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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549 

 

FORM 8-K 

 

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 30, 2022

 

TILE SHOP HOLDINGS, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

Delaware		001-35629		45-5538095
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)		(Commission File Number)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)

  

14000 Carlson Parkway, Plymouth, Minnesota 55441

(Address of principal executive offices, including ZIP code)

 

(763) 852-2950

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
¨	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
¨	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
¨	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class		Trading Symbol(s)		Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.0001 par value		TTSH		The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

   

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company  ¨

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.    ¨

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.01

Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

 

Effective September 30, 2022, Tile Shop Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”), as a guarantor, and its operating subsidiary The Tile Shop, LLC (“The Tile Shop”), as the borrower, entered into a Credit Agreement with certain subsidiaries of the Company and The Tile Shop, each lender from time to time party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (“JPMorgan”), as administrative agent (the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement provides The Tile Shop with a senior credit facility consisting of a $75,000,000 revolving line of credit, of which up to $10,000,000 may be utilized for the issuance of letters of credit. The revolving line of credit may be increased by up to $50,000,000, subject to certain conditions. The Credit Agreement matures on September 30, 2027.

 

The Credit Agreement provides that borrowings will bear interest, at The Tile Shop’s option, at a rate per annum equal to: (i) Adjusted Term SOFR Rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement), plus a margin ranging from 1.25% to 1.75%; (ii) Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR (as defined in the Credit Agreement), plus a margin ranging from 1.25% to 1.75%; or (iii) the Alternate Base Rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement), plus a margin ranging from 0.25% to 0.75%. The Credit Agreement also provides for a commitment fee ranging from 0.20% to 0.30% on the unused portion of the line of credit. The margin and the committee fee are determined based on The Tile Shop’s Rent Adjusted Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement).

 

The Credit Agreement includes financial and other covenants, including covenants to maintain certain fixed charge coverage ratios and the Rent Adjusted Leverage Ratio. The Credit Agreement also contains customary events of default, conditions to borrowings, and restrictive covenants, including restrictions on the Loan Parties’ (as defined below) ability to dispose of assets, engage in acquisitions or mergers, make distributions on or repurchases of capital stock, incur additional debt, incur liens, or make investments. Upon the occurrence of certain events of default, JPMorgan, as administrative agent and at the instruction of the lenders, may terminate any remaining commitments and declare the outstanding loans and other obligations under the Credit Agreement immediately due and payable. Upon the occurrence of events of default related to bankruptcy, insolvency and similar events, the commitments will automatically terminate and the outstanding loans and other obligations under the Credit Agreement will become immediately due and payable.

 

Each of the Company, The Tile Shop, Tile Shop Lending, Inc. and The Tile Shop of Michigan, LLC (collectively, the “Loan Parties”) agreed to guarantee the obligations of the other Loan Parties pursuant to the Credit Agreement. In addition, the Loan Parties and JPMorgan entered into a Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of September 30, 2022 (the “Pledge and Security Agreement”), pursuant to which each of the Loan Parties granted to the lenders under the Credit Agreement a first priority security interest in certain accounts, inventory, equipment, fixtures, general intangibles, chattel paper, letters of credit, and other assets to secure the obligations of the Loan Parties under the Credit Agreement.

 

The Credit Agreement supersedes and replaces in its entirety the Company’s senior secured credit facility with Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, and the lenders from time to time party thereto, dated September 18, 2018 (as amended, the “2018 Credit Facility”).

 

The Company drew on the line of credit pursuant to the Credit Agreement to refinance all of the existing indebtedness outstanding under the 2018 Credit Facility and to pay closing costs in connection with the Credit Agreement. Additional borrowings pursuant to the Credit Agreement may be used for purchasing additional merchandise inventory, maintaining the Company’s stores, and general corporate purposes.

 

The foregoing descriptions of the Credit Agreement and the Pledge and Security Agreement are summaries only, are not intended to be complete, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Credit Agreement and the Pledge and Security Agreement, respectively, copies of which are filed as Exhibit 10.1 and Exhibit 10.2, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K (this “Form 8-K”) and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 1.02

Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement

 

The disclosures set forth under Item 1.01 of this Form 8-K are incorporated by reference in this Item 1.02.



Item 2.03

Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant

 

The disclosures set forth under Item 1.01 of this Form 8-K are incorporated by reference in this Item 2.03.

 

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

(d)

Exhibits.

 

10.1*

Credit Agreement, dated as of September 30, 2022, by and among The Tile Shop, LLC, as borrower and loan party, Tile Shop Holdings, Inc., Tile Shop Lending, Inc., and The Tile Shop of Michigan, LLC, as guarantors and loan parties, each lender from time to time party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, sole bookrunner and sole lead arranger.

 

 

 

 

10.2*

Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of September 30, 2022, by and among The Tile Shop, LLC, Tile Shop Holdings, Inc., Tile Shop Lending, Inc., and The Tile Shop of Michigan, LLC, as grantors, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent.

 

104

Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

 

* Schedules and exhibits have been omitted pursuant to Regulation S-K, Item 601(a)(5). The Company will provide a copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

	TILE SHOP HOLDINGS, INC.
Date: September 30, 2022	By:	/s/ Karla Lunan
	Name: Karla Lunan
	Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

 

 

CREDIT AGREEMENT   dated as of   September 30, 2022   among   THE TILE SHOP, LLC,   The other Loan Parties Party Hereto   The Lenders Party Hereto   and   JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent       JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Sole Bookrunner and Sole Lead Arranger

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)

 

	Page
Article I Definitions	1
SECTION 1.01 Defined Terms	1
SECTION 1.02 Classification of Loans and Borrowings	39
SECTION 1.03 Terms Generally	39
SECTION 1.04 Accounting Terms; GAAP	39
SECTION 1.05 Interest Rates; Benchmark Notifications	40
SECTION 1.06 Pro Forma Adjustments for Acquisitions and Dispositions	41
SECTION 1.07 Status of Obligations	41
SECTION 1.08 Letters of Credit	41
SECTION 1.09 Divisions	42
Article II The Credits	42
SECTION 2.01 Revolving Commitments	42
SECTION 2.02 Loans and Borrowings	42
SECTION 2.03 Requests for Borrowings	43
SECTION 2.04 [Intentionally Omitted]	44
SECTION 2.05 Swingline Loans	44
SECTION 2.06 Letters of Credit	45
SECTION 2.07 Funding of Borrowings	51
SECTION 2.08 Interest Elections	51
SECTION 2.09 Termination and Reduction of Commitments; Increase in Revolving Commitments	53
SECTION 2.10 Repayment and Amortization of Loans; Evidence of Debt	55
SECTION 2.11 Prepayment of Loans	56
SECTION 2.12 Fees	57
SECTION 2.13 Interest	58
SECTION 2.14 Alternate Rate of Interest; Illegality	59
SECTION 2.15 Increased Costs	61
SECTION 2.16 Break Funding Payments	63
SECTION 2.17 Withholding of Taxes; Gross-Up	63
SECTION 2.18 Payments Generally; Allocation of Proceeds; Sharing of Setoffs	68
SECTION 2.19 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders	70
SECTION 2.20 Defaulting Lenders	71
SECTION 2.21 Returned Payments	74
SECTION 2.22 Banking Services and Swap Agreements	74

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)

 

Page

 

Article III Representations and Warranties	74
SECTION 3.01 Organization; Powers	74
SECTION 3.02 Authorization; Enforceability	75
SECTION 3.03 Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts	75
SECTION 3.04 Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change	75
SECTION 3.05 Properties	75
SECTION 3.06 Litigation and Environmental Matters	76
SECTION 3.07 Compliance with Laws and Agreements; No Default	76
SECTION 3.08 Investment Company Status	76
SECTION 3.09 Taxes	76
SECTION 3.10 ERISA	77
SECTION 3.11 Disclosure	77
SECTION 3.12 Material Agreements	77
SECTION 3.13 Solvency	77
SECTION 3.14 Insurance	78
SECTION 3.15 Capitalization and Subsidiaries	78
SECTION 3.16 Security Interest in Collateral	78
SECTION 3.17 Employment Matters	78
SECTION 3.18 Margin Regulations	79
SECTION 3.19 Use of Proceeds	79
SECTION 3.20 No Burdensome Restrictions	79
SECTION 3.21 Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions	79
SECTION 3.22 Affected Financial Institutions	79
SECTION 3.23 Plan Assets; Prohibited Transactions	79
Article IV Conditions	80
SECTION 4.01 Effective Date	80
SECTION 4.02 Each Credit Event	82
Article V Affirmative Covenants	83
SECTION 5.01 Financial Statements; Other Information	83
SECTION 5.02 Notices of Material Events	86
SECTION 5.03 Existence; Conduct of Business	86
SECTION 5.04 Payment of Obligations	87
SECTION 5.05 Maintenance of Properties	87
SECTION 5.06 Books and Records; Inspection Rights	87
SECTION 5.07 Compliance with Laws and Material Contractual Obligations	88
SECTION 5.08 Use of Proceeds	88
SECTION 5.09 Accuracy of Information	88
SECTION 5.10 Insurance	88
SECTION 5.11 Appraisals	89
SECTION 5.12 Casualty and Condemnation	89
SECTION 5.13 Depository Banks	89
SECTION 5.14 Additional Collateral; Further Assurances	89
SECTION 5.15 Compliance with Terms of Leaseholds	90
Article VI Negative Covenants	91
SECTION 6.01 Indebtedness	91
SECTION 6.02 Liens	93
SECTION 6.03 Fundamental Changes	94
SECTION 6.04 Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions	95
SECTION 6.05 Asset Sales	97
SECTION 6.06 Sale and Leaseback Transactions	98
SECTION 6.07 Swap Agreements	98
SECTION 6.08 Restricted Payments; Certain Payments of Indebtedness	99
SECTION 6.09 Transactions with Affiliates	99
SECTION 6.10 Restrictive Agreements	100
SECTION 6.11 Amendment of Material Documents	100
SECTION 6.12 Financial Covenants	101
SECTION 6.13 Amendments of New Markets Tax Credit Financing Documents	101

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)

 

Page

 

Article VII Events of Default	101
Article VIII The Administrative Agent	104
SECTION 8.01 Authorization and Action	104
SECTION 8.02 Administrative Agent’s Reliance, Limitation of Liability, Etc.	107
SECTION 8.03 Posting of Communications	108
SECTION 8.04 The Administrative Agent Individually	110
SECTION 8.05 Successor Administrative Agent	110
SECTION 8.06 Acknowledgements of Lenders and Issuing Banks	111
SECTION 8.07 Collateral Matters	114
SECTION 8.08 Credit Bidding	115
SECTION 8.09 Certain ERISA Matters	116
SECTION 8.10 Flood Laws	117
Article IX Miscellaneous	117
SECTION 9.01 Notices	117
SECTION 9.02 Waivers; Amendments	119
SECTION 9.03 Expenses; Limitation of Liability; Indemnity; Etc.	122
SECTION 9.04 Successors and Assigns	124
SECTION 9.05 Survival	128
SECTION 9.06 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution	129
SECTION 9.07 Severability	130
SECTION 9.08 Right of Setoff	130
SECTION 9.09 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process	131
SECTION 9.10 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL	132
SECTION 9.11 Headings	132
SECTION 9.12 Confidentiality	132
SECTION 9.13 Several Obligations; Nonreliance; Violation of Law	133
SECTION 9.14 USA PATRIOT Act	133
SECTION 9.15 Disclosure	134
SECTION 9.16 Appointment for Perfection	134
SECTION 9.17 Interest Rate Limitation	134
SECTION 9.18 No Fiduciary Duty, etc.	134
SECTION 9.19 Marketing Consent	135
SECTION 9.20 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions	135
SECTION 9.21 Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs	136
SECTION 9.22 Joint and Several	137

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)

 

Page

 

Article X Loan Guaranty	138
SECTION 10.01 Guaranty	138
SECTION 10.02 Guaranty of Payment	138
SECTION 10.03 No Discharge or Diminishment of Loan Guaranty	138
SECTION 10.04 Defenses Waived	139
SECTION 10.05 Rights of Subrogation	139
SECTION 10.06 Reinstatement; Stay of Acceleration	140
SECTION 10.07 Information	140
SECTION 10.08 Termination	140
SECTION 10.09 Taxes	140
SECTION 10.10 Maximum Liability	140
SECTION 10.11 Contribution	141
SECTION 10.12 Liability Cumulative	142
SECTION 10.13 Keepwell	142
Article XI the borrower representative	142
SECTION 11.01 Appointment; Nature of Relationship	142
SECTION 11.02 Powers	142
SECTION 11.03 Employment of Agents	142
SECTION 11.04 Notices	143
SECTION 11.05 Successor Borrower Representative	143
SECTION 11.06 Execution of Loan Documents	143

 

 

SCHEDULES:

 

Commitment Schedule 

Schedule 3.05 –

Properties, etc.

Schedule 3.06 –

Disclosed Matters

Schedule 3.12 –

Material Agreements

Schedule 3.14 –

Insurance

Schedule 3.15 –

Capitalization and Subsidiaries

Schedule 6.01 –

Existing Indebtedness

Schedule 6.02 –

Existing Liens

Schedule 6.04 –

Existing Investments

Schedule 6.10 –

Existing Restrictions

 

EXHIBITS:

 

Exhibit A

Assignment and Assumption

Exhibit B-1

Borrowing Request

Exhibit B-2

Interest Election Request

Exhibit C-1

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (For Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Exhibit C-2

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (For Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Exhibit C-3

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Exhibit C-4

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (For Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Exhibit E

Compliance Certificate

Exhibit F

Joinder Agreement

 

 

CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of September 30, 2022 (as it may be amended or modified from time to time, this “Agreement”), among THE TILE SHOP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (together with any other Borrower, now or hereafter, party hereto, collectively, the “Borrowers” and, individually, each a “Borrower”), the other Loan Parties party hereto, the Lenders party hereto, and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

 

The parties hereto agree as follows:

 

Article I
Definitions

 

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

 

“2016 New Markets Tax Credit Financing” means, collectively, (a) the renovation, development and expansion of the Oklahoma Distribution Center by The Tile Shop of Oklahoma, and the equipping and construction related thereto, using the proceeds of the 2016 New Markets Tax Credit Loans, (b) the 2016 New Markets Tax Credit Investments, (c) interest payments and scheduled amortization payments by The Tile Shop of Oklahoma on the 2016 New Markets Tax Credit Loans, (d) the unsecured Guarantee of the 2016 New Markets Tax Credit Loans and certain other obligations of The Tile Shop of Oklahoma by Tile Shop LLC and Holdings and (e) after the closing of the 2016 New Markets Tax Credit Loans and the 2016 New Markets Tax Credit Investments, the release by REI Subsidiary CDE 9, LLC of a debt service reserve of The Tile Shop of Oklahoma as collateral in exchange for The Tile Shop of Oklahoma executing a mortgage in favor of REI Subsidiary CDE 9, LLC on the northern parcel of the real estate on which the Oklahoma Distribution Center is located.

 

“2016 New Markets Tax Credit Financing Documents” means (a) any agreement or instrument entered into by or on behalf of any Loan Party to effectuate the transactions contemplated in clauses (a)-(d) of the definition of 2016 New Markets Tax Credit Financing, and as amended as permitted under Section 6.13, and (b) any agreement or instrument entered into by or on behalf of any Loan Party to effectuate the transactions contemplated in clause (e) of the definition of 2016 New Markets Tax Credit Financing, and as amended as permitted under Section 6.13.

 

“2016 New Markets Tax Credit Investment” means the investment in the form of a secured loan from Tile Shop Lending to Twain Investment Fund 192, LLC in a principal amount not to exceed $6,683,250.

 

“2016 New Markets Tax Credit Loans” means, collectively, the loans to The Tile Shop of Oklahoma to provide financing for the renovation, development and expansion of the Oklahoma Distribution Center, and the equipping and construction related thereto, from REI Subsidiary CDE 9, LLC in a principal amount not to exceed $9,215,000.

 

 

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

 

“Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement.

 

“Account Debtor” means any Person obligated on an Account.

 

“Acquisition” means any transaction, or any series of related transactions, consummated on or after the Effective Date, by which any Loan Party (a) acquires any going business or all or substantially all of the assets of any Person, whether through purchase of assets, merger or otherwise or (b) directly or indirectly acquires (in one transaction or as the most recent transaction in a series of transactions) at least a majority (in number of votes) of the Equity Interests of a Person which has ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other similar management personnel of a Person (other than Equity Interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) or a majority of the outstanding Equity Interests of a Person.

 

“Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR” means an interest rate per annum equal to (a) the Daily Simple SOFR, plus (b) 0.10%; provided that if the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR as so determined would be less than the Floor, such rate shall be deemed to be equal to the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement.

 

“Adjusted Term SOFR Rate” means, for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum equal to (a) the Term SOFR Rate for such Interest Period, plus (b) 0.10%; provided that if the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate as so determined would be less than the Floor, such rate shall be deemed to be equal to the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement.

 

“Administrative Agent” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (or any of its designated branch offices or affiliates), in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders hereunder.

 

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

 

“Affected Financial Institution” means (a) any EEA Financial Institution or (b) any UK Financial Institution.

 

“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 specified Person.

 

“Agent-Related Person” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.03(d).

 

“Aggregate Credit Exposure” means, at any time, the aggregate Credit Exposure of all the Lenders at such time.

 

“Aggregate Revolving Exposure” means, at any time, the aggregate Revolving Exposure of all the Lenders at such time.

 

 

“Agreement” has the meaning specified in introductory paragraph hereof.

 

“Alternate Base Rate” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the NYFRB Rate in effect on such day plus ½ of 1%, and (c) the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for a one-month Interest Period as published two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) plus 1%, provided that, for the purpose of this definition, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for any day shall be based on the Term SOFR Reference Rate at approximately 5:00 a.m. Chicago time on such day (or any amended publication time for the Term SOFR Reference Rate, as specified by the CME Term SOFR Administrator in the Term SOFR Reference Rate methodology). Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, respectively. If the Alternate Base Rate is being used as an alternate rate of interest pursuant to Section 2.14 (for the avoidance of doubt, only until the Benchmark Replacement has been determined pursuant to Section 2.14(b)), then the Alternate Base Rate shall be the greater of clause (a) and (b) above and shall be determined without reference to clause (c) above. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Alternate Base Rate as determined pursuant to the foregoing would be less than 1.00%, such rate shall be deemed to be 1.00% for purposes of this Agreement.

 

“Ancillary Document” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.06(b).

 

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

 

“Applicable Parties” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 8.03(c).

 

“Applicable Percentage” means, at any time with respect to any Lender, a percentage equal to a fraction the numerator of which is such Lender’s Revolving Commitment at such time and the denominator of which is the aggregate Revolving Commitments at such time (provided that, if the Revolving Commitments have terminated or expired, the Applicable Percentages shall be determined based upon such Lender’s share of the Aggregate Revolving Exposure at such time); provided that, in accordance with Section 2.20, so long as any Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender, such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment shall be disregarded in the calculations above.

 

“Applicable Rate” means, for any day, with respect to any Loan, or with respect to the commitment fees payable hereunder, as the case may be, the applicable rate per annum set forth below under the caption “Revolving Commitment ABR Spread”, “Revolving Commitment Term Benchmark/RFR Spread” or “Commitment Fee Rate”, as the case may be, based upon the Rent Adjusted Leverage Ratio as of the most recent determination date, provided that until the delivery to the Administrative Agent, pursuant to Section 5.01, of Holdings’ consolidated financial information for Holdings’ first fiscal quarter ending after the Effective Date, the “Applicable Rate” shall be the applicable rates per annum set forth below in Category 2:

 

 

Rent Adjusted Leverage Ratio		Revolving Commitment ABR Spread				Revolving Commitment Term Benchmark/RFR Spread				Commitment Fee Rate
Category 1 > 2.50 to 1.0			0.75	%			1.75	%			0.30	%
Category 2 < 2.50 to 1.0 but > 1.50 to 1.0			0.50	%			1.50	%			0.25	%
Category 3 < 1.50 to 1.0			0.25	%			1.25	%			0.20	%

 

For purposes of the foregoing, (a) the Applicable Rate shall be determined as of the end of each fiscal quarter of Holdings, based upon the Holdings’ annual or quarterly consolidated financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.01 and (b) each change in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Rent Adjusted Leverage Ratio shall be effective during the period commencing on and including the date of delivery to the Administrative Agent of such consolidated financial statements indicating such change and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change, provided that at the option of the Administrative Agent or at the request of the Required Lenders, if the Borrowers fail to deliver the annual or quarterly consolidated financial statements required to be delivered by it pursuant to Section 5.01, the Rent Adjusted Leverage Ratio shall be deemed to be in Category 1 during the period from the expiration of the time for delivery thereof until such consolidated financial statements are delivered.

 

If at any time the Administrative Agent determines that the financial statements upon which the Applicable Rate was determined were incorrect (whether based on a restatement, fraud or otherwise), or any ratio or compliance information in a Compliance Certificate or other certification was incorrectly calculated, relied on incorrect information or was otherwise not accurate, true or correct, the Borrowers shall be required to retroactively pay any additional amount that the Borrowers would have been required to pay if such financial statements, Compliance Certificate or other information had been accurate and/or computed correctly at the time they were delivered.

 

“Approved Electronic Platform” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 8.03(a).

 

“Approved Fund” has the meaning assigned to the term in Section 9.04(b).

 

“Arranger” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as sole bookrunner and sole lead arranger hereunder.

 

“Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption agreement entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 9.04), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit A or any other form (including electronic records generated by the use of an electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

 

  

“Availability” means, at any time, an amount equal to (a)  the aggregate Revolving Commitments minus (b) the Aggregate Revolving Exposure (calculated, with respect to any Defaulting Lender, as if such Defaulting Lender had funded its Applicable Percentage of all outstanding Borrowings).

 

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

 

“Available Tenor” means, as of any date of determination and with respect to the then-current Benchmark, as applicable, any tenor for such Benchmark (or component thereof) or payment period for interest calculated with reference to such Benchmark (or component thereof), as applicable, that is or may be used for determining the length of an Interest Period for any term rate or otherwise, for determining any frequency of making payments of interest calculated pursuant to this Agreement as of such date and not including, for the avoidance of doubt, any tenor for such Benchmark that is then-removed from the definition of “Interest Period” pursuant to clause (e) of Section 2.14.

 

“Bail-In Action” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an Affected Financial Institution.

 

“Bail-In Legislation” means (a) 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, regulation, rule or requirement for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 (as amended from time to time) and any other law, regulation or rule applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (other than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings).

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

  

“Benchmark” means, initially, with respect to any (i) RFR Loan, the Daily Simple SOFR or (ii) Term Benchmark Loan, the Term SOFR Rate; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event and the related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to the Daily Simple SOFR or Term SOFR Rate, as applicable, or the then-current Benchmark, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to clause (b) of Section 2.14.

 

“Benchmark Replacement” means, for any Available Tenor, the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Administrative Agent for the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date:

 

(1)            the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR;

 

(2)            the sum of: (a) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower Representative as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a replacement benchmark rate or the mechanism for determining such a rate by the Relevant Governmental Body or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a benchmark rate as a replacement for the then-current Benchmark for dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time in the United States and (b) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.

 

If the Benchmark Replacement as determined pursuant to clause (1) or (2) above would be less than the Floor, the Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

 

“Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” means, with respect to any replacement of the then-current Benchmark with an Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for any applicable Interest Period and Available Tenor for any setting of such Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement, the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower Representative for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement by the Relevant Governmental Body on the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date and/or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time.

 

 

“Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement and/or any Term Benchmark Loan, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of “Alternate Base Rate,” the definition of “Business Day,” the definition of “U.S. Government Securities Business Day,” the definition of “Interest Period,” timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices, length of lookback periods, the applicability of breakage provisions, and other technical, administrative or operational matters) that the Administrative Agent decides may be appropriate to reflect the adoption and implementation of such Benchmark Replacement and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Administrative Agent determines that no market practice for the administration of such Benchmark Replacement exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent decides is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents).

 

“Benchmark Replacement Date” means, with respect to any Benchmark, the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to such then-current Benchmark:

 

(1) in the case of clause (1) or (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the later of (a) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (b) the date on which the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or

 

(2) in the case of clause (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the first date on which such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) has been determined and announced by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) to be no longer representative; provided, that such non-representativeness will be determined by reference to the most recent statement or publication referenced in such clause (3) and even if any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) continues to be provided on such date.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, (i) if the event giving rise to the Benchmark Replacement Date occurs on the same day as, but earlier than, the Reference Time in respect of any determination, the Benchmark Replacement Date will be deemed to have occurred prior to the Reference Time for such determination and (ii) the “Benchmark Replacement Date” will be deemed to have occurred in the case of clause (1) or (2) with respect to any Benchmark upon the occurrence of the applicable event or events set forth therein with respect to all then-current Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).

 

 

“Benchmark Transition Event” means, with respect to any Benchmark, the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to such then-current Benchmark:

 

(1) a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof), permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof);

 

(2) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof), the Federal Reserve Board, the NYFRB, the CME Term SOFR Administrator, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component) or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), in each case, which states that the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component) has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) permanently or indefinitely; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or

 

(3) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) are no longer, or as of a specified future date will no longer be, representative.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, a “Benchmark Transition Event” will be deemed to have occurred with respect to any Benchmark if a public statement or publication of information set forth above has occurred with respect to each then-current Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).

 

“Benchmark Unavailability Period” means, with respect to any Benchmark, the period (if any) (x) beginning at the time that a Benchmark Replacement Date pursuant to clauses (1) or (2) of that definition has occurred if, at such time, no Benchmark Replacement has replaced such then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 2.14 and (y) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced such then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 2.14.

 

“Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership or control as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

 

“Beneficial Ownership Regulation” means 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.

 

“Benefit Plan” means any of (a) an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a “plan” as defined in Section 4975 of the Code to which Section 4975 of the Code applies, and (c) any Person whose assets include (for purposes of the Plan Asset Regulations or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) the assets of any such “employee benefit plan” or “plan”.

 

 

“BHC Act Affiliate” of a party means an “affiliate” (as such term is defined under, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 1841(k)) of such party.

 

“Borrower” or “Borrowers” has the meaning given such terms in the first paragraph of this Agreement.

 

“Borrower Representative” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.01.

 

“Borrowing” means (a) Revolving Borrowing and (b) a Swingline Loan.

 

“Borrowing Request” means a request by the Borrower Representative for a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03, which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit B-1 hereto or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

“Burdensome Restrictions” means any consensual encumbrance or restriction of the type described in clause (a) or (b) of Section 6.10.

 

“Business Day” means any day (other than a Saturday or a Sunday) on which banks are open for business in New York City or Chicago; provided that, in relation to RFR Loans and any interest rate settings, fundings, disbursements, settlements or payments of any such RFR Loan, or any other dealings of such RFR Loan, any such day that is only an U.S. Government Securities Business Day.

 

“Capital Expenditures” means, without duplication, any expenditure (inclusive of cash deposits made for Capital Expenditures) for any purchase or other acquisition of any asset which would be classified as a fixed or capital asset on a consolidated balance sheet of the Holdings and its Subsidiaries prepared in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Capital Lease Obligations” of any Person means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases or financing leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Change in Control” means (a) the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any Person or group (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the SEC thereunder as in effect on the date hereof), of Equity Interests representing more than 35% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of Holdings; (b) occupation at any time of a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of directors of Holdings who were not (i) directors of Holdings on the date of this Agreement, or nominated or appointed by the board of directors of Holdings or (ii) appointed by directors so nominated or appointed or (c) Holdings shall cease to own, directly or indirectly, free and clear of all Liens or other encumbrances, 100% of the outstanding voting Equity Interests of the other Loan Parties on a fully diluted basis.

 

  

“Change in Law” means the occurrence after the date of this Agreement (or, with respect to any Lender, such later date on which such Lender becomes a party to this Agreement) of any of the following: (a) the adoption of 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) compliance by any Lender or the Issuing Bank (or, for purposes of Section 2.15(b), by any lending office of such Lender or by such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any) with any request, guideline, requirement or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of this Agreement; provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith or in the implementation thereof, and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the U.S. or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued or implemented.

 

“Charges” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.17.

 

“Chase” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., a national banking association, in its individual capacity, and its successors.

 

“Class”, when used in reference to (a) any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Revolving Loans or Swingline Loans, (b) any Commitment, refers to whether such Commitment is a Revolving Commitment and (c) any Lender, refers to whether such Lender has a Loan or Commitment of a particular Class.

 

“CME Term SOFR Administrator” means CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited as administrator of the forward-looking term SOFR (or a successor administrator).

 

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

 

“Collateral” means any and all property owned, leased or operated by a Person covered by the Collateral Documents and any and all other property of any Loan Party, now existing or hereafter acquired, that may at any time be, become or be intended to be, subject to a security interest or Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent, on behalf of itself and the Lenders and other Secured Parties, to secure the Secured Obligations; provided that Collateral shall not include Excluded Property.

 

“Collateral Access Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement.

 

 

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

  

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

 

“Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the sum of such Lender’s Revolving Commitment. The initial amount of each Lender’s Commitment is set forth on the Commitment Schedule, or in the Assignment and Assumption or other documentation or record (as such term is defined in Section 9-102(a)(70) of the New York Uniform Commercial Code) as provided in Section 9.04(b)(ii)(C), pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Commitment, as applicable.

 

“Commitment Schedule” means the Schedule attached hereto identified as such.

 

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

 

“Communications” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.03(c).

 

“Compliance Certificate” means a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower Representative in substantially the form of Exhibit E.

 

“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.

 

“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.

 

“Corresponding Tenor” with respect to any Available Tenor means, as applicable, either a tenor (including overnight) or an interest payment period having approximately the same length (disregarding business day adjustment) as such Available Tenor.

 

 

“Covered Entity” means any of the following:

 

(i)            a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);

  

(ii)            a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or

 

(iii)            a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

 

“Covered Party” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.21.

 

“Credit Exposure” means, as to any Lender at any time, such Lender’s Revolving Exposure at such time.

 

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

 

“Daily Simple SOFR” means, for any day (a “SOFR Rate Day”), a rate per annum equal to SOFR for the day (such day “SOFR Determination Date”) that is five (5) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to (i) if such SOFR Rate Day is a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, such SOFR Rate Day or (ii) if such SOFR Rate Day is not a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, the U.S. Government Securities Business Day immediately preceding such SOFR Rate Day, in each case, as such SOFR is published by the SOFR Administrator on the SOFR Administrator’s Website. Any change in Daily Simple SOFR due to a change in SOFR shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in SOFR without notice to the Borrower.

 

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

 

“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

 

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

 

 

“Disclosed Matters” means the actions, suits, proceedings and environmental matters disclosed in Schedule 3.06.

 

“Disposition” or “Dispose” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (in one transaction or in a series of transactions and whether effected pursuant to a Division or otherwise) of any property by any Person (including any sale and leaseback transaction and any issuance of Equity Interests by a Subsidiary of such Person), including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith.

 

“Dividing Person” has the meaning assigned to it in the definition of “Division.”

 

“Division” means the division of the assets, liabilities and/or obligations of a Person (the “Dividing Person”) among two or more Persons (whether pursuant to a “plan of division” or similar arrangement), which may or may not include the Dividing Person and pursuant to which the Dividing Person may or may not survive.

 

“Division Successor” means any Person that, upon the consummation of a Division of a Dividing Person, holds all or any portion of the assets, liabilities and/or obligations previously held by such Dividing Person immediately prior to the consummation of such Division. A Dividing Person which retains any of its assets, liabilities and/or obligations after a Division shall be deemed a Division Successor upon the occurrence of such Division.

 

“Document” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement.

 

“Dollars”, “dollars” or “$” refers to lawful money of the U.S.

 

“EBITDAR” means, for any period, Net Income for such period plus (a) without duplication and to the extent deducted in determining Net Income for such period, the sum of (i) Interest Expense for such period, (ii) income tax expense for such period net of tax refunds, (iii) all amounts attributable to depreciation and amortization expense for such period, (iv) any extraordinary non-cash charges for such period, (v) any other non-cash charges for such period (but excluding any non-cash charge in respect of an item that was included in Net Income in a prior period and any non-cash charge that relates to the write-down or write-off of inventory), (vi) Rentals for such period, (vii) up to $2,500,000 per annum of non-recurring expenses of Holdings and its Subsidiaries reducing such Net Income, and (viii) up to $250,000 of expenses incurred in connection with the negotiation and documentation of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, minus (b) without duplication and to the extent included in Net Income, (i) any cash payments made during such period in respect of non-cash charges described in clause (a)(v) taken in a prior period and (ii) any extraordinary gains and any non-cash items of income for such period, all calculated for Holdings and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

  

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

 

“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.

 

“Effective Date” means the date on which the conditions specified in Section 4.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02).

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

  

“Equipment” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement.

 

“Equity Interests” means shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person, and any warrants, options or other rights entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any of the foregoing, but excluding any debt securities convertible into any of the foregoing.

 

“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

“ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with a Borrower, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or Section 4001(14) of ERISA or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

 

“ERISA Event” means (a) any “reportable event”, as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder, with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the 30 day notice period is waived); (b) the failure to satisfy the “minimum funding standard” (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(c) of the Code or Section 302(c) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (d) the incurrence by any Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (e) the receipt by any Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (f) the incurrence by any Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal of any Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the receipt by any Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from any Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition upon any Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent, in critical status or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV 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.

 

“Event of Default” has the meaning assigned to such term in Article VII.

 

“Excluded Deposit Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement.

 

“Excluded Property” means, collectively,

 

(a)            all leasehold real property and all fee owned real property,

 

(b)            any property and assets the pledge of which is prohibited by any Requirement of Law or requires a consent not obtained of any Governmental Authority pursuant to such Requirement of Law,

 

  

(c)            all foreign intellectual property and any “intent-to-use” trademark applications prior to the filing of a “Statement of Use” or “Amendment to Allege Use” with respect thereto, to the extent, if any, that, and solely during the period, if any, in which, the grant of a security interest therein would impair the validity or enforceability of such intent-to-use trademark application under applicable federal law,

 

(d)            any lease, license, contract, instrument or agreement to which any Loan Party is a party, but only to the extent and only for so long as the pledge of, or grant of a security interest therein or in property subject thereto, would result in (i) a breach of applicable law or (ii) a breach, termination or default under the terms of such lease, license, contract, instrument or agreement or any agreement to which such property is subject, provided, however, that to the extent severable, the Collateral shall include and the security interest shall attach immediately to any portion of such lease, license, contract, instrument or agreement that does not result in any consequences specified in subclauses (d)(i) and (d)(ii) above,

 

(e)            any Equipment owned by a Loan Party that is subject to a purchase money Lien or a capital lease, in each case to the extent such Liens and Indebtedness are permitted under this Agreement, if the agreement pursuant to which such Indebtedness arises and such Lien is granted (or in the documents providing for such Indebtedness, Lien or capital lease) prohibits the grant of a security interest under the Collateral Documents or requires the consent of any Person other than a Loan Party which has not been obtained; provided, however, that the Collateral shall include and the Liens granted under the Collateral Documents shall be deemed to apply to the residual value of any Equipment in excess of the amount of the Indebtedness corresponding to the purchase money Lien or capital lease to which any such Equipment is subject (after giving effect to the payment in full of such Indebtedness), and

 

(f)            Excluded Deposit Accounts;

 

provided, further, “Excluded Property” shall not include any proceeds, products, substitutions or replacements of Excluded Property (unless such proceeds, products, substitutions or replacements would otherwise constitute Excluded Property). In addition, the exclusions in clauses (d) and (e) above shall not apply and the security interest granted herein shall attach immediately if (i) the restrictive term, condition or prohibition contemplated therein is removed or would be rendered ineffective pursuant to Sections 9-406, 9-407, 9-408 or 9-409 of the UCC or any other applicable law or principles of equity, or (ii) such restrictive term, condition or prohibition has been or is subsequently waived or such applicable Person party to such lease, license, contract, instrument, agreement, purchase money loan documents or capital lease has otherwise consented or subsequently consents to the creation hereunder of a security interest in such Excluded Property.

 

“Excluded Restricted Payments” means Restricted Payments paid in cash during the term of this Agreement in an aggregate amount of up to $30,000,000.

 

 

“Excluded Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Loan Party, any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the Guarantee of such Loan Party of, or the grant by such Loan Party of a security interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any Guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Loan Party’s failure for any reason to constitute an ECP at the time the Guarantee of such Guarantor or the grant of such security interest becomes or would become effective with respect to such Swap Obligation. 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.

  

“Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient: (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable lending office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan, Letter of Credit or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan, Letter of Credit or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrowers under Section 2.19(b)) or (ii) such Lender changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 2.17, amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender acquired the applicable interest in a Loan, Letter of Credit or Commitment or to such Lender immediately before it changed its lending office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 2.17(f), and (d) any withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.

 

“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 agreement entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention among Governmental Authorities and implementing such Sections of the Code.

 

“Federal Funds Effective Rate” means, for any day, the rate calculated by the NYFRB based on such day’s federal funds transactions by depositary institutions, as determined in such manner as shall be set forth on the NYFRB’s Website from time to time, and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as the effective federal funds rate, provided that, if the Federal Funds Effective Rate as so determined would be less than 0.00%, such rate shall be deemed to be 0.00% for the purposes of this Agreement.

 

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

 

 

“Financial Officer” means the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or controller of a Borrower.

  

“Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, for any period, the ratio of (a) EBITDAR minus expense for taxes paid in cash, minus Restricted Payments (excluding (i) the $0.65 per share special dividend announced by Holdings on November 4, 2021; and (ii) Excluded Restricted Payments), to (b) Fixed Charges, all calculated for Holdings and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Fixed Charges” means, for any period, without duplication, cash Interest Expense, minus any interest payments received by Tile Shop Lending under the 2016 New Markets Tax Credit Investments in such period, plus Rentals, plus prepayments and scheduled principal payments on Indebtedness actually made, plus Capital Lease Obligation payments, all calculated for Holdings and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Flood Laws” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.10.

 

“Floor” means the benchmark rate floor, if any, provided in this Agreement initially (as of the execution of this Agreement, the modification, amendment or renewal of this Agreement or otherwise) with respect to the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR, as applicable. For the avoidance of doubt, the initial Floor for each of Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR shall be 0.00%.

 

“Foreign Lender” means (a) if a Borrower is a U.S. Person, a Lender that is not a U.S. Person, and (b) if a 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 such Borrower is resident for tax purposes.

 

“Funded Indebtedness” means, at any date, the aggregate principal amount of all lease liabilities, outstanding Indebtedness for borrowed money and other interest-bearing funded Indebtedness (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Capital Lease Obligations and Subordinated Indebtedness), including current and long-term, determined for Holdings and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis at such date, in accordance with GAAP, but in any event excluding for the avoidance of doubt:

 

(a)            trade payables or accrued expenses,

 

(b)            obligations and other payments arising pursuant to post-closing working capital adjustments,

 

(c)            any obligations under any Swap Agreement,

 

(d)            payments made to employees of Tile Shop LLC in connection with the termination of Tile Shop LLC’s Equity Incentive Plan,

 

(e)            Guarantees from Tile Shop LLC or Holdings in respect of Indebtedness of The Tile Shop of Oklahoma, and

 

 

(f)            amounts identified on the balance sheet of the Loan Parties under the categories “other accrued liabilities” and “other long-term liabilities”.

  

“Funding Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.01(h).

 

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S.

 

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

 

“Guarantee” of or by any Person (the “guarantor”) means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (d) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness or obligation; provided that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.

 

“Guaranteed Obligations” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.01.

 

“Guarantors” means all Loan Guarantors and all non-Loan Parties who have delivered an Obligation Guaranty, and the term “Guarantor” means each or any one of them individually.

 

“Hazardous Materials” means: (a) any substance, material, or waste that is included within the definitions of “hazardous substances,” “hazardous materials,” “hazardous waste,” “toxic substances,” “toxic materials,” “toxic waste,” or words of similar import in any Environmental Law; (b) those substances listed as hazardous substances by the United States Department of Transportation (or any successor agency) (49 C.F.R. 172.101 and amendments thereto) or by the Environmental Protection Agency (or any successor agency) (40 C.F.R. Part 302 and amendments thereto); and (c) any substance, material, or waste that is petroleum, petroleum-related, or a petroleum by-product, asbestos or asbestos-containing material, polychlorinated biphenyls, flammable, explosive, radioactive, freon gas, radon, or a pesticide, herbicide, or any other agricultural chemical.

 

“Holdings” means TILE SHOP HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation.

 

 

“Indebtedness” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money or with respect to advances of funds made to such Person, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person upon which interest charges are customarily paid, (d) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person, (e) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding current accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business and expenses accrued in the ordinary course of business), (f) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed but limited to the fair market value of such property, (g) all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others, (h) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (i) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit and letters of guaranty, (j) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers’ acceptances, (k) obligations under any earn-out (which for all purposes of this Agreement, other than the definition of Funded Indebtedness, shall be valued at the maximum potential amount payable with respect to each such earn-out as determined by the Borrowers in their commercially reasonable discretion, and with respect to the definition of Funded Indebtedness, shall be valued in accordance with GAAP), in each case only to the extent required to be recorded as a liability on the balance sheet of such Person , (l) any other Off-Balance Sheet Liability, and (m) obligations, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor), under (i) any and all Swap Agreements, and (ii) any and all cancellations, buy backs, reversals, terminations or assignments of any Swap Agreement transaction, valued at the Swap Termination Value thereof as of any date of determination, in each case, to the extent such obligations would be required to be recorded as a liability on the balance sheet of such Person. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor.

  

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

 

“Indemnitee” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.03(c).

 

“Ineligible Institution” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(b).

 

“Information” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.12.

 

“Interest Election Request” means a request by the Borrower Representative to convert or continue a Revolving Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.08, which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit B-2 hereto or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

“Interest Expense” means, with reference to any period, total interest expense (including that attributable to Capital Lease Obligations) of Holdings and its Subsidiaries for such period with respect to all outstanding Indebtedness of Holdings and its Subsidiaries (including all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances and net costs under Swap Agreements in respect of interest rates, to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP), calculated for Holdings and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for such period in accordance with GAAP.

 

 

“Interest Payment Date” means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan (other than a Swingline Loan), the last day of each March, June, September and December and the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, (b) with respect to any RFR Loan, (1) each date that is on the numerically corresponding day in each calendar month that is one month after the Borrowing of such Loan (or, if there is no such numerically corresponding day in such month, then the last day of such month) and (2) the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, (c) with respect to any Term Benchmark Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months’ duration, each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three months’ duration after the first day of such Interest Period, and the Revolving Credit Maturity Date and (d) with respect to any Swingline Loan, the day that such Loan is required to be repaid and the Revolving Credit Maturity Date.

 

“Interest Period” means with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one, three or six months thereafter (in each case, subject to the availability for the Benchmark applicable to the relevant Loan or (Commitment), as the Borrower Representative may elect); provided that (i) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day, (ii) any Interest Period that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period, and (iii) no tenor that has been removed from this definition pursuant to Section 2.14(e) shall be available for specification in such Borrowing Request or Interest Election Request. For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.

 

“Inventory” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement.

 

“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

“Issuing Bank” means, individually and collectively, each of Chase, in its capacity as the issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder and any other Revolving Lender from time to time designated by the Borrower Representative as an Issuing Bank (in each case, through itself or through one of its designated affiliates or branch offices), with the consent of such Revolving Lender and the Administrative Agent, and their respective successors in such capacity as provided in Section 2.06(i). Any Issuing Bank may, in its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by its Affiliates, in which case the term “Issuing Bank” shall include any such Affiliate with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate (it being agreed that such Issuing Bank shall, or shall cause such Affiliate to, comply with the requirements of Section 2.06 with respect to such Letters of Credit). At any time there is more than one Issuing Bank, all singular references to the Issuing Bank shall mean any Issuing Bank, either Issuing Bank, each Issuing Bank, the Issuing Bank that has issued the applicable Letter of Credit, or both (or all) Issuing Banks, as the context may require.

 

  

“Issuing Bank Sublimits” means, as of the Effective Date, (i) $10,000,000, in the case of Chase and (ii) with respect to any other Issuing Bank, such amount as shall be designated to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower Representative in writing by such Issuing Bank; provided that any Issuing Bank shall be permitted at any time to increase or reduce its Issuing Bank Sublimit upon providing five (5) days’ prior written notice thereof to the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers.

 

“Joinder Agreement” means a Joinder Agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit F.

 

“LC Collateral Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(j).

 

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

 

“LC Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of the Commercial LC Exposure and the Standby LC Exposure at such time. The LC Exposure of any Revolving Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the aggregate LC Exposure at such time.

 

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

 

“Lenders” means the Persons listed on the Commitment Schedule and any other Person that shall have become a Lender hereunder pursuant to Section 2.09 or an Assignment and Assumption or otherwise, other than any such Person that ceases to be a Lender hereunder pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption or otherwise. Unless the context otherwise requires, the term “Lenders” includes the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Bank.

 

“Letter of Credit Agreement” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.06(b).

 

“Letters of Credit” means the letters of credit issued pursuant to this Agreement, and the term “Letter of Credit” means any one of them or each of them singularly, as the context may require.

 

“Liabilities” means any losses, claims (including intraparty claims), demands, damages or liabilities of any kind.

 

“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, charge or security interest in, on or of such asset, (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset and (c) in the case of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities.

 

 

“Loan Documents” means, collectively, this Agreement, each promissory note issued pursuant to this Agreement, each Letter of Credit Agreement, each Collateral Document, each Compliance Certificate, the Loan Guaranty, any Obligation Guaranty, and each other agreement, instrument, document and certificate executed and delivered to, or in favor of, the Administrative Agent or any Lender and including each other pledge, power of attorney, consent, assignment, contract, notice, letter of credit agreement, letter of credit applications and any agreements between the Borrower Representative and the Issuing Bank regarding the Issuing Bank’s Issuing Bank Sublimit or the respective rights and obligations between the Borrower and the Issuing Bank in connection with the issuance of Letters of Credit, and each other written matter whether heretofore, now or hereafter executed by or on behalf of any Loan Party, or any employee of any Loan Party, and delivered to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. Any reference in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to a Loan Document shall include all appendices, exhibits or schedules thereto, and all amendments, restatements, supplements or other modifications thereto, and shall refer to this Agreement or such Loan Document as the same may be in effect at any and all times such reference becomes operative.

  

“Loan Guarantor” means each Loan Party.

 

“Loan Guaranty” means Article X of this Agreement.

 

“Loan Parties” means, collectively, Holdings and the domestic Subsidiaries of Holdings (other than The Tile Shop of Oklahoma) and any other Person who becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to a Joinder Agreement and their respective successors and assigns, and the term “Loan Party” shall mean any one of them or all of them individually, as the context may require.

 

“Loans” means the loans and advances made by the Lenders pursuant to this Agreement, including Swingline Loans.

 

“Margin Stock” means margin stock within the meaning of Regulations T, U and X, as applicable.

 

“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, assets, operations or financial condition of Holdings and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability of any Loan Party to perform any of its Obligations, (c) the Collateral, or the Administrative Agent’s Liens (on behalf of itself and the other Secured Parties) on the Collateral or the priority of such Liens, or (d) the rights of or benefits available to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Lenders under any of the Loan Documents.

 

“Material Agreement” means, with respect to any Person, (a) each contract to which such Person is a party the breach or termination of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (b) any agreement or instrument evidencing or governing Material Indebtedness.

 

“Material Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (other than the Loans and Letters of Credit), or obligations in respect of one or more Swap Agreements, of any one or more of the Loan Parties in an aggregate principal amount exceeding the Threshold Amount. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “principal amount” of the obligations of the Loan Parties in respect of any Swap Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that such Loan Party would be required to pay if such Swap Agreement were terminated at such time.

 

  

“Maximum Rate” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.17.

 

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

 

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

 

“Net Income” means, for any period, the consolidated net income (or loss) determined for Holdings and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that there shall be excluded (a) the income (or deficit) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary or is merged into or consolidated with Holdings or any Subsidiary, (b) the income (or deficit) of any Person (other than a Subsidiary) in which Holdings or any Subsidiary has an ownership interest, except to the extent that any such income is actually received by Holdings or such Subsidiary in the form of dividends or similar distributions and (c) the undistributed earnings of any Subsidiary, to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Subsidiary is not at the time permitted by the terms of any contractual obligation (other than under any Loan Document) or Requirement of Law applicable to such Subsidiary.

 

“Net Proceeds” means, with respect to any event, (a) the cash proceeds received in respect of such event including (i) any cash received in respect of any non-cash proceeds (including any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or purchase price adjustment receivable or otherwise, but excluding any interest payments), but only as and when received, (ii) in the case of a casualty, cash insurance proceeds and (iii) in the case of a condemnation or similar event, cash condemnation awards and similar payments, minus (b) the sum of (i) all reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses paid to third parties (other than Affiliates) in connection with such event, (ii) in the case of a Disposition of an asset (including pursuant to a sale and leaseback transaction or a casualty or a condemnation or similar proceeding), the amount of all payments required to be made as a result of such event to repay Indebtedness (other than Loans) secured by such asset or otherwise subject to mandatory prepayment as a result of such event and (iii) the amount of all taxes paid (or reasonably estimated to be payable) and the amount of any reserves established to fund contingent liabilities reasonably estimated to be payable, in each case during the year that such event occurred or the next succeeding year and that are directly attributable to such event (as determined reasonably and in good faith by a Financial Officer of the Borrower Representative).

 

“Non-Consenting Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.02(d).

 

“NYFRB” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

 

“NYFRB Rate” means, for any day, the greater of (a) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day and (b) the Overnight Bank Funding Rate in effect on such day(or for any day that is not a Business Day, for the immediately preceding Business Day); provided that if none of such rates are published for any day that is a Business Day, the term “NYFRB Rate” means the rate for a federal funds transaction quoted at 11:00 a.m. on such day received by the Administrative Agent from a federal funds broker of recognized standing selected by it; provided, further, that if any of the aforesaid rates as so determined would be less than 0.00%, such rate shall be deemed to be 0.00% for purposes of this Agreement.

 

  

“NYFRB’s Website” means the website of the NYFRB at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source.

 

“Obligated Party” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.02.

 

“Obligation Guaranty” means any Guarantee of all or any portion of the Secured Obligations executed and delivered to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties by a guarantor who is not a Loan Party.

 

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

 

“OFAC” means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury.

 

“Off-Balance Sheet Liability” of a Person means (a) any repurchase obligation or liability of such Person with respect to accounts or notes receivable sold by such Person, (b) any indebtedness, liability or obligation under any so-called “synthetic lease” transaction entered into by such Person, or (c) any indebtedness, liability or obligation arising with respect to any other transaction which is the functional equivalent of or takes the place of borrowing but which does not constitute a liability on the balance sheet of such Person (other than operating leases).

 

“Oklahoma Distribution Center” means the distribution center located at 1800 West Arkansas Street, Durant, Oklahoma 74701.

 

“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 Taxes (other than a connection 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, Letter of Credit, or any Loan Document).

 

  

“Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 2.19).

 

“Overnight Bank Funding Rate” means, for any day, the rate comprised of both overnight federal funds and overnight eurodollar transactions denominated in Dollars by U.S.-managed banking offices of depository institutions (as such composite rate shall be determined by the NYFRB as set forth on the NYFRB’s Website from time to time) and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as an overnight bank funding rate.

 

“Paid in Full” or “Payment in Full” means, (i) the indefeasible payment in full in cash of all outstanding Loans and LC Disbursements, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, (ii) the termination, expiration, or cancellation and return of all outstanding Letters of Credit (or alternatively, with respect to each such Letter of Credit, the furnishing to the Administrative Agent of a cash deposit, or at the discretion of the Administrative Agent a back-up standby letter of credit satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank, in an amount equal to 105% of the LC Exposure as of the date of such payment), (iii) the indefeasible payment in full in cash of the accrued and unpaid fees payable hereunder, (iv) the indefeasible payment in full in cash of all reimbursable expenses payable hereunder and other Secured Obligations (other than Unliquidated Obligations for which no claim has been made and other obligations expressly stated to survive such payment and termination of this Agreement), together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, (v) the termination of all Commitments, and (vi) the termination of the Swap Agreement Obligations and the Banking Services Obligations or entering into other arrangements satisfactory to the Secured Parties counterparties thereto.

 

“Participant” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(c).

 

“Participant Register” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(c).

 

“Payment” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 8.06(c).

 

“Payment Condition” shall be deemed to be satisfied in connection with a Restricted Payment if the Borrowers shall certify to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders (and provide the Administrative Agent and the Lenders with a pro forma calculation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) that, (a) after giving effect to the completion of such Restricted Payment, on a pro forma basis, the Borrowers will be in compliance with the covenants contained in Section 6.12; and (b) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result immediately after giving effect to such Restricted Payment.

 

“Payment Notice” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 8.06(c).

 

 

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

 

“Permitted Acquisition” means any Acquisition by any Loan Party in a transaction that satisfies each of the following requirements:

 

(a)            such Acquisition is not a hostile or contested acquisition;

 

(b)            the business acquired in connection with such Acquisition is (i) located in the U.S., (ii) organized under applicable U.S. and state laws, and (iii) not engaged, directly or indirectly, in any line of business other than the businesses in which the Loan Parties are engaged on the Effective Date and any business activities that are substantially similar, related, or incidental thereto;

 

(c)            both before and after giving effect to such Acquisition and the Loans (if any) requested to be made in connection therewith, each of the representations and warranties in the Loan Documents is true and correct in all material respects (or in all respects to the extent such representation or warranty is qualified by materiality or a similar qualifier) (except any such representation or warranty which relates to a specified prior date) and no Default exists, will exist, or would result therefrom;

 

(d)            as soon as available, but not less than (i) ten (10) days (or such lesser number of days as may be agreed to by the Administrative Agent) prior to such Acquisition, if the total consideration (including maximum potential total amount of all deferred payment obligations (including earn-outs) and Indebtedness assumed or incurred) of such Acquisition does not exceed $25,000,000; and (ii) thirty (30) days (or such lesser number of days as may be agreed to by the Administrative Agent) prior to such Acquisition, if the total consideration (including maximum potential total amount of all deferred payment obligations (including earn-outs) and Indebtedness assumed or incurred) of such Acquisition is equal to or greater than $25,000,000, the Borrower Representative has provided the Administrative Agent (x) notice of such Acquisition and (y) a copy of all business and financial information reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent including pro forma financial statements, statements of cash flow, and Availability projections;

 

(e)            [Intentionally Omitted];

 

(f)            [Intentionally Omitted];

 

(g)            if such Acquisition is an acquisition of the Equity Interests of a Person, such Acquisition is structured so that the acquired Person shall become a wholly-owned Subsidiary of Holdings or a Borrower and a Loan Party pursuant to the terms of this Agreement;

 

(h)            if such Acquisition is an acquisition of assets, such Acquisition is structured so that a Borrower or another Loan Party shall acquire such assets;

 

 

(i)            if such Acquisition is an acquisition of Equity Interests, such Acquisition will not result in any violation of Regulation U;

  

(j)            if such Acquisition involves a merger or a consolidation involving a Borrower or any other Loan Party, such Borrower or such Loan Party, as applicable, shall be the surviving entity;

 

(k)            no Loan Party shall, as a result of or in connection with any such Acquisition, assume or incur any direct or contingent liabilities (whether relating to environmental, tax, litigation, or other matters) that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(l)            in connection with an Acquisition of the Equity Interests of any Person, all Liens (other than Liens permitted hereunder) on property of such Person shall be terminated unless the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders in their sole discretion consent otherwise, and in connection with an Acquisition of the assets of any Person, all Liens on such assets shall be terminated;

 

(m)            [Intentionally Omitted];

 

(n)            the Borrowers shall certify to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders (and provide the Administrative Agent and the Lenders with a pro forma calculation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) that, after giving effect to the completion of such Acquisition, on a pro forma basis, the Borrowers will be in compliance with the covenants contained in Section 6.12;

 

(o)            all actions required to be taken with respect to any newly acquired or formed wholly-owned Subsidiary of a Borrower or a Loan Party, as applicable, required under Section 5.14 shall have been taken within the timeframe required thereunder; and

 

(p)            the Borrower Representative shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent the final executed material documentation relating to such Acquisition within 10 days following the consummation thereof.

 

“Permitted Encumbrances” means:

 

(a)            Liens imposed by law for Taxes that are not yet due or are being contested in compliance with Section 5.04;

 

(b)            carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s and other like Liens imposed by law, arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations that are not overdue by more than thirty (30) days or are being contested in compliance with Section 5.04;

 

(c)            pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations;

 

 

(d)            pledges and deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations, surety, customs and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

  

(e)            judgment Liens in respect of judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default under clause (k) of Article VII or Liens securing surety or appeal bonds related to such judgments;

 

(f)            easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way and similar encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the affected property or interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Loan Parties taken as a whole;

 

provided that the term “Permitted Encumbrances” shall not include any Lien securing Indebtedness, except with respect to clause (e) above.

 

“Permitted Investments” means:

 

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

 

(b)            investments in commercial paper maturing within 270 days from the date of acquisition thereof and having, at such date of acquisition, the highest credit rating obtainable from S&P or from Moody’s;

 

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

 

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

 

(e)            money market funds that (i) comply with the criteria set forth in SEC Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, (ii) are rated AAA by S&P and Aaa by Moody’s and (iii) have portfolio assets of at least $5,000,000,000.

 

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

 

 

 

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

 

“Plan Asset Regulations” means 29 CFR § 2510.3-101 et seq., as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA, as amended from time to time.

 

“Prime Rate” means the rate of interest last quoted by The Wall Street Journal as the “Prime Rate” in the U.S. or, if The Wall Street Journal ceases to quote such rate, the highest per annum interest rate published by the Federal Reserve Board in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) (Selected Interest Rates) as the “bank prime loan” rate or, if such rate is no longer quoted therein, any similar rate quoted therein (as determined by the Administrative Agent) or any similar release by the Federal Reserve Board (as determined by the Administrative Agent). Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced or quoted as being effective.

 

“Proceeding” means any claim, litigation, investigation, action, suit, arbitration or administrative, judicial or regulatory action or proceeding in any jurisdiction.

 

“Projections” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.01(f).

 

“PTE” means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.

 

“QFC” has the meaning assigned to the term “qualified financial contract” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 5390(c)(8)(D).

 

“QFC Credit Support” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.21.

 

“Qualified ECP Guarantor” means, in respect of any Swap Obligation, each Loan Party that has total assets exceeding $10,000,000 at the time the relevant Loan Guaranty or grant of the relevant security interest becomes or would become effective with respect to such Swap Obligation or such other person as constitutes an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act or any regulations promulgated thereunder and can cause another person to qualify as an “eligible contract participant” at such time by entering into a keepwell under Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

“Real Property” means all real property that was, is now or may hereafter be owned, occupied or otherwise controlled by any Loan Party pursuant to any contract of sale, lease or other conveyance of any legal interest in any real property to any Loan Party.

 

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

 

 

“Reference Time” with respect to any setting of the then-current Benchmark means (1) if such Benchmark is the Term SOFR Rate, 5:00 a.m. (Chicago time) on the day that is two (2) Business Days preceding the date of such setting,(2) if the RFR for such Benchmark is Daily Simple SOFR, then four (4) Business Days prior to such setting or (3) if such Benchmark is none of the Term SOFR Rate or Daily Simple SOFR, the time determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.

 

“Refinance Indebtedness” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.01(f).

 

“Register” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(b).

 

“Regulation T” means Regulation T of the Federal Reserve Board, as in effect from time to time and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

 

“Regulation U” means Regulation U of the Federal Reserve Board, as in effect from time to time and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

 

“Regulation X” means Regulation X of the Federal Reserve Board, as in effect from time to time and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

 

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

 

“Release” means any releasing, spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, migrating, disposing, or dumping of any substance into the environment.

 

“Relevant Governmental Body” means the Federal Reserve Board and/or the NYFRB, the CME Term SOFR Administrator, as applicable, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board and/or the NYFRB, or, in each case, any successor thereto.

 

“Relevant Rate” means (i) with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or (ii) with respect to any RFR Borrowing, the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR, as applicable.

 

“Rent Adjusted Leverage Ratio” means, at any date, the ratio of (a) Funded Indebtedness for such date, to (b) EBITDAR for the period of four fiscal quarters ended on or most recently prior to such date.

 

“Rentals” means, with reference to any period, the aggregate fixed amounts payable by Holdings and its Subsidiaries under any operating leases, calculated for Holdings and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for such period in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Report” means reports prepared by the Administrative Agent or another Person showing the results of appraisals, field examinations or audits pertaining to the assets of the Loan Parties from information furnished by or on behalf of the Borrowers, after the Administrative Agent has exercised its rights of inspection pursuant to this Agreement, which Reports may be distributed to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent.

 

 

“Required Lenders” means, subject to Section 2.20, (a) at any time prior to the earlier of the Loans becoming due and payable pursuant to Article VII or the Commitments terminating or expiring, Lenders having Credit Exposure and Unfunded Commitments representing more than 50% of the sum of the Aggregate Credit Exposure and Unfunded Commitments at such time; provided that solely for purposes of declaring the Loans to be due and payable pursuant to Article VII, the Unfunded Commitment of each Lender shall be deemed to be zero in determining the Required Lenders; and (b) for all purposes after the Loans become due and payable pursuant to Article VII or the Commitments expire or terminate, Lenders having Credit Exposure representing more than 50% of the Aggregate Credit Exposure at such time; provided that in the case of clauses (a) and (b) above, (1) the Credit Exposure of any Lender that is a Swingline Lender shall be deemed to exclude any amount of its Swingline Exposure in excess of its Applicable Percentage of all outstanding Swingline Loans, adjusted to give effect to any reallocation under Section 2.20 of the Swingline Exposures of Defaulting Lenders in effect at such time, and the Unfunded Commitment of such Lender shall be determined on the basis of its Revolving Exposure excluding such excess amount, and (2) if at any time there are two or more non-affiliated Lenders, Required Lenders shall require at least two non-affiliated Lenders.

 

“Requirement of Law” means, with respect to any Person, (a) the charter, articles or certificate of organization or incorporation and bylaws or operating, management or partnership agreement, or other organizational or governing documents of such Person and (b) any statute, law (including common law), treaty, rule, regulation, code, ordinance, order, decree, writ, judgment, injunction or determination of any arbitrator or court or other Governmental Authority (including Environmental Laws), in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.

 

“Resolution Authority” means an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.

 

“Responsible Officer” means the president, Financial Officer or other executive officer of a Borrower.

 

“Restricted Payment” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interest in Holdings, any Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such Equity Interests or any option, warrant or other right to acquire any such Equity Interests.

 

“Reuters” means, as applicable, Thomson Reuters Corp, Refinitiv, or any successor thereto.

 

“Revolving Borrowing” means Revolving Loans of the same Type, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Term Benchmark Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.

 

 

“Revolving Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the amount set forth on the Commitment Schedule opposite such Lender’s name, or in the Assignment and Assumption or other documentation or record (as such term is defined in Section 9-102(a)(70) of the New York Uniform Commercial Code) as provided in Section 9.04(b)(ii)(C), pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Revolving Commitment, as applicable, as such Revolving Commitment may be reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to (a) Section 2.09 and (b) assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 9.04; provided, that at no time shall the Revolving Exposure of any Lender exceed its Revolving Commitment. The initial aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Revolving Commitments is $75,000,000.

  

“Revolving Credit Maturity Date” means September 30, 2027 (if the same is a Business Day, or if not then the immediately next succeeding Business Day), or any earlier date on which the Revolving Commitments are reduced to zero or otherwise terminated pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

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

 

“Revolving Lender” means, as of any date of determination, a Lender with a Revolving Commitment or, if the Revolving Commitments have terminated or expired, a Lender with Revolving Exposure.

 

“Revolving Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.01.

 

“RFR Borrowing” means, as to any Borrowing, the RFR Loans comprising such Borrowing.

 

“RFR Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR.

 

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

 

“Sale and Leaseback Transaction” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.06.

 

“Sanctioned Country” means, at any time, a country, region or territory which is itself the subject or target of any Sanctions (at the time of this Agreement, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic, the Crimea Region of Ukraine, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria).

 

“Sanctioned Person” means, at any time, (a) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of State or by the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member state, His Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom or other relevant sanctions authority, (b) any Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country, (c) any Person owned or Controlled by any such Person or Persons described in the foregoing clauses (a) or (b), or (d) any Person otherwise the subject of any Sanctions.

 

  

“Sanctions” means all economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by (a) the U.S. government, including those administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State, or (b) the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member state or Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom or other relevant sanctions authority.

 

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission of the U.S.

 

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

 

“Secured Parties” means (a) the Lenders, (b) the Administrative Agent, (c) each Issuing Bank, (d) each provider of Banking Services, to the extent the Banking Services Obligations in respect thereof constitute Secured Obligations, (e) each counterparty to any Swap Agreement, to the extent the obligations thereunder constitute Secured Obligations, (f) the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Loan Party under any Loan Document, and (g) the successors and (in the case of a Lender, permitted) assigns of each of the foregoing.

 

“Security Agreement” means that certain Pledge and Security Agreement (including any and all supplements thereto), dated as of the date hereof, among the Loan Parties and the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, and any other pledge or security agreement entered into, after the date of this Agreement by any other Loan Party (as required by this Agreement or any other Loan Document) or any other Person for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

“SOFR” means a rate equal to the secured overnight financing rate as administered by the SOFR Administrator.

 

“SOFR Administrator” means the NYFRB (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).

 

“SOFR Administrator’s Website” means the NYFRB’s website, currently at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source for the secured overnight financing rate identified as such by the SOFR Administrator from time to time.

 

“SOFR Determination Date” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Daily Simple SOFR”.

 

 

“SOFR Rate Day” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Daily Simple SOFR”.

 

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

 

“Statements” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.18(f).

 

“Subordinated Indebtedness” of a Person means any Indebtedness of such Person, the payment of which is subordinated to payment of the Secured Obligations to the written satisfaction of the Administrative Agent.

 

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

 

“Subsidiary” means any direct or indirect subsidiary of Holdings, a Borrower or a Loan Party, as applicable.

 

“Supported QFC” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.21.

 

“Swap Agreement” means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, spot, future, credit default or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Borrowers or their Subsidiaries shall be a Swap Agreement.

 

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

 

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

 

 

“Swap Termination Value” means, in respect of any one or more Swap Agreements, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Swap Agreements, (a) for any date on or after the date such Swap 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 Swap Agreements, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Swap Agreements (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).

 

“Swingline Commitment” means the amount set forth opposite Chase’s name on the Commitment Schedule as Swingline Commitment.

 

“Swingline Exposure” means, at any time, the aggregate principal amount of all Swingline Loans outstanding at such time. The Swingline Exposure of any Revolving Lender at any time shall be the sum of (a) its Applicable Percentage of the aggregate principal amount of all Swingline Loans outstanding at such time (excluding, in the case of any Lender that is a Swingline Lender, Swingline Loans made by it that are outstanding at such time to the extent that the other Lenders shall not have funded their participations in such Swingline Loans), adjusted to give effect to any reallocation under Section 2.20 of the Swingline Exposure of Defaulting Lenders in effect at such time, and (b) in the case of any Revolving Lender that is the Swingline Lender, the aggregate principal amount of all Swingline Loans made by such Revolving Lender outstanding at such time, less the amount of participations funded by the other Lenders in such Swingline Loans.

 

“Swingline Lender” means Chase (or any of its designated branch offices or affiliates), in its capacity as lender of Swingline Loans hereunder. Any consent required of the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank shall be deemed to be required of the Swingline Lender and any consent given by Chase in its capacity as Administrative Agent or Issuing Bank shall be deemed given by Chase in its capacity as Swingline Lender as well.

 

“Swingline Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.05.

 

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

 

“Term Benchmark” when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate.

 

“Term SOFR Determination Day” has the meaning assigned to it under the definition of Term SOFR Reference Rate.

 

“Term SOFR Rate” means, with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing and for any tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period, the Term SOFR Reference Rate at approximately 5:00 a.m., Chicago time, two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the commencement of such tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period, as such rate is published by the CME Term SOFR Administrator.

 

 

“Term SOFR Reference Rate” means, for any day and time (such day, the “Term SOFR Determination Day”), and for any tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period, the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent as the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR. If by 5:00 pm (New York City time) on such Term SOFR Determination Day, the “Term SOFR Reference Rate” for the applicable tenor has not been published by the CME Term SOFR Administrator and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Term SOFR Rate has not occurred, then the Term SOFR Reference Rate for such Term SOFR Determination Day will be the Term SOFR Reference Rate as published in respect of the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which such Term SOFR Reference Rate was published by the CME Term SOFR Administrator, so long as such first preceding Business Day is not more than five (5) Business Days prior to such Term SOFR Determination Day.

 

“The Tile Shop of Oklahoma” means The Tile Shop of Oklahoma, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

“Threshold Amount” means $7,500,000.

 

“Tile Shop Lending” means Tile Shop Lending, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

“Tile Shop LLC” means The Tile Shop, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

“Transactions” means the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrowers of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the borrowing of Loans and other credit extensions, the use of the proceeds thereof and the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder.

 

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

 

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

 

“UK Financial Institutions” means any BRRD Undertaking (as such term is defined under the PRA Rulebook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority) or any person falling within IFPRU 11.6 of the FCA Handbook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which includes certain credit institutions and investment firms, and certain affiliates of such credit institutions or investment firms.

 

 

“UK Resolution Authority” means the Bank of England or any other public administrative authority having responsibility for the resolution of any UK Financial Institution.

  

“Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement excluding the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.

 

“Unfunded Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the Revolving Commitment of such Lender less its Revolving Exposure.

 

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

 

“U.S.” means the United States of America.

 

“U.S. Government Securities Business Day” means any day except for (i) a Saturday, (ii) a Sunday or (iii) a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in United States government securities.

 

“U.S. Person” means a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

 

“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.21.

 

“U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.17(f)(ii)(B)(3).

 

“USA PATRIOT Act” means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001.

 

“Withdrawal Liability” means liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.

 

“Write-Down and Conversion Powers” means, (a) 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, and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, any powers of the applicable Resolution Authority under the Bail-In Legislation to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of any UK Financial Institution or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers.

 

 

SECTION 1.02 Classification of Loans and Borrowings. For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a “Revolving Loan”) or by Type (e.g., a “Term Benchmark Loan” or an “RFR Loan”) or by Class and Type (e.g., a “Term Benchmark Revolving Loan” or an “RFR Revolving Loan”). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a “Revolving Borrowing”) or by Type (e.g., a “Term Benchmark Borrowing” or an “RFR Borrowing”) or by Class and Type (e.g., a “Term Benchmark Revolving Borrowing” or an “RFR Revolving Borrowing”).

 

SECTION 1.03 Terms Generally. The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. The word “law” shall be construed as referring to all statutes, rules, regulations, codes and other laws (including official rulings and interpretations thereunder having the force of law or with which affected Persons customarily comply) and all judgments, orders and decrees of all Governmental Authorities. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”. Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, restatements, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any definition of or reference to any statute, rule or regulation shall be construed as referring thereto as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (including by succession of comparable successor laws), (c) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns (subject to any restrictions on assignments set forth herein) and, in the case of any Governmental Authority, any other Governmental Authority that shall have succeeded to any or all functions thereof, (d) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (e) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement, (f) any reference in any definition to the phrase “at any time” or “for any period” shall refer to the same time or period for all calculations or determinations within such definition, and (g) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

 

SECTION 1.04 Accounting Terms; GAAP.

 

(a)            Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided that, if after the date hereof there occurs any change in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of any provision hereof and the Borrower Representative notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrowers request an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of such change in GAAP or in the application thereof (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower Representative that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith. Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made (i) without giving effect to any election under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 825-10-25 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of Holdings or any Subsidiary at “fair value”, as defined therein and (ii) without giving effect to any treatment of Indebtedness under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 470-20 or 2015-03 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any such Indebtedness in a reduced or bifurcated manner as described therein, and such Indebtedness shall at all times be valued at the full stated principal amount thereof.

 

 

(b)            Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 1.04(a) or in the definition of “Capital Lease Obligations,” any change in accounting for leases pursuant to GAAP resulting from the adoption of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“FAS 842”), to the extent such adoption would require treating any lease (or similar arrangement conveying the right to use) as a capital lease where such lease (or similar arrangement) would not have been required to be so treated under GAAP as in effect on December 31, 2015, such lease shall not be considered a capital lease, and all calculations and deliverables under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be made or delivered, as applicable, in accordance therewith.

 

SECTION 1.05 Interest Rates; Benchmark Notifications. The interest rate on a Loan denominated in dollars may be derived from an interest rate benchmark that may be discontinued or is, or may in the future become, the subject of regulatory reform. Upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, Section 2.14(b) provides a mechanism for determining an alternative rate of interest. The Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept any responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to, the administration, submission, performance or any other matter related to any interest rate used in this Agreement, or with respect to any alternative or successor rate thereto, or replacement rate thereof, including without limitation, whether the composition or characteristics of any such alternative, successor or replacement reference rate will be similar to, or produce the same value or economic equivalence of, the existing interest rate being replaced or have the same volume or liquidity as did any existing interest rate prior to its discontinuance or unavailability. The Administrative Agent and its affiliates and/or other related entities may engage in transactions that affect the calculation of any interest rate used in this Agreement or any alternative, successor or alternative rate (including any Benchmark Replacement) and/or any relevant adjustments thereto, in each case, in a manner adverse to the Borrowers. The Administrative Agent may select information sources or services in its reasonable discretion to ascertain any interest rate used in this Agreement, any component thereof, or rates referenced in the definition thereof, in each case pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall have no liability to any Borrower, any Lender or any other person or entity for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, costs, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise and whether at law or in equity), for any error or calculation of any such rate (or component thereof) provided by any such information source or service.

 

 

SECTION 1.06 Pro Forma Adjustments for Acquisitions and Dispositions. To the extent a Borrower or any Subsidiary makes any acquisition permitted pursuant to Section 6.04 or Disposition outside the ordinary course of business permitted by Section 6.05 during the period of four fiscal quarters of Holdings most recently ended, the Rent Adjusted Leverage Ratio and Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto (including pro forma adjustments arising out of events which are directly attributable to the acquisition or the Disposition, are factually supportable and are expected to have a continuing impact, in each case as determined on a basis consistent with Article 11 of Regulation S-X of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, as interpreted by the SEC, and as certified by a Financial Officer of such Borrower), as if such acquisition or such Disposition (and any related incurrence, repayment or assumption of Indebtedness) had occurred in the first day of such four-quarter period.

 

SECTION 1.07 Status of Obligations. In the event that any Borrower or any other Loan Party shall at any time issue or have outstanding any Subordinated Indebtedness, such Borrower shall take or cause such other Loan Party to take all such actions as shall be reasonably necessary to cause the Secured Obligations to constitute senior indebtedness (however denominated) in respect of such Subordinated Indebtedness and to enable the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to have and exercise any payment blockage or other remedies available or potentially available to holders of senior indebtedness under the terms of such Subordinated Indebtedness. Without limiting the foregoing, the Secured Obligations are hereby designated as “senior indebtedness” and as “designated senior indebtedness” and words of similar import under and in respect of any indenture or other agreement or instrument under which such Subordinated Indebtedness is outstanding and are further given all such other designations as shall be required under the terms of any such Subordinated Indebtedness in order that the Lenders may have and exercise any payment blockage or other remedies available or potentially available to holders of senior indebtedness under the terms of such Subordinated Indebtedness.

 

SECTION 1.08 Letters of Credit. Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the stated amount of such Letter of Credit available to be drawn at such time; provided that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any Letter of Credit Agreement related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the available amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the maximum amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum amount is available to be drawn at such time. For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Article 29(a) of the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 600 (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the applicable time) or Rule 3.13 or Rule 3.14 of the International Standby Practices, International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 590 (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the applicable time) or similar terms of the Letter of Credit itself, or if compliant documents have been presented but not yet honored, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” and “undrawn” in the amount so remaining available to be paid, and the obligations of the Borrower and each Lender shall remain in full force and effect until the Issuing Bank and the Lenders shall have no further obligations to make any payments or disbursements under any circumstances with respect to any Letter of Credit.

 

 

SECTION 1.09 Divisions. For all purposes under the Loan Documents, in connection with any Division or plan of division under Delaware law (or any comparable event under a different jurisdiction’s laws): (a) if any asset, right, obligation or liability of any Person becomes the asset, right, obligation or liability of a different Person, then it shall be deemed to have been transferred from the original Person to the subsequent Person, and (b) if any new Person comes into existence, such new Person shall be deemed to have been organized and acquired on the first date of its existence by the holders of its Equity Interests at such time.

 

Article II
The Credits

 

SECTION 2.01 Revolving Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally (and not jointly) agrees to make Revolving Loans in dollars to the Borrowers from time to time during the Availability Period in an aggregate principal amount that will not result (after giving effect to any application of proceeds of such Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.10(a)) in (i) such Lender’s Revolving Exposure exceeding such Lender’s Revolving Commitment or (ii) the Aggregate Revolving Exposure exceeding the aggregate Revolving Commitments. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrowers may borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans.

 

SECTION 2.02 Loans and Borrowings.

 

(a)            Each Loan (other than a Swingline Loan) shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Loans of the same Class and Type made by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Commitments of the applicable Class. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder; provided that the Commitments of the Lenders are several and no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lender’s failure to make Loans as required. Any Swingline Loan shall be made in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.05.

 

(b)            Subject to Section 2.14, each Revolving Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Term Benchmark Loans as the Borrower may request in accordance herewith. Each Swingline Loan shall be an ABR Loan. Each Lender at its option may make any Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan (and in the case of an Affiliate, the provisions of Sections 2.14, 2.15, 2.16 and 2.17 shall apply to such Affiliate to the same extent as to such Lender); provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrowers to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

(c)            At the commencement of each Interest Period for any Term Benchmark Revolving Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $100,000 and not less than $500,000. At the time that each ABR Revolving Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $100,000 and not less than $500,000; provided that an ABR Revolving Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount that is equal to the entire unused balance of the total Revolving Commitments or that is required to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.06(e). Each Swingline Loan shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $100,000 and not less than $100,000. Borrowings of more than one Type and Class may be outstanding at the same time; provided that there shall not at any time be more than a total of ten Term Benchmark Borrowings outstanding.

 

 

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

 

SECTION 2.03 Requests for Borrowings. To request a Borrowing, the Borrower Representative shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request either in writing (delivered by hand or fax) by delivering a Borrowing Request signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower Representative or through Electronic System, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the Administrative Agent, (a) in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York time, three Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing or (b) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York time, on the date of the proposed Borrowing; provided that any such notice of an ABR Revolving Borrowing to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.06(e) may be given not later than 10:00 a.m., New York time, on the date of the proposed Borrowing. Each such Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable. Each such Borrowing Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.01:

 

(i)            the Class of Borrowing, the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing, and, to the extent applicable, a breakdown of the separate wires comprising such Borrowing;

 

(ii)            name of the applicable Borrower(s);

 

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

 

(iv)            whether such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Term Benchmark Borrowing; and

 

(v)            in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing, the initial Interest Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period.”

 

If no election as to the Type of Revolving Borrowing is specified, then the requested Revolving Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period is specified with respect to any requested Term Benchmark Revolving Borrowing, then the applicable Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration. Promptly following receipt of a Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lender’s Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.

 

 

SECTION 2.04 [Intentionally Omitted].

 

SECTION 2.05 Swingline Loans.

 

(a)            Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, from time to time during the Availability Period, the Swingline Lender may agree, but shall have no obligation, to make Swingline Loans to the Borrowers, in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding that will not result in (i) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Swingline Loans exceeding the Swingline Lender’s Swingline Commitment, (ii) the Swingline Lender’s Revolving Exposure exceeding its Revolving Commitment, or (iii) the Aggregate Revolving Exposures exceeding the aggregate Revolving Commitments; provided that the Swingline Lender shall not be required to make a Swingline Loan to refinance an outstanding Swingline Loan. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrowers may borrow, prepay and reborrow Swingline Loans. To request a Swingline Loan, the Borrower Representative shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by fax or through Electronic System, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the Administrative Agent, not later than 1:00, New York time, on the day of a proposed Swingline Loan. Each such notice shall be in a form approved by the Administrative Agent, shall be irrevocable and shall specify the requested date (which shall be a Business Day) and amount of the requested Swingline Loan. The Administrative Agent will promptly advise the Swingline Lender of any such notice received from the Borrower Representative. The Swingline Lender shall make each Swingline Loan available to the Borrowers, to the extent the Swingline Lender elects to make such Swingline Loan by means of a credit to the Funding Account(s) (or, in the case of a Swingline Loan made to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.06(e), by remittance to the Issuing Bank, and in the case of repayment of another Loan or fees or expenses as provided by Section 2.18(c), by remittance to the Administrative Agent to be distributed to the Lenders) by 3:00 p.m., New York time, on the requested date of such Swingline Loan.

 

(b)            The Swingline Lender may by written notice given to the Administrative Agent require the Revolving Lenders to acquire participations on such Business Day in all or a portion of the Swingline Loans outstanding. Such notice shall specify the aggregate amount of Swingline Loans in which the Revolving Lenders will participate. Promptly upon receipt of such notice, the Administrative Agent will give notice thereof to each Revolving Lender, specifying in such notice such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans. Each Revolving Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees, promptly upon receipt of such notice from the Administrative Agent (and in any event, if such notice is received by 12:00 p.m., New York time, on a Business Day no later than 5:00 p.m., New York time on such Business Day and if received after 12:00 p.m., New York time, “on a Business Day” shall mean no later than 10:00 a.m., New York time on the immediately succeeding Business Day), to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Swingline Lender, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans. Each Revolving Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations in Swingline Loans pursuant to this paragraph is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Revolving Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever. Each Revolving Lender shall comply with its obligation under this paragraph by wire transfer of immediately available funds, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.07 with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.07 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Lenders), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the Swingline Lender the amounts so received by it from the Revolving Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower Representative of any participations in any Swingline Loan acquired pursuant to this paragraph, and thereafter payments in respect of such Swingline Loan shall be made to the Administrative Agent and not to the Swingline Lender. Any amounts received by the Swingline Lender from the Borrowers (or other party on behalf of the Borrowers) in respect of a Swingline Loan after receipt by the Swingline Lender of the proceeds of a sale of participations therein shall be promptly remitted to the Administrative Agent; any such amounts received by the Administrative Agent shall be promptly remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Revolving Lenders that shall have made their payments pursuant to this paragraph and to the Swingline Lender, as their interests may appear; provided that any such payment so remitted shall be repaid to the Swingline Lender or to the Administrative Agent, as applicable, if and to the extent such payment is required to be refunded to the Borrowers for any reason. The purchase of participations in a Swingline Loan pursuant to this paragraph shall not relieve the Borrowers of any default in the payment thereof.

 

 

SECTION 2.06 Letters of Credit.

 

(a)            General. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower Representative, on behalf of a Borrower, may request any Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit denominated in dollars as the applicant thereof for the support of the obligations of it or any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof, in a form reasonably acceptable to such Issuing Bank, at any time and from time to time during the Availability Period, and provided the conditions to issuing a Letter of Credit set forth in the Loan Documents have been satisfied by the Loan Parties, such Issuing Bank shall issue such requested Letters of Credit pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(b)            Notice of Issuance, Amendment, Extension; Certain Conditions. To request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or the amendment or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the Borrower Representative shall hand deliver or fax (or transmit through Electronic System, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the respective Issuing Bank) to an Issuing Bank selected by it and to the Administrative Agent (reasonably in advance of the requested date of issuance, amendment or extension, but in any event no less than three Business Days) a notice requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit, or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended or extended, and specifying the date of issuance, amendment or extension (which shall be a Business Day), the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with paragraph (c) of this Section), the amount of such Letter of Credit, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof, and such other information as shall be necessary to prepare, amend or extend such Letter of Credit. In addition, as a condition to any such Letter of Credit issuance, the applicable Borrower shall have entered into a continuing agreement (or other letter of credit agreement) for the issuance of letters of credit and/or shall submit a letter of credit application, in each case, as required by the respective Issuing Bank and using such Issuing Bank’s standard form (each, a “Letter of Credit Agreement”). In the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any Letter of Credit Agreement, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control. A Letter of Credit shall be issued, amended or extended only if (and upon issuance, amendment or extension of each Letter of Credit the Borrowers shall be deemed to represent and warrant that), after giving effect to such issuance, amendment or extension (i) the aggregate LC Exposure shall not exceed $10,000,000, (ii) no Revolving Lender’s Revolving Exposure shall exceed its Revolving Commitment and (iii) the Aggregate Revolving Exposure shall not exceed the aggregate Revolving Commitments. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary contained herein, no Issuing Bank shall be obligated to issue or modify any Letter of Credit if, immediately after giving effect thereto, the outstanding LC Exposure in respect of all Letters of Credit issued by such Person and its Affiliates would exceed such Issuing Bank’s Issuing Bank Sublimit. Without limiting the foregoing and without affecting the limitations contained herein, it is understood and agreed that the Borrower Representative may from time to time request that an Issuing Bank issue Letters of Credit in excess of its individual Issuing Bank Sublimit in effect at the time of such request, and each Issuing Bank agrees to consider any such request in good faith. Any Letter of Credit so issued by an Issuing Bank in excess of its individual Issuing Bank Sublimit then in effect shall nonetheless constitute a Letter of Credit for all purposes of this Agreement, and shall not affect the Issuing Bank Sublimit of any other Issuing Bank, subject to the limitations on the aggregate LC Exposure set forth in clause (i) of this Section 2.06(b).

 

 

An Issuing Bank shall not be under any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if:

 

(i)            any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain such Issuing Bank from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any Requirement of Law relating to such Issuing Bank or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over such Issuing Bank shall prohibit, or request that such Issuing Bank refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon such Issuing Bank with respect to such Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which such Issuing Bank is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Effective Date, or shall impose upon such Issuing Bank any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Effective Date and which such Issuing Bank in good faith deems material to it, or

 

(ii)            the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of such Issuing Bank applicable to letters of credit generally.

 

(c)            Expiration Date. Each Letter of Credit shall expire (or be subject to termination or non-renewal by notice from the applicable Issuing Bank to the beneficiary thereof) at or prior to the close of business on the earlier of (i) the date one year after the date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any extension of the expiration thereof, including, without limitation, any automatic renewal provision, one year after such extension) and (ii) the date that is five Business Days prior to the Revolving Credit Maturity Date.

 

(d)            Participations. By the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or an amendment to a Letter of Credit increasing the amount thereof) and without any further action on the part of the applicable Issuing Bank or the Revolving Lenders, such Issuing Bank hereby grants to each Revolving Lender, and each Revolving Lender hereby acquires from such Issuing Bank, a participation in such Letter of Credit equal to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each Revolving Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Issuing Bank, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of each LC Disbursement made by such Issuing Bank and not reimbursed by the Borrowers on the date due as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section, or of any reimbursement payment required to be refunded to the Borrowers for any reason, including after the Revolving Credit Maturity Date. Each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever. Each Revolving Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations pursuant to this paragraph in respect of Letters of Credit is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including any amendment or extension of any Letter of Credit or the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Commitments.

 

 

(e)            Reimbursement. If an Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, the Borrowers shall reimburse such LC Disbursement by paying to the Administrative Agent an amount equal to such LC Disbursement not later than 12:00 p.m., New York time, on (i) the Business Day that the Borrower Representative receives notice of such LC Disbursement, if such notice is received prior to 10:00 a.m., New York time, on the day of receipt, or (ii) the Business Day immediately following the day that the Borrower Representative receives such notice, if such notice is received after 10:00 a.m., New York time, on the day of receipt; provided that the Borrowers may, subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section 2.03 or 2.05 that such payment be financed with an ABR Revolving Borrowing or Swingline Loan in an equivalent amount and, to the extent so financed, the Borrower’s obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting ABR Revolving Borrowing or Swingline Loan, as applicable. If the Borrowers fail to make such payment when due, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Revolving Lender of the applicable LC Disbursement, the payment then due from the Borrowers in respect thereof, and such Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof. Promptly following receipt of such notice, each Revolving Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent its Applicable Percentage of the payment then due from the Borrowers, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.07 with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.07 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Revolving Lenders), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the respective Issuing Bank the amounts so received by it from the Revolving Lenders. Promptly following receipt by the Administrative Agent of any payment from the Borrowers pursuant to this paragraph, the Administrative Agent shall distribute such payment to the respective Issuing Bank or, to the extent that Revolving Lenders have made payments pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse such Issuing Bank, then to such Lenders and such Issuing Bank, as their interests may appear. Any payment made by a Revolving Lender pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse an Issuing Bank for any LC Disbursement (other than the funding of ABR Revolving Loans or a Swingline Loan as contemplated above) shall not constitute a Loan and shall not relieve the Borrowers of their obligation to reimburse such LC Disbursement.

 

(f)            Obligations Absolute. The Borrowers’ joint and several obligation to reimburse LC Disbursements as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under any and all circumstances whatsoever and irrespective of (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit, any Letter of Credit Agreement or this Agreement, or any term or provision therein or herein, (ii) any draft or other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent or invalid in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect, (iii) any payment by the respective Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit, or (iv) any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of setoff against, the Borrowers’ obligations hereunder. Neither the Administrative Agent, the Revolving Lenders nor any Issuing Bank, or any of their respective Related Parties, shall have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit, or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in the preceding sentence), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms, any error in translation or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of the respective Issuing Bank; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse an Issuing Bank from liability to the Borrowers or any other Loan Party or their Subsidiaries to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the Borrowers to the extent permitted by applicable law) suffered by any Borrower that are caused by such Issuing Bank’s failure to exercise care when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof. The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of an Issuing Bank (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), such Issuing Bank shall be deemed to have exercised care in each such determination. In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the parties agree that, with respect to documents presented which appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, an Issuing Bank may, in its sole discretion, either accept and make payment upon such documents without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit.

 

 

(g)            Disbursement Procedures. The Issuing Bank for any Letter of Credit shall, within the time allowed by applicable law or the specific terms of the Letter of Credit following its receipt thereof, examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under such Letter of Credit. Such Issuing Bank shall promptly after such examination notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower Representative by telephone (confirmed by fax or through Electronic Systems) of such demand for payment if such Issuing Bank has made or will make an LC Disbursement thereunder; provided that any failure to give or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve the Borrowers of their obligation to reimburse such Issuing Bank and the Revolving Lenders with respect to any such LC Disbursement.

 

(h)            Interim Interest. If the Issuing Bank for any Letter of Credit shall make any LC Disbursement, then, unless the Borrowers shall reimburse such LC Disbursement in full on the date such LC Disbursement is made, the unpaid amount thereof shall bear interest, for each day from and including the date such LC Disbursement is made to but excluding the date that the Borrowers reimburse such LC Disbursement, at the rate per annum then applicable to ABR Revolving Loans and such interest shall be due and payable on the date when such reimbursement is due; provided that, if the Borrowers fail to reimburse such LC Disbursement when due pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section, then Section 2.13(c) shall apply. Interest accrued pursuant to this paragraph shall be for the account of such Issuing Bank, except that interest accrued on and after the date of payment by any Revolving Lender pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section to reimburse such Issuing Bank for such LC Disbursement shall be for the account of such Lender to the extent of such payment.

 

 

(i)            Replacement and Resignation of an Issuing Bank.

 

(i)            An Issuing Bank may be replaced at any time by written agreement among the Borrower Representative, the Administrative Agent, the replaced Issuing Bank and the successor Issuing Bank. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Revolving Lenders of any such replacement of an Issuing Bank. At the time any such replacement shall become effective, the Borrowers shall pay all unpaid fees accrued for the account of the replaced Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.12(b). From and after the effective date of any such replacement, (i) the successor Issuing Bank shall have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit to be issued thereafter and (ii) references herein to the term “Issuing Bank” shall be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous Issuing Bank, or to such successor and all previous Issuing Banks, as the context shall require. After the replacement of an Issuing Bank hereunder, the replaced Issuing Bank shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit then outstanding and issued by it prior to such replacement, but shall not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit or extend or otherwise amend any existing Letter of Credit.

 

(ii)            Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Issuing Bank, any Issuing Bank may resign as an Issuing Bank at any time upon thirty days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, the Borrower Representative and the Lenders, in which case, such resigning Issuing Bank shall be replaced in accordance with Section 2.06(i)(i) above.

 

(j)            Cash Collateralization. If any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, on the Business Day that the Borrower Representative receives notice from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders (or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated, Revolving Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 50% of the aggregate LC Exposure) demanding the deposit of cash collateral pursuant to this paragraph, the Borrowers shall deposit in an account with the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the Revolving Lenders (the “LC Collateral Account”), an amount in cash equal to 105% of the amount of the LC Exposure as of such date plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon; provided that the obligation to deposit such cash collateral shall become effective immediately, and such deposit shall become immediately due and payable, without demand or other notice of any kind, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default with respect to any Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of Article VII. The Borrowers also shall deposit cash collateral in accordance with this paragraph as and to the extent required by Sections 2.11(b) or 2.20. Each such deposit shall be held by the Administrative Agent as collateral for the payment and performance of the Secured Obligations. In addition, and without limiting the foregoing or paragraph (c) of this Section, if any LC Exposure remains outstanding after the expiration date specified in said paragraph (c), the Borrowers shall immediately deposit in the LC Collateral Account an amount in cash equal to 105% of such LC Exposure as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon. The Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over the LC Collateral Account and the Borrowers hereby grant the Administrative Agent a security interest in the LC Collateral Account and all moneys or other assets on deposit therein or credited thereto. Other than any interest earned on the investment of such deposits, which investments shall be made at the option and sole discretion of the Administrative Agent and at the Borrowers’ risk and expense, such deposits shall not bear interest. Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in such account. Moneys in such account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse each Issuing Bank for LC Disbursements for which it has not been reimbursed, together with related fees, costs, and customary processing charges, and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Borrowers for the LC Exposure at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated (but subject to the consent of Revolving Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 50% of the aggregate LC Exposure), be applied to satisfy other Secured Obligations. If the Borrowers are required to provide an amount of cash collateral hereunder as a result of the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Borrowers within three (3) Business Days after all such Events of Default have been cured or waived as confirmed in writing by the Administrative Agent.

 

 

(k)            Issuing Bank Reports to the Administrative Agent. Unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank shall, in addition to its notification obligations set forth elsewhere in this Section, report in writing to the Administrative Agent (i) periodic activity (for such period or recurrent periods as shall be requested by the Administrative Agent) in respect of Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank, including all issuances, extensions and amendments, all expirations and cancelations and all disbursements and reimbursements, (ii) reasonably prior to the time that such Issuing Bank issues, amends or extends any Letter of Credit, the date of such issuance, amendment or extension, and the stated amount of the Letters of Credit issued, amended or extended by it and outstanding after giving effect to such issuance, amendment or extension (and whether the amounts thereof shall have changed), (iii) on each Business Day on which such Issuing Bank makes any LC Disbursement, the date and amount of such LC Disbursement, (iv) on any Business Day on which a Borrower fails to reimburse an LC Disbursement required to be reimbursed to such Issuing Bank on such day, the date of such failure and the amount of such LC Disbursement, and (v) on any other Business Day, such other information as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request as to the Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank.

 

(l)            Letters of Credit Issued for Account of Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding that a Letter of Credit issued or outstanding hereunder supports any obligations of, or is for the account of, a Subsidiary, or states that a Subsidiary is the “account party,” “applicant,” “customer,” “instructing party,” or the like of or for such Letter of Credit, and without derogating from any rights of the applicable Issuing Bank (whether arising by contract, at law, in equity or otherwise) against such Subsidiary in respect of such Letter of Credit, the Borrowers (i) shall reimburse, indemnify and compensate the applicable Issuing Bank hereunder for such Letter of Credit (including to reimburse any and all drawings thereunder) as if such Letter of Credit had been issued solely for the account of such Borrower and (ii) irrevocably waives any and all defenses that might otherwise be available to it as a guarantor or surety of any or all of the obligations of such Subsidiary in respect of such Letter of Credit. Each Borrower hereby acknowledges that the issuance of such Letters of Credit for its Subsidiaries inures to the benefit of such Borrower, and that such Borrower’s business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of such Subsidiaries.

 

 

SECTION 2.07 Funding of Borrowings.

 

(a)            Each Lender shall make each Loan to be made by such Lender hereunder on the proposed date thereof solely by wire transfer of immediately available funds by 1:00 p.m., New York time, to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders in an amount equal to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage; provided that Swingline Loans shall be made as provided in Section 2.05. The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Borrower Representative by promptly crediting the funds so received in the aforesaid account of the Administrative Agent to the Funding Account; provided that ABR Revolving Loans made to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.06(e) shall be remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Issuing Bank.

 

(b)            Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the applicable 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 Borrowers each severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the applicable Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of such Lender, the greater of the NYFRB Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation or (ii) in the case of the Borrowers, the interest rate applicable to ABR Revolving Loans. If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing; provided, that any interest received from the Borrowers by the Administrative Agent during the period beginning when Administrative Agent funded the Borrowing until such Lender pays such amount shall be solely for the account of the Administrative Agent.

 

SECTION 2.08 Interest Elections.

 

(a)            Each Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request and, in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request. Thereafter, the Borrower Representative may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section. The Borrower Representative may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing. This Section shall not apply to Swingline Borrowings, which may not be converted or continued.

 

 

(b)            To make an election pursuant to this Section, the Borrower Representative shall notify the Administrative Agent of such election either in writing (delivered by hand or fax) by delivering an Interest Election Request signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower Representative or through Electronic System, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the Administrative Agent, by the time that a Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.03 if the Borrowers were requesting a Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election to be made on the effective date of such election. Each such Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable.

 

(c)            Each Interest Election Request (including requests submitted through Electronic System) shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

If any such Interest Election Request requests a Term Benchmark Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, then the Borrowers shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration.

 

(d)            Promptly following receipt of an Interest Election Request, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the applicable Class of the details thereof and of such Lender’s portion of each resulting Borrowing.

 

(e)            If the Borrower Representative fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to a Term Benchmark Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period such Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing. Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent, at the request of the Required Lenders, so notifies the Borrower Representative, then, so long as an Event of Default is continuing (i) no outstanding Borrowing may be converted to or continued as a Term Benchmark Borrowing and (ii) unless repaid, (A) each Term Benchmark Borrowing and (B) each RFR Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.

 

 

SECTION 2.09 Termination and Reduction of Commitments; Increase in Revolving Commitments.

 

(a)            Unless previously terminated, all the Revolving Commitments shall terminate on the Revolving Credit Maturity Date.

 

(b)            The Borrowers may at any time terminate the Revolving Commitments upon the Payment in Full of the Secured Obligations.

 

(c)            The Borrowers may from time to time reduce the Revolving Commitments; provided that (i) each reduction of the Revolving Commitments shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000 and (ii) the Borrowers shall not terminate or reduce the Revolving Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the Revolving Loans in accordance with Section 2.11, (A) any Lender’s Revolving Exposure would exceed such Lender’s Revolving Commitment or (B) the Aggregate Revolving Exposure would exceed the aggregate Revolving Commitments.

 

(d)            The Borrower Representative shall notify the Administrative Agent of any election to terminate or reduce the Revolving Commitments under paragraph (b) or (c) of this Section at least three (3) Business Days prior to the effective date of such termination or reduction, specifying such election and the effective date thereof. Promptly following receipt of any notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each notice delivered by the Borrower Representative pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable; provided that a notice of termination of the Revolving Commitments delivered by the Borrower Representative may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities or other specified conditions, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower Representative (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Any termination or reduction of the Revolving Commitments shall be permanent. Each reduction of the Commitments shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Revolving Commitments.

 

(e)            The Borrowers shall have the right to increase the Revolving Commitments by obtaining additional Revolving Commitments, either from one or more of the Lenders or another lending institution (an “Additional Lender”), provided that (i) any such request for an increase shall be in a minimum amount of $5,000,000, (ii) the Borrower Representative, on behalf of the Borrowers, may make a maximum of five such requests, (iii) after giving effect thereto, the sum of the total of the additional Commitments does not exceed $50,000,000, (iv) the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Bank (in such capacities) shall have consented to such Additional Lender’s providing such increase to the extent the consent of such Person would be required under Section 9.04(b) for an assignment of Loans or Commitments, as applicable, to such Additional Lender, (v) any such Additional Lender assumes all of the rights and obligations of a “Lender” hereunder, and (vi) the procedure described in Section 2.09(f) below have been satisfied. Nothing contained in this Section 2.09 shall constitute, or otherwise be deemed to be, a commitment on the part of any Lender to increase its Commitment hereunder at any time.

 

 

(f)            Any amendment hereto for such an increase or addition shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and shall only require the written signatures of the Administrative Agent, the Borrowers, each existing Lender agreeing to increase its Commitment and any Additional Lender (for the avoidance of doubt, no consent is required from any existing Lender unless it is providing a portion of the increase). As a condition precedent to such an increase or addition, the Borrowers shall deliver to the Administrative Agent (i) a certificate of each Loan Party signed by an authorized officer of such Loan Party (A) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by such Loan Party approving or consenting to such increase, and (B) in the case of the Borrowers, certifying that, immediately before and immediately after giving effect to such increase or addition, (1) the representations and warranties contained in Article III and the other Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects (other than those representations and warranties that are expressly qualified by a Material Adverse Effect or other materiality, in which case such representations and warranties are true and correct in all respects), except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they were true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date (other than those representations and warranties that are expressly qualified by a Material Adverse Effect or other materiality, in which case such representations and warranties were true and correct in all respects as of such earlier date), (2) no Default exists and (3) the Borrowers are in compliance (on a pro forma basis) with the financial covenants contained in Section 6.12 and (ii) legal opinions and documents consistent with those delivered on the Effective Date, to the extent reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent. The Lenders hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent to enter into amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with the Loan Parties as may be necessary to reflect such increase and such technical amendments as may be necessary or appropriate in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers in connection therewith.

 

(g)            On the effective date of any such increase or addition, (i) any Lender increasing (or, in the case of any Additional Lender, extending) its Revolving Commitment shall make available to the Administrative Agent such amounts in immediately available funds as the Administrative Agent shall determine, for the benefit of the other Lenders, as being required in order to cause, after giving effect to such increase or addition and the use of such amounts to make payments to such other Lenders, each Lender’s portion of the outstanding Revolving Loans of all the Lenders to equal its revised Applicable Percentage of such outstanding Revolving Loans, and the Administrative Agent shall make such other adjustments among the Lenders with respect to the Revolving Loans then outstanding and amounts of principal, interest, commitment fees and other amounts paid or payable with respect thereto as shall be necessary, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent, in order to effect such reallocation and (ii) the Borrowers shall be deemed to have repaid and reborrowed all outstanding Revolving Loans as of the date of any increase (or addition) in the Revolving Commitments (with such reborrowing to consist of the Types of Revolving Loans, with related Interest Periods if applicable, specified in a notice delivered by the Borrower Representative, in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.03). The deemed payments made pursuant to clause (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence shall be accompanied by payment of all accrued interest on the amount prepaid and, in respect of each Term Benchmark Loan, shall be subject to indemnification by the Borrowers pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.16 if the deemed payment occurs other than on the last day of the related Interest Periods. Within a reasonable time after the effective date of any increase or addition, the Administrative Agent shall, and is hereby authorized and directed to, revise the Commitment Schedule to reflect such increase or addition and shall distribute such revised Commitment Schedule to each of the Lenders and the Borrower Representative, whereupon such revised Commitment Schedule shall replace the prior Commitment Schedule and become part of this Agreement.

 

 

 

SECTION 2.10 Repayment and Amortization of Loans; Evidence of Debt.

 

(a)           The Borrowers hereby unconditionally promise to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Loan on the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, and (ii) to the Swingline Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Swingline Loan on the earlier of the Revolving Credit Maturity Date and the fifth Business Day after such Swingline Loan is made; provided that on each date that a Revolving Loan is made, the Borrowers shall repay all Swingline Loans then outstanding and the proceeds of any such Revolving Loan shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to repay any Swingline Loans outstanding.

 

(b)           [Intentionally Omitted].

 

(c)           Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the Indebtedness of the Borrowers to such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder.

 

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

 

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

 

(f)            Any Lender may request that Loans made by it be evidenced by a promissory note. In such event, the Borrowers shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns) and in a form approved by the Administrative Agent. Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 9.04) be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form.

 

 

SECTION 2.11 Prepayment of Loans.

 

(a)           The Borrowers shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing in whole or in part, subject to prior notice in accordance with paragraph (e) of this Section and, if applicable, payment of any break funding expenses under Section 2.16.

 

(b)           In the event and on such occasion that the Aggregate Revolving Exposure exceeds the aggregate Revolving Commitments, the Borrowers shall prepay, on demand, the Revolving Loans, LC Exposure and/or Swingline Loans in an aggregate amount equal to such excess (or, if no such Borrowings are outstanding, deposit cash collateral in the LC Collateral Account in an aggregate amount equal to such excess, in accordance with Section 2.06(j)).

 

(c)           [Intentionally Omitted].

 

(d)           All prepayments made pursuant to Section 2.11(a) shall be applied as directed by the Borrower Representative if made with respect to the Revolving Loans (including the Swingline Loans), to prepay such Loans in accordance with the Lenders’ respective Applicable Percentages without a corresponding reduction in the Revolving Commitments or the Swingline Commitment, as applicable, and to cash collateralize outstanding LC Exposure.

 

(e)           The Borrower Representative shall notify the Administrative Agent (and, in the case of prepayment of a Swingline Loan, the Swingline Lender) by telephone (confirmed by fax) or through Electronic System, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the Administrative Agent, of any prepayment under this Section: (i) in the case of prepayment of a Term Benchmark Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York time, three (3) Business Days before the date of prepayment, (ii) in the case of prepayment of an RFR Revolving Borrowing, not later five (5) Business Days before the date of prepayment, or (iii) in the case of prepayment of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York time, one (1) Business Day before the date of prepayment or (iv) in the case of prepayment of a Swingline Loan, not later than 12:00 a.m., New York time, on the date of prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid; provided that a notice of prepayment may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities or the consummation of another transaction, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower Representative (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Promptly following receipt of any such notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each partial prepayment of any Revolving Borrowing shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of an advance of a Borrowing of the same Type as provided in Section 2.02, except as necessary to apply fully the required amount of a mandatory prepayment. Each prepayment of a Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing. Prepayments shall be accompanied by (i) accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.13 and (ii) break funding payments pursuant to Section 2.16.

 

 

SECTION 2.12 Fees.

 

(a)           The Borrowers agree to pay to the Administrative Agent a commitment fee for the account of each Revolving Lender, which shall accrue at the Applicable Rate on the daily amount of the undrawn portion of the Revolving Commitment of such Lender during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the date on which the Lenders’ Revolving Commitments terminate; it being understood that the LC Exposure of a Lender shall be included and the Swingline Exposure of a Lender shall be excluded in the drawn portion of the Revolving Commitment of such Lender for purposes of calculating the commitment fee. Commitment fees accrued through and including the last day of March, June, September and December of each year shall be payable in arrears on the fifteenth (15th) day following such last day and on the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate, commencing on the first such date to occur after the date hereof; provided that any commitment fees accruing after the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate shall be payable on demand. All commitment fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day and the last day of each period but excluding the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate). Fees shall cease to accrue on the unfunded portion of each Commitment of each Defaulting Lender as provided in Section 2.20.

 

(b)           The Borrowers agree to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender a participation fee with respect to its participations in each outstanding Letter of Credit, which shall accrue based on the undrawn amount of such Letter of Credit at the same Applicable Rate used to determine the interest rate applicable to Term Benchmark Revolving Loans, during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date on which such Lender’s Revolving Commitment terminates and the date on which such Lender ceases to have any LC Exposure, and (ii) to each Issuing Bank for its own account a fronting fee with respect to each Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank, which shall accrue at the rate of 0.125% per annum on the daily maximum stated amount then available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit, during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date of termination of the Commitments and the date on which there ceases to be any LC Exposure with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank, as well as such Issuing Bank’s standard fees and commissions with respect to the issuance, amendment or extension of any Letter of Credit and other processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of such Issuing Bank relating to Letters of Credit as from time to time in effect. Participation fees and fronting fees accrued through and including the last day of March, June, September and December of each year shall be payable on the fifteenth (15^th) day following such last day, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Effective Date; provided that all such fees shall be payable on the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate and any such fees accruing after the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate shall be payable on demand. Any other fees payable to an Issuing Bank pursuant to this paragraph shall be payable within ten (10) days after demand. All participation fees and fronting fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).

 

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

 

(d)           [Intentionally Omitted].

 

(e)            All fees payable hereunder shall be paid on the dates due, in dollars in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent (or to an Issuing Bank, in the case of fees payable to it) for distribution, in the case of commitment fees and participation fees, to the Lenders entitled thereto. Fees paid shall not be refundable under any circumstances.

 

 

SECTION 2.13 Interest.

 

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

 

(b)           The Loans comprising each Term Benchmark Borrowing shall bear interest at the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Rate. Each RFR Loan shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR plus the Applicable Rate.

 

(c)           Notwithstanding the foregoing, during the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may, at their option, by notice to the Borrower Representative (which notice may be revoked at the option of the Required Lenders notwithstanding any provision of Section 9.02 requiring the consent of “each Lender affected thereby” for reductions in interest rates), declare that (i) all Loans shall bear interest at 2% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loans as provided in the preceding paragraphs of this Section or (ii) in the case of any other amount outstanding hereunder, such amount shall accrue at 2% plus the rate applicable to such fee or other obligation as provided hereunder.

 

(d)            Accrued interest on each Loan (for ABR Loans, accrued through the last day of the prior calendar month) shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan and, in the case of Revolving Loans, upon termination of the Revolving Commitments; provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section shall be payable on demand, (ii) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Loan (other than a prepayment of an ABR Revolving Loan prior to the end of the Availability Period), accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment and (iii) in the event of any conversion of any Term Benchmark Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on the effective date of such conversion.

 

(e)           Interest computed by reference to the Term SOFR Rate hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days. Interest computed by reference to the Alternate Base Rate at times when the Alternate Base Rate is based on the Prime Rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year). In each case, interest shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). All interest hereunder on any Loan shall be computed on a daily basis based upon the outstanding principal amount of such Loan as of the applicable date of determination. The applicable Alternate Base Rate, Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR, Daily Simple SOFR, Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or Term SOFR Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

 

SECTION 2.14 Alternate Rate of Interest; Illegality.

 

(a)           Subject to clauses (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) of this Section 2.14, if:

 

(i)            the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) (A) prior to commencement of any Interest Period for a Term Benchmark Borrowing, that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or the Term SOFR Rate, as applicable (including, because the Term SOFR Reference Rate is not available or published on a current basis) for such Interest Period or (B) at any time, that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the applicable Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR or Daily Simple SOFR; or

 

(ii)            the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders that (A) prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Term Benchmark Borrowing, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders (or Lender) of making or maintaining their Loans (or Loan) included in such Borrowing for such Interest Period or (B) at any time, the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders (or Lender) of making or maintaining their Loans (or Loan) included in such Borrowing;

 

then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower Representative and the Lenders through Electronic System as provided in Section 9.01 as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until (x) the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower Representative and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist with respect to the relevant Benchmark and (y) the Borrower Representative delivers a new Interest Election Request in accordance with the terms of Section 2.08 or a new Borrowing Request in accordance with the terms of Section 2.03, any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Term Benchmark Borrowing and any Borrowing Request that requests a Term Benchmark Borrowing shall instead be deemed to be an Interest Election Request or a Borrowing Request, as applicable, for (x) an RFR Borrowing so long as the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is not also the subject of Section 2.14(a)(i) or (ii) above or (y) be repaid or converted into an ABR Borrowing if the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR also is the subject of Section 2.14(a)(i) or (ii) above; provided that if the circumstances giving rise to such notice affect only one Type of Borrowings, then all other Types of Borrowings shall be permitted. Furthermore, if any Term Benchmark Loan is outstanding on the date of the Borrowers’ receipt of the notice from the Administrative Agent referred to in this ‎Section 2.14(a) with respect to a Relevant Rate applicable to such Term Benchmark Loan, then until (x) the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower Representative and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist with respect to the relevant Benchmark and (y) the Borrower Representative delivers a new Interest Election Request in accordance with the terms of Section 2.08 or a new Borrowing Request in accordance with the terms of Section 2.03, any Term Benchmark Loan shall on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan (or the next succeeding Business Day if such day is not a Business Day), be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and shall constitute, (x) an RFR Borrowing so long as the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is not also the subject of Section 2.14(a)(i) or (ii) above or (y) an ABR Loan if the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR also is the subject of Section 2.14(a)(i) or (ii) above, on such day.

 

 

(b)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, (and any Swap Agreement shall be deemed not to be a “Loan Document” for purposes of this Section 2.14), if a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to the Reference Time in respect of any setting of the then-current Benchmark, then (x) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (1) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of such Benchmark setting and subsequent Benchmark settings without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document and (y) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of any Benchmark setting at or after 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date notice of such Benchmark Replacement is provided to the Lenders without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by such time, written notice of objection to such Benchmark Replacement from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders of each Class.

 

(c)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

(d)           The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower Representative and the Lenders of (i) any occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, (ii) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement, (iii) the effectiveness of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes, (iv) the removal or reinstatement of any tenor of a Benchmark pursuant to clause (f) below and (v) the commencement or conclusion of any Benchmark Unavailability Period. Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Administrative Agent or, if applicable, any Lender (or group of Lenders) pursuant to this Section 2.14, including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or any selection, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error and may be made in its or their sole discretion and without consent from any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section 2.14.

 

 

(e)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, at any time (including in connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement), (i) if the then-current Benchmark is a term rate (including the Term SOFR Rate) and either (A) any tenor for such Benchmark is not displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion or (B) the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark has provided a public statement or publication of information announcing that any tenor for such Benchmark is or will be no longer representative, then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” for any Benchmark settings at or after such time to remove such unavailable or non-representative tenor and (ii) if a tenor that was removed pursuant to clause (i) above either (A) is subsequently displayed on a screen or information service for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement) or (B) is not, or is no longer, subject to an announcement that it is or will no longer be representative for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement), then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” for all Benchmark settings at or after such time to reinstate such previously removed tenor.

 

(f)            Upon the Borrowers’ receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, the Borrowers may revoke any request for a Term Benchmark Borrowing or RFR Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Term Benchmark Loans to be made, converted or continued during any Benchmark Unavailability Period and, failing that, the Borrowers will be deemed to have converted (1) any request for a Term Benchmark Borrowing into a request for a Borrowing of or conversion to (A) an RFR Borrowing so long as the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is not the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event or (B) an ABR Borrowing if the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event or (2) any such request for an RFR Borrowing into a request for an ABR Borrowing. During any Benchmark Unavailability Period or at any time that a tenor for the then-current Benchmark is not an Available Tenor, the component of ABR based upon the then-current Benchmark or such tenor for such Benchmark, as applicable, will not be used in any determination of ABR. Furthermore, if any Term Benchmark Loan or RFR Loan is outstanding on the date of the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period with respect to a Relevant Rate applicable to such Term Benchmark Loan or RFR Loan, then until such time as a Benchmark Replacement is implemented pursuant to this ‎Section 2.14, (1) any Term Benchmark Loan shall on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan (or the next succeeding Business Day if such day is not a Business Day), be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and shall constitute, (x) an RFR Loan so long as the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is not the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event or (y) an ABR Loan if the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event, on such day and (2) any RFR Loan shall on and from such day be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and shall constitute an ABR Loan.

 

SECTION 2.15 Increased Costs.

 

(a)           If any Change in Law shall:

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender or such other Recipient of making, continuing, converting into or maintaining any Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan) or to increase the cost to such Lender, the Issuing Bank or such other Recipient of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender, the Issuing Bank or such other Recipient hereunder (whether of principal, interest or otherwise), then upon the written request of such Lender, the Issuing Bank or other Recipient, as the case may be, the Borrowers will pay to such Lender, the Issuing Bank or such other Recipient, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender, the Issuing Bank or such other Recipient, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent, such Lender, the Issuing Bank or such other Recipient (which determination shall be made in good faith (and not on an arbitrary or capricious basis)).

 

(b)           If any Lender or the Issuing Bank determines that any Change in Law regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by the Issuing Bank, to a level below that which such Lender or the Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity), then from time to time the Borrowers will pay to such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company for any such reduction suffered as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent, such Lender, the Issuing Bank or such other Recipient (which determination shall be made in good faith (and not on an arbitrary or capricious basis)).

 

(c)            A certificate of a Lender or the Issuing Bank setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or the Issuing Bank or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower Representative and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrowers shall pay such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.

 

(d)            Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or the Issuing Bank to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrowers shall not be required to compensate a Lender or the Issuing Bank pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or reductions incurred more than 270 days prior to the date that such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower Representative of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided, further, that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 270-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.

 

 

SECTION 2.16 Break Funding Payments. (a) With respect to Loans that are not RFR Loans, in the event of (a) the payment of any principal of any Term Benchmark Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default or as a result of any prepayment pursuant to Section 2.11), but excluding any Term Benchmark Loan that is a Swingline Loan with an Interest Period as provided in clause (iii) of the proviso in the definition of “Interest Period”, (b) the conversion of any Term Benchmark Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (c) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Term Benchmark Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice may be revoked under Section 2.09 (d) and is revoked in accordance therewith), or (d) the assignment of any Term Benchmark Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower Representative pursuant to Section 2.19 or 9.02(d), then, in any such event, the Borrowers shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower Representative and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrowers shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.

 

(b)            With respect to RFR Loans, in the event of (i) the payment of any principal of any RFR Loan other than on the Interest Payment Date applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default or an optional or mandatory prepayment of Loans), (ii) the failure to borrow or prepay any RFR Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice may be revoked under ‎Section 2.11 and is revoked in accordance therewith) or (iii) the assignment of any RFR Loan other than on the Interest Payment Date applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.18, then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.

 

SECTION 2.17 Withholding of Taxes; Gross-Up.

 

(a)            Payments Free of Taxes. Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of Loan Party under any Loan Document shall be made without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by applicable law. If any applicable law (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable withholding agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by a withholding agent, then the applicable withholding agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the applicable Loan Party shall be increased as necessary so that after such deduction or withholding has been made (including such deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2.17), the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.

 

 

(b)           Payment of Other Taxes by Loan Parties. The Loan 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, Other Taxes.

 

(c)           Evidence of Payment. As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by Loan Party to a Governmental Authority pursuant to this Section 2.17, the Loan Party shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment, or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(d)           Indemnification by the Loan Parties. To the extent not paid, reimbursed or compensated pursuant to Section 2.17(a) or (b), the Loan Parties shall jointly and severally indemnify each Recipient, within ten (10) days after delivery to the applicable Loan Party of the certificate described in the next sentence, 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 Representative by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive of the amount paid or payable absent manifest error.

 

(e)            Indemnification by the Lenders. Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within ten (10) days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that any Loan Party has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Loan Parties to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 9.04(c) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to setoff 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 such Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this paragraph (e).

 

 

(f)            Status of Lenders.

 

(i)            Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower Representative and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower Representative or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower Representative 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 Representative or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower Representative or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower Representative or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 2.17(f)(ii)(A), (ii)(B) and (ii)(D) below) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.

 

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

 

(A)           any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower Representative 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 Representative or the Administrative Agent), an executed copy of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;

 

(B)           any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower Representative 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 Representative 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 U.S. is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, an executed copy of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable, establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “interest” article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Loan Document, IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable, establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “business profits” or “other income” article of such tax treaty;

 

 

(2)            in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming that its extension of credit will generate U.S. effectively connected income, an executed copy of IRS Form W-8ECI;

 

(3)            in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C-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 a 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) an executed copy of IRS Form W 8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable; or

 

(4)            to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, an executed copy of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C-2 or Exhibit C-3, IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C-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 Representative 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 Representative 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 U.S. federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit the Borrower Representative or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and

 

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

 

 

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

 

(g)           Treatment of Certain Refunds. If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 2.17 (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.17), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section 2.17 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund). Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this paragraph (g) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (g), in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this paragraph (g) the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the indemnified party would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts giving rise to such refund had never been paid. This paragraph (g) 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.

 

(h)           Survival. Each party’s obligations under this Section 2.17 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 (including the Payment in Full of the Secured Obligations).

 

(i)            Defined Terms. For purposes of this Section 2.17, the term “Lender” includes any Issuing Bank and the term “applicable law” includes FATCA.

 

 

SECTION 2.18 Payments Generally; Allocation of Proceeds; Sharing of Setoffs.

 

(a)           The Borrowers shall make each payment or prepayment required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest, fees or reimbursement of LC Disbursements, or of amounts payable under Sections 2.15, 2.16 or 2.17, or otherwise) prior to 2:00 p.m., New York time, on the date when due or the date fixed for any prepayment hereunder, in immediately available funds, without setoff, recoupment or counterclaim. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent at its offices at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. 10 South Dearborn, Floor L2, Suite IL1-0480, Chicago, IL, 60603-2300, except payments to be made directly to the Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender as expressly provided herein and except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto pursuant to written instructions provided to the Borrower by such Person. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate Recipient promptly following receipt thereof. Unless otherwise provided for herein, if any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension. All payments hereunder shall be made in dollars.

 

(b)            All payments and any proceeds of Collateral received by the Administrative Agent (i) not constituting either (A) a specific payment of principal, interest, fees or other sum payable under the Loan Documents (which shall be applied as specified by the Borrowers), or (B) a mandatory prepayment (which shall be applied in accordance with Section 2.11) or (ii) after an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent so elects or the Required Lenders so direct, shall be applied ratably first, to pay any fees, indemnities, or expense reimbursements then due to the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Bank from the Borrowers (other than in connection with Banking Services Obligations or Swap Agreement Obligations), second, to pay any fees, indemnities, or expense reimbursements then due to the Lenders from the Borrowers (other than in connection with Banking Services Obligations or Swap Agreement Obligations), third, to pay interest then due and payable on the Loans ratably, fourth, to prepay principal on the Loans and unreimbursed LC Disbursements, to pay an amount to the Administrative Agent equal to one hundred five percent (105%) of the aggregate LC Exposure, to be held as cash collateral for such Obligations, and to pay any amounts owing in respect of Swap Agreement Obligations and Banking Services Obligations up to and including the amount most recently provided to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.22, ratably, and fifth, to the payment of any other Secured Obligation due to the Administrative Agent or any Lender from the Borrowers or any other Loan Party. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, unless so directed by the Borrower Representative, or unless a Default is in existence, neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall apply any payment which it receives to any Term Benchmark Loan of a Class, except (i) on the expiration date of the Interest Period applicable thereto, or (ii) in the event, and only to the extent, that there are no outstanding ABR Loans of the same Class and, in any such event, the Borrowers shall pay the break funding payment required in accordance with Section 2.16. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have the continuing and exclusive right to apply and reverse and reapply any and all such proceeds and payments to any portion of the Secured Obligations in accordance with this paragraph. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Secured Obligations arising under Banking Services Obligations or Swap Agreement Obligations shall be excluded from the application described above and paid in clause fifth if the Administrative Agent has not received written notice thereof, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may have reasonably requested from the applicable provider of such Banking Services or Swap Agreements.

 

 

(c)           At the election of the Administrative Agent, all payments of principal, interest, LC Disbursements, fees, premiums, reimbursable expenses (including, without limitation, all reimbursement for fees, costs and expenses pursuant to Section 9.03), and other sums payable under the Loan Documents, may be paid from the proceeds of Borrowings made hereunder, whether made following a request by the Borrower Representative pursuant to Section 2.03 or 2.05 or a deemed request as provided in this Section or may be deducted from any deposit account of the Borrowers maintained with the Administrative Agent. The Borrowers hereby irrevocably authorize (i) the Administrative Agent to make a Borrowing for the purpose of paying each payment of principal, interest and fees as it becomes due hereunder or any other amount due under the Loan Documents and agree that all such amounts charged shall constitute Loans (including Swingline Loans), and that all such Borrowings shall be deemed to have been requested pursuant to Sections 2.03 or 2.05, as applicable, and (ii) the Administrative Agent to charge any deposit account of any Borrower maintained with the Administrative Agent for each payment of principal, interest and fees as it becomes due hereunder or any other amount due under the Loan Documents.

 

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

 

(e)           Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received, prior to any date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or the Issuing Bank pursuant to the terms hereof or any other Loan Document (including any date that is fixed for prepayment by notice from the Borrower Representative to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.11(e)), notice from the Borrower Representative that the Borrowers will not make such payment or prepayment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrowers have made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount due. In such event, if the Borrowers have not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or Issuing Bank with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the NYFRB Rate.

 

 

(f)            The Administrative Agent may from time to time provide the Borrowers with account statements or invoices with respect to any of the Secured Obligations (the “Statements”). The Administrative Agent is under no duty or obligation to provide Statements, which, if provided, will be solely for the Borrowers’ convenience. Statements may contain estimates of the amounts owed during the relevant billing period, whether of principal, interest, fees or other Secured Obligations. If the Borrowers pay the full amount indicated on a Statement on or before the due date indicated on such Statement, the Borrowers shall not be in default of payment with respect to the billing period indicated on such Statement; provided that acceptance by the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, of any payment that is less than the total amount actually due at that time (including but not limited to any past due amounts) shall not constitute a waiver of the Administrative Agent’s or the Lenders’ right to receive payment in full at another time.

 

SECTION 2.19 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

 

(a)            If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, or if the Borrowers are required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Sections 2.15 or 2.17, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrowers hereby agree to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

 

(b)            If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, or if the Borrowers are required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17, or if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the Borrowers may, at their sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 9.04), all its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Sections 2.15 or 2.17) and obligations under this Agreement and other Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (i) the Borrower Representative shall have received prior written consent to the extent required by Section 9.04, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and funded participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrowers (in the case of all other amounts) and (iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.15 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.17, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments. A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrowers to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply. Each party hereto agrees that (i) an assignment required pursuant to this paragraph may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Borrower Representative, the Administrative Agent and the assignee (or, to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and such parties are participants), and (ii) the Lender required to make such assignment need not be a party thereto in order for such assignment to be effective and shall be deemed to have consented to and be bound by the terms thereof; provided that, following the effectiveness of any such assignment, the other parties to such assignment agree to execute and deliver such documents necessary to evidence such assignment as reasonably requested by the applicable Lender, provided that any such documents shall be without recourse to or warranty by the parties thereto.

 

  

SECTION 2.20 Defaulting Lenders. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the following provisions shall apply for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender:

 

(a)            fees shall cease to accrue on the unfunded portion of the Revolving Commitment of such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.12(a);

 

(b)            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 to Section 2.18(b) or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 9.08 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, to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to any Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender hereunder; third, to cash collateralize LC Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender in accordance with this Section; fourth, as the Borrower Representative may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Loan 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; fifth, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower Representative, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to (x) satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement and (y) cash collateralize future LC Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to future Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement, in accordance with this Section; sixth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks or Swingline Lender as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, the Issuing Banks or Swingline Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document; seventh, so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrowers as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrowers against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document; and eighth, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or LC Disbursements in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (y) such Loans were made or the related Letters of Credit were issued at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and LC Disbursements owed to, all non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or LC Disbursements owed to, such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded and unfunded participations in the Borrowers’ obligations corresponding to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure and Swingline Loans are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Commitments without giving effect to clause (d) below. 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 or to post cash collateral pursuant to this Section shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto;

 

 

(c)            such Defaulting Lender shall not have the right to vote on any issue on which voting is required (other than to the extent expressly provided in Section 9.02(b)) and the Commitment and Revolving Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether the Required Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder or under any other Loan Document; provided that, except as otherwise provided in Section 9.02, this clause (b) shall not apply to the vote of a Defaulting Lender in the case of an amendment, waiver or other modification requiring the consent of such Lender or each Lender directly affected thereby;

 

(d)            if any Swingline Exposure or LC Exposure exists at the time such Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender then:

 

(i)            all or any part of the Swingline Exposure and LC Exposure of such Defaulting Lender (other than, in the case of a Defaulting Lender that is a Swingline Lender, the portion of such Swingline Exposure referred to in clause (b) of the definition of such term) shall be reallocated among the non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages but only (x) to the extent that such reallocation does not, as to any non-Defaulting Lender, cause such non-Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Exposure to exceed its Revolving Commitment;

 

(ii)            if the reallocation described in clause (i) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrowers shall within one (1) Business Day following notice by the Administrative Agent (x) first, prepay such Swingline Exposure and (y) second, cash collateralize, for the benefit of the Issuing Bank, the Borrowers’ obligations corresponding to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure (after giving effect to any partial reallocation pursuant to clause (i) above) in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.06(j) for so long as such LC Exposure is outstanding;

 

 

(iii)            if the Borrowers cash collateralize any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure pursuant to clause (ii) above, the Borrowers shall not be required to pay any fees to such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.12(b) with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure during the period such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure is cash collateralized;

 

(iv)            if the LC Exposure of the non-Defaulting Lenders is reallocated pursuant to clause (i) above, then the fees payable to the Lenders pursuant to Sections 2.12(a) and 2.12(b) shall be adjusted in accordance with such non-Defaulting Lenders’ Applicable Percentages; and

 

(v)            if all or any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure is neither reallocated nor cash collateralized pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above, then, without prejudice to any rights or remedies of the Issuing Bank or any other Lender hereunder, all letter of credit fees payable under Section 2.12(b) with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure shall be payable to the Issuing Bank until and to the extent that such LC Exposure is reallocated and/or cash collateralized; and

 

(e)            so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender, the Swingline Lender shall not be required to fund any Swingline Loan and the Issuing Bank shall not be required to issue, amend, renew, extend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless it is satisfied that the related exposure and such Defaulting Lender’s then outstanding LC Exposure will be 100% covered by the Commitments of the non-Defaulting Lenders and/or cash collateral will be provided by the Borrowers in accordance with Section 2.20(d), and Swingline Exposure related to any such newly made Swingline Loan or LC Exposure related to any newly issued or increased Letter of Credit shall be allocated among non-Defaulting Lenders in a manner consistent with Section 2.20(d)(i) (and such Defaulting Lender shall not participate therein).

 

If (i) a Bankruptcy Event or a Bail-In Action with respect to a Lender Parent shall occur following the date hereof and for so long as such event shall continue or (ii) the Swingline Lender or the Issuing Bank has a good faith belief that any Lender has defaulted in fulfilling its obligations under one or more other agreements in which such Lender commits to extend credit, the Swingline Lender shall not be required to fund any Swingline Loan and the Issuing Bank shall not be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless the Swingline Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, shall have entered into arrangements with the Borrowers or such Lender, satisfactory to the Swingline Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, to defease any risk to it in respect of such Lender hereunder.

 

In the event that each of the Administrative Agent, the Borrowers, the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Bank agrees that a Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused such Lender to be a Defaulting Lender, then the Swingline Exposure and LC Exposure of the Lenders shall be readjusted to reflect the inclusion of such Lender’s Revolving Commitment and on the date of such readjustment such Lender shall purchase at par such of the Loans of the other Lenders (other than Swingline Loans) as the Administrative Agent shall determine may be necessary in order for such Lender to hold such Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage; provided, that no adjustments shall be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while such Lender was a Defaulting Lender, and provided, further, that except to the extent otherwise 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 having been a Defaulting Lender.

 

 

SECTION 2.21 Returned Payments. If, after receipt of any payment which is applied to the payment of all or any part of the Obligations (including a payment effected through exercise of a right of setoff), the Administrative Agent or any Lender is for any reason compelled to surrender such payment or proceeds to any Person because such payment or application of proceeds is invalidated, declared fraudulent, set aside, determined to be void or voidable as a preference, impermissible setoff, or a diversion of trust funds, or for any other reason (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent or such Lender in its discretion), then the Obligations or part thereof intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued and this Agreement shall continue in full force as if such payment or proceeds had not been received by the Administrative Agent or such Lender. The provisions of this Section 2.21 shall be and remain effective notwithstanding any contrary action which may have been taken by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in reliance upon such payment or application of proceeds. The provisions of this Section 2.21 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 2.22 Banking Services and Swap Agreements. Each Lender or Affiliate thereof providing Banking Services for, or having Swap Agreements with, any Loan Party or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of a Loan Party shall deliver to the Administrative Agent, promptly after entering into such Banking Services or Swap Agreements, written notice setting forth the aggregate amount of all Banking Services Obligations and Swap Agreement Obligations of such Loan Party or Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof to such Lender or Affiliate (whether matured or unmatured, absolute or contingent). In furtherance of that requirement, each such Lender or Affiliate thereof shall furnish the Administrative Agent, from time to time after a significant change therein or upon a request therefor, a summary of the amounts due or to become due in respect of such Banking Services Obligations and Swap Agreement Obligations. The most recent information provided to the Administrative Agent shall be used in determining which tier of the waterfall, contained in Section 2.18(b), such Banking Services Obligations and/or Swap Agreement Obligations will be placed. For the avoidance of doubt, so long as Chase or its Affiliate is the Administrative Agent, neither Chase nor any of its Affiliates providing Banking Services for, or having Swap Agreements with, any Loan Party or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of a Loan Party shall be required to provide any notice described in this Section 2.22 in respect of such Banking Services or Swap Agreements.

 

Article III
Representations and Warranties

 

Each Loan Party represents and warrants to the Lenders that (and where applicable, agrees):

 

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

 

 

SECTION 3.02 Authorization; Enforceability. The Transactions are within each Loan Party’s corporate or other organizational powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational actions and, if required, actions by equity holders. Each Loan Document to which each Loan Party is a party has been duly executed and delivered by such Loan Party and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

 

SECTION 3.03 Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts. The Transactions (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect and except for filings necessary to perfect Liens created pursuant to the Loan Documents, (b) will not violate any Requirement of Law applicable to any Loan Party or any Subsidiary, (c) will not violate or result in a default, in any material respect, under any indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon any Loan Party or any Subsidiary or the assets of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary, and (d) will not result in the creation or imposition of, or other requirement to create, any Lien on any asset of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary, except Liens created pursuant to the Loan Documents.

 

SECTION 3.04 Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change.

 

(a)            Holdings has heretofore furnished to the Lenders its consolidated balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows (i) as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, reported on by Ernst & Young LLP, independent public accountants, and (ii) as of and for the fiscal quarter and the portion of the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022, certified by its Financial Officer. Such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of Holdings and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of such dates and for such periods in accordance with GAAP, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments all of which, when taken as a whole, would not be materially adverse and the absence of footnotes in the case of the statements referred to in clause (ii) above.

 

(b)            No event, change or condition has occurred that has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect, since December 31, 2021.

 

SECTION 3.05 Properties.

 

(a)            As of the date of this Agreement, Schedule 3.05 sets forth the address of each parcel of Real Property that is owned or leased by any Loan Party. Each of such leases and subleases is valid and enforceable in accordance with its terms and is in full force and effect, and no default by any party to any such lease or sublease exists. Each of the Loan Parties and each Subsidiary has good and indefeasible title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all of its real and personal property material to its business, free of all Liens other than those permitted by Section 6.02.

 

 

(b)            Each Loan Party and each Subsidiary owns, or is licensed to use, all trademarks, tradenames, copyrights, patents and other intellectual property necessary to its business as currently conducted, a correct and complete list of which, as of the date of this Agreement, is set forth on Schedule 3.05, and the use thereof by each Loan Party and each Subsidiary does not infringe in any material respect upon the rights of any other Person, and each Loan Party’s and each Subsidiary’s rights with respect to the intellectual property owned by it are not subject to any licensing agreement or similar arrangement.

 

SECTION 3.06 Litigation and Environmental Matters.

 

(a)            There are no actions, suits or proceedings by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, threatened in writing against or affecting any Loan Party or any Subsidiary (i) as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination and that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect (other than the Disclosed Matters set forth on Schedule 3.06) or (ii) that involve any Loan Document or the Transactions.

 

(b)            Except for the Disclosed Matters, (i) no Loan Party or any Subsidiary has received any written notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or knows of any basis for any Environmental Liability and (ii) and except with respect to any other matters that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, no Loan Party or any Subsidiary (A) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law (B) has become subject to any Environmental Liability, (C) has received written notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or (D) knows of any reasonable basis for any Environmental Liability.

 

(c)            Since the date of this Agreement, there has been no change in the status of the Disclosed Matters that, individually or in the aggregate, has resulted in, or materially increased the likelihood of, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 3.07 Compliance with Laws and Agreements; No Default. Except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, each Loan Party and each Subsidiary is in compliance with (i) all Requirement of Law applicable to it or its property and (ii) all indentures, agreements and other instruments binding upon it or its property. No Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

SECTION 3.08 Investment Company Status. No Loan Party or any Subsidiary is or is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

SECTION 3.09 Taxes. Each Loan Party and each Subsidiary has timely filed or caused to be filed all Tax returns and reports required to have been filed and has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes required to have been paid by it, except (a) Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which such Loan Party or such Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on its books adequate reserves or (b) to the extent that the failure to do so could not be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No tax liens have been filed and no claims are being asserted with respect to any such taxes, except to the extent not exceeding $1,000,000 in the aggregate.

 

 

SECTION 3.10 ERISA. No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events for which liability is reasonably expected to occur, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 3.11 Disclosure.

 

(a)           The Loan Parties have disclosed to the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, and all other matters known to it, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. None of the written reports, financial statements, certificates or other information furnished by or on behalf of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein (taken as a whole), in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, forward-looking information and information of a general economic or industry nature, the Loan Parties represent only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed by the Loan Parties to be reasonable at the time prepared, it being understood that such projected financial information and forward-looking statements are not to be viewed as facts, that actual results during the period or periods covered thereby may differ from the projected results and that such differences may be material.

 

(b)            As of the Effective Date, to the best knowledge of each Borrower, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification provided on or prior to the Effective Date to any Lender in connection with this Agreement is true and correct in all respects.

 

SECTION 3.12 Material Agreements. All Material Agreements to which any Loan Party or Subsidiary is a party or is bound as of the date of this Agreement are listed on Schedule 3.12. No Loan Party or any other Subsidiary is in default in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any of the obligations, covenants or conditions contained in any Material Agreement.

 

SECTION 3.13 Solvency.

 

(a)            Immediately after the consummation of the Transactions to occur on the Effective Date, (i) the fair value of the assets of the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, at a fair valuation, will exceed their debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise; (ii) the present fair saleable value of the property of the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, will be greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of their debts and other liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured; (iii) the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, will be able to pay their debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured; and (iv) the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, will not have unreasonably small capital with which to conduct the business in which they are engaged as such business is now conducted and is proposed to be conducted after the Effective Date.

 

 

(b)            No Loan Party intends to, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, and no Loan Party believes that it or any Subsidiary will, incur debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature, taking into account the timing of and amounts of cash to be received by it or any such Subsidiary and the timing of the amounts of cash to be payable on or in respect of its Indebtedness or the Indebtedness of any such Subsidiary.

 

SECTION 3.14 Insurance. Schedule 3.14 sets forth a description of all insurance maintained by or on behalf of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries as of the Effective Date. As of the Effective Date, all premiums in respect of such insurance have been paid. The Loan Parties believe that the insurance maintained by or on behalf of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries is adequate and is customary for companies engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations.

 

SECTION 3.15 Capitalization and Subsidiaries. Schedule 3.15 sets forth (a) a correct and complete list of the name and relationship to Holdings of each Subsidiary, (b) a true and complete listing of each class of each of Holding’s and each Subsidiary’s authorized Equity Interests, of which all of such issued Equity Interests are validly issued, outstanding, fully paid and non-assessable, and, with respect to each Subsidiary of Holdings, owned beneficially and of record by the Persons identified on Schedule 3.15, and (c) the type of entity of Holdings and each Subsidiary.

 

SECTION 3.16 Security Interest in Collateral. The provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents create legal and valid Liens on all the Collateral in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and such Liens constitute perfected and continuing Liens on the Collateral, securing the Secured Obligations, enforceable against the applicable Loan Party, except as enforceability may be limited by equitable principles or by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws, relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally, and having priority over all other Liens on the Collateral except in the case of (a) Permitted Encumbrances, to the extent any such Permitted Encumbrances would have priority over the Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent pursuant to any applicable law or agreement and (b) Liens perfected only by possession (including possession of any certificate of title), to the extent the Administrative Agent has not obtained or does not maintain possession of such Collateral.

 

SECTION 3.17 Employment Matters. As of the Effective Date, there are no strikes, lockouts or slowdowns against any Loan Party or any Subsidiary pending or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, threatened. The hours worked by and payments made to employees of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries have not been in violation in any material respect of the Fair Labor Standards Act or any other applicable federal or state law dealing with such matters. All payments due from any Loan Party or any Subsidiary, or for which any claim may be made against any Loan Party or any Subsidiary, on account of wages and employee health and welfare insurance and other benefits, have been paid or accrued as a liability on the books of such Loan Party or such Subsidiary.

 

 

SECTION 3.18 Margin Regulations. No Loan Party is engaged and will not engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock, or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock, and no part of the proceeds of any Borrowing or Letter of Credit hereunder will be used to buy or carry any Margin Stock. Following the application of the proceeds of each Borrowing or drawing under each Letter of Credit, not more than 25% of the value of the assets (either of any Loan Party only or of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis) will be Margin Stock.

 

SECTION 3.19 Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Loans have been used and will be used, whether directly or indirectly as set forth in Section 5.08.

 

SECTION 3.20 No Burdensome Restrictions. No Loan Party is subject to any Burdensome Restrictions except Burdensome Restrictions permitted under Section 6.10.

 

SECTION 3.21 Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions. Each Loan Party has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance in all material respects by such Loan Party, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions, and such Loan Party, its Subsidiaries and their respective officers and directors and, to the knowledge of such Loan Party, its employees and agents, are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects and are not knowingly engaged in any activity that would reasonably be expected to result in any Loan Party being designated as a Sanctioned Person. None of (a) any Loan Party, any Subsidiary, any of their respective directors or officers or, to the knowledge of any such Loan Party or Subsidiary, employees, or (b) to the knowledge of any such Loan Party or Subsidiary, any agent of such Loan Party or any Subsidiary that will act in any capacity in connection with or benefit from the credit facility established hereby, is a Sanctioned Person. No Borrowing or Letter of Credit, use of proceeds, Transaction or other transaction contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents will violate Anti-Corruption Laws or applicable Sanctions.

 

SECTION 3.22 Affected Financial Institutions. No Loan Party is an Affected Financial Institution.

 

SECTION 3.23 Plan Assets; Prohibited Transactions. None of the Loan Parties or any of their Subsidiaries is an entity deemed to hold “plan assets” (within the meaning of the Plan Asset Regulations), and neither the execution, delivery nor performance of the transactions contemplated under this Agreement, including the making of any Loan and the issuance of any Letter of Credit hereunder, will give rise to a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.

 

 

 

Article IV
Conditions

 

SECTION 4.01 Effective Date. The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of the Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall not become effective until the date on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02):

 

(a)            Credit Agreement and Loan Documents. The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received (i) from each party hereto a counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party (which, subject to Section 9.06(b), may include any Electronic Signatures transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page) and (ii) duly executed copies of the other Loan Documents and such other certificates, documents, instruments and agreements as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request in connection with the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including any promissory notes requested by a Lender pursuant to Section 2.10 payable to the order of each such requesting Lender and a written opinion of the Loan Parties’ counsel, addressed to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(b)            Financial Statements and Projections. The Lenders shall have received (i) audited consolidated financial statements of Holdings for the 2021 fiscal year, (ii) unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of Holdings for each fiscal quarter ended after the date of the latest applicable financial statements delivered pursuant to clause (i) of this paragraph as to which such financial statements are available, and such financial statements shall not, in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent, reflect any material adverse change in the consolidated financial condition of Holdings, as reflected in the audited, consolidated financial statements described in clause (i) of this paragraph and (iii) satisfactory Projections through 2025.

 

(c)            Closing Certificates; Certified Certificate of Incorporation; Good Standing Certificates. The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) a certificate of each Loan Party, dated the Effective Date and executed by its Secretary or Assistant Secretary, which shall (A) certify the resolutions of its Board of Directors, members or other body authorizing the execution, delivery and performance by such Loan party of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, (B) identify by name and title and bear the signatures of the officers of such Loan Party authorized to sign the Loan Documents to which it is a party and, in the case of a Borrower, its Financial Officers, and (C) contain appropriate attachments, including the charter, articles or certificate of organization or incorporation of each Loan Party certified by the relevant authority of the jurisdiction of organization of such Loan Party and a true and correct copy of its bylaws or operating, management or partnership agreement, or other organizational or governing documents, and (ii) a good standing certificate for each Loan Party from its jurisdiction of organization.

 

(d)            No Default Certificate. The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, signed by a Financial Officer of each Borrower and each other Loan Party, dated as of the Effective Date confirming that (i) no Default has occurred and is continuing, (ii) the representations and warranties contained in the Loan Documents are true and correct as of such date, and (iii) certifying as to any other factual matters as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent.

 

 

(e)            Fees. The Lenders and the Administrative Agent shall have received all fees required to be paid, and all expenses required to be reimbursed for which invoices have been presented (including the reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel), on or before the Effective Date. All such amounts will be paid with proceeds of Loans made on the Effective Date and will be reflected in the funding instructions given by the Borrower Representative to the Administrative Agent on or before the Effective Date.

 

(f)             Lien Searches. The Administrative Agent shall have received the results of a recent lien search in the jurisdiction of organization of each Loan Party and each jurisdiction where material assets of the Loan Parties are located, and such search shall reveal no Liens on any of the assets of the Loan Parties except for liens permitted by Section 6.02 or discharged on or prior to the Effective Date pursuant to a payoff letter or other documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(g)            Payoff Letter. The Administrative Agent shall have received satisfactory payoff letters for all existing Indebtedness required to be repaid and which confirms that all Liens securing such Indebtedness upon any of the property of the Loan Parties constituting Collateral will be terminated concurrently with such payment and all letters of credit issued or guaranteed as part of such Indebtedness shall have been cash collateralized or supported by a Letter of Credit.

 

(h)            Funding Account. The Administrative Agent shall have received a notice setting forth the deposit account of the Borrowers (the “Funding Account”) to which the Administrative Agent is authorized by the Borrowers to transfer the proceeds of any Borrowings requested or authorized pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(i)             Collateral Access and Control Agreements. The Administrative Agent shall have received each of (i) a Collateral Access Agreement required to be provided pursuant to Section 4.13 of the Security Agreement and (ii) a deposit account control agreement required to be provided pursuant to Section 4.14 of the Security Agreement.

 

(j)             Solvency. The Administrative Agent shall have received a solvency certificate signed by a Financial Officer dated the Effective Date in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(k)            Closing Availability. After giving effect to all Borrowings to be made on the Effective Date and the issuance of any Letters of Credit on the Effective Date and payment of all fees and expenses due hereunder, and with all of the Loan Parties’ Indebtedness, the Borrowers’ Availability shall not be less than $25,000,000.

 

(l)             Pledged Equity Interests; Stock Powers; Pledged Notes. The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) the certificates representing the Equity Interests pledged pursuant to the Security Agreement, together with an undated stock power for each such certificate executed in blank by a duly authorized officer of the pledgor thereof and (ii) each promissory note (if any) pledged to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Security Agreement endorsed (without recourse) in blank (or accompanied by an executed transfer form in blank) by the pledgor thereof.

 

 

(m)            Filings, Registrations and Recordings. Each document (including any Uniform Commercial Code financing statement) required by the Collateral Documents or under applicable law or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to be filed, registered or recorded in order to create in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a perfected Lien on the Collateral described therein, prior and superior in right to any other Person (other than with respect to Liens expressly permitted by Section 6.02), shall be in proper form for filing, registration or recordation.

 

(n)            Insurance. The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence of insurance coverage in form, scope, and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and otherwise in compliance with the terms of (i) Section 5.10 of this Agreement and (ii) Section 4.12 of the Security Agreement.

 

(o)            Letter of Credit Application. The Administrative Agent shall have received a properly completed letter of credit application (whether standalone or pursuant to a master agreement, as applicable) if the issuance of a Letter of Credit will be required on the Effective Date.

 

(p)            Legal Due Diligence. The Administrative Agent and its counsel shall have completed all legal due diligence, the results of which shall be satisfactory to Administrative Agent in its sole discretion.

 

(q)            USA PATRIOT Act, Etc. (i) The Administrative Agent shall have received, (x) at least five (5) days prior to the Effective Date, all documentation and other information regarding the Borrowers requested in connection with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act, to the extent requested in writing of the Borrowers at least ten (10) days prior to the Effective Date, and (y) a properly completed and signed IRS Form W-8 or W-9, as applicable, for each Loan Party, and (ii) to the extent the Borrowers qualify as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, at least five (5) days prior to the Effective Date, any Lender that has requested, in a written notice to the Borrowers at least ten (10) days prior to the Effective Date, a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to each Borrower shall have received such Beneficial Ownership Certification (provided that, upon the execution and delivery by such Lender of its signature page to this Agreement, the condition set forth in this clause (ii) shall be deemed to be satisfied).

 

(r)            Other Documents. The Administrative Agent shall have received such other documents as the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, any Lender or their respective counsel may have reasonably requested.

 

The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrowers, the Lenders and the Issuing Bank of the Effective Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding.

 

SECTION 4.02 Each Credit Event. The obligation of each Lender to make a Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing, and of the Issuing Bank to issue, amend or extend any Letter of Credit, is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

 

 

(a)            The representations and warranties of the Loan Parties set forth in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects with the same effect as though made on and as of the date of such Borrowing or the date of issuance, amendment or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable (it being understood and agreed that any representation or warranty which by its terms is made as of a specified date shall be required to be true and correct in all material respects only as of such specified date, and that any representation or warranty which is subject to any materiality qualifier shall be required to be true and correct in all respects).

 

(b)            At the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing or the issuance, amendment or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

 

(c)            After giving effect to any Borrowing or the issuance, amendment or extension of any Letter of Credit, Availability shall not be less than zero.

 

(d)            No event shall have occurred and no condition shall exist which has or could be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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

 

Notwithstanding the failure to satisfy the conditions precedent set forth in paragraphs (a), (b) or (d) of this Section, unless otherwise directed by the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent may, but shall have no obligation to, continue to make Loans and an Issuing Bank may, but shall have no obligation to, issue, amend or extend, or cause to be issued, amended or extended, any Letter of Credit for the ratable account and risk of Lenders from time to time if the Administrative Agent believes that making such Loans or issuing, amending or extending, or causing the issuance, amendment or extension of, any such Letter of Credit is in the best interests of the Lenders.

 

Article V
Affirmative Covenants

 

Until all of the Secured Obligations shall have been Paid in Full, each Loan Party executing this Agreement covenants and agrees, jointly and severally with all of the other Loan Parties, with the Lenders that:

 

SECTION 5.01 Financial Statements; Other Information. The Borrowers will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

 

(a)            within one hundred twenty (120) days after the end of each fiscal year of Holdings, its audited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all reported on by independent public accountants of recognized national standing (without a “going concern” or like qualification, commentary or exception, and without any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of Holdings and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, accompanied by any management letter prepared by said accountants;

 

 

(b)            within forty-five (45) days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of Holdings, its consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year, all certified by a Financial Officer of Holdings as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of Holdings and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;

 

(c)            [Intentionally Omitted];

 

(d)            concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under clause (a) or (b) above, a Compliance Certificate (i) certifying, in the case of the financial statements delivered under clause (b), as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of Holdings and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes, (ii) certifying as to whether a Default has occurred and, if a Default has occurred, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto, (iii) setting forth reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating compliance with Section 6.12 and (iv) stating whether any change in GAAP or in the application thereof has occurred since the date of the audited financial statements referred to in Section 3.04 and, if any such change has occurred, specifying the effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying such certificate;

 

(e)            [Intentionally Omitted];

 

(f)             as soon as available, but in any event no later than 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of Holdings, a copy of the plan and forecast (including a projected consolidated and consolidating balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement) of Holdings and its Subsidiaries for each month of the then-current fiscal year (the “Projections”) in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

 

(g)            promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary with the SEC, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all of the functions of the SEC, or with any national securities exchange, or distributed by Holdings to its shareholders generally, as the case may be;

 

(h)            promptly after receipt thereof by Holdings or any Subsidiary, copies of each written notice or other written correspondence received from the SEC (or comparable agency in any applicable non-U.S. jurisdiction) concerning any investigation or possible investigation or other inquiry by the SEC or such other agency regarding financial or other operational results of any Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof;

 

 

(i)             promptly following any written request therefor, copies of any detailed audit reports, management letters or recommendations submitted to the board of directors (or the audit committee of the board of directors) of any Loan Party by independent accountants in connection with the accounts or books of Holdings or any Subsidiary, or any audit of any of them as the Administrative Agent or any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) may reasonably request;

 

(j)            promptly following any written request therefor, (x) such other information regarding the operations, material changes in ownership of Equity Interests, business affairs and financial condition of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of this Agreement, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender (through Administrative Agent) may reasonably request and (y) information and documentation reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for purposes of compliance with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation;

 

(k)            promptly after any request therefor by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, copies of (i) any documents described in Section 101(k)(1) of ERISA that Holdings or any ERISA Affiliate may request with respect to any Multiemployer Plan and (ii) any notices described in Section 101(l)(1) of ERISA that Holdings or any ERISA Affiliate may request with respect to any Multiemployer Plan; provided that if Holdings or any ERISA Affiliate has not requested such documents or notices from the administrator or sponsor of the applicable Multiemployer Plan, Holdings or the applicable ERISA Affiliate shall promptly make a request for such documents and notices from such administrator or sponsor and shall provide copies of such documents and notices promptly after receipt thereof; and

 

(l)            promptly after the same are available and delivered to the required recipients thereof, copies of each report or financial statement delivered to REI Subsidiary CDE 9, LLC in connection with the 2016 New Markets Tax Credit Financing.

 

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a), (b) or (g) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and, if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which such materials are publicly available as posted on the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (EDGAR); or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrowers’ 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 made available by the Administrative Agent); provided that upon written request by the Administrative Agent (or any Lender through the Administrative Agent) to the Borrower Representative, the Borrower Representative shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent or such Lender until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent or such Lender. The Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery of or to maintain paper copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Borrowers with any such request by a Lender for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for timely accessing posted documents or requesting delivery of paper copies of such document to it and maintaining its copies of such documents.

 

 

SECTION 5.02 Notices of Material Events. The Borrower Representative will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender prompt (but in any event within any time period that may be specified below) written notice of the following:

 

(a)            the occurrence of any Default;

 

(b)            receipt of any written notice of any investigation by a Governmental Authority or any litigation or proceeding commenced or threatened in writing against Holdings or any Subsidiary that (i) seeks damages in excess of the Threshold Amount, (ii) seeks injunctive relief, (iii) is asserted or instituted against any Plan, its fiduciaries or its assets, (iv) alleges criminal misconduct by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary, (v) alleges the material violation of, or seeks to impose remedies under, any Environmental Law or related Requirement of Law, or seeks to impose Environmental Liability, (vi) asserts liability on the part of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary in excess of the Threshold Amount in respect of any Tax, fee, assessment, or other governmental charge, or (vii) involves any product recall;

 

(c)            any material change in accounting or financial reporting practices by any Borrower or any Subsidiary;

 

(d)            the occurrence of any ERISA Event that, alone or together with any other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding $2,000,000;

 

(e)            any change in the credit ratings from a credit rating agency, or the placement by a credit rating agency of any Loan Party on a “Credit Watch” or “WatchList” or any similar list, in each case with negative implications, or the cessation by a credit rating agency of, or its intent to cease, rating such Loan Party’s debt; and

 

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

 

(g)            any change in the information provided in the Beneficial Ownership Certification delivered to such Lender that would result in a change to the list of beneficial owners identified in such certification; and

 

(h)            the occurrence of any default or any event of default under any 2016 New Markets Tax Credit Financing Document.

 

Each notice delivered under this Section (i) shall be in writing, and (ii) shall be accompanied by a statement of a Financial Officer or other executive officer of the Borrower Representative setting forth the details of the event or development requiring such notice and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.

 

SECTION 5.03 Existence; Conduct of Business. Each Loan Party will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, (a) do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence and the rights, qualifications, licenses, permits, franchises, governmental authorizations, intellectual property rights, licenses and permits, in each case material to the conduct of its business, and maintain all requisite authority to conduct its business in each jurisdiction in which its business is conducted, except where the failure to maintain such authority could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit any (i) merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 6.03, (ii) the withdrawal by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries of its qualification as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction where such withdrawal, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (iii) the abandonment by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries of any Intellectual Property (as defined in the Security Agreement) that is not Material Intellectual Property (as defined in the Security Agreement), (iv) sales of property permitted by Section 6.05 or (v) transactions permitted by Section 6.04 or 6.06, and (b) carry on and conduct its business in substantially the same manner and in substantially the same fields of enterprise as it is presently conducted.

 

 

SECTION 5.04 Payment of Obligations. Each Loan Party will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, pay or discharge all Material Indebtedness and all other material liabilities and obligations, including Taxes, before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (a) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (b) such Loan Party or Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP and (c) the failure to make payment pending such contest could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; provided, however, that each Loan Party will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, remit withholding taxes and other payroll taxes to appropriate Governmental Authorities as and when claimed to be due, notwithstanding the foregoing exceptions.

 

SECTION 5.05 Maintenance of Properties. Each Loan Party will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, keep and maintain all property material to the conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted.

 

SECTION 5.06 Books and Records; Inspection Rights. Each Loan Party will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, (a) keep proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries are made of all material financial dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities and (b) permit any representatives designated by the Administrative Agent (or, if a Default is occurring, any Lender) (including employees of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any consultants, accountants, lawyers, agents and appraisers retained by the Administrative Agent), upon reasonable prior notice, to visit and inspect its properties, conduct at the Loan Party’s premises field examinations of the Loan Party’s assets, liabilities, books and records, including examining and making extracts from its books and records, environmental assessment reports and Phase I or Phase II studies, and to discuss its affairs, finances and condition with its officers and independent accountants, all at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as reasonably requested; provided, however, that unless an Event of Default exists and is continuing, the Loan Parties shall only be required to pay for one (1) such visit by the Administrative Agent and its representatives per fiscal year of Holdings. The Loan Parties acknowledge that the Administrative Agent, after exercising its rights of inspection, may prepare and distribute to the Lenders certain Reports pertaining to the Loan Parties’ assets for internal use by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders.

 

 

SECTION 5.07 Compliance with Laws and Material Contractual Obligations. Each Loan Party will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, (i) comply with each Requirement of Law applicable to it or its property (including without limitation Environmental Laws) and (ii) perform in all material respects its obligations under material agreements to which it is a party, except, in each case, where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Each Loan Party will maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance, in all material respects, by such

Loan Party, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions.

 

SECTION 5.08 Use of Proceeds.

 

(a)            The proceeds of the Loans and the Letters of Credit will be used only for (i) working capital, Capital Expenditures, Permitted Acquisitions and Restricted Payments permitted hereunder, and other general corporate purposes not in contravention of any Requirement of Law or of any Loan Document, (ii) to refinance all of the existing Indebtedness outstanding under the existing credit agreement of the Loan Parties, and (iii) to fund certain fees and expenses associated with the closing of the Transactions. No part of the proceeds of any Loan and no Letter of Credit will be used, whether directly or indirectly, (x) for any purpose that entails a violation of any of the regulations of the Federal Reserve Board, including Regulations T, U and X or (y) to make any Acquisition other Permitted Acquisitions.

 

(b)            The Borrowers will not request any Borrowing or Letter of Credit, and no Borrower shall use, and each Borrower shall ensure that its Subsidiaries and its or their respective directors, officers, employees and agents shall not use, the proceeds of any Borrowing or Letter of Credit (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 any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country, except to the extent permitted for a Person required to comply with Sanctions, or (iii) in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to any party hereto.

 

SECTION 5.09 Accuracy of Information. The Loan Parties will ensure that any information, including financial statements or other documents, furnished to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any amendment or modification hereof or thereof or waiver hereunder or thereunder contains no material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and the furnishing of such information shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Borrowers on the date thereof as to the matters specified in this Section 5.09; provided that, with respect to the Projections, the Loan Parties will cause the Projections to be prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed by the Loan Parties to be reasonable at the time prepared.

 

SECTION 5.10 Insurance. Each Loan Party will maintain with financially sound and reputable nationally recognized carriers (a) insurance in such amounts (with no greater risk retention) and against such risks (including, unless otherwise consented to by the Administrative Agent, loss or damage by fire and loss in transit; theft, burglary, pilferage, larceny, embezzlement, and other criminal activities; business interruption; and general liability) and such other hazards, as is customarily maintained by companies engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations and (b) all insurance required pursuant to the Collateral Documents. The Borrowers will furnish to the Lenders, upon request of the Administrative Agent, but no less frequently than annually, information in reasonable detail as to the insurance so maintained.

 

 

SECTION 5.11 Appraisals. At any time that the Administrative Agent requests during the continuance of an Event of Default, each Loan Party will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, provide the Administrative Agent with appraisals or updates thereof of their Inventory, Equipment and real property from an appraiser selected and engaged by the Administrative Agent, and prepared on a basis satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, such appraisals and updates to (a) include, without limitation, information required by any applicable Requirement of Law; and (b) be at the sole expense of the Loan Parties.

 

SECTION 5.12 Casualty and Condemnation. The Borrowers (a) will furnish to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders prompt written notice of any casualty or other insured damage to any material portion of the Collateral or the commencement of any action or proceeding for the taking of any material portion of the Collateral or interest therein under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding and (b) will ensure that the Net Proceeds of any such event (whether in the form of insurance proceeds, condemnation awards or otherwise) are collected and applied in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Agreement and the Collateral Documents

 

SECTION 5.13 Depository Banks. Within one hundred eighty (180) days of the Effective Date (or such longer period as may be agreed to by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion), each Loan Party and each Subsidiary will maintain the Administrative Agent as its primary depository bank, including for the maintenance of operating, administrative, cash management, collection activity, and other deposit accounts for the conduct of its business. Additionally, a Lender or Affiliate of Lender shall be the principal provider of other bank products to Holdings and its Subsidiaries.

 

SECTION 5.14 Additional Collateral; Further Assurances.

 

(a)            Subject to applicable Requirement of Law, each Loan Party will cause each of its domestic Subsidiaries formed or acquired after the date of this Agreement to become a Loan Guarantor by promptly (but in any event within thirty (30) days after any Person becomes a Subsidiary, or such longer period as may be agreed to by the Administrative Agent) by executing a Joinder Agreement. In connection therewith, the Administrative Agent shall have received all documentation and other information regarding such newly formed or acquired Subsidiaries as may be required to comply with the applicable “know your customer” rules and regulations, including the USA Patriot Act. Upon execution and delivery thereof, each such Person (i) shall automatically become a Loan Guarantor hereunder and thereupon shall have all of the rights, benefits, duties, and obligations in such capacity under the Loan Documents and (ii) will grant Liens to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, in any property of such Loan Guarantor that constitutes Collateral (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, Excluded Property), in accordance with paragraph (c) of this Section.

 

 

(b)            Each Loan Party will cause (i) 100% of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of each of its domestic Subsidiaries (other than The Tile Shop of Oklahoma) and (ii) other than The Tile Shop (Beijing) Trading Company, LTD, 65% (or such greater percentage that, due to a change in applicable law after the date hereof, (1) could not reasonably be expected to cause the undistributed earnings of such foreign Subsidiary as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes to be treated as a deemed dividend to such foreign Subsidiary’s U.S. parent and (2) could not reasonably be expected to cause any material adverse tax consequences) of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.956-2(c)(2)) and 100% of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests not entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.956-2(c)(2)) in each foreign Subsidiary directly owned by such Loan Party to be subject at all times to a first priority, perfected Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Loan Documents or other security documents as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request.

 

(c)            [Intentionally Omitted].

 

(d)            Without limiting the foregoing, each Loan Party will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, to the Administrative Agent such documents, agreements and instruments, and will take or cause to be taken such further actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements, fixture filings, mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents and such other actions or deliveries of the type required by Section 4.01, as applicable), which may be required by any Requirement of Law or which the Administrative Agent may, from time to time, reasonably request to carry out the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and to ensure perfection and priority of the Liens created or intended to be created by the Collateral Documents, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and all at the expense of the Loan Parties.

 

(e)            If any material assets (including any Real Property or improvements thereto or any interest therein) are acquired by any Loan Party after the Effective Date (other than Excluded Property and assets constituting Collateral under the Security Agreement that become subject to the Lien under the Security Agreement upon acquisition thereof), the Borrower Representative will (i) notify the Administrative Agent and the Lenders thereof, and, if requested by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, cause such assets (other than any Real Property) to be subjected to a Lien securing the Secured Obligations and (ii)  take, and cause each applicable Loan Party to take, such actions as shall be necessary or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to grant and perfect such Liens, including actions described in paragraph (c) of this Section, all at the expense of the Loan Parties.

 

SECTION 5.15           Compliance with Terms of Leaseholds. Each Loan Party and each Subsidiary will make all payments and otherwise perform all obligations in respect of all leases of Real Property to which Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, keep such leases in full force and effect and not allow such leases to lapse or be terminated or any rights to renew such leases to be forfeited or cancelled, notify the Administrative Agent of any material default by any party with respect to such leases and cooperate with the Administrative Agent in all reasonable respects to cure any such default, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to do so, except, in any case, where the failure to do so, either individually or in the aggregate, could not be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

Article VI
Negative Covenants

 

Until all of the Secured Obligations shall have been Paid in Full, each Loan Party executing this Agreement covenants and agrees, jointly and severally with all of the other Loan Parties, with the Lenders that:

 

SECTION 6.01 Indebtedness. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:

 

(a)            the Secured Obligations;

 

(b)            Indebtedness existing on the date hereof and set forth in Schedule 6.01 and any extensions, renewals, refinancings and replacements of any such Indebtedness in accordance with clause (f) hereof;

 

(c)            Indebtedness of the Loan Parties to any other Loan Party or any Subsidiary and of any Subsidiary to any Loan Party or any other Subsidiary, provided that (i) Indebtedness of any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party to any Borrower or any other Loan Party shall be subject to Section 6.04 and (ii) Indebtedness of any Loan Party to any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party shall be subordinated to the Secured Obligations on terms reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

 

(d)            Guarantees by any Loan Party of Indebtedness of any other Loan Party or Subsidiary and by any Subsidiary of Indebtedness of any Loan Party or any other Subsidiary, provided that (i) the Indebtedness so Guaranteed is permitted by this Section 6.01, (ii) Guarantees by any Borrower or any other Loan Party of Indebtedness of any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party shall be subject to Section 6.04 and (iii) Guarantees permitted under this clause (d) shall be subordinated to the Secured Obligations on the same terms as the Indebtedness so Guaranteed is subordinated to the Secured Obligations;

 

(e)            Indebtedness of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary incurred to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of any fixed or capital assets (whether or not constituting purchase money Indebtedness), including Capital Lease Obligations and any Indebtedness assumed in connection with the acquisition of any such assets or secured by a Lien on any such assets prior to the acquisition thereof, and extensions, renewals and replacements of any such Indebtedness in accordance with clause (f) below; provided that (i) such Indebtedness is incurred prior to or within 90 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness permitted by this clause (e) and clause (k) below, together with any Refinance Indebtedness in respect thereof permitted by clause (f) below, shall not exceed $7,500,000 at any time outstanding;

 

 

(f)            Indebtedness which represents extensions, renewals, refinancing or replacements (such Indebtedness being so extended, renewed, refinanced or replaced being referred to herein as the “Refinance Indebtedness”) of any of the Indebtedness described in clauses (b), (e), (j) and (k) hereof (such Indebtedness being referred to herein as the “Original Indebtedness”); provided that (i) such Refinance Indebtedness does not increase the principal amount of the Original Indebtedness, (ii) any Liens securing such Refinance Indebtedness are not extended to any additional property of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary (unless constituting replacement property), (iii) no Loan Party or any Subsidiary that is not originally obligated with respect to repayment of such Original Indebtedness is required to become obligated with respect to such Refinance Indebtedness (unless such Loan Party or Subsidiary is otherwise permitted to incur such Indebtedness hereunder), (iv) such Refinance Indebtedness does not result in a shortening of the average weighted maturity of such Original Indebtedness, (v) the covenants with respect to such Refinance Indebtedness, when taken as a whole, are not materially more restrictive than those in the Original Indebtedness (taken as a whole), and (vi) if such Original Indebtedness was subordinated in right of payment to the Secured Obligations, then the terms and conditions of such Refinance Indebtedness must include subordination terms and conditions that are at least as favorable to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders as those that were applicable to such Original Indebtedness;

 

(g)            Indebtedness owed to any Person providing workers’ compensation, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance, pursuant to reimbursement or indemnification obligations to such Person, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(h)            Indebtedness of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary in respect of performance bonds, bid bonds, appeal bonds, surety bonds and similar obligations, in each case provided in the ordinary course of business and not to exceed $5,000,000 in the aggregate during the term of this Agreement;

 

(i)            Indebtedness resulting from a bank or other financial institution honoring a check, draft or similar instrument in the ordinary course of business

 

(j)            Indebtedness of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the date hereof; provided that (i) such Indebtedness exists at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary and is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such Person becoming a Subsidiary and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness permitted by this clause (j) together with any Refinance Indebtedness in respect thereof permitted by clause (f) above, shall not exceed $7,500,000 at any time outstanding;

 

(k)            other unsecured Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding, when added to other Indebtedness permitted under clause (e) above, $7,500,000 at any time outstanding; and

 

(l)            (i) Indebtedness of The Tile Shop of Oklahoma in connection with the 2016 New Markets Tax Credit Financing in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $9,215,000, (ii) the Guarantee of Indebtedness permitted by clause (i), above, by each of Tile Shop LLC and Holdings, and (iii) the Guarantee of certain obligations of The Tile Shop of Oklahoma in favor of U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corporation in connection with the 2016 New Markets Tax Credit Financing by each of Tile Shop LLC, Holdings, Tile Shop Lending and The Tile Shop of Oklahoma;

 

 

(m)            unsecured Subordinated Indebtedness owing to sellers of assets or Equity Interests to a Loan Party that is incurred by the applicable Loan Party in connection with the consummation of one or more Permitted Acquisitions so long as (i) such unsecured Subordinated Indebtedness does not mature prior to the date that is 6 months after the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, and (ii) such unsecured Subordinated Indebtedness does not amortize until 6 months after the Revolving Credit Maturity Date;

 

(n)            Swap Agreements permitted by Section 6.07; and

 

(o)            contingent liabilities and payments in respect of any indemnification obligation, adjustment of purchase price, non-compete, or similar obligation of Holdings or the applicable Loan Party incurred in connection with the consummation of one or more Permitted Acquisitions;

 

SECTION 6.02 Liens. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it, or assign or sell any income or revenues (including Accounts) or rights in respect of any thereof, except:

 

(a)            Liens created pursuant to any Loan Document;

 

(b)            Permitted Encumbrances;

 

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

 

(d)            Liens on fixed or capital assets acquired, constructed or improved by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary; provided that (i) such Liens secure Indebtedness permitted by clause (e) of Section 6.01, (ii) such Liens and the Indebtedness secured thereby are incurred prior to or within 90 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement, (iii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed 100% of the cost of acquiring, constructing or improving such fixed or capital assets and (iv) such Liens shall not apply to any other property or assets of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary;

 

(e)            any Lien existing on any property or asset (other than Accounts and Inventory) prior to the acquisition thereof by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary or existing on any property or asset (other than Accounts and Inventory) of any Person that becomes a Loan Party after the date hereof prior to the time such Person becomes a Loan Party; provided that (i) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Person becoming a Loan Party, as the case may be, (ii) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Loan Party and (iii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes a Loan Party, as the case may be, and extensions, renewals and replacements thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;

 

 

(f)            Liens (i) of a collecting bank arising in the ordinary course of business under Section 4-210 of the UCC in effect in the relevant jurisdiction covering only the items being collected upon and (ii) in favor of a banking institution arising as a matter of law encumbering deposits (including the right of setoff) that are customary in the banking industry;

 

(g)            Liens arising out of Sale and Leaseback Transactions permitted by Section 6.06;

 

(h)            Liens arising from precautionary Uniform Commercial Code financing statements regarding operating leases; provided such Liens extend solely to the assets subject to such leases;

 

(i)            Liens granted by a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party in favor of a Borrower or another Loan Party in respect of Indebtedness owed by such Subsidiary;

 

(j)            (i) a mortgage Lien on the southern parcel of the Oklahoma Distribution Center in favor of REI Subsidiary CDE 9, LLC securing Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01(l)(ii) and (ii) a mortgage Lien on the northern parcel of the Oklahoma Distribution Center in favor of REI Subsidiary CDE 9, LLC securing Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01(l)(ii) as contemplated in clause (e) of the definition of 2016 New Markets Tax Credit Financing;

 

(k)            Liens securing Indebtedness under the 2016 New Markets Tax Credit Loans; provided that such Liens do not at any time encumber any property of any Loan Party;

 

(l)            any interest or title of a lessor, sublessor, licensor or sublicensor under leases or licenses that are entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(m)            leases, licenses, subleases or sublicenses granted to others in the ordinary course of business that do not interfere in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries taken as a whole; and

 

(n)            Liens securing the financing of insurance premiums (with the insurance company providing such financing) in the ordinary course of business.

 

SECTION 6.03 Fundamental Changes.

 

(a)            No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, merge into or consolidate with any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it (other than in connection with a Permitted Acquisition, provided, however, that if a Borrower is a party to such a merger or consolidation, a Borrower shall be the surviving entity), or otherwise Dispose of all or any substantial part of its assets, or all or substantially all of the stock of any of its Subsidiaries (in each case, whether now owned or hereafter acquired), or liquidate or dissolve, except that, if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (i) any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party may merge into or Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to a Borrower in a transaction in which the Borrower is the surviving entity, (ii) any Loan Party (other than a Borrower) or any Subsidiary may merge into or Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to any Loan Party in a transaction in which the surviving entity is a Loan Party, (iii) any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party (other than Tile Shop of Oklahoma) may merge into or Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to any other Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, (iv) any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party may liquidate or dissolve if the Borrowers determine in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of the Borrowers and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders, and (v) a Loan Party or Subsidiary may merge in a transaction that constitutes a Permitted Acquisition; provided that any such merger involving a Person that is not a wholly owned Subsidiary immediately prior to such merger shall not be permitted unless also permitted by Section 6.04.

 

 

(b)            No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, consummate a Division as the Dividing Person, without the prior written consent of Administrative Agent. Without limiting the foregoing, if any Loan Party that is a limited liability company consummates a Division (with or without the prior consent of Administrative Agent as required above), each Division Successor shall be required to comply with the obligations set forth in Section 5.14 and the other further assurances obligations set forth in the Loan Documents and become a Loan Party under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

 

(c)            No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, engage to any material extent in any business other than businesses of the type conducted by the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) on the date hereof and businesses reasonably related, ancillary, similar, complementary or synergistic thereto or reasonable extensions, development or expansion thereof.

 

(d)            Holdings will not engage in any business or activity other than (i) the ownership of all of the outstanding Equity Interests of its Subsidiaries and activities incidental thereto, (ii) maintaining its corporate existence, (iii) participating in tax, accounting and other administrative activities as the parent of the consolidated group of companies, including the Loan Parties, (iv) the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents to which it is a party and the performance of its obligations thereunder, (v) activities permitted by this Agreement, including, without limitation, the making of Restricted Payments pursuant to Section 6.08, and (vi) activities incidental to the businesses or activities described in clauses (i) through (iv). Holdings will not own or acquire any assets (other than Equity Interests of its Subsidiaries and the cash proceeds of any Restricted Payments permitted by Section 6.08) or incur any liabilities (other than liabilities under the Loan Documents and liabilities reasonably incurred in connection with its maintenance of its existence).

 

(e)            No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to change its fiscal year or any fiscal quarter from the basis in effect on the Effective Date.

 

(f)            No Loan Party will change the accounting basis upon which its financial statements are prepared, except to the extent required by GAAP or other applicable Requirements of Law.

 

SECTION 6.04 Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, form any subsidiary after the Effective Date, or purchase, hold or acquire (including pursuant to any merger with any Person that was not a Loan Party and a wholly owned Subsidiary prior to such merger) any Equity Interests, evidences of indebtedness or other securities (including any option, warrant or other right to acquire any of the foregoing) of, make or permit to exist any loans or advances to, Guarantee any obligations of, or make or permit to exist any investment or any other interest in, any other Person, or purchase or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) any assets of any other Person constituting a business unit (whether through purchase of assets, merger or otherwise), except:

 

 

(a)            Permitted Investments, subject to control agreements in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties to the extent required by the Security Agreement, or, otherwise subject to a perfected security interest in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties (subject to Liens permitted by the Loan Documents);

 

(b)            Investments, loans and advances in existence on the date hereof and described in Schedule 6.04;

 

(c)            investments by Holdings in the Borrowers and by the Borrowers and the Subsidiaries in Equity Interests in their respective Subsidiaries, provided that (i) any such Equity Interests held by a Loan Party shall be pledged pursuant to the Security Agreement (subject to the limitations applicable to Equity Interests of a Subsidiary referred to in Section 5.14) and (ii) the aggregate amount of investments by Loan Parties in Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties (together with outstanding intercompany loans permitted under Section 6.04(d) and outstanding Guarantees permitted under Section 6.04(e)) shall not exceed $7,500,000 at any time outstanding (in each case determined without regard to any write-downs or write-offs);

 

(d)            loans or advances made by any Loan Party to any Subsidiary and made by any Subsidiary to a Loan Party or any other Subsidiary, provided that (i) any such loans and advances made by a Loan Party shall be evidenced by a promissory note pledged pursuant to the Security Agreement and (ii) the amount of such loans and advances made by Loan Parties to Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties (together with outstanding investments permitted under Section 6.04(c) and outstanding Guarantees permitted under Section 6.04(e)) shall not exceed $7,500,000 at any time outstanding (in each case determined without regard to any write-downs or write-offs);

 

(e)            Guarantees constituting Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01, provided that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties that is Guaranteed by any Loan Party (together with outstanding investments permitted under clause (ii) to the proviso to Section 6.04(c) and outstanding intercompany loans permitted under clause (ii) to the proviso to Section 6.04(d)) shall not exceed $7,500,000 at any time outstanding (in each case determined without regard to any write-downs or write-offs);

 

(f)            loans or advances made by a Loan Party or its Subsidiaries to its officers, directors and employees on an arms-length basis in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices for travel and entertainment expenses, relocation costs and similar purposes up to a maximum of $500,000 in the aggregate at any one time outstanding;

 

(g)            notes payable, or stock or other securities issued by Account Debtors to a Loan Party pursuant to negotiated agreements with respect to settlement of such Account Debtor’s Accounts in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practices;

 

 

(h)            investments in the form of Swap Agreements permitted by Section 6.07;

 

(i)            investments of any Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary of a Loan Party or consolidates or merges with a Loan Party or any of Subsidiary (including in connection with a Permitted Acquisition), so long as such investments were not made in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary or of such merger;

 

(j)            investments received in connection with the disposition of assets permitted by Section 6.05;

 

(k)            investments constituting deposits described in clauses (c) and (d) of the definition of the term “Permitted Encumbrances”;

 

(l)            Permitted Acquisitions;

 

(m)            Investments consisting of extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising from the grant of trade credit in the ordinary course of business, and Investments received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled account debtors to the extent reasonably necessary in order to prevent or limit loss in the ordinary course of business;

 

(n)            (i) the 2016 New Markets Tax Credit Investments, (ii) investments in the Tile Shop of Oklahoma made prior to the Effective Date, and (iii) any other investment from Tile Shop LLC to The Tile Shop of Oklahoma; provided that the cumulative amount of investments permitted under this clause (iii) shall not exceed $500,000; and

 

(o)            other investments not exceeding $5,000,000 in the aggregate in any fiscal year of Holdings.

 

SECTION 6.05 Asset Sales. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, Dispose of any asset, including any Equity Interest owned by it, nor will any Borrower permit any Subsidiary to issue any additional Equity Interest in such Subsidiary (other than to any Loan Party or a Subsidiary in compliance with Section 6.04), except:

 

(a)            Dispositions of (i) Inventory in the ordinary course of business, which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include sales of Inventory from Tile Shop LLC to The Tile Shop of Oklahoma and (ii) used, obsolete, worn out or surplus Equipment or property in the ordinary course of business;

 

(b)            Dispositions of assets to any Loan Party or any Subsidiary, provided that any such sales, transfers or dispositions involving a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party shall be made in compliance with Section 6.09;

 

(c)            Dispositions of Accounts (excluding sales or dispositions in a factoring arrangement) in connection with the compromise, settlement or collection thereof;

 

 

(d)            Dispositions of Permitted Investments and other investments permitted by clauses (i) and (k) of Section 6.04;

 

(e)            Sale and Leaseback Transactions permitted by Section 6.06;

 

(f)            Dispositions resulting from any casualty or other insured damage to, or any taking under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding of, any property or asset of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary;

 

(g)            Dispositions of equipment or real property to the extent that (i) such property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property or (ii) the proceeds of such Disposition are reasonably promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement property;

 

(h)            licenses or sublicenses of intellectual property, technology or general intangibles in the ordinary course of business; and

 

(i)            Dispositions of assets (other than Equity Interests in a Subsidiary unless all Equity Interests in such Subsidiary are sold) that are not permitted by any other clause of this Section, provided that the aggregate fair market value of all assets Disposed of in reliance upon this paragraph (g) shall not exceed $1,500,000 during any fiscal year of Holdings;

 

provided that all Dispositions permitted under this Section 6.05 (other than those permitted by paragraphs (b), (d), (f) and (h) above) shall be made for fair value and for at least 75% cash consideration (unless permitted hereunder to be exchanged for replacement credit or property).

 

SECTION 6.06 Sale and Leaseback Transactions. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, enter into any arrangement, directly or indirectly, whereby it shall sell or transfer any property, real or personal, used or useful in its business, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease such property or other property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property sold or transferred (a “Sale and Leaseback Transaction”), except for any such sale of any fixed or capital assets by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary that is made for cash consideration in an amount not less than the fair value of such fixed or capital asset and is consummated within 90 days after such Loan Party or such Subsidiary acquires or completes the construction of such fixed or capital asset.

 

SECTION 6.07 Swap Agreements. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, enter into any Swap Agreement, except (a) Swap Agreements entered into to hedge or mitigate risks to which any Loan Party or any Subsidiary has actual exposure (other than those in respect of Equity Interests of any Borrower or any Subsidiary), and (b) Swap Agreements entered into in order to effectively cap, collar or exchange interest rates (from floating to fixed rates, from one floating rate to another floating rate or otherwise) with respect to any interest-bearing liability or investment of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary.

 

 

SECTION 6.08 Restricted Payments; Certain Payments of Indebtedness.

 

(a)            No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, declare or make, or agree to declare or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, or incur any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to do so, except (i) each of Holdings and the Borrowers may declare and pay dividends with respect to its common stock payable solely in additional shares of its common stock, and, with respect to its preferred stock, payable solely in additional shares of such preferred stock or in shares of its common stock, (ii) Subsidiaries may declare and pay dividends ratably with respect to their Equity Interests, (iii) so long as the Payment Condition is satisfied, (A) Holdings may declare and make dividend payments or other distributions to holders of its Equity Interests and (B) Holdings, each Borrower and each Subsidiary may purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire shares of its capital stock, or warrants, rights or options to acquire any such shares for cash.

 

(b)            No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, make or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any payment or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) of or in respect of principal of or interest on any Indebtedness, or any payment or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any Indebtedness, except:

 

(i)            payment of Indebtedness created under the Loan Documents;

 

(ii)            payment of regularly scheduled interest and principal payments as and when due in respect of any Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01, other than payments in respect of the Subordinated Indebtedness prohibited by the subordination provisions thereof;

 

(iii)            refinancings of Indebtedness to the extent permitted by Section 6.01;

 

(iv)            payment of secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness to the extent such sale or transfer is permitted by the terms of Section 6.05; and

 

(v)            prepayment of principal in respect of any Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01, other than payments in respect of the Subordinated Indebtedness prohibited by the subordination provisions thereof, so long as (A) after giving effect to such prepayment, on a pro forma basis, the Borrowers will be in compliance with the covenant contained in Section 6.12(a); and (B) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result immediately after giving effect to such prepayment.

 

SECTION 6.09 Transactions with Affiliates. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, sell, lease or otherwise transfer any property or assets to, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any of its Affiliates, except (a) transactions that (i) are in the ordinary course of business and (ii) are at prices and on terms and conditions not less favorable to such Loan Party or such Subsidiary than could be obtained on an arm’s-length basis from unrelated third parties, (b) transactions between or among the Loan Parties not involving any other Affiliate, (c) any investment permitted by Sections 6.04(c) or 6.04(d), (d) any Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01(c), (e) any Restricted Payment permitted by Section 6.08, (f) loans or advances to employees permitted under Section 6.04(f), (g) the payment of reasonable fees to directors of any Loan Party who are not employees of such Loan Party, and compensation and employee benefit arrangements or severance arrangements paid to, and indemnities provided for the benefit of, directors, officers or employees of the Loan Parties or their Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, and (h) any issuances of securities or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment agreements, severance agreements, stock options and stock ownership plans approved by the board of directors or other governing body of such Loan Party or such Subsidiary, as applicable.

 

 

SECTION 6.10 Restrictive Agreements. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly enter into, incur or permit to exist any agreement or other arrangement that prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon (a) the ability of such Loan Party or any Subsidiary to create, incur or permit to exist any Lien upon any of its property or assets, or (b) the ability of any Subsidiary to (x) pay dividends or other distributions with respect to any Equity Interests; (y) to make or repay loans or advances to any Loan Party or any Subsidiary; or (z) to Guarantee Indebtedness of Holdings or any Subsidiary; provided that (i) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions imposed by any Requirement of Law or by any Loan Document, (ii) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions existing on the date hereof identified on Schedule 6.10 (but shall apply to any extension or renewal of, or any amendment or modification expanding the scope of, any such restriction or condition), (iii) the foregoing shall not apply to customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of a Loan Party (other than a Borrower) or a Subsidiary pending such sale, provided such restrictions and conditions apply only to the Loan Party or Subsidiary, as applicable, that is to be sold and such sale is permitted hereunder, (iv) clause (a) of the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement if such restrictions or conditions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness, (v) clause (a) of the foregoing shall not (1) apply to customary provisions in leases and other contracts restricting the assignment thereof or (2) prohibit any negative pledge provided by The Tile Shop of Oklahoma under the 2016 New Markets Tax Credit Financing Documents, (vi) clause (b)(z) of the foregoing shall not prohibit any restriction on the incurrence or Guarantee of Indebtedness by The Tile Shop of Oklahoma contained in the 2016 New Markets Tax Credit Financing Documents, and (vii) clause (a) of the foregoing shall not apply to customary restrictions and conditions contained in any agreement, document or instrument governing Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01(e).

 

SECTION 6.11 Amendment of Material Documents. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, amend, modify or waive any of its rights under (a) any agreement relating to any Subordinated Indebtedness, (b) its charter, articles or certificate of organization or incorporation and bylaws or operating, management or partnership agreement, or other organizational or governing documents or (c) any Material Agreement, in each case to the extent any such amendment, modification or waiver would be materially adverse to the Lenders.

 

 

SECTION 6.12 Financial Covenants.

 

(a)            Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. The Loan Parties will not permit the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on the last day of any fiscal quarter, to be less than 1.20 to 1.00.

 

(b)            Rent Adjusted Leverage Ratio. The Loan Parties will not permit the Rent Adjusted Leverage Ratio, on the last day of any fiscal quarter, to be greater than 3.50 to 1.00.

 

(c)            Capital Expenditures. The Loan Parties will not, nor will they permit any Subsidiary to, incur or make any Capital Expenditures in excess of $30,000,000 in the aggregate during any Fiscal Year.

 

SECTION 6.13 Amendments of New Markets Tax Credit Financing Documents. The Loan Parties will not, nor will they permit or suffer to exist Holdings or any Subsidiary to, amend the terms of any of the 2016 New Markets Tax Credit Financing Documents, without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, if such amendment would be adverse in any material respect to the rights or interest of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

 

Article VII
Events of Default

 

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

 

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

 

(b)            the Borrowers shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in clause (a) of this Article) payable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of three (3) Business Days;

 

(c)            any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary in, or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any amendment or modification hereof or thereof or waiver hereunder or thereunder, or in any report, certificate, financial statement or other document furnished pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any amendment or modification hereof or thereof or waiver hereunder or thereunder, shall prove to have been materially incorrect when made or deemed made;

 

(d)            any Loan Party shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 5.02(a), 5.03 (with respect to a Loan Party’s existence) or 5.08 or in Article VI;

 

(e)            any Loan Party shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in this Agreement (other than those specified in clause (a), (b) or (d) of this Article VII), and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of (i) 5 days after the earlier of any Loan Party’s knowledge of such breach or notice thereof from the Administrative Agent (which notice will be given at the request of any Lender) if such breach relates to terms or provisions of Section 5.01, 5.02 (other than Section 5.02(a)), 5.03 (other than with respect to a Loan Party’s existence), 5.06, 5.10, 5.11 or 5.13 of this Agreement or (ii) 15 days after the earlier of any Loan Party’s knowledge of such breach or notice thereof from the Administrative Agent (which notice will be given at the request of any Lender) if such breach relates to terms or provisions of any other Section of this Agreement;

 

 

(f)            any Loan Party or any Subsidiary shall fail to make any payment (whether of principal or interest and regardless of amount) in respect of any Material Indebtedness, when and as the same shall become due and payable (after giving effect to any applicable grace period provided with respect thereto, if any);

 

(g)            any event or condition occurs that results in any Material Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or that enables or permits (with or without the giving of notice, the lapse of time or both) the holder or holders of any Material Indebtedness or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause any Material Indebtedness to become due, or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity; provided that this clause (g) shall not apply to secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness to the extent such sale or transfer is permitted by the terms of Section 6.05;

 

(h)            an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or other relief in respect of a Loan Party or Subsidiary or its debts, or of a substantial part of its assets, under any federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect or (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for any Loan Party or any Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, and, in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed for sixty (60) days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;

 

(i)            any Loan Party or any Subsidiary shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition described in clause (h) of this Article, (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for such Loan Party or Subsidiary of any Loan Party or for a substantial part of its assets, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or (vi) take any action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing;

 

(j)            any Loan Party or any Subsidiary shall become unable, admit in writing its inability, or publicly declare its intention not to, or fail generally, to pay its debts as they become due;

 

(k)            one or more judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount (in excess of any insurance as to which the relevant insurance company has acknowledged coverage) shall be rendered against any Loan Party, any Subsidiary or any combination thereof and the same shall remain undischarged for a period of forty-five (45) consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed, or any action shall be legally taken by a judgment creditor to attach or levy upon any assets of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary to enforce any such judgment or any Loan Party or any Subsidiary shall fail within forty-five (45) days to discharge one or more non-monetary judgments or orders which, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, which judgments or orders, in any such case, are not stayed on appeal or otherwise being appropriately contested in good faith by proper proceedings diligently pursued;

 

 

(l)            an ERISA Event shall have occurred that, in the opinion of the Required Lenders, when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding the Threshold Amount;

 

(m)            a Change in Control shall occur;

 

(n)            (i) the occurrence of any “default”, as defined in any Loan Document (other than this Agreement), after giving effect to any grace periods applicable thereto, or (ii) the breach of any of the terms or provisions of any Loan Document (other than this Agreement), which breach continues beyond any period of grace therein provided and, if no grace period exists, such breach shall continue unremedied for a period of fifteen (15) days after the earlier of any Loan Party’s knowledge of such breach or notice thereof from the Administrative Agent (which notice will be given at the request of any Lender);

 

(o)            the Loan Guaranty or any Obligation Guaranty shall fail to remain in full force or effect or any action shall be taken to discontinue or to assert the invalidity or unenforceability of the Loan Guaranty or any Obligation Guaranty, or any Guarantor shall fail to comply with any of the terms or provisions of the Loan Guaranty or any Obligation Guaranty to which it is a party, or any Guarantor shall deny that it has any further liability under the Loan Guaranty or any Obligation Guaranty to which it is a party, or shall give notice to such effect, including, but not limited to notice of termination delivered pursuant to Section 10.08 or any notice of termination delivered pursuant to the terms of any Obligation Guaranty (other than as a result of the discharge of such Guarantor in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents);

 

(p)            except as permitted by the terms of this Agreement or any Collateral Document, (i) any Collateral Document shall for any reason fail to create a valid security interest in any portion of the Collateral purported to be covered thereby, to the extent the value of such Collateral exceeds $1,000,000 in the aggregate, or (ii) any Lien on any portion of the Collateral securing any Secured Obligation shall cease to be a perfected, first priority Lien, except (A) as otherwise permitted by the terms of any Loan Document and subject to Permitted Encumbrances or (B) to the extent the value of such Collateral does not exceed $1,000,000 in the aggregate;

 

(q)            any Collateral Document shall fail to remain in full force or effect or any action shall be taken to discontinue or to assert the invalidity or unenforceability of any Collateral Document;

 

 

(r)            any material provision of any Loan Document for any reason ceases to be valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms (or any Loan Party shall challenge the enforceability of any Loan Document or shall assert in writing, or engage in any action or inaction that evidences its assertion, that any material provision of any of the Loan Documents has ceased to be or otherwise is not valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms);

 

(s)            any Loan Party is criminally indicted or convicted under any law;

 

(t)            there occurs and is continuing (i) any payment default or payment event of default under any of the 2016 New Markets Tax Credit Loans or (ii) any other default or event of default under any of the 2016 New Markets Tax Credit Loans that results in the acceleration of such loans by the lenders of such loans or the exercise of remedies by the lenders of such loans;

 

then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to Loan Parties described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrower Representative, take either or both of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate the Commitments (including the Swingline Commitment), whereupon the Commitments shall terminate immediately, (ii) declare the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, but ratably as among the Classes of Loans and the Loans of each Class at the time outstanding, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), whereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any break funding payments) and other obligations of the Loan Parties accrued hereunder shall become due and payable immediately, in each case without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Loan Parties, and (iii) require cash collateral for the LC Exposure in accordance with Section 2.06(j) hereof; and in the case of any event with respect to the Loan Parties described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article, the Commitments (including the Swingline Commitment), shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding, and cash collateral for the LC Exposure, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any break funding payments) and other obligations of the Loan Parties accrued hereunder and under any other Loan Document, shall automatically become due and payable, in each case without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Loan Parties. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, increase the rate of interest applicable to the Loans and other Obligations as set forth in this Agreement and exercise any rights and remedies provided to the Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents or at law or equity, including all remedies provided under the UCC.

 

Article VIII
The Administrative Agent

 

SECTION 8.01 Authorization and Action.

 

(a)            Each Lender, on behalf of itself and any of its Affiliates that are Secured Parties and each Issuing Bank hereby irrevocably appoints the entity named as Administrative Agent in the heading of this Agreement and its successors and assigns to serve as the administrative agent and collateral agent under the Loan Documents and each Lender and each Issuing Bank authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as are delegated to the Administrative Agent under such agreements and to exercise such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. In addition, to the extent required under the laws of any jurisdiction other than within the United States, each Lender and each Issuing Bank hereby grants to the Administrative Agent any required powers of attorney to execute and enforce any Collateral Document governed by the laws of such jurisdiction on such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s behalf. Without limiting the foregoing, each Lender and each Issuing Bank hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, each of the Loan Documents to which the Administrative Agent is a party, and to exercise all rights, powers and remedies that the Administrative Agent may have under such Loan Documents.

 

 

 

(b)            As to any matters not expressly provided for herein and in the other Loan Documents (including enforcement or collection), the Administrative Agent shall not be required to exercise any discretion or take any action, but shall be required to act or to refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) upon the written instructions of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, pursuant to the terms in the Loan Documents), and, unless and until revoked in writing, such instructions shall be binding upon each Lender and each Issuing Bank; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that (i) the Administrative Agent in good faith believes exposes it to liability unless the Administrative Agent receives an indemnification and is exculpated in a manner satisfactory to it from the Lenders and the Issuing Banks with respect to such action or (ii) is contrary to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or applicable law, including any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any requirement of law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any requirement of law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors; provided, further, that the Administrative Agent may seek clarification or direction from the Required Lenders prior to the exercise of any such instructed action and may refrain from acting until such clarification or direction has been provided. Except as expressly set forth in the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to any Borrower, any other Loan Party, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. Nothing in this Agreement shall require the Administrative Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

 

(c)            In performing its functions and duties hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent is acting solely on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks (except in limited circumstances expressly provided for herein relating to the maintenance of the Register), and its duties are entirely mechanical and administrative in nature. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:

 

(i)            the Administrative Agent does not assume and shall not be deemed to have assumed any obligation or duty or any other relationship as the agent, fiduciary or trustee of or for any Lender, Issuing Bank, any other Secured Party or holder of any other obligation other than as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, regardless of whether a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing (and it is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” (or any similar term) herein or in any other Loan Document with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary duty or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law, and that such term is used as a matter of market custom and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties); additionally, each Lender agrees that it will not assert any claim against the Administrative Agent based on an alleged breach of fiduciary duty by the Administrative Agent in connection with this Agreement and/or the transactions contemplated hereby; and

 

 

(ii)            nothing in this Agreement or any Loan Document shall require the Administrative Agent to account to any Lender for any sum or the profit element of any sum received by the Administrative Agent for its own account;

 

(d)           The Administrative Agent may perform any 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 of their respective duties and exercise their respective rights and powers 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 pursuant to this Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agent except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and non-appealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agent.

 

(e)           No Arranger shall have obligations or duties whatsoever in such capacity under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and shall incur no liability hereunder or thereunder in such capacity, but all such persons shall have the benefit of the indemnities provided for hereunder.

 

(f)            In case of the pendency of any proceeding with respect to any Loan Party under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or any reimbursement obligation in respect of any LC Disbursement 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 Borrowers) shall be entitled and empowered (but not obligated) by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

 

(i)            to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, LC Disbursements and all other 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, the Issuing Banks and the Administrative Agent (including any claim under Sections 2.12, 2.13, 2.15, 2.17 and 9.03) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

 

 

(ii)            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 proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender, each Issuing Bank and each other Secured Party 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, the Issuing Banks or the other Secured Parties, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due to it, in its capacity as the Administrative Agent, under the Loan Documents (including under Section 9.03). Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender or Issuing Bank any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or Issuing Bank or to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender or Issuing Bank in any such proceeding.

 

(g)            The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, and, except solely to the extent of the Borrowers’ rights to consent pursuant to and subject to the conditions set forth in this Article, none of the Borrowers or any Subsidiary, or any of their respective Affiliates, shall have any rights as a third party beneficiary under any such provisions. Each Secured Party, whether or not a party hereto, will be deemed, by its acceptance of the benefits of the Collateral and of the Guarantees of the Secured Obligations provided under the Loan Documents, to have agreed to the provisions of this Article.

 

SECTION 8.02 Administrative Agent’s Reliance, Limitation of Liability, Etc.

 

(a)            Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its Related Parties shall be (i) liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by such party, the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties under or in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (x) with the consent of 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 to be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in the Loan Documents) or (y) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct (such absence to be presumed unless otherwise determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and non-appealable judgment) or (ii) responsible in any manner to any of the Lenders for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties made by any Loan Party or any officer thereof contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Administrative Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document or for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (including, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with the Administrative Agent’s reliance on any Electronic Signature transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page) or for any failure of any Loan Party to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder.

 

 

(b)            The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any (i) notice of any of the events or circumstances set forth or described in Section 5.02 unless and until written notice pursuant to terms of such Section is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower Representative, or (ii) notice of any Default or Event of Default unless and until written notice thereof (stating that it is a “notice of default” or a “notice of an Event of Default”) is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrowers, a Lender or an Issuing Bank. Further, the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with any Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered thereunder or in connection therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth in any Loan Document or the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, (iv) the sufficiency, validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere in any Loan Document, other than to confirm receipt of items (which on their face purport to be such items) expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent or satisfaction of any condition that expressly refers to the matters described therein being acceptable or satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, or (vi) the creation, perfection or priority of Liens on the Collateral.

 

(c)            Without limiting the foregoing, the Administrative Agent (i) may treat the payee of any promissory note as its holder until such promissory note has been assigned in accordance with Section 9.04, (ii) may rely on the Register to the extent set forth in Section 9.04(b), (iii) may consult with legal counsel (including counsel to the Borrowers), independent public accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts, (iv) makes no warranty or representation to any Lender or Issuing Bank and shall not be responsible to any Lender or Issuing Bank for any statements, warranties or representations made by or on behalf of any Loan Party in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (v) in determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or an Issuing Bank, may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or Issuing Bank unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or Issuing Bank sufficiently in advance of the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit and (vi) shall be entitled to rely on, and shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by acting upon, any notice, consent, certificate or other instrument or writing (which writing may be a fax, any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) or any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper party or parties (whether or not such Person in fact meets the requirements set forth in the Loan Documents for being the maker thereof).

 

SECTION 8.03 Posting of Communications.

 

(a)            Each Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make any Communications available to the Lenders and the Issuing Banks by posting the Communications on IntraLinks™, DebtDomain, SyndTrak, ClearPar or any other electronic system chosen by the Administrative Agent to be its electronic transmission system (the “Approved Electronic Platform”).

 

 

(b)            Although the Approved Electronic Platform and its primary web portal are secured with generally-applicable security procedures and policies implemented or modified by the Administrative Agent from time to time (including, as of the Effective Date, a user ID/password authorization system) and the Approved Electronic Platform is secured through a per-deal authorization method whereby each user may access the Approved Electronic Platform only on a deal-by-deal basis, each of the Lenders, each of the Issuing Banks and each Borrower acknowledges and agrees that the distribution of material through an electronic medium is not necessarily secure, that the Administrative Agent is not responsible for approving or vetting the representatives or contacts of any Lender that are added to the Approved Electronic Platform, and that there may be confidentiality and other risks associated with such distribution. Each of the Lenders, each of the Issuing Banks and each Borrower hereby approves distribution of the Communications through the Approved Electronic Platform and understands and assumes the risks of such distribution.

 

(c)            THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND THE COMMUNICATIONS ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE”. THE APPLICABLE PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE COMMUNICATIONS, OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND THE COMMUNICATIONS. 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 THE APPLICABLE PARTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS OR THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY ARRANGER OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE RELATED PARTIES (COLLECTIVELY, “APPLICABLE PARTIES”) HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO ANY LOAN PARTY, ANY LENDER, ANY ISSUING BANK OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT OR INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOSSES OR EXPENSES (WHETHER IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF ANY LOAN PARTY’S OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S TRANSMISSION OF COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH THE INTERNET OR THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM.

 

“Communications” means, collectively, any notice, demand, communication, information, document or other material provided by or on behalf of any Loan Party pursuant to any Loan Document or the transactions contemplated therein which is distributed by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank by means of electronic communications pursuant to this Section, including through an Approved Electronic Platform.

 

(d)            Each Lender and each Issuing Bank agrees that notice to it (as provided in the next sentence) specifying that Communications have been posted to the Approved Electronic Platform shall constitute effective delivery of the Communications to such Lender for purposes of the Loan Documents. Each Lender and Issuing Bank agrees (i) to notify the Administrative Agent in writing (which could be in the form of electronic communication) from time to time of such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s (as applicable) email address to which the foregoing notice may be sent by electronic transmission and (ii) that the foregoing notice may be sent to such email address.

 

 

(e)            Each of the Lenders, each of the Issuing Banks and each Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but (except as may be required by applicable law) shall not be obligated to, store the Communications on the Approved Electronic Platform in accordance with the Administrative Agent’s generally applicable document retention procedures and policies.

 

(f)            Nothing herein shall prejudice the right of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank to give any notice or other communication pursuant to any Loan Document in any other manner specified in such Loan Document.

 

SECTION 8.04 The Administrative Agent Individually. With respect to its Commitment, Loans (including Swingline Loans) and Letters of Credit, the Person serving as the Administrative Agent shall have and may exercise the same rights and powers hereunder and is subject to the same obligations and liabilities as and to the extent set forth herein for any other Lender or Issuing Bank, as the case may be. The terms “Issuing Banks”, “Lenders”, “Required Lenders” and any similar terms shall, unless the context clearly otherwise indicates, include the Administrative Agent in its individual capacity as a Lender, Issuing Bank or as one of the Required Lenders, as applicable. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent 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 banking, trust or other business with, any Loan Party, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing as if such Person was not acting as the Administrative Agent and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders or the Issuing Banks.

 

SECTION 8.05 Successor Administrative Agent.

 

(a)            The Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving 30 days’ prior written notice thereof to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Borrower Representative, whether or not a successor Administrative Agent has been appointed. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Administrative Agent. If no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders, and shall have accepted such appointment, within thirty (30) days after the retiring Administrative Agent’s giving of notice of resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which shall be a bank with an office in New York, New York or an Affiliate of any such bank. In either case, such appointment shall be subject to the prior written approval of the Borrower Representative (which approval may not be unreasonably withheld and shall not be required while an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing). Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Administrative Agent by a successor Administrative Agent, such successor Administrative Agent shall succeed to, and become vested with, all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent. Upon the acceptance of appointment as Administrative Agent by a successor Administrative Agent, the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Prior to any retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder as Administrative Agent, the retiring Administrative Agent shall take such action as may be reasonably necessary to assign to the successor Administrative Agent its rights as Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents.

 

 

(b)            Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this Section, in the event no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its intent to resign, the retiring Administrative Agent may give notice of the effectiveness of its resignation to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Borrower Representative, whereupon, on the date of effectiveness of such resignation stated in such notice, (i) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents; provided that, solely for purposes of maintaining any security interest granted to the Administrative Agent under any Collateral Document for the benefit of the Secured Parties, the retiring Administrative Agent shall continue to be vested with such security interest as collateral agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and continue to be entitled to the rights set forth in such Collateral Document and Loan Document, and, in the case of any Collateral in the possession of the Administrative Agent, shall continue to hold such Collateral, in each case until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed and accepts such appointment in accordance with this Section (it being understood and agreed that the retiring Administrative Agent shall have no duty or obligation to take any further action under any Loan Document, including any action required to maintain the perfection of any such security interest), and (ii) the Required Lenders shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent; provided that (A) all payments required to be made hereunder or under any other Loan Document to the Administrative Agent for the account of any Person other than the Administrative Agent shall be made directly to such Person and (B) all notices and other communications required or contemplated to be given or made to the Administrative Agent shall directly be given or made to each Lender and each Issuing Bank. Following the effectiveness of the Administrative Agent’s resignation from its capacity as such, the provisions of this Article, Section 2.17(d) and Section 9.03, as well as any exculpatory, reimbursement and indemnification provisions set forth in any other Loan Document, shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent and in respect of the matters referred to in the proviso under clause (a) above.

 

SECTION 8.06 Acknowledgements of Lenders and Issuing Banks.

 

(a)            Each Lender and each Issuing Bank represents and warrants that (i) the Loan Documents set forth the terms of a commercial lending facility, (ii) it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans and in providing other facilities set forth herein as may be applicable to such Lender or Issuing Bank, in each case in the ordinary course of business, and not for the purpose of purchasing, acquiring or holding any other type of financial instrument (and each Lender and each Issuing Bank agrees not to assert a claim in contravention of the foregoing), (iii) it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, or any other Lender or Issuing Bank, or any of the Related Parties of any of the foregoing, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement as a Lender, and to make, acquire or hold Loans hereunder and (iv) it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to make, acquire and/or hold commercial loans and to provide other facilities set forth herein, as may be applicable to such Lender or such Issuing Bank, and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to make, acquire and/or hold such commercial loans or to provide such other facilities, is experienced in making, acquiring or holding such commercial loans or providing such other facilities. Each Lender and each Issuing Bank also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, or any other Lender or Issuing Bank, or any of the Related Parties of any of the foregoing, and based on such documents and information (which may contain material, non-public information within the meaning of the United States securities laws concerning the Borrowers and their Affiliates) as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

 

 

(b)            Each Lender, by delivering its signature page to this Agreement on the Effective Date, or delivering its signature page to an Assignment and Assumption or any other Loan Document pursuant to which it shall become a Lender hereunder, shall be deemed to have acknowledged receipt of, and consented to and approved, each Loan Document and each other document required to be delivered to, or be approved by or satisfactory to, the Administrative Agent or the Lenders on the Effective Date or the effective date of any such Assignment and Assumption or any other Loan Document pursuant to which it shall have become a Lender hereunder.

 

(c)            (i) Each Lender hereby agrees that (x) if the Administrative Agent notifies such Lender that the Administrative Agent has determined in its sole discretion that any funds received by such Lender from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates (whether as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, interest, fees or otherwise; individually and collectively, a “Payment”) were erroneously transmitted to such Lender (whether or not known to such Lender), and demands the return of such Payment (or a portion thereof), such Lender shall promptly, but in no event later than one Business Day thereafter, return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made in same day funds, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at the greater of the NYFRB Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect, and (y) to the extent permitted by applicable law, such Lender shall not assert, and hereby waives, as to the Administrative Agent, any claim, counterclaim, defense or right of set-off or recoupment with respect to any demand, claim or counterclaim by the Administrative Agent for the return of any Payments received, including without limitation any defense based on “discharge for value” or any similar doctrine. A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender under this Section 8.06(c) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

 

(ii)  Each Lender hereby further agrees that if it receives a Payment from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates (x) that is in a different amount than, or on a different date from, that specified in a notice of payment sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) with respect to such Payment (a “Payment Notice”) or (y) that was not preceded or accompanied by a Payment Notice, it shall be on notice, in each such case, that an error has been made with respect to such Payment. Each Lender agrees that, in each such case, or if it otherwise becomes aware a Payment (or portion thereof) may have been sent in error, such Lender shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent of such occurrence and, upon demand from the Administrative Agent, it shall promptly, but in no event later than one Business Day thereafter, return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made in same day funds, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at the greater of the NYFRB Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect.

 

 

(iii) Each Borrower and each other Loan Party hereby agrees that (x) in the event an erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) are not recovered from any Lender that has received such Payment (or portion thereof) for any reason, the Administrative Agent shall be subrogated to all the rights of such Lender with respect to such amount and (y) an erroneous Payment shall not pay, prepay, repay, discharge or otherwise satisfy any Obligations owed by any Borrower or any other Loan Party, except, in each case, to the extent that such erroneous Payment is, and solely with respect to the amount of such erroneous Payment that is, comprised of funds received by the Administrative Agent from the Borrower or any other Loan Party for the purpose of making a payment on the Obligations.

 

(iv) Each party’s obligations under this Section 8.06(c) shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any transfer of rights or obligations by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments or the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all Obligations under any Loan Document.

 

(d)            Each Lender (including any Issuing Bank) hereby agrees that (i) it has requested a copy of each Report prepared by or on behalf of the Administrative Agent; (ii) the Administrative Agent (A) makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the completeness or accuracy of any Report or any of the information contained therein or any inaccuracy or omission contained in or relating to a Report and (B) shall not be liable for any information contained in any Report; (iii) the Reports are not comprehensive audits or examinations, and that any Person performing any field examination will inspect only specific information regarding the Loan Parties and will rely significantly upon the Loan Parties’ books and records, as well as on representations of the Loan Parties’ personnel and that the Administrative Agent undertakes no obligation to update, correct or supplement the Reports; (iv) it will keep all Reports confidential and strictly for its internal use, not share the Report with any Loan Party or any other Person except as otherwise permitted pursuant to this Agreement; and (v) without limiting the generality of any other indemnification provision contained in this Agreement, (A) it will hold the Administrative Agent and any such other Person preparing a Report harmless from any action the indemnifying Lender may take or conclusion the indemnifying Lender may reach or draw from any Report in connection with any extension of credit that the indemnifying Lender has made or may make to the Borrowers, or the indemnifying Lender’s participation in, or the indemnifying Lender’s purchase of, a Loan or Loans; and (B) it will pay and protect, and indemnify, defend, and hold the Administrative Agent and any such other Person preparing a Report harmless from and against, the claims, actions, proceedings, damages, costs, expenses, and other amounts (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred by the Administrative Agent or any such other Person as the direct or indirect result of any third parties who might obtain all or part of any Report through the indemnifying Lender.

 

 

SECTION 8.07 Collateral Matters.

 

(a)            Except with respect to the exercise of setoff rights in accordance with Section 9.08 or with respect to a Secured Party’s right to file a proof of claim in an insolvency proceeding, no Secured Party shall have any right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral or to enforce any Guarantee of the Secured Obligations, it being understood and agreed that all powers, rights and remedies under the Loan Documents may be exercised solely by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties in accordance with the terms thereof. In its capacity, the Administrative Agent is a “representative” of the Secured Parties within the meaning of the term “secured party” as defined in the UCC. In the event that any Collateral is hereafter pledged by any Person as collateral security for the Secured Obligations, the Administrative Agent is hereby authorized, and hereby granted a power of attorney, to execute and deliver on behalf of the Secured Parties any Loan Documents necessary or appropriate to grant and perfect a Lien on such Collateral in favor of the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties.

 

(b)            In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation thereof, no arrangements in respect of Banking Services the obligations under which constitute Secured Obligations and no Swap Agreement the obligations under which constitute Secured Obligations, will create (or be deemed to create) in favor of any Secured Party that is a party thereto any rights in connection with the management or release of any Collateral or of the obligations of any Loan Party under any Loan Document. By accepting the benefits of the Collateral, each Secured Party that is a party to any such arrangement in respect of Banking Services or Swap Agreement, as applicable, shall be deemed to have appointed the Administrative Agent to serve as administrative agent and collateral agent under the Loan Documents and agreed to be bound by the Loan Documents as a Secured Party thereunder, subject to the limitations set forth in this paragraph.

 

(c)            The Secured Parties irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion, to subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted by Section 6.02. 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 Loan Party in connection therewith, nor shall the Administrative Agent be responsible or liable to the Lenders or any other Secured Party for any failure to monitor or maintain any portion of the Collateral.

 

 

SECTION 8.08 Credit Bidding. The Secured Parties hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at the direction of the Required Lenders, to credit bid all or any portion of the Obligations (including by accepting some or all of the Collateral in satisfaction of some or all of the Obligations pursuant to a deed in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise) and in such manner purchase (either directly or through one or more acquisition vehicles) all or any portion of the Collateral (a) at any sale thereof conducted under the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code, including under Sections 363, 1123 or 1129 of the Bankruptcy Code, or any similar laws in any other jurisdictions to which a Loan Party is subject, or (b) at any other sale, foreclosure or acceptance of collateral in lieu of debt conducted by (or with the consent or at the direction of) the Administrative Agent (whether by judicial action or otherwise) in accordance with any applicable law. In connection with any such credit bid and purchase, the Obligations owed to the Secured Parties shall be entitled to be, and shall be, credit bid by the Administrative Agent at the direction of the Required Lenders on a ratable basis (with Obligations with respect to contingent or unliquidated claims receiving contingent interests in the acquired assets on a ratable basis that shall vest upon the liquidation of such claims in an amount proportional to the liquidated portion of the contingent claim amount used in allocating the contingent interests) for the asset or assets so purchased (or for the equity interests or debt instruments of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles that are issued in connection with such purchase). In connection with any such bid (i) the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to form one or more acquisition vehicles and to assign any successful credit bid to such acquisition vehicle or vehicles (ii) each of the Secured Parties’ ratable interests in the Obligations which were credit bid shall be deemed without any further action under this Agreement to be assigned to such vehicle or vehicles for the purpose of closing such sale, (iii) the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to adopt documents providing for the governance of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles (provided that any actions by the Administrative Agent with respect to such acquisition vehicle or vehicles, including any disposition of the assets or equity interests thereof, shall be governed, directly or indirectly, by, and the governing documents shall provide for, control by the vote of the Required Lenders or their permitted assignees under the terms of this Agreement or the governing documents of the applicable acquisition vehicle or vehicles, as the case may be, irrespective of the termination of this Agreement and without giving effect to the limitations on actions by the Required Lenders contained in Section 9.02 of this Agreement), (iv) the Administrative Agent on behalf of such acquisition vehicle or vehicles shall be authorized to issue to each of the Secured Parties, ratably on account of the relevant Obligations which were credit bid, interests, whether as equity, partnership interests, limited partnership interests or membership interests, in any such acquisition vehicle and/or debt instruments issued by such acquisition vehicle, all without the need for any Secured Party or acquisition vehicle to take any further action, and (v) to the extent that Obligations that are assigned to an acquisition vehicle are not used to acquire Collateral for any reason (as a result of another bid being higher or better, because the amount of Obligations assigned to the acquisition vehicle exceeds the amount of Obligations credit bid by the acquisition vehicle or otherwise), such Obligations shall automatically be reassigned to the Secured Parties pro rata with their original interest in such Obligations and the equity interests and/or debt instruments issued by any acquisition vehicle on account of such Obligations shall automatically be cancelled, without the need for any Secured Party or any acquisition vehicle to take any further action. Notwithstanding that the ratable portion of the Obligations of each Secured Party are deemed assigned to the acquisition vehicle or vehicles as set forth in clause (ii) above, each Secured Party shall execute such documents and provide such information regarding the Secured Party (and/or any designee of the Secured Party which will receive interests in or debt instruments issued by such acquisition vehicle) as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request in connection with the formation of any acquisition vehicle, the formulation or submission of any credit bid or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by such credit bid.

 

 

SECTION 8.09 Certain ERISA Matters.

 

(a)           Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, and each Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of any Borrower or any other Loan Party, that at least one of the following is and will be true:

 

(i)            such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of the Plan Asset Regulations) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments,

 

(ii)            the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement,

 

(iii)            (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, or

 

(iv)            such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.

 

(b)          In addition, unless sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or such Lender has provided another representation, warranty and covenant as provided in sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, and each Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of any Borrower or any other Loan Party, that none of the Administrative Agent, or any Arranger or any of their respective Affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to the Collateral or the assets of such Lender (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related to hereto or thereto).

 

 

(c)            The Administrative Agent and each Arranger hereby informs the Lenders that each such Person is not undertaking to provide investment advice or to give advice in a fiduciary capacity, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and that such Person has a financial interest in the transactions contemplated hereby in that such Person or an Affiliate thereof (i) may receive interest or other payments with respect to the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments, this Agreement and any other Loan Documents (ii) may recognize a gain if it extended the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments for an amount less than the amount being paid for an interest in the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments by such Lender or (iii) may receive fees or other payments in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, the Loan Documents or otherwise, including structuring fees, commitment fees, arrangement fees, facility fees, upfront fees, underwriting fees, ticking fees, agency fees, administrative agent or collateral agent fees, utilization fees, minimum usage fees, letter of credit fees, fronting fees, deal-away or alternate transaction fees, amendment fees, processing fees, term out premiums, banker’s acceptance fees, breakage or other early termination fees or fees similar to the foregoing.

 

SECTION 8.10 Flood Laws. Chase has adopted internal policies and procedures that address requirements placed on federally regulated lenders under the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 and related legislation (the “Flood Laws”). Chase, as administrative agent or collateral agent on a syndicated facility, will post on the applicable electronic platform (or otherwise distribute to each Lender in the syndicate) documents that it receives in connection with the Flood Laws. However, Chase reminds each Lender and Participant in the facility that, pursuant to the Flood Laws, each federally regulated Lender (whether acting as a Lender or Participant in the facility) is responsible for assuring its own compliance with the flood insurance requirements.

 

Article IX
Miscellaneous

 

SECTION 9.01 Notices.

 

(a)            Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone or Electronic Systems (and subject in each case to paragraph (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by fax, as follows:

 

(i)           if to any Loan Party, to it in care of the Borrower Representative at:

 

THE TILE SHOP, LLC
14000 Carlson Parkway
Plymouth, Minnesota 55441
Attention: Karla Lunan

 

 

(ii)          if to the Administrative Agent or the Swingline Lender to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. at:

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
10 South Dearborn, Floor L2
Suite IL1-0480
Chicago, IL 60603-2300
Attention: Michael Grgantov
Phone No.: [***] 

Fax No: [***] 

Email: [***]

 

With a copy to:

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. 

Middle Market Servicing 

10 South Dearborn, Floor L2 

Suite IL1-0480 

Chicago, IL, 60603-2300 

Attention: Commercial Banking Group 

Fax No: [***] 

Email: [***] 

[***]

 

(iii)         If to Chase in its capacity as an Issuing Bank, to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. at:

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. 

10 South Dearborn, Floor L2 

Suite IL1-0480 

Chicago, IL, 60603-2300 

Attention: LC Agency Team 

Tel: [***] 

Fax: [***] 

Email: [***]

 

With a copy to:

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. 

10 South Dearborn, Floor L2 

Suite IL1-0480 

Chicago, IL, 60603-2300 

Attention: Loan & Agency Services Group 

Attention: Michaela Grgantov 

Phone No: [***] 

Fax No: [***] 

Email: [***]

 

 

(iv)            if to any other Lender or Issuing Bank, to it at its address or fax number set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire.

 

All such notices and other communications (i) sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail shall be deemed to have been given when received, (ii) sent by fax shall be deemed to have been given when sent, provided that if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day of the recipient, or (iii) delivered through Electronic Systems or Approved Electronic Platforms, as applicable, to the extent provided in paragraph (b) below shall be effective as provided in such paragraph.

 

(b)           Notices and other communications to the Borrower Representative, any Loan Party, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks hereunder may be delivered or furnished by using Electronic Systems or Approved Electronic Platforms, as applicable, or pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices pursuant to Article II or to compliance and no Default certificates delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(d) unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lender. Each of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower Representative (on behalf of the Loan Parties) may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by using Electronic Systems or Approved Electronic Platforms, as applicable, 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 proscribes, all such notices and other communications (i) sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), provided that if not given during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or a communication shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient, and (ii) posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient, at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i), of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; provided that, for both clauses (i) and (ii) above, if such notice, e-mail or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next Business Day of the recipient.

 

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

 

SECTION 9.02 Waivers; Amendments.

 

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

 

 

(b)           Subject to Section 2.14(c), (d) and (e), Section 2.09(f) and Section 9.02(e) below, neither this Agreement nor any other Loan Document nor any provision hereof or thereof may be waived, amended or modified except (i) in the case of this Agreement, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrowers and the Required Lenders or (ii) in the case of any other Loan Document, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Administrative Agent and the Loan Party or Loan Parties that are parties thereto, with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided that no such agreement shall (A) increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender (including any such Lender that is a Defaulting Lender), (B) reduce or forgive the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce or forgive any interest or fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender (including any such Lender that is a Defaulting Lender) directly affected thereby (except that any amendment or modification of the financial covenants in this Agreement (or defined terms used in the financial covenants in this Agreement) shall not constitute a reduction in the rate of interest or fees for purposes of this clause (B)), (C) postpone any scheduled date of payment of the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement, or any date for the payment of any interest, fees or other Obligations payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date of expiration of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender (including any such Lender that is a Defaulting Lender) affected thereby, (D) change Section 2.09(c) or Section 2.18(b) or (d) in a manner that would alter the ratable reduction of Commitments or the manner in which payments are shared, without the written consent of each Lender (other than any Defaulting Lender), (E) change any of the provisions of this Section or the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other provision of any Loan Document specifying the number or percentage of Lenders (or Lenders of any Class) required to waive, amend or modify any rights thereunder or make any determination or grant any consent thereunder, without the written consent of each Lender (other than any Defaulting Lender) directly affected thereby, (F) change Section 2.20, without the consent of each Lender (other than any Defaulting Lender), (G) release any Guarantor from its obligation under its Loan Guaranty or Obligation Guaranty (except as otherwise permitted herein or in the other Loan Documents), without the written consent of each Lender (other than any Defaulting Lender), (H) except as provided in clause (c) of this Section or in any Collateral Document, release all or substantially all of the Collateral without the written consent of each Lender (other than any Defaulting Lender) or (I) subordinate all or substantially all of the Collateral without the written consent of each Lender, unless each adversely affected Lender has been offered a reasonable bona fide opportunity to fund or otherwise provide its pro rata share of the priming Indebtedness on the same terms (other than bona fide backstop fees and reimbursement of counsel fees and other expenses in connection with the negotiation of the terms of such transaction; such fees and expenses, “Ancillary Fees”) as offered to all other providers of the priming Indebtedness and to the extent such adversely affected Lender decides to participate in the priming Indebtedness, receive its pro rata share of the fees and any other similar benefit (other than Ancillary Fees) of the priming Indebtedness afforded to the providers of the priming Indebtedness in connection with providing the priming Indebtedness; provided, further, that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender or the Issuing Bank hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be (it being understood that any amendment to Section 2.20 shall require the consent of the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Bank); provided, further, that no such agreement shall amend or modify the provisions of Section 2.06 or any letter of credit application and any bilateral agreement between the Borrower and the Issuing Bank or the respective rights and obligations between the Borrower and the Issuing Bank in connection with the issuance of Letters of Credit without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank, respectively. The Administrative Agent may also amend the Commitment Schedule to reflect assignments entered into pursuant to Section 9.04. Any amendment, waiver or other modification of this Agreement or any other Loan Document that by its terms affects the rights or duties under this Agreement of the Lenders of one or more Classes (but not the Lenders of any other Class), may be effected by an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrowers and the requisite number or percentage in interest of each affected Class of Lenders that would be required to consent thereto under this Section if such Class of Lenders were the only Class of Lenders hereunder at the time.

 

 

(c)           The Lenders and the Issuing Bank hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its sole discretion, to release any Liens granted to the Administrative Agent by the Loan Parties on any Collateral (i) upon the Payment in Full of all Secured Obligations, and the cash collateralization of all Unliquidated Obligations in a manner satisfactory to each affected Lender, (ii) constituting property being sold or disposed of if the Loan Party disposing of such property certifies to the Administrative Agent that the sale or disposition is made in compliance with the terms of this Agreement (and the Administrative Agent may rely conclusively on any such certificate, without further inquiry), and to the extent that the property being sold or disposed of constitutes 100% of the Equity Interests of a Subsidiary, the Administrative Agent is authorized to release any Loan Guaranty or Obligation Guaranty provided by such Subsidiary, (iii) constituting property leased to a Loan Party under a lease which has expired or been terminated in a transaction permitted under this Agreement, or (iv) as required to effect any sale or other disposition of such Collateral in connection with any exercise of remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant to Article VII. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, the Administrative Agent will not release any Liens on Collateral without the prior written authorization of the Required Lenders; provided that the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion, release its Liens on Collateral valued in the aggregate not in excess of $5,000,000 during any calendar year without the prior written authorization of the Required Lenders (it being agreed that the Administrative Agent may rely conclusively on one or more certificates of the Borrower Representative as to the value of any Collateral to be so released, without further inquiry). Any such release shall not in any manner discharge, affect, or impair the Obligations or any Liens (other than those expressly being released) upon (or obligations of the Loan Parties in respect of) all interests retained by the Loan Parties, including the proceeds of any sale, all of which shall continue to constitute part of the Collateral. Any execution and delivery by the Administrative Agent of documents in connection with any such release shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Administrative Agent.

 

(d)           If, in connection with any proposed amendment, waiver or consent requiring the consent of “each Lender” or “each Lender affected thereby,” the consent of the Required Lenders is obtained, but the consent of other necessary Lenders is not obtained (any such Lender whose consent is necessary but has not been obtained being referred to herein as a “Non-Consenting Lender”), then the Borrowers may elect to replace a Non-Consenting Lender as a Lender party to this Agreement, provided that, concurrently with such replacement, (i) another bank or other entity which is reasonably satisfactory to the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank shall agree, as of such date, to purchase for cash the Loans and other Obligations due to the Non-Consenting Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption and to become a Lender for all purposes under this Agreement and to assume all obligations of the Non-Consenting Lender to be terminated as of such date and to comply with the requirements of clause (b) of Section 9.04, and (ii) the Borrowers shall pay to such Non-Consenting Lender in same day funds on the day of such replacement (1) all interest, fees and other amounts then accrued but unpaid to such Non-Consenting Lender by the Borrowers hereunder to and including the date of termination, including without limitation payments due to such Non-Consenting Lender under Sections 2.15 and 2.17, and (2) an amount, if any, equal to the payment which would have been due to such Lender on the day of such replacement under Section 2.16 had the Loans of such Non-Consenting Lender been prepaid on such date rather than sold to the replacement Lender. Each party hereto agrees that (a) an assignment required pursuant to this paragraph may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Borrower Representative, the Administrative Agent and the assignee (or, to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and such parties are participants), and (b) the Lender required to make such assignment need not be a party thereto in order for such assignment to be effective and shall be deemed to have consented to and be bound by the terms thereof; provided that, following the effectiveness of any such assignment, the other parties to such assignment agree to execute and deliver such documents necessary to evidence such assignment as reasonably requested by the applicable Lender, provided that any such documents shall be without recourse to or warranty by the parties thereto.

 

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

 

 

SECTION 9.03 Expenses; Limitation of Liability; Indemnity; Etc.

 

(a)            Expenses. The Loan Parties, jointly and severally, shall pay all (i) documented and reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates, including the documented and reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent, in connection with the syndication and distribution (including, without limitation, via the internet or through an Electronic System or Approved Electronic Platform) of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation and administration of the Loan Documents and any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions of the Loan Documents (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) documented and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Issuing Bank in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender, in connection with the enforcement, collection or protection of its rights in connection with the Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit (but limited, in each case, to the fees, charges and disbursements of one firm as counsel to Chase (in its capacity as Administrative Agent (including its Affiliates), the Issuing Bank and a Lender) and one firm as counsel to all other Lenders taken as a whole and, if reasonably necessary, a single firm local counsel firm for Chase (in its capacity as Administrative Agent (including its Affiliates), the Issuing Bank and a Lender) and a single firm local counsel firm for all other Lenders taken as a whole, in each case in each relevant jurisdiction (which may be a single local counsel firm acting in multiple material jurisdictions) and, in each case in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest, additional counsel to each group of similarly situated affected persons to eliminate such actual or perceived conflict of interest). Expenses being reimbursed by the Loan Parties under this Section include, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, documented and reasonable fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with:

 

(A)          appraisals and insurance reviews;

 

(B)          field examinations and the preparation of Reports based on the fees charged by a third party retained by the Administrative Agent or the internally allocated fees for each Person employed by the Administrative Agent with respect to each field examination;

 

(C)          background checks regarding senior management and/or key investors, as deemed necessary or appropriate in the reasonable discretion of the Administrative Agent;

 

(D)          Taxes, fees and other charges for lien searches and filing financing statements and continuations, and other actions to perfect, protect, and continue the Administrative Agent’s Liens;

 

(E)          sums paid or incurred to take any action required of any Loan Party under the Loan Documents that such Loan Party fails to pay or take; and

 

(F)          forwarding loan proceeds, collecting checks and other items of payment, and establishing and maintaining the accounts and lock boxes, and costs and expenses of preserving and protecting the Collateral.

 

All of the foregoing fees, costs and expenses may be charged to the Borrowers as Revolving Loans or to another deposit account, all as described in Section 2.18(c).

 

(b)            Limitation of Liability. To the extent permitted by applicable law (i) neither any Borrower nor any other Loan Party shall assert, and each Borrower and each Loan Party hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee for any Liabilities arising from the use by others of information or other materials (including, without limitation, any personal data) obtained through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems (including the Internet) (except to the extent of direct or actual damages as are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and non-appealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee), and (ii) no party hereto shall assert, and each such party hereby waives, any Liabilities against any other party hereto, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the Transactions, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof; provided that, nothing in this Section 9.03(b) shall relieve any Borrower or any other Loan Party of any obligation it may have to indemnify an Indemnitee, as provided in Section 9.03(c), against any special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages asserted against such Indemnitee by a third party.

 

 

(c)            Indemnity. The Loan Parties, jointly and severally, shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Arranger, each Issuing Bank and 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, any and all Liabilities and related expenses, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee, (but limited to the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of one firm as counsel to all Indemnitees taken as a whole and, if reasonably necessary, a single firm local counsel firm for all Indemnitees taken as a whole in each relevant jurisdiction (which may be a single local counsel firm acting in multiple material jurisdictions), and solely in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest where the Indemnitee affected by such conflict of interest informs the Borrowers in writing of such conflict of interest and thereafter retains its own firm as counsel, one additional firm as counsel in each relevant jurisdiction to each group of affected Indemnitees taken as a whole), incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of the Loan Documents or any agreement or instrument contemplated thereby, (ii) the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated hereby, (iii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by an Issuing Bank to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iv) any actual or alleged presence or Release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by a Loan Party or a Subsidiary, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to a Loan Party or a Subsidiary, (v) the failure of a Loan Party to deliver to the Administrative Agent the required receipts or other required documentary evidence with respect to a payment made by such Loan Party for Taxes pursuant to Section 2.17, or (vi) any actual or prospective Proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether or not such Proceeding is brought by any Loan Party or their respective equity holders, Affiliates, creditors or any other third Person and whether based on contract, tort or any other theory and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such Liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and non-appealable judgment to have resulted primarily from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee, (y) result from a claim brought by the Borrowers or any other Loan Party against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if the Borrowers or such Loan Party has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction or (z) arise out of a dispute among Indemnitees (other than a dispute involving claims against an Indemnitee in its capacity as Administrative Agent, lead arranger or any other arranger, agent or co-agent (if any) designated with respect to this Agreement) that did not involve actions or omissions of any direct or indirect parent or controlling person of Holdings or any Loan Party. This Section 9.03(b) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses or damages arising from any non-Tax claim.

 

 

(d)            Lender Reimbursement. Each Lender severally agrees to pay any amount required to be paid by any Loan Party under paragraphs (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 9.03 to the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender and each Issuing Bank, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each, an “Agent-Related Person”) (to the extent not reimbursed by the Loan Parties and without limiting the obligation of any Loan Party to do so), ratably according to their respective Applicable Percentage in effect on the date on which such payment is sought under this Section (or, if such payment is sought after the date upon which the Commitments shall have terminated and the Loans shall have been paid in full, ratably in accordance with such Applicable Percentage immediately prior to such date), and agrees to indemnify and hold each Agent-Related Person harmless from and against any and all Liabilities and related expenses, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any kind whatsoever that may at any time (whether before or after the payment of the Loans) be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against such Agent-Related Person in any way relating to or arising out of the Commitments, this Agreement, any of the other Loan Documents or any documents contemplated by or referred to herein or therein or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or any action taken or omitted by such Agent-Related Person under or in connection with any of the foregoing; provided that the unreimbursed expense or Liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against such Agent-Related Person in its capacity as such; provided, further, that no Lender shall be liable for the payment of any portion of such Liabilities, costs, expenses or disbursements that are found by a final and non-appealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted primarily from such Agent-Related Person’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. The agreements in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement and Payment in Full of the Secured Obligations.

 

(e)            Payments. All amounts due under this Section 9.03 shall be payable not later than five Business Days after written demand therefor.

 

SECTION 9.04 Successors and Assigns.

 

(a)            The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of the Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), except that (i) no Borrower may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by a Borrower without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of the Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), Participants (to the extent provided in paragraph (c) of this Section) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

 

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

 

(A)            the Borrower Representative, provided that, the Borrower Representative shall be deemed to have consented to an assignment of all or a portion of the Revolving Loans and Commitments unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within 10 Business Days after having received notice thereof, and provided, further, that no consent of the Borrower Representative shall be required for (i) an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund or, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any other assignee;

 

(B)            the Administrative Agent;

 

(C)            the Issuing Bank; and

 

(D)            the Swingline Lender.

 

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

 

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

 

(B)            each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement;

 

(C)            the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent (x) an Assignment and Assumption or (y) to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and the parties to the Assignment and Assumption are participants, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500, such fee to be paid by either the assigning Lender or the assignee Lender or shared between such Lenders; and

 

 

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

 

For the purposes of this Section 9.04(b), the terms “Approved Fund” and “Ineligible Institution” have the following meanings:

 

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

 

“Ineligible Institution” means a (a) natural person, (b) a Defaulting Lender or its Lender Parent, (c) holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural person or relative(s) thereof; provided that, with respect to clause (c), such holding company, investment vehicle or trust shall not constitute an Ineligible Institution if it (x) has not been established for the primary purpose of acquiring any Loans or Commitments, (y) is managed by a professional advisor, who is not such natural person or a relative thereof, having significant experience in the business of making or purchasing commercial loans, and (z) has assets greater than $25,000,000 and a significant part of its activities consist of making or purchasing commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business; or (d) a Loan Party or a Subsidiary or other Affiliate of a Loan Party.

 

(iii)            Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (b)(iv) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 9.04 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (c) of this Section.

 

 

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

 

(v)            Upon its receipt of (x) a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee or (y) to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and the parties to the Assignment and Assumption are participants, the assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section and any written consent to such assignment required by paragraph (b) of this Section, the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register; provided that if either the assigning Lender or the assignee shall have failed to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.05, 2.06(d) or (e), 2.07(b), 2.18(d) or 9.03(d), the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information therein in the Register unless and until such payment shall have been made in full, together with all accrued interest thereon. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph.

 

(c)            Any Lender may, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender or the Issuing Bank, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (a “Participant”) other than an Ineligible Institution in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/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 Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in the first proviso to Section 9.02(b) that affects such Participant. The Borrowers agree that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16 and 2.17 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Sections 2.17(f) and (g) (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 2.17(f) shall be delivered to the participating Lender and the information and documentation required under Section 2.17(g) will be delivered to the Borrower Representative and the Administrative Agent)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section; provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Sections 2.18 and 2.19 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this Section; and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 2.15 or 2.17 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 Borrowers’ request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrowers to effectuate the provisions of Section 2.19(b) with respect to any Participant. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 9.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.18(d) as though it were a Lender. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrowers, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under this Agreement or any other Loan Document (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 this Agreement or any other Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such Commitment, Loan, Letter of Credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

 

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

 

SECTION 9.05 Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Loan Parties in the Loan Documents and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and the making of any Loans and issuance of any Letters of Credit, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and unpaid or any Letter of Credit is outstanding and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated. The provisions of Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03 and Article VIII shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Letters of Credit and the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any provision hereof or thereof.

 

 

 

SECTION 9.06 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution.

 

(a)            This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any separate letter agreements with respect to (i) fees payable to the Administrative Agent and (ii) bilateral agreements between the Issuing Bank and Borrower constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

 

(b)            Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of (x) this Agreement, (y) any other Loan Document and/or (z) any document, amendment, approval, consent, information, notice (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any notice delivered pursuant to Section 9.01), certificate, request, statement, disclosure or authorization related to this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or the transactions contemplated hereby and/or thereby (each an “Ancillary Document”) that is an Electronic Signature transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement, such other Loan Document or such Ancillary Document, as applicable. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document shall be deemed to include Electronic Signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in any electronic form (including deliveries by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page), each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be; provided that nothing herein shall require the Administrative Agent to accept Electronic Signatures in any form or format without its prior written consent and pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided, further, without limiting the foregoing, (i) to the extent the Administrative Agent has agreed to accept any Electronic Signature, the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders shall be entitled to rely on such Electronic Signature purportedly given by or on behalf of any Borrower or any other Loan Party without further verification thereof and without any obligation to review the appearance or form of any such Electronic signature and (ii) upon the request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, any Electronic Signature shall be promptly followed by a manually executed counterpart. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Borrower and each Loan Party hereby (A) agrees that, for all purposes, including without limitation, in connection with any workout, restructuring, enforcement of remedies, bankruptcy proceedings or litigation among the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Borrowers and the Loan Parties, electronic Signatures transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page and/or any electronic images of this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as any paper original, (B) the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders may, at its option, create one or more copies of this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document in the form of an imaged electronic record in any format, which shall be deemed created in the ordinary course of such Person’s business, and destroy the original paper document (and all such electronic records shall be considered an original for all purposes and shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a paper record), (C) waives any argument, defense or right to contest the legal effect, validity or enforceability of this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document based solely on the lack of paper original copies of this Agreement, such other Loan Document and/or such Ancillary Document, respectively, including with respect to any signature pages thereto and (D) waives any claim against any Lender-Related Person for any Liabilities arising solely from the Administrative Agent’s and/or any Lender’s reliance on or use of Electronic Signatures and/or transmissions by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page, including any Liabilities arising as a result of the failure of any Borrower and/or any Loan Party to use any available security measures in connection with the execution, delivery or transmission of any Electronic Signature, other than, in each case, that are found by a final and non-appealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted primarily from such Lender-Related Person’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.

 

  

SECTION 9.07 Severability. Any provision of any Loan Document held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions thereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

SECTION 9.08 Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, each Issuing Bank, and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held, and other obligations at any time owing, by such Lender, such Issuing Bank or any such Affiliate, to or for the credit or the account of any Loan Party against any and all of the Secured Obligations owing to such Lender or such Issuing Bank or their respective Affiliates, irrespective of whether or not such Lender, Issuing Bank or Affiliate shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Loan Parties may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch office or Affiliate of such Lender or such Issuing Bank different from the branch office or Affiliate 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 of Section 2.20 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, the Issuing Banks, and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Secured Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. The applicable Lender, the Issuing Bank or such Affiliate shall notify the Borrower Representative and the Administrative Agent of such setoff or application; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff or application under this Section. The rights of each Lender, each Issuing Bank and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, such Issuing Bank or their respective Affiliates may have.

 

  

SECTION 9.09 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process.

 

(a)            The Loan Documents (other than those containing a contrary express choice of law provision) shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, but giving effect to federal laws applicable to national banks.

 

(b)            Each of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that, notwithstanding the governing law provisions of any applicable Loan Document, any claims brought against the Administrative Agent by any Secured Party relating to this Agreement, any other Loan Document, the Collateral or the consummation or administration of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York.

 

(c)            Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of any U.S. federal or New York state court sitting in New York, New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to any Loan Documents, the transactions relating hereto or thereto, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may (and any such claims, cross-claims or third party claims brought against the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties may only) be heard and determined in such state court or, to the extent permitted by law, in such federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any Loan Party or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

 

(d)            Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document in any court referred to in paragraph (c) of this Section. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

 

(e)            Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

 

  

SECTION 9.10 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE OR OTHER AGENT (INCLUDING ANY ATTORNEY) OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

 

SECTION 9.11 Headings. Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

 

SECTION 9.12 Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors, in each case to whom disclosure is reasonably necessary or desirable as determined by the Administrative Agent or such Lender (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any Governmental Authority (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by any Requirement of Law described in clause (b) of the definition of such term or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party to this Agreement, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (x) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (y) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Loan Parties and their obligations, (g) with the consent of the Borrower Representative; (h) on a confidential basis to (1) any rating agency in connection with rating any Borrower or its Subsidiaries or the credit facilities provided for herein or (2) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of identification numbers with respect to the credit facilities provided for herein, or (i) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Borrowers. For the purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Borrowers relating to the Borrowers or their business, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender on a non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrowers and other than information pertaining to this Agreement provided by arrangers to data service providers, including league table providers, that serve the lending industry; provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrowers after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

 

  

EACH LENDER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT INFORMATION AS DEFINED IN SECTION 9.12 FURNISHED TO IT PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY INCLUDE MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION CONCERNING THE BORROWERS, THE OTHER LOAN PARTIES AND THEIR RELATED PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE SECURITIES, AND CONFIRMS THAT IT HAS DEVELOPED COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES REGARDING THE USE OF MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION AND THAT IT WILL HANDLE SUCH MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THOSE PROCEDURES AND APPLICABLE LAW, INCLUDING FEDERAL AND STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

 

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

 

SECTION 9.13 Several Obligations; Nonreliance; Violation of Law. The respective obligations of the Lenders hereunder are several and not joint and the failure of any Lender to make any Loan or perform any of its obligations hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender from any of its obligations hereunder. Each Lender hereby represents that it is not relying on or looking to any margin stock (as defined in Regulation U of the Federal Reserve Board) for the repayment of the Borrowings provided for herein. Anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, neither the Issuing Bank nor any Lender shall be obligated to extend credit to the Borrowers in violation of any Requirement of Law.

 

SECTION 9.14 USA PATRIOT Act. Each Lender that is subject to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act hereby notifies each Loan Party that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies such Loan Party, which information includes the name and address of such Loan Party and other information that will allow such Lender to identify such Loan Party in accordance with the USA PATRIOT Act.

 

  

SECTION 9.15 Disclosure. Each Loan Party, each Lender and the Issuing Bank hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Administrative Agent and/or its Affiliates from time to time may hold investments in, make other loans to or have other relationships with, any of the Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates.

 

SECTION 9.16 Appointment for Perfection. Each Lender hereby appoints each other Lender as its agent for the purpose of perfecting Liens, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties, in assets which, in accordance with Article 9 of the UCC or any other applicable law can be perfected only by possession or control. Should any Lender (other than the Administrative Agent) obtain possession or control of any such Collateral, such Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent thereof, and, promptly upon the Administrative Agent’s request therefor shall deliver such Collateral to the Administrative Agent or otherwise deal with such Collateral in accordance with the Administrative Agent’s instructions.

 

SECTION 9.17 Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan, together with all fees, charges and other amounts which are treated as interest on such Loan under applicable law (collectively the “Charges”), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the “Maximum Rate”) which may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the Lender holding such Loan in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan hereunder, together with all Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect of such Loan but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender in respect of other Loans or periods shall be increased (but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the NYFRB Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.

 

SECTION 9.18 No Fiduciary Duty, etc.

 

(a)            Each Borrower acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Subsidiaries’ understanding, that no Credit Party will have any obligations except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents and each Credit Party is acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length contractual counterparty to the Borrowers with respect to the Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated herein and therein and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to, or an agent of, any Borrower or any other person. Each Borrower agrees that it will not assert any claim against any Credit Party based on an alleged breach of fiduciary duty by such Credit Party in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. Additionally, each Borrower acknowledges and agrees that no Credit Party is advising any Borrower as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting, regulatory or any other matters in any jurisdiction. The Borrowers shall consult with their own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making its own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated herein or in the other Loan Documents, and the Credit Parties shall have no responsibility or liability to any Borrower with respect thereto.

 

  

(b)            Each Borrower further acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Subsidiaries’ understanding, that each Credit Party, together with its Affiliates, is a full service securities or banking firm engaged in securities trading and brokerage activities as well as providing investment banking and other financial services. In the ordinary course of business, any Credit Party may provide investment banking and other financial services to, and/or acquire, hold or sell, for its own accounts and the accounts of customers, equity, debt and other securities and financial instruments (including bank loans and other obligations) of, the Borrowers and other companies with which the Borrowers may have commercial or other relationships. With respect to any securities and/or financial instruments so held by any Credit Party or any of its customers, all rights in respect of such securities and financial instruments, including any voting rights, will be exercised by the holder of the rights, in its sole discretion.

 

(c)            In addition, each Borrower acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Subsidiaries’ understanding, that each Credit Party and its Affiliates may be providing debt financing, equity capital or other services (including financial advisory services) to other companies in respect of which the Borrowers may have conflicting interests regarding the transactions described herein and otherwise. No Credit Party will use confidential information obtained from any Borrower by virtue of the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents or its other relationships with the Borrowers in connection with the performance by such Credit Party of services for other companies, and no Credit Party will furnish any such information to other companies. Each Borrower also acknowledges that no Credit Party has any obligation to use in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents, or to furnish to any Borrower, confidential information obtained from other companies.

 

SECTION 9.19 Marketing Consent. The Borrowers hereby authorize Chase and its affiliates (collectively, the “Chase Parties”), at their respective sole expense, and without any prior approval by the Borrowers, to include the Borrowers’ name and logo in advertising, marketing, tombstones, case studies and training materials, and to give such other publicity to this Agreement as Chase Parties may from time to time determine in their sole discretion. The foregoing authorization shall remain in effect unless the Borrower Representative notifies Chase in writing that such authorization is revoked.

 

SECTION 9.20 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected 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 Affected Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable 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 the applicable Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an Affected 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 Affected Financial Institution, its parent entity, 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 the applicable Resolution Authority.

 

SECTION 9.21 Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs.

 

(a)            To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for Swap Agreements or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support “QFC Credit Support” and each such QFC a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the “U.S. Special Resolution Regimes”) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Loan Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States):

 

(b)            In the event a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a “Covered Party”) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Loan Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Loan Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Defaulting Lender shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support.

 

   

SECTION 9.22 Joint and Several. Each Borrower hereby unconditionally and irrevocably agrees it is jointly and severally liable to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders for the Secured Obligations. In furtherance thereof, each Borrower agrees that wherever in this Agreement it is provided that a Borrower is liable for a payment, such obligation is the joint and several obligation of each Borrower. Each Borrower acknowledges and agrees that its joint and several liability under this Agreement and the Loan Documents is absolute and unconditional and shall not in any manner be affected or impaired by any acts or omissions whatsoever by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank, any Lender or any other Person. Each Borrower’s liability for the Secured Obligations shall not in any manner be impaired or affected by who receives or uses the proceeds of the credit extended hereunder or for what purposes such proceeds are used, and each Borrower waives notice of borrowing requests issued by, and loans or other extensions of credit made to, other Borrowers. Each Borrower hereby agrees not to exercise or enforce any right of exoneration, contribution, reimbursement, recourse or subrogation available to such Borrower against any party liable for payment under this Agreement and the Loan Documents unless and until the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank and each Lender has been paid in full and all of the Secured Obligations are satisfied and discharged following termination or expiration of all commitments of the Lenders to extend credit to the Borrowers. Each Borrower’s joint and several liability hereunder with respect to the Secured Obligations shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be the unconditional liability of such Borrower irrespective of (i) the validity, enforceability, avoidance or subordination of any of the Secured Obligations or of any other document evidencing all or any part of the Secured Obligations, (ii) the absence of any attempt to collect any of the Secured Obligations from any other Loan Party or any Collateral or other security therefor, or the absence of any other action to enforce the same, (iii) the amendment, modification, waiver, consent, extension, forbearance or granting of any indulgence by the Administrative Agent or any Lender with respect to any provision of any instrument executed by any other Loan Party evidencing or securing the payment of any of the Secured Obligations, or any other agreement now or hereafter executed by any other Loan Party and delivered to the Administrative Agent, (iv) the failure by the Administrative Agent or any Lender to take any steps to perfect or maintain the perfected status of its Lien upon, or to preserve its rights to, any of the Collateral or other security for the payment or performance of any of the Secured Obligations or the Administrative Agent’s release of any Collateral or of its Liens upon any Collateral, (v) the release or compromise, in whole or in part, of the liability of any other Loan Party for the payment of any of the Secured Obligations, (vi) any increase in the amount of the Secured Obligations beyond any limits imposed herein or in the amount of any interest, fees or other charges payable in connection therewith, in each case, if consented to by any other Borrower, or any decrease in the same, or (vii) any other circumstance that might constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of any Loan Party. After the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, the Administrative Agent may proceed directly and at once, without notice to any Borrower, against any or all of Loan Parties to collect and recover all or any part of the Secured Obligations, without first proceeding against any other Loan Party or against any Collateral or other security for the payment or performance of any of the Secured Obligations, and each Borrower waives any provision that might otherwise require the Administrative Agent or the Lenders under applicable law to pursue or exhaust its remedies against any Collateral or other Loan Party before pursuing such Borrower or its property. Each Borrower consents and agrees that neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall be under no obligation to marshal any assets in favor of any Loan Party or against or in payment of any or all of the Secured Obligations.

 

  

Article X
Loan Guaranty

  

SECTION 10.01 Guaranty. Each Loan Guarantor (other than those that have delivered a separate Guaranty) hereby agrees that it is jointly and severally liable for, and, as a primary obligor and not merely as surety, absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees to the Secured Parties, the prompt payment when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, and at all times thereafter, of the Secured Obligations and all costs and expenses including, without limitation, all court costs and reasonable attorneys’ and paralegals’ fees (including allocated costs of in-house counsel and paralegals) and expenses paid or incurred by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders in endeavoring to collect all or any part of the Secured Obligations from, or in prosecuting any action against, any Borrower, any Loan Guarantor or any other guarantor of all or any part of the Secured Obligations (such costs and expenses, together with the Secured Obligations, collectively the “Guaranteed Obligations”); provided, however, that the definition of “Guaranteed Obligations” shall not create any guarantee by any Loan Guarantor of (or grant of security interest by any Loan Guarantor to support, as applicable) any Excluded Swap Obligations of such Loan Guarantor for purposes of determining any obligations of any Loan Guarantor. Each Loan Guarantor further agrees that the Guaranteed Obligations may be extended or renewed in whole or in part without notice to or further assent from it, and that it remains bound upon its guarantee notwithstanding any such extension or renewal. All terms of this Loan Guaranty apply to and may be enforced by or on behalf of any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of any Lender that extended any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations.

 

SECTION 10.02 Guaranty of Payment. This Loan Guaranty is a guaranty of payment and not of collection. Each Loan Guarantor waives any right to require the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender to sue any Borrower, or any Loan Guarantor, or any other guarantor of, or any other Person obligated for all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations (each, an “Obligated Party”), or otherwise to enforce its payment against any collateral securing all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations.

 

SECTION 10.03 No Discharge or Diminishment of Loan Guaranty.

 

(a)            Except as otherwise provided for herein, the obligations of each Loan Guarantor hereunder are unconditional and absolute and not subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason (other than the Payment in Full of the Guaranteed Obligations), including: (i) any claim of waiver, release, extension, renewal, settlement, surrender, alteration, or compromise of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, by operation of law or otherwise; (ii) any change in the corporate existence, structure or ownership of any Borrower or any other Obligated Party liable for any of the Guaranteed Obligations; (iii) any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization or other similar proceeding affecting any Obligated Party, or their assets or any resulting release or discharge of any obligation of any Obligated Party; or (iv) the existence of any claim, setoff or other rights which any Loan Guarantor may have at any time against any Obligated Party, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, any Lender, or any other Person, whether in connection herewith or in any unrelated transactions.

 

(b)            The obligations of each Loan Guarantor hereunder are not subject to any defense or setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, or termination whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise, or any provision of applicable law or regulation purporting to prohibit payment by any Obligated Party, of the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof.

 

  

(c)            Further, the obligations of any Loan Guarantor hereunder are not discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by: (i) the failure of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy with respect to all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations; (ii) any waiver or modification of or supplement to any provision of any agreement relating to the Guaranteed Obligations; (iii) any release, non-perfection, or invalidity of any indirect or direct security for the obligations of any Borrower for all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations or any obligations of any other Obligated Party liable for any of the Guaranteed Obligations; (iv) any action or failure to act by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender with respect to any collateral securing any part of the Guaranteed Obligations; or (v) any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the payment or performance of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, or any other circumstance, act, omission or delay that might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of such Loan Guarantor or that would otherwise operate as a discharge of any Loan Guarantor as a matter of law or equity (other than the Payment in Full of the Guaranteed Obligations).

 

SECTION 10.04 Defenses Waived. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Loan Guarantor hereby waives any defense based on or arising out of any defense of any Borrower or any Loan Guarantor or the unenforceability of all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations from any cause, or the cessation from any cause of the liability of any Borrower, any Loan Guarantor or any other Obligated Party, other than the Payment in Full of the Guaranteed Obligations. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Loan Guarantor irrevocably waives acceptance hereof, presentment, demand, protest and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any notice not provided for herein, as well as any requirement that at any time any action be taken by any Person against any Obligated Party, or any other Person. Each Loan Guarantor confirms that it is not a surety under any state law and shall not raise any such law as a defense to its obligations hereunder. The Administrative Agent may, at its election, foreclose on any Collateral held by it by one or more judicial or nonjudicial sales, accept an assignment of any such Collateral in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise act or fail to act with respect to any collateral securing all or a part of the Guaranteed Obligations, compromise or adjust any part of the Guaranteed Obligations, make any other accommodation with any Obligated Party or exercise any other right or remedy available to it against any Obligated Party, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of such Loan Guarantor under this Loan Guaranty, except to the extent the Guaranteed Obligations have been Paid in Full. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Loan Guarantor waives any defense arising out of any such election even though that election may operate, pursuant to applicable law, to impair or extinguish any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of any Loan Guarantor against any Obligated Party or any security.

 

SECTION 10.05 Rights of Subrogation. No Loan Guarantor will assert any right, claim or cause of action, including, without limitation, a claim of subrogation, contribution or indemnification that it has against any Obligated Party, or any collateral, until the Loan Parties and the Loan Guarantors have fully performed all their obligations to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders.

 

 

SECTION 10.06 Reinstatement; Stay of Acceleration. If at any time any payment of any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations (including a payment effected through exercise of a right of setoff) is rescinded, or must otherwise be restored or returned upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of any Borrower or otherwise (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by a Secured Party in its discretion), each Loan Guarantor’s obligations under this Loan Guaranty with respect to that payment shall be reinstated at such time as though the payment had not been made and whether or not the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders are in possession of this Loan Guaranty. If acceleration of the time for payment of any of the Guaranteed Obligations is stayed upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of any Borrower, all such amounts otherwise subject to acceleration under the terms of any agreement relating to the Guaranteed Obligations shall nonetheless be payable by the Loan Guarantors forthwith on demand by the Administrative Agent.

  

SECTION 10.07 Information. Each Loan Guarantor assumes all responsibility for being and keeping itself informed of the Borrowers’ financial condition and assets, and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Guaranteed Obligations and the nature, scope and extent of the risks that each Loan Guarantor assumes and incurs under this Loan Guaranty, and agrees that none of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender shall have any duty to advise any Loan Guarantor of information known to it regarding those circumstances or risks.

 

SECTION 10.08 Termination. Each of the Lenders and the Issuing Bank may continue to make loans or extend credit to the Borrowers based on this Loan Guaranty until five (5) days after it receives written notice of termination from any Loan Guarantor. Notwithstanding receipt of any such notice, each Loan Guarantor will continue to be liable to the Lenders for any Guaranteed Obligations created, assumed or committed to prior to the fifth day after receipt of the notice, and all subsequent renewals, extensions, modifications and amendments with respect to, or substitutions for, all or any part of such Guaranteed Obligations. Nothing in this Section 10.08 shall be deemed to constitute a waiver of, or eliminate, limit, reduce or otherwise impair any rights or remedies the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have in respect of, any Default or Event of Default that shall exist under clause (o) of Article VII hereof as a result of any such notice of termination.

 

SECTION 10.09 Taxes. Each payment of the Guaranteed Obligations will be made by each Loan Guarantor without withholding for any Taxes, unless such withholding is required by applicable law. If any Loan Guarantor determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it is so required to withhold Taxes, then such Loan Guarantor may so withhold and shall timely pay the full amount of withheld Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law. If such Taxes are Indemnified Taxes, then the amount payable by such Loan Guarantor shall be increased as necessary so that, net of such withholding (including such withholding applicable to additional amounts payable under this Section), the Administrative Agent, Lender or Issuing Bank (as the case may be) receives the amount it would have received had no such withholding been made.

 

SECTION 10.10 Maximum Liability. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Loan Guaranty, the amount guaranteed by each Loan Guarantor hereunder shall be limited to the extent, if any, required so that its obligations hereunder shall not be subject to avoidance under Section 548 of the Bankruptcy Code or under any applicable state Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act, Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, Uniform Voidable Transactions Act or similar statute or common law. In determining the limitations, if any, on the amount of any Loan Guarantor’s obligations hereunder pursuant to the preceding sentence, it is the intention of the parties hereto that any rights of subrogation, indemnification or contribution which such Loan Guarantor may have under this Loan Guaranty, any other agreement or applicable law shall be taken into account.

 

  

SECTION 10.11 Contribution.

 

(a)            To the extent that any Loan Guarantor shall make a payment under this Loan Guaranty (a “Guarantor Payment”) which, taking into account all other Guarantor Payments then previously or concurrently made by any other Loan Guarantor, exceeds the amount which otherwise would have been paid by or attributable to such Loan Guarantor if each Loan Guarantor had paid the aggregate Guaranteed Obligations satisfied by such Guarantor Payment in the same proportion as such Loan Guarantor’s “Allocable Amount” (as defined below) (as determined immediately prior to such Guarantor Payment) bore to the aggregate Allocable Amounts of each of the Loan Guarantors as determined immediately prior to the making of such Guarantor Payment, then, following indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Guarantor Payment, the Payment in Full of the Guaranteed Obligations and the termination of this Agreement, such Loan Guarantor shall be entitled to receive contribution and indemnification payments from, and be reimbursed by, each other Loan Guarantor for the amount of such excess, pro rata based upon their respective Allocable Amounts in effect immediately prior to such Guarantor Payment.

 

(b)            As of any date of determination, the “Allocable Amount” of any Loan Guarantor shall be equal to the excess of the fair saleable value of the property of such Loan Guarantor over the total liabilities of such Loan Guarantor (including the maximum amount reasonably expected to become due in respect of contingent liabilities, calculated, without duplication, assuming each other Loan Guarantor that is also liable for such contingent liability pays its ratable share thereof), giving effect to all payments made by other Loan Guarantors as of such date in a manner to maximize the amount of such contributions.

 

(c)            This Section 10.11 is intended only to define the relative rights of the Loan Guarantors, and nothing set forth in this Section 10.11 is intended to or shall impair the obligations of the Loan Guarantors, jointly and severally, to pay any amounts as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Loan Guaranty.

 

(d)            The parties hereto acknowledge that the rights of contribution and indemnification hereunder shall constitute assets of the Loan Guarantor or Loan Guarantors to which such contribution and indemnification is owing.

 

(e)            The rights of the indemnifying Loan Guarantors against other Loan Guarantors under this Section 10.11 shall be exercisable upon the Payment in Full of the Guaranteed Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

 

SECTION 10.12 Liability Cumulative. The liability of each Loan Party as a Loan Guarantor under this Article X is in addition to and shall be cumulative with all liabilities of each Loan Party to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party or in respect of any obligations or liabilities of the other Loan Parties, without any limitation as to amount, unless the instrument or agreement evidencing or creating such other liability specifically provides to the contrary.

  

SECTION 10.13 Keepwell. Each Qualified ECP Guarantor hereby jointly and severally absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to provide such funds or other support as may be needed from time to time by each other Guarantor to honor all of its obligations under this Guarantee in respect of a Swap Obligation (provided, however, that each Qualified ECP Guarantor shall only be liable under this Section 10.13 for the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering its obligations under this Section 10.13 or otherwise under this Loan Guaranty voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not for any greater amount). Except as otherwise provided herein, the obligations of each Qualified ECP Guarantor under this Section 10.13 shall remain in full force and effect until the termination of all Swap Obligations. Each Qualified ECP Guarantor intends that this Section 10.13 constitute, and this Section 10.13 shall be deemed to constitute, a “keepwell, support, or other agreement” for the benefit of each other Loan Party for all purposes of Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

Article XI
the borrower representative

 

SECTION 11.01 Appointment; Nature of Relationship. Tile Shop LLC is hereby appointed by each of the Loan Parties as its contractual representative (herein referred to as the “Borrower Representative”) hereunder and under each other Loan Document, and each of the Loan Parties irrevocably authorizes the Borrower Representative to act as the contractual representative of such Loan Party with the rights and duties expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents. The Borrower Representative agrees to act as such contractual representative upon the express conditions contained in this Article XI. Additionally, the Borrowers hereby appoint the Borrower Representative as their agent to receive all of the proceeds of the Loans in the Funding Account(s), at which time the Borrower Representative shall promptly disburse such Loans to the appropriate Borrower(s). The Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and their respective officers, directors, agents or employees, shall not be liable to the Borrower Representative or any Loan Party for any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Borrower Representative or the Loan Parties pursuant to this Section 11.01.

 

SECTION 11.02 Powers. The Borrower Representative shall have and may exercise such powers under the Loan Documents as are specifically delegated to the Borrower Representative by the terms of each thereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The Borrower Representative shall have no implied duties to the Loan Parties, or any obligation to the Lenders to take any action thereunder except any action specifically provided by the Loan Documents to be taken by the Borrower Representative.

 

SECTION 11.03 Employment of Agents. The Borrower Representative may execute any of its duties as the Borrower Representative hereunder and under any other Loan Document by or through authorized officers.

 

 

SECTION 11.04 Notices. Each Loan Party shall immediately notify the Borrower Representative of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default hereunder, refer to this Agreement, describe such Default or Event of Default, and state that such notice is a “notice of default”. In the event that the Borrower Representative receives such a notice, the Borrower Representative shall give prompt notice thereof to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders. Any notice provided to the Borrower Representative hereunder shall constitute notice to each Loan Party on the date received by the Borrower Representative.

  

SECTION 11.05 Successor Borrower Representative. Upon the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, the Borrower Representative may resign at any time, such resignation to be effective upon the appointment of a successor Borrower Representative. The Administrative Agent shall give prompt written notice of such resignation to the Lenders.

 

SECTION 11.06 Execution of Loan Documents. The Loan Parties hereby empower and authorize the Borrower Representative, on behalf of the Loan Parties, to execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders the Loan Documents and all related agreements, certificates, documents, or instruments as shall be necessary or appropriate to effect the purposes of the Loan Documents, including, without limitation, the Compliance Certificates. Each Borrower agrees that any action taken by the Borrower Representative or the Loan Parties in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, and the exercise by the Borrower Representative of its powers set forth therein or herein, together with such other powers that are reasonably incidental thereto, shall be binding upon all of the Loan Parties.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

  

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

THE TILE SHOP, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company
By:	/s/ Karla Lunan
Name: Karla Lunan
Title: Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

 

[SIGNATURES CONTINUE ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES]

 

 

TILE SHOP HOLDINGS, INC.,
a Delaware corporation
By:	/s/ Karla Lunan
Name: Karla Lunan
Title: Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

 

 

THE TILE SHOP OF MICHIGAN, LLC,
a Michigan limited liability company
By:	/s/ Karla Lunan
Name: Karla Lunan
Title: Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

 

 

TILE SHOP LENDING, INC.,
a Delaware corporation
By:	/s/ Karla Lunan
Name: Karla Lunan
Title: Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

 

[SIGNATURES CONTINUE ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES]

 

 

	JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., individually, and as Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender and Issuing Bank
	By:	/s/ Martin Cherney
	Name:	Martin Cherney
	Title:	Authorized Officer

 

[SIGNATURES CONTINUE ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES]

 

 

	FIFTH THIRD BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender
	By:	/s/ Sean Hetzman
	Name:	Sean Hetzman
	Title:	Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

THIS PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT (as it may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Security Agreement”) is entered into as of September 30, 2022, by and among THE TILE SHOP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Tile Shop LLC”), TILE SHOP LENDING, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Tile Shop Lending”), TILE SHOP HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Holdings”), THE TILE SHOP OF MICHIGAN, LLC, a Michigan limited liability company (“TS Michigan”), and any additional entities which become parties to this Security Agreement by executing a Security Agreement Supplement hereto in substantially the form of Annex I hereto (such additional entities, together with Tile Shop LLC, Tile Shop Lending, Holdings, and TS Michigan, each a “Grantor”, and collectively, the “Grantors”), and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent (the “Administrative Agent”) for the lenders party to the Credit Agreement referred to below.

 

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

 

Tile Shop LLC and Tile Shop Lending (the “Borrowers”, and each a “Borrower”), each Grantor, as a Loan Guarantor, the other Loan Parties and the Lenders are entering into a Credit Agreement dated as of September 30, 2022 (as it may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”). Each Grantor is entering into this Security Agreement in order to induce the Lenders to enter into and extend credit to the Borrowers under the Credit Agreement and to secure the Secured Obligations that it has agreed to guarantee pursuant to Article X of the Credit Agreement.

 

ACCORDINGLY, the Grantors and the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

 

1.1.          Terms Defined in Credit Agreement. All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

 

1.2.          Terms Defined in UCC. Terms defined in the UCC which are not otherwise defined in this Security Agreement are used herein as defined in the UCC.

 

1.3.          Definitions of Certain Terms Used Herein. As used in this Security Agreement, in addition to the terms defined in the first paragraph hereof and in the Preliminary Statement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

“Accounts” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

 

“Applicable IP Office” means the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office or any similar office or agency within or, solely in the case of Section 4.7, outside the United States.

 

“Article” means a numbered article of this Security Agreement, unless another document is specifically referenced.

 

“Chattel Paper” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

 

“Closing Date” means the date of the Credit Agreement.

 

“Collateral” shall have the meaning set forth in Article II.

 

 

“Collateral Access Agreement” means any landlord waiver or other agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, between the Administrative Agent and any third party (including any bailee, consignee, customs broker, or other similar Person) in possession of any Collateral or any landlord of any real property where any Collateral is located, as such landlord waiver or other agreement may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

“Commercial Tort Claims” means commercial tort claims as defined in Article 9 of the UCC, including each commercial tort claim specifically described on Exhibit I.

 

“Confirmatory Grant” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.10(e).

 

“Control” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 8 or, if applicable, in Section 9-104, 9-105, 9-106 or 9-107 of Article 9 of the UCC.

 

“Copyrights” means, with respect to any Person, all of such Person’s rights, title and interests (and all related IP Ancillary Rights) arising under any Requirement of Law in or relating to copyrights and all mask works, database and design rights, whether or not registered or published, all registrations and recordations thereof and all applications in connection therewith.

 

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

 

“Deposit Account Control Agreement” means an agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, among any Grantor, a banking institution holding such Grantor’s funds, and the Administrative Agent with respect to collection and control of all deposits and balances held in a deposit account maintained by such Grantor with such banking institution.

 

“Deposit Accounts” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

 

“Documents” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

 

“Equipment” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

 

“Event of Default” means an event described in Section 5.1.

 

“Excluded Deposit Account” means a deposit account the balance of which consists exclusively of (and is identified when established as an account established solely for the purposes of (a) amounts held for taxes (including, without limitation, sales tax and withheld income Taxes and federal, state, local or foreign employment Taxes in such amounts as are required in the reasonable judgment of a Grantor to be paid to the IRS or any other U.S., federal, state or local or foreign government agencies within the following month with respect to employees of such Grantor, (b) amounts required to be paid over to an employee benefit plan pursuant to DOL Reg. Sec. 2510.3-102 on behalf of or for the benefit of employees of any Grantor), (c) amounts which are required to be pledged or otherwise provided as security pursuant to any requirement of any Governmental Authority or foreign pension requirement, (d) amounts to be used to fund payroll obligations (including, but not limited to, amounts payable to any employment contracts between any Grantor and their respective employees), (e) zero balance accounts; provided that such accounts balance to zero on every Business Day, (f) amounts maintained solely in trust for the benefit of third parties and fiduciary accounts, (g) escrow accounts, and (h) other deposit accounts maintained in the ordinary course of business containing cash amounts that do not exceed at any time $100,000 for any such account.

 

“Exhibit” refers to a specific exhibit to this Security Agreement, unless another document is specifically referenced.

 

 

“Fixtures” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

 

“General Intangibles” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

 

“Goods” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

 

“Industrial Designs” means, with respect to any Person, all of such Person’s right, title and interest (and all related IP Ancillary Rights) arising under any Requirement of Law in or relating to registered industrial designs and industrial design applications.

 

“Instruments” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

 

“Intellectual Property” means all rights, title and interests in or relating to all Copyrights, Patents, Industrial Designs, Software, Trademarks, Internet Domain Names, Trade Secrets and IP Licenses and all IP Ancillary Rights relating thereto.

 

“Internet Domain Name” means, with respect to any Person, all of such Person’s right, title and interest (and all related IP Ancillary Rights) arising under any Requirement of Law in or relating to internet domain names.

 

“Inventory” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

 

“Investment Property” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

 

“IP Ancillary Rights” means, with respect to any Intellectual Property, as applicable, all foreign counterparts to, and all divisionals, reversions, continuations, continuations-in-part, reissues, reexaminations, renewals and extensions of, such Intellectual Property and all income, royalties, proceeds and Liabilities at any time due or payable or asserted under or with respect to any of the foregoing or otherwise with respect to such Intellectual Property throughout the world, including all rights to sue or recover at law or in equity for any past, present or future infringement, misappropriation, dilution, violation or other impairment thereof, and, in each case, all rights to obtain any other IP Ancillary Right throughout the world.

 

“IP License” means all contractual obligations (and all related IP Ancillary Rights), whether written or oral, granting any right, title and interest in or relating to any Intellectual Property.

 

“Lenders” means the lenders party to the Credit Agreement and their successors and permitted assigns.

 

“Letter-of-Credit Rights” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

 

“Liabilities” mean all claims, actions, suits, judgments, damages, losses, liability, obligations, responsibilities, fines, penalties, sanctions, costs, fees, Taxes, commissions, charges, disbursements and expenses (including those incurred upon any appeal or in connection with the preparation for and/or response to any subpoena or request for document production relating thereto), in each case of any kind or nature (including interest accrued thereon or as a result thereto and fees, charges and disbursements of financial, legal and other advisors and consultants), whether joint or several, whether or not indirect, contingent, consequential, actual, punitive, treble or otherwise.

 

“Material Intellectual Property” means Intellectual Property that is owned by or licensed to a Grantor and material to the conduct of such Grantor’s business.

 

“Member Rights” means, in connection with any Pledged Collateral, all control rights of the owner of such Pledged Collateral, including without limitation all voting rights, all financial rights, all governance rights and all rights to be a member of and participate in the management of the business and affairs of the issuer of such Pledged Collateral, and all other rights and powers of such owner with respect to such issuer.

 

 

“Patents” mean, with respect to any Person, all of such Person’s rights, title and interests (and all related IP Ancillary Rights) arising under any Requirement of Law in or relating to letters patent and applications therefor.

 

“Pledged Collateral” means, collectively, all (a) Instruments of the Grantors, (b) Securities of the Grantors, (c) other Investment Property of the Grantors, and (d) General Intangibles of the Grantors consisting of Equity Interests of a limited liability company; in each case whether or not physically delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Security Agreement.

 

“Receivables” means the Accounts, Chattel Paper, Documents, Investment Property, Instruments and any other rights or claims to receive money which are General Intangibles or which are otherwise included as Collateral.

 

“Section” means a numbered section of this Security Agreement, unless another document is specifically referenced.

 

“Secured Parties” shall have the meaning set forth in the Credit Agreement.

 

“Security” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 8 of the UCC.

 

“Software” means (a) all computer programs, including source code and object code versions, (b) all data, databases and compilations of data, whether machine readable or otherwise, and (c) all documentation, training materials and configurations related to any of the foregoing.

 

“Security Agreement Supplement” shall mean any Security Agreement Supplement to this Security Agreement in substantially the form of Annex I hereto executed by an entity that becomes a Grantor under this Security Agreement after the date hereof.

 

“Stock Rights” means all dividends, instruments or other distributions and any other right or property which the Grantors shall receive or shall become entitled to receive for any reason whatsoever with respect to, in substitution for or in exchange for any Equity Interest constituting Collateral, any right to receive an Equity Interest and any right to receive earnings, in which the Grantors now have or hereafter acquire any right, issued by an issuer of such Equity Interest.

 

“Supporting Obligations” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

 

“Trade Secrets” mean, with respect to any Person all of such Person’s right, title and interest (and all related IP Ancillary Rights) arising under any Requirement of Law in or relating to proprietary, confidential and/or non-public information, however documented, including but not limited to confidential ideas, know-how, concepts, methods, processes, formulae, reports, data, customer lists, mailing lists, business plans and all other trade secrets.

 

“Trademarks” mean, with respect to any Person, all of such Person’s rights, title and interests (and all related IP Ancillary Rights) arising under any Requirement of Law in or relating to trademarks, trade names, corporate names, company names, business names, fictitious business names, trade styles, service marks, logos and other source or business identifiers and, in each case, all goodwill associated therewith, all registrations and recordations thereof and all applications in connection therewith.

 

“UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code, as in effect from time to time, of the State of New York or of any other state the laws of which are required as a result thereof to be applied in connection with the attachment, perfection or priority of, or remedies with respect to, Administrative Agent’s or any other Secured Party’s Lien on any Collateral.

 

 

The foregoing definitions shall be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.

 

ARTICLE II

GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST

 

Each Grantor hereby pledges, assigns and grants to the Administrative Agent, on behalf of and for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in all of such Grantor’s right, title and interest in, to and under all personal property and other assets, whether now owned by or owing to, or hereafter acquired by or arising in favor of such Grantor (including under any trade name or derivations thereof), and whether owned or consigned by or to, or leased from or to, such Grantor, and regardless of where located (all of which will be collectively referred to as the “Collateral”), including:

 

(i)

all Accounts;

 

(ii)

all Chattel Paper;

 

(iii)

all Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks;

 

(iv)

all Documents;

 

(v)

all Equipment;

 

(vi)

all Fixtures;

 

(vii)

all General Intangibles;

 

(viii)

all Goods;

 

(ix)

all Instruments;

 

(x)

all Inventory;

 

(xi)

all Investment Property;

 

(xii)

all cash or cash equivalents;

 

(xiii)

all letters of credit, Letter-of-Credit Rights and Supporting Obligations;

 

(xiv)

all Commercial Tort Claims;

 

(xv)

all Deposit Accounts with any bank or other financial institution;

 

(xvi)

all Member Rights; and

 

(xvii)

all accessions to, substitutions for and replacements, proceeds (including Stock Rights), insurance proceeds and products of the foregoing, together with all books and records, customer lists, credit files, computer files, programs, printouts and other computer materials and records related thereto and any General Intangibles at any time evidencing or relating to any of the foregoing;

 

to secure the prompt and complete payment and performance of the Secured Obligations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the property subject to the security interest granted herein is limited to the Collateral and expressly excludes the Excluded Assets.

 

 

ARTICLE III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

Each Grantor represents and warrants, and each Grantor that becomes a party to this Security Agreement pursuant to the execution of a Security Agreement Supplement represents and warrants (after giving effect to supplements, if any, to each of the Exhibits hereto with respect to such Grantor as attached to such Security Agreement Supplement), to the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties that:

 

3.1.          Title, Authorization, Validity, Enforceability, Perfection and Priority. Such Grantor has good and valid rights in or the power to transfer the Collateral and title to the Collateral with respect to which it has purported to grant a security interest hereunder, free and clear of all Liens except for Liens permitted under Section 4.1(e), and has the requisite power and authority to grant to the Administrative Agent the security interest in the Collateral pursuant hereto. The execution and delivery by such Grantor of this Security Agreement has been duly authorized by proper corporate or limited liability company proceedings of such Grantor (as applicable), and this Security Agreement constitutes a legal valid and binding obligation of such Grantor and creates a security interest which is enforceable against such Grantor in all Collateral it now owns or hereafter acquires, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law. When duly completed financing statements have been filed in the appropriate offices against such Grantor in the locations listed on Exhibit H, the Administrative Agent will have a fully perfected first priority security interest in that Collateral of such Grantor in which a security interest may be perfected by filing a financing statement under the UCC, subject only to Liens permitted under Section 4.1(e).

 

3.2.          Type and Jurisdiction of Organization, Organizational and Identification Numbers. The type of entity of such Grantor, its state of organization, the organizational number issued to it by its state of organization and its federal employer identification number are set forth on Exhibit A.

 

3.3.          Principal Location. Such Grantor’s mailing address and the location of its place of business (if it has only one) or its chief executive office (if it has more than one place of business), are disclosed in Exhibit A; such Grantor has no other places of business except those set forth in Exhibit A.

 

3.4.          Collateral Locations. As of the Closing Date, All of such Grantor’s locations where Collateral is located (when not in transit) are listed on Exhibit A. All of said locations are owned by such Grantor except for locations (i) which are leased by the Grantor as lessee and designated in Part VII(b) of Exhibit A and (ii) at which Inventory is held in a warehouse or is otherwise held by a bailee or on consignment as designated in Part VII(c) of Exhibit A.

 

3.5.          Deposit Accounts. All of such Grantor’s Deposit Accounts are listed on Exhibit B.

 

3.6.          Exact Names. Such Grantor’s name in which it has executed this Security Agreement is the exact name as it appears in such Grantor’s organizational documents, as amended, as filed with such Grantor’s jurisdiction of organization. Such Grantor has not, during the past five years, been known by or used any other corporate or fictitious name, or been a party to any merger or consolidation, or been a party to any acquisition.

 

3.7.          Letter-of-Credit Rights and Chattel Paper. Exhibit C lists all Letter-of-Credit Rights and Chattel Paper held by such Grantor. All action by such Grantor necessary or desirable to protect and perfect the Administrative Agent’s Lien on each item listed on Exhibit C (including the delivery of all originals and the placement of a legend on all Chattel Paper as required hereunder) has been duly taken. The Administrative Agent will have a fully perfected first priority security interest in the Collateral listed on Exhibit C, subject only to Liens permitted under Section 4.1(e).

 

3.8.          Accounts and Chattel Paper.

 

(a)            The names of the obligors, amounts owing, due dates and other information with respect to its Accounts and Chattel Paper owned by such Grantor are and will be correctly stated in all records of such Grantor relating thereto and in all invoices with respect thereto furnished to the Administrative Agent by such Grantor from time to time. As of the time when each Account or each item of Chattel Paper arises, such Grantor shall be deemed to have represented and warranted that such Account or Chattel Paper, as the case may be, and all records relating thereto, are genuine and in all respects what they purport to be.

 

(b)            With respect to its Accounts, all Accounts represent bona fide sales of Inventory or rendering of services to Account Debtors in the ordinary course of such Grantor’s business and are not evidenced by a judgment, Instrument or Chattel Paper;

 

 

3.9.          Inventory. With respect to any of its Inventory (a) no Inventory (other than Inventory in transit) is now, or shall at any time or times hereafter be stored at any other location except as permitted by Section 4.1(g), (c) such Grantor has good, indefeasible and merchantable title to such Inventory and such Inventory is not subject to any Lien or security interest or document whatsoever except for the security interest granted to the Administrative Agent hereunder, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and Secured Parties, and Permitted Encumbrances, (d) such Inventory is of good and merchantable quality, (e) such Inventory has been produced, in accordance with, in all material respects, the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, and all rules, regulations and orders thereunder.

 

3.10.        Intellectual Property.

 

(a)            Exhibit D contains a complete and accurate listing of the following Intellectual Property such Grantor owns, licenses or otherwise has the right to use: (i) Intellectual Property that is registered or subject to applications for registration, (ii) Internet Domain Names and (iii) Material Intellectual Property and material Software, separately identifying that owned and licensed to such Grantor and including for each of the foregoing items (1) the owner, (2) the title, (3) the jurisdiction in which such item has been registered or otherwise arises or in which an application for registration has been filed, (4) as applicable, the registration or application number and registration or application date and (5) any IP Licenses or other rights (including franchises) granted by such Grantor with respect thereto. Such Grantor owns directly or is entitled to use, by license or otherwise, all Intellectual Property necessary for the conduct of such Grantor’s business as currently conducted. All of the U.S. registrations, applications for registration or applications for issuance of the Intellectual Property are in good standing and are recorded or in the process of being recorded in the name of such Grantor.

 

(b)            On the Effective Date, all Material Intellectual Property owned by such Grantor is valid, in full force and effect, subsisting, unexpired and enforceable, and no Material Intellectual Property has been abandoned. None of the following shall limit or impair the ownership, use, validity or enforceability of, or any rights of such Grantor in, any Material Intellectual Property: (i) the consummation of the transactions contemplated by any Loan Documents or (ii) any holding, decision, judgment or order rendered by any Governmental Authority. There are no pending (or, to the knowledge of such Grantor, threatened) actions, investigations, suits, proceedings, audits, claims, demands, orders or disputes challenging the ownership, use, validity, enforceability of, or such Grantor’s rights in, any Material Intellectual Property of such Grantor. To such Grantor’s knowledge, no Person has been or is infringing, misappropriating, diluting, violating or otherwise impairing any Intellectual Property of such Grantor.

 

(c)           Such Grantor has taken or caused to be taken steps so that none of its Material Intellectual Property, the value of which to such Grantor is contingent upon maintenance of the confidentiality thereof, has been disclosed by such Grantor to any Person other than employees, contractors, customers, representatives and agents of such Grantor who are parties to customary confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements with such Grantor. Each employee and contractor of such Grantor involved in development or creation of any Material Intellectual Property has assigned any and all inventions and ideas of such Person in and to such Intellectual Property to such Grantor.

 

(d)           No settlement or consents, covenants not to sue, nonassertion assurances, or releases have been entered into by such Grantor or exist to which such Grantor is bound that adversely affect its rights to own or use any Intellectual Property except as could not be reasonably expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, in each case individually or in the aggregate.

 

 

(e)           This Security Agreement is effective to create a valid and continuing Lien on such Copyrights, IP Licenses, Patents and Trademarks owned by such Grantor and, upon filing with the Applicable IP Office of the Confirmatory Grant of Security Interest in Copyrights, the Confirmatory Grant of Security Interest in Patents and the Confirmatory Grant of Security Interest in Trademarks (each, a “Confirmatory Grant”), and the filing of duly completed appropriate financing statements in the jurisdictions listed in Exhibit H hereto and the payment of all required recording and filing fees, all action necessary or desirable to protect and perfect the security interest in, to and on such Grantor’s Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, or IP Licenses have been taken and such perfected security interest is enforceable as such as against any and all creditors of and purchasers from such Grantor. Such Grantor has no interest in any Copyright that is necessary in connection with the operation of such Grantor’s business, except for those Copyrights identified in Exhibit D attached hereto which have been registered with the United States Copyright Office.

 

3.11.        Filing Requirements. None of its Equipment is covered by any certificate of title, except for the vehicles described in Part I of Exhibit E. None of the Collateral owned by it is of a type for which security interests or liens may be perfected by filing under any federal statute except for (a) the vehicles described in Part II of Exhibit E and (b) Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights held by such Grantor and described in Exhibit D. The street address of each property on which any Fixtures are located is set forth in Exhibit F together with the name and address of the record owner of each such property.

 

3.12.        No Financing Statements, Security Agreements. No financing statement or security agreement describing all or any portion of the Collateral which has not lapsed or been terminated (by a filing authorized by the secured party in respect thereof) naming such Grantor as debtor has been filed or is of record in any jurisdiction except for financing statements or security agreements (a) naming the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties as the secured party and (b) in respect of other Liens permitted under Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement.

 

3.13.        Pledged Collateral.

 

(a)            Exhibit G sets forth a complete and accurate list of all of the Pledged Collateral owned by such Grantor. Such Grantor is the direct, sole beneficial owner and sole holder of record of the Pledged Collateral listed on Exhibit G as being owned by it, free and clear of any Liens, except for the security interest granted to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties hereunder and Permitted Encumbrances. Such Grantor further represents and warrants that (i) all Pledged Collateral owned by it constituting an Equity Interest has been (to the extent such concepts are relevant with respect to such Pledged Collateral) duly authorized, validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, (ii) with respect to any certificates delivered to the Administrative Agent representing an Equity Interest, either such certificates are Securities as defined in Article 8 of the UCC of the applicable jurisdiction as a result of actions by the issuer or otherwise, or, if such certificates are not Securities, such Grantor has so informed the Administrative Agent so that the Administrative Agent may take steps to perfect its security interest therein as a General Intangible, (iii) to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent, all such Pledged Collateral held by a securities intermediary is covered by a control agreement among such Grantor, the securities intermediary and the Administrative Agent pursuant to which the Administrative Agent has Control and (iv) all Pledged Collateral which represents Indebtedness owed to such Grantor has been duly authorized, authenticated or issued and delivered by the issuer of such Indebtedness, is the legal, valid and binding obligation of such issuer and such issuer is not in default thereunder.

 

(b)            In addition, (i) none of the Pledged Collateral owned by it has been issued or transferred in violation of the securities registration, securities disclosure or similar laws of any jurisdiction to which such issuance or transfer may be subject, (ii) no options, warrants, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever (A) exist relating to such Pledged Collateral or (B) obligate the issuer of any Equity Interest included in the Pledged Collateral to issue additional Equity Interests, and (iii) no consent, approval, authorization, or other action by, and no giving of notice, filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is required for the pledge by such Grantor of such Pledged Collateral pursuant to this Security Agreement or for the execution, delivery and performance of this Security Agreement by such Grantor, or for the exercise by the Administrative Agent of the voting or other rights provided for in this Security Agreement or for the remedies in respect of the Pledged Collateral pursuant to this Security Agreement, except as may be required in connection with such disposition by laws affecting the offering and sale of securities generally.

 

 

(c)            Except as set forth in Exhibit G, such Grantor owns 100% of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests which constitute Pledged Collateral owned by it and none of the Pledged Collateral which represents Indebtedness owed to such Grantor is subordinated in right of payment to other Indebtedness or subject to the terms of an indenture.

 

ARTICLE IV

COVENANTS

 

From the date of this Security Agreement and thereafter until this Security Agreement is terminated pursuant to the terms hereof, each Grantor party hereto as of the date hereof agrees, and from and after the effective date of any Security Agreement Supplement applicable to any Grantor (and after giving effect to supplements, if any, to each of the Exhibits hereto with respect to such subsequent Grantor as attached to such Security Agreement Supplement) and thereafter until this Security Agreement is terminated pursuant to the terms hereof, each such additional Grantor agrees that:

 

4.1.          General.

 

(a)            Collateral Records. Such Grantor will maintain complete and accurate books and records with respect to the Collateral owned by it, and furnish to the Administrative Agent with sufficient copies for each of the Lenders, such reports relating to such Collateral as the Administrative Agent shall from time to time reasonably request.

 

(b)           Authorization to File Financing Statements; Ratification. Such Grantor hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to file, and if requested will deliver to the Administrative Agent, all financing statements describing the Collateral and other documents and take such other actions as may from time to time be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent in order to maintain a first perfected security interest in and, if applicable, Control of, the Collateral owned by such Grantor subject to Liens permitted hereunder or under Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement. Any financing statement filed by the Administrative Agent may be filed in any filing office in any UCC jurisdiction and may (i) indicate such Grantor’s Collateral (1) as all assets of the Grantor or words of similar effect, regardless of whether any particular asset comprised in the Collateral falls within the scope of Article 9 of the UCC of such jurisdiction, or (2) by any other description which reasonably approximates the description contained in this Security Agreement; provided, that, in no event shall any other description be construed to broaden the scope of property pledged under this Security Agreement, and (ii) contain any other information required by part 5 of Article 9 of the UCC for the sufficiency or filing office acceptance of any financing statement or amendment, including (A) whether such Grantor is an organization, the type of organization and any organization identification number issued to such Grantor and (B) in the case of a financing statement filed as a fixture filing or indicating such Grantor’s Collateral as as-extracted collateral or timber to be cut, a sufficient description of real property to which the Collateral relates. Such Grantor also agrees to furnish any such information described in the foregoing sentence to the Administrative Agent promptly upon request. Such Grantor also ratifies its authorization for the Administrative Agent to have filed in any UCC jurisdiction any initial financing statements or amendments thereto if filed prior to the date hereof.

 

(c)            Further Assurances. Such Grantor will, if so requested by the Administrative Agent, furnish to the Administrative Agent, as often as the Administrative Agent requests, statements and schedules further identifying and describing the Collateral owned by it and such other reports and information in connection with its Collateral as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, all in such detail as the Administrative Agent may specify. Such Grantor also agrees to take any and all actions necessary to defend title to the Collateral against all persons and to defend the security interest of the Administrative Agent in its Collateral and the priority thereof against any Lien not expressly permitted hereunder or under Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement.

 

 

(d)           Disposition of Collateral. Such Grantor will not sell, lease or otherwise Dispose of the Collateral except for Dispositions specifically permitted pursuant to Section 6.05 of the Credit Agreement.

 

(e)            Liens. Such Grantor will not create, incur, or suffer to exist any Lien on the Collateral except (i) the security interest created by this Security Agreement, and (ii) other Liens permitted under Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement.

 

(f)            Other Financing Statements. Such Grantor will not authorize the filing of any financing statement naming it as debtor covering all or any portion of the Collateral owned by it, except for financing statements (i) naming the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties as the secured party, and (ii) in respect to other Liens permitted under Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement. Such Grantor acknowledges that it is not authorized to file any financing statement or amendment or termination statement with respect to any financing statement filed in connection herewith without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, subject to such Grantor’s rights under Section 9-509(d)(2) of the UCC.

 

(g)            Locations. Such Grantor will not (i) maintain any material Collateral owned by it at any location other than those locations listed on Exhibit A (other than Inventory that is-transit), (ii) otherwise change, or add to, such locations, or (iii) change its principal place of business or chief executive office from the location identified on Exhibit A, unless, in each case of the foregoing clauses (i) through (iii), the Grantors (or any thereof) shall have provided to the Administrative Agent written notice thereof within thirty (30) days of any such change thereof (and if required pursuant to Section 4.13 hereof, use commercially reasonable efforts to deliver a Collateral Access Agreement therefore).

 

(h)            Compliance with Terms. Such Grantor will perform and comply with all material obligations in respect of the Collateral owned by it and all material agreements to which it is a party or by which it is bound relating to such Collateral.

 

4.2.          Receivables.

 

(a)            Certain Agreements on Receivables. Such Grantor will not make or agree to make any discount, credit, rebate or other reduction in the original amount owing on a Receivable or accept in satisfaction of a Receivable less than the original amount thereof, except that, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default, such Grantor may reduce the amount of Accounts in accordance with its present policies and in the ordinary course of business.

 

(b)            Collection of Receivables. Except as otherwise provided in this Security Agreement, such Grantor will collect and enforce, at such Grantor’s sole expense, all amounts due or hereafter due to such Grantor under the Receivables owned by it.

 

(c)            Delivery of Invoices. Such Grantor will deliver to the Administrative Agent immediately upon its request after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default duplicate invoices with respect to each Account owned by it bearing such language of assignment as the Administrative Agent shall specify.

 

(d)            Electronic Chattel Paper. Such Grantor shall take all steps necessary to grant the Administrative Agent Control of all electronic chattel paper in accordance with the UCC and all “transferable records” as defined in each of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act and the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act.

 

 

4.3.          Inventory and Equipment.

 

(a)           Maintenance of Goods. Such Grantor will do all things necessary to maintain, preserve, protect and keep its Inventory and the Equipment in good repair and working and saleable condition, except for damaged or defective goods arising in the ordinary course of such Grantor’s business and except for ordinary wear and tear in respect of the Equipment.

 

(b)           Reserved.

 

(c)            Inventory Count; Perpetual Inventory System. Such Grantor will conduct a physical count of its Inventory at least once per fiscal year, and after and during the continuation of an Event of Default, at such other times as the Administrative Agent requests. Such Grantor, at its own expense, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the results of each physical verification, which such Grantor has made, or has caused any other Person to make on its behalf, of all or any portion of its Inventory. Such Grantor will maintain a perpetual inventory reporting system at all times.

 

(d)            Equipment. Such Grantor shall not permit any material Equipment to become a fixture with respect to real property or to become an accession with respect to other personal property with respect to which real or personal property the Administrative Agent does not have a Lien. Such Grantor will not, without the Administrative Agent’s prior written consent, alter or remove any identifying symbol or number on any of such Grantor’s material Equipment constituting Collateral.

 

4.4.          Delivery of Instruments, Securities, Chattel Paper and Documents. Such Grantor will (a) deliver to the Administrative Agent the originals of all Chattel Paper, Securities and Instruments constituting Collateral owned by it (if any then exist), (b) hold in trust for the Administrative Agent upon receipt and immediately thereafter deliver to the Administrative Agent any Chattel Paper, Securities (to the extent certificated) and Instruments constituting Collateral, (c) upon the Administrative Agent’s written request, deliver to the Administrative Agent (and thereafter hold in trust for the Administrative Agent upon receipt and immediately deliver to the Administrative Agent) any Document evidencing or constituting Collateral.

 

4.5.          Uncertificated Pledged Collateral. Such Grantor will permit the Administrative Agent from time to time to cause the appropriate issuers (and, if held with a securities intermediary, such securities intermediary) of uncertificated securities or other types of Pledged Collateral owned by it not represented by certificates to mark their books and records with the numbers and face amounts of all such uncertificated securities or other types of Pledged Collateral not represented by certificates and all rollovers and replacements therefor to reflect the Lien of the Administrative Agent granted pursuant to this Security Agreement. With respect to any Pledged Collateral owned by it, such Grantor will take any actions necessary to cause (a) the issuers of uncertificated securities which are Pledged Collateral and (b) any securities intermediary which is the holder of any such Pledged Collateral, to cause the Administrative Agent to have and retain Control over such Pledged Collateral. Without limiting the foregoing, such Grantor will, with respect to any such Pledged Collateral held with a securities intermediary, use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such securities intermediary to enter into a control agreement with the Administrative Agent, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, giving the Administrative Agent Control.

 

4.6.          Pledged Collateral.

 

(a)            Changes in Capital Structure of Issuers. Except as permitted by the Credit Agreement, such Grantor will not (i) permit or suffer any issuer of an Equity Interest constituting Pledged Collateral owned by it to dissolve, merge, liquidate, retire any of its Equity Interests or other Instruments or Securities evidencing ownership, reduce its capital, sell or encumber all or substantially all of its assets (except for Permitted Encumbrances and Dispositions permitted pursuant to Section 4.1(d)) or merge or consolidate with any other entity, or (ii) vote any such Pledged Collateral in favor of any of the foregoing.

 

 

(b)            Issuance of Additional Securities. Except as permitted by the Credit Agreement, such Grantor will not permit or suffer the issuer of an Equity Interest constituting Pledged Collateral owned by it to issue additional Equity Interests, any right to receive the same or any right to receive earnings.

 

(c)            Registration of Pledged Collateral. Such Grantor will permit any registerable Pledged Collateral to be registered in the name of the Administrative Agent or its nominee at any time at the option of the Required Lenders.

 

(d)            Exercise of Rights in Pledged Collateral.

 

(i)            Without in any way limiting the foregoing and subject to clause (ii) below, such Grantor shall have the right to exercise all voting rights or other rights relating to the Pledged Collateral owned by it for all purposes not inconsistent with this Security Agreement, the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document; provided however, that no vote or other right shall be exercised or action taken which would have the effect of impairing the rights of the Administrative Agent, in any material respect, in respect of such Pledged Collateral.

 

(ii)            Such Grantor will permit the Administrative Agent or its nominee at any time after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, without notice, to exercise all voting rights or other consensual rights relating to the Pledged Collateral owned by it, including, without limitation, exchange, subscription or any other rights, privileges, or options pertaining to any Equity Interest or Investment Property constituting Pledged Collateral as if it were the absolute owner thereof; and

 

(iii)           Such Grantor shall be entitled to collect and receive for its own use all cash dividends and interest paid in respect of the Pledged Collateral owned by it to the extent not in violation of the Credit Agreement other than any of the following distributions and payments (collectively referred to as the “Excluded Payments”): (A) dividends and interest paid or payable other than in cash in respect of such Pledged Collateral, and instruments and other property received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of, or in exchange for, any Pledged Collateral; (B) dividends and other distributions paid or payable in cash in respect of such Pledged Collateral in connection with a partial or total liquidation or dissolution or in connection with a reduction of capital, capital surplus or paid-in capital of an issuer; and (C) cash paid, payable or otherwise distributed, in respect of principal of, or in redemption of, or in exchange for, such Pledged Collateral; provided however, that until actually paid, all rights to such distributions shall remain subject to the Lien created by this Security Agreement; and

 

(iv)          (A) All non-cash Excluded Payments and all other non-cash distributions in respect of any of the Pledged Collateral owned by such Grantor, whenever paid or made, shall be delivered to the Administrative Agent to hold as Pledged Collateral, (B) all cash Excluded Payments and all other cash distributions in respect of any of the Pledged Collateral owned by such Grantor, whenever paid or made, shall, to the extent required by the mandatory prepayment provision of the Credit Agreement be delivered to the Administrative Agent to hold and apply as provided in the Credit Agreement, and (C) all Excluded Payment shall, if received by such Grantor, be received in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, be segregated from the other property or funds of such Grantor, and be forthwith delivered to the Administrative Agent to the extent required by (iv)(A) or (B) above as Pledged Collateral in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement).

 

(e)           Interests in Limited Liability Companies and Limited Partnerships. Each Grantor agrees that no ownership interests in a limited liability company or a limited partnership which are included within the Collateral owned by such Grantor shall at any time constitute a Security under Article 8 of the UCC of the applicable jurisdiction.

 

 

(f)            Waiver of Pledged Collateral Rights and Restrictions. Certain provisions of the organizational documents of TS Michigan contain certain limitations in connection with the pledging, mortgaging, hypothecating or otherwise encumbering the Pledged Collateral and Member Rights. It is expressly understood and agreed that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in organizational documents of TS Michigan, the Loan Parties waive any and all such restrictions and limitations, and agree that such limitations shall in no way limit the Secured Parties’ ability to (i) obtain a pledge of the Pledged Collateral or Member Rights or (ii) after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default (A) foreclose upon the Pledged Collateral or Member Rights, (B) sell or transfer the Pledged Collateral or Member Rights.

 

4.7.          Intellectual Property.

 

(a)           After any change to Exhibit D (or the information required to be disclosed thereon), the applicable Grantor shall provide the Administrative Agent notification thereof in the next compliance certificate required to be delivered under the Credit Agreement and, to the extent applicable, the respective Confirmatory Grant as described in this Section 4.7 and any other documents that Administrative Agent reasonably requests with respect thereto.

 

(b)           Such Grantor shall (and shall cause all its licensees to) (i) (1) continue to use each Trademark included in the Material Intellectual Property owned by it in order to maintain such Trademark in full force and effect with respect to each class of goods for which such Trademark is currently used, free from any claim of abandonment for non-use, (2) maintain at least the same standards of quality of products and services offered under such Trademark as are currently maintained, (3) use such Trademark with the appropriate notice of registration and all other notices and legends required by applicable Requirements of Law and (4) not adopt or use any other Trademark that is confusingly similar or a colorable imitation of such Trademark unless Administrative Agent shall obtain a perfected security interest in such other Trademark pursuant to this Security Agreement and (ii) not do any act or omit to do any act whereby (w) such Trademark (or any goodwill associated therewith) may become destroyed, invalidated, impaired or harmed in any way, (x) any Patent included in the Material Intellectual Property may become forfeited, misused, unenforceable, abandoned or dedicated to the public, (y) any portion of the Copyrights included in the Material Intellectual Property may become invalidated, otherwise impaired or fall into the public domain or (z) any Trade Secret that is Material Intellectual Property may become publicly available or otherwise unprotectable.

 

(c)           Such Grantor shall notify the Administrative Agent immediately if it knows, or has reason to know, that any application or registration relating to any Patent, Trademark, Copyright, or other Material Intellectual Property owned by it may become forfeited, misused, unenforceable, abandoned or dedicated to the public, or of any adverse determination or development regarding the validity or enforceability of such Grantor’s ownership of, interest in, right to use, register, own or maintain any Patent, Trademark, Copyright or other Material Intellectual Property (including the institution of, or any such determination or development in, any proceeding relating to the foregoing in any Applicable IP Office). Such Grantor shall take all actions that are necessary or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to maintain and pursue each application (and to obtain the relevant registration or recordation) and to maintain each registration and recordation included in the Material Intellectual Property owned by it.

 

(d)           Such Grantor shall not knowingly do any act or omit to do any act to infringe, misappropriate, dilute, violate or otherwise impair the Intellectual Property of any other Person in a manner that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. In the event that any Material Intellectual Property of Such Grantor is or has been infringed, misappropriated, violated, diluted or otherwise impaired by a third party, such Grantor shall, subject to such Grantor’s reasonable business judgment, promptly sue for infringement, misappropriation or dilution and to recover any and all damages for such infringement, misappropriation or dilution, and, after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, shall take such other actions as the Administrative Agent shall deem appropriate under the circumstances to protect such Material Intellectual Property.

 

 

(e)           Such Grantor shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent, to the extent required by Section 4.7(a), to the Administrative Agent in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Agent and suitable for (i) filing in the Applicable IP Office the respective Confirmatory Grant in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent for all Copyrights, Trademarks and Patents of such Grantor.

 

(f)            Such Grantor shall take all commercially reasonable actions necessary or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to maintain and pursue each application, to obtain the relevant registration and to maintain the registration of all Material Intellectual Property owned by it (now or hereafter existing), including the filing of applications for renewal, affidavits of use, affidavits of noncontestability and opposition and interference and cancellation proceedings.

 

4.8           Commercial Tort Claims. Such Grantor shall promptly, and in any event within seven Business Days after the same is acquired by it, notify the Administrative Agent of any Commercial Tort Claim acquired by it and, unless the Administrative Agent otherwise consents, such Grantor shall enter into an amendment to this Security Agreement, in the form of Exhibit J hereto, granting to Administrative Agent a first priority security interest in such Commercial Tort Claim.

 

4.9.          Letter-of-Credit Rights. If such Grantor is or becomes the beneficiary of a letter of credit, it shall promptly, and in any event within five Business Days after becoming a beneficiary, notify the Administrative Agent thereof and, upon the Administrative Agent’ request, use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the issuer and/or confirmation bank to (i) consent to the assignment of any Letter-of-Credit Rights to the Administrative Agent and (ii) agree to direct all payments thereunder to a Deposit Account at the Administrative Agent or subject to a Deposit Account Control Agreement for application to the Secured Obligations, in accordance with Section 2.18 of the Credit Agreement, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

4.10.        Federal, State or Municipal Claims. Such Grantor will promptly notify the Administrative Agent of any Collateral owned by such Grantor which constitutes a claim against the United States government or any state or local government or any instrumentality or agency thereof, the assignment of which claim is restricted by federal, state or municipal law.

 

4.11.        No Interference. Such Grantor agrees that it will not interfere with any right, power and remedy of the Administrative Agent provided for in this Security Agreement or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute or otherwise, or the exercise or beginning of the exercise by the Administrative Agent of any one or more of such rights, powers or remedies, in each case to the extent such right, power or remedy is exercised in accordance herewith and in accordance with applicable law.

 

4.12.        Insurance.

 

(a)           In the event any Collateral is located in any area that has been designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as a “Special Flood Hazard Area”, such Grantor shall purchase and maintain flood insurance on such Collateral (including any personal property which is located on any real property leased by such Grantor within a “Special Flood Hazard Area”). The amount of flood insurance required by this Section shall be in an amount equal to the lesser of the total Commitment or the total replacement cost value of the improvements.

 

(b)            All insurance policies required hereunder and under Section 5.10 of the Credit Agreement shall name the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties) as an additional insured or as lender’s loss payee, as applicable, and shall contain lender loss payable clauses or mortgagee clauses, through endorsements in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, which provide that: (i) all proceeds thereunder with respect to any Collateral shall be payable to the Administrative Agent; (ii) no such insurance shall be affected by any act or neglect of the insured or owner of the property described in such policy; (iii) such policy and lender loss payable or mortgagee clauses may be canceled, amended, or terminated only upon at least thirty (30) days prior written notice given to the Administrative Agent; and (iv) provide that such insurance is primary and will not seek contribution from any other insurance available to the Lender.

 

 

(c)            All premiums on any such insurance shall be paid when due by such Grantor, and copies of the policies delivered to the Administrative Agent. If such Grantor fails to obtain or maintain any insurance as required by this Section, the Administrative Agent may obtain such insurance at the Borrowers’ expense. By purchasing such insurance, the Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have waived any Default arising from a Grantor’s failure to maintain such insurance or pay any premiums therefor.

 

4.13.        Collateral Access Agreements. Such Grantor shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain a Collateral Access Agreement from the lessor of each leased property, mortgagee of owned property or bailee or consignee with respect to any warehouse, processor or converter facility or other location where Collateral that constitutes “books and records” of such Grantor or, at the Administrative Agent’s reasonable request, where a material portion of other Collateral owned by such Grantor, is stored or located, which agreement or letter shall provide access rights, contain a waiver or subordination of all Liens or claims that the landlord, mortgagee, bailee or consignee may assert against the Collateral of such Grantor at that location, and shall otherwise be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Administrative Agent.

 

4.14.        Deposit Account Control Agreements. Such Grantor will use commercially reasonable efforts to provide to the Administrative Agent upon the Administrative Agent’s written request, (a) a Deposit Account Control Agreement duly executed on behalf of each financial institution holding a deposit account (other than an Excluded Deposit Account) of such Grantor as set forth in this Security Agreement; and (b) upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, a Deposit Account Control Agreement duly executed on behalf of each financial institution holding any deposit account of such Grantor that is referred to in clause (f) of the definition of “Excluded Deposit Account”, as set forth in this Security Agreement.

 

4.15.        Change of Name or Location; Change of Fiscal Year. Such Grantor shall not (a) change its name as it appears in official filings in the state of its incorporation or organization, (b) change its chief executive office, principal place of business, mailing address or corporate offices or the location of its records concerning the Collateral as set forth in this Security Agreement, (c) change the type of entity that it is, (d) change its organization identification number, if any, issued by its state of incorporation or other organization, or (e) change its state of incorporation or organization, in each case, unless the Administrative Agent shall have received at least thirty (30) days prior written notice of such change and the Administrative Agent shall have acknowledged in writing that either (1) such change will not adversely affect the validity, perfection or priority of the Administrative Agent’s security interest in the Collateral, or (2) any reasonable action requested by the Administrative Agent in connection therewith has been completed or taken (including any action to continue the perfection of any Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, in any Collateral), provided that, any new location shall be in the continental U.S. Such Grantor shall not change its fiscal year which currently ends on December 31.

 

ARTICLE V

EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

 

5.1.          Events of Default. The occurrence of any one or more of the following events shall constitute an Event of Default hereunder:

 

(a)            [Reserved].

 

(b)            [Reserved].

 

(c)            Any Grantor shall fail to observe or perform any of the terms or provisions of this Security Agreement (other than a breach which constitutes an Event of Default under any other Section of this Article V), and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of 15 days after the earlier of knowledge of such breach or notice thereof from the Administrative Agent.

 

 

(d)            The occurrence of any “Event of Default” under, and as defined in, the Credit Agreement.

 

(e)            Any Equity Interest which is included within the Collateral shall at any time constitute a Security or the issuer of any such Equity Interest shall take any action to have such interests treated as a Security unless (i) all certificates or other documents constituting such Security have been delivered to the Administrative Agent and such Security is properly defined as such under Article 8 of the UCC of the applicable jurisdiction, whether as a result of actions by the issuer thereof or otherwise, or (ii) the Administrative Agent has entered into a control agreement with the issuer of such Security or with a securities intermediary relating to such Security and such Security is defined as such under Article 8 of the UCC of the applicable jurisdiction, whether as a result of actions by the issuer thereof or otherwise.

 

5.2.

Remedies.

 

(a)           Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent may exercise any or all of the following rights and remedies:

 

(i)            those rights and remedies provided in this Security Agreement, the Credit Agreement, or any other Loan Document; provided that, this Section 5.2(a) shall not be understood to limit any rights or remedies available to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties prior to an Event of Default;

 

(ii)            those rights and remedies available to a secured party under the UCC (whether or not the UCC applies to the affected Collateral) or under any other applicable law (including, without limitation, any law governing the exercise of a bank’s right of setoff or bankers’ lien) when a debtor is in default under a security agreement;

 

(iii)            give notice of sole control or any other instruction under any Deposit Account Control Agreement or other control agreement with any securities intermediary and take any action therein with respect to such Collateral;

 

(iv)            without notice (except as specifically provided in Section 8.1 or elsewhere herein), demand or advertisement of any kind to any Grantor or any other Person, enter the premises of any Grantor where any Collateral is located (through self-help and without judicial process) to collect, receive, assemble, process, appropriate, sell, lease, assign, grant an option or options to purchase or otherwise dispose of, deliver, or realize upon, the Collateral or any part thereof in one or more parcels at public or private sale or sales (which sales may be adjourned or continued from time to time with or without notice and may take place at any Grantor’s premises or elsewhere), for cash, on credit or for future delivery without assumption of any credit risk, and upon such other terms as the Administrative Agent may deem commercially reasonable; and

 

(v)            concurrently with written notice to the applicable Grantor, transfer and register in its name or in the name of its nominee the whole or any part of the Pledged Collateral, exchange certificates or instruments representing or evidencing Pledged Collateral for certificates or instruments of smaller or larger denominations, exercise the voting and all other rights as a holder with respect thereto, to collect and receive all cash dividends, interest, principal and other distributions made thereon and to otherwise act with respect to the Pledged Collateral as though the Administrative Agent was the outright owner thereof.

 

 

(b)           The Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, may comply with any applicable state or federal law requirements in connection with a disposition of the Collateral and compliance will not be considered to adversely affect the commercial reasonableness of any sale of the Collateral.

 

(c)           The Administrative Agent shall have the right upon any such public sale or sales and, to the extent permitted by law, upon any such private sale or sales, to purchase for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, the whole or any part of the Collateral so sold, free of any right of equity redemption, which equity redemption the Grantor hereby expressly releases.

 

(d)           Until the Administrative Agent is able to effect a sale, lease, or other disposition of Collateral, the Administrative Agent shall have the right to hold or use Collateral, or any part thereof, to the extent that it deems appropriate for the purpose of preserving Collateral or its value or for any other purpose deemed appropriate by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may, if it so elects, seek the appointment of a receiver or keeper to take possession of Collateral and to enforce any of the Administrative Agent’s remedies (for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties), with respect to such appointment without prior notice or hearing as to such appointment.

 

(e)           If, after the Credit Agreement has terminated by its terms and all of the Obligations have been Paid in Full, there remain Swap Agreement Obligations outstanding, the Required Lenders may exercise the remedies provided in this Section 5.2 upon the occurrence of any event which would allow or require the termination or acceleration of any Swap Agreement Obligations pursuant to the terms of the Swap Agreement.

 

(f)            Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Administrative Agent nor any other Secured Party shall be required to (i) make any demand upon, or pursue or exhaust any of its rights or remedies against, any Grantor, any other obligor, guarantor, pledgor or any other Person with respect to the payment of the Secured Obligations or to pursue or exhaust any of its rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral therefor or any direct or indirect guarantee thereof, (ii) marshal the Collateral or any guarantee of the Secured Obligations or to resort to the Collateral or any such guarantee in any particular order, or (iii) effect a public sale of any Collateral.

 

(g)           Each Grantor recognizes that the Administrative Agent may be unable to effect a public sale of any or all the Pledged Collateral and may be compelled to resort to one or more private sales thereof in accordance with clause (a) above. Each Grantor also acknowledges that any private sale may result in prices and other terms less favorable to the seller than if such sale were a public sale and, notwithstanding such circumstances, agrees that any such private sale shall not be deemed to have been made in a commercially unreasonable manner solely by virtue of such sale being private. The Administrative Agent shall be under no obligation to delay a sale of any of the Pledged Collateral for the period of time necessary to permit any Grantor or the issuer of the Pledged Collateral to register such securities for public sale under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or under applicable state securities laws, even if the applicable Grantor and the issuer would agree to do so.

 

(h)           Upon the sale, assignment, foreclosure or other transfer of all or any portion of the Collateral consisting of Equity Interests of a limited liability company (the “Transferred Interest”) in connection with the Administrative Agent’s exercise of remedies hereunder, such company will continue without dissolution, and the purchaser or other transferee of such Transferred Interest will (i) succeed to the applicable Grantor’s share of the profits and losses of such company, and such Grantor’s right to receive distributions of such company, (ii) succeed to all Member Rights of such Grantor with respect to such company, and (iii) automatically be admitted as a member of such company in substitution for such Grantor, to the extent of the Transferred Interest so purchased or acquired.

 

 

5.3.          Grantor’s Obligations Upon Default. Upon the request of the Administrative Agent after the occurrence of a Default, each Grantor will:

 

(a)            assemble and make available to the Administrative Agent the Collateral and all books and records relating thereto at any place or places specified by the Administrative Agent, whether at a Grantor’s premises or elsewhere;

 

(b)            permit the Administrative Agent, by the Administrative Agent’s representatives and agents, to enter, occupy and use any premises where all or any part of the Collateral, or the books and records relating thereto, or both, are located, to take possession of all or any part of the Collateral or the books and records relating thereto, or both, to remove all or any part of the Collateral or the books and records relating thereto, or both, and to conduct sales of the Collateral, without any obligation to pay the Grantor for such use and occupancy;

 

(c)            prepare and file, or cause an issuer of Pledged Collateral to prepare and file, with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other applicable government agency, registration statements, a prospectus and such other documentation in connection with the Pledged Collateral as the Administrative Agent may request, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and furnish to the Administrative Agent, or cause an issuer of Pledged Collateral to furnish to the Administrative Agent, any information regarding the Pledged Collateral in such detail as the Administrative Agent may reasonably specify;

 

(d)            take, or cause an issuer of Pledged Collateral to take, any and all actions necessary to register or qualify the Pledged Collateral to enable the Administrative Agent to consummate a public sale or other disposition of the Pledged Collateral; and

 

(e)            at its own expense, cause the independent certified public accountants then engaged by each Grantor to prepare and deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, at any time, and from time to time, promptly upon the Administrative Agent’s request, the following reports with respect to the applicable Grantor: (i) a reconciliation of all Accounts; (ii) an aging of all Accounts; (iii) trial balances; and (iv) a test verification of such Accounts, in each case with respect to the Accounts owned by such Grantor.

 

5.4.          Grant of Intellectual Property License. For the purpose of enabling the Administrative Agent to exercise the rights and remedies under this Article V at such time as the Administrative Agent shall be lawfully entitled to exercise such rights and remedies following the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default (including in order to take possession of, collect, receive, assemble, process, appropriate, remove, realize upon, sell, assign, convey, transfer or grant options to purchase any Collateral), each Grantor hereby (a) grants to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, an irrevocable, nonexclusive worldwide license (exercisable without payment of royalty or other compensation to any Grantor), including in such license the right to use, license, sublicense or practice any Intellectual Property now owned or hereafter acquired by such Grantor, and wherever the same may be located, and including in such license access to all media in which any of the licensed items may be recorded or stored and to all computer Software and programs used for the compilation or printout thereof and (b) irrevocably agrees that the Administrative Agent may sell any of such Grantor’s Inventory directly to any person, including without limitation persons who have previously purchased the Grantor’s Inventory from such Grantor and in connection with any such sale or other enforcement of the Administrative Agent’s rights under this Security Agreement, may sell Inventory which bears any Trademark owned by or licensed to such Grantor and any Inventory that is covered by any Copyright owned by or licensed to such Grantor and the Administrative Agent may (but shall have no obligation to) finish any work in process and affix any Trademark owned by or licensed to such Grantor and sell such Inventory as provided herein.

 

 

ARTICLE VI

ACCOUNT VERIFICATION; ATTORNEY IN FACT; PROXY

 

6.1.          Account Verification. The Administrative Agent may at any time after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, in the Administrative Agent’s own name, in the name of a nominee of the Administrative Agent, or in the name of any Grantor communicate (by mail, telephone, facsimile or otherwise) with the Account Debtors of any such Grantor, parties to contracts with any such Grantor and obligors in respect of Instruments of any such Grantor to verify with such Persons, to the Administrative Agent’s satisfaction, the existence, amount, terms of, and any other matter relating to, Accounts, Instruments, Chattel Paper, payment intangibles and/or other Receivables.

 

6.2.          Authorization for Administrative Agent to Take Certain Action.

 

(a)            Each Grantor irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent at any time and from time to time in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent and appoints the Administrative Agent as its attorney-in-fact, subject to Section 6.2(b), (i) to endorse and collect any cash proceeds of the Collateral owned by such Grantor, (ii) to file any financing statement with respect to the Collateral owned by such Grantor and to file any other financing statement or amendment of a financing statement (which does not add new collateral or add a debtor) in such offices as the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion deems necessary or desirable to perfect and to maintain the perfection and priority of the Administrative Agent’s security interest in the Collateral owned by such Grantor , (iii) in the case of any Intellectual Property owned by or licensed to a Grantor, execute, deliver and have recorded any document that the Administrative Agent may reasonably request to evidence, effect, publicize or record the Administrative Agent’s security interest in such Intellectual Property and the goodwill and General Intangibles owned by such Grantor relating thereto or represented thereby, (iv) to contact and enter into one or more agreements with the issuers of uncertificated securities which are Pledged Collateral or with securities intermediaries holding Pledged Collateral owned by such Grantor as may be necessary or advisable to give the Administrative Agent Control over such Pledged Collateral, (v) to discharge past due taxes, assessments, charges, fees or Liens on the Collateral owned by such Grantor (except for such Liens that are permitted under Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement), (vi) to contact Account Debtors for any reason, (vii) to demand payment or enforce payment of the Receivables in the name of the Administrative Agent or such Grantor and to endorse any and all checks, drafts, and other instruments for the payment of money relating to the Receivables, (viii) to sign such Grantor’s name on any invoice or bill of lading relating to the Receivables, drafts against any Account Debtor of the Grantor, assignments and verifications of Receivables owned by such Grantor, (ix) to exercise all of such Grantor’s rights and remedies with respect to the collection of the Receivables and any other Collateral owned by such Grantor, (x) to settle, adjust, compromise, extend or renew the Receivables owned by such Grantor, (xi) to settle, adjust or compromise any legal proceedings brought to collect Receivables owned by such Grantor, (xii) to prepare, file and sign such Grantor’s name on a proof of claim in bankruptcy or similar document against any Account Debtor of such Grantor, (xiii) to prepare, file and sign such Grantor’s name on any notice of Lien, assignment or satisfaction of Lien or similar document in connection with the Receivables owned by such Grantor, (xiv) to change the address for delivery of mail addressed to such Grantor to such address as the Administrative Agent may designate and to receive, open and dispose of all mail addressed to such Grantor, and (xv) to do all other acts and things necessary to carry out this Security Agreement; and such Grantor agrees to reimburse the Administrative Agent on demand for any payment made or any expense incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with any of the foregoing; provided that, this authorization shall not relieve such Grantor of any of its obligations under this Security Agreement or under the Credit Agreement.

 

(b)           All acts of said attorney or designee are hereby ratified and approved. The powers conferred on the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and Secured Parties, under this Section 6.2 are solely to protect the Administrative Agent’s interests in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party to exercise any such powers. The Administrative Agent agrees that, except for the powers granted in Section 6.2(a)(ii)-(v), it shall not exercise any power or authority granted to it unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

 

6.3.          Proxy. EACH GRANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY CONSTITUTES AND APPOINTS THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AS ITS PROXY AND ATTORNEY-IN-FACT (AS SET FORTH IN SECTION 6.2 ABOVE) OF THE GRANTOR WITH RESPECT TO ITS PLEDGED COLLATERAL, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO VOTE SUCH PLEDGED COLLATERAL, WITH FULL POWER OF SUBSTITUTION TO DO SO. IN ADDITION TO THE RIGHT TO VOTE ANY SUCH PLEDGED COLLATERAL, THE APPOINTMENT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AS PROXY AND ATTORNEY-IN-FACT SHALL INCLUDE THE RIGHT TO EXERCISE ALL OTHER RIGHTS, POWERS, PRIVILEGES AND REMEDIES TO WHICH A HOLDER OF SUCH PLEDGED COLLATERAL WOULD BE ENTITLED (INCLUDING GIVING OR WITHHOLDING WRITTEN CONSENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS, CALLING SPECIAL MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS AND VOTING AT SUCH MEETINGS). SUCH PROXY SHALL BE EFFECTIVE, AUTOMATICALLY AND WITHOUT THE NECESSITY OF ANY ACTION (INCLUDING ANY TRANSFER OF ANY SUCH PLEDGED COLLATERAL ON THE RECORD BOOKS OF THE ISSUER THEREOF) BY ANY PERSON (INCLUDING THE ISSUER OF SUCH PLEDGED COLLATERAL OR ANY OFFICER OR AGENT THEREOF), SOLELY UPON THE OCCURRENCE AND CONTINUATION OF AN EVENT OF DEFAULT.

 

6.4.          Nature of Appointment; Limitation of Duty. THE APPOINTMENT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AS PROXY AND ATTORNEY-IN-FACT IN THIS ARTICLE VI IS COUPLED WITH AN INTEREST AND SHALL BE IRREVOCABLE UNTIL THE DATE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT IS TERMINATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 7.14. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING CONTAINED HEREIN, NONE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER, ANY OTHER SECURED PARTY, ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES, OR ANY OF THEIR OR THEIR AFFILIATES’ RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS OR REPRESENTATIVES SHALL HAVE ANY DUTY TO EXERCISE ANY RIGHT OR POWER GRANTED HEREUNDER OR OTHERWISE OR TO PRESERVE THE SAME AND SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY FAILURE TO DO SO OR FOR ANY DELAY IN DOING SO, EXCEPT IN RESPECT OF DAMAGES ATTRIBUTABLE SOLELY TO SUCH PARTY’S OWN GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT AS FINALLY DETERMINED BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION; PROVIDED THAT, IN NO EVENT SHALL THEY BE LIABLE FOR ANY PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES.

 

ARTICLE VII

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

7.1           Waivers. Each Grantor hereby waives notice of the time and place of any public sale or the time after which any private sale or other disposition of all or any part of the Collateral may be made. To the extent such notice may not be waived under applicable law, any notice made shall be deemed reasonable if sent to Grantors, addressed as set forth in Article IX, at least ten days prior to (i) the date of any such public sale or (ii) the time after which any such private sale or other disposition may be made. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, each Grantor waives all claims, damages, and demands against the Administrative Agent or any Secured Party arising out of the repossession, retention or sale of the Collateral, except such as arise solely out of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Administrative Agent or such Secured Party as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction. To the extent it may lawfully do so, each Grantor absolutely and irrevocably waives and relinquishes the benefit and advantage of, and covenants not to assert against the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party, any valuation, stay, appraisal, extension, moratorium, redemption or similar laws and any and all rights or defenses it may have as a surety now or hereafter existing which, but for this provision, might be applicable to the sale of any Collateral made under the judgment, order or decree of any court, or privately under the power of sale conferred by this Security Agreement, or otherwise. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, each Grantor hereby waives presentment, demand, protest or any notice (to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law) of any kind in connection with this Security Agreement or any Collateral.

 

 

7.2.          Limitation on Administrative Agent’s and Secured Parties’ Duty with Respect to the Collateral. The Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to clean-up or otherwise prepare the Collateral for sale. The Administrative Agent and each other Secured Party shall use reasonable care with respect to the Collateral in its possession or under its control. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any other Secured Party shall have any other duty as to any Collateral in its possession or control or in the possession or control of any agent or nominee of the Administrative Agent or such other Secured Party, or any income thereon or as to the preservation of rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining thereto. To the extent that applicable law imposes duties on the Administrative Agent to exercise remedies in a commercially reasonable manner, each Grantor acknowledges and agrees that it is commercially reasonable for the Administrative Agent (i) to fail to incur expenses deemed significant by the Administrative Agent to prepare Collateral for disposition or otherwise to transform raw material or work in process into finished goods or other finished products for disposition, (ii) to fail to obtain third party consents for access to Collateral to be disposed of, or to obtain or, if not required by other law, to fail to obtain governmental or third party consents for the collection or disposition of Collateral to be collected or disposed of, (iii) to fail to exercise collection remedies against Account Debtors or other Persons obligated on Collateral or to remove Liens on or any adverse claims against Collateral, (iv) to exercise collection remedies against Account Debtors and other Persons obligated on Collateral directly or through the use of collection agencies and other collection specialists, (v) to advertise dispositions of Collateral through publications or media of general circulation, whether or not the Collateral is of a specialized nature, (vi) to contact other Persons, whether or not in the same business as such Grantor, for expressions of interest in acquiring all or any portion of such Collateral, (vii) to hire one or more professional auctioneers to assist in the disposition of Collateral, whether or not the Collateral is of a specialized nature, (viii) to dispose of Collateral by utilizing internet sites that provide for the auction of assets of the types included in the Collateral or that have the reasonable capacity of doing so, or that match buyers and sellers of assets, (ix) to dispose of assets in wholesale rather than retail markets, (x) to disclaim disposition warranties, such as title, possession or quiet enjoyment, (xi) to purchase insurance or credit enhancements to insure the Administrative Agent against risks of loss, collection or disposition of Collateral or to provide to the Administrative Agent a guaranteed return from the collection or disposition of Collateral, or (xii) to the extent deemed appropriate by the Administrative Agent, to obtain the services of other brokers, investment bankers, consultants and other professionals to assist the Administrative Agent in the collection or disposition of any of the Collateral. Each Grantor acknowledges that the purpose of this Section 7.2 is to provide non-exhaustive indications of what actions or omissions by the Administrative Agent would be commercially reasonable in the Administrative Agent’s exercise of remedies against the Collateral and that other actions or omissions by the Administrative Agent shall not be deemed commercially unreasonable solely on account of not being indicated in this Section 7.2. Without limitation upon the foregoing, nothing contained in this Section 7.2 shall be construed to grant any rights to the Grantor or to impose any duties on the Administrative Agent that would not have been granted or imposed by this Security Agreement or by applicable law in the absence of this Section 7.2.

 

7.3.          Compromises and Collection of Collateral. The Grantors and the Administrative Agent recognize that setoffs, counterclaims, defenses and other claims may be asserted by obligors with respect to certain of the Receivables, that certain of the Receivables may be or become uncollectible in whole or in part and that the expense and probability of success in litigating a disputed Receivable may exceed the amount that reasonably may be expected to be recovered with respect to a Receivable. In view of the foregoing, each Grantor agrees that the Administrative Agent may at any time and from time to time, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, compromise with the obligor on any Receivable, accept in full payment of any Receivable such amount as the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion shall determine or abandon any Receivable, and any such action by the Administrative Agent shall be commercially reasonable so long as the Administrative Agent acts in good faith based on information known to it at the time it takes any such action.

 

7.4.          Secured Party Performance of Debtor Obligations. Without having any obligation to do so, the Administrative Agent may perform or pay any obligation which any Grantor has agreed to perform or pay in this Security Agreement and the Grantors shall reimburse the Administrative Agent for any amounts paid by the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 7.4. The Grantors’ obligation to reimburse the Administrative Agent pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be a Secured Obligation payable on demand.

 

7.5           Specific Performance of Certain Covenants. Each Grantor acknowledges and agrees that a breach of any of the covenants contained in Sections 4.1(d), 4.1(e), 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 4.10, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14, 4.15, 5.3, or 7.6 will cause irreparable injury to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, that the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties have no adequate remedy at law in respect of such breaches and therefore agrees, without limiting the right of the Administrative Agent or the other Secured Parties to seek and obtain specific performance of other obligations of the Grantors contained in this Security Agreement, that the covenants of the Grantors contained in the Sections referred to in this Section 7.5 shall be specifically enforceable against the Grantors.

 

 

7.6.          Dispositions Not Authorized. No Grantor is authorized to sell or otherwise Dispose of the Collateral except as set forth in Section 4.1(d) and notwithstanding any course of dealing between any Grantor and the Administrative Agent or other conduct of the Administrative Agent, no authorization to sell or otherwise Dispose of the Collateral (except as set forth in Section 4.1(d)) shall be binding upon the Administrative Agent or the other Secured Parties unless such authorization is in writing signed by the Administrative Agent with the consent or at the direction of the Required Lenders.

 

7.7.          No Waiver; Amendments; Cumulative Remedies. No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party in exercising any right or power under this Security Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties hereunder are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Security Agreement or consent to any departure by the Grantor therefrom shall in any event be effective unless in writing signed by the Administrative Agent with the concurrence or at the direction of the Lenders required under Section 9.02 of the Credit Agreement and then only to the extent in such writing specifically set forth.

 

7.8.          Limitation by Law; Severability of Provisions. All rights, remedies and powers provided in this Security Agreement may be exercised only to the extent that the exercise thereof does not violate any applicable provision of law, and all the provisions of this Security Agreement are intended to be subject to all applicable mandatory provisions of law that may be controlling and to be limited to the extent necessary so that they shall not render this Security Agreement invalid, unenforceable or not entitled to be recorded or registered, in whole or in part. Any provision in this Security Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions thereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction, and to this end the provisions of this Security Agreement are declared to be severable..

 

7.9           Reinstatement. This Security Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective should any petition be filed by or against any Grantor for liquidation or reorganization, should any Grantor become insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of any creditor or creditors or should a receiver or trustee be appointed for all or any significant part of any Grantor’s assets, and shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment and performance of the Secured Obligations, or any part thereof (including a payment effected through exercise of a right of setoff), is, pursuant to applicable law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any obligee of the Secured Obligations, whether as a “voidable preference,” “fraudulent conveyance,” or otherwise (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by a Secured Party in its discretion), all as though such payment or performance had not been made. In the event that any payment, or any part thereof (including a payment effected through exercise of a right of setoff), is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Secured Obligations shall be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.

 

7.10.        Benefit of Agreement. The terms and provisions of this Security Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Grantors, the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties and their respective successors and assigns (including all persons who become bound as a debtor to this Security Agreement), except that no Grantor shall have the right to assign its rights or delegate its obligations under this Security Agreement or any interest herein, without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent. No sales of participations, assignments, transfers, or other dispositions of any agreement governing the Secured Obligations or any portion thereof or interest therein shall in any manner impair the Lien granted to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, hereunder.

 

 

7.11.        Survival of Representations. All representations and warranties of the Grantors contained in this Security Agreement shall survive the execution and delivery of this Security Agreement.

 

7.12.        Taxes and Expenses. Any taxes (including income taxes) payable or ruled payable by Federal or State authority in respect of this Security Agreement shall be paid by the Grantors, together with interest and penalties, if any. The Grantors shall reimburse the Administrative Agent for any and all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable and documented out-of-pocket attorneys’, auditors’ and accountants’ fees) paid or incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, collection and enforcement of this Security Agreement and, to the extent provided in the Credit Agreement in the audit, analysis, administration, collection, preservation or sale of the Collateral (including the expenses and charges associated with any periodic or special audit of the Collateral). Any and all costs and expenses incurred by the Grantors in the performance of actions required pursuant to the terms hereof shall be borne solely by the Grantors.

 

7.13.        Headings. The title of and section headings in this Security Agreement are for convenience of reference only, and shall not govern the interpretation of any of the terms and provisions of this Security Agreement.

 

7.14.        Termination. This Security Agreement shall continue in effect (notwithstanding the fact that from time to time there may be no Secured Obligations outstanding) until (i) the Credit Agreement has terminated pursuant to its express terms and (ii) all of the Secured Obligations (other than Unliquidated Obligations) have been Paid in Full.

 

7.15.        Entire Agreement. This Security Agreement and the other Loan Documents embody the entire agreement and understanding between the Grantors and the Administrative Agent relating to the Collateral and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the Grantors and the Administrative Agent relating to the Collateral.

 

7.16.        CHOICE OF LAW. THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, BUT GIVING EFFECT TO FEDERAL LAWS APPLICABLE TO NATIONAL BANKS.

 

7.17.        CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. EACH GRANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY U.S. FEDERAL OR NEW YORK STATE COURT SITTING IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH GRANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN ANY SUCH COURT AND IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT IT MAY LEGALLY AND EFFECTIVELY DO SO, ANY OBJECTION IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE AS TO THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN SUCH A COURT OR THAT SUCH COURT IS AN INCONVENIENT FORUM. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY LENDER TO BRING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST ANY GRANTOR IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING BY ANY GRANTOR AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY LENDER OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY LENDER INVOLVING, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ANY MATTER IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR CONNECTED WITH THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL BE BROUGHT ONLY IN A COURT IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK.

 

 

7.18.        WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE OR OTHER AGENT (INCLUDING ANY ATTORNEY) OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

 

7.19.        Indemnity. Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 9.03(c) of the Credit Agreement, each Grantor hereby agrees to indemnify the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, and their respective successors, assigns, agents and employees, from and against any and all liabilities, damages, penalties, suits, fees, costs, and expenses of any kind and nature (including, without limitation, all expenses of litigation or preparation therefor whether or not the Administrative Agent or any Secured Party is a party thereto) imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent or the other Secured Parties, or their respective successors, assigns, agents and employees, in any way relating to or arising out of this Security Agreement, or the manufacture, purchase, acceptance, rejection, ownership, delivery, lease, possession, use, operation, condition, sale, return or other disposition of any Collateral (including, without limitation, latent and other defects, whether or not discoverable by the Administrative Agent or the other Secured Parties or any Grantor, and any claim for Patent, Trademark or Copyright infringement).

 

7.20.       Counterparts. This Security Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one agreement, and any of the parties hereto may execute this Security Agreement by signing any such counterpart. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Security Agreement by facsimile or other electronic transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Security Agreement.

 

ARTICLE VIII

NOTICES

 

8.1.          Sending Notices. Any notice required or permitted to be given under this Security Agreement shall be sent (and deemed received) in accordance with Section 9.01 of the Credit Agreement.

 

8.2.          Change in Address for Notices. Each of the Grantors, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may change the address for service of notice upon it by a notice in writing to the other parties.

 

ARTICLE IX

THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. has been appointed Administrative Agent for the Lenders hereunder pursuant to Article VIII of the Credit Agreement. It is expressly understood and agreed by the parties to this Security Agreement that any authority conferred upon the Administrative Agent hereunder is subject to the terms of the delegation of authority made by the Lenders to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Article VIII of the Credit Agreement, and that the Administrative Agent has agreed to act (and any successor Administrative Agent shall act) as such hereunder only on the express conditions contained in such Article VIII. Any successor Administrative Agent appointed pursuant to Article VIII of the Credit Agreement shall be entitled to all the rights, interests and benefits of the Administrative Agent hereunder.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Grantors and the Administrative Agent have executed this Security Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

GRANTOR:
THE TILE SHOP, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company
By:	/s/ Karla Lunan
Name: Karla Lunan
Title: Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

 

[SIGNATURES CONTINUE ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES]

 

 

TILE SHOP HOLDINGS, INC.,
a Delaware corporation

 

By:	/s/ Karla Lunan
Name: Karla Lunan
Title: Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

 

[SIGNATURES CONTINUE ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES]

 

 

THE TILE SHOP OF MICHIGAN, LLC,
a Michigan limited liability company

 

By:	/s/ Karla Lunan
Name: Karla Lunan
Title: Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

 

[SIGNATURES CONTINUE ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES]

 

 

TILE SHOP LENDING, INC.,
a Delaware corporation

 

By:	/s/ Karla Lunan
Name: Karla Lunan
Title: Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

 

[SIGNATURES CONTINUE ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES]

 

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent

 

By:	/s/ Martin Cherney
Name: Martin Cherney
Title: Authorized Officer