting the same Liens or security interests ratably to the Lenders hereunder.
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7. CONDITIONS OF LENDING AND ISSUANCE OF LETTERS OF CREDIT
The obligation of each Lender to make Loans and of the Issuing Lender to issue Letters of Credit hereunder is subject to the performance by each of the Loan Parties of its Obligations to be performed hereunder at or prior to the making of any such Loans or issuance of such Letters of Credit and to the satisfaction of the following further conditions:
7.1 First Loans and Letters of Credit.
7.1.1 Deliveries. On the Closing Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received each of the following in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:
(i) A certificate of each of the Loan Parties signed by an Authorized Officer, dated the Closing Date stating that (a) all representations and warranties of the Loan Parties set forth in this Agreement are true and correct in all material respects, (b) the Loan Parties are in compliance with each of the covenants and conditions hereunder, (c) no Event of Default or Potential Default exists, and (d) no Material Adverse Change has occurred since the date of the last audited financial statements of the Borrower delivered to the Administrative Agent;
(ii) A certificate dated the Closing Date and signed by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of each of the Loan Parties, certifying as appropriate as to: (a) all action taken by each Loan Party in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents; (b) the names of the Authorized Officers authorized to sign the Loan Documents and their true signatures; and (c) copies of its organizational documents as in effect on the Closing Date certified by the appropriate state official where such documents are filed in a state office together with certificates from the appropriate state officials as to the continued existence and good standing of each Loan Party in each state where organized or qualified to do business;
(iii) This Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents signed by an Authorized Officer;
(iv) A written opinion of counsel for the Loan Parties, dated the Closing Date and as to the matters set forth in Schedule 7.1.1;
(v) Evidence that adequate insurance required to be maintained under this Agreement is in full force and effect;
(vi) A duly completed Compliance Certificate as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of Borrower most recently ended prior to the Closing Date, signed by an Authorized Officer of Borrower;
(vii) All material consents required to effectuate the transactions contemplated hereby;
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(viii) Evidence that both (a) the Credit Agreement dated December 1, 2010 between the Borrower and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., and (b) the Credit Agreement dated April 20, 2010 between the Borrower and PNC Bank, National Association, have been terminated, and all outstanding obligations thereunder have been paid;
(ix) A lien search in acceptable scope and with acceptable results;
(x) No Material Adverse Change since April 29, 2011 shall have occurred and no material litigation shall exist;
(xi) The Administrative Agent shall be satisfied with its review of (i) ERISA and labor matters affecting the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries and (ii) the status of regulatory approvals and licenses of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries; and
(xii) Such other documents in connection with such transactions as the Administrative Agent or said counsel may reasonably request.
7.1.2 Payment of Fees. The Borrower shall have paid all fees payable on or before the Closing Date as required by this Agreement, the Administrative Agent’s Letter or any other Loan Document.
7.2 Each Loan or Letter of Credit. At the time of making any Loans or issuing, extending or increasing any Letters of Credit and after giving effect to the proposed extensions of credit: (i) the representations, warranties of the Loan Parties shall then be true and correct as of such date, except to the extent any such representation or warranty is stated to relate solely to an earlier date, in which case such representation or warranty shall have been true and correct on and as of such earlier date, (ii) no Event of Default or Potential Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (iii) the making of the Loans or issuance, extension or increase of such Letter of Credit shall not contravene any Law applicable to any Loan Party or Subsidiary of any Loan Party or any of the Lenders, and (iv) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a duly executed and completed Loan Request or to the Issuing Lender an application for a Letter of Credit, as the case may be.
8. COVENANTS
The Loan Parties, jointly and severally, covenant and agree that until Payment In Full, the Loan Parties shall comply at all times with the following covenants:
8.1 Affirmative Covenants.
8.1.1 Preservation of Existence, Etc. Each Loan Party shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain its legal existence as a corporation, limited partnership or limited liability company and its license or qualification and good standing in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the nature of its business makes such license or qualification necessary, except to the extent such failure or non-compliance with such licensing or qualification requirement would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change; provided, that this covenant shall not prohibit any transaction permitted by Section 8.2.6 [Liquidations, Mergers, Etc.] or Section 8.2.7 [Dispositions of Assets or Subsidiaries].
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8.1.2 Payment of Liabilities, Including Taxes, Etc. Each Loan Party shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, duly pay and discharge all liabilities to which it is subject or which are asserted against it, promptly as and when the same shall become due and payable, including all Taxes, assessments and governmental charges upon it or any of its properties, assets, income or profits, that, if not paid, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change, prior to the date on which penalties attach thereto, except where (a) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (b) the Parent, the Borrower or such Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP and (c) the failure to make payment pending such contest would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.
8.1.3 Maintenance of Properties, Insurance. Each Loan Party shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, (a) maintain in good repair, working order and condition (ordinary wear and tear excepted) in accordance with the general practice of other businesses of similar character and size, all of those properties material to the conduct of its business taken as a whole, and from time to time, such Loan Party will make or cause to be made all appropriate repairs, renewals or replacements thereof, and (b) insure its properties and assets against loss or damage by fire and such other insurable hazards as such assets are commonly insured (including fire, extended coverage, property damage, workers’ compensation, public liability and business interruption insurance) and against other risks (including errors and omissions) in such amounts as similar properties and assets are insured by prudent companies in similar circumstances carrying on similar businesses, and with reputable and financially sound insurers, including self-insurance to the extent customary.
8.1.4 Reserved. Visitation Rights. Each Loan Party shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, permit any of the officers or authorized employees or representatives of the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders to visit and inspect any of its properties and to examine and make excerpts from its books and records and discuss its business affairs, finances and accounts with its officers, all in such detail and at such times as any of the Lenders may reasonably request, provided that each Lender shall provide the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with reasonable notice prior to any visit or inspection and such inspection shall not unreasonably interfere with the conduct of business at such site. Such visits and inspections shall be arranged through the Administrative Agent and shall not occur more than twice in any fiscal year unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
8.1.6 Keeping of Records and Books of Account. The Borrower shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary of the Borrower to, maintain and keep proper books of record and account which enable the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to issue consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP and as otherwise required by applicable Laws of any Official Body having jurisdiction over the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower, and in which full, true and correct entries shall be made in all material respects of all its dealings and business and financial affairs.
8.1.7 Compliance with Laws; Use of Proceeds. Each Loan Party shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply with all applicable Laws, including all Environmental Laws, in all respects, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. The Loan Parties will use the Letters of Credit and the proceeds of the Loans only in accordance with Section 2.8 [Use of Proceeds] and as permitted by applicable Law.
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8.1.8 Reserved.
8.1.9 Anti-Terrorism Laws. None of the Loan Parties is or shall be (i) a Person with whom any Lender is restricted from doing business under Executive Order No. 13224 or any other Anti-Terrorism Law, (ii) engaged in any business involved in making or receiving any contribution of funds, goods or services to or for the benefit of such a Person or in any transaction that evades or avoids, or has the purpose of evading or avoiding, the prohibitions set forth in any Anti-Terrorism Law, or (iii) otherwise in violation of any Anti-Terrorism Law. The Loan Parties shall provide to the Lenders any certifications or information that a Lender requests to confirm compliance by the Loan Parties with Anti-Terrorism Laws.
8.2 Negative Covenants.
8.2.1 Indebtedness. Each of the Loan Parties shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, at any time create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:
(i) Indebtedness under the Loan Documents;
(ii) (a) Indebtedness under the Note Purchase Agreements (including any extensions, renewals, refinancings and replacements thereof); provided there is no increase in the amount thereof, and (b) after the Indebtedness under the Note Purchase Agreements is repaid in full, other unsecured note issuances having covenants no more restrictive than those under this Agreement and having a final maturity date after the Expiration Date; provided the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness permitted under this clause (ii)(b) shall not exceed $130,000,000;
(iii) Existing Indebtedness as (in the case of existing Indebtedness in a principal amount in excess of $5,000,000 in the aggregate) set forth on Schedule 8.2.1 (including any extensions, renewals, refinancings and replacements thereof); provided there is no increase in the amount thereof or other significant change in the terms thereof unless otherwise specified on Schedule 8.2.1;
(iv) Indebtedness incurred with respect to Purchase Money Security Interests and capitalized leases (including any extensions, renewals, refinancings and replacements thereof); provided that such Indebtedness, together with Indebtedness permitted under clauses (viii) and (ix) below, shall not exceed in the aggregate at any time outstanding $50,000,000;
(v) Indebtedness owed by (i) a Loan Party to another Loan Party or a Non-Loan Party Subsidiary or (ii) by a Non-Loan Party Subsidiary to a Loan Party or another Non-Loan Party Subsidiary;
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(vi) Any (i) Lender Provided Hedge Agreement , (ii) other Hedge Agreement approved by the Administrative Agent, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed or (iii) Indebtedness under any Other Lender Provided Financial Services Product; provided, however, the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries shall enter into a Lender Provided Hedge Agreement or another Hedge Agreement only for hedging (rather than speculative) purposes;
(vii) Indebtedness of the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries incurred in connection with Sale and Lease-Back Transactions and extensions, renewals, refinancings and replacements of any such Indebtedness; provided, that prior to consummating any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction involving assets with a value in excess of $100,000,000, the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent evidence, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that, after giving effect to such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, no Event of Default or Potential Default shall exist and the Borrower shall be in proforma compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.2.14 [Note Purchase Agreement Financial Covenants] or Section 8.2.15 [Other Financial Covenants], as applicable, with such covenants calculated as if such Sale Lease-Back Transaction had occurred on the first day of the four (4) fiscal quarters most recently ended and also annualizing the impact of the Sale Lease-Back Transaction for the following three (3) fiscal quarters;
(viii) Indebtedness of the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries incurred to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of any fixed or capital assets or real estate, and any Indebtedness assumed in connection with the acquisition of any such assets or secured by a Lien on any such assets prior to the acquisition thereof, and extensions, renewals, refinancings and replacements of any such Indebtedness; provided such Indebtedness, together with Indebtedness permitted under clause (iv) above and clause (ix) below, shall not exceed in the aggregate at any time outstanding $50,000,000;
(ix) Indebtedness of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary of the Parent after the Closing Date, provided, that such Indebtedness exists at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary and is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such Person becoming a Subsidiary; provided, further, such Indebtedness, together with Indebtedness permitted under clauses (iv) and (viii) above, shall not exceed in the aggregate at any time outstanding $50,000,000;
(x) Indebtedness (including any extensions, renewals, refinancing and replacements thereof) in an amount not to exceed $50,000,000 secured by certain parcels of real property located in Franklin County, Ohio and Licking County, Ohio owned or to be acquired by the Borrower or a Subsidiary of the Borrower, upon which the Borrower will be constructing its new corporate headquarters; and
(xi) other Indebtedness of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount at any time outstanding not to exceed $100,000,000.
8.2.2 Liens; Negative Pledge.
8.2.2.1 Liens. Each of the Loan Parties shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, at any time create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any of its property or assets, tangible or intangible, now owned or hereafter acquired, or agree or become liable to do so, except Permitted Liens.
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8.2.2.2 Negative Pledge. Each of the Loan Parties covenant and agree that they shall not, and shall not permit any if their Subsidiaries to, enter into any agreement with any Person which, in any manner, whether directly or contingently, prohibits, restricts or limits the right to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on its property or assets generally, tangible or intangible, now owned or hereafter acquired, except for such prohibitions, restrictions or limitations existing under or by reason of (i) applicable law, (ii) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (iii) customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest, (iv) customary provisions restricting assignment of any licensing agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business, (v) customary provisions restricting the transfer or further encumbering of assets subject to Liens permitted under clause (xi) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”, (vi) 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, (vii) any document relating to Indebtedness secured by a Lien permitted by clause (x) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”, insofar as the provisions thereof limit grants of other liens on the assets securing such Indebtedness, (viii) any operating lease or capital lease, insofar as the provisions thereof limit grants of a security interest in, or other assignments of, the related leasehold interest to any other Person, (ix) 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 (x) customary provisions in leases and other contracts restricting the assignment thereof.
8.2.3 Guaranties. Each of the Loan Parties shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, at any time, directly or indirectly, become or be liable in respect of any Guaranty, or assume, guarantee, become surety for, endorse or otherwise agree, become or remain directly or contingently liable upon or with respect to any obligation or liability of any other Person, except for Guaranties of Indebtedness or other obligations of the Parent and any Subsidiary of the Parent not prohibited hereunder.
8.2.4 Loans and Investments. Each of the Loan Parties shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, at any time make or suffer to remain outstanding any loan or advance to, or purchase, acquire or own any stock, bonds, notes or securities of, or any partnership interest (whether general or limited) or limited liability company interest in, or any other investment or interest in, or make any capital contribution to, any other Person, or agree, become or remain liable to do any of the foregoing, except:
(i) trade credit extended on usual and customary terms in the ordinary course of business;
(ii) loans and advances to officers and directors of the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries (or employees thereof provided such loans and advances are approved by an officer of such party) for travel, entertainment and relocation expenses in the ordinary course of business in an aggregate principal amount outstanding at any time that shall not exceed $5,000,000;
(iii) Permitted Investments;
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(iv) loans or advances to, and investments in, Loan Parties and Non-Loan Party Subsidiaries, including, without limitation, new Non-Loan Party Subsidiaries;
(v) loans or advances to, and investments in, Joint Ventures; provided that in no event shall any Loan Party or Subsidiary of any Loan Party be liable, or agree to become liable, for any liabilities of the Joint Venture beyond the sum of (A) such Loan Party’s or Subsidiary’s equity interest in such Joint Venture and (B) $20,000,000 in the aggregate;
(vi) Permitted Acquisitions; and
(vii) investments of funds intended to fund deferred compensation liabilities, provided, that such investments are made pursuant to The Xxx Xxxxx Amended and Restated Grantor Trust Agreement, dated April 4, 2011, Xxxxx Fargo Bank, National Association, Trustee, or any additional or successor agreements, plans or policies, and continue at all times to be assets of the Parent or one of its Subsidiaries subject to the claims of its general creditors.
8.2.5 Restricted Payments. Each of the Loan Parties shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, declare or make, or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, except:
(i) the Parent and any of its Subsidiaries may declare and pay dividends with respect to its equity interests payable solely in additional shares of its common stock;
(ii) so long as no Potential Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Parent may declare, and if declared when no Potential Default or Event of Default exists, the Parent may pay, dividends in cash so long as the Parent would be in pro forma compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.2.14 [Note Purchase Agreement Financial Covenants] and Section 8.2.15 [Other Financial Covenants], as applicable, after giving effect thereto;
(iii) Subsidiaries of the Parent may (i) declare and pay dividends or make distributions ratably with respect to their Equity Interests and (ii) may make Restricted Payments to the Parent and other Subsidiaries of the Parent, in amounts necessary to enable the Parent to pay the dividends described in clause (ii) above, along with standard costs associated with payment of such dividends or distributions, and to pay income and franchise taxes and operating and professional expenses;
(iv) so long as no Potential Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Parent and its Subsidiaries may make Restricted Payments pursuant to and in accordance with employment contracts, stock option plans or other benefit plans or similar arrangements for consultants, management (including directors and officers) or employees of the Parent and its Subsidiaries; and
(v) so long as no Potential Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Parent may (i) repurchase fractional shares of common stock of the Parent and (ii) repurchase shares of common stock of the Parent for cash, so long as the Parent would be in pro forma compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.2.14 [Note Purchase
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Agreement Financial Covenants] and Section 8.2.15 [Other Financial Covenants], as applicable, after giving effect thereto.
8.2.6 Liquidations, Mergers, Consolidations, Acquisitions. Each of the Loan Parties shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, dissolve, liquidate or wind-up its affairs, or become a party to any merger or consolidation, or acquire by purchase, lease or otherwise all or substantially all of the assets or capital stock of any other Person; provided that, (i) any Loan Party (other than the Borrower) may merge into any other Loan Party, and any Person may merge into a Loan Party in a transaction in which such Loan Party is the surviving entity in connection with a Permitted Acquisition, (ii) any Non-Loan Party Subsidiary may consolidate or merge into another Non-Loan Party Subsidiary or into a Loan Party, so long as in any merger or consolidation involving any Loan Party, such Loan Party shall be the surviving or continuing entity, (iii) a Loan Party or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of a Loan Party may make a Permitted Acquisition, (iv) any Subsidiary of the Parent (other than a Loan Party) may liquidate or dissolve if the Borrower or the Parent (as the case may be) determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of the Borrower or the Parent (as the case may be) and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders; (v) any restructuring, regardless of whether accomplished by liquidation, contribution, distribution, merger, amalgamation or any other technique, whereby the ownership of Subsidiaries of the Parent is changed, so long as each such Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary of the Parent prior to such restructuring remains, directly or indirectly, a Subsidiary of the Parent after such restructuring so long as in any restructuring involving the Borrower, the Borrower is the surviving entity; and (vi) any transaction, regardless of whether accomplished by liquidation, contribution, distribution, merger, amalgamation or any other technique, and including without limitation reincorporations, whereby the only substantive effect is that the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries changes its state of incorporation or formation, so long as the Borrower provides prompt written notice to the Administrative Agent of such change.
8.2.7 Dispositions of Assets or Subsidiaries. Except as provided in Section 8.2.6 [Liquidations, Mergers, Consolidations, Acquisitions], each of the Loan Parties shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, sell, convey, assign, lease, abandon or otherwise transfer or dispose of, voluntarily or involuntarily (collectively, “Transfer”), any substantial part of its properties or assets, tangible or intangible (including sale, assignment, discount or other disposition of accounts, contract rights, chattel paper, equipment or general intangibles with or without recourse or of capital stock, shares of beneficial interest, partnership interests or limited liability company interests of a Subsidiary of such Loan Party), provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing any Loan Party or Subsidiary of a Loan Party may Transfer assets (including equity interests in Subsidiaries) constituting a substantial part of the assets of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries if such assets are sold in an arms length transaction and, at such time and after giving effect thereto, no Potential Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and an amount equal to the Net Proceeds received from such Transfer shall be used within 365 days of such sale, lease or disposition, in any combination:
(i) to acquire productive assets used or useful in carrying on the business of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries and having a value and revenue generating capacity at least equal to the Net Proceeds received from such sale, lease or disposition; or
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(ii) to prepay or retire the Obligations or obligations outstanding under the Note Purchase Agreements or any other Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.2.1(ii)(B).
As used in this Section 8.2.7, a Transfer of assets shall be deemed to be a “substantial part” of the assets of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries if the book value of such assets, when added to the book value of all other assets sold, leased or otherwise disposed of by the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries during the period beginning with the Closing Date (excluding (A) Transfers of up to $2,000,000 in Net Proceeds in any single transaction or $20,000,000 in the aggregate and (B) an aggregate $50,000,000 in Net Proceeds from Transfers of real estate) to and including the date on which such Transfer occurs, exceeds 30% of Consolidated Total Assets, determined as of the end of the fiscal year immediately preceding such Transfer; provided that there shall be excluded from any determination of a “substantial part” (a) any Transfer of assets in the ordinary course of business of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, and (b) so long as no Potential Default or Event of Default shall exist, any transfer of assets (i) from a Loan Party to another Loan Party or any wholly owned Non-Loan Party Subsidiary, or (ii) from any Non-Loan Party Subsidiary to a Loan Party or to another wholly owned Non-Loan Party Subsidiary or any other Subsidiary with the same percentage ownership by the Parent as the transferor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 8.2.7 shall not apply to or restrict Sale and Leaseback Transactions; provided the Borrower shall comply with Section 8.2.1(vii), to the extent applicable.
8.2.8 Affiliate Transactions. Each of the Loan Parties shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into or carry out any transaction with any Affiliate of any Loan Party (including purchasing property or services from or selling property or services to any Affiliate of any Loan Party or other Person) unless such transaction is not otherwise prohibited by this Agreement, is entered into in the ordinary course of business upon fair and reasonable arm’s-length terms and conditions and is in accordance with all applicable Law. This covenant shall not prohibit agreements or transactions with and payments to officers, directors, employees and shareholders that are either (a) entered into in the ordinary course of business and not prohibited by any of the provisions of this Agreement, or (b) entered into outside the ordinary course of business, approved by the directors (or a committee thereof, or pursuant to a policy approved by the directors or a committee thereof) or shareholders of the Parent or the Borrower, as applicable, and not prohibited by any of the provisions of this Agreement.
8.2.9 Subsidiaries. Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 8.2.4 [Loans and Investments] and Section 8.2.6 [Liquidations, Mergers, Consolidations, Acquisitions], the Loan Parties may from time to time create or acquire or invest in Subsidiaries or Joint Ventures; provided each of the Loan Parties shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to guaranty the obligations of any of the Loan Parties under the Note Purchase Agreements or any other indebtedness under note issuances permitted under Section 8.2.1(ii)(b) unless such Subsidiary joins this Agreement as a Guarantor by delivering to the Administrative Agent (A) a signed Guarantor Joinder; and (B) documents in the forms described in Section 7.1 [First Loans and Letters of Credit] modified as appropriate.
8.2.10 Continuation of or Change in Business. Each of the Loan Parties shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, engage in any material line of business other than those lines of business conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the date hereof
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(including, without limitation, the restaurant and food products industries) and any business that, in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, is reasonably related, incidental, ancillary, supplementary or complementary (including, without limitation, supply chain) thereto, or reasonable extensions thereof.
8.2.11 Fiscal Year. The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary of the Borrower to, change its fiscal year from the twelve-month period beginning the day after the last Friday in April and ending the last Friday in April.
8.2.12 Restriction on Subsidiaries. Except as set forth in this Agreement, the Loan Parties shall not, and will not permit any Subsidiary of any Loan Party to, enter into any agreement which would restrict the ability of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party to pay any dividends to, or make advances, loans or distributions to, or other instruments in any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party, except for such restrictions existing under or by reason of items listed in clauses (i)-(x) of Section 8.2.2 [Liens; Negative Pledge] and which are not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders.
8.2.13 Changes in Organizational Documents. Each of the Loan Parties shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, amend in any respect that would reasonably be expected to be materially disadvantageous to the Lenders, its certificate of incorporation (including any provisions or resolutions relating to capital stock), by-laws, certificate of limited partnership, partnership agreement, certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement or other organizational documents without obtaining the prior written consent of the Required Lenders.
8.2.14 Note Purchase Agreement Financial Covenants. The financial covenants set forth in the Note Purchase Agreements, including without limitation Section 10.1 [Consolidated Net Worth], Section 10.2 [Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio], Section 10.3 [Limitation on Indebtedness] and Section 9.8 [Additional Restrictions], together with the related definitions of terms used therein, are hereby incorporated by reference into this Agreement with the same effect as if fully set forth herein, as such covenants and provisions may be modified or amended from time to time in accordance with the terms of the Note Purchase Agreements and with the prior written consent of the Required Lenders (collectively, such covenants and provisions are referred to as the “Incorporated Financial Covenants”). Until such time as the outstanding principal under the Note Purchase Agreements is less than $25,000,000, each Loan Party will perform and comply with, or cause to be performed and complied with, the Incorporated Financial Covenants; provided, that if the subject matter addressed by an Incorporated Financial Covenants is also addressed by a separate covenant or provision provided for herein, compliance is required with each applicable provision. On and after such time as the outstanding principal under the Note Purchase Agreements is less than $25,000,000, the Incorporated Financial Covenants shall no longer be incorporated by reference into this Agreement.
8.2.15 Other Financial Covenants. On and after such time as the outstanding principal under the Note Purchase Agreements is less than $25,000,000, the Loan Parties shall comply with the following financial covenants:
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8.2.15.1 Minimum Coverage Ratio. The Loan Parties shall not permit the Coverage Ratio, calculated as of the end of each fiscal quarter for the four (4) fiscal quarters then ended, to be less than 1.75 to 1.00.
8.2.15.2 Maximum Adjusted Leverage Ratio. The Loan Parties shall not at any time permit the Adjusted Leverage Ratio, calculated as of the end of each fiscal quarter for the four (4) quarters then ended, to exceed 3.50 to 1.00.
8.3 Reporting Requirements. The Loan Parties will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders:
8.3.1 Quarterly Financial Statements. As soon as available and in any event within forty-five (45) days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters in each fiscal year, financial statements of the Parent, consisting of a consolidated balance sheet as of the end of such fiscal quarter and related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the fiscal quarter then ended and the fiscal year through that date, all in reasonable detail and certified (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments) by an Authorized Officer of the Parent as having been prepared in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied, and setting forth in comparative form the respective financial statements for the corresponding date and period in the previous fiscal year.
8.3.2 Annual Financial Statements. As soon as available and in any event within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Parent, financial statements of the Parent consisting of a consolidated balance sheet as of the end of such fiscal year, and related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the fiscal year then ended, all in reasonable detail and setting forth in comparative form the financial statements as of the end of and for the preceding fiscal year, and certified by independent certified public accountants of nationally recognized standing satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. The certificate or report of accountants shall be free of qualifications (other than any consistency qualification that may result from a change in the method used to prepare the financial statements as to which such accountants concur) and shall not indicate the occurrence or existence of any event, condition or contingency which would materially impair the prospect of payment or performance of any covenant, agreement or duty of any Loan Party under any of the Loan Documents. The Loan Parties shall deliver with such financial statements and certification by their accountants a letter of such accountants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders substantially to the effect that, based upon their ordinary and customary examination of the affairs of the Parent, performed in connection with the preparation of such consolidated financial statements, and in accordance with GAAP, they are not aware of the existence of any condition or event which constitutes an Event of Default or Potential Default or, if they are aware of such condition or event, stating the nature thereof.
8.3.3 Compliance Certificate. Concurrently with the financial statements of the Parent furnished to the Administrative Agent and to the Lenders pursuant to Sections 8.3.1 [Quarterly Financial Statements] and 8.3.2 [Annual Financial Statements], a certificate (each a “Compliance Certificate”) of the Parent signed by an Authorized Officer of the Parent, in the form of Exhibit 8.3.3.
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8.3.4 Notices.
8.3.4.1 Default. Promptly after any officer of any Loan Party has learned of the occurrence of an Event of Default or Potential Default, a certificate signed by an Authorized Officer setting forth the details of such Event of Default or Potential Default and the action which such Loan Party proposes to take with respect thereto.
8.3.4.2 Litigation. Promptly after receiving notice thereof, notice of all actions, suits, proceedings or investigations before or by any Official Body or any other Person against any Loan Party or Subsidiary of any Loan Party which involve a claim or series of claims that, if adversely determined, would reasonably be expected to constitute a Material Adverse Change.
8.3.4.3 Reserved.
8.3.4.4 Erroneous Financial Information. Promptly in the event that any Loan Party or its accountants conclude or advise that any previously issued financial statement, audit report or interim review should no longer be relied upon or that disclosure should be made or action should be taken to prevent future reliance.
8.3.4.5 ERISA Event. Promptly upon the occurrence of any ERISA Event.
8.3.4.6 Other Reports. Promptly upon their becoming available to the Borrower:
(i) Annual Budget. The annual budget and any forecasts or projections of the Loan Parties, to be supplied not later than ninety (90) days after the commencement of the fiscal year to which any of the foregoing may be applicable,
(ii) Auditors’ Internal Final Reports. Any final reports submitted to any Loan Party by independent accountants in connection with any annual, interim or special audit,
(iii) SEC Reports; Shareholder Communications. Reports, including Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, registration statements and prospectuses and other shareholder communications, filed by the Parent with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission,
(iv) Other Information. Such other reports and information as any of the Lenders may from time to time reasonably request.
9. DEFAULT
9.1 Events of Default. An Event of Default shall mean the occurrence and continuance of any one or more of the following events or conditions:
9.1.1 Payments Under Loan Documents. The Borrower shall (i) fail to pay any principal of any Loan (including the payment due at maturity) or Reimbursement Obligation
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on the date on which such principal becomes due in accordance with the terms hereof or (ii) fail to pay any interest or any other amount owing hereunder or under the other Loan Documents on the date such interest or other amount becomes due and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of three (3) days after written notice thereof has been given to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent;
9.1.2 Breach of Warranty. Any representation or warranty made in writing by any of the Loan Parties in any Loan Document or in any certificate or statement furnished in connection therewith shall prove to have been false in any material respect as of the date made;
9.1.3 Breach of Negative Covenants or Visitation Rights. Any of the Loan Parties shall default in the observance or performance of any covenant contained in Section 8.1.5 [Visitation Rights] or Section 8.2 [Negative Covenants] other than Section 8.2.12 [Restrictions on Subsidiaries] and Section 8.2.13 [Changes in Organizational Documents];
9.1.4 Breach of Other Covenants. Any of the Loan Parties shall default in the observance or performance of any other covenant, condition or provision hereof or of any other Loan Document and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of thirty (30) days after the earlier of (i) a Loan Party has knowledge of such default or (ii) written notice of such default has been given to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent;
9.1.5 Defaults in Other Material Indebtedness. Any Loan Party or any Material Subsidiary (i) fails to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) in respect of any Material Indebtedness, or (ii) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any Material Indebtedness, or any other event occurs, the effect of which default or other event is to cause or to permit the holder or holders of such Material Indebtedness to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Material Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity; provided, however, that an Event of Default under this Section 9.1.5 caused by the occurrence of a default with respect to such Material Indebtedness shall be cured for purposes of this Agreement (a) upon the party asserting such default waiving such default, (b) upon the Loan Party or such Material Subsidiary curing such default prior to such party exercising any remedies with respect thereto if, at the time of such waiver or such cure the Administrative Agent has not exercised any rights or remedies with respect to an Event of Default under this Section 9.1.5 or (iii) upon the Loan Party’s or such Material Subsidiary’s otherwise making adequate provision for the payment of such Material Indebtedness in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders in their sole discretion prior to such party exercising any remedies with respect thereto if, at the time of such adequate provision the Administrative Agent has not exercised any rights or remedies with respect to an Event of Default under this Section 9.1.5;
9.1.6 Final Judgments or Orders. Any final judgments or orders for the payment of money (to the extent not covered by independent third party insurance as to which the insurer does not dispute coverage and is not subject to an Insolvency Event) in excess of $25,000,000 in the aggregate shall be entered against any Loan Party by a court having jurisdiction in the premises, which judgment is not discharged, vacated, bonded or stayed pending appeal within a period of forty five (45) days from the date of entry;
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9.1.7 Loan Document Unenforceable. Any of the Loan Documents shall cease to be legal, valid and binding agreements enforceable in any material respect against the party executing the same or such party’s successors and assigns (as permitted under the Loan Documents) in accordance with the respective terms thereof or shall in any way be terminated (except in accordance with its terms) or become or be declared ineffective or inoperative or shall in any way be challenged or contested or cease to give or provide the respective rights, titles, interests, remedies, powers or privileges intended to be created thereby;
9.1.8 Proceedings Against Assets. Any material portion of the Loan Parties’ assets in excess of an aggregate amount of $25,000,000 are attached, seized, levied upon or subjected to a writ or distress warrant; or such come within the possession of any receiver, trustee, custodian or assignee for the benefit of creditors and the same is not cured within thirty (30) days thereafter;
9.1.9 Events Relating to Plans or Multiemployer Plans. (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Plan or Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in liability of Borrower under Title IV of ERISA to the Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of $25,000,000 or (ii) Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount in excess of $25,000,000.
9.1.10 Change in Control. The occurrence of a Change in Control; or
9.1.11 Insolvency Event. Any Insolvency Event shall occur with respect to any Loan Party or any other Material Subsidiary.
9.2 Consequences of Event of Default.
9.2.1 Events of Default Other Than Bankruptcy, Insolvency or Reorganization Proceedings. If an Event of Default specified under Sections 9.1.1 through 9.1.10 shall occur and be continuing, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent shall be under no further obligation to make Loans and the Issuing Lender shall be under no obligation to issue Letters of Credit and the Administrative Agent may, and upon the request of the Required Lenders, shall (i) by written notice to the Borrower, declare the unpaid principal amount of the Notes then outstanding and all interest accrued thereon, any unpaid fees and all other Indebtedness of the Borrower to the Lenders hereunder and thereunder to be forthwith due and payable, and the same shall thereupon become and be immediately due and payable to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of each Lender without presentment, demand, protest or any other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived, and (ii) require the Borrower to, and the Borrower shall thereupon, deposit in a non-interest-bearing account with the Administrative Agent, as cash collateral for its Obligations under the Loan Documents, an amount equal to the maximum amount currently or at any time thereafter available to be drawn on all outstanding Letters of Credit, and the Borrower hereby pledges to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and grants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders a security interest in, all such cash as security for such Obligations with such pledge effective at such time as such cash collateral is deposited with the Administrative Agent; the foregoing provision shall not be deemed to create a current charge or security interest; and
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9.2.2 Bankruptcy, Insolvency or Reorganization Proceedings. If an Event of Default specified under Section 9.1.11 [Insolvency Event] shall occur and be continuing, the Lenders shall be under no further obligations to make Loans hereunder and the Issuing Lender shall be under no obligation to issue Letters of Credit and the unpaid principal amount of the Loans then outstanding and all interest accrued thereon, any unpaid fees and all other Indebtedness of the Borrower to the Lenders hereunder and thereunder shall be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived; and
9.2.3 Set-off. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, the Issuing Lender, and each of their respective Affiliates and any participant of such Lender or Affiliate which has agreed in writing to be bound by the provisions of Section 5.3 [Sharing of Payments by Lenders] is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender, the Issuing Lender or any such Affiliate or participant to or for the credit or the account of any Loan Party against any and all of the Obligations of such Loan Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender, the Issuing Lender, Affiliate or participant, irrespective of whether or not such Lender, Issuing Lender, Affiliate or participant shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such Obligations of the Borrower or such Loan Party may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Lender or the Issuing Lender different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such Indebtedness. The rights of each Lender, the Issuing Lender and their respective Affiliates and participants under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, the Issuing Lender or their respective Affiliates and participants may have. The rights set forth in this Section 9.2.3 shall only be effective during the existence of an Event of Default and shall not be deemed to create a current charge or security interest. Each Lender and the Issuing Lender agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application; and
9.2.4 Application of Proceeds. From and after the date on which the Administrative Agent has taken any action pursuant to this Section 9.2 and until all Obligations of the Loan Parties have been paid in full, any and all proceeds received by the Administrative Agent from the exercise of any remedy by the Administrative Agent, shall be applied as follows:
(i) first, to reimburse the Administrative Agent and the Lenders for out-of-pocket costs, expenses and disbursements, including reasonable attorneys’ and paralegals’ fees and legal expenses, incurred by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders in connection with collection of any Obligations of any of the Loan Parties under any of the Loan Documents;
(ii) second, to the repayment of all Obligations then due and unpaid of the Loan Parties to the Lenders or their Affiliates incurred under this Agreement or any of the other
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Loan Documents or agreements evidencing any Lender Provided Hedge Agreement or agreements evidencing any Other Lender Provided Financial Service Product, whether of principal, interest, fees, expenses or otherwise and to cash collateralize the Letter of Credit Obligations, in such manner as the Administrative Agent may determine in its discretion; and
(iii) the balance, if any, as required by Law.
10. THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
10.1 Appointment and Authority. Each of the Lenders and the Issuing Lender hereby irrevocably appoints PNC to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Section 10 are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Lender, and neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.
10.2 Rights as a Lender. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.
10.3 Exculpatory Provisions. The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:
(a) shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Potential Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;
(b) shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents); provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable Law; and
(c) shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.
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The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 11.1 [Modifications, Amendments or Waivers] and 9.2 [Consequences of Event of Default]) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Potential Default or Event of Default unless and until notice describing such Potential Default or Event of Default is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, a Lender or the Issuing Lender.
The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Potential Default or Event of Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Section 7 [Conditions of Lending and Issuance of Letters of Credit] or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.
10.4 Reliance by Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or the Issuing Lender, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or the Issuing Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or the Issuing Lender prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit. 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.
10.5 Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Section 10 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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10.6 Resignation of Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the Issuing Lender and the Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, with approval from the Borrower (so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing), to appoint a successor, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Lender, appoint a successor Administrative Agent; provided that if the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (i) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders or the Issuing Lender under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and (ii) all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender and the Issuing Lender directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above in this Section 10.6. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section). The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Section 10 and Section 11.3 [Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver] 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 the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent.
If PNC resigns as Administrative Agent under this Section 10.6, PNC shall also resign as an Issuing Lender. Upon the appointment of a successor Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall (i) succeed to all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of PNC as the retiring Issuing Lender and Administrative Agent and PNC shall be discharged from all of its respective duties and obligations as Issuing Lender and Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents, and (ii) issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit issued by PNC, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangement satisfactory to PNC to effectively assume the obligations of PNC with respect to such Letters of Credit.
10.7 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders. Each Lender and the Issuing Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the
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Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender and the Issuing Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.
10.8 No Other Duties, etc. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Co-Lead Arrangers, Sole Bookrunner or Syndication Agent shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender or the Issuing Lender hereunder.
10.9 Administrative Agent’s Fee. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent a nonrefundable fee (the “Administrative Agent’s Fee”) under the terms of a letter (the “Administrative Agent’s Letter”) between the Borrower and Administrative Agent, as amended from time to time.
10.10 Authorization to Release Guarantors. The Lenders and Issuing Lenders authorize the Administrative Agent to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty Agreement if the ownership interests in such Guarantor are sold or otherwise disposed of or transferred to persons other than Loan Parties or Subsidiaries of the Loan Parties in a transaction permitted under Section 8.2.7 [Disposition of Assets or Subsidiaries] or 8.2.6 [Liquidations, Mergers, Consolidations, Acquisitions].
10.11 No Reliance on Administrative Agent’s Customer Identification Program. Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that neither such Lender, nor any of its Affiliates, participants or assignees, may rely on the Administrative Agent to carry out such Lender’s, Affiliate’s, participant’s or assignee’s customer identification program, or other obligations required or imposed under or pursuant to the USA Patriot Act or the regulations thereunder, including the regulations contained in 31 CFR 103.121 (as hereafter amended or replaced, the “CIP Regulations”), or any other Anti-Terrorism Law, including any programs involving any of the following items relating to or in connection with any of the Loan Parties, their Affiliates or their agents, the Loan Documents or the transactions hereunder or contemplated hereby: (i) any identity verification procedures, (ii) any recordkeeping, (iii) comparisons with government lists, (iv) customer notices or (v) other procedures required under the CIP Regulations or such other Laws.
11. MISCELLANEOUS
11.1 Modifications, Amendments or Waivers. With the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent, acting on behalf of all the Lenders, and the Borrower, on behalf of the Loan Parties, may from time to time enter into written agreements amending or changing any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the rights of the Lenders or the Loan Parties hereunder or thereunder, or may grant written waivers or consents hereunder or thereunder. Any such agreement, waiver or consent made with such
written consent shall be effective to bind all the Lenders and the Loan Parties; provided, that no such agreement, waiver or consent may be made which will:
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11.1.1 Increase of Commitment. Increase the amount of the Revolving Credit Commitment of any Lender hereunder without the consent of such Lender;
11.1.2 Extension of Payment; Reduction of Principal Interest or Fees; Modification of Terms of Payment. Whether or not any Loans are outstanding, extend the Expiration Date or the time for payment of principal or interest of any Loan, the Commitment Fee or any other fee payable to any Lender, or reduce the principal amount of or the rate of interest borne by any Loan or reduce the Commitment Fee or any other fee payable to any Lender, without the consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;
11.1.3 Release of Guarantor. Except in connection with sales of assets (including ownership interests in such Guarantor) permitted by Section 8.2.7 [Disposition of Assets or Subsidiaries] or Section 8.2.6 [Liquidations, Mergers, Consolidations, Acquisitions], release any Guarantor from its Obligations under the Guaranty Agreement without the consent of all Lenders (other than Defaulting Lenders); or
11.1.4 Miscellaneous. Amend Section 5.2 [Pro Rata Treatment of Lenders], 10.3 [Exculpatory Provisions] or 5.3 [Sharing of Payments by Lenders] or this Section 11.1, alter any provision regarding the pro rata treatment of the Lenders or requiring all Lenders to authorize the taking of any action or reduce any percentage specified in the definition of Required Lenders, in each case without the consent of all of the Lenders (other than Defaulting Lenders);
provided that no agreement, waiver or consent which would modify the interests, rights or obligations of the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Lender may be made without the written consent of such Administrative Agent or Issuing Lender, as applicable, and provided, further that, if in connection with any proposed waiver, amendment or modification referred to in Sections 11.1.1 through 11.1.4 above, the consent of the Required Lenders is obtained but the consent of one or more of such other Lenders whose consent is required is not obtained (each a “Non-Consenting Lender”), then the Borrower shall have the right to replace any such Non-Consenting Lender with one or more replacement Lenders pursuant to Section 5.6.2 [Replacement of a Lender].
11.2 No Implied Waivers; Cumulative Remedies. No course of dealing and no delay or failure of the Administrative Agent or any Lender in exercising any right, power, remedy or privilege under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall affect any other or future exercise thereof or operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any further exercise thereof or of any other right, power, remedy or privilege. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under this Agreement and any other Loan Documents are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies which they would otherwise have.
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11.3 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.
11.3.1 Costs and Expenses. The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent, but specifically excluding all fees and time charges and disbursements for attorneys who may be employees of the Administrative Agent), in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred by the Issuing Lender in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder, (iii) all reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Lender (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Lender, but specifically excluding all fees and time charges for attorneys who may be employees of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Lender), in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or (B) in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit, and (iv) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent’s regular employees and agents engaged periodically to perform audits of the Loan Parties’ books, records and business properties during the continuance of an Event of Default; provided, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower’s obligation to pay for fees, charges and disbursements. With respect to fees of counsel, this Section 11.3.1 shall be limited to a single counsel and, to the extent applicable, a single specialist counsel (for each relevant jurisdiction and specialization), together with, in the case of a conflict of interest, one (1) additional counsel for similarly situated parties and, to the extent applicable, one (1) additional specialist counsel for each relevant jurisdiction and specialization.
11.3.2 Indemnification by the Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender and the Issuing Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related reasonable expenses (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any outside counsel for any Indemnitee, but specifically excluding all fees and time charges and disbursements for attorneys who may be employees of any Indemnitee), incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance or nonperformance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by the Issuing Lender 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) breach of representations, warranties or covenants of the
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Borrower under the Loan Documents, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, including any such items or losses relating to or arising under Environmental Laws or pertaining to environmental matters, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto (it being agreed that the Administrative Agent shall make a good faith effort to advise such Indemnitee of any such litigation); provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (A) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or (B) result from a claim brought by the Borrower or any other Loan Party against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if the Borrower or such Loan Party has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction. This Section 11.3.2 shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim.
11.3.3 Reimbursement by Lenders. To the extent that the Borrower for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay any amount required under Sections 11.3.1 [Costs and Expenses] or 11.3.2 [Indemnification by the Borrower] to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), the Issuing Lender or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), the Issuing Lender or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s Ratable Share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount, provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or the Issuing Lender in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or Issuing Lender in connection with such capacity.
11.3.4 Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, the Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnitee referred to in Section 11.3.2 [Indemnification by Borrower] shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed by it through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.
11.3.5 Payments. All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than ten (10) days after demand therefor.
11.4 Holidays. Whenever payment of a Loan to be made or taken hereunder shall be due on a day which is not a Business Day such payment shall be due on the next Business Day
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(except as provided in Section 4.2 [Interest Periods]) and such extension of time shall be included in computing interest and fees, except that the Loans shall be due on the Business Day preceding the Expiration Date if the Expiration Date is not a Business Day. Whenever any payment or action to be made or taken hereunder (other than payment of the Loans) shall be stated to be due on a day which is not a Business Day, such payment or action shall be made or taken on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall not be included in computing interest or fees, if any, in connection with such payment or action.
11.5 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.
11.5.1 Notices Generally. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in Section 11.5.2 [Electronic Communications]), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopier (i) if to a Lender, to it at its address set forth in its administrative questionnaire, or (ii) if to any other Person, to it at its address set forth on Schedule 1.1(B).
Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by telecopier shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient). Notices delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in Section 11.5.2 [Electronic Communications], shall be effective as provided in such Section.
11.5.2 Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the Issuing Lender hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or the Issuing Lender if such Lender or the Issuing Lender, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the 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); provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.
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11.5.3 Change of Address, Etc. Any party hereto may change its address, e-mail address or telecopier number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.
11.6 Severability. The provisions of this Agreement are intended to be severable. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part in any jurisdiction, such provision shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without in any manner affecting the validity or enforceability thereof in any other jurisdiction or the remaining provisions hereof in any jurisdiction.
11.7 Duration; Survival. All representations and warranties of the Loan Parties contained herein or made in connection herewith shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the completion of the transactions hereunder and Payment In Full. All covenants and agreements of the Borrower contained herein relating to the payment of principal, interest, premiums, additional compensation or expenses and indemnification, including those set forth in the Notes, Section 5 [Payments] and Section 11.3 [Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver], shall survive Payment In Full; provided, however, notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of Section 5.8 [Increased Costs] and Section 5.9 [Taxes] shall only survive for a period of six (6) months following Payment In Full. All other covenants and agreements of the Loan Parties shall continue in full force and effect from and after the date hereof and until Payment In Full.
11.8 Successors and Assigns.
11.8.1 Successors and Assigns Generally. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.8.2 [Assignments by Lenders], (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.8.4 [Participations], or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of Section 11.8.6 [Certain Pledges; Successors and Assigns Generally] (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in Section 11.8.4 [Participations] and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.
11.8.2 Assignments by Lenders. Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:
11.8.2.1 Minimum Amounts.
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(A) in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and
(B) in any case not described in clause (i)(A) of this Section 11.8.2, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the applicable Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption Agreement with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption Agreement, as of the Trade Date) shall not be less than $5,000,000, in the case of any assignment in respect of the Revolving Credit Commitment of the assigning Lender, unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
11.8.2.2 Proportionate Amounts. Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loan or the Commitment assigned.
11.8.2.3 Required Consents. No consent shall be required for any assignment except for the consent of the Administrative Agent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) and:
(A) the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (x) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (y) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; 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 ten (10) Business Days after having received notice thereof; and
(B) the consent of the Issuing Lender (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment that increases the obligation of the assignee to participate in exposure under one or more Letters of Credit (whether or not then outstanding).
11.8.2.4 Assignment and Assumption Agreement. The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption Agreement, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500, and the assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an administrative questionnaire provided by the Administrative Agent.
11.8.2.5 No Assignment to Borrower. No such assignment shall be made to the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries.
11.8.2.6 No Assignment to Natural Persons. No such assignment shall be made to a natural person.
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Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 11.8.3 [Register], from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption Agreement, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption Agreement, 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 Agreement, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption Agreement 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 4.4 [LIBOR Rate Unascertainable; Etc.], 5.8 [Increased Costs], and 11.3 [Expenses, Indemnity; Damage Waiver] with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 11.8.2 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with Section 11.8.4 [Participations].
11.8.3 Register. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain a record of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time. Such register shall be conclusive, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is in such register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. Such register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.
11.8.4 Participations. Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person or the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans 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 Lenders, and the Issuing Lender 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 (other than as is already provided for herein) to any amendment, modification or waiver with respect to Sections 11.1.1 [Increase of Commitment], 11.1.2 [Extension of Payment, Etc.], or 11.1.3 [Release of Guarantor]) that affects such Participant. The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 4.4 [Libor Rate Unascertainable, Etc.], 5.8 [Increased Costs], 5.10 [Indemnity] and 5.9 [Taxes] (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 5.9.7 [Status
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of Lenders] (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 5.9.7 [Status of Lenders] shall be delivered to the participating Lender, and such participating Lender shall be required to forward such documentation to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section 11.8.2 [Assignments by Lenders]; provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Section 5.6.2 [Replacement of a Lender] as if it were an assignee under Section 11.8.2 [Assignments by Lenders]; and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 5.8 [Increased Costs] or 5.9 [Taxes], 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. Each Lender that sells a participation agrees, at the Borrower’s request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrower to effectuate the provisions of Section 5.6.2 [Replacement of a Lender] with respect to any Participant. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 9.2.3 [Set-off] as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 5.3 [Sharing of Payments by Lenders] as though it were a Lender. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.
11.8.5 Certain Pledges; Successors and Assigns Generally. Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.
11.9 Confidentiality.
11.9.1 General. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Lender agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information, except that Information may be disclosed (i) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates’ respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors and other representatives (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (ii) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it (including any self-regulatory
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authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (iii) to the extent required by applicable Laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (iv) to any other party hereto, (v) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (vi) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (A) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (B) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Borrower and its obligations, (vii) with the consent of the Borrower or (viii) to the extent such Information (Y) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 11.9.1 or (Z) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the Issuing Lender or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower or the other Loan Parties and not otherwise in violation of this Section 11.9.1, provided such source does not, to the knowledge of the Administrative Agent, a Lender, the Issuing Lender or any of their respective Affiliates, as applicable, have an obligation of confidentiality to the Borrower or the other Loan Parties. 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.
11.9.2 Sharing Information With Affiliates of the Lenders. Each Loan Party acknowledges that from time to time financial advisory, investment banking and other services may be offered or provided to the Borrower or one or more of its Affiliates (in connection with this Agreement or otherwise) by any Lender or by one or more Subsidiaries or Affiliates of such Lender and each of the Loan Parties hereby authorizes each Lender to share any information delivered to such Lender by such Loan Party and its Subsidiaries pursuant to this Agreement with any such Subsidiary or Affiliate, it being understood that any such Subsidiary or Affiliate of any Lender receiving such information shall be bound by the provisions of Section 11.9.1 [General] as if it were a Lender hereunder.
11.10 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness.
11.10.1 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents, 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 including any prior confidentiality agreements and commitments. Except as provided in Section 7 [Conditions Of Lending And Issuance Of Letters Of Credit], this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy or e-mail shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
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11.11 CHOICE OF LAW; SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF VENUE; SERVICE OF PROCESS; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.
11.11.1 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be deemed to be a contract under the Laws of the State of Ohio without regard to its conflict of laws principles. Each Standby Letter of Credit issued under this Agreement shall be subject either to the rules of the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, as most recently published by the International Chamber of Commerce (the “ICC”) at the time of issuance (“UCP”) or the rules of the International Standby Practices (ICC Publication Number 590) (“ISP98”), as determined by the Issuing Lender, and each Commercial Letter of Credit shall be subject to UCP, and in each case to the extent not inconsistent therewith, the Laws of the State of Ohio without regard to is conflict of laws principles.
11.11.2 SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. THE BORROWER AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF OHIO SITTING IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH OHIO STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER OR THE ISSUING LENDER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST THE BORROWER OR ANY OTHER LOAN PARTY OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.
11.11.3 WAIVER OF VENUE. THE BORROWER AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN THIS SECTION 11.11. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT AND AGREES NOT ASSERT ANY SUCH DEFENSE.
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11.11.4 SERVICE OF PROCESS. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 11.5 [NOTICES; EFFECTIVENESS; ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION]. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.
11.11.5 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
11.12 USA Patriot Act Notice. Each Lender that is subject to the USA Patriot Act and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies Loan Parties that pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Loan Parties, which information includes the name and address of Loan Parties and other information that will allow such Lender or Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Loan Parties in accordance with the USA Patriot Act.
[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]
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[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto, by their officers thereunto duly authorized, have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
XXX XXXXX FARMS, INC., an Ohio corporation | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |
Title: | Vice President and Corporate Controller |
XXX XXXXX FARMS, INC., a Delaware corporation | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |
Title: | Vice President and Corporate Controller |
MIMI’S CAFÉ, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |
Title: | Assistant Treasurer |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT]
PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, | ||
individually and as Administrative Agent | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx | |
Title: | Senior Vice President |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT]
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., individually | ||
and as Syndication Agent | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |
Title: | Authorized Officer |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT]
BANK OF AMERICA N.A., individually and as Co-Documentation Agent | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||||
Title: | Vice President |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT]
FIFTH THIRD BANK, individually and as Co-Documentation Agent | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT]
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||||
Title: | Vice President |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT]
THE HUNTINGTON NATIONAL BANK | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | Xxxx Xxxxxx | |||||
Title: | Senior Vice President |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT]
XXXXX FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | Xxxxxxx Xxxx | |||||
Title: | Managing Director |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT]
THE OHIO VALLEY BANK COMPANY | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxx | |||||
Title: | Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer |