Exhibit 10.2
EXECUTION VERSION
$100,000,000
CREDIT AGREEMENT
dated as of October 31, 2016,
by and among
CLEARWATER PAPER CORPORATION,
as Borrower,
the Lenders referred to herein,
and
NORTHWEST FARM CREDIT SERVICES, PCA,
as Administrative Agent,
Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Bookrunner
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS | 1 | |||||
Section 1.1 | Definitions | 1 | ||||
Section 1.2 | Other Definitions and Provisions | 29 | ||||
Section 1.3 | Accounting Terms | 29 | ||||
Section 1.4 | UCC Terms | 30 | ||||
Section 1.5 | Rounding | 30 | ||||
Section 1.6 | References to Agreement and Laws | 30 | ||||
Section 1.7 | Times of Day | 30 | ||||
Section 1.8 | Reserved | 30 | ||||
Section 1.9 | Guarantees | 30 | ||||
Section 1.10 | Covenant Compliance Generally | 30 | ||||
ARTICLE II. REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY | 31 | |||||
Section 2.1 | Revolving Credit Loans | 31 | ||||
Section 2.2 | Reserved | 31 | ||||
Section 2.3 | Procedure for Advances of Revolving Credit Loans | 31 | ||||
Section 2.4 | Repayment and Prepayment of Revolving Credit | 32 | ||||
Section 2.5 | Permanent Reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitment | 33 | ||||
Section 2.6 | Termination of Revolving Credit Facility | 33 | ||||
ARTICLE III. RESERVED | 34 | |||||
ARTICLE IV. GENERAL LOAN PROVISIONS | 34 | |||||
Section 4.1 | Interest | 34 | ||||
Section 4.2 | Notice and Manner of Conversion or Continuation of Loans | 35 | ||||
Section 4.3 | Fees | 36 | ||||
Section 4.4 | Manner of Payment | 36 | ||||
Section 4.5 | Evidence of Indebtedness | 36 | ||||
Section 4.6 | Sharing of Payments by Lenders | 37 | ||||
Section 4.7 | Administrative Agent’s Clawback | 37 | ||||
Section 4.8 | Changed Circumstances | 38 | ||||
Section 4.9 | Indemnity | 39 | ||||
Section 4.10 | Increased Costs | 39 | ||||
Section 4.11 | Taxes | 41 | ||||
Section 4.12 | Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders | 45 | ||||
Section 4.13 | Incremental Loans | 46 | ||||
Section 4.14 | Reserved | 49 | ||||
Section 4.15 | Defaulting Lenders | 49 | ||||
Section 4.16 | Capital Plans | 51 | ||||
ARTICLE V. CONDITIONS OF CLOSING AND BORROWING | 51 | |||||
Section 5.1 | Conditions to Closing and Initial Extensions of Credit | 51 | ||||
Section 5.2 | Conditions to All Extensions of Credit | 55 | ||||
ARTICLE VI. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE CREDIT PARTIES | 56 | |||||
Section 6.1 | Organization; Power; Qualification | 56 | ||||
Section 6.2 | Ownership | 56 |
i
Section 6.3 | Authorization; Enforceability | 57 | ||||
Section 6.4 | Compliance of Agreement, Loan Documents and Borrowing with Laws, Etc | 57 | ||||
Section 6.5 | Compliance with Law; Governmental Approvals | 57 | ||||
Section 6.6 | Tax Returns and Payments | 57 | ||||
Section 6.7 | Intellectual Property Matters | 58 | ||||
Section 6.8 | Environmental Matters | 58 | ||||
Section 6.9 | Employee Benefit Matters | 59 | ||||
Section 6.10 | Margin Stock | 60 | ||||
Section 6.11 | Government Regulation | 60 | ||||
Section 6.12 | Employee Relations | 60 | ||||
Section 6.13 | Financial Statements | 60 | ||||
Section 6.14 | No Material Adverse Effect | 60 | ||||
Section 6.15 | Solvency | 60 | ||||
Section 6.16 | Title to Properties | 61 | ||||
Section 6.17 | Litigation | 61 | ||||
Section 6.18 | Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions | 61 | ||||
Section 6.19 | Absence of Defaults | 61 | ||||
Section 6.20 | Senior Indebtedness Status | 61 | ||||
Section 6.21 | Disclosure | 61 | ||||
ARTICLE VII. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS | 62 | |||||
Section 7.1 | Financial Statements and Budgets | 62 | ||||
Section 7.2 | Certificates; Other Reports | 63 | ||||
Section 7.3 | Notice of Litigation and Other Matters | 64 | ||||
Section 7.4 | Preservation of Corporate Existence and Related Matters | 64 | ||||
Section 7.5 | Maintenance of Property and Licenses | 65 | ||||
Section 7.6 | Insurance | 65 | ||||
Section 7.7 | Accounting Methods and Financial Records | 65 | ||||
Section 7.8 | Payment of Taxes and Other Obligations | 65 | ||||
Section 7.9 | Compliance with Laws and Approvals | 65 | ||||
Section 7.10 | Environmental Laws | 66 | ||||
Section 7.11 | Compliance with ERISA | 66 | ||||
Section 7.12 | Visits and Inspections | 66 | ||||
Section 7.13 | Additional Subsidiaries | 66 | ||||
Section 7.14 | Use of Proceeds | 68 | ||||
Section 7.15 | Compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions | 68 | ||||
Section 7.16 | Further Assurances | 68 | ||||
Section 7.17 | Farm Credit Equity | 68 | ||||
Section 7.18 | Timber and Cutting Rights Agreements | 69 | ||||
Section 7.19 | Post-Closing Matters | 69 | ||||
ARTICLE VIII. NEGATIVE COVENANTS | 69 | |||||
Section 8.1 | Indebtedness | 69 | ||||
Section 8.2 | Liens | 71 | ||||
Section 8.3 | Investments | 73 | ||||
Section 8.4 | Fundamental Changes | 75 | ||||
Section 8.5 | Asset Dispositions | 76 | ||||
Section 8.6 | Restricted Payments | 77 | ||||
Section 8.7 | Transactions with Affiliates | 78 | ||||
Section 8.8 | Accounting Changes; Organizational Documents | 78 |
ii
Section 8.9 | Payments and Modifications of Subordinated Indebtedness | 78 | ||||
Section 8.10 | No Further Negative Pledges; Restrictive Agreements | 79 | ||||
Section 8.11 | Nature of Business | 80 | ||||
Section 8.12 | Sale Leasebacks | 80 | ||||
Section 8.13 | Financial Covenants | 80 | ||||
Section 8.14 | Disposal of Subsidiary Interests | 81 | ||||
ARTICLE IX. DEFAULT AND REMEDIES | 81 | |||||
Section 9.1 | Events of Default | 81 | ||||
Section 9.2 | Remedies | 83 | ||||
Section 9.3 | Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Non-Waiver; etc | 83 | ||||
Section 9.4 | Crediting of Payments and Proceeds | 84 | ||||
Section 9.5 | Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim | 85 | ||||
Section 9.6 | Credit Bidding | 85 | ||||
Section 9.7 | Lender Action | 86 | ||||
Section 9.8 | Intercreditor Agreement | 86 | ||||
ARTICLE X. THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT | 86 | |||||
Section 10.1 | Appointment and Authority | 86 | ||||
Section 10.2 | Rights as a Lender | 87 | ||||
Section 10.3 | Exculpatory Provisions | 87 | ||||
Section 10.4 | Reliance by the Administrative Agent | 88 | ||||
Section 10.5 | Delegation of Duties | 88 | ||||
Section 10.6 | Resignation of Administrative Agent | 88 | ||||
Section 10.7 | Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders | 89 | ||||
Section 10.8 | No Other Duties, Etc | 89 | ||||
Section 10.9 | Collateral and Guaranty Matters | 90 | ||||
Section 10.10 | Secured Hedge Agreements and Secured Cash Management Agreements | 91 | ||||
ARTICLE XI. MISCELLANEOUS | 91 | |||||
Section 11.1 | Notices | 91 | ||||
Section 11.2 | Amendments, Waivers and Consents | 93 | ||||
Section 11.3 | Expenses; Indemnity | 95 | ||||
Section 11.4 | Right of Setoff | 97 | ||||
Section 11.5 | Governing Law; Jurisdiction, Etc | 98 | ||||
Section 11.6 | Waiver of Jury Trial | 99 | ||||
Section 11.7 | Reversal of Payments | 99 | ||||
Section 11.8 | Successors and Assigns; Participations | 99 | ||||
Section 11.9 | Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality | 104 | ||||
Section 11.10 | Performance of Duties | 105 | ||||
Section 11.11 | All Powers Coupled with Interest | 105 | ||||
Section 11.12 | Survival | 105 | ||||
Section 11.13 | Titles and Captions | 105 | ||||
Section 11.14 | Severability of Provisions | 106 | ||||
Section 11.15 | Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution | 106 | ||||
Section 11.16 | Term of Agreement | 106 | ||||
Section 11.17 | USA PATRIOT Act | 106 | ||||
Section 11.18 | Independent Effect of Covenants | 106 | ||||
Section 11.19 | No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility | 107 | ||||
Section 11.20 | Inconsistencies with Other Documents | 107 | ||||
Section 11.21 | Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions | 108 |
iii
EXHIBITS | ||||||
Exhibit A | - | Form of Revolving Credit Note | ||||
Exhibit B | - | Form of Notice of Borrowing | ||||
Exhibit C | - | Form of Notice of Account Designation | ||||
Exhibit D | - | Form of Notice of Prepayment | ||||
Exhibit E | - | Form of Notice of Conversion/Continuation | ||||
Exhibit F | - | Form of Officer’s Compliance Certificate | ||||
Exhibit G | - | Form of Assignment and Assumption | ||||
Exhibit H-1 | - | Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (Non-Partnership Foreign Lenders) | ||||
Exhibit H-2 | - | Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (Non-Partnership Foreign Participants) | ||||
Exhibit H-3 | - | Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (Foreign Participant Partnerships) | ||||
Exhibit H-4 | - | Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (Foreign Lender Partnerships) | ||||
SCHEDULES | ||||||
Schedule 1.1(a) | - | Fixed Rate Schedule | ||||
Schedule 1.1(b) | - | Commitments and Commitment Percentages | ||||
Schedule 6.1 | - | Jurisdictions of Organization | ||||
Schedule 6.2 | - | Subsidiaries and Capitalization | ||||
Schedule 6.9 | - | ERISA Plans | ||||
Schedule 6.12 | - | Labor and Collective Bargaining Agreements | ||||
Schedule 6.17 | - | Litigation | ||||
Schedule 7.19 | - | Post-Closing Matters | ||||
Schedule 8.1 | - | Existing Indebtedness | ||||
Schedule 8.2 | - | Existing Liens | ||||
Schedule 8.3 | - | Existing Loans, Advances and Investments | ||||
Schedule 8.7 | - | Transactions with Affiliates | ||||
Schedule 11.8(d) | - | Voting Participant Schedule |
iv
CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of October 31, 2016, by and among CLEARWATER PAPER CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation, as Borrower, the lenders who are party to this Agreement and the lenders who may become a party to this Agreement pursuant to the terms hereof, as Lenders, and NORTHWEST FARM CREDIT SERVICES, PCA, a federally chartered production credit association, as Administrative Agent for the Lenders.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
The Borrower has requested, and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders have agreed to extend, certain credit facilities to the Borrower.
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by the parties hereto, such parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1Definitions. The following terms when used in this Agreement shall have the meanings assigned to them below:
“Acquisition” means any transaction, or any series of related transactions, consummated on or after the date of this Agreement, by which any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries (a) acquires all or substantially all of the assets of any Person, or any division or line of business thereof, whether through the purchase of assets, merger or otherwise or (b) acquires (in one transaction or as the most recent transaction in a series of transactions) all of the securities of a corporation which have ordinary voting power for the election of directors (other than securities having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) or all of the outstanding ownership interests of a partnership or limited liability company.
“Administrative Agent” means NWFCS, in its capacity as Administrative Agent hereunder, and any successor thereto appointed pursuant toSection 10.6.
“Administrative Agent’s Office” means the office of the Administrative Agent specified in or determined in accordance with the provisions ofSection 11.1(c).
“Administrative Questionnaire” means an administrative questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to a specified Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.
“Agreement” means this Credit Agreement.
“Anti-Corruption Laws” means all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption, including the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.
“Applicable Law” means all applicable provisions of constitutions, laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, treaties, regulations, permits, licenses, approvals, interpretations and orders of Governmental Authorities and all orders and decrees of all courts and arbitrators.
“Applicable Margin” means the corresponding percentages per annum as set forth below based on the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio:
Pricing Level | Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio | Commitment Fee | LIBOR + | Base Rate + | Fixed Rate + | |||||||||||||
I | Less than 2.00 to 1.00 | 0.20% | 1.50% | 0.50% | 1.50% | |||||||||||||
II | Greater than or equal to 2.00 to 1.00, but less than 3.00 to 1.00 | 0.25% | 1.75% | 0.75% | 1.75% | |||||||||||||
III | Greater than or equal to 3.00 to 1.00, but less than 4.00 to 1.00 | 0.30% | 2.00% | 1.00% | 2.00% | |||||||||||||
IV | Greater than or equal to 4.00 to 1.00 | 0.35% | 2.25% | 1.25% | 2.25% |
The Applicable Margin shall be determined and adjusted quarterly on the date five Business Days after the day on which the Borrower provides an Officer’s Compliance Certificate pursuant toSection 7.2(a) for the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower (each such date, a “Calculation Date”);provided that (a) the Applicable Margin shall be based on Pricing Level II until the first Calculation Date occurring after the Closing Date and, thereafter the Pricing Level shall be determined by reference to the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower preceding the applicable Calculation Date, and (b) if the Borrower fails to provide an Officer’s Compliance Certificate when due as required bySection 7.2(a) for the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower preceding the applicable Calculation Date, the Applicable Margin from the date on which such Officer’s Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered shall be based on Pricing Level IV until such time as such Officer’s Compliance Certificate is delivered, at which time the Pricing Level shall be determined by reference to the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower preceding such Calculation Date. The applicable Pricing Level shall be effective from one Calculation Date until the next Calculation Date. Any adjustment in the Pricing Level shall be applicable to all Extensions of Credit then existing or subsequently made or issued.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any financial statement or Officer’s Compliance Certificate delivered pursuant toSection 7.1 or7.2(a) is shown to be inaccurate (regardless of whether (i) this Agreement is in effect, (ii) any Commitments are in effect, or (iii) any Extension of Credit is outstanding when such inaccuracy is discovered or such financial statement or Officer’s Compliance Certificate was delivered), and such inaccuracy, if corrected, would have led to the application of a higher Applicable Margin for any period (an “Applicable Period”) than the Applicable Margin applied for such Applicable Period, then (A) the Borrower shall promptly deliver to the Administrative Agent a corrected Officer’s Compliance Certificate for such Applicable Period, (B) the Applicable Margin for such Applicable Period shall be determined as if the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio in the corrected
2
Officer’s Compliance Certificate were applicable for such Applicable Period, and (C) the Borrower shall immediately and retroactively be obligated to pay to the Administrative Agent the accrued additional interest and fees owing as a result of such increased Applicable Margin for such Applicable Period, which payment shall be promptly applied by the Administrative Agent in accordance withSection 4.4. Nothing in this paragraph shall limit the rights of the Administrative Agent and Lenders with respect toSections 4.1(b) and9.2 nor any of their other rights under this Agreement or any other Loan Document. The Borrower’s obligations under this paragraph shall survive for 270 days after the termination of the Commitments and the repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.
“Approved Fund” means any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.
“Arranger” means NWFCS, in its capacity as sole lead arranger and sole bookrunner.
“Asset Disposition” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition of any Property (including any disposition of Equity Interests) by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof and any issuance of Equity Interests by any Subsidiary of the Borrowerto any Person that is not a Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof. The term “Asset Disposition” shall not include (a) the sale of inventory in the ordinary course of business, (b) the transfer of assets pursuant to any other transaction permitted pursuant toSection 8.4, (c) the write-off, discount, sale or other disposition of defaulted or past-due receivables and similar obligations in the ordinary course of business and not undertaken as part of an accounts receivable financing transaction, (d) the disposition of any Hedge Agreement, (e) dispositions of Investments in cash and Cash Equivalents, (f) the transfer by any Credit Party of its assets to any other Credit Party, (g) the transfer by any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary of its assets to any Credit Party (provided that in connection with any new transfer, such Credit Party shall not pay more than an amount equal to the fair market value of such assets as determined in good faith at the time of such transfer), (h) the transfer by any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary of its assets to any other Non-Guarantor Subsidiary or (i) Asset Dispositions of “margin stock” (as defined in Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System).
“Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required bySection 11.8), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form attached asExhibit G or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.
“Attributable Indebtedness” means, on any date of determination, (a) in respect of any Capital Lease Obligation of any Person, the capitalized amount thereof that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP, and (b) in respect of any Synthetic Lease, the capitalized amount or principal amount of the remaining lease payments under the relevant lease that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP if such lease were accounted for as a Capital Lease Obligation.
“Available Free Cash Flow Amount” means an amount equal to, initially, $15,000,000plus:
(a) 50% of Consolidated Free Cash Flow for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters most recently ended prior to the date of a proposed Restricted Payment pursuant toSection 8.6(d) or payment of Subordinated Debt pursuant toSection 8.9(b)(iv) (such date, the “Reference Date”), and for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant toSection 7.1,minus
3
(b) any Restricted Payments made utilizing a portion of the Available Free Cash Flow Amount pursuant toSection 8.6(d) or payment of Subordinated Debt pursuant toSection 8.9(b)(iv) made utilizing all or a portion of the Available Free Cash Flow Amount during the current fiscal quarter and the preceding three fiscal quarters (and for purposes of this clause (b), without taking into account the intended usage of the Available Free Cash Flow Amount on such Reference Date in the contemplated transaction).
“Bail-In Action” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable EEA Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an EEA Financial Institution.
“Bail-In Legislation” means, with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.
“Base Rate” means, at any time, the highest of (a) the Prime Rate, (b) the Federal Funds Rateplus 0.50% and (c) LIBOR for an Interest Period of one monthplus 1%; each change in the Base Rate shall take effect simultaneously with the corresponding change or changes in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Rate or LIBOR (provided thatclause (c) shall not be applicable during any period in which LIBOR is unavailable or unascertainable).
��Base Rate Loan” means any Loan bearing interest at a rate based upon the Base Rate as provided inSection 4.1(a).
“Borrower” means Clearwater Paper Corporation, a Delaware corporation.
“Borrower Materials” has the meaning assigned thereto inSection 7.2.
“Business Day” means (a) for all purposes other than as set forth in clause (b) below, any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday on which banks in New York, New York, are open for the conduct of their commercial banking business and (b) with respect to all notices and determinations in connection with, and payments of principal and interest on, any LIBOR Rate Loan, or any Base Rate Loan as to which the interest rate is determined by reference to LIBOR, any day that is a Business Day described in clause (a) and that is also a London Banking Day.
“Calculation Date” has the meaning assigned thereto in the definition of Applicable Margin.
“Capital Expenditures” means, with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis, for any period, the additions to property, plant and equipment and other capital expenditures that are (or would be) set forth in a consolidated statement of cash flows of such Person for such period prepared in accordance with GAAP, but excluding (a) expenditures for the restoration, upgrade, repair or replacement of any fixed or capital asset which was destroyed or damaged, in whole or in part, to the extent financed by the proceeds of an insurance policy maintained by such Person, indemnity payments, condemnation or similar awards (or payments in lieu thereof) or other settlements relating to any damage, loss, destruction or condemnation of such property, (b) constituting reinvestment of the net cash proceeds of any Asset Disposition (without giving effect to the second sentence of the definition of Asset Disposition) and (c) constituting the purchase price of equipment that is purchased simultaneously with the trade in or sale of existing equipment.
4
“Capital Lease Obligations” of any Person means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.
“Cash Equivalents” means, collectively, (a) marketable direct obligations issued or unconditionally guaranteed by the United States or any agency thereof maturing within twelve months from the date of acquisition thereof, (b) commercial paper maturing no more than 270 days from the date of creation thereof and currently having the highest rating obtainable from either S&P or Moody’s, (c) certificates of deposit and time deposits maturing no more than twelve months from the date of creation thereof issued by commercial banks incorporated under the laws of the United States, each having combined capital, surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000 and having a rating of “A” or better by a nationally recognized rating agency, (d) any repurchase agreement entered into with any bank meeting the qualifications specified in clause (c) so long as the repurchase obligations of such bank under such repurchase agreement are fully secured by a perfected security interest in a security or instrument of the type described in clause (a), (b) or (c) above; or (e) shares of any money market mutual fund that: (i) has at least 95% of its assets invested continuously in the types of investments referred to in clauses (a) and (b) above; (ii) has net assets of not less than $500,000,000; and (iii) has the highest rating obtainable from either S&P or Moody’s.
“Cash Management Agreement” means any agreement to provide cash management services, including treasury, depository, overdraft, credit or debit card (including non-card electronic payables), electronic funds transfer and other cash management arrangements.
“Cash Management Bank” means any Person that, (a) at the time it enters into a Cash Management Agreement with a Credit Party, is a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, the Administrative Agent or an Affiliate of the Administrative Agent, or (b) at the time it (or its Affiliate) becomes a Lender (including on the Closing Date), is a party to a Cash Management Agreement with a Credit Party, in each case in its capacity as a party to such Cash Management Agreement.
“Change in Control” means an event or series of events by which:
(a) any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person or its Subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that a “person” or “group” shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all Equity Interests that such “person” or “group” has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time (such right, an “option right”)), directly or indirectly, of more than 35% of the Equity Interests of the Borrower entitled to vote in the election of members of the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) of the Borrower; or
(b) there shall have occurred under any indenture or other instrument evidencing any Indebtedness for borrowed money in excess of $30,000,000 any “change in control” or similar provision (as set forth in the indenture, agreement or other evidence of such Indebtedness) obligating the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or repay all or any part of the Indebtedness provided for therein.
“Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive
5
(whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority;provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (ii) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.
“Class” means, when used in reference to any Loan, whether such Loan is a Revolving Credit Loan or Term Loan and, when used in reference to any Commitment, whether such Commitment is a Revolving Credit Commitment or a Term Loan Commitment.
“Closing Date” means the date of this Agreement.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Collateral” means the collateral security for the Secured Obligations pledged or granted pursuant to the Security Documents (for the avoidance of doubt, excluding in all cases, the Excluded Assets (as defined in the Collateral Agreement)).
“Collateral Agreement” means the collateral agreement of even date herewith executed by the Credit Parties in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, which shall be in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent.
“Commercial Bank Agent” means the “Administrative Agent” as defined in the Commercial Bank Facility.
“Commercial Bank Secured Cash Management Agreement” means any “Secured Cash Management Agreement” as defined in the Commercial Bank Facility.
“Commercial Bank Facility” means the Credit Agreement dated as of the date hereof among the Borrower, Commercial Bank Agent, and the lenders from time to time party thereto, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement.
“Commercial Bank Increase” means the incurrence by any Credit Party of Incremental Loans or Incremental Loan Commitments under Section 4.13 of the Commercial Bank Facility, as in effect on the date hereof, or as amended, restated, supplemented or modified in accordance with the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement.
“Commercial Bank Incremental Lender” means an “Incremental Lender” as defined in the Commercial Bank Facility.
“Commercial Bank Incremental Term Loan” means an “Incremental Term Loan” as defined in the Commercial Bank Facility.
“Commercial Bank Revolving Credit Loan” means a “Revolving Credit Loan” as defined in the Commercial Bank Facility.
“Commitment Fee” has the meaning assigned thereto inSection 4.3(a).
6
“Commitment Percentage” means, as to any Lender, such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage or Term Loan Percentage, as applicable.
“Commitments” means, collectively, as to all Lenders, the Revolving Credit Commitments and the Term Loan Commitments of such Lenders.
“Commodity Exchange Act” means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.).
“Connection Income Taxes” means Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes.
“Consolidated” means, when used with reference to financial statements or financial statement items of any Person, such statements or items on a consolidated basis in accordance with applicable principles of consolidation under GAAP.
“Consolidated EBIT” means, for any period, (a) Consolidated EBITDA for such periodminus (b) the amount added back in determining Consolidated EBITDA for such period for amortization and depreciation. For purposes of this Agreement, Consolidated EBIT shall be adjusted on a Pro Forma Basis.
“Consolidated EBITDA” means, for any period, the sum of the following determined on a Consolidated basis, without duplication, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP: (a) Consolidated Net Income for such periodplus (b) the sum of the following, without duplication, to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period: (i) income and franchise taxes, (ii) Consolidated Interest Expense, (iii) amortization, depreciation, non-cash expenses related to stock based compensation or awards, non-cash charges relating to the impairment or write down of good will and other non-cash charges (except to the extent that any such non-cash charges are reserved for cash charges to be taken in the future), (iv) extraordinary losses (excluding extraordinary losses from discontinued or shuttered operations), (v) recurring cash-charges from discontinued operations, which together with the amounts added to Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to clause (viii) below do not exceed 10% of Consolidated EBITDA in any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters (calculated without giving effect to this clause (v) or clause (viii) below) or $95,000,000 over any period of five consecutive fiscal years, (vi) Transaction Costs, (vii) any non-recurring, non-capitalized costs in connection with financings, acquisitions, dispositions, debt or equity financings or the establishment of joint ventures, strategic alliances or similar arrangements during such period (including financing and refinancing fees and any premium or penalty paid in connection with redeeming or retiring indebtedness prior to its stated maturity pursuant to the agreements or instruments governing such indebtedness), in each case as permitted by the Loan Documents), and (viii) cash restructuring charges or reserves and business optimization expenses, and other non-recurring restructuring, integration, start-up and other similar costs in connection with any acquisition, disposition or restructuring initiative, including costs related to the closure and/or consolidation of facilities owned or leased by the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries, retention, recruiting, relocation, severance and signing bonuses and expenses, one-time consulting fees and any one-time expenses relating to enhanced accounting function, or any other costs incurred in connection with any of the foregoing, in an aggregate for all amounts added to Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to this clause (viii) and clause (v) above that does not exceed 10% of Consolidated EBITDA in any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters (calculated without giving effect to this clause (viii) or clause (v) above) or $95,000,000 over any period of five consecutive fiscal years, less (c) the sum of the following, without duplication, to the extent included in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period: (i) interest income, (ii) any extraordinary gains, (iii) non-cash gains or non-cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income and (iv) income or gains from the early extinguishment of Indebtedness. For purposes of this Agreement, Consolidated EBITDA shall be adjusted on a Pro Forma Basis.
7
“Consolidated First Lien Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) (i) Consolidated Total Indebtedness on such date which is secured by a first priority Lien on any Property of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries (it being agreed that any Lien securing Consolidated Total Indebtedness that is not contractually subordinated to the Liens created under the Loan Documents constitutes a first priority Lien) (which calculation shall assume that all commitments under the Credit Facility (including any Revolving Credit Commitments and proposed Incremental Loan Commitments) and under the Commercial Bank Facility (including any revolving commitments and any proposed Commercial Bank Increase) are fully drawn),minus (ii) all unrestricted domestic cash and Cash Equivalents on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of such date that are free and clear of all Liens and encumbrances (excluding Liens described inSection 8.2(k)), excluding the proceeds of any proposed Incremental Loans, Incremental Loan Commitments or Commercial Bank Increases to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the most recent period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on or prior to such date for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant toSection 7.1(a) or7.1(b).
“Consolidated Free Cash Flow” means, for any period, Consolidated EBITDA for such period,minus the sum of the following for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries: (a) Consolidated Interest Expense paid in cash during such period, (b) income and franchise taxes paid in cash during such period, (c) scheduled payments of principal on Indebtedness for borrowed money and Capital Lease Obligations paid during such period, and (d) the greater of (i) $50,000,000 and (ii) Capital Expenditures for maintenance purposes during such period.
“Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBIT for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on or immediately prior to such date to (b) Consolidated Interest Expense for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on or immediately prior to such date
“Consolidated Interest Expense” means, for any period, on a Consolidated basis, without duplication, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, interest expense (including interest expense attributable to Capital Lease Obligations and all net payment obligations pursuant to Hedge Agreements) for such period.
“Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, the net income (or loss) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a Consolidated basis, without duplication, in accordance with GAAP;provided that, in calculating Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for any period, there shall be excluded (a) the net income (or loss) of any Person (other than a Subsidiary which shall be subject to clause (c) below), in which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries has a joint interest with a third party, except to the extent such net income is actually paid in cash to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries by dividend or other distribution during such period, (b) the net income (or loss) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or is merged into or consolidated with the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or that Person’s assets are acquired by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries except to the extent included pursuant to the foregoing clause (a) or included in connection with a calculation on a Pro Forma Basis permitted hereunder, and (c) the net income (if positive), of any Subsidiary to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Subsidiary to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of such net income is not at the time permitted by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to such Subsidiary and (d) any gain or loss from Asset Dispositions during such period.
“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means, as of any date of determination, (a) the total assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis (without duplication),minus (b) all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents, copyrights and other intangible property classified as intangible in accordance with GAAP.
8
“Consolidated Total Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis without duplication, the sum of (i) all Attributable Indebtedness with respect to Capital Lease Obligations and Synthetic Lease Obligations, (ii) obligations to pay the deferred purchase price payable (if any) in connection with any Permitted Acquisition, (iii) Indebtedness for borrowed money, (iv) obligations with respect to letters of credit to the extent drawn and not reimbursed, (v) obligations in respect of Disqualified Equity Interests and (vi) Guarantees in respect of the foregoing (excluding, to the extent otherwise included therein, any Indebtedness in respect of letters of credit unless such letters of credit have been drawn and not reimbursed).
“Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) (i) Consolidated Total Indebtedness on such date less (ii) all unrestricted domestic cash and Cash Equivalents on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of such date that are free and clear of all Liens and encumbrances (excluding any Liens described inSection 8.2(k)) to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on or immediately prior to such date.
“Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.
“Credit Facility” means, collectively, the Revolving Credit Facility and the Term Loan Facility, if any.
“Credit Parties” means, collectively, the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors.
“Debt Issuance” means the issuance of any Indebtedness for borrowed money by any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries.
“Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States of America, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect.
“Default” means any of the events specified inSection 9.1 which with the passage of time, the giving of notice or any other condition, would constitute an Event of Default.
“Defaulting Lender” means, subject toSection 4.15(b), any Lender that (a) has failed to (i) fund all or any portion of the Revolving Credit Loans or any Term Loan required to be funded by it hereunder within two Business Days of the date such Loans or participations were required to be funded hereunder unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) pay to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within two Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Borrower or the Administrative Agent in writing that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations hereunder, or has made a public statement to that effect (unless such writing or public statement relates to such Lender’s obligation to fund a Loan hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lender’s determination that a condition precedent to funding (which condition precedent,
9
together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing or public statement) cannot be satisfied), (c) has failed, within three Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent or the Borrower, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder (provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower), (d) has become the subject of a Bail-in Action or has a direct or indirect parent company that has become the subject of a Bail-in Action or (e) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or (ii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the FDIC or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity;provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any equity interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender. Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under any one or more of clauses (a) through (d) above shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject toSection 4.15(b)) upon delivery of written notice of such determination to the Borrower and each Lender.
“Defaulting Voting Participant” means any Participant who would be a Defaulting Lender but for such Participant’s status as a Participant, including, by way of example, in the event a Participant failed to fund any of its participation obligations or pay any amount required to be paid by it in connection with such participation obligation, in each such example with respect to amounts owed by the Lender that sold the participation pursuant to the Loan Documents.
“Disqualified Equity Interests” means any Equity Interests that, by their terms (or by the terms of any security or other Equity Interest into which they are convertible or for which they are exchangeable) or upon the happening of any event or condition, (a) mature or are mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests), pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise (except as a result of a change of control or asset sale so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale event shall be subject to the prior repayment in full of the Loans and all other Obligations that are accrued and payable and the termination of the Commitments), (b) are redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests) (except as a result of a change of control or asset sale so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale event shall be subject to the prior repayment in full of the Loans and all other Obligations that are accrued and payable and the termination of the Commitments), in whole or in part, (c) provide for the scheduled payment of dividends in cash or (d) are or become convertible into or exchangeable for Indebtedness or any other Equity Interests that would constitute Disqualified Equity Interests, in each case, prior to the date that is 91 days after the Latest Maturity Date;provided that if such Equity Interests is issued pursuant to a plan, agreement or similar arrangement for the benefit of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan, agreement or similar arrangement to officers, directors or employees, such Equity Interests shall not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests solely because they may be required to be repurchased by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or upon a change of control or termination of employment or service.
“Dollars” or “$” means, unless otherwise qualified, dollars in lawful currency of the United States.
10
“Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary organized under the laws of any political subdivision of the United States;provided that any First Tier Foreign Subsidiary that is disregarded for U.S. federal income tax purposes shall be deemed to be a Domestic Subsidiary so long as such Subsidiary constitutes a disregarded entity.
“EEA Financial Institution” means (a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent;
“EEA Member Country” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
“EEA Resolution Authority” means any public administrative authority or any person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.
“Eligible Assignee” means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee underSection 11.8(b)(iii),(v) and(vi) (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required underSection 11.8(b)(iii)).
“Employee Benefit Plan” means (a) any employee benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA that is maintained for employees of any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate or (b) any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan that has at any time within the preceding seven years been maintained, funded or administered for the employees of any Credit Party or any current or former ERISA Affiliate.
“Environmental Claims” means any and all administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, accusations, allegations, notices of noncompliance or violation, investigations (other than internal reports prepared by any Person in the ordinary course of business and not in response to any third party action or request of any kind) or proceedings relating in any way to any actual or alleged violation of or liability under any Environmental Law or relating to any permit issued, or any approval given, under any such Environmental Law, including any and all claims by Governmental Authorities for enforcement, cleanup, removal, response, remedial or other actions or damages, contribution, indemnification, cost recovery, compensation or injunctive relief resulting from Hazardous Materials or arising from alleged injury or threat of injury to public health or the environment.
“Environmental Laws” means any and all federal, foreign, state, provincial and local laws, statutes, ordinances, codes, rules, standards and regulations, permits, licenses, approvals, interpretations and orders of courts or Governmental Authorities, relating to the protection of public health or the environment, including, but not limited to, requirements pertaining to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transportation, handling, reporting, licensing, permitting, investigation or remediation of Hazardous Materials.
“Equity Interests” means (a) in the case of a corporation, capital stock, (b) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock, (c) in the case of a partnership, partnership interests (whether general or limited), (d) in the case of a limited liability company, membership interests, (e) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person and (f) any and all warrants, rights or options to purchase any of the foregoing. The term “Equity Interests” shall not include phantom stock or similar phantom equity issued to directors, officers or employees.
11
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the rules and regulations thereunder.
“ERISA Affiliate” means any Person who together with any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries is treated as a single employer within the meaning of Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code or Section 4001(b) of ERISA.
“EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person), as in effect from time to time.
“Eurodollar Reserve Percentage” means, for any day, the percentage which is in effect for such day as prescribed by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor) for determining the maximum reserve requirement (including any basic, supplemental or emergency reserves) in respect of eurocurrency liabilities or any similar category of liabilities for a member bank of the Federal Reserve System in New York City.
“Event of Default” means any of the events specified inSection 9.1;provided that any requirement for passage of time, giving of notice, or any other condition, has been satisfied.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
“Excluded Subsidiaries” means (a) those Subsidiaries the Borrower may from time to time, at its option, designate in writing to the Administrative Agent that, individually or in the aggregate, represent less than 5% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, (b) any Subsidiary that is prohibited by Applicable Law or contractual obligation existing on the Closing Date or on the date such Subsidiary was acquired or formed, as applicable, from becoming a Subsidiary Guarantor or that would require a non-ministerial governmental (including regulatory) consent, approval license or authorization in order to be a Subsidiary Guarantor (but only for so long as such prohibition or requirement is applicable), (c) any Domestic Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary that is a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code (a “CFC”) and (d) any Domestic Subsidiary all of the assets of which (other thande minimis assets) constitute Equity Interests (including, for this purpose, any debt or other instrument treated as equity for U.S. Federal income tax purposes) in one or more Foreign Subsidiaries that are CFCs,provided that any First Tier Foreign Subsidiary that is disregarded for U.S. federal income tax purposes shall be deemed to be a Domestic Subsidiary so long as such subsidiary constitutes a disregarded entity.
“Excluded Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Credit Party, any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the liability of such Credit Party for or the guarantee of such Credit Party of, or the grant by such Credit Party of a security interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any liability or guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Credit Party’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder at the time the liability for or the guarantee of such Credit Party or the grant of such security interest becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation (such determination being made after giving effect to any applicable keepwell, support or other agreement for the benefit of the applicable Credit Party, including under Section 2.13 of the Guaranty Agreement). If a Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to swaps for which such guarantee or security interest is or becomes illegal for the reasons identified in the immediately preceding sentence of this definition.
12
“Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable lending office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, United States federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan, Note or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in a Loan, Note or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower underSection 4.12(b)) or (ii) such Lender changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant toSection 4.11, amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender became a party hereto or to such Lender immediately before it changed its lending office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply withSection 4.11(g) and (d) any United States federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.
“Existing Loan Agreement” means the Loan and Security Agreement among the Borrower, Bank of America, N.A. and the Lenders party thereto, dated as of November 26, 2008, as amended.
“Extensions of Credit” means, as to any Lender at any time, (a) an amount equal to the sum of (i) the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Credit Loans made by such Lender then outstanding, and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of any Term Loans made by such Lender then outstanding, or (b) the making of any Loan by such Lender, as the context requires.
“Farm Credit Administration” means that certain agency known as the Farm Credit Administration that derives its authority from the Farm Credit Act of 1971, as amended.
“Farm Credit Equities” has the meaning assigned thereto inSection 7.17.
“Farm Credit Lender” means a lending institution (including any wholly-owned subsidiaries) organized and existing pursuant to the provisions of the Farm Credit Act of 1971 and under the regulation of the Farm Credit Administration.
“FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof and any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code.
“FDIC” means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
“Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System on such day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, for the immediately preceding Business Day), as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day,provided that if such rate is not so published for any day which is a Business Day, the average of the quotation for such day on such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by the Administrative Agent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Federal Funds Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.
13
“Fee Letter” means the separate fee letter agreement dated August 31, 2016 among the Borrower, NWFCS and the Arranger.
“First Tier Foreign Subsidiary” means any Foreign Subsidiary the Equity Interests of which are owned directly by any Credit Party.
“Fiscal Year” means the fiscal year of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries ending on December 31.
“Fixed Rate” means, for any Fixed Rate Loan and for the applicable Interest Period, a rate equal to the applicable Fixed Rate Index, rounded to the nearest 0.01%.
“Fixed Rate Index” means, for any Fixed Rate Loan and for the applicable Interest Period, a fixed rate of interest established pursuant to procedures and documentation set forth onSchedule 1.1(a).
“Fixed Rate Loan” means any Loan bearing interest at a rate based upon a Fixed Rate as provided inSection 4.1(a).
“Foreign Lender” means (a) if the Borrower is a U.S. Person, a Lender that is not a U.S. Person, and (b) 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.
“Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.
“Fund” means any Person (other than a natural Person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans, bonds and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its activities.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied.
“Governmental Approvals” means all authorizations, consents, approvals, permits, licenses and exemptions of, and all registrations and filings with or issued by, any Governmental Authorities.
“Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).
“Guarantee” of or by any Person (the “guarantor”) means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase
14
of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness of the payment thereof, (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness, (d) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness or (e) for the purpose of assuming in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness of the payment or performance thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (whether in whole or in part).
“Hazardous Materials” means any substances or materials (a) which are defined as hazardous wastes, hazardous substances, pollutants, contaminants, chemical substances or mixtures or toxic substances under any Environmental Law, (b) the presence of which require investigation or remediation under any Environmental Law or common law or (c) the discharge or emission or release of which requires a permit or license under any Environmental Law or other Governmental Approval.
“Hedge Agreement” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement.
“Hedge Bank” means any Person that, (a) at the time it enters into a Hedge Agreement with a Credit Party permitted underArticle VIII, is a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, the Administrative Agent or an Affiliate of the Administrative Agent or (b) at the time it (or its Affiliate) becomes a Lender (including on the Closing Date), is a party to a Hedge Agreement with a Credit Party, in each case in its capacity as a party to such Hedge Agreement.
“Hedge Termination Value” means, in respect of any one or more Hedge Agreements, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Hedge Agreements, (a) for any date on or after the date such Hedge Agreements have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market value(s) for such Hedge Agreements, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Hedge Agreements (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).
“Increased Amount Date” has the meaning assigned thereto inSection 4.13(a).
“Incremental Lender” has the meaning assigned thereto inSection 4.13(a).
“Incremental Loan Commitments” has the meaning assigned thereto inSection 4.13(a)(ii).
“Incremental Loans” has the meaning assigned thereto inSection 4.13(a)(ii).
15
“Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment” has the meaning assigned thereto inSection 4.13(a)(ii).
“Incremental Revolving Credit Increase” has the meaning assigned thereto inSection 4.13(a)(ii).
“Incremental Term Loan” has the meaning assigned thereto inSection 4.13(a)(i).
“Incremental Term Loan Commitment” has the meaning assigned thereto inSection 4.13(a)(i).
“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person at any date and without duplication, the sum of the following:
(a) all liabilities, obligations and indebtedness for borrowed money, including obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments of any such Person;
(b) all obligations to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services of any such Person (including all obligations under earn-out agreements), except trade payables and accrued expenses arising in the ordinary course of business, or that are currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which reserves in conformity with GAAP have been provided for on the books of such Person;
(c) the Attributable Indebtedness of such Person with respect to such Person’s Capital Lease Obligations and Synthetic Leases (regardless of whether accounted for as indebtedness under GAAP);
(d) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property purchased by such Person to the extent of the value of such property (other than customary reservations or retentions of title under agreements with suppliers entered into in the ordinary course of business);
(e) all Indebtedness of any other Person secured by a Lien on any asset owned or being purchased by such Person (including indebtedness arising under conditional sales or other title retention agreements except trade payables arising in the ordinary course of business), whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse;
(f) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of any such Person relative to the face amount of letters of credit, whether or not drawn, including any reimbursement obligation thereunder, and banker’s acceptances issued for the account of any such Person;
(g) all obligations of any such Person in respect of Disqualified Equity Interests;
(h) all net obligations of such Person under any Hedge Agreements; and
(i) all Guarantees of any such Person with respect to any of the foregoing.
For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to such Person. The amount of any net obligation under any Hedge Agreement on any date shall be deemed to be the Hedge Termination Value thereof as of such date.
16
“Indemnified Taxes” means (a) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of any Credit Party under any Loan Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in clause (a), Other Taxes.
“Insurance and Condemnation Event” means the receipt by any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries of any cash insurance proceeds or condemnation award payable by reason of theft, loss, physical destruction or damage, taking or similar event with respect to any of their respective Property.
“Intercreditor Agreement” means that certain intercreditor agreement, dated as of the date hereof, between the Administrative Agent and the Commercial Bank Agent, and acknowledged by the Credit Parties, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
“Interest Period” means, (a) as to a Fixed Rate Loan, the period of (or approximately) one, two, three, four or five years commencing on the date such Fixed Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Fixed Rate Loan in accordance with the procedures set forth onSchedule 1.1(a) and ending on End Date (as defined inSchedule 1.1(a)) and (b) as to each LIBOR Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such LIBOR Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a LIBOR Rate Loan and ending on the date one, two, three, or six months thereafter, in each case as selected by the Borrower in its Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion/Continuation and subject to availability;provided that:
(x) in the case of any Interest Period for a LIBOR Rate Loan:
(a) the Interest Period shall commence on the date of advance of or conversion to any LIBOR Rate Loan and, in the case of immediately successive Interest Periods, each successive Interest Period shall commence on the date on which the immediately preceding Interest Period expires;
(b) if any Interest Period would otherwise expire on a day that is not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall expire on the next succeeding Business Day;provided that if any Interest Period with respect to a LIBOR Rate Loan would otherwise expire on a day that is not a Business Day but is a day of the month after which no further Business Day occurs in such month, such Interest Period shall expire on the immediately preceding Business Day;
(c) any Interest Period with respect to a LIBOR Rate Loan that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the relevant calendar month at the end of such Interest Period;
(d) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Revolving Credit Maturity Date or the maturity date of any Term Loans, as applicable, and Interest Periods shall be selected by the Borrower so as to permit the Borrower to make scheduled principal payments with respect to any Term Loans without payment of any amounts pursuant toSection 4.9; and
(e) there shall be no more than ten Interest Periods in effect at any time; and
(y) in the case of any Interest Period for a Fixed Rate Loan:
17
(a) such Interest Period shall end on the corresponding 1-, 2-, 3-, 4- or 5-year anniversary of the first day of the month following the Effective Date (as defined inSchedule 1.1(a)) if the Effective Date is not the first day of a month or the corresponding anniversary of the Effective Date if such Effective Date is the first day of a month;
(b) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Revolving Credit Maturity Date or the maturity date of any Term Loans, as applicable; and
(c) there shall be no more than ten Interest Periods in effect at any time.
“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.
“ISP98” means the International Standby Practices (1998 Revision, effective January 1, 1999), International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 590.
“Latest Maturity Date” means the latest maturity date of any Class of Loan or Commitment hereunder.
“Lender” means each Person executing this Agreement as a Lender on the Closing Date and any other Person that shall have become a party to this Agreement as a Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption or pursuant toSection 4.13, other than any Person that ceases to be a party hereto as a Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption.
“Lender Joinder Agreement” means a joinder agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent delivered in connection withSection 4.13.
“Lending Office” means, with respect to any Lender, the office of such Lender maintaining such Lender’s Extensions of Credit.
“LIBOR” means,
(a) for any interest rate calculation with respect to a LIBOR Rate Loan, the rate of interest per annum determined on the basis of the rate for deposits in Dollars for a period equal to the applicable Interest Period which appears on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page (or any applicable successor page) at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two London Banking Days prior to the first day of the applicable Interest Period. If, for any reason, such rate does not appear on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page (or any applicable successor page), then “LIBOR” shall be determined by the Administrative Agent to be the arithmetic average of the rate per annum at which deposits in Dollars would be offered by first class banks in the London interbank market to the Administrative Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two London Banking Days prior to the first day of the applicable Interest Period for a period equal to such Interest Period, and
(b) for any interest rate calculation with respect to a Base Rate Loan, the rate of interest per annum determined on the basis of the rate for deposits in Dollars for an Interest Period equal to one month (commencing on the date of determination of such interest rate) which appears on the Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page (or any applicable successor page) at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such date of determination, or, if such date is not a Business Day, then the immediately preceding Business Day. If, for any reason, such rate does not appear on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page (or any applicable successor page) then “LIBOR” for such Base Rate Loan shall be determined by the Administrative Agent to be the arithmetic
18
average of the rate per annum at which deposits in Dollars would be offered by first class banks in the London interbank market to the Administrative Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such date of determination for a period equal to one month commencing on such date of determination.
Each calculation by the Administrative Agent of LIBOR shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
“LIBOR Rate” means a rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent pursuant to the following formula:
LIBOR Rate = | LIBOR | |
| ||
1.00-Eurodollar Reserve Percentage |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the LIBOR Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.
“LIBOR Rate Loan” means any Loan bearing interest at a rate based upon the LIBOR Rate as provided inSection 4.1(a).
“Limited Condition Acquisition” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 4.13(a).
“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, leasehold mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest, hypothecation or similar encumbrance in respect of such asset. For the purposes of this Agreement, a Person shall be deemed to own subject to a Lien any asset which it has acquired or holds subject to the interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, Capital Lease Obligation or other title retention agreement relating to such asset.
“Loan Documents” means, collectively, this Agreement, each Note, the Security Documents, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement, the Fee Letter, and each other document, instrument, certificate and agreement executed and delivered by the Credit Parties or any of their respective Subsidiaries in favor of or provided to the Administrative Agent or any Secured Party in connection with this Agreement or otherwise referred to herein or contemplated hereby (excluding any Secured Hedge Agreement and any Secured Cash Management Agreement).
“Loans” means the collective reference to the Revolving Credit Loans and the Term Loan, if any, and “Loan” means any of such Loans.
“London Banking Day” means any day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank Eurodollar market.
“Material Adverse Effect” means, with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect on, the operations, business, assets, properties, liabilities (actual or contingent) or financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) a material impairment of the ability of the Credit Parties (taken as a whole) to perform their obligations under the Loan Documents to which they are a party, (c) a material impairment of the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent or any Lender under any Loan Document or (d) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against any Credit Party of any Loan Document to which it is a party.
“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.
19
“Multiemployer Plan” means a “multiemployer plan” as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate is making, or is accruing an obligation to make, or has accrued an obligation to make contributions within the preceding seven years.
“Net Cash Proceeds” means, with respect to any Debt Issuance, the gross cash proceeds received by any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries therefromless all reasonable and customary out-of-pocket legal, underwriting and other fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith.
“Non-Consenting Lender” means any Lender that does not approve any consent, waiver, amendment, modification or termination that (a) requires the approval of all Lenders or all affected Lenders in accordance with the terms ofSection 11.2 and (b) has been approved by the Required Lenders.
“Non-Defaulting Lender” means, at any time, each Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender at such time.
“Non-Guarantor Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor.
“Northwest ACA” has the meaning assigned thereto inSection 4.16.
“Notes” means the collective reference to the Revolving Credit Notes and the Term Loan Notes, if any.
“Notice of Account Designation” has the meaning assigned thereto inSection 2.3(b).
“Notice of Borrowing” has the meaning assigned thereto inSection 2.3(a).
“Notice of Conversion/Continuation” has the meaning assigned thereto inSection 4.2.
“Notice of Prepayment” has the meaning assigned thereto inSection 2.4(c).
“NWFCS” means Northwest Farm Credit Services, PCA, a federally chartered production credit association.
“Obligations” means, in each case, whether now in existence or hereafter arising: (a) the principal of and interest on (including interest accruing after the filing of any bankruptcy or similar petition) the Loans and (b) all other fees and commissions (including reasonable and documented attorneys’ fees), charges, indebtedness, loans, liabilities, financial accommodations, obligations, covenants and duties owing by the Credit Parties to the Lenders or the Administrative Agent, in each case under any Loan Document, with respect to any Loan of every kind, nature and description, direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become due, contractual or tortious, liquidated or unliquidated, and whether or not evidenced by any note and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any Credit Party of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws, naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding.
“OFAC” means the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.
“Officer’s Compliance Certificate” means a certificate of the chief financial officer or the treasurer of the Borrower substantially in the form attached asExhibit F.
20
“Operating Lease” means, as to any Person as determined in accordance with GAAP, any lease of Property (whether real, personal or mixed) by such Person as lessee which is not a capital lease.
“Other Connection Taxes” means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).
“Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp, court, 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 toSection 4.12).
“Participant” has the meaning assigned thereto inSection 11.8(d).
“Participant Register” has the meaning assigned thereto inSection 11.8(d).
“PATRIOT Act” means the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)).
“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any successor agency.
“Pension Plan” means any Employee Benefit Plan, other than a Multiemployer Plan, which is subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code and which (a) is maintained, funded or administered for the employees of any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate or (b) has at any time within the preceding seven years been maintained, funded or administered for the employees of any Credit Party or any current or former ERISA Affiliates.
“Permitted Acquisition” means any Acquisition that meets all of the following requirements:
(a) the Person or business to be acquired shall be in a line of business permitted pursuant toSection 8.11;
(b) if such Acquisition is a merger or consolidation, the Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor shall be the surviving Person and no Change in Control shall have been effected thereby;
(c) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent all documents required to be delivered pursuant to, and in accordance with,Section 7.13 (but subject to the post-closing time frames set forth inSection 7.13(c));
(d) as of the proposed closing date of such Acquisition and after giving effect thereto and any Indebtedness incurred in connection therewith (x) the Borrower shall be in compliance on a Pro Forma Basis with each covenant contained inSection 8.13 as of the last day of the most recent fiscal quarter end for which financial statements have been delivered hereunder and (y) the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recent fiscal quarter end for which financial statements have been delivered hereunder calculated on a Pro Forma Basis shall be at least 0.25 below the then applicable ratio set forth inSection 8.13(a);
21
(e) if the Permitted Acquisition Consideration for any such Acquisition (or series of related Acquisitions) exceeds $50,000,000 in the aggregate, as soon as available and no later than five Business Days prior to the proposed closing date of such Acquisition, the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent (i) an Officer’s Compliance Certificate for the most recent fiscal quarter end preceding such Acquisition for which financial statements have been delivered hereunder demonstrating compliance with the preceding clause (d) and (ii) promptly upon the finalization thereof copies of substantially final Permitted Acquisition Documents;
(f) (i) for an Acquisition other than a Limited Condition Acquisition, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing before and after giving effect to such Acquisition and any Indebtedness incurred in connection therewith; and (ii) for a Limited Condition Acquisition, no Event of Default underSection 9.1(a),(b),(h) or(i) shall have occurred and be continuing before and after giving effect to such Acquisition and any Indebtedness incurred in connection therewith; and
(g) immediately after giving effect to the Acquisition and any incurrence of Indebtedness in connection therewith, the aggregate amount of cash and Cash Equivalents on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries that are free and clear of all Liens and encumbrances (excluding any Liens described inSection 8.2(k)), together with the aggregate amount available at such time to be incurred as Loans under the Revolving Credit Facility and revolving loans under the Commercial Bank Facility, shall equal or exceed $50,000,000.
“Permitted Acquisition Consideration” means the aggregate amount of the purchase price, including any assumed debt, earn-outs (valued at the maximum amount payable thereunder), deferred payments, or Equity Interests of the Borrower, to be paid on a singular basis in connection with any applicable Permitted Acquisition as set forth in the applicable Permitted Acquisition Documents executed by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in order to consummate the applicable Permitted Acquisition.
“Permitted Acquisition Documents” means with respect to any Acquisition proposed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor, final copies or substantially final drafts if not executed at the required time of delivery of the purchase agreement, sale agreement, merger agreement or other agreement evidencing such Acquisition, including all legal opinions and each other document executed, delivered, contemplated by or prepared in connection therewith and any amendment, modification or supplement to any of the foregoing.
“Permitted Liens” means the Liens permitted pursuant toSection 8.2.
“Permitted Refinancing” means, with respect to any Person, any Indebtedness issued in exchange for (or the net proceeds of which are used to refinance) the Indebtedness being refinanced (or previous refinancings thereof constituting a Permitted Refinancing);provided that (a) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Permitted Refinancing does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable or in the case of any revolving loan facility, the maximum revolving loan commitment thereunder) of the Indebtedness so refinanced (plus unpaid accrued interest and premiums thereon and underwriting discounts, defeasance costs, fees, commissions and expenses), (b) the weighted average life to maturity of such Permitted Refinancing is greater than or equal to the weighted average life to maturity of the indebtedness being refinanced, (c) such Permitted Refinancing shall not require any scheduled principal payments due prior to the latest maturity date of the Revolving Credit Facility in excess of, or prior to, the scheduled principal payments due prior to such maturity date for the Indebtedness being refinanced, (d) if the Indebtedness being refinanced is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations, such Permitted Refinancing shall be subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations on terms at least as favorable to the Lenders as those contained in the documentation
22
governing the Indebtedness being refinanced, (e) no Permitted Refinancing shall have direct or indirect obligors who were not also obligors of the Indebtedness being refinanced, or greater guarantees or security, than the Indebtedness being refinanced, (f) such Permitted Refinancing shall be otherwise on terms not materially less favorable to the Lenders than those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being refinanced, including with respect to financial and other covenants and events of default and (g) at the time of the incurrence of such Permitted Refinancing, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
“Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.
“Platform” means Debt Domain, Intralinks, SyndTrak or a substantially similar electronic transmission system.
“Prime Rate” means, at any time, the rate of interest per annum equal to the “prime rate” as published from time to time in the Eastern Edition ofThe Wall Street Journal as the average prime lending rate for 75% of the United States’ 30 largest commercial banks, or if the Eastern Edition ofThe Wall Street Journal or such rate is not published on such day, such rate as last published in the Eastern Edition ofThe Wall Street Journal. In the event the Eastern Edition ofThe Wall Street Journalceases to publish such rate or an equivalent on a regular basis, the term “Prime Rate”shall be determined on any day by reference to such other regularly published average prime rate for such date applicable to such commercial banks as is acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion. Any change in Prime Rate shall be automatic, without the necessity of notice provided to any Borrower or any other Credit Party.
“Pro Forma Basis” means, with respect to compliance with any test or calculation of any ratio hereunder, compliance with such test or covenant for any period during which one or more Specified Transactions occurs, that such Specified Transaction (and all other Specified Transactions that have been consummated during the applicable period) shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the applicable period of measurement and all income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the Property or Person disposed of in a Specified Disposition shall be excluded and all income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the Property or Person acquired in a Permitted Acquisition shall be included (provided that such income statement items to be included are reflected in financial statements or other financial data reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and based upon reasonable assumptions and calculations which are expected to have a continuous impact).
“Property” means any right or interest in or to property of any kind whatsoever, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, including Equity Interests.
“Qualified Equity Interests” means any Equity Interests that are not Disqualified Equity Interests.
“Recipient” means (a) the Administrative Agent and (b) any Lender, as applicable.
“Register” has the meaning assigned thereto inSection 11.8(c).
“Related Parties” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, administrators, managers, advisors and representatives of such Person and of such Person’s Affiliates.
23
“Required Lenders” means, at any time, Lenders having Total Credit Exposures representing more than 50% of the Total Credit Exposures of all Lenders. The Total Credit Exposure of any Defaulting Lender (or any Defaulting Voting Participant) shall be disregarded in determining Required Lenders at any time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Required Lenders” shall comprise no fewer than two Lenders that are not Affiliates of one another, unless (a) all Lenders or Voting Participants that are not Defaulting Lenders (or Defaulting Voting Participants) are Affiliates of one another or (b) there is only one Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender, and no Voting Participants at such time. With respect to any matter requiring the approval of Required Lenders, it is understood that Voting Participants shall have the voting rights specified inSection 11.8(d) as to such matter.
“Required Revolving Credit Lenders” means, at any date, any combination of Revolving Credit Lenders holding more than 50% of the sum of the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitment or, if the Revolving Credit Commitment has been terminated, any combination of Revolving Credit Lenders holding more than 50% of the aggregate Extensions of Credit under the Revolving Credit Facility;provided that the Revolving Credit Commitment of, and the portion of the Extensions of Credit under the Revolving Credit Facility, as applicable, held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender (or Defaulting Voting Participant) shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Revolving Credit Lenders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Required Revolving Credit Lenders shall comprise no less than two such Revolving Credit Lenders that are not Affiliates of one another, unless (a) all Revolving Credit Lenders or Voting Participants that are not Defaulting Lenders (or Defaulting Voting Participants) are Affiliates of one another or (b) there is only one Revolving Credit Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender, and no Voting Participants at such time. With respect to any matter requiring the approval of Required Revolving Credit Lenders, it is understood that Voting Participants shall have the voting rights specified inSection 11.8(d) as to such matter.
“Responsible Officer” means, as to any Person, the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, controller, treasurer or assistant treasurer of such Person or any other officer of such Person designated in writing by the Borrower and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent;provided that, to the extent requested thereby, the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of such Person certifying as to the incumbency and genuineness of the signature of each such officer. Any document delivered hereunder or under any other Loan Document that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Person shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Person and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Person.
“Restricted Payment” has the meaning assigned thereto inSection 8.6.
“Revolving Credit Commitment” means (a) as to any Revolving Credit Lender, the obligation of such Revolving Credit Lender to make Revolving Credit Loans to the Borrower hereunder in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Revolving Credit Lender’s name on the Register, as such amount may be modified at any time or from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof (includingSection 4.13) and (b) as to all Revolving Credit Lenders, the aggregate commitment of all Revolving Credit Lenders to make Revolving Credit Loans, as such amount may be modified at any time or from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof (includingSection 4.13). The aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment of all the Revolving Credit Lenders on the Closing Date shall be $100,000,000. The initial Revolving Credit Commitment of each Revolving Credit Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender onSchedule 1.1(b).
“Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage” means, with respect to any Revolving Credit Lender at any time, the percentage of the total Revolving Credit Commitments of all the Revolving Credit Lenders represented by such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment. If the Revolving
24
Credit Commitments have terminated or expired, the Revolving Credit Commitment Percentages shall be determined based upon the Revolving Credit Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments. The initial Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of each Revolving Credit Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender onSchedule 1.1(b).
“Revolving Credit Exposure” means, as to any Revolving Credit Lender at any time, the aggregate principal amount at such time of its outstanding Revolving Credit Loans.
“Revolving Credit Facility” means the revolving credit facility established pursuant toArticle II (including any increase in such revolving credit facility established pursuant toSection 4.13).
“Revolving Credit Lenders” means, collectively, all of the Lenders with a Revolving Credit Commitment.
“Revolving Credit Loan” means any revolving loan made to the Borrower pursuant toSection 2.1, and all such revolving loans collectively as the context requires.
“Revolving Credit Maturity Date” means the earliest to occur of (a) October 31, 2021, (b) the date of termination of the entire Revolving Credit Commitment by the Borrower pursuant toSection 2.5, and (c) the date of termination of the Revolving Credit Commitment pursuant toSection 9.2(a).
“Revolving Credit Note” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of a Revolving Credit Lender evidencing the Revolving Credit Loans made by such Revolving Credit Lender, substantially in the form attached asExhibit A, and any substitutes therefor, and any replacements, restatements, renewals or extension thereof, in whole or in part.
“Revolving Credit Outstandings” means, with respect to Revolving Credit Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Revolving Credit Loans occurring on such date.
“Revolving Extensions of Credit” means any Revolving Credit Loan then outstanding.
“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, a part of McGraw-Hill Financial, and any successor thereto.
“Sanctions” means economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by the U.S. government (including those administered by OFAC), the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury or other relevant sanctions authority.
“Sanctioned Country” means at any time, a country, territory or region which is itself the subject or target of any Sanctions (including Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, and the Crimea region).
“Sanctioned Person” means, at any time, (a) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by OFAC, the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury or other relevant sanctions authority, (b) any Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country or (c) any Person owned or controlled by any such Person or Persons described in clauses (a) and (b).
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.
25
“Secured Cash Management Agreement” means any Cash Management Agreement between or among any Credit Party and any Cash Management Bank.
“Secured Hedge Agreement” means any Hedge Agreement between or among any Credit Party and any Hedge Bank.
“Secured Obligations” means, collectively, (a) the Obligations and (b) all existing or future payment and other obligations owing by any Credit Party under (i) any Secured Hedge Agreement (other than an Excluded Swap Obligation) and (ii) any Secured Cash Management Agreement.
“Secured Parties” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Hedge Banks, the Cash Management Banks, each co-agent or sub-agent appointed by the Administrative Agent from time to time pursuant toSection 10.5, any other holder from time to time of any of any Secured Obligations and, in each case, their respective successors and permitted assigns.
“Security Documents” means the collective reference to the Collateral Agreement and each other agreement or writing pursuant to which any Credit Party pledges or grants a security interest in any Property or assets securing the Secured Obligations.
“Solvent” and “Solvency” mean, with respect to any Person on any date of determination, that on such date (a) the fair value of the property of such Person is greater than the total amount of liabilities, including contingent liabilities, of such Person, (b) the present fair salable value of the assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured, (c) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Person’s ability to pay such debts and liabilities as they mature, (d) such Person is not engaged in business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in business or a transaction, for which such Person’s property would constitute an unreasonably small capital, and (e) such Person is able to pay its debts and liabilities, contingent obligations and other commitments as they mature in the ordinary course of business. The amount of contingent liabilities at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in the light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.
“Specified Disposition” means any Asset Disposition having gross sales proceeds in excess of $50,000,000.
“Specified Representations” means the representations and warranties set forth inSections6.1(a)(solely with respect to the Credit Parties),6.3 (solely with respect to the Credit Parties),6.4(a),(b) and(e) (in each case, solely with respect to the Credit Parties),6.5 (to the extent related to consents or approvals under organizational documents of a Credit Party or under material Applicable Laws),6.10,6.11 and6.15 and in Section 3.2 of the Collateral Agreement.
“Specified Transactions” means (a) any Specified Disposition, (b) any Permitted Acquisition, (c) the Transactions and (d) the incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness.
“Subordinated Indebtedness” means the collective reference to any Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that is subordinated in right and time of payment to the Obligations on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
“Subsidiary” means as to any Person, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which more than 50% of the outstanding Equity Interests having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) or other managers of such
26
corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity is at the time owned by (directly or indirectly) or the management is otherwise controlled by (directly or indirectly) such Person (irrespective of whether, at the time, Equity Interests of any other class or classes of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency). Unless otherwise qualified, references to “Subsidiary” or “Subsidiaries” herein shall refer to those of the Borrower.
“Subsidiary Guarantors” means, collectively, all direct and indirect Subsidiaries of the Borrower (other than Foreign Subsidiaries and Excluded Subsidiaries in existence on the Closing Date or which become a party to the Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement pursuant toSection 7.13.
“Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement” means the unconditional guaranty agreement of even date herewith executed by the Subsidiary Guarantors in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties.
“Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Guarantor, any obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act.
“Synthetic Lease” means any synthetic lease, tax retention operating lease, off-balance sheet loan or similar off-balance sheet financing product where such transaction is considered borrowed money indebtedness for tax purposes but is classified as an Operating Lease in accordance with GAAP.
“Taxes” means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, fines, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
“Term Loan Commitment” means (a) as to any Term Loan Lender, the obligation of such Term Loan Lender to make Incremental Term Loans, if any, to the account of the Borrower hereunder on the applicable borrowing date, as such amount may be reduced or otherwise modified at any time or from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof and (b) as to all Term Loan Lenders, the aggregate commitment of all Term Loan Lenders to make such Term Loans.
“Term Loan Facility” means any one or more new term loan facilities established pursuant toSection 4.13.
“Term Loan Lender” means any Lender with a Term Loan Commitment and/or outstanding Term Loans.
“Term Loan Percentage” means, with respect to any Term Loan Lender at any time, the percentage of the total outstanding principal balance of the Term Loans represented by the outstanding principal balance of such Term Loan Lender’s Term Loans.
“Term Loans” means Incremental Term Loans, if any, and “Term Loan” means any of such Term Loans.
“Termination Event” means the occurrence of any of the following which, individually or in the aggregate, has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrower in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount: (a) a “Reportable Event” described in Section 4043 of ERISA for which the 30 day notice requirement has not been waived by the PBGC, or (b) the withdrawal of any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan during a plan year in which it
27
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, or (c) the termination of a Pension Plan, the filing of a notice of intent to terminate a Pension Plan or the treatment of a Pension Plan amendment as a termination, under Section 4041 of ERISA, if the plan assets are not sufficient to pay all plan liabilities, or (d) the institution of proceedings to terminate, or the appointment of a trustee with respect to, any Pension Plan by the PBGC, or (e) any other event or condition which would constitute grounds under Section 4042(a) of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan, or (f) the imposition of a Lien pursuant to Section 430(k) of the Code or Section 303 of ERISA, or (g) the determination that any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan is considered an at-risk plan or plan in endangered or critical status with the meaning of Section 430, 431 or 432 of the Code or Section 303, 304 or 305 of ERISA or (h) the partial or complete withdrawal of any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan if withdrawal liability is asserted by such plan, or (i) any event or condition which results in the insolvency of a Multiemployer Plan under Section 4245 of ERISA, or (j) any event or condition which results in the termination of a Multiemployer Plan under Section 4041A of ERISA or the institution by PBGC of proceedings to terminate a Multiemployer Plan under Section 4042 of ERISA, or (k) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate.
“Threshold Amount” means $30,000,000.
“Total Credit Exposure” means, as to any Lender at any time, the unused Commitments, Revolving Credit Exposure and outstanding Term Loans of such Lender at such time.
“Transaction Costs” means all transaction fees, charges and other amounts incurred in connection with the Transactions or any debt or equity financing, acquisition or other Investment or disposition permitted hereunder, in the case of (i) Transactions Costs related to the Transactions that are expensed and not capitalized, to the extent paid within six months after the Closing Date, and (ii) in all other cases, to the extent paid during the applicable period whether or not the applicable transaction is completed.
“Transactions” means, collectively, (a) the refinancing of all Indebtedness under the Existing Loan Agreement as contemplated underSection 5.1(g)(iii), (b) the closing of the Commercial Bank Facility, (c) the initial Extensions of Credit and (d) the payment of the Transaction Costs incurred in connection with the foregoing.
“UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York, as amended or modified from time to time, unless the context suggests the application of the Uniform Commercial Code of a different state.
“Uniform Customs” means the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits (2007 Revision), effective July, 2007 International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 600.
“United States” means the United States of America.
“U.S. Person” means any Person that is a “United States person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.
“U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate” has the meaning assigned thereto inSection 4.11(g).
“Voting Participant” has the meaning specified inSection 11.8(d).
28
“Voting Participant Notice” has the meaning specified inSection 11.8(d).
“Wholly-Owned” means, with respect to a Subsidiary, that all of the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary are, directly or indirectly, owned or controlled by the Borrower and/or one or more of its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries (except for directors’ qualifying shares or other shares required by Applicable Law to be owned by a Person other than the Borrower and/or one or more of its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries).
“Withholding Agent” means any Credit Party and the Administrative Agent.
“Write-Down and Conversion Powers” means, with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.
Section 1.2Other Definitions and Provisions. With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document: (a) the definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined, (b) whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms, (c) the words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”, (d) the word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”, (e) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s permitted successors and assigns, (f) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (g) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement, (h) 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, (i) the term “documents” includes any and all instruments, documents, agreements, certificates, notices, reports, financial statements and other writings, however evidenced, whether in physical or electronic form and (j) in the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including;” the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding;” and the word “through” means “to and including”.
Section 1.3Accounting Terms.
(a) All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with GAAP, applied on a consistent basis, as in effect from time to time and in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the audited financial statements required bySection 7.1(a), except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance with any covenant (including the computation of any financial covenant) contained herein, Indebtedness of the Borrower 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.
(b) If at any time any change in GAAP would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either the Borrower or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of
29
such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders);provided that, until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP. Without limiting the foregoing, leases shall continue to be classified and accounted for on a basis consistent with that reflected in the Financial Statements delivered pursuant toSection 5.1(e)(i) for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding any change in GAAP relating thereto, unless the parties hereto shall enter into a mutually acceptable amendment addressing such changes, as provided for above (and until so amended, the Borrower shall provide the reconciliation detail described in clause (ii) of the previous sentence).
Section 1.4UCC Terms. Terms defined in the UCC in effect on the Closing Date and not otherwise defined herein shall, unless the context otherwise indicates, have the meanings provided by those definitions. Subject to the foregoing, the term “UCC” refers, as of any date of determination, to the UCC then in effect.
Section 1.5Rounding. Any financial ratios required to be maintained pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio or percentage is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).
Section 1.6References to Agreement and Laws. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (a) any definition or reference to formation documents, governing documents, agreements (including the Loan Documents) and other contractual documents or instruments shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications thereto, but only to the extent that such amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications are not prohibited by any Loan Document; and (b) any definition or reference to any Applicable Law, including the Code, the Commodity Exchange Act, ERISA, the Exchange Act, the PATRIOT Act, the Securities Act of 1933, the UCC, the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Interstate Commerce Act, the Trading with the Enemy Act of the United States or any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department, shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such Applicable Law.
Section 1.7Times of Day. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).
Section 1.8Reserved.
Section 1.9Guarantees. Unless otherwise specified, the amount of any Guarantee shall be the lesser of the principal amount of the obligations guaranteed and still outstanding and the maximum amount for which the guaranteeing Person may be liable pursuant to the terms of the instrument embodying such Guarantee.
Section 1.10Covenant Compliance Generally. For purposes of determining compliance underSections 8.1,8.2,8.3,8.5 and8.6, any amount in a currency other than Dollars will be converted to Dollars in a manner consistent with that used in calculating Consolidated Net Income in the most recent annual financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries delivered pursuant toSection 7.1(a). Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance withSections 8.1, 8.2 and8.3,
30
with respect to any amount of Indebtedness or Investment in a currency other than Dollars, no breach of any basket contained in such sections shall be deemed to have occurred solely as a result of changes in rates of exchange occurring after the time such Indebtedness or Investment is incurred;provided that for the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing provisions of thisSection 1.10 shall otherwise apply to such Sections, including with respect to determining whether any Indebtedness or Investment may be incurred at any time under such Sections. Following the entry by any Credit Party into an agreement to undertake a Limited Condition Acquisition and prior to the consummation thereof, all financial tests herein that are required to be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis shall be tested both before and after giving pro forma effect to the Limited Condition Acquisition and the transactions contemplated in connection therewith.
ARTICLE II.
REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY
Section 2.1Revolving Credit Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and in reliance upon the representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, each Revolving Credit Lender severally agrees to make Revolving Credit Loans to the Borrower in Dollars from time to time from the Closing Date to the Revolving Credit Maturity Date as requested by the Borrower in accordance with the terms ofSection 2.3;provided that the Revolving Credit Outstandings shall not exceed the Revolving Credit Commitment and the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Revolving Credit Lender shall not at any time exceed such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment. Each Revolving Credit Loan by a Revolving Credit Lender shall be in a principal amount equal to such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Revolving Credit Loans requested on such occasion. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow Revolving Credit Loans hereunder until the Revolving Credit Maturity Date.
Section 2.2Reserved.
Section 2.3Procedure for Advances of Revolving CreditLoans.
(a)Requests for Borrowing. The Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent irrevocable prior written notice substantially in the form ofExhibit B (a “Notice of Borrowing”) not later than 11:00 a.m. (i) on the same Business Day as each Base Rate Loan, (ii) at least three Business Days before each LIBOR Rate Loan and (iii) as set forth onSchedule 1.1(a) for any Fixed Rate Loan, of its intention to borrow, specifying (A) the date of such borrowing, which shall be a Business Day, (B) the amount of such borrowing, which shall be, (x) with respect to Base Rate Loans in an aggregate principal amount of $3,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and (y) with respect to LIBOR Rate Loans and Fixed Rate Loans in an aggregate principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, (C) whether the Loans are to be LIBOR Rate Loans, Base Rate Loans, or Fixed Rate Loans and (D) in the case of a LIBOR Rate Loan or a Fixed Rate Loan, the duration of the Interest Period applicable thereto. If the Borrower fails to specify a type of Loan in a Notice of Borrowing, then the applicable Loans shall be made as Base Rate Loans. If the Borrower requests a Borrowing of LIBOR Rate Loans in any such Notice of Borrowing, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month. A Notice of Borrowing received after 11:00 a.m. shall be deemed received on the next Business Day. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Revolving Credit Lenders of each Notice of Borrowing.
31
(b)Disbursement of Revolving Credit. Not later than 1:00 p.m. on the proposed borrowing date, each Revolving Credit Lender will make available to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Borrower, at the office of the Administrative Agent in funds immediately available to the Administrative Agent, such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the Revolving Credit Loans to be made on such borrowing date. The Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent to disburse the proceeds of each borrowing requested pursuant to this Section in immediately available funds by crediting or wiring such proceeds to the deposit account of the Borrower identified in the most recent notice substantially in the form attached asExhibit C (a “Notice of Account Designation”) delivered by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or as may be otherwise agreed upon by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent from time to time. Subject toSection 4.7 hereof, the Administrative Agent shall not be obligated to disburse the portion of the proceeds of any Revolving Credit Loan requested pursuant to this Section to the extent that any Revolving Credit Lender has not made available to the Administrative Agent its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of such Loan.
Section 2.4Repayment and Prepayment of RevolvingCredit.
(a)Repayment on Termination Date. The Borrower hereby agrees to repay the outstanding principal amount of all Revolving Credit Loans in full on the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, together with all accrued but unpaid interest thereon.
(b)Mandatory Prepayments. If at any time the Revolving Credit Outstandings exceed the Revolving Credit Commitment, the Borrower agrees to repay immediately upon notice from the Administrative Agent, by payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Revolving Credit Lenders, Extensions of Credit in an amount equal to such excess with each such repayment applied to the principal amount of outstanding Revolving Credit Loans.
(c)Optional Prepayments. The Borrower may at any time and from time to time prepay Revolving Credit Loans, in whole or in part, with irrevocable prior written notice to the Administrative Agent substantially in the form attached asExhibit D (a “Notice of Prepayment”) given not later than 11:00 a.m. (i) on the same Business Day as each Base Rate Loan, (ii) at least three Business Days before each LIBOR Rate Loan and (iii) as set forth onSchedule 1.1(a) for any Fixed Rate Loan, specifying the date and amount of prepayment and whether the prepayment is of LIBOR Rate Loans, Base Rate Loans, Fixed Rate Loans or a combination thereof, and, if of a combination thereof, the amount allocable to each. Upon receipt of such notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Revolving Credit Lender. If any such notice is given, the amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date set forth in such notice. Partial prepayments shall be in an aggregate amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. A Notice of Prepayment received after 11:00 a.m. shall be deemed received on the next Business Day. Each such repayment shall be accompanied by any amount required to be paid pursuant toSection 4.9 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Notice of a Prepayment delivered in connection with any refinancing of all or a portion of the Credit Facility with the proceeds of such refinancing or of any incurrence of Indebtedness, or of the net cash proceeds of an Asset Disposition or the issuance of Equity Interests or any other transaction specified in such Notice of Prepayment, may be, if expressly so stated to be, contingent upon the consummation of such refinancing, incurrence, receipt, issuance or other transaction and may be revoked by the Borrower in the event any of the foregoing is not consummated (provided that the failure of such contingency shall not relieve the Borrower from its obligations in respect thereof underSection 4.9).
32
(d)Prepayment of Excess Proceeds. In the event proceeds remain after the prepayments of Incremental Term Loans as set forth inSection 4.13(d), the amount of such excess proceeds shall, subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, be used on the date of the required prepayment underSection 4.13(d) to prepay the outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Credit Loans, without a corresponding reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitment, with remaining proceeds, if any, refunded to the Borrower.
(e)Limitation on Prepayment of LIBOR Rate Loans and Fixed Rate Loans. The Borrower may not prepay any LIBOR Rate Loan on any day other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto unless such prepayment is accompanied by any amount required to be paid pursuant toSection 4.9 hereof. The Borrower may not prepay any Fixed Rate Loan on any day other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto unless such prepayment is accompanied by any amount required to be paid pursuant toSchedule 1.1(a).
(f)Hedge Agreements. No repayment or prepayment of the Loans pursuant to this Section shall affect any of the Borrower’s obligations under any Hedge Agreement entered into with respect to the Loans.
Section 2.5Permanent Reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitment.
(a)Voluntary Reduction. The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time, upon at least three Business Days prior irrevocable written notice to the Administrative Agent, to permanently reduce, without premium or penalty, (i) the entire Revolving Credit Commitment at any time or (ii) portions of the Revolving Credit Commitment, from time to time, in an aggregate principal amount not less than $3,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. Any reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitment shall be applied to the Revolving Credit Commitment of each Revolving Credit Lender according to its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage. All Commitment Fees accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Revolving Credit Commitment shall be paid on the effective date of such termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any notice to reduce the Revolving Credit Commitment delivered in connection with any refinancing of all or a portion of the Credit Facility with the proceeds of such refinancing or of any incurrence of Indebtedness, or of the net cash proceeds of an Asset Disposition or the issuance of Equity Interests or any other transaction specified in such notice may be, if expressly so stated to be, contingent upon the consummation of such refinancing or incurrence and may be revoked by the Borrower in the event such refinancing is not consummated (provided that the failure of such contingency shall not relieve the Borrower from its obligations in respect thereof underSection 4.9 orSchedule 1.1(a)).
(b)Corresponding Payment. Each permanent reduction permitted pursuant to this Section shall be accompanied by a payment of principal sufficient to reduce the aggregate outstanding Revolving Credit Loans after such reduction to the Revolving Credit Commitment as so reduced. Any reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitment to zero shall be accompanied by payment of all outstanding Revolving Credit Loans and shall result in the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitment and the Revolving Credit Facility. If the reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitment requires the repayment of any LIBOR Rate Loan, such repayment shall be accompanied by any amount required to be paid pursuant toSection 4.9 hereof. If the reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitment requires the prepayment of any Fixed Rate Loan, such repayment shall be accompanied by any amount required to be paid pursuant toSchedule 1.1(a).
Section 2.6Termination of Revolving Credit Facility. The Revolving Credit Facility and the Revolving Credit Commitments shall terminate on the Revolving Credit Maturity Date.
33
ARTICLE III.
RESERVED
ARTICLE IV.
GENERAL LOAN PROVISIONS
Section 4.1Interest.
(a)Interest Rate Options. Subject to the provisions of this Section, at the election of the Borrower, Revolving Credit Loans and, to the extent set forth in the applicable Lender Joinder Agreement, the Term Loans shall bear interest at (A) the Base Rateplus the Applicable Margin, (B) the LIBOR Rateplus the Applicable Margin (provided that the LIBOR Rate shall not be available until three Business Days after the Closing Date unless the Borrower has delivered to the Administrative Agent a letter in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent indemnifying the Lenders in the manner set forth inSection 4.9 of this Agreement) or (C) at the applicable Fixed Rateplus the Applicable Margin (provided that the Fixed Rate shall not be available until three Business Days after the Closing Date unless the Borrower has delivered to the Administrative Agent a letter in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent indemnifying the Lenders in the manner set forth inSection 4.9 of this Agreement orSchedule 1.1(a) to this Agreement, as applicable). The Borrower shall select the rate of interest and Interest Period, if any, applicable to any Loan at the time a Notice of Borrowing is given or at the time a Notice of Conversion/Continuation is given pursuant toSection 4.2.
(b)Default Rate. Subject toSection 9.3, (i) immediately upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default underSection 9.1(a),(b),(h) or(i), or (ii) at the election of the Required Lenders, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any other Event of Default, (A) the Borrower shall no longer have the option to request LIBOR Rate Loans, (B) all outstanding LIBOR Rate Loans shall bear interest at a rate per annum of two percent in excess of the rate (including the Applicable Margin) then applicable to LIBOR Rate Loans until the end of the applicable Interest Period and thereafter at a rate equal to two percent in excess of the rate (including the Applicable Margin) then applicable to Base Rate Loans, (C) all outstanding Base Rate Loans and other Obligations arising hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to two percent in excess of the rate (including the Applicable Margin) then applicable to Base Rate Loans or such other Obligations arising hereunder or under any other Loan Document, (D) all outstanding Fixed Rate Loans shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to two percent in excess of the rate (including the Applicable Margin) then applicable to Fixed Rate Loans and (E) all accrued and unpaid interest shall be due and payable on demand of the Administrative Agent. Interest shall continue to accrue on the Obligations after the filing by or against the Borrower of any petition seeking any relief in bankruptcy or under any Debtor Relief Law.
(c)Interest Payment and Computation. Interest on each Base Rate Loan and Fixed Rate Loan shall be due and payable in arrears with respect to the previous calendar quarter, on the first Business Day of each calendar quarter commencing January 1, 2017, and with respect to Fixed Rate Loans, on the last day of the Interest Period with respect thereto; and interest on each LIBOR Rate Loan shall be due and payable on the last day of each Interest Period applicable thereto, and if such Interest Period extends over three months, at the end of each three month interval during such Interest Period. All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans when the
34
Base Rate is determined by the Prime Rate and for Fixed Rate Loans shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest provided hereunder shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365/366-day year).
(d)Maximum Rate. In no contingency or event whatsoever shall the aggregate of all amounts deemed interest under this Agreement charged or collected pursuant to the terms of this Agreement exceed the highest rate permissible under any Applicable Law which a court of competent jurisdiction shall, in a final determination, deem applicable hereto. In the event that such a court determines that the Lenders have charged or received interest hereunder in excess of the highest applicable rate, the rate in effect hereunder shall automatically be reduced to the maximum rate permitted by Applicable Law and the Lenders shall at the Administrative Agent’s option (i) promptly refund to the Borrower any interest received by the Lenders in excess of the maximum lawful rate or (ii) apply such excess to the principal balance of the Obligations. It is the intent hereof that the Borrower not pay or contract to pay, and that neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender receive or contract to receive, directly or indirectly in any manner whatsoever, interest in excess of that which may be paid by the Borrower under Applicable Law.
Section 4.2Notice and Manner of Conversion or Continuation of Loans. Provided that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is then continuing, the Borrower shall have the option to (a) convert at any time all or any portion of any outstanding Base Rate Loans in a principal amount equal to $1,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof into one or more LIBOR Rate Loans or Fixed Rate Loans, (b) upon the expiration of any Interest Period, (i) convert all or any part of its outstanding LIBOR Rate Loans in a principal amount equal to $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof into Base Rate Loans or Fixed Rate Loans, (ii) convert all or any part of its outstanding Fixed Rate Loans in a principal amount equal to $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof into Based Rate Loans or LIBOR Rate Loans, (iii) continue any LIBOR Rate Loans as LIBOR Rate Loans or (iv) continue any Fixed Rate Loans as Fixed Rate Loans (so long as the applicable Interest Period is still available). Whenever the Borrower desires to convert or continue Loans as provided above, the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent irrevocable prior written notice in the form attached asExhibit E (a “Notice of Conversion/Continuation”) not later than 11:00 a.m. three Business Days before the day on which a proposed conversion or continuation of such Loan is to be effective specifying (A) the Loans to be converted or continued, and, in the case of any LIBOR Rate Loan to be converted or continued, the last day of the Interest Period therefor, (B) the effective date of such conversion or continuation (which shall be a Business Day), (C) the principal amount of such Loans to be converted or continued, and (D) the Interest Period to be applicable to such converted or continued LIBOR Rate Loan. If the Borrower fails to give a Notice of Conversion/Continuation within 3 Business Days prior to the end of the Interest Period for any LIBOR Rate Loan, then, so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the applicable LIBOR Rate Loan shall be continued as a LIBOR Rate Loan and will be deemed to have the same Interest Period as was then in effect prior to the expiration of the previous Interest Period during which the Borrower failed to give a timely Notice of Conversion/Continuation. Any such automatic continuation of a LIBOR Rate Loan shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable LIBOR Rate Loan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) if a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the last day of an Interest Period for any LIBOR Rate Loan or Fixed Rate Loan or (y) any such automatic continuation with respect to any LIBOR Rate Loan shall result in an Interest Period that does not comply with clause (d) of the definition thereof, such Loan shall in each case automatically convert to a Base Rate Loan on the last day of its Interest Period. If the Borrower requests a conversion to, or continuation of, LIBOR Rate Loans, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the affected Lenders of such Notice of Conversion/Continuation.
35
Section 4.3Fees.
(a)Commitment Fee. Commencing on the Closing Date, subject toSection 4.15(a)(iii)(A), the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Revolving Credit Lenders, a non-refundable commitment fee (the “Commitment Fee”) at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Margin (with respect to the column on such Applicable Margin grid specified under “Commitment Fee”) on the average daily unused portion of the Revolving Credit Commitment of the Revolving Credit Lenders (other than the Defaulting Lenders, if any). The Commitment Fee shall be payable in arrears on the first Business Day of each calendar quarter during the term of this Agreement commencing January 1, 2017 and ending on the date upon which all Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations not then due) arising under the Revolving Credit Facility shall have been paid and satisfied in full and the Revolving Credit Commitment has been terminated. The Commitment Fee shall be distributed by the Administrative Agent to the Revolving Credit Lenders (other than any Defaulting Lender)prorata in accordance with such Revolving Credit Lenders’ respective Revolving Credit Commitment Percentages.
(b)Other Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Arranger and the Administrative Agent for their own respective accounts fees in the amounts and at the times specified in their Fee Letter. The Borrower shall pay to the Lenders such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified.
Section 4.4Manner of Payment. Each payment by the Borrower on account of the principal of or interest on the Loans or of any fee, commission or other amounts payable to the Lenders under this Agreement shall be made not later than 1:00 p.m. on the date specified for payment under this Agreement to the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent’s Office for the account of the Lenders entitled to such payment in Dollars, in immediately available funds and shall be made without any set off, counterclaim or deduction whatsoever. Any payment received after such time but before 2:00 p.m. on such day shall be deemed a payment on such date for the purposes ofSection 9.1, but for all other purposes shall be deemed to have been made on the next succeeding Business Day. Any payment received after 2:00 p.m. shall be deemed to have been made on the next succeeding Business Day for all purposes. Upon receipt by the Administrative Agent of each such payment, the Administrative Agent shall distribute to each such Lender at its address for notices set forth herein its Commitment Percentage in respect of the relevant Credit Facility (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment and shall wire advice of the amount of such credit to each Lender. Each payment to the Administrative Agent of Administrative Agent’s fees or expenses shall be made for the account of the Administrative Agent and any amount payable to any Lender underSection 4.9,4.10,4.11 or11.3 shall be paid to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Lender. Subject to the definition of Interest Period, if any payment under this Agreement shall be specified to be made upon a day which is not a Business Day, it shall be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day and such extension of time shall in such case be included in computing any interest if payable along with such payment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if there exists a Defaulting Lender, each payment by the Borrower to such Defaulting Lender hereunder shall be applied in accordance withSection 4.15(a)(ii).
Section 4.5Evidence of Indebtedness. The Extensions of Credit made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender and by the Administrative Agent in the ordinary course of business. The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Extensions of
36
Credit made by the Lenders to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error. Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Revolving Credit Note which shall evidence such Lender’s Revolving Credit Loans in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to its Notes and endorse thereon the date, amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.
Section 4.6Sharing of Payments by Lenders. If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of 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 (other than pursuant toSection4.9,4.10,4.11 or11.3) greater than itsprorata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans and 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, without interest, and
(ii) the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to (A) any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement (including the application of funds arising from the existence of a Defaulting Lender) or (B) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates (as to which the provisions of this paragraph shall apply.
Each Credit 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 Credit Party rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of each Credit Party in the amount of such participation.
Section 4.7Administrative Agent’s Clawback.
(a)Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender (i) in the case of Base Rate Loans, not later than 12:00 noon on the date of any proposed borrowing and (ii) otherwise, prior to the proposed date of any borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance withSections2.3(b) and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for
37
each day from the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the greater of the daily average Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans. If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such borrowing. Any payment by 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.
(b)Payments by the Borrower; 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 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 the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender, with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is distributed to it to the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.
(c)Nature of Obligations of Lenders Regarding Extensions of Credit. The obligations of the Lenders under this Agreement to make the Loans are several and are not joint or joint and several. The failure of any Lender to make available its Commitment Percentage of any Loan requested by the Borrower shall not relieve it or any other Lender of its obligation, if any, hereunder to make its Commitment Percentage of such Loan available on the borrowing date, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make its Commitment Percentage of such Loan available on the borrowing date.
Section 4.8Changed Circumstances.
(a)Circumstances Affecting LIBOR Rate Availability. In connection with any request for a LIBOR Rate Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof, if for any reason (i) the Administrative Agent shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that Dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank Eurodollar market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Loan, (ii) the Administrative Agent shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that reasonable and adequate means do not exist for the ascertaining the LIBOR Rate for such Interest Period with respect to a proposed LIBOR Rate Loan or (iii) the Required Lenders shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that the LIBOR Rate does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining such Loans during such Interest Period, then the Administrative Agent shall promptly give notice thereof to the Borrower. Thereafter, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that such circumstances no longer exist, the obligation of the Lenders to make LIBOR Rate Loans and the right of the Borrower to convert any Loan to or continue any Loan as a LIBOR Rate Loan shall be suspended, and the Borrower shall either (A) repay in full (or cause to be repaid in full) the then outstanding principal amount
38
of each such LIBOR Rate Loan together with accrued interest thereon (subject toSection 4.1(d)), on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable to such LIBOR Rate Loan; or (B) convert the then outstanding principal amount of each such LIBOR Rate Loan to a Base Rate Loan as of the last day of such Interest Period.
(b)Laws Affecting LIBOR Rate Availability. If, after the date hereof, the introduction of, or any change in, any Applicable Law or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any of the Lenders (or any of their respective Lending Offices) with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any such Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency, shall make it unlawful or impossible for any of the Lenders (or any of their respective Lending Offices) to honor its obligations hereunder to make or maintain any LIBOR Rate Loan, such Lender shall promptly give notice thereof to the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent shall promptly give notice to the Borrower and the other Lenders. Thereafter, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that such circumstances no longer exist, (i) the obligations of the Lenders to make LIBOR Rate Loans, and the right of the Borrower to convert any Loan to a LIBOR Rate Loan or continue any Loan as a LIBOR Rate Loan shall be suspended and thereafter the Borrower may select only Base Rate Loans and (ii) if any of the Lenders may not lawfully continue to maintain a LIBOR Rate Loan to the end of the then current Interest Period applicable thereto, the applicable Loan shall immediately be converted to a Base Rate Loan for the remainder of such Interest Period.
Section 4.9Indemnity. The Borrower hereby indemnifies each of the Lenders against any loss or expense (including any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain a LIBOR Rate Loan or Fixed Rate Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained) which may arise or be attributable to each Lender’s obtaining, liquidating or employing deposits or other funds acquired to effect, fund or maintain any Loan (a) as a consequence of any failure by the Borrower to make any payment when due of any amount due hereunder in connection with a LIBOR Rate Loan or a Fixed Rate Loan, (b) due to any failure of the Borrower to borrow, continue or convert on a date specified therefor in a Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion/Continuation or (c) due to any payment, prepayment or conversion of any LIBOR Rate Loan or Fixed Rate Loan on a date other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor; provided that the foregoing indemnity shall not apply to any loss or expense suffered by a Lender or resulting from the failure of such Lender to fund any Loan at a time required hereunder. The amount of such loss or expense shall be determined, in the applicable Lender’s sole discretion, (a) for any LIBOR Rate Loans, based upon the assumption that such Lender funded its Commitment Percentage of the LIBOR Rate Loans in the London interbank market and using any reasonable attribution or averaging methods which such Lender deems appropriate and practical and (b) for any Fixed Rate Loans, as set forth onSchedule 1.1(a). A certificate of such Lender setting forth in reasonable detail the basis for determining such amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender shall be forwarded to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent and shall be conclusively presumed to be correct save for manifest error.
Section 4.10Increased Costs.
(a)Increased Costs Generally. If any Change in Law shall:
(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or advances, loans or other credit extended or participated in by, any Lender (except any reserve requirement reflected in the LIBOR Rate);
39
(ii) subject any Recipient to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Taxes described in clauses (b) through (d) of the definition of Excluded Taxes and (C) Connection Income Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto; or
(iii) impose on any Lender or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or LIBOR Rate Loans made by such Lender;
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 reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or such other Recipient hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon written request of such Lender or other Recipient, the Borrower shall promptly, and in any event, within ten Business Days, pay to any such Lender or other Recipient, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or other Recipient, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.
(b)Capital Requirements. If any Lender determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or any lending office of such Lender or such 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 capital or on the capital of such Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Lender or the Loans made by such Lender, to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity), then from time to time upon written request of such Lender the Borrower shall promptly and in any event, within ten Business Days, pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.
(c)Certificates for Reimbursement. A certificate of a Lender or such other Recipient setting forth in reasonable detail the calculation of the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or such other Recipient or any of their respective holding companies, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section and delivered to the Borrower, shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender or such other Recipient, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten Business Days after receipt thereof.
(d)Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or such other Recipient to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or such other Recipient’s right to demand such compensation;provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate any Lender or any other Recipient pursuant to this Section for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than nine months prior to the date that such Lender or such other Recipient, 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 such other Recipient’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the nine-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).
40
(e) The Borrower shall compensate each Lender for prepayment of Fixed Rate Loans under the terms and provisions ofSchedule 1.1(a) hereto, if applicable.
Section 4.11Taxes.
(a)Defined Terms. For purposes of thisSection 4.11, the term “Applicable Law” includes FATCA.
(b)Payments Free of Taxes. Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Credit Party under any Loan Document shall be made without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by Applicable Law. If any Applicable Law (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable Withholding Agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by a Withholding Agent, then the applicable Withholding Agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with Applicable Law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the applicable Credit Party shall be increased as necessary so that, after such deduction or withholding has been made (including such deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section), the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.
(c)Payment of Other Taxes by the Credit Parties. The Credit Parties shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with Applicable Law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes.
(d)Indemnification by the Credit Parties. The Credit Parties shall jointly and severally indemnify each Recipient, within ten days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Recipient (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Recipient, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(e)Indemnification by the Lenders. Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within ten days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that any Credit Party has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Credit Parties to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions ofSection 11.8(d) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this paragraph (e).
41
(f)Evidence of Payments. As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes any Credit Party to a Governmental Authority pursuant to thisSection 4.11, such Credit Party shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(g)Status of Lenders.
(i) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by Applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth inSections 4.11(g)(ii)(A),(ii)(B) and(ii)(D) below) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.
(ii) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:
(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 copies of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from United States federal backup withholding tax;
(B) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:
(1) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN-E establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, United States 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-E establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, United States federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “business profits” or “other income” article of such tax treaty;
42
(2) executed copies of IRS Form W-8ECI;
(3) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form ofExhibit H-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN-E; or
(4) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed copies of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN-E, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form ofExhibit H-2 orExhibit H-3, IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable;provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form ofExhibit H-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;
(C) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of any other form prescribed by Applicable Law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in United States 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 United States 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.
43
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.
(h)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 thisSection 4.11 (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to thisSection 4.11), 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 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund). Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this paragraph (h) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (h), in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this paragraph (h) the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the indemnified party would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. This paragraph shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.
(i)Indemnification of the Administrative Agent. Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent within ten days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that any Credit Party has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Credit Parties to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions ofSection 11.8(d) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this paragraph (i). The agreements in paragraph (i) shall survive the resignation and/or replacement of the Administrative Agent.
(j)Survival. Each party’s obligations under thisSection 4.11 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document.
44
Section 4.12Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.
(a)Designation of a Different Lending Office. If any Lender requests compensation underSection 4.10, or requires the Borrower to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant toSection 4.11, then such Lender shall, at the request of the Borrower, use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant toSection 4.10 orSection 4.11, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.
(b)Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation underSection 4.10, or if the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant toSection 4.11, and, in each case, such Lender has declined or is unable to designate a different lending office in accordance withSection 4.12(a), or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or a Non-Consenting Lender, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by,Section 11.8), all of its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant toSection 4.10 or4.11) and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment);provided that:
(i) the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee (if any) specified inSection 11.8;
(ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts underSection 4.9) 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 underSection 4.10 or payments required to be made pursuant toSection 4.11, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter;
(iv) such assignment does not conflict with Applicable Law; and
(v) in the case of any assignment resulting from a Lender becoming a Non-Consenting Lender, the applicable assignee shall have consented to the applicable amendment, waiver or consent.
A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.
45
Section 4.13Incremental Loans.
(a) At any time, the Borrower may by written notice to the Administrative Agent elect to request the establishment of:
(i) one or more incremental term loan commitments (any such incremental term loan commitment, an “Incremental Term Loan Commitment”) to make one or more additional term loans (any such additional term loan, an “Incremental Term Loan”); or
(ii) one or more increases in the Revolving Credit Commitments (any such increase, an “Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment” and, together with the Incremental Term Loan Commitments, the “Incremental Loan Commitments”) to make revolving credit loans under the Revolving Credit Facility (any such increase, an “Incremental Revolving Credit Increase” and, together with the Incremental Term Loans, the “Incremental Loans“);
provided that (1) the total aggregate principal amount for all such Incremental Loan Commitments (and Incremental Loans funded thereunder) and all Commercial Bank Increases shall not (as of any date of incurrence thereof) exceed (x) $200,000,000plus (y) after such $200,000,000 has been fully utilized, an amount equal to the amount of additional Indebtedness (in no case to exceed $100,000,000 for all such further Incremental Loan Commitments (and Incremental Loans funded thereunder) and all further Commercial Bank Increases) that would cause the Consolidated First Lien Leverage Ratio as of the four consecutive fiscal quarter period most recently ended prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant toSection 7.1(a) or7.1(b), calculated on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to the incurrence of such additional Indebtedness to exceed 3.00:1.00;provided that the aggregate amount of (a) such new or additional Incremental Term Loans, (b) Incremental Revolving Credit Increases (after giving effect to any increase) and (c) the principal amount of the Revolving Credit Facility (with all unfunded commitments being deemed fully funded) and the Term Loan Facility (if any) does not exceed 50% of the sum of the outstanding principal amount of loans and unfunded commitments under this Agreement and the Commercial Bank Facility on a combined basis (after giving effect to all Incremental Loans and all Commercial Bank Increases), and (2) the total aggregate amount for each Incremental Loan Commitment (and the Incremental Loans made thereunder) shall not be less than a minimum principal amount of $20,000,000 or, if less, the remaining amount permitted pursuant to the foregoing clause (1). Each such notice shall specify the date (each, an “Increased Amount Date”) on which the Borrower proposes that any Incremental Loan Commitment shall be effective, which shall be a date not less than ten Business Days (or such shorter time as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent) after the date on which such notice is delivered to Administrative Agent. The Borrower may invite any Lender, any Affiliate of any Lender and/or any Approved Fund, and/or any other Farm Credit Lender who would be an Eligible Assignee for the applicable class of Loan or Commitment, to provide an Incremental Loan Commitment (any such Person, an “Incremental Lender”). Any proposed Incremental Lender offered or approached to provide all or a portion of any Incremental Loan Commitment may elect or decline, in its sole discretion, to provide such Incremental Loan Commitment. Any Incremental Loan Commitment shall become effective as of such Increased Amount Date;provided that:
(A) no Default or Event of Default shall exist on such Increased Amount Date before or after giving effect to (1) any Incremental Loan Commitment, (2) the making of any Incremental Loans pursuant thereto and (3) any Permitted Acquisition or Investment consummated in connection therewith,provided that if any such Incremental Term Loan Commitment is being made in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or other permitted Investment the consummation of which is not substantially contemporaneous with the agreement to undertake such transaction and the applicable Credit Party’s obligation to consummate such transaction is not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third party financing (a “Limited Condition Acquisition”), such condition and the requirements of Section 5.2(b) may be waived by the applicable Incremental Term Lenders (except with respect to Events of Default set forth in clauses (a), (b), (h) or (i) ofSection 9.1);
46
(B) the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received from the Borrower an Officer’s Compliance Certificate demonstrating, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, that the Borrower is in compliance with the financial covenants set forth inSection 8.13 and, if applicable, the Consolidated First Lien Leverage Ratio set forth in clause (a) above, in each case based on the financial statements most recently delivered pursuant toSection 7.1(a) or7.1(b), as applicable, both before and after giving effect (on a Pro Forma Basis) to (x) any Incremental Loan Commitment (with any Incremental Term Loan Commitment being deemed to be fully funded) and (y) any Permitted Acquisition consummated in connection therewith,provided that in calculating the Consolidated First Lien Leverage Ratio, all unfunded commitments shall be deemed fully funded, as set forth in the definition thereof;
(C) each of the representations and warranties contained in Article VI shall be true and correct in all material respects, except to the extent any such representation and warranty is qualified by materiality or reference to Material Adverse Effect, in which case, such representation and warranty shall be true, correct and complete in all respects, on such Increased Amount Date with the same effect as if made on and as of such date (except for any such representation and warranty that by its terms is made only as of an earlier date, which representation and warranty shall remain true and correct as of such earlier date)provided that if any such Incremental Term Loan Commitment is being made in connection with a Limited Condition Acquisition, such condition may be waived by the applicable Incremental Term Lenders (except with respect to the Specified Representations (appliedmutatis mutandis to such Permitted Acquisition or Investment, where such representations currently reference the Transactions));
(D) the proceeds of any Incremental Loans shall be used for general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (including Permitted Acquisitions);
(E) each Incremental Loan Commitment (and the Incremental Loans made thereunder) shall constitute Obligations of the Borrower and shall be secured and guaranteed with the other Extensions of Credit on apari passu basis;
(F) (1) in the case of each Incremental Term Loan (the terms of which shall be set forth in the relevant Lender Joinder Agreement):
(x) such Incremental Term Loan will amortize and bear interest in a manner determined by the Incremental Lenders making such Incremental Term Loan and the Borrower,provided that such Incremental Term Loan will not in any event have a maturity date earlier than the Revolving Credit Maturity Date;
(y) except as provided above and inSection 4.13(d) below, all other terms and conditions applicable to any Incremental Term Loan (including with respect to mandatory prepayment) shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower;
47
(2) in the case of each Incremental Revolving Credit Increase (the terms of which shall be set forth in the relevant Lender Joinder Agreement):
(x) any upfront fees applicable to such Revolving Credit Increase shall be as determined by the Borrower and Lenders providing such Incremental Revolving Credit Increase, and such Incremental Revolving Credit Increase shall mature on the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, shall bear interest and be entitled to fees (other than upfront fees), in each case at the rate applicable to the Revolving Credit Loans, and shall be subject to the same other terms and conditions as the Revolving Credit Loans;
(y) the outstanding Revolving Credit Loans will be reallocated by the Administrative Agent on the applicable Increased Amount Date among the Revolving Credit Lenders (including the Incremental Lenders providing such Incremental Revolving Credit Increase) in accordance with their revised Revolving Credit Commitment Percentages (and the Revolving Credit Lenders (including the Incremental Lenders providing such Incremental Revolving Credit Increase) agree to make all payments and adjustments necessary to effect such reallocation and the Borrower shall pay any and all costs required pursuant toSection 4.9 in connection with such reallocation as if such reallocation were a repayment); and
(z) all of the other terms and conditions applicable to such Incremental Revolving Credit Increase shall be identical to the terms and conditions applicable to the Revolving Credit Facility;
(G) any Incremental Lender with an Incremental Revolving Credit Increase shall be entitled to the same voting rights as the existing Revolving Credit Lenders under the Revolving Credit Facility and any Extensions of Credit made in connection with each Incremental Revolving Credit Increase shall receive proceeds of prepayments on the same basis as the other Revolving Credit Loans made hereunder;
(H) such Incremental Loan Commitments shall be effected pursuant to one or more Lender Joinder Agreements executed and delivered by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the applicable Incremental Lenders (which Lender Joinder Agreement may, without the consent of any other Lenders, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to effect the provisions of thisSection 4.13); and
(I) the Borrower shall deliver or cause to be delivered any customary legal opinions or other documents (including a resolution duly adopted by the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) of each Credit Party authorizing such Incremental Loan and/or Incremental Term Loan Commitment) reasonably requested by Administrative Agent in connection with any such transaction.
48
(b) The Incremental Lenders shall be included in any determination of the Required Lenders or Required Revolving Credit Lenders, as applicable, and, unless otherwise agreed, the Incremental Lenders providing an Incremental Revolving Credit Increase or Incremental Term Loan will not constitute a separate Class from any other Revolving Credit Loan or Term Loan, respectively, for any purposes under this Agreement.
(c) (i) On any Increased Amount Date on which any Incremental Term Loan Commitment becomes effective, subject to the foregoing terms and conditions, each Incremental Lender with an Incremental Term Loan Commitment shall make, or be obligated to make, an Incremental Term Loan to the Borrower in an amount equal to its Incremental Term Loan Commitment and shall become a Term Loan Lender hereunder with respect to such Incremental Term Loan Commitment and the Incremental Term Loan made pursuant thereto.
(ii) On any Increased Amount Date on which any Incremental Revolving Credit Increase becomes effective, subject to the foregoing terms and conditions, each Incremental Lender with an Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment shall become a Revolving Credit Lender hereunder with respect to such Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment.
(d)Mandatory Prepayment from Debt Issuances.
(i) The Borrower shall make mandatory principal prepayments of the Loans in the manner set forth in clause (ii) below in an amount equal to 100% of the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds from any Debt Issuance not otherwise permitted pursuant toSection 8.1. Such prepayment shall be made within three Business Days after the date of receipt of the Net Cash Proceeds of any such Debt Issuance.
(ii) Upon the occurrence of any event triggering the prepayment requirement under clause (i) above, the Borrower shall promptly deliver a Notice of Prepayment to the Administrative Agent and upon receipt of such notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly so notify the Lenders. Each prepayment of the Loans under thisSection 4.13(d) shall be applied (subject in all cases to the Intercreditor Agreement) as follows:first, unless otherwise waived by the applicable Incremental Lenders, to the remaining scheduled principal installments of any Incremental Term Loans as determined by the Borrower and the applicable Incremental Lenders and (ii)second, to the extent of any excess, to prepay the Revolving Credit Loans without a corresponding reduction in the applicable revolving commitments.
Section 4.14Reserved.
Section 4.15Defaulting Lenders.
(a)Defaulting Lender Adjustments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, until such time as such Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law:
(i)Waivers and Amendments. Such Defaulting Lender’s right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement shall be restricted as set forth in the definition of Required Lenders andSection 11.2.
49
(ii)Defaulting Lender Waterfall. Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant toArticle IX or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant toSection 11.4 shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows:first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder;second, as the Borrower may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Loan or funded participation in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent;third, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in a deposit account and releasedprorata in order to satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans and funded participations under this Agreement;fourth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement;fifth, so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; andsixth, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction;provided that if (1) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (2) such Loans were made at a time when the conditions set forth inSection 5.2 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of all Non-Defaulting Lenders on aprorata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans are held by the Lendersprorata in accordance with the Revolving Credit Commitments under the applicable Revolving Credit Facility without giving effect toSection 4.15(a)(iv). Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender pursuant to thisSection 4.15(a)(ii) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.
(iii)Certain Fees.
(A) No Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive any Commitment Fee for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Borrower shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender).
(B) With respect to any Commitment Fee not required to be paid to any Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (A) above, the Borrower shall not be required to pay the remaining amount of any such fee.
(b)Defaulting Lender Cure. If the Borrower and the Administrative Agent agree in writing that a Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein, such Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase at par that portion of outstanding Loans of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Loans to be heldprorata by the Lenders in
50
accordance with the Commitments under the applicable Credit Facility, whereupon such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender;provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; andprovided,further, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.
(c)Defaulting Participants. To the extent applicable, the provisions of thisSection 4.15 shall apply to Defaulting Participants mutatis mutandis.
Section 4.16Capital Plans.
(a) Each party hereto acknowledges that the bylaws and capital plan, as applicable, of Northwest Farm Credit Services, ACA (“Northwest ACA”) (as each may be amended from time to time) shall govern (i) the rights and obligations of the parties with respect to the Farm Credit Equities and any patronage refunds or other distributions made on account thereof or on account of the Borrower’s patronage with NWFCS, (ii) the Borrower’s eligibility for patronage distributions from NWFCS and (iii) patronage distributions, if any, in the event of a sale of a participation interest. NWFCS reserves the right to assign or sell participations in all or any part of its Commitments or outstanding Loans hereunder on a non-patronage basis to the extent such assignment or participation is in compliance with the applicable provisions ofSection 11.8.
(b) Each party hereto acknowledges that NWFCS has a statutory first Lien pursuant to the Farm Credit Act of 1971 (as amended from time to time) on all Farm Credit Equities that the Borrower may now own or hereafter acquire, and a related consensual Lien pursuant to the membership agreement entered into by the Borrower with NWFCS, which statutory and consensual Liens shall be the sole and exclusive benefit of NWFCS. Notwithstanding anything herein or in any other Loan Document to the contrary, the Farm Credit Equities shall not constitute security for the Obligations due to any other Lender. To the extent that any of the Loan Documents create a Lien on the Farm Credit Equities or on patronage accrued by NWFCS for the account of the Borrower (including, in each case, proceeds thereof), such Lien shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of NWFCS and shall not be subject to pro rata sharing hereunder. Neither the Farm Credit Equities nor any accrued patronage shall be offset against the Obligations except that, in the event of an Event of Default, NWFCS may elect to apply the cash portion of any patronage distribution or retirement of equity to amounts due under this Agreement. The Borrower acknowledges that any corresponding tax liability associated with such application is the sole responsibility of the Borrower. NWFCS shall have no obligation to retire the Farm Credit Equities upon any Event of Default, Default or any other default by the Borrower or any other Credit Party, or at any other time, either for application to the Obligations or otherwise.
ARTICLE V.
CONDITIONS OF CLOSING AND BORROWING
Section 5.1Conditions to Closing and Initial Extensions of Credit. The obligation of the Lenders to close this Agreement and to make the initial Loans, if any, is subject to the satisfaction of each of the following conditions:
(a)Executed Loan Documents. This Agreement, a Revolving Credit Note in favor of each Revolving Credit Lender requesting a Revolving Credit Note, the Security Documents, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement, together with any other applicable Loan Documents, shall have been duly authorized, executed and delivered to the Administrative Agent by the parties thereto, shall be in full force and effect and no Default or Event of Default shall exist hereunder or thereunder.
51
(b)Closing Certificates; Etc. The Administrative Agent shall have received each of the following in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:
(i)Officer’s Certificate. A certificate from a Responsible Officer of the Borrower to the effect that (A) all representations and warranties of the Credit Parties contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents are true, correct and complete in all material respects (except to the extent any such representation and warranty is qualified by materiality or reference to Material Adverse Effect, in which case, such representation and warranty shall be true, correct and complete in all respects); (B) none of the Credit Parties is in violation of any of the covenants contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents; (C) after giving effect to the Transactions, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; (D) since December 31, 2015, no event has occurred or condition arisen, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or could reasonably be expected to have (1) a Material Adverse Effect or (2) a material impairment of the ability of any Credit Party to perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party; and (E) each of the Credit Parties, as applicable, has satisfied each of the conditions set forth inSection 5.1 and5.2.
(ii)Certificate of Secretary of each Credit Party. A certificate of a Responsible Officer of each Credit Party certifying as to the incumbency and genuineness of the signature of each officer of such Credit Party executing Loan Documents to which it is a party and certifying that attached thereto is a true, correct and complete copy of (A) the articles or certificate of incorporation or formation (or equivalent), as applicable, of such Credit Party and all amendments thereto, certified as of a recent date by the appropriate Governmental Authority in its jurisdiction of incorporation, organization or formation (or equivalent), as applicable, (B) the bylaws or other governing document of such Credit Party as in effect on the Closing Date, (C) resolutions duly adopted by the board of directors (or other governing body) of such Credit Party authorizing and approving the transactions contemplated hereunder and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party, and (D) each certificate required to be delivered pursuant toSection 5.1(b)(iii).
(iii)Certificates of Good Standing. Certificates as of a recent date of the good standing of each Credit Party under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, organization or formation (or equivalent), as applicable.
(iv)Opinions of Counsel. Opinions of counsel to the Credit Parties addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders with respect to the Credit Parties, the Loan Documents and such other matters as the Administrative Agent shall request (which such opinions shall expressly permit reliance by permitted successors and assigns of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders).
52
(c)Personal Property Collateral.
(i)Filings and Recordings. The Administrative Agent shall have received all filings and recordations in the applicable Uniform Commercial Code filing offices and in the United States Copyright Office and United States Patent and Trademark Office that are necessary to perfect the security interests of the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, in the Collateral and the Administrative Agent shall have received evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that upon such filings and recordations such security interests constitute valid and perfected first priority Liens thereon (subject to Permitted Liens).
(ii)Pledged Collateral. The Commercial Bank Agent shall have received (A) original stock certificates or other certificates evidencing the certificated Equity Interests pledged pursuant to the Security Documents, together with an undated stock power for each such certificate duly executed in blank by the registered owner thereof and (B) each original promissory note pledged and required to be delivered pursuant to the Security Documents together with an undated allonge for each such promissory note duly executed in blank by the holder thereof, to be held pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement.
(iii)Lien Search. The Administrative Agent shall have received the results of a Lien search (including a search as to judgments, bankruptcy, tax and intellectual property matters), in form and substance reasonably satisfactory thereto, made against the Credit Parties under the Uniform Commercial Code (or applicable judicial docket) as in effect in each jurisdiction in which filings or recordations under the Uniform Commercial Code should be made to evidence or perfect security interests in all assets of such Credit Party, indicating among other things that the assets of each such Credit Party are free and clear of any Lien (except for Permitted Liens).
(iv)Property and Liability Insurance. The Administrative Agent shall have received, in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, evidence of property, business interruption and liability insurance covering each Credit Party.
(d)Consents; Defaults.
(i)Governmental and Third Party Approvals. The Credit Parties shall have received all material governmental, shareholder and third party consents and approvals necessary in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
(ii)No Injunction, Etc. No action, proceeding or investigation shall have been instituted, threatened or proposed before any Governmental Authority to enjoin, restrain or prohibit, or to obtain substantial damages in respect of, or which is related to or arises out of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or which, in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion, would make it inadvisable to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.
(e)Financial Matters.
(i)Financial Statements. The Administrative Agent shall have received (A) the audited Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2015, and the related audited statements of income and retained earnings and cash flows for the Fiscal Year then ended and (B) unaudited Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of June 30, 2016 and related unaudited interim statements of income and retained earnings and cash flows.
53
(ii)Financial Projections. The Administrative Agent shall have received pro forma Consolidated financial statements for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and projections prepared by management of the Borrower for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016 and each year thereafter during the term of the Credit Facility.
(iii)Financial Condition/Solvency Certificate. The Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and certified as accurate by the chief financial officer of the Borrower, that (A) after giving effect to the Transactions the Credit Parties, on a Pro Forma Basis, are Solvent, and (B) attached thereto are calculations evidencing compliance on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to the Transactions with the covenants contained inSection 8.13.
(iv)Payment at Closing. The Borrower shall have paid or made arrangements to pay contemporaneously with closing (A) to the Administrative Agent, the Arranger and the Lenders the fees set forth or referenced inSection 4.3 and any other accrued and unpaid fees or commissions due hereunder, (B) all reasonable and documented fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent (directly to such counsel if requested by the Administrative Agent) to the extent accrued, invoiced and unpaid prior to or on the Closing Date, plus such reasonable additional amounts of such fees, charges and disbursements of counsel as shall constitute its reasonable estimate of such fees, charges and disbursements incurred or to be incurred by it through the Closing Date (provided that such estimate shall not thereafter preclude a final settling of accounts between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent) and (C) to any other Person such amount as may be due thereto in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including all taxes, fees and other charges in connection with the execution, delivery, recording, filing and registration of any of the Loan Documents.
(f)Commercial Bank Facility. The Administrative Agent shall have received (x) copies of the Commercial Bank Facility and the “Loan Documents” as defined thereunder (including all exhibits, appendices, schedules, annexes and attachments thereto and amendments thereof), duly executed by each party thereto, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and (y) evidence that the conditions to closing thereunder have been satisfied and the closing thereof will occur concurrently with the closing of this Agreement in accordance with all such documents.
(g)Miscellaneous.
(i)Notice of Account Designation. The Administrative Agent shall have received a Notice of Account Designation specifying the account or accounts to which the proceeds of any Loans made on or after the Closing Date are to be disbursed.
(ii)Due Diligence. The Administrative Agent shall have completed, to its satisfaction, all legal, tax, environmental, business and other due diligence with respect to the business, assets, liabilities, operations and condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in scope and determination satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion.
54
(iii)Existing Indebtedness. All Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (including outstanding Indebtedness under the Existing Loan Agreement but excluding Indebtedness permitted pursuant toSection 8.1) shall be repaid in full, all commitments (if any) in respect thereof shall have been terminated and all guarantees therefor and security therefor shall be released, and the Administrative Agent shall have received pay-off letters in form and substance satisfactory to it evidencing such repayment, termination and release.
(iv)PATRIOT Act, etc. The Borrower and each of the Subsidiary Guarantors shall have provided to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders the documentation and other information requested by the Administrative Agent at least ten Business Days prior to the Closing Date in order to comply with requirements of the PATRIOT Act, applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations.
(v)Farm Credit Equity. The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, that the Borrower shall have entered into a membership agreement with NWFCS that obligates the Borrower to acquire at least $1,000 of equity in Northwest ACA.
(vi)Waiver of Borrower Rights. The Administrative Agent shall have received an executed Waiver of Borrower Rights letter in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(vii)Farm Credit Eligibility. The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence reasonably satisfactory to it that the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall own the right to harvest standing timber as of the Closing Date of not less than five percent (5%) of the annual throughput used in the Lewiston processing facility pursuant to one or more timber deeds and/or timber cutting rights agreements delivered to the Administrative Agent prior to the Closing Date.
(viii)Other Documents. All opinions, certificates and other instruments and all proceedings in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall have received copies of all other documents, certificates and instruments reasonably requested thereby, with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Without limiting the generality of the provisions ofSection 10.3(c), for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in thisSection 5.1, the Administrative Agent and each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.
Section 5.2Conditions to All Extensions of Credit. Except as otherwise expressly provided in Section 4.13 with respect to Incremental Loans, the obligations of the Lenders to make or participate in any Loan (including the initial Loans) are subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent on the relevant borrowing, issuance or extension date:
55
(a)Continuation of Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects, except for any representation and warranty that is qualified by materiality or reference to Material Adverse Effect, which such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all respects, on and as of such borrowing, issuance or extension date with the same effect as if made on and as of such date (except for any such representation and warranty that by its terms is made only as of an earlier date, which representation and warranty shall remain true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date, except for any representation and warranty that is qualified by materiality or reference to Material Adverse Effect, which such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all respects as of such earlier date).
(b)No Existing Default. No Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the borrowing date with respect to such Loan or after giving effect to the Loans to be made on such date.
(c)Notices. The Administrative Agent shall have received a Notice of Borrowing from the Borrower in accordance withSection 2.3(a) orSection 3.2, as applicable.
ARTICLE VI.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE CREDIT PARTIES
To induce the Administrative Agent and Lenders to enter into this Agreement and to induce the Lenders to make Extensions of Credit, the Credit Parties hereby represent and warrant to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders both before and after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereunder, which representations and warranties shall be deemed made on the Closing Date and as otherwise set forth inSection 5.2, that:
Section 6.1Organization; Power; Qualification. Each Credit Party and each Subsidiary thereof (a) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation, (b) has the power and authority to own its Properties and to carry on its business as now being and hereafter proposed to be conducted and (c) is duly qualified and authorized to do business in each jurisdiction in which the character of its Properties or the nature of its business requires such qualification and authorization except in jurisdictions where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The jurisdictions in which each Credit Party and each Subsidiary thereof are organized as of the Closing Date are described onSchedule 6.1.
Section 6.2Ownership. Each Subsidiary of each Credit Party as of the Closing Date is listed onSchedule 6.2. As of the Closing Date, the capitalization of each Credit Party (other than the Borrower) and its Subsidiaries consists of the number of shares, authorized, issued and outstanding, of such classes and series, with or without par value, described onSchedule 6.2. As of the Closing Date, all outstanding shares listed onSchedule 6.2 have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable and not subject to any preemptive or similar rights. As of the Closing Date, there are no outstanding stock purchase warrants, subscriptions, options, securities, instruments or other rights of any type or nature whatsoever, which are convertible into, exchangeable for or otherwise provide for or require the issuance of Equity Interests of any Credit Party (other than the Borrower) or any Subsidiary thereof, except as described onSchedule 6.2.
56
Section 6.3Authorization; Enforceability. Each Credit Party and each Subsidiary thereof has the right, power and authority and has taken all necessary corporate and other action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents to which it is a party in accordance with their respective terms. This Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents have been duly executed and delivered by the duly authorized officers of each Credit Party and each Subsidiary thereof that is a party thereto, and each such document constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of each Credit Party and each Subsidiary thereof that is a party thereto, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar state or federal Debtor Relief Laws from time to time in effect which affect the enforcement of creditors’ rights in general and the availability of equitable remedies.
Section 6.4Compliance of Agreement, Loan Documents and Borrowing with Laws, Etc. The execution, delivery and performance by each Credit Party and each Subsidiary thereof of the Loan Documents to which each such Person is a party, in accordance with their respective terms, the Extensions of Credit hereunder and the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby do not and will not, by the passage of time, the giving of notice or otherwise, (a) require any Governmental Approval or violate any Applicable Law relating to any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof, (b) conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute a default under the articles of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational documents of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof, (c) conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute a default under any Governmental Approval relating to such Person, which could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (d) with respect to the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents by any Credit Party, result in or require the creation or imposition of any Lien upon or with respect to any property now owned or hereafter acquired by such Person other than Permitted Liens or (e) require any consent or authorization of, filing with, or other act in respect of, an arbitrator or Governmental Authority and no consent of any other Person is required in connection with the execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of this Agreement other than (i) consents, authorizations, filings or other acts or consents for which the failure to obtain or make could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) consents or filings under the UCC, (iii) filings with the United States Copyright Office and/or the United States Patent and Trademark Office and (iv) such other consents, authorizations, filings or acts which have been made or obtained in connection with this Agreement or any Security Document and are in full force and effect.
Section 6.5Compliance with Law; Governmental Approvals. Each Credit Party and each Subsidiary thereof (a) has all Governmental Approvals required by any Applicable Law for it to conduct its business as currently being conducted, each of which is in full force and effect, (b) is in compliance with each Governmental Approval applicable to it and in compliance with all other Applicable Laws relating to it or any of its respective properties and (c) has timely filed all material reports, documents and other materials required to be filed by it under all Applicable Laws with any Governmental Authority and has retained all material records and documents required to be retained by it under Applicable Law, except in each case (a), (b) or (c) where the failure to have, comply or file could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 6.6Tax Returns and Payments. Each Credit Party and each Subsidiary thereof has duly filed or caused to be filed all federal, and all other material state, local and other material tax returns required by Applicable Law to be filed, and has paid, or made adequate provision for the payment of, all material federal, state, local and other taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it and its property, income, profits and assets which are due and payable (other than any amount the validity of which is currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which reserves in conformity with GAAP have been provided for on the books of the relevant Credit Party). Such material tax returns accurately reflect in all material respects all liability for taxes of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof for the periods covered thereby. No Governmental Authority has asserted any Lien or other claim against any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof with respect to any material
57
unpaid taxes which has not been discharged or resolved (other than (a) any amount the validity of which is currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which reserves in conformity with GAAP have been provided for on the books of the relevant Credit Party and (b) Permitted Liens).
Section 6.7Intellectual Property Matters. Each Credit Party and each Subsidiary thereof owns or possesses rights to use all material franchises, licenses, copyrights, copyright applications, patents, patent rights or licenses, patent applications, trademarks, trademark rights, service mark, service mark rights, trade names, trade name rights, copyrights and other rights with respect to the foregoing which are reasonably necessary to conduct its business, except where the failure to own or possess such rights could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No event has occurred which permits, or after notice or lapse of time or both would permit, the revocation or termination of any such rights, and no Credit Party nor any Subsidiary thereof is liable to any Person for infringement under Applicable Law with respect to any such rights as a result of its business operations, which in either case would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 6.8Environmental Matters. Except for matters or circumstances that could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect:
(a) There has been no release, or to its knowledge, threat of release, of Hazardous Materials at, on, under or from properties owned, leased or operated by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary, now or in the past, in violation of or in amounts or in a manner that could give rise to liability under applicable Environmental Laws;
(b) Each Credit Party and each Subsidiary is currently in compliance, and has previously been in compliance, with all Environmental Laws applicable to its properties and operations, and there are no Hazardous Materials at, on, under or originating from such properties or such operations that could interfere with the continued operation of such properties or impair the fair saleable value thereof;
(c) No Credit Party nor any Subsidiary thereof has received any notice of violation, alleged violation, non-compliance, liability or potential liability regarding environmental matters, Hazardous Materials or compliance with Environmental Laws, nor does any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof have knowledge or reason to believe that any such notice will be received or is being threatened;
(d) Hazardous Materials have not been transported or disposed of to or from the properties owned, leased or operated by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof in violation of, or in a manner or to a location which could give rise to liability under, Environmental Laws, nor have any Hazardous Materials been generated, treated, stored or disposed of at, on or under any of such properties in violation of, or in a manner that could give rise to liability under, any applicable Environmental Laws; and
(e) No judicial proceedings or governmental or administrative action is pending, or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened, with respect to any Environmental Claim or otherwise under any Environmental Law to which any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof has been named as a defendant or potentially responsible party, nor are there any consent decrees or other decrees, consent orders, administrative orders or other orders, or other administrative or judicial requirements outstanding under any applicable Environmental Law with respect to any Credit Party, any Subsidiary thereof, with respect to any real property owned, leased or operated by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof.
58
Section 6.9Employee Benefit Matters.
(a) As of the Closing Date, no Credit Party nor any ERISA Affiliate maintains or contributes to, or has any obligation under, any Employee Benefit Plans other than those identified onSchedule 6.9;
(b) Each Credit Party and each ERISA Affiliate is in compliance with all applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder with respect to all Employee Benefit Plans except for any required amendments for which the remedial amendment period as defined in Section 401(b) of the Code has not yet expired and except where a failure to so comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each Employee Benefit Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has been determined by the IRS to be so qualified, and each trust related to such plan has been determined to be exempt under Section 501(a) of the Code except for such plans that have not yet received determination letters but for which the remedial amendment period for submitting a determination letter has not yet expired. No liability has been incurred by any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate which remains unsatisfied for any taxes or penalties assessed with respect to any Employee Benefit Plan or any Multiemployer Plan except for a liability that could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(c) As of the Closing Date, no Pension Plan has been terminated, nor has any Pension Plan become subject to funding based benefit restrictions under Section 436 of the Code, nor has any funding waiver from the IRS been received or requested with respect to any Pension Plan, nor has any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate failed to make any contributions or to pay any amounts due and owing as required by Sections 412 or 430 of the Code, Section 302 of ERISA or the terms of any Pension Plan on or prior to the due dates of such contributions under Sections 412 or 430 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, nor has there been any event requiring any disclosure under Section 4041(c)(3)(C) or 4063(a) of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan;
(d) Except where the failure of any of the following representations to be correct could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, no Credit Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has: (i) engaged in a nonexempt prohibited transaction described in Section 406 of the ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, (ii) incurred any liability to the PBGC which remains outstanding other than the payment of premiums and there are no premium payments which are due and unpaid, (iii) failed to make a required contribution or payment to a Multiemployer Plan, or (iv) failed to make a required installment or other required payment under Sections 412 or 430 of the Code;
(e) Except to the extent set forth in the Borrower’s latest Form 10-K or 10-Q filed with the SEC prior to the date of this Agreement, no Termination Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; and
(f) Except where the failure of any of the following representations to be correct could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, no proceeding, claim (other than a benefits claim in the ordinary course of business), lawsuit and/or investigation is existing or, to its knowledge, threatened concerning or involving (i) any employee welfare benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA) currently maintained or contributed to by any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate, (ii) any Pension Plan or (iii) any Multiemployer Plan.
59
Section 6.10Margin Stock. No Credit Party nor any Subsidiary thereof is engaged principally or as one of its activities in the business of extending credit for the purpose of “purchasing” or “carrying” any “margin stock” (as each such term is defined or used, directly or indirectly, in Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System). No part of the proceeds of any of the Loans will be used for any purpose which violates, or which would be inconsistent with, the provisions of Regulation T, U or X of such Board of Governors. Following the application of the proceeds of each Extension of Credit, not more 25% of the value of the assets (either of the Borrower only or of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis) subject to the provisions ofSection 8.2 or8.5 or subject to any restriction contained in any agreement or instrument between the Borrower and any Lender or any Affiliate of any Lender relating to Indebtedness in excess of the Threshold Amount will be “margin stock”.
Section 6.11Government Regulation. No Credit Party nor any Subsidiary thereof is an “investment company” or a company “controlled” by an “investment company” (as each such term is defined or used in the Investment Company Act of 1940) and no Credit Party nor any Subsidiary thereof is, or after giving effect to any Extension of Credit will be, subject to regulation under the Interstate Commerce Act, or any other Applicable Law which limits its ability to incur or consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 6.12Employee Relations. As of the Closing Date, no Credit Party nor any Subsidiary thereof is party to any collective bargaining agreement, nor has any labor union been recognized as the representative of its employees except as set forth onSchedule 6.12. The Borrower knows of no threatened (in accordance with the applicable collective bargaining agreement) in writing or pending strikes, work stoppage or other collective labor disputes involving its employees or those of its Subsidiaries that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 6.13Financial Statements. The audited and unaudited financial statements delivered pursuant toSection 5.1(e)(i) fairly present, in all material respects, on a Consolidated basis the assets, liabilities and financial position of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at such dates, and the results of the operations and changes of financial position for the periods then ended (other than customary year-end adjustments for unaudited financial statements and the absence of footnotes from unaudited financial statements). All such financial statements, including the related schedules and notes thereto, have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. Such financial statements show all material indebtedness and other material liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof, including material liabilities for taxes, material commitments, and Indebtedness, in each case, to the extent required to be disclosed under GAAP. The projections delivered pursuant toSection 5.1(e)(ii) were prepared in good faith on the basis of the assumptions stated therein, which assumptions are believed to be reasonable in light of then existing conditions (it being recognized by the Lenders that projections are not to be viewed as facts and that the actual results during the period or periods covered by such projections may vary from such projections and that such differences may be material and that such projections are not a guarantee of performance).
Section 6.14No Material Adverse Effect. Since December 31, 2015, there has been no Material Adverse Effect or event, condition or contingency that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 6.15Solvency. The Credit Parties, on a Consolidated basis, are Solvent.
60
Section 6.16Title to Properties. Each Credit Party and each Subsidiary thereof has such title or leasehold to the real property owned or leased by it as is necessary to the conduct of its business and valid and legal title to all personal property and assets owned by it, in each case, subject to Permitted Liens, except those which have been disposed of by the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries subsequent to such date which dispositions have been in the ordinary course of business or as otherwise expressly permitted hereunder.
Section 6.17Litigation. Except for matters existing on the Closing Date and set forth onSchedule 6.17,there are no actions, suits or proceedings pending nor, to its knowledge, threatened in writing against or in any other way relating adversely to or affecting any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof or any of their respective properties in any court or before any arbitrator of any kind or before or by any Governmental Authority that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 6.18Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions. None of (a) the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any of their respective directors, officers, employees or affiliates, or (b) to the knowledge of the Borrower, any agent or representative of the Borrower or any Subsidiary that will act in any capacity in connection with or benefit from the credit facility established hereby, (i) is a Sanctioned Person or currently the subject or target of any Sanctions or (ii) has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such Persons of any Anti-Corruption Laws.
Section 6.19Absence of Defaults. No event has occurred or is continuing which constitutes a Default or Event of Default.
Section 6.20Senior Indebtedness Status. The Obligations of each Credit Party and each Subsidiary thereof under this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents ranks and shall continue to rank at least senior in priority of payment to all Subordinated Indebtedness and all senior unsecured Indebtedness of each such Person and is designated as “Senior Indebtedness” under all instruments and documents, now or in the future, relating to all Subordinated Indebtedness and all senior unsecured Indebtedness of such Person.
Section 6.21Disclosure. No financial statement, written material report, material certificate or other material written information furnished in writing (including the Borrower’s filings with the SEC, but excluding projected or estimated information) by or on behalf of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished), taken together as a whole, contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading in any material respect on the date as of which such information is dated or certified;provided that, with respect to projected financial information, estimated and pro forma financial information and other projected or estimated information, such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time (it being recognized by the Lenders that such projections are not to be viewed as facts and that the actual results during the period or periods covered by such projections may vary from such projections and that such differences may be material and that such projections are not a guarantee of performance).
61
ARTICLE VII.
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
Until all of the Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations not then due) have been paid and satisfied in full in cash and the Commitments terminated, each Credit Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to:
Section 7.1Financial Statements and Budgets. Deliver to the Administrative Agent, in form and detail satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly make such information available to the Lenders in accordance with its customary practice):
(a)Annual Financial Statements. Within 90 days (or, if earlier, on the date of any required public filing thereof) after the end of each Fiscal Year (commencing with the Fiscal Year ending December 31, 2016), an audited Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the close of such Fiscal Year and audited Consolidated statements of income, retained earnings and cash flows including the notes thereto, all in reasonable detail setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures as of the end of and for the preceding Fiscal Year and prepared in accordance with GAAP and, if applicable, containing disclosure of the effect on the financial position or results of operations of any change in the application of accounting principles and practices during the year. Such annual financial statements shall be audited by an independent certified public accounting firm of recognized national standing acceptable to the Administrative Agent, and accompanied by a report and opinion thereon by such certified public accountants prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards that is not subject to any “going concern” or similar explanatory language or any qualification as to the scope of such audit or with respect to accounting principles followed by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries not in accordance with GAAP.
(b)Quarterly Financial Statements. Within 45 days (or, if earlier, on the date of any required public filing thereof) after the end of the first three fiscal quarters of each Fiscal Year (commencing with the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2016), an unaudited Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the close of such fiscal quarter and unaudited Consolidated statements of income, retained earnings and cash flows and a report containing management’s discussion and analysis of such financial statements for the fiscal quarter then ended and that portion of the Fiscal Year then ended, including the notes thereto, all in reasonable detail setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures as of the end of and for the corresponding period in the preceding Fiscal Year and prepared by the Borrower in accordance with GAAP and, if applicable, containing disclosure of the effect on the financial position or results of operations of any change in the application of accounting principles and practices during the period, and certified by the chief financial officer of the Borrower to present fairly in all material respects the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis as of their respective dates and the results of operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the respective periods then ended, subject to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes.
(c)Annual Budget. Within 30 days after the end of each Fiscal Year (or, if sooner, when finalized by the Borrower’s board of directors), an operating and capital budget of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the ensuing four fiscal quarters on a consolidated basis and a report containing management’s discussion and analysis of such budget with a reasonable disclosure of the key assumptions and drivers with respect to such budget, accompanied by a certificate from a Responsible Officer of the Borrower to the effect that such budget contains good faith estimates (utilizing assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time of delivery of such budget) of the financial condition and operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period.
62
Section 7.2Certificates; Other Reports. Deliver to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly make such information available to the Lenders in accordance with its customary practice):
(a) at each time financial statements are delivered pursuant toSection 7.1(a) or(b) a duly completed Officer’s Compliance Certificate signed by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower, which Officer’s Compliance Certificate shall, if accompanying the annual financial statements delivered pursuant toSection 7.1(a), include a summary of the Borrower’s and its Subsidiaries’ contracted timber volume, and amount of throughput utilized in the facilities of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, for the applicable Fiscal Year;
(b) promptly upon receipt thereof, copies of all management reports, if any, submitted to the Borrower or its board of directors by its independent public accountants in connection with their auditing function, including any management responses thereto;
(c) promptly after the furnishing thereof, (i) copies of any statement or report furnished to the Commercial Bank Agent pursuant to the terms of the Commercial Bank Facility other than (x) any such statement or report already furnished to the Administrative Agent and (y) routine administrative notices and (ii) copies of any notice of default or event of default furnished by any holder of Indebtedness of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof in excess of the Threshold Amount pursuant to the terms of any indenture, loan or credit or similar agreement;
(d) promptly after the institution, filing or receipt thereof, notice of any action or proceeding by any Governmental Authority against any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof with any Environmental Law that could, if adversely determined, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(e) promptly, and in any event within five Business Days after receipt thereof by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof, copies of each notice or other correspondence received from the SEC (or comparable agency in any applicable non-U.S. jurisdiction) concerning any investigation or possible investigation by such agency regarding financial or other operational results of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof;
(f) promptly upon the request thereof, such other information and documentation required by bank regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations (including the PATRIOT Act), as from time to time reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender; and
(g) such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request.
Documents required to be delivered pursuant toSection 7.1(a) or(b) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date on which (i) the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed inSection 11.1; (ii) such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); or (iii) such documents are publicly filed with the SEC. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in every instance the Borrower shall be required to provide paper copies of the Officer’s Compliance Certificates required bySection 7.2 to the Administrative Agent. Except for such Officer’s Compliance Certificates, the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery or to maintain copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Borrower with any such request for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents.
63
The Borrower hereby acknowledges that the Administrative Agent and/or the Arranger will make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on the Platform.
Section 7.3Notice of Litigation and Other Matters. Promptly (but in no event later than ten days after any Responsible Officer of any Credit Party obtains knowledge thereof) notify the Administrative Agent in writing of (which shall promptly make such information available to the Lenders in accordance with its customary practice):
(a) the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default;
(b) the commencement of all proceedings and investigations by or before any Governmental Authority and all actions and proceedings in any court or before any arbitrator against or involving any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof or any of their respective properties, assets or businesses in each case that if adversely determined could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;
(c) any notice of any violation received by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof from any Governmental Authority including any notice of violation of Environmental Laws which in any such case could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(d) any labor controversy that has resulted in, or threatens (in accordance with the applicable collective bargaining agreement) to result in, a strike or other work action against any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(e) any attachment, judgment, lien, levy or order exceeding the Threshold Amount is assessed against any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof; and
(f) (i) any unfavorable determination letter from the IRS regarding the qualification of an Employee Benefit Plan under Section 401(a) of the Code (along with a copy thereof), (ii) all notices received by any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate of the PBGC’s intent to terminate any Pension Plan or to have a trustee appointed to administer any Pension Plan, (iii) all notices received by any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan sponsor concerning the imposition of withdrawal liability pursuant to Section 4202 of ERISA and (iv) the Borrower obtaining knowledge or reason to know that any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate has filed or intends to file a notice of intent to terminate any Pension Plan under a distress termination within the meaning of Section 4041(c) of ERISA;
Each notice pursuant toSection 7.3 shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto. Each notice pursuant toSection 7.3(a) shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of this Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been breached.
Section 7.4Preservation of Corporate Existence and Related Matters. Except as permitted bySection 8.4 orSection 8.5, preserve and maintain its separate corporate existence and all rights, franchises, licenses and privileges necessary to the conduct of its business taken as a whole, and qualify and remain qualified as a foreign corporation or other entity and authorized to do business in each jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify, maintain or be authorized could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
64
Section 7.5Maintenance of Property and Licenses.
(a) Subject to Section 7.4, in addition to the requirements of any of the Security Documents, protect and preserve all Properties necessary in and material to its business taken as a whole, including copyrights, patents, trade names, service marks and trademarks; maintain in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear, obsolescence and condemnation excepted, all buildings, equipment and other tangible real and personal property; and from time to time make or cause to be made all repairs, renewals and replacements thereof and additions to such Property necessary for the conduct of its business, in each case except as such action or inaction would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Maintain, in full force and effect in all material respects, each and every license, permit, certification, qualification, approval or franchise issued by any Governmental Authority (each a “License”) required for each of them to conduct their respective businesses as presently conducted, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 7.6Insurance. Maintain insurance with financially sound and reputable insurance companies against at least such risks and in at least such amounts as are customarily maintained by similar businesses and as may be required by Applicable Law (including hazard and business interruption insurance). All such insurance shall, from and after the date ten days after the Closing Date, (a) provide that no cancellation thereof shall be effective until at least 30 days after receipt by the Administrative Agent of written notice thereof (unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion with respect to any such insurance), (b) name the Administrative Agent as an additional insured party thereunder and (c) in the case of each casualty insurance policy, name the Administrative Agent as lender’s loss payee or mortgagee, as applicable. On the Closing Date and from time to time thereafter, deliver to the Administrative Agent upon its request information in reasonable detail as to the insurance then in effect, stating the names of the insurance companies, the amounts and rates of the insurance, the dates of the expiration thereof and the properties and risks covered thereby.
Section 7.7Accounting Methods and Financial Records. Maintain a system of accounting, and keep proper books, records and accounts (which shall be true and complete in all material respects) as may be required or as may be necessary to permit the preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP.
Section 7.8Payment of Taxes and Other Obligations. Pay and perform all taxes, assessments and other governmental charges that may be levied or assessed upon it or any of its Property before any penalty accrues thereon;provided that no such tax, assessment or charge described in clause (a) of this Section need be paid if it is being contested in good faith so long as adequate reserves are maintained with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP.
Section 7.9Compliance with Laws and Approvals. Observe and remain in compliance all Applicable Laws and maintain in full force and effect all Governmental Approvals, in each case applicable to the conduct of its business, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
65
Section 7.10Environmental Laws. In addition to and without limiting the generality ofSection 7.9, (a) comply with, and use reasonable efforts to ensure such compliance by all tenants and subtenants with all applicable Environmental Laws and obtain and comply with and maintain, and use reasonable efforts to ensure that all tenants and subtenants, if any, obtain and comply with and maintain, any and all licenses, approvals, notifications, registrations or permits required by applicable Environmental Laws and (b) conduct and complete all investigations, studies, sampling and testing, and all remedial, removal and other actions required under Environmental Laws, and promptly comply with all lawful orders and directives of any Governmental Authority regarding Environmental Laws, in each case, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 7.11Compliance with ERISA. In addition to and without limiting the generality ofSection 7.9, (a) except where the failure to so comply could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) comply with applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder with respect to all Employee Benefit Plans, (ii) not take any action or fail to take action the result of which could reasonably be expected to result in a liability to the PBGC or to a Multiemployer Plan, (iii) not participate in any prohibited transaction that could result in any civil penalty under ERISA or tax under the Code and (iv) operate each Employee Benefit Plan in such a manner that will not incur any tax liability under Section 4980B of the Code or any liability to any qualified beneficiary as defined in Section 4980B of the Code and (b) furnish to the Administrative Agent upon the Administrative Agent’s request such additional information about any Employee Benefit Plan as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent.
Section 7.12Visits and Inspections. Permit representatives of the Administrative Agent (accompanied by any Lender), from time to time upon prior reasonable notice and at such times during normal business hours, all at the expense of the Borrower, to visit and inspect its properties; inspect, audit and make extracts from its books, records and files, including management letters prepared by independent accountants; and discuss with its principal officers, and its independent accountants, its business, assets, liabilities, financial condition, results of operations and business prospects, in each case, subject to limitations on information that (i) may not be disclosed due to third party confidentiality restrictions, (ii) is subject to attorney-client privilege or which constitutes attorney work product or (iii) is would result in disclosure of a trade secret of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;provided that excluding any such visits and inspections during the continuation of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent shall not exercise such rights more often than onceduring any calendar year at the Borrower’s expense;providedfurther that upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent or any Lender may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrower at any time without advance notice. Upon the request of the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, participate in a meeting of the Administrative Agent and Lenders once during each Fiscal Year, which meeting will be held at the Borrower’s corporate offices (or such other location as may be agreed to by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, including telephonically) at such time as may be agreed by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
Section 7.13Additional Subsidiaries.
(a)Additional Domestic Subsidiaries. Promptly after the creation or acquisition of any Domestic Subsidiary (and, in any event, within 30 days after such creation or acquisition, as such time period may be extended by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion) cause such Person to (i) become a Subsidiary Guarantor by delivering to the Administrative Agent a duly executed supplement to the Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement or such other document as the Administrative Agent shall deem appropriate for such purpose, (ii) grant a security interest in all
66
Collateral (subject to the exceptions specified in the Collateral Agreement) owned by such Subsidiary by delivering to the Administrative Agent a duly executed supplement to each applicable Security Document or such other document as the Administrative Agent shall deem appropriate for such purpose and comply with the terms of each applicable Security Document, (iii) deliver to the Administrative Agent such opinions, documents and certificates referred to inSection 5.1 as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, (iv) subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, deliver to the Administrative Agent such original certificated Equity Interests or other certificates and stock or other transfer powers evidencing the Equity Interests of such Person, to the extent applicable (and if not an Excluded Asset), (v) deliver to the Administrative Agent such updated Schedules to the Loan Documents as requested by the Administrative Agent with respect to such Person, and (vi) deliver to the Administrative Agent such other documents as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, all in form, content and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;provided that the requirements of thisSection 7.13(a) shall not apply to any Excluded Subsidiary except with respect to clauses (iv) and (v) above.
(b)Additional Foreign Subsidiaries. Notify the Administrative Agent promptly after any Person becomes a First Tier Foreign Subsidiary, and promptly thereafter (and, in any event, within 45 days after such notification, as such time period may be extended by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), cause (i) the applicable Credit Party to deliver to the Administrative Agent Security Documents pledging 65% of the total outstanding voting Equity Interests (and 100% of the non-voting Equity Interests) of any such new First Tier Foreign Subsidiary and a consent thereto executed by such new First Tier Foreign Subsidiary (including if applicable, original certificated Equity Interests (or the equivalent thereof pursuant to the Applicable Laws and practices of any relevant foreign jurisdiction) evidencing the Equity Interests of such new First Tier Foreign Subsidiary, together with an appropriate undated stock or other transfer power for each certificate duly executed in blank by the registered owner thereof), (ii) such Person to deliver to the Administrative Agent such opinions, documents and certificates referred to inSection 5.1 as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, (iii) such Person to deliver to the Administrative Agent such updated Schedules to the Loan Documents as requested by the Administrative Agent with regard to such Person and (iv) such Person to deliver to the Administrative Agent such other documents as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, all in form, content and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(c)Permitted Acquisitions. Notwithstanding anything in thisSection 7.13 to the contrary, to the extent any new Subsidiary is created solely for the purpose of consummating a Permitted Acquisition, and such new Subsidiary at no time holds any assets or liabilities other than any purchase price consideration contributed to it contemporaneously with the closing of such Permitted Acquisitions, such new Subsidiary shall not be required to take the actions set forth inSection 7.13(a) or(b), as applicable, until the consummation of such Permitted Acquisition (at which time, such new Subsidiary or surviving entity (in the case of a merger transaction) shall be required to so comply withSection 7.13(a) or(b), as applicable, within 30 days of the consummation of such Permitted Acquisition, as such time period may be extended by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion.
(d)Exclusions. The provisions of thisSection 7.13 shall not apply to any Excluded Assets (as defined in the Collateral Agreement) or any assets not taken as Collateral by the Commercial Bank Agent under the Commercial Bank Facility (to the extent such facility remains outstanding). In addition, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents to the contrary, (a) no actions to create a security interest shall be required with
67
respect to any real property collateral; (b) no perfection steps shall be required by any means other than (i) filings pursuant to the Uniform Commercial Code of the relevant State(s) of the respective jurisdictions of organization of the Credit Parties, (ii) filings in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office with respect to intellectual property, (iii) subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, delivery of Collateral consisting of instruments, notes and debt securities and (iv) subject to Intercreditor Agreement, delivery of Collateral consisting of certificated equity interests (along with, with respect to clauses (iii) and (iv), allonges and stock powers, as applicable); and (c) control agreements or similar arrangements shall not be required.
Section 7.14Use of Proceeds.
(a) The Borrower shall use the proceeds of the Extensions of Credit (i) to refinance the Existing Loan Agreement, (ii) pay fees, commissions and expenses in connection with the Transactions, (iii) for acquisitions, Capital Expenditures, Investments, Restricted Payments and other transactions not prohibited by the Loan Documents, and (iv) for working capital and general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.
(b) The Borrower shall use the proceeds of any Incremental Term Loan and any Incremental Revolving Credit Increase as permitted pursuant toSection 4.13, as applicable.
(c) The Borrower will not request any Extension of Credit, and the Borrower shall not use, and shall ensure that its Subsidiaries and its or their respective directors, officers, employees and agents shall not use, the proceeds of any Extension of Credit (i) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws, (ii) for the purpose of funding, financing or facilitating any activities, business or transaction of or with, at the time of any such funding, financing or facilitation, any Sanctioned Person, or in, at the time of any such funding, financing or facilitation, any Sanctioned Country, or (iii) in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to any party hereto.
Section 7.15Compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions. The Borrower will maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures reasonably designed to promote and achieve compliance by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions.
Section 7.16Further Assurances. Subject toSection 7.13(d), execute any and all further documents, financing statements, agreements and instruments, and take all such further actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements and other documents), which may be required under any Applicable Law, or which the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may reasonably request, to effectuate the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents or to grant, preserve, protect or perfect the Liens created or intended to be created by the Security Documents or the validity or priority of any such Lien, all at the expense of the Credit Parties.
Section 7.17Farm Credit Equity. So long as NWFCS is a Lender hereunder, the Borrower will (a) maintain its status as an entity eligible to borrow from NWFCS and (b) acquire equity in Northwest ACA in such amounts and at such times as Northwest ACA may require in accordance with its bylaws and capital plan, as applicable (as each may be amended from time to time), except that the maximum amount of equity that the Borrower may be required to purchase in Northwest ACA in connection with the Loans made by NWFCS may not exceed the maximum amount permitted by Northwest ACA’s bylaws and the capital plan, as applicable, at the time this Agreement is entered into.
68
The Borrower acknowledges receipt of a copy of (i) Northwest ACA’s most recent annual report, and if more recent, its latest quarterly report, (ii) Northwest ACA’s Notice to Prospective Stockholders (or other applicable notice document) and (iii) Northwest ACA’s bylaws and capital plan, as applicable (and, if applicable, any related loan or membership application), which describe the nature of all of the Borrower’s stock and other equities in Northwest ACA required in connection with its patronage loan from NWFCS as well as capitalization requirements (the “Farm Credit Equities”), and agrees to be bound by the terms thereof.
Section 7.18Timber and Cutting Rights Agreements. The Borrower will maintain ownership of the right to harvest standing timber on an annual basis and pursuant to the timber deeds and/or timber cutting rights agreements delivered to the Administrative Agent prior to the Closing Date or one or more similar arrangements reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, in an amount of not less than five percent (5%) of the annual throughput used in the Lewiston processing facility.
Section 7.19Post-Closing Matters. Execute and deliver the documents and complete the tasks set forth onSchedule 7.19, in each case within the time limits specified on such schedule.
ARTICLE VIII.
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
Until all of the Obligations (other than contingent, indemnification obligations not then due) have been paid and satisfied in full in cash and the Commitments terminated, the Credit Parties will not, and will not permit any of their respective Subsidiaries to.
Section 8.1Indebtedness. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness except:
(a) the Obligations;
(b) Indebtedness owing under (i) Hedge Agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes, (ii) Secured Cash Management Agreements and Commercial Bank Secured Cash Management Agreements and (iii) reimbursement obligations in respect of letters of credit obtained in foreign jurisdictions in the ordinary course of business;
(c) Indebtedness existing on the Closing Date and listed onSchedule 8.1 and Permitted Refinancings thereof;
(d) Capital Lease Obligations and Indebtedness incurred in connection with purchase money Indebtedness in an aggregate amount not to exceed $75,000,000 at any time outstanding;
(e) Indebtedness of a Person existing at the time such Person became a Subsidiary or assets were acquired from such Person in connection with a Permitted Acquisition, to the extent that (i) such Indebtedness was not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such a Permitted Acquisition, and (ii) neither the Borrower nor any existing Subsidiary thereof shall have any liability or other obligation with respect to such Indebtedness, and Permitted Refinancings of Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (e);
(f) Guarantees with respect to Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by Credit Parties pursuant to thisSection 8.1;
69
(g) unsecured intercompany Indebtedness:
(i) owed by any Credit Party to another Credit Party;
(ii) owed by any Credit Party to any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary (provided that such Indebtedness shall be subordinated to the Obligations in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent);
(iii) owed by any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary to any other Non-Guarantor Subsidiary; and
(iv) owed by any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary to any Credit Party to the extent permitted pursuant toSection 8.3(a)(vi);
(h) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or other similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business or other cash management services in foreign jurisdictions in the ordinary course of business;
(i) unsecured Indebtedness and Subordinated Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors;provided that, in the case of each incurrence of such unsecured Indebtedness or Subordinated Indebtedness, (i) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would be caused by the incurrence of such Unsecured Indebtedness or Subordinated Indebtedness, and (ii) the Administrative Agent shall have received satisfactory written evidence that the Borrower would be in compliance with the financial covenants set forth inSection 8.13 on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to the issuance of any such Subordinated Indebtedness, and Permitted Refinancings of Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (i);
(j) Indebtedness under performance bonds, surety bonds, release, appeal and similar bonds, statutory obligations or with respect to workers’ compensation claims, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business, and reimbursement obligations in respect of any of the foregoing;
(k) Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $20,000,000 at any time outstanding and Permitted Refinancings thereof;
(l) Indebtedness in the form of customary and unsecured earn-outs, deferred payments and purchase price adjustments in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or Investment permitted hereunder;
(m) Indebtedness incurred under the Commercial Bank Facility (and, with the consent of the Administrative Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) any Permitted Refinancing thereof) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed at any time outstanding (i) $200,000,000plus (ii) the amount of any Commercial Bank Increase;provided that any such Permitted Refinancing is subject to the Intercreditor Agreement; and
(n) Indebtedness incurred (but not acquired or assumed) in connection with a Permitted Acquisition;provided, (i) no Default or Event of Default will have occurred and then be continuing immediately before and after giving pro forma effect thereto (or, in the case of a Limited Condition Acquisition, no Event of Default underSection 9.1(a),(b),(h) or(i)); (ii) such Indebtedness will be unsecured and not be guaranteed by any Affiliate of the Borrower that is not
70
a Guarantor; (iii) no such Indebtedness will have a final maturity earlier than 91 days after the Revolving Credit Maturity Date; (iv) the Borrower shall be in compliance on a Pro Forma Basis (as of the date of the incurrence of such Indebtedness) with each covenant contained inSection 8.13; and (v) subject to the foregoing, the other terms of any such Indebtedness (excluding pricing and optional prepayment or redemption terms) that are not substantially identical to the corresponding terms in the Loan Documents will be no more favorable to the lenders or investors providing such Indebtedness than such terms in the Loan Documents or are as otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent (except for terms applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date existing at the time of the incurrence of such Indebtedness), and Permitted Refinancings thereof incurred pursuant to this clause (n);
(o) Indebtedness with respect to deferred compensation to employees and directors of Borrower and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;
(p) Indebtedness consisting of obligations to pay insurance premiums or take or pay obligations contained in supply arrangements in the ordinary course of business; and
(q) Indebtedness arising under the membership agreement entered into by the Borrower with NWFCS in connection with the Borrower’s obligation to acquire equity in Northwest ACA pursuant toSection 4.16.
Section 8.2Liens. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist, any Lien on or with respect to any of its Property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, except:
(a) Liens created pursuant to the Loan Documents;
(b) Liens in existence on the Closing Date and described onSchedule 8.2, and the replacement, renewal or extension thereof (including Liens incurred, assumed or suffered to exist in connection with any Permitted Refinancing of such Indebtedness pursuant toSection 8.1(c) (solely to the extent that such Liens were in existence on the Closing Date and described onSchedule 8.2));provided that the scope of any such Lien shall not be increased, or otherwise expanded, to cover any additional property or type of asset, as applicable, beyond that in existence on the Closing Date, except for products and proceeds of the foregoing;
(c) Liens for taxes, assessments and other governmental charges or levies (excluding any Lien imposed pursuant to any of the provisions of ERISA or Environmental Laws) (i) not yet due or as to which the period of grace (not to exceed 30 days), if any, related thereto has not expired or (ii) which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings if adequate reserves are maintained to the extent required by GAAP;
(d) the claims of materialmen, mechanics, carriers, warehousemen, processors or landlords for labor, materials, supplies or rentals incurred in the ordinary course of business, which (i) are not overdue for a period of more than 30 days, or if more than 30 days overdue, such Liens are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings and adequate reserves have been maintained to the extent required by GAAP or (ii) do not, individually or in the aggregate, materially impair the use thereof in the operation of the business of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;
71
(e) Liens incurred or deposits or pledges made in the ordinary course of business in connection with, or to secure payment of, obligations under workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security or similar legislation, or to secure the performance of bids, earnest money tenders (including in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement), trade contracts (including government contracts), and leases (other than Indebtedness for borrowed money), statutory obligations, surety bonds (other than bonds related to judgments or litigation), performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business, in each case, so long as no foreclosure sale or similar proceeding has been commenced with respect to any portion of the Collateral on account thereof;
(f) encumbrances in the nature of zoning restrictions, easements and rights or restrictions of record on the use of real property, which in the aggregate do not, in any case, materially detract from the value of such property or impair the use thereof in the ordinary conduct of business;
(g) Liens arising from the filing of precautionary UCC financing statements (or equivalent in any foreign jurisdiction) relating solely to personal property leased pursuant to operating leases entered into in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;
(h) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted underSection 8.1(d);provided that (i) such Liens shall be created within 45 days after the acquisition, repair, improvement or lease, as applicable, of the related Property, (ii) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the Property financed by such Indebtedness and the proceeds thereof, (iii) the amount of Indebtedness secured thereby is not increased and (iv) the principal amount of Indebtedness secured by any such Lien shall at no time exceed 100% of the original price for the purchase, repair improvement or lease amount (as applicable) of such Property at the time of purchase, repair, improvement or lease (as applicable), plus the reasonable fees and expenses incurred in connection with such Indebtedness;
(i) Liens securing judgments for the payment of money or any judicial order not constituting an Event of Default underSection 9.1(l) or securing appeal or other surety bonds relating to such judgments;
(j) (i) Liens on Property (i) of any Subsidiary which are in existence at the time that such Subsidiary is acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition and (ii) of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries existing at the time such tangible property or tangible assets are purchased or otherwise acquired by the Borrower or such Subsidiary thereof pursuant to a transaction permitted pursuant to this Agreement;provided that, with respect to each of the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), (A) such Liens are not incurred in connection with, or in anticipation of, such Permitted Acquisition, purchase or other acquisition, (B) such Liens are applicable only to specific Property, (C) such Liens are not “blanket” or all asset Liens, (D) such Liens do not attach to any other Property of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and (E) the Indebtedness secured by such Liens is permitted underSection 8.1(e) of this Agreement) or is a Permitted Refinancing of such Indebtedness;
(k) (i) Liens of a collecting bank arising in the ordinary course of business under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in the relevant jurisdiction and (ii) Liens of any depositary bank or securities intermediary in connection with statutory, common law and contractual rights of set-off and recoupment with respect to any deposit account or securities account of the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof;
(l) (i) contractual or statutory Liens of landlords to the extent relating to the property and assets relating to any lease agreements with such landlord, and (ii) contractual Liens of suppliers (including sellers of goods) or customers granted in the ordinary course of business to the extent limited to the property or assets relating to such contract;
72
(m) any interest or title of a licensor, sublicensor, lessor or sublessor with respect to any assets under any license or lease agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business which do not (i) interfere in any material respect with the business of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or materially detract from the value of the relevant assets of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or (ii) secure any Indebtedness;
(n) Liens to secure obligations underSection 8.1(b)(i) in an amount not to exceed 5% of the face amount of each such Hedge Agreement permitted thereunder;
(o) Liens on assets securing Indebtedness or other obligations in the aggregate principal amount not to exceed 5% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets any time outstanding;
(p) Liens arising in the ordinary course of business in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods;
(q) so long as the same is subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, Liens on Collateral securing (i) Indebtedness incurred pursuant toSection 8.1(m) and (ii) obligations owing under Commercial Bank Secured Cash Management Agreements; and
(r) Liens on Farm Credit Equities as described in Section 4.16(b).
provided that thisSection 8.2 shall not apply to any Equity Interests of the Borrower (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Equity Interests that constitute margin stock).
Section 8.3Investments. Purchase, own, invest in or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions), directly or indirectly, any Equity Interests, interests in any partnership or joint venture (including the creation or capitalization of any Subsidiary), evidence of Indebtedness or other obligation or security, substantially all or a portion of the business or assets of any other Person or any other investment or interest whatsoever in any other Person, or make or permit to exist, directly or indirectly, any loans, advances or extensions of credit to, or any investment in cash or by delivery of Property in, any Person (all the foregoing, “Investments”) except:
(a) (i) Investments existing on the Closing Date in Subsidiaries existing on the Closing Date;
(ii) Investments existing on the Closing Date (other than Investments in Subsidiaries existing on the Closing Date) and described onSchedule 8.3;
(iii) Investments made after the Closing Date by any Credit Party in any other Credit Party;
(iv) Investments made after the Closing Date by any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary in any other Non-Guarantor Subsidiary;
(v) Investments made after the Closing Date by any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary in any Credit Party;
73
(vi) Investments made after the Closing Date by any Credit Party in any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary in an aggregate amount at any time outstanding not to exceed $25,000,000 (provided that any Investments in the form of loans or advances in excess of $1,000,000 made by any Credit Party to any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary pursuant to this clause (vi) shall be evidenced by a demand note in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and shall be pledged and delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Security Documents);
(b) Investments in cash and Cash Equivalents;
(c) Investments by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries consisting of Capital Expenditures permitted by this Agreement;
(d) deposits or pledges made in the ordinary course of business to secure the performance of leases or other obligations as permitted bySection 8.2;
(e) Hedge Agreements permitted pursuant toSection 8.1;
(f) purchases of assets and prepaid expenses, extensions of trade credit and accounts receivable created, acquired or made and payable or dischargeable in the ordinary course of business;
(g) Permitted Acquisitions;
(h) Investments in the form of loans and advances to officers, directors and employees in the ordinary course of business in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding $10,000,000 (determined without regard to any write-downs or write-offs of such loans or advances);
(i) Equity Interests, obligations, securities or other property received in settlement of accounts receivable from bankrupt obligors;
(j) Investments received as the non-cash portion of the consideration received in connection with any Asset Disposition or other sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition of Property expressly permitted hereunder;
(k) Investments comprising Indebtedness permitted pursuant toSection 8.1;
(l) Investments in the form of Restricted Payments permitted pursuant toSection 8.6;
(m) Guarantees permitted pursuant toSection 8.1;
(n) Investments in joint ventures;provided that the aggregate amount of all such Investments shall not at any time exceed $50,000,000;
(o) other Investments in an aggregate amount not to exceed 5% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at any time outstanding;
74
(p) other Investments so long as on the date such Investment is consummated, the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio calculated on a Pro Forma Basis would be lower than 3.25:1.00; and
(q) Investments by the Borrower in Northwest ACA in connection with the Borrower’s obligation to acquire equity in Northwest ACA pursuant toSection 4.16
For purposes of determining the amount of any Investment outstanding for purposes of thisSection 8.3, such amount shall be deemed to be the amount of such Investment when made, purchased or acquired (without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment)less any amount realized in respect of such Investment upon the sale, collection or return of capital (not to exceed the original amount invested).
Section 8.4Fundamental Changes. Merge, consolidate or enter into any similar combination with, or enter into any Asset Disposition of all or substantially all of its assets (whether in a single transaction or a series of transactions) with, any other Person or liquidate, wind-up or dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution) except:
(a) (i) any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower may be merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into, or be dissolved or liquidated into, the Borrower (provided that the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving entity) or (ii) any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower may be merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into, or be dissolved or liquidated into, any Subsidiary Guarantor (provided that the Subsidiary Guarantor shall be the continuing or surviving entity or simultaneously with such transaction, the continuing or surviving entity shall become a Subsidiary Guarantor and the Borrower shall comply withSection 7.13 in connection therewith);
(b) (i) any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary that is a Foreign Subsidiary may be merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into, or be dissolved or liquidated into, any other Non-Guarantor Subsidiary and (ii) any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary may be merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into, or be dissolved or liquidated into, any other Non-Guarantor Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary;
(c) any Subsidiary may dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation, dissolution, winding up or otherwise) to the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor;provided that, with respect to any such disposition by any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary, the consideration for such disposition shall not exceed the fair value of such assets;
(d) (i) any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary that is a Foreign Subsidiary may dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation, dissolution, winding up or otherwise) to any other Non-Guarantor Subsidiary and (ii) any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary may dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation, dissolution, winding up or otherwise) to any other Non-Guarantor Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary;
(e) any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower may merge with or into the Person such Wholly-Owned Subsidiary was formed to acquire in connection with any acquisition permitted hereunder (including any Permitted Acquisition permitted pursuant toSection 8.3(g));provided that in the case of any merger involving a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary, (i) a Subsidiary Guarantor shall be the continuing or surviving entity or (ii) simultaneously with such transaction, the continuing or surviving entity shall become a Subsidiary Guarantor and the Borrower shall comply withSection 7.13 in connection therewith; and
75
(f) any Person may merge into the Borrower or any of its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries in connection with a Permitted Acquisition permitted pursuant toSection 8.3(g);provided that (i) in the case of a merger involving the Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor, the continuing or surviving Person shall be the Borrower or such Subsidiary Guarantor and (ii) the continuing or surviving Person shall be the Borrower or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower.
Section 8.5Asset Dispositions. Make any Asset Disposition except:
(a) the sale, abandonment or other disposition of obsolete, worn-out or surplus assets no longer used or usable in the business of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;
(b) non-exclusive licenses and sublicenses of intellectual property rights in the ordinary course of business not interfering, individually or in the aggregate, in any material respect with the conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;
(c) leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses of real or personal property granted by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to others in the ordinary course of business not interfering in any material respect with the business of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;
(d) Asset Dispositions in connection with Insurance and Condemnation Events;
(e) the lapse of registered patents, trademarks and other intellectual property to the extent not economically desirable in the context of its business and so long as such lapse is not materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders;
(f) Assets Dispositions in connection with transactions permitted bySection 8.2,8.3,8.4 and8.12;
(g) the granting, creation or existence of a Permitted Lien;
(h) the surrender or waiver of contract rights in the ordinary course of business or the surrender or waiver of litigation claims or the settlement, release or surrender of tort or litigation claims of any kind;
(i) the transfer of improvements or alterations in connection with any lease of property upon the termination thereof;
(j) the abandonment, lapse, or transfer of any domain name, trademark or other intellectual property right that is not material to the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(k) any Restricted Payment permitted bySection 8.6;
(l) any Investment permitted bySection 8.3;
(m) the termination of a lease of real or personal Property;
76
(n) a disposition of Property that is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property (including like-kind exchanges);
(o) sales, transfers or other dispositions of assets of joint ventures permitted hereunder (or the Equity Interests of such joint ventures) to the extent required by, or made pursuant to, customary buy/sell arrangements between joint venture parties as set forth in the applicable joint venture agreement or similar arrangement;
(p) Asset Dispositions in connection with Sale Leaseback Transactions in an aggregate amount not to exceed the lesser of (i) $75,000,000 and (ii) 5% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, tested as of the date of the proposed Asset Disposition on the basis of the most recent financial statements delivered by the Borrower pursuant toSection 7.1; and
(q) Asset Dispositions not otherwise permitted pursuant to this Section;provided that (i) at the time of such Asset Disposition, no Default or Event of Default shall exist or would result from such Asset Disposition, (ii) such Asset Disposition is made for fair market value and the consideration received shall be no less than 75% in cash, and (iii) the aggregate book value or fair market value (whichever, in each case, is higher) of all property disposed of in reliance on this clause (f) since the Closing Date does not exceed 5% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, tested as of the date of the proposed Asset Disposition on the basis of the most recent financial statements delivered by the Borrower pursuant toSection 7.1.
Section 8.6Restricted Payments. Declare or pay any dividend on, or make any payment or other distribution on account of, or purchase, redeem, retire or otherwise acquire (directly or indirectly), or set apart assets for a sinking or other analogous fund for the purchase, redemption, retirement or other acquisition of, any class of Equity Interests of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof, or make any distribution of cash, property or assets to the holders of shares of any Equity Interests of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof on account of the foregoing (all of the foregoing, the “Restricted Payments”)provided that:
(a) the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries may pay dividends in shares of its own Qualified Equity Interests;
(b) any Subsidiary of the Borrower may pay cash dividends to the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor;
(c) (i) any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments to any other Non-Guarantor Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary (and, if applicable, to other holders of its outstanding Equity Interests on a ratable basis) and (ii) any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary that is a Foreign Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments to any other Non-Guarantor Subsidiary (and, if applicable, to other holders of its outstanding Equity Interests on a ratable basis);
(d) the Borrower may make Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed the Available Free Cash Flow Amount not otherwise applied pursuant toSection 8.9(b)(iv);
(e) the Borrower may grant stock options, restricted stock units and other Equity Interests to employees, officers and directors in connection with an arrangement permitted underSection 8.7(b)(v); and
77
(f) the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries may make Restricted Payments with respect to any Indebtedness permitted underSection 8.1(l).
Section 8.7Transactions with Affiliates. Directly or indirectly enter into any transaction, including any purchase, sale, lease or exchange of Property, the rendering of any service or the payment of any management, advisory or similar fees, with (a) any officer, director, holder of any Equity Interests in, or other Affiliate of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (b) any Affiliate of any such officer, director or holder, other than:
(i) transactions permitted bySections 8.1,8.3,8.4,8.5,8.6 and8.13;
(ii) transactions existing on the Closing Date and described onSchedule 8.7;
(iii) transactions among Credit Parties;
(iv) other transactions on terms as favorable as would be obtained by it on a comparable arm’s-length transaction with an independent, unrelated third party as determined in good faith by the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) of the Borrower;
(v) employment, retention and severance and similar arrangements (including equity or equity-based incentive plans, stock ownership plans, compensation or incentive plans and arrangements and employee benefit plans and arrangements) and indemnification arrangements with their respective officers, directors and employees in the ordinary course of business; and
(vi) payment of customary fees and reasonable out of pocket costs to, and indemnities for the benefit of, directors, officers and employees of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business to the extent attributable to the ownership or operation of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.
Section 8.8Accounting Changes; Organizational Documents.
(a) Change its Fiscal Year end, or make (without the consent of the Administrative Agent) any material change in its accounting treatment and reporting practices except as (x) permitted by GAAP and recommended by such Credit Party’s (or such Subsidiary’s) auditors or (y) required by GAAP.
(b) Amend, modify or change its articles of incorporation (or corporate charter or other similar organizational documents) or amend, modify or change its bylaws (or other similar documents) in any manner materially adverse to the rights or interests of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders.
Section 8.9Payments and Modifications of Subordinated Indebtedness.
(a) Amend, modify, waive or supplement (or permit the modification, amendment, waiver or supplement of) any of the terms or provisions of any Subordinated Indebtedness in any respect which would materially and adversely affect the rights or interests of the Administrative Agent and Lenders hereunder.
78
(b) Cancel, forgive, make any payment or prepayment on, or redeem or acquire for value (including (x) by way of depositing with any trustee with respect thereto money or securities before due for the purpose of paying when due and (y) at the maturity thereof) any Subordinated Indebtedness, except:
(i) refinancings, refundings, renewals, extensions or exchange of any Subordinated Indebtedness permitted bySection 8.1(c),(g)(ii) or(i), and by any subordination provisions applicable thereto;
(ii) payments and prepayments of any Subordinated Indebtedness made solely with the proceeds of Qualified Equity Interests;
(iii) the payment of interest, expenses and indemnities in respect of Subordinated Indebtedness incurred underSection 8.1(c),(g)(ii) or(i) (other than any such payments prohibited by any subordination provisions applicable thereto); and
(iv) the payment or prepayment on, or redemption or acquisition for value of Subordinated Debt in an aggregate amount not to exceed the Available Free Cash Flow Amount not otherwise applied pursuant toSection 8.6(d).
Section 8.10No Further Negative Pledges; Restrictive Agreements.
(a) Enter into, assume or be subject to any agreement prohibiting or otherwise restricting the creation or assumption of any Lien in favor of any Secured Party upon its properties or assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, to secure the Secured Obligations, except (i) pursuant to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (ii) pursuant to any document or instrument governing Indebtedness incurred pursuant toSections 8.1(d) or8.1(e)(provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets financed thereby), (iii) restrictions contained in the organizational documents of any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary as of the Closing Date, (iv) restrictions in connection with any Permitted Lien or any document or instrument governing any Permitted Lien (provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets subject to such Permitted Lien), (v) pursuant to the Commercial Bank Facility and (vi) restrictions and encumbrances on cash or other deposits imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business or on earnest money deposits to sellers in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or Investment permitted hereunder.
(b) Create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Credit Party to (i) pay dividends or make any other distributions to any Credit Party on its Equity Interests or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, (ii) pay any Indebtedness or other obligation owed to any Credit Party or (iii) make loans or advances to any Credit Party, except in each case for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of (A) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including the Intercreditor Agreement), (B) the Commercial Bank Facility, (C) Applicable Law, (D) any agreement or instrument governing Indebtedness of a Foreign Subsidiary permitted underSection 8.1(k) (provided that any such encumbrance or restriction contained therein relates only to such Foreign Subsidiary) and (E) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements applicable to joint ventures permitted hereunder and applicable solely to such joint venture (and its assets or Equity Interest issued by such Person) entered into in the ordinary course of business.
79
(c) Create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof to (i) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to any Credit Party or (ii) act as a Credit Party pursuant to the Loan Documents or any renewals, refinancings, exchanges, refundings or extension thereof, except in each case for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of (A) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including the Intercreditor Agreement), (B) Applicable Law, (C) any document or instrument governing Indebtedness incurred pursuant toSection 8.1(d) orSection 8.1(e) (provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets acquired in connection therewith), (D) any Permitted Lien or any document or instrument governing any Permitted Lien (provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets subject to such Permitted Lien), (E) obligations that are binding on a Subsidiary at the time such Subsidiary first becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower, so long as such obligations are not entered into in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary, (F) customary restrictions contained in an agreement related to the sale of Property (to the extent such sale is permitted pursuant toSection 8.5) that limit the transfer of such Property pending the consummation of such sale, (G) customary restrictions (including buy/sell provisions) in leases, subleases, licenses and sublicenses, joint venture agreements or asset sale agreements otherwise permitted by this Agreement so long as such restrictions relate only to the assets subject thereto, (H) customary provisions restricting assignment of any agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business and (I) any agreement or instrument governing Indebtedness of a Foreign Subsidiary permitted underSection 8.1(k) (provided that any such encumbrance or restriction contained therein relates only to such Foreign Subsidiary).
Section 8.11Nature of Business. Engage in any business other than the business conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date and business activities reasonably related or ancillary thereto or that are reasonable extensions thereof.
Section 8.12Sale Leasebacks. Directly or indirectly become or remain liable as lessee or as guarantor or other surety with respect to any lease, whether an operating lease or a capital lease, of any Property (whether real, personal or mixed), whether now owned or hereafter acquired, (a) which any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof has sold or transferred or is to sell or transfer to a Person which is not another Credit Party or Subsidiary of a Credit Party or (b) which any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party intends to use for substantially the same purpose as any other Property that has been sold or is to be sold or transferred by such Credit Party or such Subsidiary to another Person which is not another Credit Party or Subsidiary of a Credit Party in connection with such lease (a “Sale Leaseback Transaction”) unless such Sale Leaseback Transaction is permitted bySection 8.5.
Section 8.13Financial Covenants.
(a)Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio. As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, permit the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio to be greater than 4.00:1.00;provided that if the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries consummates an Acquisition or series of related Acquisitions within a twelve-month period with an aggregate consideration in excess of $125,000,000, then the ratio set forth above shall be deemed increased to 4.50:1.00 as of the last day of each of the four fiscal quarters ending after the most recent such Acquisition (and such adjustment shall apply to the fiscal quarter most recently ended for which financial statements have been delivered hereunder solely for purposes of calculating compliance with thisSection 8.13(a) on a Pro Forma Basis pursuant to clause (d) of the definition of Permitted Acquisition). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the proviso to the previous sentence has been applicable with respect to the last day of four consecutive fiscal quarters, it shall be disregarded and given no effect as of the last day of each of the two fiscal quarters immediately following such four consecutive fiscal quarter period (regardless of any Acquisitions consummated in the interim).
80
(b)Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio. As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, permit the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio to be less than 2.25:1.00:
Section 8.14Disposal of Subsidiary Interests. Permit any Domestic Subsidiary, other than an Excluded Subsidiary, to be a non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiary except as a result of or in connection with a dissolution, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or disposition permitted bySection 8.4 or8.5.
ARTICLE IX.
DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
Section 9.1Events of Default. Each of the following shall constitute an Event of Default:
(a)Default in Payment of Principal of Loans. The Borrower shall default in any payment of principal of any Loan when and as due (whether at maturity, by reason of acceleration or otherwise).
(b)Other Payment Default. The Borrower shall default in the payment when and as due (whether at maturity, by reason of acceleration or otherwise) of interest on any Loan or the payment under any other Loan Document, and such default shall continue for a period of three Business Days.
(c)Misrepresentation. Any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof in this Agreement, in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith that is subject to materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualifications, shall be incorrect or misleading in any respect when made or deemed made or any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof in this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith that is not subject to materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualifications, shall be incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed made.
(d)Default in Performance of Certain Covenants. Any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof shall default in the performance or observance of any covenant or agreement contained in (i)Section 7.13 and such default shall continue for a period of 15 days after the earlier of (x) the Administrative Agent’s delivery of written notice thereof to the Borrower and (y) a Responsible Officer of any Credit Party having obtained knowledge thereof and (ii)Sections 7.1,7.2(a),7.4 (solely with respect to maintenance of existence of any Credit Party),7.12,7.14,7.15,7.17 or7.18 orArticle VIII.
(e)Default in Performance of Other Covenants and Conditions. Any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof shall default in the performance or observance of any term, covenant, condition or agreement contained in this Agreement (other than as specifically provided for in thisSection) or any other Loan Document and such default shall continue for a period of 30 days after the earlier of (i) the Administrative Agent’s delivery of written notice thereof to the Borrower and (ii) a Responsible Officer of any Credit Party having obtained knowledge thereof.
81
(f)Indebtedness Cross-Default. Any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof shall (i) default in the payment of any Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than the Loans) the aggregate principal amount is in excess of the Threshold Amount, or with respect to any Hedge Agreement, failure to pay when due the Hedge Termination Value thereof, if such unpaid Hedge Termination Value is greater than $10,000,000, in either case beyond the period of grace if any, provided in the instrument or agreement under which such Indebtedness was created, or (ii) default in the observance or performance of any other agreement or condition relating to any Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than the Loans or any Hedge Agreement) the aggregate principal amount (including undrawn committed or available amounts) of which is in excess of the Threshold Amount contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto or any other event shall occur or condition exist, the effect of which default or other event or condition is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness for borrowed money (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders) to cause, with the giving of notice and/or lapse of time, if required, any such Indebtedness for borrowed money to become due prior to its stated maturity (any applicable grace period having expired).
(g)Change in Control. Any Change in Control shall occur.
(h)Voluntary Bankruptcy Proceeding. Any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof shall (i) commence a voluntary case under any Debtor Relief Laws, (ii) file a petition seeking to take advantage of any Debtor Relief Laws, (iii) consent to or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner any petition filed against it in an involuntary case under any Debtor Relief Laws, (iv) apply for or consent to, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, the appointment of, or the taking of possession by, a receiver, custodian, trustee, or liquidator of itself or of a substantial part of its property, domestic or foreign, (v) admit in writing its inability to pay its debts as they become due, (vi) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or (vii) take any corporate action for the purpose of authorizing any of the foregoing.
(i)Involuntary Bankruptcy Proceeding. A case or other proceeding shall be commenced against any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof in any court of competent jurisdiction seeking (i) relief under any Debtor Relief Laws, or (ii) the appointment of a trustee, receiver, custodian, liquidator or the like for any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof or for all or any substantial part of their respective assets, domestic or foreign, and such case or proceeding shall continue without dismissal or stay for a period of 60 consecutive days, or an order granting the relief requested in such case or proceeding (including an order for relief under such federal bankruptcy laws) shall be entered.
(j)Failure of Agreements. Any provision of this Agreement or any provision of any other Loan Document shall for any reason cease to be valid and binding on any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof party thereto or any such Person shall so state in writing, or any Loan Document shall for any reason cease to create a valid and perfected first priority Lien (subject to Permitted Liens) on, or security interest in, any portion of the Collateral with an aggregate book value greater than $100,000 purported to be covered thereby, in each case other than (x) in accordance with the express terms hereof or thereof, (y) due to any action or inaction of the Administrative Agent and (z) any portion of the Collateral for which no perfection steps are required as described inSection 7.13(d).
(k)ERISA Events. The occurrence of any of the following events: (i) any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate fails to make full payment when due of all amounts which, under the provisions of any Pension Plan or Sections 412 or 430 of the Code, any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate is required to pay as contributions thereto and such unpaid amounts are in excess
82
of the Threshold Amount, (ii) a Termination Event with respect to a Pension Plan or (iii) any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate as employers under one or more Multiemployer Plans makes a complete or partial withdrawal from any such Multiemployer Plan, whether of its own volition or as a result of a plan termination, and the plan sponsor of such Multiemployer Plan notifies such withdrawing employer that such employer has incurred a withdrawal liability requiring payments in an amount that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(l)Judgment. A judgment or order for the payment of money which causes the aggregate amount of all such judgments or orders (net of any amounts paid or fully covered by independent third party insurance as to which the relevant insurance company does not dispute coverage) to exceed the Threshold Amount shall be entered against any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof by any court and such judgment or order shall continue without having been discharged, vacated or stayed for a period of 60 consecutive days after the entry thereof.
Section 9.2Remedies. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, with the consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent may, or upon the request of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent shall, by notice to the Borrower, take one or more of the following actions:
(a)Acceleration; Termination of Credit Facility. Terminate the Revolving Credit Commitment and declare the principal of and interest on the Loans at the time outstanding, and all other amounts owed to the Lenders and to the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents and all other Obligations, to be forthwith due and payable, whereupon the same shall immediately become due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are expressly waived by each Credit Party, anything in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents to the contrary notwithstanding, and terminate the Credit Facility and any right of the Borrower to request borrowings thereunder;provided that, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default specified inSection 9.1(h) or(i), the Credit Facility shall be automatically terminated and all Obligations shall automatically become due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are expressly waived by each Credit Party, anything in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding.
(b)General Remedies. Exercise on behalf of the Secured Parties all of its other rights and remedies under this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and Applicable Law, in order to satisfy all of the Secured Obligations.
Section 9.3Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Non-Waiver; etc.
(a) The enumeration of the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders set forth in this Agreement is not intended to be exhaustive and the exercise by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders of any right or remedy shall not preclude the exercise of any other rights or remedies, all of which shall be cumulative, and shall be in addition to any other right or remedy given hereunder or under the other Loan Documents or that may now or hereafter exist at law or in equity or by suit or otherwise. No delay or failure to take action on the part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender in exercising any right, power or privilege shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, power or privilege preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege or shall be construed to be a waiver of any Event of Default. No course of dealing between the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders or their respective agents or employees shall be effective to change, modify or discharge any provision of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or to constitute a waiver of any Event of Default.
83
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against the Credit Parties or any of them shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Agent in accordance withSection 9.2 for the benefit of all the Lenders;provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (b) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance withSection 11.4 (subject to the terms ofSection 4.6), or (c) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to any Credit Party under any Debtor Relief Law; andprovided,further, that if at any time there is no Person acting as Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Agent pursuant toSection 9.2 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b), (c) and (d) of the preceding proviso and subject toSection 4.6, any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.
Section 9.4Crediting of Payments and Proceeds. In the event that the Obligations have been accelerated pursuant toSection 9.2 or the Administrative Agent or any Lender has exercised any remedy set forth in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, all payments received on account of the Secured Obligations and all net proceeds from the enforcement of the Secured Obligations shall, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, be applied by the Administrative Agent as follows:
First, to payment of that portion of the Secured Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts, including attorney fees, payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;
Second, to payment of that portion of the Secured Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest) payable to the Lenders under the Loan Documents, including attorney fees, ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clauseSecond payable to them;
Third, to payment of that portion of the Secured Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans, ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clauseThird payable to them;
Fourth, to payment of that portion of the Secured Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans and payment obligations then owing under Secured Hedge Agreements and Secured Cash Management Agreements, ratably among the Lenders, the Hedge Banks and the Cash Management Banks in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clauseFourth payable to them;
Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Secured Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Applicable Law.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Secured Obligations arising under Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements shall be excluded from the application described above if the Administrative Agent has not received written notice thereof, together with such supporting
84
documentation as the Administrative Agent may request, from the applicable Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank, as the case may be. Each Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank not a party to this Agreement that has given the notice contemplated by the preceding sentence shall, by such notice, be deemed to have acknowledged and accepted the appointment of the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms ofArticle X for itself and its Affiliates as if a “Lender” party hereto.
Section 9.5Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Credit Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered (but not obligated) by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:
(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans and all other Secured Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders and the Administrative Agent underSections 3.3,4.3 and11.3) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and
(b) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;
and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent underSections 3.3,4.3 and11.3.
Section 9.6Credit Bidding.
(a) The Administrative Agent, on behalf of itself and the Secured Parties, shall have the right to credit bid and purchase for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties all or any portion of Collateral at any sale thereof conducted by the Administrative Agent under the provisions of the UCC, including pursuant to Sections 9-610 or 9-620 of the UCC, at any sale thereof conducted under the provisions of the United States Bankruptcy Code, including Section 363 thereof, or a sale under a plan of reorganization, or at any other sale or foreclosure conducted by the Administrative Agent (whether by judicial action or otherwise) in accordance with Applicable Law. Such credit bid or purchase may be completed through one or more acquisition vehicles formed by the Administrative Agent to make such credit bid or purchase and, in connection therewith, the Administrative Agent is authorized, on behalf of itself and the other Secured Parties, to adopt documents providing for the governance of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles, and assign the applicable Secured Obligations to any such acquisition vehicle in exchange for Equity Interests and/or debt issued by the applicable acquisition vehicle (which shall be deemed to be held for the ratable account of the applicable Secured Parties on the basis of the Secured Obligations so assigned by each Secured Party).
85
Section 9.7Lender Action. Each Lender hereby agrees, on behalf of itself and each of its Affiliates that is a Secured Party, that, except as otherwise provided in any Loan Document or with the written consent of the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders, it will not take any enforcement action, accelerate obligations under any of the Loan Documents, or exercise any right that it might otherwise have under Applicable Law to credit bid at foreclosure sales, UCC sales or other similar dispositions of Collateral.
Section 9.8Intercreditor Agreement. Each of the Lenders from time to time party to this Agreement hereby confirms and reaffirms the irrevocable authority of the Administrative Agent to execute, deliver and act on its behalf in respect of the Intercreditor Agreement, and each duly executed supplement, modification, amendment, restatement or extension thereto. Each Lender agrees to be bound by the terms and provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement. Anything contained in any of the Loan Documents to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each Lender hereby agree that no Lender shall have any right individually to enforce the Intercreditor Agreement, it being agreed that all powers, rights and remedies under the Intercreditor Agreement may be exercised solely by the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders in accordance with the terms thereof. THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH OF THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS IS SUBJECT TO THE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT. IN THE EVENT OF ANY CONFLICT BETWEEN THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AND THE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT, THE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT SHALL GOVERN AND CONTROL.
ARTICLE X.
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Section 10.1Appointment and Authority.
(a) Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints NWFCS 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. Except for consent rights of the Borrower set forth inSection 10.6, the provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, and neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary thereof shall have rights as a third-party beneficiary of any of such provisions. It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” herein or in any other Loan Documents (or any other similar term) with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any Applicable Law. Instead such term is used as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties.
(b) The Administrative Agent shall also act as the “collateral agent” under the Loan Documents, and each of the Lenders (including in its capacity as a potential Hedge Bank or Cash Management Bank) irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to act as the agent of such Lender for purposes of acquiring, holding and enforcing any and all Liens on Collateral granted by any of the Credit Parties to secure any of the Secured Obligations, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto (including to enter into additional Loan Documents or supplements to existing Loan Documents on behalf of the Secured Parties). In this connection, the Administrative Agent, as “collateral agent” and any co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact appointed by the Administrative Agent pursuant to thisArticle X for purposes of holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral (or any portion thereof) granted under the Security Documents, or for exercising any rights and remedies thereunder at the direction of the Administrative Agent), shall be entitled to the benefits of all provisions ofArticles X andXI (includingSection 11.3, as though such co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact were the “collateral agent” under the Loan Documents) as if set forth in full herein with respect thereto.
86
Section 10.2Rights as a Lender. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the 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.
Section 10.3Exculpatory Provisions.
(a) The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, and its duties hereunder and thereunder shall be administrative in nature. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:
(i) shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;
(ii) shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents),provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or Applicable Law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any Debtor Relief Law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any Debtor Relief Law; and
(iii) 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 Subsidiaries or Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.
(b) 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 inSection 11.2 andSection 9.2) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final nonappealable judgment. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default unless and until notice describing such Default or Event of Default is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or a Lender.
87
(c) The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default 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 inArticle V or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.
Section 10.4Reliance by the 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 that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender prior to the making of such Loan. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.
Section 10.5Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article 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 Facility as well as activities as Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and nonappealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of suchsub-agents.
Section 10.6Resignation of Administrative Agent.
(a) The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders and the Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrower and subject to the consent of the Borrower (provided no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such resignation), to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Resignation Effective Date”), then the retiring Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to), on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above;provided that in no event shall any such successor Administrative Agent be a Defaulting Lender. Whether or not a successor has been appointed, such resignation shall become effective in accordance with such notice on the Resignation Effective Date.
88
(b) If the Person serving as Administrative Agent is a Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (d) of the definition thereof, the Required Lenders may, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, by notice in writing to the Borrower and such Person, remove such Person as Administrative Agent and, in consultation with the Borrower, appoint a successor. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Removal Effective Date”), then such removal shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice on the Removal Effective Date.
(c) With effect from the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date (as applicable), (i) the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and (ii) except for any indemnity payments owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent, all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender directly, until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring or removed Administrative Agent (other than any rights to indemnity payments owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent), and the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents. 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 or removed Administrative Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article andSection 11.3 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring or removed Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring or removed Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent.
Section 10.7Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders. Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender 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.
Section 10.8No Other Duties, Etc. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the syndication agents, documentation agents, co-agents, arrangers or bookrunners listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent or a Lender hereunder.
89
Section 10.9Collateral and Guaranty Matters.
(a) Each of the Lenders (including in its or any of its Affiliate’s capacities as a potential Hedge Bank or Cash Management Bank) irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion:
(i) to release any Lien on any Collateral granted to or held by the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, under any Loan Document (A) upon the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitment and payment in full of all Secured Obligations (other than (1) contingent indemnification obligations and (2) obligations and liabilities under Secured Cash Management Agreements or Secured Hedge Agreements as to which arrangements satisfactory to the applicable Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank shall have been made), (B) that is sold or otherwise disposed of or to be sold or otherwise disposed of as part of or in connection with any sale or other disposition permitted under the Loan Documents (which release may, at the request of the Borrower, be in the form of an authorization by the Administrative Agent to permit a Credit Party to dispose of such Collateral free of the security interest granted to or held by the Administrative Agent for purposes of UCC 9-315), or (C) if approved, authorized or ratified in writing in accordance with Section 11.2;
(ii) to subordinate any Lien on any Collateral granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien permitted pursuant toSection 8.2(h); and
(iii) to release (A) any Credit Party from its obligations under any Loan Documents upon the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitment and payment in full of all Secured Obligations (other than (1) contingent indemnification obligations and (2) obligations and liabilities under Secured Cash Management Agreements or Secured Hedge Agreements as to which arrangements satisfactory to the applicable Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank shall have been made) or (B) a Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under the Loan Documents if such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary of the Borrower, as a result of a transaction permitted under the Loan Documents.
Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release or subordinate its interest in particular types or items of property, or to release any Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under the Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement pursuant to thisSection 10.9. In each case as specified in thisSection 10.9, the Administrative Agent will, at the Borrower’s expense, execute and deliver to the applicable Credit Party such documents as such Credit Party may reasonably request to evidence the release of such item of Collateral from the assignment and security interest granted under the Security Documents or to subordinate its interest in such item, or to release such Guarantor from its obligations under the Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents and thisSection 10.9. In the case of any such sale, transfer or disposal of any property constituting Collateral in a transaction constituting an Asset Disposition permitted pursuant toSection 8.5, the Liens created by any of the Security Documents on such property shall be automatically released without need for further action by any person.
(b) The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have a duty to ascertain or inquire into any representation or warranty regarding the existence, value or collectability of the Collateral, the existence, priority or perfection of the Administrative Agent’s Lien thereon, or any certificate prepared by any Credit Party in connection therewith, nor shall the Administrative Agent be responsible or liable to the Lenders for any failure to monitor or maintain any portion of the Collateral.
90
Section 10.10Secured Hedge Agreements and Secured Cash Management Agreements. No Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank that obtains the benefits ofSection 9.4 or any Collateral by virtue of the provisions hereof or of any Security Document shall have any right to notice of any action or to consent to, direct or object to any action hereunder or under any other Loan Document or otherwise in respect of the Collateral (including the release or impairment of any Collateral) other than in its capacity as a Lender and, in such case, only to the extent expressly provided in the Loan Documents. Notwithstanding any other provision of thisArticle X to the contrary, the Administrative Agent shall not be required to verify the payment of, or that other satisfactory arrangements have been made with respect to, Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements unless the Administrative Agent has received written notice of such Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may request, from the applicable Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank, as the case may be.
ARTICLE XI.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 11.1Notices.
(a)Notices Generally. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in paragraph (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by facsimile as follows:
If to the Borrower:
Clearwater Paper Corporation
601 West Riverside, Suite 1100
Spokane, WA 99201
Attention of: Lloyd A. Fillis, Vice President, Treasury & Tax
Telephone No.: 509-344-5934
Facsimile No.: 509-342-2595
E-mail: Lloyd.fillis@clearwaterpaper.com
With copies to:
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
4 Embarcadero Center
San Francisco, CA 94111
Attention of: Philip J. Tendler, Esq.
Telephone No.: 415-983-1000
Facsimile No.: 415-983-1200
E-mail: Philip.tendler@pillsburylaw.com
91
If to NWFCS as
Administrative
Agent:
Northwest Farm Credit Services, PCA
2001 S. Flint Road
PO Box 2515
Spokane, WA 99220-2515
Attention of: Suann Harris
Telephone No.: (800) 838-4374
Facsimile No.: (509) 340-5625
E-mail: suann.harris@northwestfcs.com
With copies to:
Northwest Farm Credit Services, PCA
2001 S. Flint Road
PO Box 2515
Spokane, WA 99220-2515
Attention of: Capital Markets
Telephone No.: (800) 255-1789
Facsimile No.: (509) 340-5300
E-mail: capitalmarkets@northwestfcs.com
If to any Lender:
To the address set forth on the Register
Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by facsimile shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient). Notices delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in paragraph (b) below, shall be effective as provided in said paragraph (b).
(b)Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders 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 pursuant toArticle II if such Lender has notified the Administrative Agent that 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), 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
92
as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor;provided that, for both clauses (i) and (ii) above, if such notice, email or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice, email or other communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient.
(c)Administrative Agent’s Office. The Administrative Agent hereby designates its office located at the address set forth above, or any subsequent office which shall have been specified for such purpose by written notice to the Borrower and Lenders, as the Administrative Agent’s Office referred to herein, to which payments due are to be made and at which Loans will be disbursed.
(d)Change of Address, Etc. Any party hereto may change its address or facsimile number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.
(e) Platform.
(i) Each Credit Party agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make the Borrower Materials available to the Lenders by posting the Borrower Materials on the Platform.
(ii) The Platform is provided “as is” and “as available.” The Agent Parties (as defined below) do not warrant the accuracy or completeness of the Borrower Materials or the adequacy of the Platform, and expressly disclaim liability for errors or omissions in the Borrower Materials. No warranty of any kind, express, implied or statutory, including any warranty of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement of third-party rights or freedom from viruses or other code defects, is made by any Agent Party in connection with the Borrower Materials or the Platform. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have any liability to any Credit Party, any Lender or any other Person or entity for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of any Credit Party’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of communications through the Internet (including the Platform), except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party;provided that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to any Credit Party, any Lender or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages, losses or expenses (as opposed to actual damages, losses or expenses).
Section 11.2Amendments, Waivers and Consents. Except as set forth below or as specifically provided in any Loan Document, any term, covenant, agreement or condition of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents may be amended or waived by the Lenders, andany consent given by the Lenders, if, but only if, such amendment, waiver or consent is in writing signed by the Required Lenders (or by the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders) and delivered to the Administrative Agent and, in the case of an amendment, signed by the Borrower;provided that no amendment, waiver or consent shall:
(a) without the prior written consent of the Required Revolving Credit Lenders, amend, modify or waiveSection 5.2 or any other provision of this Agreement if the effect of such amendment, modification or waiver is to require the Revolving Credit Lenders (pursuant to, in the
93
case of any such amendment to a provision hereof other thanSection 5.2, any substantially concurrent request by the Borrower for a borrowing of Revolving Credit Loans) to make Revolving Credit Loans when such Revolving Credit Lenders would not otherwise be required to do so;
(b) increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant toSection 9.2) or the amount of Loans of any Lender, in any case, without the written consent of such Lender;
(c) waive, extend or postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to the Lenders (or any of them) hereunder or under any other Loan Document or extend the expiration date for any Commitment, in each case without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby;
(d) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan, or (subject to clause (iv) of the proviso set forth in the paragraph below) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document;provided that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the rate set forth inSection 4.1(b) during the continuance of an Event of Default;
(e) changeSection 4.6 orSection 9.4 in a manner that would alter theprorata sharing of payments or order of application required thereby without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby;
(f) except as otherwise permitted by thisSection 11.2 change any provision of this Section or reduce the percentages specified in the definitions of “Required Lenders,” or “Required Revolving Credit Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;
(g) consent to the assignment or transfer by any Credit Party of such Credit Party’s rights and obligations under any Loan Document to which it is a party (except as permitted pursuant toSection 8.4), in each case, without the written consent of each Lender;
(h) release (i) all of the Subsidiary Guarantors or (ii) Subsidiary Guarantors comprising substantially all of the credit support for the Secured Obligations, in any case, from any Guaranty Agreement (other than as authorized inSection 10.9), without the written consent of each Lender; or
(i) release all or substantially all of the Collateral or release any Security Document (other than as authorized inSection 10.9 or as otherwise specifically permitted or contemplated in this Agreement or the applicable Security Document) without the written consent of each Lender;
providedfurther, that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; (ii) each Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto, (iii) any waiver, amendment or modification of this Agreement that by its terms affects the rights or duties under this Agreement of Lenders holding Loans or Commitments of a particular Class (but not the
94
Lenders holding Loans or Commitments of any other Class) may be effected by an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower and the requisite percentage in interest of the affected Class of Lenders that would be required to consent thereto under thisSection if such Class of Lenders were the only Class of Lenders hereunder at the time, (iv) any waiver, amendment or modification of this Agreement or the Collateral Agreement that alters the ratable treatment of obligations under any Secured Hedge Agreement or Secured Cash Management Agreement or the definition of “Cash Management Bank”, “Hedge Bank”, “Cash Management Agreement”, “Hedge Agreement” or “Secured Obligations” in each case in a manner adverse to any Hedge Bank or Cash Management Bank with Secured Obligations then outstanding shall require the written consent of such Hedge Bank or Cash Management Bank, as applicable and (iv) the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall be permitted to amend any provision of the Loan Documents (and such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to any Loan Document) if the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall have jointly identified an obvious error or any error or omission of a technical or immaterial nature in any such provision. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder, except that the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, each Lender hereby irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent on its behalf, and without further consent, to enter into amendments or modifications to this Agreement (including amendments to thisSection 11.2) or any of the other Loan Documents or to enter into additional Loan Documents as the Administrative Agent reasonably deems appropriate in order to effectuate the terms ofSection 4.13 (including as applicable, (1) to permit the Incremental Term Loans and the Incremental Revolving Credit Increases to share ratably in the benefits of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and (2) to include the Incremental Term Loan Commitments and the Incremental Revolving Credit Increase, as applicable, or outstanding Incremental Term Loans and outstanding Incremental Revolving Credit Increase, as applicable, in any determination of (i) Required Lenders or Required Revolving Credit Lenders, as applicable or (ii) similar required lender terms applicable thereto);provided that no amendment or modification shall result in any increase in the amount of any Lender’s Commitment or any increase in any Lender’s Commitment Percentage, in each case, without the written consent of such affected Lender.
With respect to any matter requiring the approval of each Lender, each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby or other specified Lenders, it is understood that Voting Participants shall have the voting rights specified inSection 11.8(d) as to such matter.
Section 11.3Expenses; Indemnity.
(a)Costs and Expenses. The Borrower and any other Credit Party, jointly and severally, shall pay within 30 days of written demand therefor (accompanied by reasonable supporting documentation) (i) all reasonable and documented out of pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including the reasonable and documented fees, charges and disbursements of one primary counsel and, if reasonably necessary, one local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction for the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates taken as a whole and in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest, one additional counsel in each relevant jurisdiction for each affected party), in connection with the syndication of the Credit Facility, 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) and (ii) all reasonable and documented out of pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including the reasonable and documented fees, charges and disbursements of one primary counsel and, if reasonably necessary, one local counsel in each relevant
95
jurisdiction for the Administrative Agent and the Lenders taken as a whole and in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest, one additional counsel in each relevant jurisdiction for each affected party) 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 thisSection, or (B) in connection with the Loans made hereunder, including all such out of pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans.
(b)Indemnification by the Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, and shall pay or reimburse any such Indemnitee within 30 days of written demand therefor (accompanied by reasonable supporting documentation) for, any and all losses, claims (including any Environmental Claims), penalties, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the reasonable and documented fees, charges and disbursements of one primary counsel, and, if reasonably necessary, one local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction for the Indemnitees, taken as a whole and in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest, one additional counsel in each relevant jurisdiction to each affected Indemnitee), incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any Person (including the Borrower or any other Credit Party), arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (including the Transactions), (ii) any Loan or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom, (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof, or any Environmental Claim related in any way to any Credit Party or any Subsidiary, (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto, or (v) any claim (including any Environmental Claims), investigation, litigation or other proceeding (whether or not the Administrative Agent or any Lender is a party thereto) and the prosecution and defense thereof, arising out of or in any way connected with the Loans, this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any documents contemplated by or referred to herein or therein or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, including reasonable and documented attorneys and consultant’s fees,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, (B) result from a claim brought by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof against an Indemnitee for material breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if such Credit Party or such Subsidiary has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction or (c) relate to any dispute solely among Indemnitees (other than (1) any claims against any agent or arranger in its respective capacity or fulfilling its role as an agent or arranger or any similar role hereunder and (2) any claims arising out of any act or omission on the part of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or Affiliates). ThisSection 11.3(b) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim.
96
(c)Reimbursement by Lenders. To the extent that the Borrower for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay any amount required under clause (a) or (b) of thisSection to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof) or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’sprorata share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought based on each Lender’s share of the Total Credit Exposure at such time, or if the Total Credit Exposure has been reduced to zero, then based on such Lender’s share of the Total Credit Exposure immediately prior to such reduction) of such unpaid amount (including any such unpaid amount in respect of a claim asserted by such Lender);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) 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) in connection with such capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this clause (c) are subject to the provisions ofSection 4.7.
(d)Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, (i) the Borrower and each other Credit Party 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 the use of the proceeds thereof and (ii) the Administrative Agent, any Arranger and each Lender shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Credit Party or any Subsidiary or any Affiliate thereof, 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 the use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnitee referred to in clause (b) above 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 except to the extent such damages 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this clause (d) shall limit the Credit Parties’ indemnification obligations to the extent set forth in this Agreement relating to claims of special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages sought by third parties against an Indemnitee.
(e)Payments. All amounts due under thisSection shall be payable within 30 days after demand therefor.
(f)Survival. Each party’s obligations under thisSection shall survive the termination of the Loan Documents and payment of the obligations hereunder.
Section 11.4Right of Setoff. Subject toSection 4.6 andSection 9.4, if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender 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 to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower or any other Credit Party against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower or such Credit Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any Secured Hedge Agreement or Secured Cash Management Agreement to such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrower or such Credit Party may be contingent or unmatured or are
97
owed to a branch or office of such Lender different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness;provided that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions ofSection 9.4 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. The rights of each Lender under thisSection are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender may have. Each 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.
Section 11.5Governing Law; Jurisdiction, Etc.
(a)Governing Law. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any claim, controversy, dispute or cause of action (whether in contract or tort or otherwise) based upon, arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document (except, as to any other Loan Document, as expressly set forth therein) and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.
(b)Submission to Jurisdiction. Each of the parties hereto, on behalf of itself and its respective Affiliates irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that it will not commence any action, litigation or proceeding of any kind or description, whether in law or equity, whether in contract or in tort or otherwise, in any way relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions relating hereto or thereto, in any forum other than the courts of the State of New York sitting in New York County, and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, and each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the jurisdiction of such courts and agrees that all claims in respect of any such action, litigation or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State court or, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, in such federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action, litigation or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.
(c)Waiver of Venue. Each of the parties hereto, on behalf of itself and its respective Affiliates irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of thisSection. 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.
(d)Service of Process. Each party hereto irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices inSection 11.1. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party hereto to serve process in any other manner permitted by Applicable Law.
98
Section 11.6Waiver of Jury Trial.
EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
Section 11.7Reversal of Payments. To the extent any Credit Party makes a payment or payments to the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Lenders or the Administrative Agent receives any payment or proceeds of the Collateral which payments or proceeds or any part thereof are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside and/or required to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party under any Debtor Relief Law, other Applicable Law or equitable cause, then, to the extent of such payment or proceeds repaid, the Secured Obligations or part thereof intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment or proceeds had not been received by the Administrative Agent.
Section 11.8Successors and Assigns; Participations.
(a)Successors and Assigns Generally. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that neither the Borrower nor any other Credit 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 paragraph (b) of thisSection, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (d) of thisSection or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of paragraph (e) of thisSection (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 paragraph (d) of thisSection 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.
(b)Assignments by Lenders. Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Revolving Credit Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it);provided that, in each case with respect to any Credit Facility, any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:
99
(i)Minimum Amounts.
(A) in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and/or the Loans at the time owing to it (in each case with respect to any Credit Facility) or contemporaneous assignments to related Approved Funds (determined after giving effect to such assignments) that equal at least the amount specified in paragraph (b)(i)(B) of thisSection in the aggregate 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 paragraph (b)(i)(A) of thisSection, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the applicable Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date) shall not be less than $5,000,000, in the case of any assignment in respect of either the Revolving Credit Facility or the Term Loan Facility, 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);provided that the Borrower shall be deemed to have given its consent five Business Days after the date written notice thereof has been delivered by the assigning Lender (through the Administrative Agent) unless such consent is expressly refused by the Borrower prior to such fifth Business Day;
(ii)Proportionate Amounts. Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loan or the Commitment assigned, except that this clause (ii) shall not prohibit any Lender from assigning all or a portion of its rights and obligations among separate classes on a non-prorata basis;
(iii)Required Consents. No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by paragraph (b)(i)(B) of thisSection and, in addition:
(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, with respect to Lenders other than Farm Credit Lenders, 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 5 Business Days after having received notice thereof; andprovided further, that unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower may withhold its consent for an assignment (i) to any Lender, other than a Farm Credit Lender, (ii) that would adversely affect the then prevailing patronage dividend being earned by the Borrower as a member of the assigning Farm Credit Lender, or (iii) to any competitor of the Borrower or affiliate of such competitor (and in each case, the Borrower shall not be deemed to have acted unreasonably in withholding its consent); and
(B) the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for assignments in respect of (i) the Revolving Credit Facility if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender with a Revolving Credit Commitment, an Affiliate of such Lender or,
100
with respect to Lenders other than Farm Credit Lenders, an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender or (ii) the Term Loans to a Person who is not a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or, with respect to Lenders other than Farm Credit Lenders, an Approved Fund.
(iv)Assignment and Assumption. The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 for each assignment;provided that (A) only one such fee will be payable in connection with simultaneous assignments to two or more related Approved Funds by a Lender and (B) the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment. The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.
(v)No Assignment to Certain Persons. No such assignment shall be made to (A) the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or (B) any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (B).
(vi)No Assignment to Natural Persons. No such assignment shall be made to a natural Person (or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural Person).
(vii)Certain Additional Payments. In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or subparticipations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the applicableprorata share of Loans previously requested, but not funded by, the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (A) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent and each other Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon), and (B) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its fullprorata share of all Loans in accordance with its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under Applicable Law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.
Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to paragraph (c) of thisSection, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits ofSections 4.8,4.9,4.10,4.11 and11.3 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of
101
such assignment;provided that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no assignment by a Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this paragraph shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (d) of thisSection (other than a purported assignment to a natural Person or the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries or Affiliates, which shall be null and void.)
(c)Register. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices in Charlotte, North Carolina, a copy of each Assignment and Assumption and each Lender Joinder Agreement delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitment of, and principal amounts of (and stated interest on) the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender (but only to the extent of entries in the Register that are applicable to such Lender), at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.
(d)Participations. Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural Person, (or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural Person, or the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries or Affiliates) (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 and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, each Lender shall be responsible for the indemnity underSection 11.3(c) with respect to any payments made by such Lender to its Participant(s).
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, subject to the paragraph below regarding the rights of Voting Participants, to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement;provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described inSection 11.2(b),(c) or(d) that directly and adversely affects such Participant. The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits ofSections 4.9,4.10 and4.11 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements underSection 4.11(g) (it being understood that the documentation required underSection 4.11(g) shall be delivered to the participating Lender)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section;provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions ofSection 4.12 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this Section; and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment underSections 4.10 or4.11, 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 ofSection 4.12(b) with
102
respect to any Participant. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits ofSection 11.4 as though it were a Lender;provided that such Participant agrees to be subject toSection 4.6 as though it were a Lender. For the avoidance of doubt, (a) the sale by any Lender of a participation to any Participant (whether a Voting Participant or otherwise) shall not relieve such Lender of any obligation hereunder and (b) no Voting Participant or other Participant shall have any contractual privity with the Borrower or any Credit Party, or be entitled to directly enforce or direct the Administrative Agent to enforce any of the terms under the Loan Documents, other than such rights that are expressly conferred on a “Participant” as set forth in this Agreement.
Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts of (and stated interest on) 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.
Notwithstanding the paragraph above, any Participant that is a Farm Credit Lender that (i) has purchased a participation in a minimum amount of $10,000,000, (ii) has been designated as a voting participant (a “Voting Participant”) in a written notice (a “Voting Participant Notice”) sent by the relevant Lender (including any existing Voting Participant) to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower and (iii) receives, prior to becoming a Voting Participant, the consent of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (such consent to be required only to the extent and under the circumstances it would be required if such Voting Participant were to become a Lender pursuant to an assignment in accordance withSection 11.8(b) and such consent is not required for an assignment to an existing Voting Participant), shall be entitled to vote as if such Voting Participant were a Lender on all matters subject to a vote by Lenders, and the voting rights of the selling Lender shall be correspondingly reduced, on a dollar-for-dollar basis. Each Voting Participant Notice shall include, with respect to each Voting Participant, the information that would be included by a prospective Lender in an Assignment and Assumption. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Farm Credit Lender that has purchased a participation and has been designated as a Voting Participant inSchedule 11.8(d) as of the Closing Date shall be a Voting Participant without delivery of a Voting Participation Notification and without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent or the Borrower. The selling Lender (including any existing Voting Participant) and the purchasing Voting Participant shall notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower within three (3) Business Days of any termination, reduction or increase of the amount of, such participation. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to conclusively rely on information contained in Voting Participant Notices and all other notices delivered pursuant hereto. The voting rights of each Voting Participant are solely for the benefit of such Voting Participant and shall not inure to any assignee or participant of such Voting Participant that is not itself a Voting Participant.
(e)Certain Pledges. Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement 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.
103
(f)Cashless Settlement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, any Lender may exchange, continue or rollover all or a portion of its Loans in connection with any refinancing, extension, loan modification or similar transaction permitted by the terms of this Agreement, pursuant to a cashless settlement mechanism approved by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and such Lender.
Section 11.9Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and, by their purchase of a Participation, the Voting Participants agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its Related Parties in connection with the Credit Facility, this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or in connection with marketing of services by such Affiliate or Related Party to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (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 on substantially the same terms as provided herein), (b) to the extent required or requested by, or required to be disclosed to, any regulatory or similar authority purporting to have jurisdiction over such Person or its Related Parties (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners) (in which case the Administrative Agent, the applicable Lender shall, except with respect to any audit or examination conducted by bank accountants or any governmental bank regulatory authority exercising examination or regulatory authority, promptly notify the Borrower, in advance, to the extent practicable and lawfully permitted to do so), (c) to the extent required by Applicable Laws pursuant to a subpoena or an order of any court or administrative agency or in any pending legal or administrative proceeding or process (in which case, the Administrative Agent, the applicable Lender shall, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, inform the Borrower promptly in advance thereof so the Borrower may seek a protective order or take other appropriate action), (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies under this Agreement, under any other Loan Document or under any Secured Hedge Agreement or Secured Cash Management Agreement, or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any Secured Hedge Agreement or Secured Cash Management Agreement, or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of thisSection, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement, (ii) any actual or prospective party (or its Related Parties) to any swap, derivative or other transaction under which payments are to be made by reference to the Borrower and its obligations, this Agreement or payments hereunder, (iii) to an investor or prospective investor in an Approved Fund that also agrees that Information shall be used solely for the purpose of evaluating an investment in such Approved Fund, (iv) to a trustee, collateral manager, servicer, backup servicer, noteholder or secured party in an Approved Fund in connection with the administration, servicing and reporting on the assets serving as collateral for an Approved Fund, or (v) to a nationally recognized rating agency that requires access to information regarding the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, the Loans and the Loan Documents in connection with ratings issued with respect to an Approved Fund, (g) on a confidential basis to (i) with the consent of the Borrower, any rating agency in connection with rating the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or the Credit Facility or (ii) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers with respect to the Credit Facility, (h) deal terms and other information customarily reported to Thomson Reuters, other bank market data collectors and similar service providers to the lending industry and service providers to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in connection with the administration of the Loan Documents, (i) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of thisSection or (ii) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates from a third party that is not, to such Person’s
104
knowledge, subject to confidentiality obligations to the Borrower, (j) to governmental regulatory authorities in connection with any regulatory examination of the Administrative Agent or any Lender or in accordance with the Administrative Agent’s or any Lender’s regulatory compliance policy if the Administrative Agent or such Lender deems necessary for the mitigation of claims by those authorities against the Administrative Agent or such Lender or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates (in which case, the Administrative Agent, the applicable Lender shall, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, inform the Borrower promptly in advance thereof so the Borrower may seek a protective order or take other appropriate action), (k) to the extent that such information is independently developed by such Person, or (l) for purposes of establishing a “due diligence” defense. For purposes of thisSection, “Information” means all information received from any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof relating to any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in thisSection 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.
Section 11.10Performance of Duties. Each of the Credit Party’s obligations under this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents shall be performed by such Credit Party at its sole cost and expense.
Section 11.11All Powers Coupled with Interest. All powers of attorney and other authorizations granted to the Lenders, the Administrative Agent and any Persons designated by the Administrative Agent or any Lender pursuant to any provisions of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents shall be deemed coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable so long as any of the Obligations remain unpaid or unsatisfied, any of the Commitments remain in effect or the Credit Facility has not been terminated.
Section 11.12Survival.
(a) All representations and warranties set forth inArticle VI and all representations and warranties contained in any certificate, or any of the Loan Documents (including any such representation or warranty made in or in connection with any amendment thereto) shall constitute representations and warranties made under this Agreement. All representations and warranties made under this Agreement shall be made or deemed to be made at and as of the Closing Date (except those that are expressly made as of a specific date), shall survive the Closing Date and shall not be waived by the execution and delivery of this Agreement, any investigation made by or on behalf of the Lenders or any borrowing hereunder.
(b) Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, the indemnities to which the Administrative Agent and the Lenders are entitled under the provisions of thisArticle XI and any other provision of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall continue in full force and effect and shall protect the Administrative Agent and the Lenders against events arising after such termination as well as before.
Section 11.13Titles and Captions. Titles and captions of Articles, Sections and subsections in, and the table of contents of, this Agreement are for convenience only, and neither limit nor amplify the provisions of this Agreement.
105
Section 11.14Severability of Provisions. Any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions hereof or thereof or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.
Section 11.15Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution.
(a)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 and/or the Arranger, constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided inSection 5.1, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof 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 facsimile or in electronic (i.e., “pdf” or “tif”) format shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
(b)Electronic Execution of Assignments. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any Applicable Law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.
Section 11.16Term of Agreement. This Agreement shall remain in effect from the Closing Date through and including the date upon which all Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations not then due) arising hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall have been indefeasibly and irrevocably paid and satisfied in full and the Revolving Credit Commitment has been terminated. No termination of this Agreement shall affect the rights and obligations of the parties hereto arising prior to such termination or in respect of any provision of this Agreement which survives such termination.
Section 11.17USA PATRIOT Act. The Administrative Agent and each Lender hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the PATRIOT Act, each of them is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each Credit Party, which information includes the name, address and tax identification number of each Credit Party and other information that will allow such Lender to identify each Credit Party in accordance with the PATRIOT Act.
Section 11.18Independent Effect of Covenants. The Borrower expressly acknowledges and agrees that each covenant contained inArticles VII orVIII hereof shall be given independent effect. Accordingly, the Borrower shall not engage in any transaction or other act otherwise permitted under any covenant contained inArticles VII or VIII, before or after giving effect to such transaction or act, the Borrower shall or would be in breach of any other covenant contained inArticles VII orVIII.
106
Section 11.19No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.
(a) In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby, each Credit Party acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that (i) the facilities provided for hereunder and any related arranging or other services in connection therewith (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document) are an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Borrower and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders, on the other hand, and the Borrower is capable of evaluating and understanding and understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents (including any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or thereof), (ii) in connection with the process leading to such transaction, each of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the financial advisor, agent or fiduciary, for the Borrower or any of its Affiliates, stockholders, creditors or employees or any other Person, (iii) none of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers or the Lenders has assumed or will assume an advisory, agency or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Borrower with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto, including with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document (irrespective of whether any Arranger or Lender has advised or is currently advising the Borrower or any of its Affiliates on other matters) and none of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers or the Lenders has any obligation to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates with respect to the financing transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, (iv) the Arrangers and the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from, and may conflict with, those of the Borrower and its Affiliates, and none of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers or the Lenders has any obligation to disclose any of such interests by virtue of any advisory, agency or fiduciary relationship and (v) the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders have not provided and will not provide any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby (including any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document) and the Credit Parties have consulted their own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent they have deemed appropriate.
(b) Each Credit Party acknowledges and agrees that each Lender, the Arrangers and any Affiliate thereof may lend money to, invest in, and generally engage in any kind of business with, any of the Borrower, the Parent, any Affiliate thereof or any other person or entity that may do business with or own securities of any of the foregoing, all as if such Lender, Arranger or Affiliate thereof were not a Lender or Arranger or an Affiliate thereof (or an agent or any other person with any similar role under the Credit Facilities) and without any duty to account therefor to any other Lender, the Arrangers, the Parent, the Borrower or any Affiliate of the foregoing. Each Lender, the Arrangers and any Affiliate thereof may accept fees and other consideration from the Parent, the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof for services in connection with this Agreement, the Credit Facilities or otherwise without having to account for the same to any other Lender, the Arrangers, the Parent, the Borrower or any Affiliate of the foregoing.
Section 11.20Inconsistencies with Other Documents. In the event there is a conflict or inconsistency between this Agreement and any other Loan Document, other than the Intercreditor Agreement (which inconsistencies shall be governed by and be subject toSection 9.8), the terms of this Agreement shall control;provided that any provision of the Security Documents which imposes additional burdens on the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or further restricts the rights of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or gives the Administrative Agent or Lenders additional rights shall not be deemed to be in conflict or inconsistent with this Agreement and shall be given full force and effect.
107
Section 11.21Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any EEA Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the write-down and conversion powers of an EEA Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:
(a) the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by an EEA Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an EEA Financial Institution; and
(b) the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:
(i) a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;
(ii) a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such EEA Financial Institution, its parent undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or
(iii) the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of any EEA Resolution Authority.
[Signature pages to follow]
108
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed under seal by their duly authorized officers, all as of the day and year first written above.
CLEARWATER PAPER CORPORATION, as Borrower | ||
By: | /s/ John D. Hertz | |
Name: | John D. Hertz | |
Title: | Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer |
AGENTS AND LENDERS: | ||
NORTHWEST FARM CREDIT SERVICES, PCA, as Administrative Agent and Lender | ||
By: | /s/ Suann Harris | |
Name: | Suann Harris | |
Title: | Relationship Manager, VP |