Section 7. Release; Covenants; Acknowledgement.
7.1 In consideration of, among other things, Administrative Agent’s and the Lenders’ execution and delivery of this Waiver, each Loan Party, on behalf of itself and its agents, representatives, officers, directors, advisors, employees, subsidiaries, affiliates, successors, and assigns (each a “Releasor” and collectively the “Releasors”), hereby absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably releases and forever discharges the Administrative Agent, each Lender, each other Secured Party and each of their respective affiliates, subsidiaries, shareholders and “controlling persons” (within the meaning of the federal securities laws), and their respective successors and assigns and each and all of the officers, directors, partners, employees, agents, attorneys, insurers, and other representatives of each of the foregoing (each a “Released Party” and collectively the “Released Parties”), from any and all claims, demands or causes of action of any kind, nature or description (including, without limitation, crossclaims, counterclaims, rights of set-off, and recoupment), whether arising in law or equity or upon contract or tort or under any state or federal law or otherwise, which any Loan Party has had, now has or has made claim to have against any such person for or by reason of any act, omission, matter, cause or thing whatsoever in connection with the Credit Agreement arising from the beginning of time to and including the Waiver Effective Date, whether such claims, demands and causes of action are matured or unmatured or known or unknown, in each case, other than directly arising as a result of the fraud or willful misconduct of such Released Party (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and non-appealable judgment). It is the intention of each Loan Party in providing this release that the same shall be effective as a bar to each and every claim, demand and cause of action specified in the immediately preceding sentence. Each Loan Party acknowledges that it may hereafter discover facts different from or in addition to those now known or believed to be true with respect to such claims, demands, or causes of action and agree that this instrument shall be and remain effective in all respects notwithstanding any such differences or additional facts. Each Loan Party understands, acknowledges and agrees that the release set forth above may be pleaded as a full and complete defense and may be used as a basis for an injunction against any action, suit or other proceeding which may be instituted, prosecuted or attempted in breach of the provisions of such release.
7.2 Each Loan Party, on behalf of itself and its successors, assigns, and other legal representatives, hereby absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably, covenants and agrees with and in favor of each Released Party above that it will not sue (at law, in equity, in any regulatory proceeding or otherwise) any Released Party on the basis of any claim released, remised and discharged by any Loan Party pursuant to the above release. If any Loan Party or any of their successors, assigns or other legal representatives violates the foregoing covenant, each Loan Party, for itself and its successors, assigns and legal representatives, agrees to pay, in addition to such other damages as any Released Party may sustain as a result of such violation, all reasonable attorneys’ fees and out-of-pocket costs incurred by such Released Party as a result of such violation.
7.3 Each Loan Party represents and warrants that, as of the date hereof, there are no liabilities, claims, suits, debts, liens, losses, causes of action, demands, rights, damages or costs, or expenses of any kind, character or nature whatsoever, known or unknown, fixed or contingent, which any Loan Party may have or claim to have against any Released Party arising with respect to the Secured Obligations, the Credit Agreement, this Waiver or any other Loan Document.
5