2.          REVOLVING CREDIT AND SWING LOAN FACILITIES

 

2.1           Revolving Credit Commitments.

2.1.1             Revolving Credit Loans.  Subject to the terms and conditions hereof and relying upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, each Lender severally agrees to make Revolving Credit Loans to the Borrowers at any time or from time to time on or after the date hereof to the Expiration Date; provided that after giving effect to each such Loan (i) the aggregate amount of Revolving Credit Loans from such Lender shall not exceed such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment minus such Lender’s Ratable Share of the outstanding Swing Loans and Letter of Credit Obligations and (ii) the Revolving Facility Usage shall not exceed the Revolving Credit Commitments.  Within such limits of time and amount and subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Borrowers may borrow, repay and reborrow pursuant to this Section 2.1.

2.1.2             Swing Loan Commitment.  Subject to the terms and conditions hereof and relying upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, and in order to facilitate loans and repayments between Settlement Dates, the Swing Loan Lender may, at its option, cancelable at any time for any reason whatsoever, make swing loans (the “Swing Loans”) to the Borrowers at any time or from time to time after the date hereof to, but not including, the Expiration Date, in an aggregate principal amount up to but not in excess of $10,000,000.00 (the “Swing Loan Commitment”), provided that after giving effect to such Loan, the Revolving Facility Usage shall not exceed the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments of the Lenders.  Within such limits of time and amount and subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Borrowers may borrow, repay and reborrow pursuant to this Section 2.1.2.

2.2           Nature of Lenders’ Obligations with Respect to Revolving Credit Loans.  Each Lender shall be obligated to participate in each request for Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to Section 2.5 [Revolving Credit Loan Requests; Swing Loan Requests] in accordance with its Ratable Share.  The aggregate of each Lender’s Revolving Credit Loans outstanding hereunder to the Borrowers at any time shall never exceed its Revolving Credit Commitment in effect at such time minus its Ratable Share of the outstanding Swing Loans and Letter of Credit Obligations.  The obligations of each Lender hereunder are several.  The failure of any Lender to perform its obligations hereunder shall not affect the Obligations of the Borrowers to any other party nor shall any other party be liable for the failure of such Lender to perform its obligations hereunder.  The Lenders shall have no obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans hereunder on or after the Expiration Date.

 

2.3           Commitment Fees.  Accruing from the date hereof until the Expiration Date, the Borrowers agree to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender according to its Ratable Share, a nonrefundable commitment fee (the “Commitment Fee”) equal to the Applicable Commitment Fee Rate (computed on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed) multiplied by the average daily difference between the amount of (i) the Revolving Credit Commitments and (ii) the Revolving Facility Usage (provided however, that solely in connection with determining the share of each Lender in the Commitment Fee, the Revolving Facility Usage with respect to the portion of the Commitment Fee allocated to PNC shall include the full amount of the outstanding Swing Loans, and with respect to the portion of the Commitment Fee allocated by the Administrative Agent to all of the Lenders other than PNC, such portion of the Commitment Fee shall be calculated (according to each such Lender’s Ratable Share) as if the Revolving Facility Usage excludes the outstanding Swing Loans); provided, further, that any Commitment Fee accrued with respect to the Revolving Credit Commitment of a Defaulting Lender during the period prior to the time such Lender became a Defaulting Lender and unpaid at such time shall not be payable by the Borrowers so long as such Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender except to the extent that such Commitment Fee shall otherwise have been due and payable by the Borrowers prior to such time; and provided further that no Commitment Fee shall accrue with respect to the Revolving Credit Commitment of a Defaulting Lender so long as such Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender.  Subject to the proviso in the directly preceding sentence, all Commitment Fees shall be payable in arrears on each Payment Date.

 

2.4           Termination or Reduction of Revolving Credit Commitments.  The Borrowers shall have the right, upon not less than three (3) Business Days’ notice to the Administrative Agent, to terminate the Revolving Credit Commitments or, from time to time, to reduce the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments (ratably among the Lenders in proportion to their Ratable Shares); provided that no such termination or reduction of Revolving Credit Commitments shall be permitted if, after giving effect thereto and to any prepayments of the Revolving Credit Loans made on the effective date thereof, the Revolving Facility Usage would exceed the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments of the Lenders.  Any such reduction shall be in an amount equal to $5,000,000 or a whole multiple thereof and shall reduce permanently the Revolving Credit Commitments then in effect.  Any such reduction or termination shall be accompanied by prepayment of the Notes, together with outstanding Commitment Fees, and the full amount of interest accrued on the principal sum to be prepaid (and all amounts referred to in Section 5.10 [Indemnity] hereof) to the extent necessary to cause the aggregate Revolving Facility Usage after giving effect to such prepayments to be equal to or less than the Revolving Credit Commitments as so reduced or terminated.  Any notice to reduce the Revolving Credit Commitments under this Section 2.4 shall be irrevocable.

2.5           Revolving Credit Loan Requests; Swing Loan Requests.

2.5.1             Revolving Credit Loan Requests.  Except as otherwise provided herein, the Borrowers may from time to time prior to the Expiration Date request the Lenders to make Revolving Credit Loans, or renew or convert the Interest Rate Option applicable to existing Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to Section 4.2 [Interest Periods], by delivering to the Administrative Agent, not later than 1:00 p.m., (i) three (3) Business Days prior to the proposed Borrowing Date with respect to the making of Revolving Credit Loans to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies or the conversion to or the renewal of the LIBOR Rate Option for any Loans; and (ii) the same Business Day of the proposed Borrowing Date with respect to the making of a Revolving Credit Loan to which the Base Rate Option applies or the last day of the preceding Interest Period with respect to the conversion to the Base Rate Option for any Loan, of a duly completed request therefor substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.5.1 or a request by telephone immediately confirmed in writing by letter, facsimile or telex in such form (each, a “Loan Request”), it being understood that the Administrative Agent may rely on the authority of any individual making such a telephonic request without the necessity of receipt of such written confirmation.  Each Loan Request shall be irrevocable and shall specify the aggregate amount of the proposed Loans comprising each Borrowing Tranche, and, if applicable, the Interest Period, which amounts shall be in (x) integral multiples of $500,000 and not less than $1,000,000 for each Borrowing Tranche under the LIBOR Rate Option, and (y) integral multiples of $100,000 and not less than $500,000 for each Borrowing Tranche under the Base Rate Option.

 

2.5.2             Swing Loan Requests.  Except as otherwise provided herein, the Borrowers may from time to time prior to the Expiration Date request the Swing Loan Lender to make Swing Loans by delivery to the Swing Loan Lender not later than 1:00 p.m. on the proposed Borrowing Date of a duly completed request therefor substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.5.2 hereto or a request by telephone immediately confirmed in writing by letter, facsimile or telex (each, a “Swing Loan Request”), it being understood that the Administrative Agent may rely on the authority of any individual making such a telephonic request without the necessity of receipt of such written confirmation.  Each Swing Loan Request shall be irrevocable and shall specify the proposed Borrowing Date and the principal amount of such Swing Loan, which shall be not less than $100,000.

2.6           Making Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Loans; Presumptions by the Administrative Agent; Repayment of Revolving Credit Loans; Borrowings to Repay Swing Loans.

2.6.1             Making Revolving Credit Loans.  The Administrative Agent shall, promptly after receipt by it of a Loan Request pursuant to Section 2.5 [Revolving Credit Loan Requests; Swing Loan Requests], notify the Lenders of its receipt of such Loan Request specifying the information provided by the Borrowers and the apportionment among the Lenders of the requested Revolving Credit Loans as determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 2.2 [Nature of Lenders’ Obligations with Respect to Revolving Credit Loans].  Each Lender shall remit the principal amount of each Revolving Credit Loan to the Administrative Agent such that the Administrative Agent is able to, and the Administrative Agent shall, to the extent the Lenders have made funds available to it for such purpose and subject to Section 7.2 [Each Loan or Letter of Credit], fund such Revolving Credit Loans to the Borrowers in U.S. Dollars and immediately available funds at the Principal Office prior to 3:00 p.m., on the applicable Borrowing Date; provided that if any Lender fails to remit such funds to the Administrative Agent in a timely manner, the Administrative Agent may elect in its sole discretion to fund with its own funds the Revolving Credit Loans of such Lender on such Borrowing Date, and such Lender shall be subject to the repayment obligation in Section 2.6.2 [Presumptions by the Administrative Agent].

 

2.6.3             Making Swing Loans.  So long as the Swing Loan Lender elects to make Swing Loans, the Swing Loan Lender shall, after receipt by it of a Swing Loan Request pursuant to Section 2.5.2, [Swing Loan Requests] fund such Swing Loan to the Borrowers in U.S. Dollars and immediately available funds at the Principal Office prior to 4:00 p.m. on the Borrowing Date.

2.6.4             Repayment of Revolving Credit Loans.  The Borrowers shall repay the Revolving Credit Loans together with all outstanding interest thereon on the Expiration Date.

2.6.5             Borrowings to Repay Swing Loans.  The Swing Loan Lender may, at its option, exercisable at any time for any reason whatsoever, demand repayment of the Swing Loans, and each Lender shall make a Revolving Credit Loan in an amount equal to such Lender’s Ratable Share of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Swing Loans, plus, if the Swing Loan Lender so requests, accrued interest thereon, provided that no Lender shall be obligated in any event to make aggregate Revolving Credit Loans in excess of its Revolving Credit Commitment in effect at such time minus its Ratable Share of Letter of Credit Obligations.  Revolving Credit Loans made pursuant to the preceding sentence shall bear interest at the Base Rate Option and shall be deemed to have been properly requested in accordance with Section 2.5.1 [Revolving Credit Loan Requests] without regard to any of the requirements of that provision.  The Swing Loan Lender shall provide notice to the Lenders (which may be telephonic or written notice by letter, facsimile or telex) that such Revolving Credit Loans are to be made under this Section 2.6.5 and of the apportionment among the Lenders, and the Lenders shall be unconditionally obligated to fund such Revolving Credit Loans (whether or not the conditions specified in Section 2.5.1 [Revolving Credit Loan Requests] are then satisfied) by the time the Swing Loan Lender so requests, which shall not be earlier than 3:00 p.m. on the Business Day next after the date the Lenders receive such notice from the Swing Loan Lender.

 

2.6.6             Swing Loans Under Cash Management Agreements.  In addition to making Swing Loans pursuant to the foregoing provisions of Section 2.6.3 [Making Swing Loans], without the requirement for a specific request from the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.5.2 [Swing Loan Requests], the Swing Loan Lender may make Swing Loans to the Borrowers in accordance with the provisions of the agreements between the Borrowers and such Swing Loan Lender relating to the Borrowers’ deposit, sweep and other accounts at such Swing Loan Lender and related arrangements and agreements regarding the management and investment of the Borrowers’ cash assets as in effect from time to time (the “Cash Management Agreements”) to the extent of the daily aggregate net negative balance in the Borrowers’ accounts which are subject to the provisions of the Cash Management Agreements.  Swing Loans made pursuant to this Section 2.6.6 in accordance with the provisions of the Cash Management Agreements shall (i) be subject to the limitations as to aggregate amount set forth in Section 2.1.2 [Swing Loan Commitment], (ii) not be subject to the limitations as to individual amount set forth in Section 2.5.2 [Swing Loan Requests], (iii) be payable by the Borrowers, both as to principal and interest, at the rates and times set forth in the Cash Management Agreements (but in no event later than the Expiration Date), (iv) not be made at any time after such Swing Loan Lender has received written notice of the occurrence of an Event of Default and so long as such shall continue to exist, or, unless consented to by the Required Lenders, a Potential Default and so long as such shall continue to exist, (v) if not repaid by the Borrowers in accordance with the provisions of the Cash Management Agreements, be subject to each Lender’s obligation pursuant to Section 2.6.5 [Borrowings to Repay Swing Loans], and (vi) except as provided in the foregoing subsections (i) through (v), be subject to all of the terms and conditions of this Section 2.

 

2.7           Notes.  The Obligation of the Borrowers to repay the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Loans made to it by each Lender, together with interest thereon, may (if requested by a particular Lender) be evidenced by a Note, dated the Closing Date payable to the order of such Lender in a face amount equal to (a) the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 1.1(B) in the column labeled “Amount of Commitment for Revolving Credit Loans (Non-Reduction Period),” or (b) the Swing Loan Commitment, as applicable, of such Lender.

2.8           Use of Proceeds.  The proceeds of the Loans shall be used (a) to refinance existing Indebtedness outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement, (b) to fund ongoing working capital needs and for Capital Expenditures and general corporate purposes, and (c) to finance Permitted Acquisitions.

2.9           Letter of Credit Subfacility.

2.9.1             Issuance of Letters of Credit.  The Borrowers or any Loan Party may at any time prior to the Expiration Date request the issuance of a letter of credit (each a “Letter of Credit”) for its own account or the account of another Loan Party, or the amendment or extension of an existing Letter of Credit, by delivering or transmitting electronically, or having such other Loan Party deliver or transmit electronically to the Issuing Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) a completed application for letter of credit, or request for such amendment or extension, as applicable, in such form as the Issuing Lender may specify from time to time by no later than 10:00 a.m. at least five (5) Business Days, or such shorter period as may be agreed to by the Issuing Lender, in advance of the proposed date of issuance.  The Borrowers or any Loan Party shall authorize and direct the Issuing Lender to name the Borrowers or any Loan Party as the “Applicant” or “Account Party” of each Letter of Credit.  Promptly after receipt of any letter of credit application, the Issuing Lender shall confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of such Letter of Credit application and if not, such Issuing Lender will provide the Administrative Agent with a copy thereof.  All letters of credit which are identified on Schedule 2.9.1 hereto, which shall consist of all letters of credit outstanding on the Closing Date under the Existing Credit Agreement, shall be deemed to have been issued under this Agreement and shall constitute Letters of Credit hereunder.

 

2.9.1.1           Unless the Issuing Lender has received notice from any Lender, the Administrative Agent or any Loan Party, at least one day prior to the requested date of issuance, amendment or extension of the applicable Letter of Credit, that one or more applicable conditions in Section 7 [Conditions of Lending and Issuance of Letters of Credit] is not satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof and in reliance on the agreements of the other Lenders set forth in this Section 2.9, the Issuing Lender or any of the Issuing Lender’s Affiliates will issue the proposed Letter of Credit or agree to such amendment or extension, provided that each Letter of Credit shall (A) have a maximum maturity of twelve (12) months from the date of issuance, and (B) in no event expire later than the Expiration Date and provided further that in no event shall (i) the Letter of Credit Obligations exceed, at any one time, $10,000,000.00 (the “Letter of Credit Sublimit”) or (ii) the Revolving Facility Usage exceed, at any one time, the Revolving Credit Commitments in effect at such time.  Each request by the Borrowers for the issuance, amendment or extension of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be a representation by the Borrowers that it shall be in compliance with the preceding sentence and with Section 7 [Conditions of Lending and Issuance of Letters of Credit] after giving effect to the requested issuance, amendment or extension of such Letter of Credit.  Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit to the beneficiary thereof, the applicable Issuing Lender will also deliver to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.

2.9.1.2           Notwithstanding Section 2.9.1.1, the Issuing Lender shall not be under any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if (i) any order, judgment or decree of any Official Body or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain the Issuing Lender from issuing the Letter of Credit, or any Law applicable to the Issuing Lender or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Official Body with jurisdiction over the Issuing Lender shall prohibit, or request that the Issuing Lender refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or the Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon the Issuing Lender with respect to the Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which the Issuing Lender is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date, or shall impose upon the Issuing Lender any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Closing Date and which the Issuing Lender in good faith deems material to it, or (ii) the issuance of the Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of the Issuing Lender applicable to letters of credit generally.

2.9.2             Letter of Credit Fees.  The Borrowers shall pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the Lenders a fee (the “Letter of Credit Fee”) equal to the Applicable Letter of Credit Fee Rate on the daily amount available to be drawn under each Letter of Credit, and (ii) to the Issuing Lender for its own account a fronting fee equal to 0.125% per annum on the daily amount available to be drawn under each Letter of Credit.  All Letter of Credit Fees and fronting fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and actual days elapsed and shall be payable quarterly in arrears on each Payment Date following issuance of each Letter of Credit.  The Borrowers shall also pay to the Issuing Lender for the Issuing Lender’s sole account the Issuing Lender’s then in effect customary fees and administrative expenses payable with respect to the Letters of Credit as the Issuing Lender may generally charge or incur from time to time in connection with the issuance, maintenance, amendment (if any), assignment or transfer (if any), negotiation, and administration of Letters of Credit.

 

2.9.3             Disbursements, Reimbursement.  Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit, each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Issuing Lender a participation in such Letter of Credit and each drawing thereunder in an amount equal to such Lender’s Ratable Share of the maximum amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit and the amount of such drawing, respectively.

2.9.3.1           In the event of any request for a drawing under a Letter of Credit by the beneficiary or transferee thereof, the Issuing Lender will promptly notify the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent thereof.  Provided that it shall have received such notice, the Borrowers shall reimburse (such obligation to reimburse the Issuing Lender shall sometimes be referred to as a “Reimbursement Obligation”) the Issuing Lender prior to 12:00 noon on each date that an amount is paid by the Issuing Lender under any Letter of Credit (each such date, a “Drawing Date”) by paying to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender an amount equal to the amount so paid by the Issuing Lender.  In the event the Borrowers fail to reimburse the Issuing Lender (through the Administrative Agent) for the full amount of any drawing under any Letter of Credit by 12:00 noon on the Drawing Date, the Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender thereof, and the Borrowers shall be deemed to have requested that Revolving Credit Loans be made by the Lenders under the Base Rate Option to be disbursed on the Drawing Date under such Letter of Credit, subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Revolving Credit Commitment and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 7.2 [Each Loan or Letter of Credit] other than any notice requirements.  Any notice given by the Administrative Agent or Issuing Lender pursuant to this Section 2.9.3.1 may be oral if immediately confirmed in writing; provided that the lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice.

2.9.3.2           Each Lender shall upon any notice pursuant to Section 2.9.3.1 make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender an amount in immediately available funds equal to its Ratable Share of the amount of the drawing, whereupon the participating Lenders shall (subject to Section 2.9.3 [Disbursements; Reimbursement]) each be deemed to have made a Revolving Credit Loan under the Base Rate Option to the Borrowers in that amount.  If any Lender so notified fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender the amount of such Lender’s Ratable Share of such amount by no later than 2:00 p.m. on the Drawing Date, then interest shall accrue on such Lender’s obligation to make such payment, from the Drawing Date to the date on which such Lender makes such payment (i) at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate during the first three (3) days following the Drawing Date and (ii) at a rate per annum equal to the rate applicable to Revolving Credit Loans under the Base Rate Option on and after the fourth day following the Drawing Date.  The Administrative Agent and the Issuing Lender will promptly give notice (as described in Section 2.9.3.1 above) of the occurrence of the Drawing Date, but failure of the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Lender to give any such notice on the Drawing Date or in sufficient time to enable any Lender to effect such payment on such date shall not relieve such Lender from its obligation under this Section 2.9.3.2.

 

2.9.3.3           With respect to any unreimbursed drawing that is not converted into Revolving Credit Loans under the Base Rate Option to the Borrowers in whole or in part as contemplated by Section 2.9.3.1, because of the Borrowers’ failure to satisfy the conditions set forth in Section 7.2 [Each Loan or Letter of Credit] other than any notice requirements, or for any other reason, the Borrowers shall be deemed to have incurred from the Issuing Lender a borrowing (each a “Letter of Credit Borrowing”) in the amount of such drawing.  Such Letter of Credit Borrowing shall be due and payable on demand (together with interest) and shall bear interest at the rate per annum applicable to the Revolving Credit Loans under the Base Rate Option.  Each Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender pursuant to Section 2.9.3 [Disbursements, Reimbursement] shall be deemed to be a payment in respect of its participation in such Letter of Credit Borrowing (each a “Participation Advance”) from such Lender in satisfaction of its participation obligation under this Section 2.9.3.

2.9.4             Repayment of Participation Advances.

2.9.4.1           Upon (and only upon) receipt by the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender of immediately available funds from the Borrowers (i) in reimbursement of any payment made by the Issuing Lender under the Letter of Credit with respect to which any Lender has made a Participation Advance to the Administrative Agent, or (ii) in payment of interest on such a payment made by the Issuing Lender under such a Letter of Credit, the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Issuing Lender will pay to each Lender, in the same funds as those received by the Administrative Agent, the amount of such Lender’s Ratable Share of such funds, except the Administrative Agent shall retain for the account of the Issuing Lender the amount of the Ratable Share of such funds of any Lender that did not make a Participation Advance in respect of such payment by the Issuing Lender.

2.9.4.2            If the Administrative Agent is required at any time to return to any Loan Party, or to a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian, or any official in any Insolvency Proceeding, any portion of any payment made by any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender pursuant to this Section in reimbursement of a payment made under any Letter of Credit or interest or fees thereon, each Lender shall, on demand of the Administrative Agent, forthwith return to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender the amount of its Ratable Share of any amounts so returned by the Administrative Agent plus interest thereon from the date such demand is made to the date such amounts are returned by such Lender to the Administrative Agent, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect from time to time.

2.9.5             Documentation.  Each Loan Party agrees to be bound by the terms of the Issuing Lender’s application and agreement for letters of credit and the Issuing Lender’s written regulations and customary practices relating to letters of credit, though such interpretation may be different from such Loan Party’s own.  In the event of a conflict between such application or agreement and this Agreement, this Agreement shall govern.  It is understood and agreed that, except in the case of gross negligence or willful misconduct, the Issuing Lender shall not be liable for any error, negligence and/or mistakes, whether of omission or commission, in following any Loan Party’s instructions or those contained in the Letters of Credit or any modifications, amendments or supplements thereto.

 

2.9.6             Determinations to Honor Drawing Requests.  In determining whether to honor any request for drawing under any Letter of Credit by the beneficiary thereof, the Issuing Lender shall be responsible only to determine that the documents and certificates required to be delivered under such Letter of Credit have been delivered and that they comply on their face with the requirements of such Letter of Credit.

2.9.7             Nature of Participation and Reimbursement Obligations.  Each Lender’s obligation in accordance with this Agreement to make the Revolving Credit Loans or Participation Advances, as contemplated by Section 2.9.3 [Disbursements, Reimbursement], as a result of a drawing under a Letter of Credit, and the Obligations of the Borrowers to reimburse the Issuing Lender upon a draw under a Letter of Credit, shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Section 2.9 under all circumstances, including the following circumstances:

(i)           any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the Issuing Lender or any of its Affiliates, the Borrowers or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, or which any Loan Party may have against the Issuing Lender or any of its Affiliates, any Lender or any other Person for any reason whatsoever;

(ii)          the failure of any Loan Party or any other Person to comply, in connection with a Letter of Credit Borrowing, with the conditions set forth in Sections 2.1 [Revolving Credit Commitments], 2.5 [Revolving Credit Loan Requests; Swing Loan Requests], 2.6 [Making Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Loans; Etc.] or 7.2 [Each Loan or Letter of Credit] or as otherwise set forth in this Agreement for the making of a Revolving Credit Loan, it being acknowledged that such conditions are not required for the making of a Letter of Credit Borrowing and the obligation of the Lenders to make Participation Advances under Section 2.9.3 [Disbursements, Reimbursement];

(iii)          any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit;

(iv)         any claim of breach of warranty that might be made by any Loan Party or any Lender against any beneficiary of a Letter of Credit, or the existence of any claim, set-off, recoupment, counterclaim, crossclaim, defense or other right which any Loan Party or any Lender may have at any time against a beneficiary, successor beneficiary any transferee or assignee of any Letter of Credit or the proceeds thereof (or any Persons for whom any such transferee may be acting), the Issuing Lender or its Affiliates or any Lender or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated herein or any unrelated transaction (including any underlying transaction between any Loan Party and the beneficiary for which any Letter of Credit was procured);

(v)           the lack of power or authority of any signer of (or any defect in or forgery of any signature or endorsement on) or the form of or lack of validity, sufficiency, accuracy, enforceability or genuineness of any draft, demand, instrument, certificate or other document presented under or in connection with any Letter of Credit, or any fraud or alleged fraud in connection with any Letter of Credit, or the transport of any property or provision of services relating to a Letter of Credit, in each case even if the Issuing Lender or any of its Affiliates has been notified thereof;

 

(vi)         payment by the Issuing Lender or any of its Affiliates under any Letter of Credit against presentation of a demand, draft or certificate or other document which does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit;

(vii)        the solvency of, or any acts or omissions by, any beneficiary of any Letter of Credit, or any other Person having a role in any transaction or obligation relating to a Letter of Credit, or the existence, nature, quality, quantity, condition, value or other characteristic of any property or services relating to a Letter of Credit;

(viii)       any failure by the Issuing Lender or any of its Affiliates to issue any Letter of Credit in the form requested by any Loan Party, unless the Issuing Lender has received written notice from such Loan Party of such failure within three Business Days after the Issuing Lender shall have furnished such Loan Party and the Administrative Agent a copy of such Letter of Credit and such error is material and no drawing has been made thereon prior to receipt of such notice;

(ix)          any adverse change in the business, operations, properties, assets, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of any Loan Party;

(x)           any breach of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by any party thereto;

(xi)          the occurrence or continuance of an Insolvency Proceeding with respect to any Loan Party;

(xii)         the fact that an Event of Default or a Potential Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

(xiii)        the fact that the Expiration Date shall have passed or this Agreement or the Commitments hereunder shall have been terminated; and

(xiv)        any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing.

 

2.9.8             Indemnity.  The Borrowers hereby agree to protect, indemnify, pay and save harmless the Issuing Lender and any of its Affiliates that has issued a Letter of Credit from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities, damages, taxes, penalties, interest, judgments, losses, costs, charges and expenses (including reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of counsel and allocated costs of internal counsel) which the Issuing Lender or any of its Affiliates may incur or be subject to as a consequence, direct or indirect, of the issuance of any Letter of Credit, other than as a result of (a) the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Issuing Lender as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction or (b) the wrongful dishonor by Issuing Lender or any of its Affiliates of a proper demand for payment made under any Letter of Credit, except if such dishonor resulted from any act or omission, whether rightful or wrongful, of any present or future Official Body.

 

2.9.9             Liability for Acts and Omissions.  As between any Loan Party and the Issuing Lender, or the Issuing Lender’s Affiliates, such Loan Party assumes all risks of the acts and omissions of, or misuse of the Letters of Credit by, the respective beneficiaries of such Letters of Credit.  In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, the Issuing Lender shall not be responsible for any of the following, including any losses or damages to any Loan Party or other Person or property relating therefrom:  (i) the form, validity, sufficiency, accuracy, genuineness or legal effect of any document submitted by any party in connection with the application for an issuance of any such Letter of Credit, even if it should in fact prove to be in any or all respects invalid, insufficient, inaccurate, fraudulent or forged (even if the Issuing Lender or its Affiliates shall have been notified thereof); (ii) the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign any such Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason; (iii) the failure of the beneficiary of any such Letter of Credit, or any other party to which such Letter of Credit may be transferred, to comply fully with any conditions required in order to draw upon such Letter of Credit or any other claim of any Loan Party against any beneficiary of such Letter of Credit, or any such transferee, or any dispute between or among any Loan Party and any beneficiary of any Letter of Credit or any such transferee; (iv) errors, omissions, interruptions or delays in transmission or delivery of any messages, by mail, cable, telegraph, telex or otherwise, whether or not they be in cipher; (v) errors in interpretation of technical terms; (vi) any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under any such Letter of Credit or of the proceeds thereof; (vii) the misapplication by the beneficiary of any such Letter of Credit of the proceeds of any drawing under such Letter of Credit; or (viii) any consequences arising from causes beyond the control of the Issuing Lender or its Affiliates, as applicable, including any act or omission of any Official Body, and none of the above shall affect or impair, or prevent the vesting of, any of the Issuing Lender’s or its Affiliates rights or powers hereunder.  Nothing in the preceding sentence shall relieve the Issuing Lender from liability for the Issuing Lender’s gross negligence or willful misconduct in connection with actions or omissions described in such clauses (i) through (viii) of such sentence.  In no event shall the Issuing Lender or its Affiliates be liable to any Loan Party for any indirect, consequential, incidental, punitive, exemplary or special damages or expenses (including attorneys’ fees), or for any damages resulting from any change in the value of any property relating to a Letter of Credit.

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Issuing Lender and each of its Affiliates (i) may rely on any oral or other communication believed in good faith by the Issuing Lender or such Affiliate to have been authorized or given by or on behalf of the applicant for a Letter of Credit, (ii) may honor any presentation if the documents presented appear on their face substantially to comply with the terms and conditions of the relevant Letter of Credit; (iii) may honor a previously dishonored presentation under a Letter of Credit, whether such dishonor was pursuant to a court order, to settle or compromise any claim of wrongful dishonor, or otherwise, and shall be entitled to reimbursement to the same extent as if such presentation had initially been honored, together with any interest paid by the Issuing Lender or its Affiliate; (iv) may honor any drawing that is payable upon presentation of a statement advising negotiation or payment, upon receipt of such statement (even if such statement indicates that a draft or other document is being delivered separately), and shall not be liable for any failure of any such draft or other document to arrive, or to conform in any way with the relevant Letter of Credit; (v) may pay any paying or negotiating bank claiming that it rightfully honored under the laws or practices of the place where such bank is located; and (vi) may settle or adjust any claim or demand made on the Issuing Lender or its Affiliate in any way related to any order issued at the applicant’s request to an air carrier, a letter of guarantee or of indemnity issued to a carrier or any similar document (each an “Order”) and honor any drawing in connection with any Letter of Credit that is the subject of such Order, notwithstanding that any drafts or other documents presented in connection with such Letter of Credit fail to conform in any way with such Letter of Credit.

 

In furtherance and extension and not in limitation of the specific provisions set forth above, any action taken or omitted by the Issuing Lender or its Affiliates under or in connection with the Letters of Credit issued by it or any documents and certificates delivered thereunder, if taken or omitted in good faith and without gross negligence (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final non-appealable judgment), shall not put the Issuing Lender or its Affiliates under any resulting liability to the Borrowers or any Lender.

2.9.10           Issuing Lender Reporting Requirements.  Each Issuing Lender shall, on the first Business Day of each month, provide to Administrative Agent and Borrowers a schedule of the Letters of Credit issued by it, in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent, showing the date of issuance of each Letter of Credit, the account party, the original face amount (if any), and the expiration date of any Letter of Credit outstanding at any time during the preceding month, and any other information relating to such Letter of Credit that the Administrative Agent may request.

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

(i)           fees shall cease to accrue on the unfunded portion of the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.3 [Commitment Fees];

(ii)          the Commitment and outstanding Loans of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether the Required Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment, waiver or other modification pursuant to Section 11.1 [Modifications, Amendments or Waivers]); provided, that this clause (ii) shall not apply to the vote of a Defaulting Lender in the case of an amendment, waiver or other modification requiring the consent of such Lender or each Lender directly affected thereby;

(iii)          if any Swing Loans are outstanding or any Letter of Credit Obligations exist at the time such Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then:

(a)        all or any part of the outstanding Swing Loans and Letter of Credit Obligations of such Defaulting Lender shall be reallocated among the non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Ratable Shares but only to the extent that (x) the Revolving Facility Usage does not exceed the total of all non-Defaulting Lenders’ Revolving Credit Commitments, and (y) no Potential Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at such time;

 

(b)       if the reallocation described in clause (a) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrowers shall within one Business Day following notice by the Administrative Agent (x) first, prepay such outstanding Swing Loans, and (y) second, cash collateralize for the benefit of the Issuing Lender the Borrowers’ obligations corresponding to such Defaulting Lender’s Letter of Credit Obligations (after giving effect to any partial reallocation pursuant to clause (a) above) in a deposit account held at the Administrative Agent for so long as such Letter of Credit Obligations are outstanding;

(c)        if the Borrowers cash collateralize any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s Letter of Credit Obligations pursuant to clause (b) above, the Borrowers shall not be required to pay any fees to such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.9.2 [Letter of Credit Fees] with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s Letter of Credit Obligations during the period such Defaulting Lender’s Letter of Credit Obligations are cash collateralized;

(d)        if the Letter of Credit Obligations of the non-Defaulting Lenders are reallocated pursuant to clause (a) above, then the fees payable to the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.9.2 [Letter of Credit Fees] shall be adjusted in accordance with such non-Defaulting Lenders’ Ratable Share; and

(e)        if all or any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s Letter of Credit Obligations are neither reallocated nor cash collateralized pursuant to clause (a) or (b) above, then, without prejudice to any rights or remedies of the Issuing Lender or any other Lender hereunder, all Letter of Credit Fees payable under Section 2.9.2 [Letter of Credit Fees] with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s Letter of Credit Obligations shall be payable to the Issuing Lender (and not to such Defaulting Lender) until and to the extent that such Letter of Credit Obligations are reallocated and/or cash collateralized; and

(iv)         so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender, PNC shall not be required to fund any Swing Loans and the Issuing Lender shall not be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless the Issuing Lender is satisfied that the related exposure and the Defaulting Lender’s then outstanding Letter of Credit Obligations will be 100% covered by the Revolving Credit Commitments of the non-Defaulting Lenders and/or cash collateral will be provided by the Borrowers in accordance with Section 2.10(iii), and participating interests in any newly made Swing Loan or any newly issued or increased Letter of Credit shall be allocated among non-Defaulting Lenders in a manner consistent with Section 2.10(iii)(a) (and such Defaulting Lender shall not participate therein).

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

 

In the event that the Administrative Agent, the Borrowers, the Swing Loan Lender and the Issuing Lender agree in writing that a Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused such Lender to be a Defaulting Lender, then the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, and the Ratable Share of the Swing Loans and Letter of Credit Obligations of the Lenders shall be readjusted to reflect the inclusion of such Lender’s Commitment, and on such date such Lender shall purchase at par such of the Loans of the other Lenders (other than Swing Loans) as the Administrative Agent shall determine may be necessary in order for such Lender to hold such Loans in accordance with its Ratable Share.

2.11         Increase in Commitments and Added Term Loans.

 

(i)            Increasing Lenders and New Lenders.  The Borrowers may, at any time following the Closing Date, request that (1) the current Lenders increase their Revolving Credit Commitments, (2) one or more new lenders (each a “New Lender”) join this Agreement and provide a Revolving Credit Commitment hereunder, or (3) the current Lenders and/or one or more New Lenders join this Agreement and provide one or more tranches of term loans (the “Added Term Loans”), subject to the following terms and conditions (any current Lender which elects to increase its Revolving Credit Commitment or provide an Added Term Loan, as applicable, shall be referred to as an “Increasing Lender”):

(a)        No Obligation to Increase.  No current Lender shall be obligated to (x) increase its Revolving Credit Commitment and any increase in the Revolving Credit Commitment by any current Lender shall be in the sole discretion of such current Lender, or (y) provide Added Term Loans and any Added Term Loans provided by any current Lender shall be in the sole discretion of such current Lender.

(b)        Defaults.  There shall exist no Events of Default or Potential Default on the effective date of such increase after giving effect to such increase.

(c)        Maximum Amount of Increases and Aggregate Credit Commitments.  The Borrowers may request separate increases of the Revolving Credit Commitments or incurrences of Added Term Loans issued pursuant to this Section (the “New Tranche of Term Loan Commitments”), so long as after giving effect to such increase or incurrences, the sum of the total aggregate increase to the Revolving Credit Commitments plus the total aggregate of New Tranche of Term Loan Commitments does not exceed $50,000,000, with the total aggregate of all Commitments hereunder (including New Tranche of Term Loan Commitments) not to exceed $125,000,000.

(d)        Minimum Revolving Credit Commitments.  After giving effect to such increase, the amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments provided by each of the New Lenders and each of the Increasing Lenders shall be at least $10,000,000.

(e)        Terms of Added Term Loans.  (i) the Added Term Loans (x) shall rank pari passu in right of payment with the Revolving Credit Loans under this Agreement, (y) shall not mature earlier than the Expiration Date, and (z) shall have an amortization schedule and interest rates (including through fixed interest rates), interest margins, rate floors, upfront fees, funding discounts, original issue discounts and prepayment premiums as determined by the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and the lenders providing the Added Term Loans; and (ii) each New Tranche of Term Loan Commitments shall be in the minimum amount of $10,000,000.00.

 

(ii)            Requirements for Increase in Commitments and Added Term Loans.

(a)        Resolutions; Opinion.  The Loan Parties shall deliver to the Administrative Agent on or before the effective date of such increase the following documents in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent: (1) certifications of their corporate secretaries with attached resolutions certifying that the increase in the Revolving Credit Commitment or incurrence of Added Term Loans has been approved by such Loan Parties, and (2) an opinion of counsel addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders addressing the authorization and execution of the new Loan Documents by, and enforceability of the new Loan Documents against, the Loan Parties.

(b)        Notes.  The Borrowers shall (if requested by a Lender) execute and deliver (1) to each Increasing Lender a replacement revolving credit Note  or term note reflecting the new amount of such Increasing Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment or New  Tranche of Term Loan Commitment, as applicable, after giving effect to the increase (and the prior Note issued to such Increasing Lender shall be deemed to be terminated) and (2) to each New Lender a revolving credit Note or term note reflecting the amount of such New Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment or New Tranche of Term Loan Commitment.

(c)        Approval of New Lenders.  Any New Lender shall be subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

(d)        Increasing Lenders.  Each Increasing Lender shall confirm its agreement to increase its Revolving Credit Commitment or provide a New Tranche of Term Loan Commitment pursuant to an acknowledgement in a form acceptable to the Administrative Agent, signed by it and the Borrowers and delivered to the Administrative Agent at least five (5) days before the effective date of such increase.

(e)        New Lenders--Joinder.  Each New Lender shall execute a lender joinder in substantially the form of Exhibit 2.11 pursuant to which such New Lender shall join and become a party to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with a Revolving Credit Commitment or New Tranche of Term Loan Commitment in the amount set forth in such lender joinder.

(f)         Amendment.  Added Term Loans shall be effected by an amendment to this Agreement setting forth the terms of the Added Term Loans executed by (x) the Administrative Agent, (y) each Lender or New Lender agreeing to provide any portion of such Added Term Loan, and (z) the Loan Parties, as reaffirmations of the Loan Documents executed by the Loan Parties, in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.  Such amendment may, without the consent of any other Lenders, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.11.

 

(iii)          Treatment of Outstanding Loans and Letters of Credit.

(a)        Repayment of Outstanding Loans; Borrowing of New Loans.  On the on the effective date of such increase, the Borrowers shall repay all Loans then outstanding, subject to the Borrowers’ indemnity obligations under Section 5.10 [Indemnity]; provided that it may borrow new Loans with a Borrowing Date on such date. Each of the Lenders shall participate in any new Loans made on or after such date in accordance with their respective Ratable Shares after giving effect to the increase in Revolving Credit Commitments contemplated by this Section 2.11.

(b)        Outstanding Letters of Credit. Repayment of Outstanding Loans; Borrowing of New Loans.  On the effective date of such increase, each Increasing Lender and each New Lender (i) will be deemed to have purchased a participation in each then outstanding Letter of Credit equal to its Ratable Share of such Letter of Credit and the participation of each other Lender in such Letter of Credit shall be adjusted accordingly and (ii) will acquire, (and will pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of each Lender, in immediately available funds, an amount equal to) its Ratable Share of all outstanding Participation Advances.

3.           RESERVED

4.          INTEREST RATES

4.1           Interest Rate Options.  The Borrowers shall pay interest in respect of the outstanding unpaid principal amount of the Loans as selected by it from the Base Rate Option or LIBOR Rate Option set forth below applicable to the Loans, it being understood that, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Borrowers may select different Interest Rate Options and different Interest Periods to apply simultaneously to the Loans comprising different Borrowing Tranches and may convert to or renew one or more Interest Rate Options with respect to all or any portion of the Loans comprising any Borrowing Tranche; provided that there shall not be at any one time outstanding more than eight (8) Borrowing Tranches in the aggregate among all of the Loans and provided further that if an Event of Default or Potential Default exists and is continuing, the Borrowers may not request, convert to, or renew the LIBOR Rate Option for any Loans and the Required Lenders may demand that all existing Borrowing Tranches bearing interest under the LIBOR Rate Option shall be converted immediately to the Base Rate Option, subject to the obligation of the Borrowers to pay any indemnity under Section 5.10 [Indemnity] in connection with such conversion.  If at any time the designated rate applicable to any Loan made by any Lender exceeds such Lender’s highest lawful rate, the rate of interest on such Lender’s Loan shall be limited to such Lender’s highest lawful rate.

 

4.1.1             Revolving Credit Interest Rate Options; Swing Line Interest Rate.  The Borrowers shall have the right to select from the following Interest Rate Options applicable to the Revolving Credit Loans:

 

(i)            Revolving Credit Base Rate Option:  A fluctuating rate per annum (computed on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed) equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin, such interest rate to change automatically from time to time effective as of the effective date of each change in the Base Rate; or

(ii)           Revolving Credit LIBOR Rate Option:  A rate per annum (computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and actual days elapsed) equal to the LIBOR Rate as determined for each applicable Interest Period plus the Applicable Margin.

Subject to Section 4.3 [Interest After Default] and except for Swing Loans made in accordance with the provisions of Cash Management Agreements to which the LIBOR Rate Options shall apply, only the Base Rate Option applicable to Revolving Credit Loans shall apply to the Swing Loans.

4.1.2             Rate Quotations.  The Borrowers may call the Administrative Agent on or before the date on which a Loan Request is to be delivered to receive an indication of the rates then in effect, but it is acknowledged that such projection shall not be binding on the Administrative Agent or the Lenders nor affect the rate of interest which thereafter is actually in effect when the election is made.

4.2           Interest Periods.  At any time when the Borrowers shall select, convert to or renew a LIBOR Rate Option, the Borrowers shall notify the Administrative Agent thereof at least three (3) Business Days prior to the effective date of such LIBOR Rate Option by delivering a Loan Request.  The notice shall specify an Interest Period during which such Interest Rate Option shall apply.  Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the following provisions shall apply to any selection of, renewal of, or conversion to a LIBOR Rate Option:

4.2.1             Amount of Borrowing Tranche.  Each Borrowing Tranche of Loans under the LIBOR Rate Option shall be in integral multiples of, and not less than, the respective amounts set forth in Section 2.5.1 [Revolving Credit Loan Requests]; and

4.2.2             Renewals.  In the case of the renewal of a LIBOR Rate Option at the end of an Interest Period, the first day of the new Interest Period shall be the last day of the preceding Interest Period, without duplication in payment of interest for such day.

4.3           Interest After Default.  To the extent permitted by Law, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default and until such time such Event of Default shall have been cured or waived, at the discretion of the Administrative Agent or upon written demand by the Required Lenders to the Administrative Agent:

4.3.1             Letter of Credit Fees, Interest Rate.  The Letter of Credit Fees and the rate of interest for each Loan otherwise applicable pursuant to Section 2.9.2 [Letter of Credit Fees] or Section 4.1 [Interest Rate Options], respectively, shall be increased by 2.0% per annum;

4.3.2             Other Obligations.  Each other Obligation hereunder if not paid when due shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the rate of interest applicable to Revolving Credit Loans under the Base Rate Option plus an additional 2.0% per annum from the time such Obligation becomes due and payable and until it is Paid In Full; and

 

4.3.3             Acknowledgment.  The Borrowers acknowledge that the increase in rates referred to in this Section 4.3 reflects, among other things, the fact that such Loans or other amounts have become a substantially greater risk given their default status and that the Lenders are entitled to additional compensation for such risk; and all such interest shall be payable by Borrowers upon demand by Administrative Agent.

4.4           LIBOR Rate Unascertainable; Illegality; Increased Costs; Deposits Not Available.

4.4.1             Unascertainable.  If on any date on which a LIBOR Rate would otherwise be determined, the Administrative Agent shall have determined that:

(i)            adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining such LIBOR Rate, or

(ii)           a contingency has occurred which materially and adversely affects the London interbank eurodollar market relating to the LIBOR Rate,

then the Administrative Agent shall have the rights specified in Section 4.4.3 [Administrative Agent’s and Lender’s Rights].

4.4.2             Illegality; Increased Costs; Deposits Not Available.  If at any time any Lender shall have determined that:

(i)            the making, maintenance or funding of any Loan to which a LIBOR Rate Option applies has been made impracticable or unlawful by compliance by such Lender in good faith with any Law or any interpretation or application thereof by any Official Body or with any request or directive of any such Official Body (whether or not having the force of Law), or

(ii)           such LIBOR Rate Option will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lender of the establishment or maintenance of any such Loan, or

(iii)          after making all reasonable efforts, deposits of the relevant amount in Dollars for the relevant Interest Period for a Loan, or to banks generally, to which a LIBOR Rate Option applies, respectively, are not available to such Lender with respect to such Loan, or to banks generally, in the interbank eurodollar market,

then the Administrative Agent shall have the rights specified in Section 4.4.3 [Administrative Agent’s and Lender’s Rights].

 

4.4.3             Administrative Agent’s and Lender’s Rights.  In the case of any event specified in Section 4.4.1 [Unascertainable] above, the Administrative Agent shall promptly so notify the Lenders and the Borrowers thereof, and in the case of an event specified in Section 4.4.2 [Illegality; Increased Costs; Deposits Not Available] above, such Lender shall promptly so notify the Administrative Agent and endorse a certificate to such notice as to the specific circumstances of such notice, and the Administrative Agent shall promptly send copies of such notice and certificate to the other Lenders and the Borrowers.  Upon such date as shall be specified in such notice (which shall not be earlier than the date such notice is given), the obligation of (A) the Lenders, in the case of such notice given by the Administrative Agent, or (B) such Lender, in the case of such notice given by such Lender, to allow the Borrowers to select, convert to or renew a LIBOR Rate Option shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent shall have later notified the Borrowers, or such Lender shall have later notified the Administrative Agent, of the Administrative Agent’s or such Lender’s, as the case may be, determination that the circumstances giving rise to such previous determination no longer exist.  If at any time the Administrative Agent makes a determination under Section 4.4.1 [Unascertainable] and the Borrowers have previously notified the Administrative Agent of its selection of, conversion to or renewal of a LIBOR Rate Option and such Interest Rate Option has not yet gone into effect, such notification shall be deemed to provide for selection of, conversion to or renewal of the Base Rate Option otherwise available with respect to such Loans.  If any Lender notifies the Administrative Agent of a determination under Section 4.4.2 [Illegality; Increased Costs; Deposits Not Available], the Borrowers shall, subject to the Borrowers’ indemnification Obligations under Section 5.10 [Indemnity], as to any Loan of the Lender to which a LIBOR Rate Option applies, on the date specified in such notice either convert such Loan to the Base Rate Option otherwise available with respect to such Loan or prepay such Loan in accordance with Section 5.6 [Voluntary Prepayments].  Absent due notice from the Borrowers of conversion or prepayment, such Loan shall automatically be converted to the Base Rate Option otherwise available with respect to such Loan upon such specified date.

4.5           Selection of Interest Rate Options.  If the Borrowers fail to select a new Interest Period to apply to any Borrowing Tranche of Loans under the LIBOR Rate Option at the expiration of an existing Interest Period applicable to such Borrowing Tranche in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.2 [Interest Periods], the Borrowers shall be deemed to have converted such Borrowing Tranche to the Base Rate Option applicable to Revolving Credit Loans, commencing upon the last day of the existing Interest Period.

5.          PAYMENTS

5.1           Payments.  All payments and prepayments to be made in respect of principal, interest, Commitment Fees, Letter of Credit Fees, Administrative Agent’s Fee or other fees or amounts due from the Borrowers hereunder shall be payable prior to 12:00 noon on the date when due without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrowers, and without set-off, counterclaim or other deduction of any nature, and an action therefor shall immediately accrue.  Such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent at the Principal Office for the account of the Swing Loan Lender with respect to the Swing Loans and for the ratable accounts of the Lenders with respect to the Revolving Credit Loans in U.S. Dollars and in immediately available funds, and the Administrative Agent shall promptly distribute such amounts to the Lenders in immediately available funds; provided that in the event payments are received by 12:00 noon by the Administrative Agent with respect to the Loans and such payments are not distributed to the Lenders on the same day received by the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall pay the Lenders interest at the Federal Funds Effective Rate with respect to the amount of such payments for each day held by the Administrative Agent and not distributed to the Lenders.  The Administrative Agent’s and each Lender’s statement of account, ledger or other relevant record shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive as the statement of the amount of principal of and interest on the Loans and other amounts owing under this Agreement.

 

5.2           Pro Rata Treatment of Lenders.  Each borrowing of Revolving Credit Loans shall be allocated to each Lender according to its Ratable Share, and each selection of, conversion to or renewal of any Interest Rate Option and each payment or prepayment by the Borrowers with respect to principal, interest, Commitment Fees and Letter of Credit Fees (but excluding the Administrative Agent’s Fee and the Issuing Lender’s fronting fee) shall (except as otherwise may be provided with respect to a Defaulting Lender and except as provided in Sections 4.4.3 [Administrative Agent’s and Lender’s Rights] in the case of an event specified in Section 4.4 [LIBOR Rate Unascertainable; Etc.], 5.6.2 [Replacement of a Lender] or 5.7 [Increased Costs]) be payable ratably among the Lenders entitled to such payment in accordance with the amount of principal, interest, Commitment Fees and Letter of Credit Fees, as set forth in this Agreement.  Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, each borrowing or payment or prepayment by the Borrowers of principal, interest, fees or other amounts from the Borrowers with respect to Swing Loans shall be made by or to the Swing Loan Lender according to Section 2.6.5 [Borrowings to Repay Swing Loans].

5.3           Sharing of Payments by Lenders.  If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff, counterclaim or banker’s lien, by receipt of voluntary payment, by realization upon security, or by any other non-pro rata source, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Loans or other obligations hereunder resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans and accrued interest thereon or other such obligations greater than the pro-rata share of the amount such Lender is entitled thereto, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans and such other obligations of the other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans and other amounts owing them, provided that:

(i)           if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, together with interest or other amounts, if any, required by Law (including court order) to be paid by the Lender or the holder making such purchase; and

(ii)           the provisions of this Section 5.3 shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment made by the Loan Parties pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of the Loan Documents or (y) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or Participation Advances to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrowers (as to which the provisions of this Section 5.3 shall apply).

Each Loan Party consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable Law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against each Loan Party rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of each Loan Party in the amount of such participation.

 

5.4           Presumptions by Administrative Agent.  Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrowers prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or the Issuing Lender hereunder that the Borrowers will not make such payment, 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 Lender, 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 Lender, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or the Issuing Lender, with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

5.5           Interest Payment Dates.  Interest on Loans to which the Base Rate Option applies shall be due and payable in arrears on each Payment Date.  Interest on Loans to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies shall be due and payable on the last day of each Interest Period for those Loans and, if such Interest Period is longer than three (3) Months, also on the 90th day of such Interest Period.  Interest on the principal amount of each Loan or other monetary Obligation shall be due and payable on demand after such principal amount or other monetary Obligation becomes due and payable (whether on the stated Expiration Date, upon acceleration or otherwise).

5.6           Voluntary Prepayments.

5.6.1             Right to Prepay.  The Borrowers shall have the right at its option from time to time to prepay the Loans in whole or part without premium or penalty (except as provided in Section 5.6.2 [Replacement of a Lender] below, in Section 5.7[Increased Costs] and Section 5.10 [Indemnity]).  Subject to the provisions of any Cash Management Agreement, whenever the Borrowers desire to prepay any part of the Loans, it shall provide a prepayment notice to the Administrative Agent by 1:00 p.m. at least one (1) Business Day prior to the date of prepayment of the Revolving Credit Loans or no later than 1:00 p.m. on the date of prepayment of Swing Loans, setting forth the following information:

(w)           the date, which shall be a Business Day, on which the proposed prepayment is to be made;

(x)            a statement indicating the application of the prepayment between the Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Loans;

(y)           a statement indicating the application of the prepayment between Loans to which the Base Rate Option applies and Loans to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies; and

 

(z)            the total principal amount of such prepayment, which shall not be less than the lesser of (i) the Revolving Facility Usage or (ii) $100,000 for any Swing Loan or $1,000,000 for any Revolving Credit Loan.

All prepayment notices shall be irrevocable.  The principal amount of the Loans for which a prepayment notice is given, together with interest on such principal amount, shall be due and payable on the date specified in such prepayment notice as the date on which the proposed prepayment is to be made.  Except as provided in Section 4.4.3 [Administrative Agent’s and Lender’s Rights], if the Borrowers prepay a Loan but fails to specify the applicable Borrowing Tranche which the Borrowers is prepaying, the prepayment shall be applied (i) first to Loans to which the Base Rate Option applies, then to Loans to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies.  Any prepayment hereunder shall be subject to the Borrowers’ Obligation to indemnify the Lenders under Section 5.10 [Indemnity].

5.6.2             Replacement of a Lender.  In the event any Lender (i) gives notice under Section 4.4 [LIBOR Rate Unascertainable, Etc.], (ii) requests compensation under Section 5.7 [Increased Costs], or requires the Borrowers to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amount to any Lender or any Official Body for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 5.9 [Taxes], (iii) is a Defaulting Lender, (iv) becomes subject to the control of an Official Body (other than normal and customary supervision), or (v) is a Non-Consenting Lender referred to in Section 11.1 [Modifications, Amendments or Waivers], then in any such event the Borrowers may, at their sole expense, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 11.8 [Successors and Assigns]), all of its interests, rights (other than existing rights to payments pursuant to Sections 5.7 [Increased Costs] or 5.9 [Taxes]) and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:

(i)            the Borrowers shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee specified in Section 11.8 [Successors and Assigns];

(ii)          such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and Participation Advances, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 5.10 [Indemnity]) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrowers (in the case of all other amounts);

(iii)          in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 5.8.1 [Increased Costs Generally] or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 5.9 [Taxes], such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter; and

(iv)         such assignment does not conflict with applicable Law.

 

A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrowers to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

5.6.3             Designation of a Different Lending Office.  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 5.7 [Increased Costs], or the Borrowers are or will be required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Official Body for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 5.9 [Taxes], then such Lender shall (at the request of the Borrowers) 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 reasonable judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 5.7 [Increased Costs] or Section 5.9 [Taxes], as the case may be, in the future, and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be materially 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.

5.7           INTENTIONALLY DELETED.

5.8           Increased Costs.

5.8.1             Increased Costs Generally.  If any Change in Law shall:

(i)            impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender (except any reserve requirement reflected in the LIBOR Rate) or the Issuing Lender;

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

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

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender or such other Recipient of making, converting to, continuing or maintaining any Loan or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan, or to increase the cost to such Lender, the Issuing Lender or such other Recipient of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its obligation to participate in or to issue any Letter of Credit), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender, the Issuing Lender or other Recipient hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender, the Issuing Lender or other Recipient, the Borrowers will pay to such Lender, the Issuing Lender or other Recipient, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the Issuing Lender, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

 

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

5.8.3             Certificates for Reimbursement; Repayment of Outstanding Loans; Borrowing of New Loans.  A certificate of a Lender or the Issuing Lender setting forth in reasonable detail the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or the Issuing Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in Sections 5.8.1 [Increased Costs Generally] or 5.8.2 [Capital Requirements] and delivered to the Borrowers shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  The Borrowers shall pay such Lender or the Issuing Lender, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.

5.8.4             Delay in Requests.  Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or the Issuing Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or the Issuing Lender’s right to demand such compensation, provided that the Borrowers shall not be required to compensate a Lender or the Issuing Lender pursuant to this Section for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than six months prior to the date that such Lender or the Issuing Lender, as the case may be, notifies the Borrowers of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or the Issuing Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the six (6) month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).

5.9           Taxes.

5.9.1             Issuing Lender.  For purposes of this Section 5.9, the term “Lender” includes the Issuing Lender and the term “applicable Law” includes FATCA.

5.9.2             Payments Free of Taxes.  Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document shall be without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by applicable Law.  If any applicable Law (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable Withholding Agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by a Withholding Agent, then the applicable Withholding Agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Official Body in accordance with applicable Law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the applicable Loan Party shall be increased as necessary so that after such deduction or withholding has been made (including such deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 5.9 [Taxes]) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.

 

5.9.3             Payment of Other Taxes by the Loan Parties.  The Loan Parties shall timely pay to the relevant Official Body in accordance with applicable Law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes.

5.9.4             Indemnification by the Loan Parties.  The Loan Parties shall jointly and severally indemnify each Recipient, within ten (10) days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 5.9 [Taxes]) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Official Body.  A certificate setting forth in reasonable detail the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrowers by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

5.9.5             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 any of the Loan Parties to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 11.8.4 [Participations] relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register, and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Official Body.  A certificate setting forth in reasonable detail the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this Section 5.9.5 [Indemnification by the Lenders].

5.9.6             Evidence of Payments.  As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by any Loan Party to an Official Body pursuant to this Section 5.9 [Taxes], such Loan Party shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Official Body evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

5.9.7             Status of Lenders.

(i)            Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrowers 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 Borrowers or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 5.9.7(ii)(A), (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. Borrower,

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

(B)       any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrowers 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 Borrowers or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:

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

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

 

(iii)        in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit 5.9.7(A) to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not (A) a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (B) a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrowers within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or (C) a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN; or

(iv)       to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed originals of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit 5.9.7(B) or Exhibit 5.9.7(C), IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit 5.9.7(D) on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;

(C)       any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrowers 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 Borrowers or the Administrative Agent), executed originals of any other form prescribed by applicable Law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable Law to permit the Borrowers 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 Borrowers and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrowers 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 Borrowers or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrowers 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 Borrowers and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.

 

5.9.8             Treatment of Certain Refunds.  If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 5.9 [Taxes] (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 5.9 [Taxes]), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section 5.9 [Taxes] with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Official Body with respect to such refund).  Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party incurred in connection with obtaining such refund, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this Section 5.9.8 [Treatment of Certain Refunds] (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Official Body) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Official Body.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5.9.8 [Treatment of Certain Refunds]), in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this Section 5.9.8 [Treatment of Certain Refunds] the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the indemnified party would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid.  This paragraph shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.

5.9.9             Survival.  Each party’s obligations under this Section 5.9 [Taxes] shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all Obligations.

5.10         Indemnity.  In addition to the compensation or payments required by Section 5.7 [Increased Costs]or Section 5.9 [Taxes], the Borrowers shall indemnify each Lender against all liabilities, losses or expenses (including loss of anticipated profits, any foreign exchange losses and any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan, from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained or from the performance of any foreign exchange contract) which such Lender sustains or incurs as a consequence of any:

(i)            payment, prepayment, conversion or renewal of any Loan to which a LIBOR Rate Option applies on a day other than the last day of the corresponding Interest Period (whether or not such payment or prepayment is mandatory, voluntary or automatic and whether or not such payment or prepayment is then due), or

(ii)           attempt by the Borrowers to revoke (expressly, by later inconsistent notices or otherwise) in whole or part any Loan Requests under Section 2.5 [Revolving Credit Loan Requests; Swing Loan Requests] or Section 4.2 [Interest Periods] or notice relating to prepayments under Section 5.6 [Voluntary Prepayments].

 

If any Lender sustains or incurs any such loss or expense, it shall from time to time notify the Borrowers of the amount determined in good faith by such Lender (which determination may include such assumptions, allocations of costs and expenses and averaging or attribution methods as such Lender shall deem reasonable) to be necessary to indemnify such Lender for such loss or expense.  Such notice shall set forth in reasonable detail the basis for such determination.  Such amount shall be due and payable by the Borrowers to such Lender ten (10) Business Days after such notice is given.

5.11         Settlement Date Procedures.  In order to minimize the transfer of funds between the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, the Borrowers may borrow, repay and reborrow Swing Loans and the Swing Loan Lender may make Swing Loans as provided in Section 2.1.2 [Swing Loan Commitments] hereof during the period between Settlement Dates.  The Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of its Ratable Share of the total of the Revolving Credit Loans and the Swing Loans (each a “Required Share”).  On such Settlement Date, each Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent the amount equal to the difference between its Required Share and its Revolving Credit Loans, and the Administrative Agent shall pay to each Lender its Ratable Share of all payments made by the Borrowers to the Administrative Agent with respect to the Revolving Credit Loans.  In addition to effecting settlement on each Settlement Date, the Administrative Agent shall also effect settlement in accordance with the procedures outlined in the foregoing sentence on the proposed Borrowing Dates for Revolving Credit Loans and on any mandatory prepayment date as provided for herein and may at its option effect settlement on any other Business Day.  These settlement procedures are established solely as a matter of administrative convenience, and nothing contained in this Section 5.11 shall relieve the Lenders of their obligations to fund Revolving Credit Loans on dates other than a Settlement Date pursuant to Section 2.1.2 [Swing Loan Commitment].  The Administrative Agent may at any time at its option for any reason whatsoever require each Lender to pay immediately to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s Ratable Share of the outstanding Revolving Credit Loans and each Lender may at any time require the Administrative Agent to pay immediately to such Lender its Ratable Share of all payments made by the Borrowers to the Administrative Agent with respect to the Revolving Credit Loans.

6.          REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

6.1           Representations and Warranties.  The Loan Parties, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders as follows:

6.1.1             Organization and Qualification; Power and Authority; Compliance With Laws; Title to Properties; Event of Default.  Each Loan Party (i) is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, (ii) has the lawful power to own or lease its properties and to engage in the business it presently conducts or proposes to conduct, (iii) is duly licensed or qualified and in good standing in each jurisdiction listed on Schedule 6.1.1 and in all other jurisdictions where the property owned or leased by it or the nature of the business transacted by it or both makes such licensing or qualification necessary except where the failure to do so would not constitute a Material Adverse Change, (iv) has full power to enter into, execute, deliver and carry out this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party, to incur the Indebtedness contemplated by the Loan Documents and to perform its Obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and all such actions have been duly authorized by all necessary proceedings on its part, (v) is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws (other than Environmental Laws which are specifically addressed in Section 6.1.14 [Environmental Matters]) in all jurisdictions in which any Loan Party is presently or will be doing business except where the failure to do so would not constitute a Material Adverse Change, and (vi) has good and marketable title to or valid leasehold interest in all properties, assets and other rights which it purports to own or lease or which are reflected as owned or leased on its books and records, free and clear of all Liens and encumbrances except Permitted Liens.  No Event of Default or Potential Default exists or is continuing.

 

6.1.2             Subsidiaries and Owners; Investment Companies.  Schedule 6.1.2 states (i) the name of each holder of an equity interest in each Borrower (other than the Company), the amount, percentage and type of such equity interest (the “Borrowers Equity Interests”), (ii) the name of each Loan Party’s Subsidiaries, the jurisdiction of organization of each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries, and the amount, percentage and type of such Loan Party’s equity interests in such Subsidiary, to the extent that such information is not included in clause (i) of this Section (the “Subsidiary Equity Interests”), and (iii) any options, warrants or other rights outstanding to purchase any such equity interests referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section (collectively the “Equity Interests”).  Each Borrower and each Subsidiary thereof has good and marketable title to all of the Subsidiary Equity Interests it purports to own, free and clear in each case of any Lien and all such Subsidiary Equity Interests have been validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.  None of the Loan Parties or Subsidiaries of any Loan Party is an “investment company” registered or required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or under the “control” of an “investment company” as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 and shall not become such an “investment company” or under such “control.”

6.1.3             Validity and Binding Effect.  This Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents (i) has been duly and validly executed and delivered by each Loan Party, and (ii) constitutes, or will constitute, legal, valid and binding obligations of each Loan Party which is or will be a party thereto, enforceable against such Loan Party in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity.

6.1.4             No Conflict; Material Agreements; Consents.  Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents by any Loan Party nor the consummation of the transactions herein or therein contemplated or compliance with the terms and provisions hereof or thereof by any of them will conflict with, constitute a default under or result in any breach of (i) the terms and conditions of the certificate of incorporation, bylaws, certificate of limited partnership, partnership agreement, certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement or other organizational documents of any Loan Party or (ii) any Law or any material agreement or instrument or order, writ, judgment, injunction or decree to which any Loan Party is a party or by which it is bound or to which it is subject, or result in the creation or enforcement of any Lien, charge or encumbrance whatsoever upon any property (now or hereafter acquired) of any Loan Party (other than Liens granted under the Loan Documents).  There is no default under such material agreement (referred to above) which constitutes a Material Adverse Change and none of the Loan Parties is bound by any contractual obligation, or subject to any restriction in any organization document, or any requirement of Law which constitutes a Material Adverse Change.  No consent, approval, exemption, order or authorization of, or a registration or filing with, any Official Body or any other Person is required by any Law or any agreement in connection with the execution, delivery and carrying out of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents other than filings to perfect the security interests contemplated by the Loan Documents.

 

6.1.5             Litigation.  There are no actions, suits, proceedings or investigations pending or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, threatened against such Loan Party at law or in equity before any Official Body which individually or in the aggregate constitute a Material Adverse Change.  None of the Loan Parties is in violation of any order, writ, injunction or any decree of any Official Body which constitutes a Material Adverse Change.

6.1.6             Financial Statements.

(i)            Historical Statements.  The Loan Parties have delivered to the Administrative Agent copies of their audited consolidated and consolidating year-end financial statements for and as of the end of each of the three (3) fiscal years ended on or about October 3, 2014, October 2, 2015, and September 30, 2016.  In addition, the Loan Parties have delivered to the Administrative Agent copies of their unaudited consolidated interim financial statements for the fiscal year to date and as of the end of the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2017, all such annual and interim statements being collectively referred to as the “Statements”).  The Statements were compiled from the books and records maintained by the Loan Parties’ management, are correct and complete in all material respects and fairly represent the consolidated and consolidating financial condition of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries as of the respective dates thereof and the results of operations for the fiscal periods then ended and have been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject (in the case of the interim statements) to normal year-end audit adjustments.

(ii)           Accuracy of Financial Statements.  No Borrower nor any Subsidiary thereof has any material liabilities, contingent or otherwise, or forward or long-term commitments that are not disclosed in the Statements or in the notes thereto, and except as disclosed therein there are no unrealized or anticipated losses from any commitments of the Borrowers or any Subsidiary thereof which constitutes a Material Adverse Change.  Since September 30, 2016, no event has occurred which could reasonably be expected to be material and adverse to the business, properties, assets, financial condition or results of operations of the Loan Parties taken as a whole.

6.1.7             Margin Stock.  None of the Loan Parties engages or intends to engage principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose, immediately, incidentally or ultimately, of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U, T or X as promulgated by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System).  No part of the proceeds of any Loan has been or will be used, immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry any margin stock or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin stock or which is inconsistent with the provisions of the regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.  None of the Loan Parties holds or intends to hold margin stock in such amounts that more than 25% of the reasonable value of the assets of any Loan Party are or will be represented by margin stock.

 

6.1.8             Full Disclosure.  Neither this Agreement nor any other Loan Document, nor any certificate, statement, agreement or other documents furnished to the Administrative Agent or any Lender by a Loan Party in connection herewith or therewith, contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained herein and therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, each Loan Party represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time.  As of the date of this Agreement, there is no fact known to any Loan Party which materially adversely affects the business, property, assets, financial condition, or results of operations of any Loan Party which has not been set forth in this Agreement or in the certificates, statements, agreements or other documents furnished in writing by a Loan Party to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders prior to or at the date hereof in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

6.1.9             Taxes.  All material federal, state, local and other tax returns required to have been filed with respect to each Loan Party have been filed, and payment or adequate provision has been made for the payment of all material taxes, fees, assessments and other governmental charges which have or may become due pursuant to said returns or to assessments received, except to the extent that such taxes, fees, assessments and other charges are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which such reserves or other appropriate provisions, if any, as shall be required by GAAP shall have been made.

6.1.10           Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, Licenses, Etc.  Each Loan Party owns or possesses all the material patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, licenses, registrations, franchises, permits and rights necessary to own and operate its properties and to carry on its business as presently conducted and planned to be conducted by such Loan Party, without known possible, alleged or actual conflict with the rights of others which constitutes, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Change.

6.1.11           [RESERVED]

6.1.12           Insurance.  The properties of each Loan Party are insured pursuant to policies and other bonds which are valid and in full force and effect and which provide adequate coverage from reputable and financially sound insurers in amounts sufficient to insure the assets and risks of each such Loan Party in accordance with prudent business practice in the industry of such Loan Parties.

6.1.13           ERISA Compliance.

(i)            Each Pension Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other federal or state Laws.  Each Pension Plan that is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code has received from the IRS a favorable determination or opinion letter, which has not by its terms expired, that such Pension Plan is so qualified, or such Pension Plan is entitled to rely on an IRS advisory or opinion letter with respect to an IRS-approved master and prototype or volume submitter plan,  or a timely application for such a determination or opinion letter is currently being processed by the IRS with respect thereto; and, to the best knowledge of Borrowers, nothing has occurred which would prevent, or cause the loss of, such qualification.  Borrowers and each member of the ERISA Group have made all required contributions to each Pension Plan subject to Sections 412 or 430 of the Code, and no application for a funding waiver or an extension of any amortization period pursuant to Sections 412 or 430 of the Code has been made with respect to any Pension Plan.

 

(ii)           No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; (a) no Pension Plan has any unfunded pension liability (i.e., excess of benefit liabilities over the current value of that Pension Plan’s assets, determined pursuant to the assumptions used for funding the Pension Plan for the applicable plan year in accordance with Section 430 of the Code); (b) no Borrower nor any member of the ERISA Group has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan (other than premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA); (c) no Borrower nor any member of the ERISA Group has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability (and no event has occurred which, with the giving of notice under Section 4219 of ERISA, would result in such liability) under Section 4201 of ERISA, with respect to a Multiemployer Plan; (d) no Borrower nor any member of the ERISA Group has received notice pursuant to Section 4242(a)(1)(B) of ERISA that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization and that additional contributions are due to the Multiemployer Plan pursuant to Section 4243 of ERISA; and (e) no Borrower nor any member of the ERISA Group has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Sections 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA.

6.1.14           Environmental Matters.  Each Loan Party is and, to the knowledge of each respective Loan Party has been in compliance with applicable Environmental Laws except where failure to do so does not in the aggregate constitute a Material Adverse Change.

6.1.15           Solvency.  On the Closing Date and after giving effect to the initial Loans hereunder, each of the Loan Parties is Solvent.

6.1.16           Anti-Terrorism Laws.  (i) No Covered Entity is a Sanctioned Person, and (ii) no Covered Entity, either in its own right or through any third party, (a) has any of its assets in a Sanctioned Country or in the possession, custody or control of a Sanctioned Person in violation of any Anti-Terrorism Law, (b) does business in or with, or derives any of its income directly from investments in or transactions with, any Sanctioned Country or Sanctioned Person in violation of any Anti-Terrorism Law; or (c) engages in any dealings or transactions prohibited by any Anti-Terrorism Law.

6.1.17           Labor Matters.  The Loan Parties have not experienced any strike, labor dispute, slow-down or work stoppage due to labor disagreements which constitutes a Material Adverse Change.

 

6.2           Updates to Schedules.  Should any of the information or disclosures provided on any of the Schedules attached hereto become outdated or incorrect in any material respect, the Borrowers shall promptly provide the Administrative Agent in writing with such revisions or updates to such Schedule as may be necessary or appropriate to update or correct same.  No Schedule shall be deemed to have been amended, modified or superseded by any such correction or update, nor shall any breach of warranty or representation resulting from the inaccuracy or incompleteness of any such Schedule be deemed to have been cured thereby, unless and until the Administrative Agent, with the consent of the Required Lenders, in their sole and absolute discretion, shall have accepted in writing such revisions or updates to such Schedule; provided however, that the Borrowers may update any Schedules with any changes occurring after the Closing Date which are not prohibited by Article 8 [Covenants] hereof.

 

7.             CONDITIONS OF LENDING AND ISSUANCE OF LETTERS OF CREDIT

The obligation of each Lender to make Loans and of the Issuing Lender to issue Letters of Credit hereunder is subject to the performance by each of the Loan Parties of its Obligations to be performed hereunder at or prior to the making of any such Loans or issuance of such Letters of Credit and to the satisfaction of the following further conditions:

7.1           First Loans and Letters of Credit.

7.1.1             Deliveries.  On the Closing Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received each of the following in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:

(i)            A certificate of each of the Loan Parties signed by an Authorized Officer, dated the Closing Date stating that (A) all representations and warranties of the Loan Parties set forth in this Agreement are true and correct in all material respects, (B) the Loan Parties are in compliance with each of the covenants and conditions hereunder, C) no Event of Default or Potential Default exists, (D) no Material Adverse Change has occurred since the date of the last audited financial statements of the Borrowers delivered to the Administrative Agent; and (E) there are no actions, suits, proceedings or investigations pending or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, threatened against such Loan Party at law or in equity before any Official Body which individually or in the aggregate constitute a Material Adverse Change.

(ii)           A certificate dated the Closing Date and signed by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of each of the Loan Parties, certifying as appropriate as to: (a) all action taken by each Loan Party in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents; (b) the names of the Authorized Officers authorized to sign the Loan Documents and their true signatures; and (c) copies of its organizational documents as in effect on the Closing Date certified by the appropriate state official where such documents are filed in a state office together with certificates from the appropriate state officials as to the continued existence and good standing of each Loan Party in each state where organized and in each other state in which the failure to be registered and in good standing would constitute a Material Adverse Change;

(iii)          This Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents signed by an Authorized Officer;

(iv)          A written opinion of counsel for the Loan Parties, dated the Closing Date and as to the matters set forth in Schedule 7.1.1;

 

(v)          Evidence that adequate insurance, including flood insurance, if applicable, required to be maintained under this Agreement is in full force and effect;

(vi)          A duly completed Compliance Certificate as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of Borrowers ending June 30, 2017, signed by an Authorized Officer of Borrowers;

(vii)         All consents and regulatory approvals and licenses necessary to effectuate the transactions contemplated hereby shall have been completed and there shall be an absence of any legal or regulatory prohibitions or restrictions;

(viii)        Evidence that the indebtedness and obligations under the Existing Credit Agreement have been amended and restated and shall from and after the Closing Date be evidenced by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and all Liens and security interests related to the Existing Credit Agreement have been released or terminated;

(ix)          Pro forma projections for the fiscal years 2017 through 2022, all of which shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

(x)           A Lien search in acceptable scope and with acceptable results; and

(xi)          Such other documents in connection with such transactions as the Administrative Agent or its counsel may reasonably request.

7.1.2             Payment of Fees.  The Borrowers shall have paid all fees and expenses payable on or before the Closing Date as required by this Agreement, the Administrative Agent’s Letter or any other Loan Document.

7.2           Each Loan or Letter of Credit.  At the time of making any Loans or issuing, extending or increasing any Letters of Credit and after giving effect to the proposed extensions of credit: (i) the representations, warranties of the Loan Parties shall then be true and correct in all material respects, provided, however, that to the extent any such representation or warranty is already qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Change, such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects, (ii) no Event of Default or Potential Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (iii) the making of the Loans or issuance, extension or increase of such Letter of Credit shall not contravene any Law applicable to any Loan Party or any of the Lenders, and (iv) the Borrowers shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a duly executed and completed Loan Request or to the Issuing Lender an application for a Letter of Credit, as the case may be.

8.          COVENANTS

The Loan Parties, jointly and severally, covenant and agree that until Payment In Full, the Loan Parties shall comply at all times with the following covenants:

 

8.1           Affirmative Covenants.

8.1.1             Preservation of Existence, Etc.  Except as otherwise expressly permitted in Section 8.2.6 [Liquidations, Mergers, Etc.], each Loan Party shall maintain its legal existence as a corporation, limited partnership or limited liability company and its license or qualification and good standing (A) in each jurisdiction of formation or incorporation, as applicable, listed on Schedule 6.1.1, and (B) in all other jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property or the nature of its business makes such license or qualification necessary except where failure to do so would not constitute a Material Adverse Change.

8.1.2             Payment of Liabilities, Including Taxes, Etc.  Each Loan Party shall duly pay and discharge all material liabilities to which it is subject or which are asserted against it, promptly as and when the same shall become due and payable, including all material taxes, assessments and governmental charges upon it or any of its properties, assets, income or profits, prior to the date on which penalties attach thereto, except to the extent that such liabilities, including taxes, assessments or charges, are being contested in good faith and by appropriate and lawful proceedings diligently conducted and for which such reserve or other appropriate provisions, if any, as shall be required by GAAP shall have been made.

8.1.3            Maintenance of Insurance.  Each Loan Party shall insure its properties and assets against loss or damage by fire and such other insurable hazards as such assets are commonly insured (including fire, extended coverage, property damage, workers’ compensation, public liability and business interruption insurance) and against other risks in such amounts as similar properties and assets are insured by prudent companies in similar circumstances carrying on similar businesses, and with reputable and financially sound insurers, including self-insurance to the extent customary, all as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent.

8.1.4            Maintenance of Properties and Leases.  Each Loan Party shall maintain in good repair, working order and condition (ordinary wear and tear excepted), in accordance with the general practice of other businesses of similar character and size, all of those properties and equipment useful or necessary to its business, and from time to time, such Loan Party will make or cause to be made all appropriate repairs, renewals or replacements thereof.

8.1.5             Visitation Rights.  Each Loan Party shall permit any of the officers or authorized employees or representatives of the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders to visit and inspect any of its properties and to examine and make excerpts from its books and records and discuss its business affairs, finances and accounts with its officers, all in such detail and at such times and as often as any of the Lenders may reasonably request, provided that each Lender shall provide the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent with reasonable notice prior to any visit or inspection, and provided further that the Borrowers shall not be responsible for the expenses of more than one audit, visit or inspection of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders collectively in any fiscal year unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.  In the event any Lender desires to conduct an audit of any Loan Party, such Lender shall make a reasonable effort to conduct such audit contemporaneously with any audit to be performed by the Administrative Agent.

 

8.1.6             Keeping of Records and Books of Account.  The Borrowers shall maintain and keep proper books of record and account which enable the Borrowers to issue financial statements in accordance with GAAP and as otherwise required by applicable Laws of any Official Body, or the Financial Accounting Standards Board or any successor thereto, having jurisdiction over the Borrowers and in which full, true and correct entries shall be made in all material respects of all its dealings and business and financial affairs.

8.1.7            Compliance with Laws; Use of Proceeds.  Each Loan Party shall comply with all applicable Laws, including all Environmental Laws, in all respects except where any failure to comply with any Law, individually or in the aggregate, shall not constitute a Material Adverse Change.  The Loan Parties will use the Letters of Credit and the proceeds of the Loans only in accordance with Section 2.8 [Use of Proceeds] and as permitted by applicable Law.

8.1.8             [RESERVED].

8.1.9             Anti-Terrorism Laws; International Trade Compliance.  (a) No Covered Entity will become a Sanctioned Person, (b) no Covered Entity, either in its own right or through any third party, will (A) have any of its assets in a Sanctioned Country or in the possession, custody or control of a Sanctioned Person in violation of any Anti-Terrorism Law; (B) do business in or with, or derive any of its income directly from investments in or transactions with, any Sanctioned Country or Sanctioned Person in violation of any Anti-Terrorism Law; (C) engage in any dealings or transactions prohibited by any Anti-Terrorism Law or (D) use the Loans to fund any operations in, finance any investments or activities in, or, make any payments to, a Sanctioned Country or Sanctioned Person in violation of any Anti-Terrorism Law, (c) the funds used to repay the Obligations will not be derived from any unlawful activity, (d) each Covered Entity shall comply in all material respects with  all Anti-Terrorism Laws, and (e) the Borrowers shall promptly notify the Agent in writing upon the occurrence of a Reportable Compliance Event.

8.1.10           Keepwell.  Each Qualified ECP Loan Party jointly and severally (together with each other Qualified ECP Loan Party) hereby absolutely unconditionally and irrevocably (a) guarantees the prompt payment and performance of all Swap Obligations owing by each Non-Qualifying Party (it being understood and agreed that this guarantee is a guaranty of payment and not of collection), and (b) undertakes to provide such funds or other support as may be needed from time to time by any Non-Qualifying Party to honor all of such Non‑Qualifying Party’s obligations under this Agreement or any other Loan Document in respect of Swap Obligations (provided, however, that each Qualified ECP Loan Party shall only be liable under this Section 8.1.10 for the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering its obligations under this Section 8.1.10, or otherwise under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, voidable under applicable law, including applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not for any greater amount).  The obligations of each Qualified ECP Loan Party under this Section 8.1.10 shall remain in full force and effect until Payment In Full of the Obligations and termination of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.  Each Qualified ECP Loan Party intends that this Section 8.1.10 constitute, and this Section 8.1.10 shall be deemed to constitute, a guarantee of the obligations of, and 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 CEA.

 

8.2           Negative Covenants.

8.2.1             Indebtedness.  Each of the Loan Parties shall not at any time create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:

(i)            Indebtedness under the Loan Documents;

(ii)           Existing Indebtedness as set forth on Schedule 8.2.1 (including any extensions or renewals thereof); provided there is no increase in the amount thereof or other significant change in the terms thereof unless otherwise specified on Schedule 8.2.1;

(iii)          Indebtedness incurred with respect to Purchase Money Security Interests and capitalized leases secured by Liens permitted under Section 8.2.2 hereof;

(iv)          Indebtedness of a Loan Party to another Loan Party which is subordinated pursuant to the Intercompany Subordination Agreement;

(v)           Indebtedness of a Loan Party to a direct or indirect Foreign Subsidiary of a Loan Party;

(vi)          Any (i) Lender Provided Interest Rate Hedge, (ii) Lender Provided Foreign Currency Hedge, (ii) other Interest Rate Hedge or Foreign Currency Hedge approved by the Administrative Agent or (iii) Indebtedness under any Other Lender Provided Financial Services Product; provided however, the Loan Parties shall enter into an Interest Rate Hedge or Foreign Currency Hedge only for hedging (rather than speculative) purposes;

(vii)         Indebtedness available to any Loan Party under federal, state or local incentive loan programs which provide rates that are generally more favorable to Loan Parties than those that are commercially available from traditional lenders in an amount not to exceed Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000) in the aggregate at any time and after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness no Potential Default or Event of Default exists or would occur; and

(viii)        Other unsecured Indebtedness up to an aggregate amount of $5,000,000 at any time outstanding.

8.2.2             Liens; Lien Covenants.  Each of the Loan Parties shall not at any time create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any of its property or assets, tangible or intangible, now owned or hereafter acquired, or agree or become liable to do so, except Permitted Liens.

8.2.3             Guaranties.  Each of the Loan Parties shall not at any time, directly or indirectly, become or be liable in respect of any Guaranty, or assume, guarantee, become surety for, endorse or otherwise agree, become or remain directly or contingently liable upon or with respect to any obligation or liability of any other Person, except for Guaranties of Indebtedness of the Loan Parties permitted hereunder.

 

8.2.4             Loans and Investments.  Each of the Loan Parties shall not at any time make or suffer to remain outstanding any loan or advance to, or purchase, acquire or own any stock, bonds, notes or securities of, or any partnership interest (whether general or limited) or limited liability company interest in, or any other investment or interest in, or make any capital contribution to, any other Person, or agree, become or remain liable to do any of the foregoing, except:

 

(i)            trade credit extended on usual and customary terms in the ordinary course of business;

(ii)           advances to employees to meet expenses incurred by such employees in the ordinary course of business;

(iii)          Permitted Investments;

(iv)          loans, advances and investments in other Loan Parties;

(v)          Restricted Investments in the Foreign Subsidiaries made after the Closing Date not exceeding $20,000,000 in the aggregate at any one time;

(vi)         Permitted Acquisitions; and

(vii)        Investments in mutual funds and investment advisory organizations made in accordance with the Johnson Outdoors Retirement and Savings Investment Policy Statement adopted on October 1, 2016, as amended, restated, updated or otherwise modified from time to time.

8.2.5             Dividends, Stock Repurchases and Related Distributions.  Each of the Loan Parties shall not make or pay, or agree to become or remain liable to make or pay, any dividend or other distribution of any nature (whether in cash, property, securities or otherwise) on account of or in respect of its shares of Capital Stock, or on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement or acquisition of its shares of Capital Stock (or warrants, options or rights therefor), except for (i) dividends or other distributions payable to another Loan Party; and (ii) so long as no Potential Default or Event of Default exists or would result therefrom and the Borrowers are in pro forma compliance with the financial covenants contained in Sections 8.2.14 and 8.2.15 after giving effect thereto, dividends, distributions, or payments on account of the repurchase, redemption, retirement or acquisition of the Company’s Capital Stock.

8.2.6             Liquidations, Mergers, Consolidations, Acquisitions.  Each of the Loan Parties shall not dissolve, liquidate or wind-up its affairs, or become a party to any merger or consolidation, or acquire by purchase, lease or otherwise all or substantially all of the assets or Capital Stock of any other Person; provided that:

 

(i)            any Loan Party other than the Company may consolidate or merge into another Loan Party which is wholly-owned by one or more of the other Loan Parties; and

(ii)           any Loan Party may acquire, whether by purchase or by merger: (a) all of the ownership interests of another Person; or (b) substantially all of assets of another Person or of a business or division of another Person (each a “Permitted Acquisition”), provided that each of the following requirements is met:

(a)           if a Loan Party is acquiring the ownership interests in such Person, such Person shall execute a Borrower Joinder or Guarantor Joinder, as applicable, and join this Agreement as a Borrower or Guarantor, as applicable, on or before the date of such Permitted Acquisition;

(b)          the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of such Person shall have approved such Permitted Acquisition and, if the Loan Parties shall use any portion of the Loans to fund such Permitted Acquisition, the Loan Parties also shall have delivered to the Lenders written evidence of the approval of the board of directors (or equivalent body) of such Person for such Permitted Acquisition;

(c)          the business acquired, or the business conducted by the Person whose ownership interests are being acquired, as applicable, shall be similar or complimentary to one or more line or lines of business or operations conducted by the Loan Parties;

(d)          no Potential Default or Event of Default shall exist immediately prior to and after giving effect to such Permitted Acquisition based on the most recent quarterly financial statements delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 8.3.1 (and after including the financial impact of the Permitted Acquisition for the trailing twelve month period covered thereby);

(e)          after giving effect to such Permitted Acquisition (including the payment of all consideration payable as of the date of such Permitted Acquisition and all fees and transaction costs incurred in connection with such Permitted Acquisition), the Loan Parties shall be in pro forma compliance with the financial covenants contained in Sections 8.2.14 and 8.2.15; and

(f)           the Loan Parties shall deliver to the Administrative Agent at least five (5) Business Days before such Permitted Acquisition copies of any agreements entered into or proposed to be entered into by such Loan Parties in connection with such Permitted Acquisition, and shall deliver to the Administrative Agent such other information about such Person or its assets as any Lender may reasonably require.

8.2.7            Dispositions of Assets or Subsidiaries.  Each of the Loan Parties shall not sell, convey, assign, lease, abandon or otherwise transfer or dispose of, voluntarily or involuntarily, any of its properties or assets, tangible or intangible (including sale, assignment, discount or other disposition of accounts, contract rights, chattel paper, equipment or general intangibles with or without recourse or of Capital Stock of a Subsidiary of such Loan Party), except:

 

(i)            transactions involving the sale of inventory in the ordinary course of business;

(ii)           any sale, transfer or lease of assets in the ordinary course of business which are no longer necessary or required in the conduct of such Loan Party’s business;

(iii)          any sale, transfer or lease of assets by any wholly owned Subsidiary of such Loan Party to another Loan Party;

(iv)          any sale, transfer or lease of assets in the ordinary course of business which are replaced by substitute assets acquired or leased; or

(v)          other arms-length sales, transfers and dispositions so long as the fair market value of the assets transferred does not exceed $5,000,000 in the aggregate during any fiscal year of the Borrowers.

8.2.8            Affiliate Transactions.  Each of the Loan Parties shall not enter into or carry out any transaction with any Affiliate of any Loan Party, other than another Loan Party (including purchasing property or services from or selling property or services to any Affiliate of any Loan Party or other Person) unless such transaction is not otherwise prohibited by this Agreement, is entered into in the ordinary course of business upon fair and reasonable arm’s-length terms and conditions and is in accordance with all applicable Law; provided that nothing contained herein shall prohibit the Loan Parties from intercompany sales of inventory consistent with historical practices.

8.2.9            Subsidiaries, Partnerships and Joint Ventures.  Each of the Loan Parties shall not own or create directly or indirectly any Subsidiaries other than (i) any Subsidiary which has joined this Agreement as a Borrower or Guarantor on the Closing Date; (ii) any Foreign Subsidiary; and (iii) any domestic Subsidiary formed after the Closing Date which joins this Agreement either as (A) a Borrower by delivering to the Administrative Agent a signed Borrower Joinder or (B) a Guarantor by delivering to the Administrative Agent a signed Guarantor Joinder, and in either case, such Subsidiary shall also deliver the documents in the forms described in Section 7.1 [First Loans and Letters of Credit] modified as appropriate.  Each of the Loan Parties shall not become or agree to become a party to a Joint Venture.

8.2.10           Continuation of or Change in Business.  Each of the Loan Parties shall not engage in any business other than as substantially as conducted and operated by such Loan Party during the present fiscal year and businesses reasonably related thereto, and such Loan Party shall not permit any material change in such business.

8.2.11           Fiscal Year.  The Loan Parties shall not change its fiscal year from a 52/53 week year ending on or about September 30 of each year.

8.2.12          [Reserved].

 

8.2.13           Changes in Organizational Documents.  Each of the Loan Parties shall not amend in any respect its certificate of incorporation (including any provisions or resolutions relating to Capital Stock), by-laws, certificate of limited partnership, partnership agreement, certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement or other organizational documents if such change would be materially adverse to the Lenders, as determined by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion, without obtaining the prior written consent of the Required Lenders.

8.2.14           Maximum Leverage Ratio.  The Loan Parties shall not permit the Leverage Ratio to be greater than 3.00 to 1.00.

8.2.15           Minimum Interest Coverage Ratio.  The Loan Parties shall not permit the Interest Coverage Ratio to be less than 3.50 to 1.00.

8.2.16           Limitation on Negative Pledges.  No Loan Party shall enter into or suffer to exist or become effective any agreement that prohibits or limits the ability of such Loan Party to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, to secure the Obligations, other than (a) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents  (b) with respect to a Subsidiary imposed pursuant to an agreement that has been entered into in connection with a disposition of assets permitted under this Agreement of all or substantially all of the equity interests or assets of such Subsidiary, (c) any agreements governing any purchase money Liens or capital lease obligations otherwise permitted hereby (in which case, any prohibition or limitation shall only be effective against the assets financed thereby), (d) customary provisions restricting assignment of any licensing agreement (in which a Loan Party is the licensee) with respect to a contract entered into by a Loan Party in the ordinary course of business and (e) customary provisions restricting subletting, sublicensing or assignment of any intellectual property license or any lease governing any leasehold interests of a Loan Party.

8.3           Reporting Requirements.  The Loan Parties will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders:

8.3.1             Quarterly Financial Statements.  As soon as available and in any event within forty-five (45) calendar days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters in each fiscal year, the financial statements of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, consisting of a consolidated balance sheet as of the end of such fiscal quarter and related consolidated statements of income, retained earnings and cash flows for the fiscal quarter then ended and the fiscal year through that date, all in reasonable detail and certified (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments) by the Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Director of Global Tax and Treasury or Assistant Treasurer of the Company as having been prepared in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied, and setting forth in comparative form the respective financial statements for the corresponding date and period in the previous fiscal year.

 

8.3.2             Annual Financial Statements.  As soon as available and in any event within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Loan Parties, the financial statements of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries consisting of a consolidated balance sheet as of the end of such fiscal year, and related consolidated statements of income, retained earnings, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the fiscal year then ended, all in reasonable detail and setting forth in comparative form the financial statements as of the end of and for the preceding fiscal year, and certified by an independent certified public accountants of nationally recognized standing reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.  The certificate or report of accountants shall be free of qualifications as to going concern or scope of audit.  The Loan Parties shall deliver with such financial statements and certification by their accountants a letter of such accountants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders substantially to the effect that, based upon their ordinary and customary examination of the affairs of the Loan Parties, performed in connection with the preparation of such consolidated financial statements, and in accordance with GAAP, they are not aware of the existence of any condition or event which constitutes an Event of Default or Potential Default or, if they are aware of such condition or event, stating the nature thereof.

 

8.3.3             Certificate of the Borrowers.  Concurrently with the financial statements of the Borrowers furnished to the Administrative Agent and to the Lenders pursuant to Sections 8.3.1 [Quarterly Financial Statements] and 8.3.2 [Annual Financial Statements], a certificate (each a “Compliance Certificate”) of the Borrowers signed by the Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Director of Global Tax and Treasury, or Assistant Treasurer of the Borrower Agent, in the form of Exhibit 8.3.3.

8.3.4             Notices.

8.3.4.1           Default.  Promptly after any officer of any Loan Party has learned of the occurrence of an Event of Default or Potential Default, a certificate signed by an Authorized Officer setting forth the details of such Event of Default or Potential Default and the action which such Loan Party proposes to take with respect thereto.

8.3.4.2           Litigation.  Promptly after the commencement thereof, notice of all material actions, suits, proceedings or investigations before or by any Official Body or any other Person against any Loan Party which involve a claim or series of claims in excess of $5,000,000 or which if adversely determined would constitute a Material Adverse Change.

8.3.4.3           Organizational Documents.  Within five (5) Business Days of any material amendment to the organizational documents of any Loan Party, a copy of the organizational documents as so amended.

8.3.4.4           Erroneous Financial Information.  Immediately in the event that the Borrowers or any of their accountants conclude or advise that any previously issued financial statement, audit report or interim review should no longer be relied upon or that disclosure should be made or action should be taken to prevent future reliance, notice in writing setting forth the details thereof and the action which the Borrowers propose to take with respect thereto.

8.3.4.5           ERISA Event.  Immediately upon the occurrence of any ERISA Event, notice in writing setting forth the details thereof and the action which the Borrowers propose to take with respect thereto.

8.3.4.6           Other Reports.  Promptly upon their becoming available to the Borrowers:

 

(i)            Annual Budget.  The annual budget and any forecasts or projections of the Borrowers, to be supplied not later than forty-five (45) days after the commencement of the fiscal year to which any of the foregoing may be applicable,

(ii)           Management Letters.  Any reports including management letters submitted to the Borrowers by independent accountants in connection with any annual, interim or special audit,

(iii)          SEC Reports; Shareholder Communications.  Reports, including Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, registration statements and prospectuses and other shareholder communications, filed by the Borrowers with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and

(iv)          Other Information.  Such other reports and information as any of the Lenders may from time to time reasonably request.

8.3.5             Posting Information.   Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Sections 8.3.1, 8.3.2 and 8.3.4.6(iii) (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 (a) on which the Borrowers post such documents or provide a link thereto on the Borrowers’ website on the internet; or (b) on which such documents are posted on the Borrowers’ behalf on an intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that the Borrower Agent shall notify the Administrative Agent (by e-mail transmission) of the posting of any such documents and provided further that the Borrower Agent shall e-mail a copy of any such documents posted to the Administrative Agent.

9.           DEFAULT

9.1           Events of Default.  An Event of Default shall mean the occurrence or existence of any one or more of the following events or conditions (whatever the reason therefor and whether voluntary, involuntary or effected by operation of Law):

9.1.1             Payments Under Loan Documents.  The Borrowers shall fail to pay (a) any principal of any Loan (including scheduled installments, mandatory prepayments or the payment due at maturity), Reimbursement Obligation or Letter of Credit or Obligation on the date on which such principal becomes due in accordance with the terms hereof or (b) any interest on any Loan, Reimbursement Obligation or Letter of Credit Obligation or any other amount owing hereunder or under the other Loan Documents within three (3) Business Days of the date on which such interest or other amount becomes due in accordance with the terms hereof or thereof;

9.1.2             Breach of Warranty.  Any representation or warranty made at any time by any of the Loan Parties herein or by any of the Loan Parties in any other Loan Document, or in any certificate, other instrument or statement furnished pursuant to the provisions hereof or thereof, shall prove to have been false or misleading in any material respect as of the time it was made or furnished;

 

9.1.3             Anti-Terrorism Laws.  Any representation or warranty contained in Section 6.1.16 [Anti-Terrorism Laws] is or becomes false or misleading at any time;

9.1.4             Breach of Negative Covenants, Visitation Rights or Anti-Terrorism Laws.  Any of the Loan Parties shall default in the observance or performance of any covenant contained in Section 8.1.5 [Visitation Rights], Section 8.1.9 [Anti-Terrorism Laws; International Trade Law Compliance] or Section 8.2 [Negative Covenants];

9.1.5            Breach of Other Covenants.  Any of the Loan Parties shall default in the observance or performance of any other covenant, condition or provision hereof or of any other Loan Document and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of twenty (20) Business Days;

9.1.6            Defaults in Other Agreements or Indebtedness.  A default or event of default shall occur at any time under the terms of any agreement involving borrowed money or the extension of credit or any other Indebtedness under which any Loan Party may be obligated as a borrower or guarantor in excess of $5,000,000 in the aggregate, and in any case, such breach, default or event of default consists of the failure to pay (beyond any period of grace permitted with respect thereto, whether waived or not) any Indebtedness when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) or if such breach or default permits or causes the acceleration of any Indebtedness (whether or not such right shall have been waived) or the termination of any commitment to lend;

9.1.7            Final Judgments or Orders.  Any final judgments or orders for the payment of money in excess of $5,000,000 in the aggregate shall be entered against any Loan Party by a court having jurisdiction in the premises, which judgment is not discharged, vacated, bonded or stayed pending appeal within a period of sixty (60) days from the date of entry;

9.1.8            Loan Document Unenforceable.  Any of the Loan Documents shall cease to be legal, valid and binding agreements enforceable against the party executing the same or such party’s successors and assigns (as permitted under the Loan Documents) in accordance with the respective terms thereof (or any Loan Party shall challenge or contest the validity of such Loan Document) or shall in any way be terminated (except in accordance with its terms) or become or be declared ineffective or inoperative or cease to give or provide the respective Liens, security interests, rights, titles, interests, remedies, powers or privileges intended to be created thereby;

9.1.9            Uninsured Losses; Proceedings Against Assets.  There shall occur any material uninsured damage to or loss, theft or destruction of any of the Loan Parties’ personal or real property in excess of $5,000,000 or the Loan Parties’ personal or real property or any other of the Loan Parties’ assets are attached, seized, levied upon or subjected to a writ or distress warrant; or such come within the possession of any receiver, trustee, custodian or assignee for the benefit of creditors and the same is not cured within sixty (60) days thereafter;

 

9.1.10          Events Relating to Pension Plans and Multiemployer Plans.  An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in liability of any Borrower or any member of the ERISA Group under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of $5,000,000, or any Borrower or member of the ERISA Group fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan, where the aggregate amount of unamortized withdrawal liability is in excess of $5,000,000;

 

9.1.11           Change of Control.  A Change of Control shall occur.

9.1.12           Relief Proceedings.  A Relief Proceeding shall have been instituted against any Loan Party and such Relief Proceeding shall remain undismissed or unstayed and in effect for a period of sixty (60) consecutive days or such court shall enter a decree or order granting any of the relief sought in such Relief Proceeding, (ii) any Loan Party institutes, or takes any action in furtherance of, a Relief Proceeding, or (iii) any Loan Party ceases to be Solvent or admits in writing its inability to pay its debts as they mature.

9.2           Consequences of Event of Default.

9.2.1             Events of Default Other Than Bankruptcy, Insolvency or Reorganization Proceedings.  If an Event of Default specified under Sections 9.1.1 through 9.1.11shall occur and be continuing, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent shall be under no further obligation to make Loans and the Issuing Lender shall be under no obligation to issue Letters of Credit and the Administrative Agent may, and upon the request of the Required Lenders, shall (i) by written notice to the Borrowers, declare the unpaid principal amount of the Notes then outstanding and all interest accrued thereon, any unpaid fees and all other Indebtedness of the Borrowers to the Lenders hereunder and thereunder to be forthwith due and payable, and the same shall thereupon become and be immediately due and payable to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of each Lender without presentment, demand, protest or any other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived, and (ii) require the Borrowers to, and the Borrowers shall thereupon, deposit in a non-interest-bearing account with the Administrative Agent, as cash collateral for its Obligations under the Loan Documents, an amount equal to the maximum amount currently or at any time thereafter available to be drawn on all outstanding Letters of Credit, and the Borrowers hereby pledge to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and grant to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders a security interest in, all such cash as security for such Obligations; and

9.2.2             Bankruptcy, Insolvency or Reorganization Proceedings.  If an Event of Default specified under Section 9.1.12 [Relief Proceedings] shall occur, the Lenders shall be under no further obligations to make Loans hereunder and the Issuing Lender shall be under no obligation to issue Letters of Credit and the unpaid principal amount of the Loans then outstanding and all interest accrued thereon, any unpaid fees and all other Indebtedness of the Borrowers to the Lenders hereunder and thereunder shall be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived; and

 

9.2.3             Set-off.  If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, the Issuing Lender, and each of their respective Affiliates and any participant of such Lender or Affiliate which has agreed in writing to be bound by the provisions of Section 5.3 [Sharing of Payments by Lenders] is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender, the Issuing Lender or any such Affiliate or participant to or for the credit or the account of any Loan Party against any and all of the Obligations of such Loan Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender, the Issuing Lender, Affiliate or participant, irrespective of whether or not such Lender, Issuing Lender, Affiliate or participant shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such Obligations of the Borrowers or such Loan Party may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Lender or the Issuing Lender different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such Indebtedness.  The rights of each Lender, the Issuing Lender and their respective Affiliates and participants under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, the Issuing Lender or their respective Affiliates and participants may have.  Each Lender and the Issuing Lender agrees to notify the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application; and

9.2.4             Enforcement of Rights and Remedies.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against the Loan Parties or any of them shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Agent in accordance with this Section 9.2 for the benefit of all the Lenders and the Issuing Lender; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (b) the Issuing Lender or the Swing Loan Lender from exercising the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as the Issuing Lender or Swing Loan Lender, as the case may be) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (c) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 9.2.3 (subject to the terms of Section 5.3 [Sharing of Payments by Lenders]), or (d) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to any Loan Party under any Insolvency Proceeding; and provided, further, that if at any time there is no Person acting as Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 9.2.4, and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b), (c) and (d) of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 5.3 [Sharing of Payments by Lenders]), any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders; and

9.2.5             Application of Proceeds.  From and after the date on which the Administrative Agent has taken any action pursuant to this Section 9.2 and until Payment In Full, any and all proceeds received by the Administrative Agent from the exercise of any remedy by the Administrative Agent, shall be applied as follows:

 

(i)            First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts, including attorney fees, payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such, the Issuing Lender in its capacity as such and the Swing Loan Lender in its capacity as such, ratably among the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender and Swing Loan Lender in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause First payable to them;

(ii)           Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest) payable to the Lenders under the Loan Documents, including attorney fees, ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;

(iii)          Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans and Reimbursement Obligations, ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;

(iv)          Fourth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans, Reimbursement Obligations and payment obligations then owing under Lender Provided Interest Rate Hedges, Lender Provided Foreign Currency Hedges, and Other Lender Provided Financial Service Products, ratably among the Lenders, the Issuing Lender, and the Lenders or Affiliates of Lenders which provide Lender Provided Interest Rate Hedges, Lender Provided Foreign Currency Hedges, and Other Lender Provided Financial Service Products, in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them;

(v)           Fifth, to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender, to cash collateralize any undrawn amounts under outstanding Letters of Credit; and

(vi)          Last, the balance, if any, to the Loan Parties or as required by Law.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 9.2.5, no Swap Obligations of any Non-Qualifying Party shall be paid with amounts received from such Non-Qualifying Party under its Guaranty Agreement (including sums received as a result of the exercise of remedies with respect to such Guaranty Agreement) if such Swap Obligations would constitute Excluded Hedge Liabilities; provided, however, that to the extent possible appropriate adjustments shall be made with respect to payments from other Loan Parties that are Eligible Contract Participants with respect to such Swap Obligations to preserve the allocation to Obligations otherwise set forth above in this Section 9.2.5.

10.          THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

10.1         Appointment and Authority.  Each of the Lenders and the Issuing Lender hereby irrevocably appoints PNC to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.  The provisions of this Section 10 are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Lender, and no Borrower nor any other Loan Party shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions except Section 10.6 [Resignation of Administrative Agent].

 

10.2         Rights as a Lender.  The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity.  Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrowers or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

10.3         Exculpatory Provisions.  The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:

(a)          shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Potential Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;

(b)          shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents); provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable Law; and

(c)          shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrowers or any of their Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.

The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 11.1 [Modifications, Amendments or Waivers] and 9.2 [Consequences of Event of Default]) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct.  The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Potential Default or Event of Default unless and until notice describing such Potential Default or Event of Default is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrowers, a Lender or the Issuing Lender.

 

The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Potential Default or Event of Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Section 7 [Conditions of Lending and Issuance of Letters of Credit] or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

10.4         Reliance by Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person.  The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon.  In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or the Issuing Lender, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or the Issuing Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or the Issuing Lender prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit.  The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrowers), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

10.5         Delegation of Duties.  The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub‑agents appointed by the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent and any such sub‑agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties.  The exculpatory provisions of this Section 10 shall apply to any such sub‑agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub‑agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.

 

10.6         Resignation of Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the Issuing Lender and the Borrowers.  Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, with approval from the Borrowers (so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing), to appoint a successor, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.  If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Lender, appoint a successor Administrative Agent; provided that if the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrowers and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (i) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders or the Issuing Lender under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and (ii) all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender and the Issuing Lender directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above in this Section 10.6.  Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section).  The fees payable by the Borrowers to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrowers and such successor.  After the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Section 10 and Section 11.3 [Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver] shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub‑agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent.

If PNC resigns as Administrative Agent under this Section 10.6, PNC shall also resign as an Issuing Lender.  Upon the appointment of a successor Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall (i) succeed to all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of PNC as the retiring Issuing Lender and Administrative Agent and PNC shall be discharged from all of its respective duties and obligations as Issuing Lender and Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents, and (ii) issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit issued by PNC, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangement satisfactory to PNC to effectively assume the obligations of PNC with respect to such Letters of Credit.

10.7         Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders.  Each Lender and the Issuing Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement.  Each Lender and the Issuing Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

 

10.9         Administrative Agent’s Fee.  The Borrowers shall pay to the Administrative Agent a nonrefundable fee (the “Administrative Agent’s Fee”) under the terms of a letter (the “Administrative Agent’s Letter”) between the Borrowers and Administrative Agent, as amended from time to time.

10.10        Authorization to Release Guarantors.  The Lenders and Issuing Lenders authorize the Administrative Agent to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty Agreement if the ownership interests in such Guarantor are sold or otherwise disposed of or transferred to persons other than Loan Parties or Subsidiaries of the Loan Parties in a transaction permitted under Section 8.2.7 [Dispositions of Assets or Subsidiaries] or Section 8.2.6 [Liquidations, Mergers, Consolidations, Acquisitions].

10.11       No Reliance on Administrative Agent’s Customer Identification Program.  Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that neither such Lender, nor any of its Affiliates, participants or assignees, may rely on the Administrative Agent to carry out such Lender’s, Affiliate’s, participant’s or assignee’s customer identification program, or other obligations required or imposed under or pursuant to the USA Patriot Act or the regulations thereunder, including the regulations contained in 31 CFR 103.121 (as hereafter amended or replaced, the “CIP Regulations”), or any other Anti-Terrorism Law, including any programs involving any of the following items relating to or in connection with any of the Loan Parties, their Affiliates or their agents, the Loan Documents or the transactions hereunder or contemplated hereby: (i) any identity verification procedures, (ii) any recordkeeping, (iii) comparisons with government lists, (iv) customer notices or (v) other procedures required under the CIP Regulations or such other Laws.

11.          MISCELLANEOUS

11.1         Modifications, Amendments or Waivers.  With the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent, acting on behalf of all the Lenders, and the Borrowers, on behalf of the Loan Parties, may from time to time enter into written agreements amending or changing any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the rights of the Lenders or the Loan Parties hereunder or thereunder, or may grant written waivers or consents hereunder or thereunder.  Any such agreement, waiver or consent made with such written consent shall be effective to bind all the Lenders and the Loan Parties; provided, that no such agreement, waiver or consent may be made which will:

11.1.1           Increase of Commitment.  Increase the amount of the Revolving Credit Commitment of any Lender hereunder without the consent of such Lender;

 

11.1.2           Extension of Payment; Reduction of Principal, Interest or Fees; Modification of Terms of Payment.  Whether or not any Loans are outstanding, extend the Expiration Date or the time for payment of principal or interest of any Loan (excluding the due date of any mandatory prepayment of a Loan), the Commitment Fee or any other fee payable to any Lender, or reduce the principal amount of or the rate of interest borne by any Loan (other than as a result of waiving the applicability of any post-default increase in interest rates) or reduce the Commitment Fee or any other fee payable to any Lender, without the consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;

11.1.3           Release of Guarantor.  Release any Guarantor from its Obligations under the Guaranty Agreement without the consent of all Lenders (other than Defaulting Lenders); or

11.1.4           Miscellaneous.  Amend Section 5.2 [Pro Rata Treatment of Lenders], Section 10.3 [Exculpatory Provisions] or Section 5.3 [Sharing of Payments by Lenders] or this Section 11.1, alter any provision regarding the pro rata treatment of the Lenders or requiring all Lenders to authorize the taking of any action or reduce any percentage specified in the definition of “Required Lenders”, in each case without the consent of all of the Lenders;

provided that no agreement, waiver or consent which would modify the interests, rights or obligations of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender, or the Swing Loan Lender may be made without the written consent of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender or the Swing Loan Lender, as applicable, and provided, further that, if in connection with any proposed waiver, amendment or modification referred to in Sections 11.1.1 through 11.1.4 above, the consent of the Required Lenders is obtained but the consent of one or more of such other Lenders whose consent is required is not obtained (each a “Non-Consenting Lender”), then the Borrowers shall have the right to replace any such Non-Consenting Lender with one or more replacement Lenders pursuant to Section 5.6.2 [Replacement of a Lender].  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except that (x) the Commitment of any Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender, and (y) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects any Defaulting Lender disproportionately adversely relative to other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender.

 

11.3         Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

11.3.1           Costs and Expenses.  The Borrowers shall pay (i) all out‑of‑pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent), and shall pay all fees and time charges and disbursements for attorneys who may be employees of the Administrative Agent, in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all out‑of‑pocket expenses incurred by the Issuing Lender in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder, (iii) all out‑of‑pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Lender (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Lender), and shall pay all fees and time charges for attorneys who may be employees of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Lender, in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or (B) in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out‑of‑pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit, and (iv) subject to the limitation set forth in Section 8.1.5 [Visitation Rights] hereof, all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent’s regular employees and agents engaged periodically to perform audits of the Loan Parties’ books, records and business properties.

 

11.3.2           Indemnification by the Borrowers.  The Borrowers shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender and the Issuing Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), and shall indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee from all fees and time charges and disbursements for attorneys who may be employees of any Indemnitee, incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by the Borrowers or any other Loan Party arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance or nonperformance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by the Issuing Lender to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) breach of representations, warranties or covenants of the Borrowers under the Loan Documents, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, including any such items or losses relating to or arising under Environmental Laws or pertaining to environmental matters, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrowers or any other Loan Party, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee, (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) result from a claim not involving an act or omission of the Borrowers and that is brought by an Indemnitee against another Indemnitee (other than against the arranger or the Administrative Agent in their capacities as such). This Section 11.3.2 [Indemnification by the Borrowers] shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim.

 

11.4         Holidays.  Whenever payment of a Loan to be made or taken hereunder shall be due on a day which is not a Business Day such payment shall be due on the next Business Day (except as provided in Section 4.2 [Interest Periods]) and such extension of time shall be included in computing interest and fees, except that the Loans shall be due on the Business Day preceding the Expiration Date if the Expiration Date is not a Business Day.  Whenever any payment or action to be made or taken hereunder (other than payment of the Loans) shall be stated to be due on a day which is not a Business Day, such payment or action shall be made or taken on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall not be included in computing interest or fees, if any, in connection with such payment or action.

11.5         Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.

11.5.1           Notices Generally.  Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in Section 11.5.2 [Electronic Communications]), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopier (i) if to a Lender, to it at its address set forth in its administrative questionnaire, or (ii) if to any other Person, to it at its address set forth on Schedule 1.1(B).

Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by telecopier shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient).  Notices delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in Section 11.5.2 [Electronic Communications], shall be effective as provided in such Section.

11.5.2           Electronic Communications.  Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the Issuing Lender hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e‑mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or the Issuing Lender if such Lender or the Issuing Lender, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication.  The Administrative Agent may, in its discretion, or the Borrowers may, in their discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.  Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement); provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.

 

11.5.3           Change of Address, Etc.  Any party hereto may change its address, e‑mail address or telecopier number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.

11.6         Severability.  The provisions of this Agreement are intended to be severable.  If any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part in any jurisdiction, such provision shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without in any manner affecting the validity or enforceability thereof in any other jurisdiction or the remaining provisions hereof in any jurisdiction.

11.7         Duration; Survival.  All representations and warranties of the Loan Parties contained herein or made in connection herewith shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the completion of the transactions hereunder and Payment In Full.  All covenants and agreements of the Borrowers contained herein relating to the payment of principal, interest, premiums, additional compensation or expenses and indemnification, including those set forth in the Notes, Section 5 [Payments] and Section 11.3 [Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver], shall survive Payment In Full.  All other covenants and agreements of the Loan Parties shall continue in full force and effect from and after the date hereof and until Payment In Full.

11.8         Successors and Assigns.

11.8.1          Successors and Assigns Generally.  The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that no Loan Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.8.2 [Assignments by Lenders], (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.8.4 [Participations], or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of Section 11.8.5 [Certain Pledges; Successors and Assigns Generally] (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void).  Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in Section 11.8.4 [Participations] and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

11.8.2          Assignments by Lenders.  Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

 

(i)            Minimum Amounts.

 

(A)          in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and

(B)          in any case not described in clause (i)(A) of this Section 11.8.2, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the applicable Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption Agreement with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption Agreement, as of the Trade Date) shall not be less than $5,000,000, in the case of any assignment in respect of the Revolving Credit Commitment of the assigning Lender, unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrowers otherwise consent (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

(ii)           Proportionate Amounts.  Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loan or the Commitment assigned.

(iii)          Required Consents.  No consent shall be required for any assignment except for the consent of the Administrative Agent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed and shall not be required for any assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund) and:

(A)         the consent of the Borrowers (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (x) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (y) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; provided that the Borrowers shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within five (5) Business Days after having received notice thereof; and

(B)          the consent of the Issuing Lender (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment that increases the obligation of the assignee to participate in exposure under one or more Letters of Credit (whether or not then outstanding).

(iv)          Assignment and Assumption Agreement.  The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption Agreement, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500, and the assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an administrative questionnaire provided by the Administrative Agent.

(v)           No Assignment to Borrowers.  No such assignment shall be made to the Borrowers or any of the Borrowers’ Affiliates or Subsidiaries.

 

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 11.8.3 [Register], from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption Agreement, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption Agreement, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption Agreement, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption Agreement covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 4.4 [LIBOR Rate Unascertainable; Etc.], 5.7 [Increased Costs], and 11.3 [Expenses, Indemnity; Damage Waiver] with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment.  Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 11.8.2 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with Section 11.8.4 [Participations].

11.8.3           Register.  The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrowers, shall maintain a record of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time.  Such register shall be conclusive, and the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is in such register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary.  Such register shall be available for inspection by the Borrowers and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

11.8.4           Participations.  Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person or the Borrowers or any of the Borrowers’ Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, and the Issuing Lender shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.

 

Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree (other than as is already provided for herein) to any amendment, modification or waiver with respect to Sections 11.1.1 [Increase of Commitment], 11.1.2 [Extension of Payment, Etc.], or 11.1.3 [Release of Guarantor]) that affects such Participant.  The Borrowers agree that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 4.4 [Libor Rate Unascertainable, Etc.], 5.7 [Increased Costs], 5.10 [Indemnity] and 5.9 [Taxes] (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 5.9.7 [Status of Lenders] (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 5.9.7 [Status of Lenders] shall be delivered to the participating Lender)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section 11.8.2 [Assignments by Lenders]; provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Section 5.6.2 [Replacement of a Lender] and Section 5.6.3 [Designation of a Different Lending Office] as if it were an assignee under Section 11.8.2 [Assignments by Lenders]; and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 5.7 [Increased Costs] or 5.9 [Taxes], with respect to any participation, than its participating Lender would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation.  Each Lender that sells a participation agrees, at the Borrowers’ request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrowers to effectuate the provisions of Section 5.6.2 [Replacement of a Lender] and Section 5.6.3 [Designation of Different Lending Office] with respect to any Participant.  To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 9.2.3 [Set-off] as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 5.3 [Sharing of Payments by Lenders] as though it were a Lender.  Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the 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 the Loan Documents (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations.  The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

11.8.5           Certain Pledges; Successors and Assigns Generally.  Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

 

11.9         Confidentiality.

11.9.1           General.  Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Lender acknowledge that the Information may include material non-public information concerning a Loan Party or a Subsidiary and each agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information, except that Information may be disclosed (i) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates’ respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors and other representatives (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (ii) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (iii) to the extent required by applicable Laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (iv) to any other party hereto, (v) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (vi) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (A) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (B) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Borrowers and their obligations, (vii) with the consent of the Borrowers or (viii) to the extent such Information (Y) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (Z) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the Issuing Lender or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrowers or the other Loan Parties.  Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

11.9.2           Sharing Information With Affiliates of the Lenders.  Each Loan Party acknowledges that from time to time financial advisory, investment banking and other services may be offered or provided to the Borrowers or one or more of its Affiliates (in connection with this Agreement or otherwise) by any Lender or by one or more Subsidiaries or Affiliates of such Lender and each of the Loan Parties hereby authorizes each Lender to share any information delivered to such Lender by such Loan Party and its Subsidiaries pursuant to this Agreement to any such Subsidiary or Affiliate subject to the provisions of Section 11.9.1 [General].

11.10       Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness.

11.10.1         Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract.  This Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent, constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof including any prior confidentiality agreements and commitments.  Except as provided in Section 7 [Conditions Of Lending And Issuance Of Letters Of Credit], this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy or e‑mail shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

11.11       CHOICE OF LAW; SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF VENUE; SERVICE OF PROCESS; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.

 

11.11.1        Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be deemed to be a contract under the Laws of the State of New York without regard to its conflict of laws principles.  Each standby Letter of Credit issued under this Agreement shall be subject either to the rules of the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, as most recently published by the International Chamber of Commerce (the “ICC”) at the time of issuance (“UCP”) or the rules of the International Standby Practices (ICC Publication Number 590) (“ISP98”), as determined by the Issuing Lender, and each trade Letter of Credit shall be subject to UCP, and in each case to the extent not inconsistent therewith, the Laws of the State of New York without regard to its conflict of laws principles.

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

11.11.3         WAIVER OF VENUE.  EACH BORROWER AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN THIS SECTION 11.11.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT AND AGREES NOT ASSERT ANY SUCH DEFENSE.

 

11.11.4         SERVICE OF PROCESS.  EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 11.5 [NOTICES; EFFECTIVENESS; ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION].  NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

 

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

 

11.12       USA Patriot Act Notice.  Each Lender that is subject to the USA Patriot Act and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies Loan Parties that pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Loan Parties, which information includes the name and address of Loan Parties and other information that will allow such Lender or Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Loan Parties in accordance with the USA Patriot Act.

 

11.13       Borrower Agent.  Each of the Borrowers hereby irrevocably appoints the Company as its agent (the “Borrower Agent”) for purposes of requesting, continuing and converting Loans (including all elections of interest rates and currencies), for delivering notices as to prepayments and commitment reductions and for providing consents pursuant to clauses (i) and (iii) of Section 11.8.2  [Assignments by Lenders].  The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely in such matters on all communications delivered by the Borrower Agent as being delivered on behalf of all Borrowers.

 

11.14       Joint and Several Obligations of Borrowers.

 

(a)           Each Borrower is accepting joint and several liability hereunder and under the other Loan Documents in consideration of the financial accommodations to be provided by the Lenders under this Agreement, for the mutual benefit, directly and indirectly, of each Borrower and in consideration of the undertakings of each other Borrower to accept joint and several liability for the Obligations under the Loan Documents.

 

(b)           Each Borrower, jointly and severally, hereby irrevocably and unconditionally accepts, not merely as a surety but also as a co-debtor, joint and several liability with any other Borrower, with respect to the payment and performance of all of the Obligations under the Loan Documents, it being the intention of the parties hereto that all the Obligations under the Loan Documents shall be the joint and several obligations of each Borrower without preferences or distinction among them.

 

(c)           If and to the extent that any Borrower shall fail to make any payment with respect to any of the Obligations under the Loan Documents as and when due or to perform any of the Obligations under the Loan Documents in accordance with the terms thereof, then in each such event any other Borrower will make such payment with respect to, or perform, such Obligation.

(d)           The Obligations of each Borrower under the provisions of this Section constitute the full recourse obligations of such Borrower enforceable against each Borrower to the full extent of its properties and assets, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or any other circumstance whatsoever as to any other Borrower.

(e)           To the extent permitted by applicable Law, each Borrower hereby waives promptness, diligence, presentment, demand, protest, notice of acceptance of its joint and several liability, notice of occurrence of any Potential Default or Event of Default, or of any demand for any payment under this Agreement, notice of any action at any time taken or omitted by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or under or in respect of any of the Obligations hereunder, any requirement of diligence in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.  To the extent permitted by applicable Law, each Borrower hereby waives all defenses which may be available by virtue of any valuation, stay, moratorium Law or other similar Law now or hereafter in effect, any right to require the marshaling of assets of the Borrowers and any other entity or Person primarily or secondarily liable with respect to any of the Obligations, and all suretyship defenses generally.  Each Borrower hereby assents to, and to the extent permitted by applicable Law, waives notice of, any extension or postponement of the time for the payment, or place or manner for payment, compromise, refinancing, consolidation or renewals of any of the Obligations hereunder, the acceptance of any partial payment thereon, any waiver, consent or other action or acquiescence by the Administrative Agent or any Lender at any time or times in respect of any default by any Borrower in the performance or satisfaction of any term, covenant, condition or provision of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, any and all other indulgences whatsoever by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in respect of any of the Obligations hereunder, and the taking, addition, substitution or release, in whole or in part, at any time or times, of any security for any of such Obligations or the addition, substitution or release, in whole or in part, of any Borrower or any other entity or Person primarily or secondarily liable for any Obligation  Such Borrower further agrees that, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, its Obligations shall not be released or discharged, in whole or in part, or otherwise affected by the adequacy of any rights which the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have against any collateral or other means of obtaining repayment of any of the Obligations, the impairment of any collateral securing the Obligations, including, without limitation, the failure to protect or preserve any rights which the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have in such collateral or the substitution, exchange, surrender, release, loss or destruction of any such collateral, any other act or omission which might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of such Borrower, or otherwise operate as a release or discharge of such Borrower, all of which may be done without notice to such Borrower.  If for any reason any Borrower has no legal existence or is under no legal obligation to discharge any of the Obligations hereunder, or if any of the Obligations hereunder have become unrecoverable from any Borrower by reason of any other Borrower’s insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization or by other operation of law or for any reason, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party shall nevertheless be binding on such Borrower to the same extent as if such Borrower at all times had been the sole obligor on such Obligations.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Borrower (if more than one) assents to any other action or delay in acting or failure to act on the part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender which might, but for the provisions of this Section, afford grounds for terminating, discharging or relieving such Borrower, in whole or in part, from any of its obligations under this Section, it being the intention of Borrowers that, so long as any of the Obligations hereunder remain unsatisfied, the obligations of such Borrower under this Section shall not be discharged except by performance and then only to the extent of such performance.  The Obligations of each Borrower under this Section shall not be diminished or rendered unenforceable by any winding up, reorganization, amalgamation, arrangement, liquidation, reconstruction or similar proceeding with respect to any reconstruction or similar proceeding with respect to any other Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any Lender.  The joint and several liability of each Borrower hereunder shall continue in full force and effect notwithstanding any absorption, merger, amalgamation or any other change whatsoever in the name, ownership, membership, constitution or place of formation of any Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any Lender.  Each Borrower acknowledges and confirms that it has established its own adequate means of obtaining from each other Borrower on a continuing basis all information desired by such Borrower concerning the financial condition of each other Borrower and that each such Borrower will look to each other Borrower and not to the Administrative Agent or any Lender for such Borrower to keep adequately informed of changes in each of the other Borrower’s respective financial conditions.

 

(f)            The provisions of this Section are made for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and their respective successors and assigns, and may be enforced by it or them from time to time against any or all of the Borrowers as often as occasion therefor may arise and without requirement on the part of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders or any successor or assign first to marshal any of its or their claims or to exercise any of its or their rights against any of the other Borrowers or to exhaust any remedies available to it or them against any of the other Borrowers or to resort to any other source or means of obtaining payment of any of the Obligations hereunder or to elect any other remedy.  The provisions of this Section shall remain in effect until Payment In Full.  If at any time, any payment, or any part thereof, made in respect of any of the Obligations, is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of any of the Borrowers, or otherwise, the provisions of this Section will forthwith be reinstated in effect, as though such payment had not been made.

(g)           Each Borrower hereby agrees that it will not enforce any of its rights of reimbursement, contribution, subrogation or the like against any other Borrower with respect to any liability incurred by it hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents, any payments made by it to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders with respect to any of the Obligations under the Loan Documents or any collateral therefor until Payment In Full.  Any claim which any Borrower may have against any other Borrower with respect to any payments to Lender hereunder or under any other Loan Documents are hereby expressly made subordinate and junior in right of payment, including without limitation as to any increases in the Obligations arising hereunder or thereunder, to Payment In Full and, in the event of any insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation, reorganization or other similar proceeding under the laws of any jurisdiction relating to any Borrower, its debts or its assets, whether voluntary or involuntary, Payment In Full shall occur before any payment or distribution of any character, whether in cash, securities or other property, shall be made to any other Borrower therefor.

 

11.15       Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any EEA Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the write-down and conversion powers of an EEA Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by (a) the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by an EEA Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an EEA Financial Institution; and (b) the effects of any Bail-in Action on any such liability, including, if applicable, (i) a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability; (ii) a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such EEA Financial Institution, its parent undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or (iii) the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the write-down and conversion powers of any EEA Resolution Authority.

 

11.16       Amendment and Restatement, No Novation.  This Agreement amends and restates in its entirety the Existing Credit Agreement, and each Loan Party confirms that:  except for the release of the Collateral (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) as further provided in this Section 11.16, the Existing Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) have at all times, since the date of the execution and delivery of such documents, remained in full force and effect.  The Loans hereunder are a continuation of the Loans under (and as such term is defined in) the Existing Credit Agreement.  On the Closing Date the commitments, loans and participations in Letters of Credit in effect and outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement shall be reallocated by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders in accordance with the Revolving Credit Commitments set forth in Schedule 1.1(B).  The Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, and the Lenders acknowledge and agree that the amendment and restatement of the Existing Credit Agreement and any Loan Documents expressly amended by this Agreement is not intended to constitute, nor does it constitute, a novation, interruption, suspension of continuity, satisfaction, discharge or termination of the obligations, loans, liabilities, or indebtedness under the Existing Credit Agreement and other Loan Documents thereunder (except for the release of the collateral security as further provided herein), and this Agreement and the other Loan Documents are entitled to all rights and benefits originally pertaining to the Existing Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement).  Notwithstanding that the Existing Credit Agreement is being amended and restated in its entirety by this Agreement, the Loans hereunder which are a continuation of the Loans under the Existing Credit Agreement shall be unsecured going forward under this Agreement.  As such, upon consummation of the Closing Date hereunder, all Liens on the Collateral (as defined under the Existing Credit Agreement) shall be released and terminated.  On the Closing Date, the Administrative Agent shall execute and provide to Borrowers for filing by Borrowers and/or their counsel any and all releases and terminations necessary to release the collateral security under the Existing Loan Agreement.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT]

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto, by their officers thereunto duly authorized, have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

BORROWERS

 

 

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT]

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT]

 

 [SIGNATURE PAGE TO CREDIT AGREEMENT]

 

SCHEDULE 1.1(A)

 

PRICING GRID--

 

VARIABLE PRICING AND FEES BASED ON LEVERAGE RATIO

 

 

For purposes of determining the Applicable Margin, the Applicable Commitment Fee Rate and the Applicable Letter of Credit Fee Rate:

 

(a)           On the Closing Date, the Applicable Margin, the Applicable Commitment Fee Rate and the Applicable Letter of Credit Fee Rate, the rates in Level I shall apply and shall remain in effect until the end of the first fiscal quarter ending after the Closing Date.

 

(b)           The Applicable Margin, the Applicable Commitment Fee Rate and the Applicable Letter of Credit Fee Rate shall be recomputed as of the end of each fiscal quarter ending after the Closing Date based on the Leverage Ratio as of such quarter end.  Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Margin, the Applicable Commitment Fee Rate or the Applicable Letter of Credit Fee Rate computed as of a quarter end shall be effective on the date on which the Compliance Certificate evidencing such computation is due to be delivered under Section 8.3.3 [Certificate of Borrowers].  If a Compliance Certificate is not delivered when due in accordance with such Section 8.3.3, then the rates in Level V shall apply as of the first Business Day after the date on which such Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered and shall remain in effect until the date on which such Compliance Certificate is delivered.

 

(c)           If, as a result of any restatement of or other adjustment to the financial statements of the Borrowers or for any other reason, the Borrowers or the Lenders determine that (i) the Leverage Ratio as calculated by the Borrowers as of any applicable date was inaccurate and (ii) a proper calculation of the Leverage Ratio would have resulted in higher pricing for such period, the Borrowers shall immediately and retroactively be obligated to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Lenders, promptly on demand by the Administrative Agent (or, after the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrowers under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, automatically and without further action by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Lender), an amount equal to the excess of the amount of interest and fees that should have been paid for such period over the amount of interest and fees actually paid for such period.  This paragraph shall not limit the rights of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Lender, as the case may be, under Section 2.9 [Letter of Credit Subfacility] or Section 4.3 [Interest After Default] or Section 9 [Default].  The Borrowers’ obligations under this paragraph shall survive the termination of the Commitments and the repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.

 

SCHEDULE 1.1(B)

 

COMMITMENTS OF LENDERS AND ADDRESSES FOR NOTICES

 

Page 1 of 2

 

 

SCHEDULE 1.1(B)

 

COMMITMENTS OF LENDERS AND ADDRESSES FOR NOTICES

 

Page 2 of 2

Part 2 - Addresses for Notices to Borrowers and Guarantors:

 

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

 

Name:  PNC Bank, National Association

Address:  411 E. Wisconsin Avenue

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202

Attention:  Joseph Vehec

Telephone: (414) 270-5691

Telecopy:   (414) 226-2353

 

Agency Services, PNC Bank, National Association

Mail Stop: P7-PFSC-04-I

Address: 500 First Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Attention:	Agency Services
Telephone:	(440) 546-6635
Telecopy:	(412) 762-8672

 

EXHIBIT 5.9.7(A)

 

[FORM OF]

 

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

 

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

 

Reference is hereby made to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of November 15, 2017 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Johnson Outdoors Inc., Johnson Outdoors Watercraft Inc., Johnson Outdoors Marine Electronics, Inc., Johnson Outdoors Diving LLC, Under Sea Industries, Inc., Johnson Outdoors Gear, Inc., PNC Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, and each lender from time to time party thereto.

 

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.9 [Taxes] of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of any Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to any Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

 

The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN.  By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

 

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

 

EXHIBIT 5.9.7(B)

 

[FORM OF]

 

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

 

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

 

Reference is hereby made to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of November 15, 2017 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Johnson Outdoors Inc., Johnson Outdoors Watercraft Inc., Johnson Outdoors Marine Electronics, Inc., Johnson Outdoors Diving LLC, Under Sea Industries, Inc., Johnson Outdoors Gear, Inc., PNC Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, and each lender from time to time party thereto.

 

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.9 [Taxes] of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of any Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code, and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to any Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code].

 

The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN.  By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender in writing, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

 

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

 

EXHIBIT 5.9.7(C)

 

[FORM OF]

 

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

 

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

 

Reference is hereby made to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of November 15, 2017 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Johnson Outdoors Inc., Johnson Outdoors Watercraft Inc., Johnson Outdoors Marine Electronics, Inc., Johnson Outdoors Diving LLC, Under Sea Industries, Inc., Johnson Outdoors Gear, Inc., PNC Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, and each lender from time to time party thereto.

 

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.9 [Taxes] of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such participation, (iii) with respect such participation, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of any Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to any Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

 

The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption.  By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

 

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

 

EXHIBIT 5.9.7(D)

 

[FORM OF]

 

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

 

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

 

Reference is hereby made to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of November 15, 2017 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Johnson Outdoors Inc., Johnson Outdoors Watercraft Inc., Johnson Outdoors Marine Electronics, Inc., Johnson Outdoors Diving LLC, Under Sea Industries, Inc., Johnson Outdoors Gear, Inc., PNC Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, and each lender from time to time party thereto.

 

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.9 [Taxes] of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)), (iii) with respect to the extension of credit pursuant to this Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of any Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to any Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

 

The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption.  By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

 

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

 

 

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