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Form 8-K COMMERCIAL METALS Co For: Mar 31

April 6, 2021 7:31 AM EDT

Exhibit 10.1

Execution Version

CUSIP Numbers:

Deal 201725AG3

Facility 201725AH1

 

FIFTH AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of March 31, 2021

among

COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY

and

CMC INTERNATIONAL FINANCE S.À R.L.

as Borrowers,

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender

and a

L/C Issuer,

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

CITIBANK, N.A.,

and

PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as

Co-Syndication Agents

and

The Other Lenders Party Hereto

BOFA SECURITIES, INC.,

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

and

CITIBANK, N.A.,

as

Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Book Runners

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Section

   Page  

ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

     1  

1.01 Defined Terms

     1  

1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions

     43  

1.03 Accounting Terms

     44  

1.04 Rounding

     45  

1.05 Times of Day

     45  

1.06 Letter of Credit Amounts

     45  

1.07 UCC Terms.

     46  

1.08 Exchange Rates; Currency Equivalents

     46  

1.09 Additional Alternative Currencies

     46  

1.10 Change of Currency

     48  

1.11 Limited Condition Acquisitions

     48  

ARTICLE II. THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS

     48  

2.01 Loans

     48  

2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Revolving and Term Loans

     49  

2.03 Letters of Credit

     50  

2.04 Swing Line Loans

     61  

2.05 Prepayments

     64  

2.06 Termination or Reduction of Commitments

     66  

2.07 Repayment of Loans

     67  

2.08 Interest and Default Rate

     67  

2.09 Fees

     68  

2.10 Computation of Interest and Fees

     68  

2.11 Evidence of Debt

     69  

2.12 Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback

     69  

2.13 Sharing of Payments by Lenders

     71  

2.14 Increase in Commitments

     72  

2.15 Cash Collateral

     74  

2.16 Defaulting Lenders

     75  

2.17 Designation of Material Subsidiaries

     78  

2.18 Designated Lender

     78  

2.19 Successor Foreign Borrower

     78  

ARTICLE III. TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

     80  

3.01 Taxes

     80  

3.02 Illegality and Designated Lenders

     84  

3.03 Inability to Determine Rates

     85  

3.04 Increased Costs; Reserves on Eurocurrency Rate Loans

     88  

3.05 Compensation for Losses

     89  

3.06 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders

     90  

3.07 Survival

     90  

ARTICLE IV. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS

     91  

4.01 Conditions of Initial Credit Extension

     91  

4.02 Conditions to all Credit Extensions

     93  

ARTICLE V. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     93  

5.01 Existence, Qualification and Power

     93  

 

i


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Section

   Page  

5.02 Authorization; No Contravention

     94  

5.03 Governmental Authorization; Other Consents

     94  

5.04 Binding Effect

     94  

5.05 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect; Casualty Events

     94  

5.06 Litigation

     95  

5.07 No Default

     95  

5.08 Ownership of Property; Liens

     95  

5.09 Environmental Compliance

     95  

5.10 Insurance

     95  

5.11 Taxes

     95  

5.12 ERISA Compliance

     96  

5.13 Subsidiaries; Equity Interests

     96  

5.14 Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act

     97  

5.15 Disclosure

     97  

5.16 Compliance with Laws

     97  

5.17 Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.

     97  

5.18 Solvency

     98  

5.19 Representations as to Foreign Obligors

     98  

5.20 Sanctions Concerns and Anti-Corruption

     99  

5.21 Collateral Representations

     100  

5.22 Affected Financial Institution

     100  

5.23 Covered Entities

     100  

5.24 Beneficial Ownership Certification

     100  

ARTICLE VI. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

     100  

6.01 Financial Statements

     100  

6.02 Certificates; Other Information

     102  

6.03 Notices

     103  

6.04 Payment of Obligations

     104  

6.05 Preservation of Existence, Etc.

     104  

6.06 Maintenance of Properties

     104  

6.07 Maintenance of Insurance

     104  

6.08 Compliance with Laws

     104  

6.09 Books and Records

     105  

6.10 Inspection Rights

     105  

6.11 Use of Proceeds

     105  

6.12 Compliance with Environmental Laws

     105  

6.13 Approvals and Authorizations

     105  

6.14 Notices Regarding Subsidiaries; Covenant to Guarantee and Give Security; Scope of Collateral

     105  

6.15 Further Assurances

     106  

6.16 Corporate Ratings

     107  

6.17 Post-Closing Matters

     107  

6.18 Pari Passu Ranking

     107  

6.19 Anti-Money Laundering Laws; Anti-Corruption Laws

     107  

ARTICLE VII. NEGATIVE COVENANTS

     107  

7.01 Liens

     107  

7.02 Investments

     109  

7.03 Indebtedness

     110  

 

ii


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Section

   Page  

7.04 Fundamental Changes

     111  

7.05 Dispositions

     112  

7.06 Change in Nature of Business

     112  

7.07 Transactions with Affiliates

     112  

7.08 Burdensome Agreements

     112  

7.09 Use of Proceeds

     113  

7.10 Interest Coverage Ratio

     113  

7.11 Debt to Capitalization Ratio

     113  

7.12 Accounting Changes

     113  

7.13 Speculative Hedges

     113  

7.14 Restricted Payments

     113  

7.15 Organizational Documents

     114  

7.16 Anti-Money Laundering Laws; Anti-Corruption Laws

     114  

ARTICLE VIII. EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

     114  

8.01 Events of Default

     114  

8.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default

     116  

8.03 Application of Funds

     117  

ARTICLE IX. ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

     118  

9.01 Appointment and Authority

     118  

9.02 Rights as a Lender

     119  

9.03 Exculpatory Provisions

     119  

9.04 Reliance by Administrative Agent

     120  

9.05 Delegation of Duties

     120  

9.06 Resignation of Administrative Agent

     120  

9.07 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders

     122  

9.08 No Other Duties, Etc.

     122  

9.09 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim; Credit Bidding

     123  

9.10 Collateral and Guaranty Matters

     124  

9.11 Secured Cash Management Agreements, Secured Hedge Agreements and Trade Documents

     125  

9.12 Recovery of Erroneous Payments

     125  

ARTICLE X. COLLECTION ALLOCATION MECHANISM

     125  

10.01 Implementation of CAM

     125  

10.02 Letters of Credit

     126  

10.03 No Additional Obligations of Loan Parties

     127  

ARTICLE XI. MISCELLANEOUS

     127  

11.01 Amendments, Etc.

     127  

11.02 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication

     129  

11.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement

     131  

11.04 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver

     131  

11.05 Payments Set Aside

     134  

11.06 Successors and Assigns

     134  

11.07 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality

     139  

11.08 Right of Setoff

     141  

11.09 Interest Rate Limitation

     141  

 

iii


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Section

   Page  

11.10 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness

     141  

11.11 Survival of Representations and Warranties

     142  

11.12 Severability

     142  

11.13 Replacement of Lenders

     142  

11.14 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

     143  

11.15 Waiver of Jury Trial

     144  

11.16 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility

     145  

11.17 Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents

     145  

11.18 USA PATRIOT Act

     146  

11.19 Judgment Currency

     146  

11.20 Exceptions to Covenants

     146  

11.21 Release and Reinstatement of Collateral

     146  

11.22 Limitation on Obligations of Foreign Obligors

     147  

11.23 Release of Guaranties and Collateral

     147  

11.24 ENTIRE AGREEMENT

     147  

11.25 Keepwell

     148  

11.26 Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions

     148  

11.27 [Reserved]

     148  

11.28 Acknowledgment Regarding Any Supported QFCs

     148  

11.29 Amendment and Restatement; No Novation

     149  

 

iv


SCHEDULES

 

1.01(b)

  

Existing Letters of Credit

2.01(a)

  

Commitments and Applicable Percentages

2.01(b)

  

Letter of Credit Commitments

5.12(d)

  

Pension Plans

5.13

  

Subsidiaries; Other Equity Investments

6.17

  

Post-Closing Matters

7.01

  

Existing Liens

7.02

  

Existing Investments

7.03

  

Existing Indebtedness

11.02

  

Administrative Agent’s Office; Certain Addresses for Notices

EXHIBITS

  
   Form of

A

  

Loan Notice

B

  

Swing Line Loan Notice

C-1

  

Company Revolving Note

C-2

  

Foreign Borrower Revolving Note

D

  

Compliance Certificate

E

  

Assignment and Assumption

F-1

  

Domestic Guaranty

F-2

  

Foreign Guaranty

G

  

Security Agreement

H-1

  

Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

H-2

  

Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

H-3

  

Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

H-4

  

Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

I

  

Form of Secured Party Designation Notice

J

  

Form of Notice of Loan Prepayment

K

L

M

  

Form of Letter of Credit Report

Form of Solvency Certificate

Form of Authorization to Share Insurance Information

 

 

v


FIFTH AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

This FIFTH AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is entered into as of March 31, 2021 among COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), CMC INTERNATIONAL FINANCE, a société à responsabilité limitée having its registered office at 1, rue Pletzer, L-8080 Bertrange, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, registered with the Luxembourg Trade and Companies Register under number B-161680, a company organized and existing under the laws of Luxembourg as a société à responsabilité limitée as the Foreign Borrower (defined herein), (the Company together with the Foreign Borrower, collectively the “Borrowers”), the Lenders (defined herein), and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and an L/C Issuer.

The Borrowers, certain of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent are parties to that certain Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 26, 2014 (as heretofore amended and as in effect on the date of this Agreement, the “Existing Credit Agreement”). The parties hereto desire to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement as hereafter set forth.

In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree that the Existing Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

ARTICLE I.

DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

1.01 Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

2013 Indenture” means that certain Indenture, dated as of May 6, 2013, by and between the Company as Issuer, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, as supplemented from time to time and pursuant to which the Company has issued its senior notes.

Act” has the meaning specified in Section 11.18.

Additional Secured Obligations” means (a) all obligations arising under Secured Cash Management Agreements, Secured Hedge Agreements and Secured Trade Documents and (b) all costs and expenses incurred in connection with enforcement and collection of the foregoing, including the fees, charges and disbursements of counsel (to the extent required to be paid by the Loan Parties under Section 11.04(a) of this Agreement), in each case whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest, expenses and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest, expenses and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding; provided that Additional Secured Obligations of a Loan Party shall exclude any Excluded Swap Obligations with respect to such Loan Party.

Administrative Agent” means Bank of America (or any of its designated branch offices or affiliates) in its capacity as administrative agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent.

Administrative Agent’s Office” means, with respect to any currency, the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 11.02 with respect to such currency, or such other address or account with respect to such currency as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify to the Company and the Lenders.


Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in substantially the form provided by the Administrative Agent or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

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

Affiliate” means, with respect to a specified Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.

Aggregate Commitments” means the Revolving Commitments of all Lenders. As of the Closing Date, the Aggregate Commitments are $400,000,000.00.

Agreement” means this Credit Agreement, including all schedules, exhibits and annexes hereto.

Agreement Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 11.19.

Alternative Currency” means in respect of (a) a Borrowing by the Company or Letters of Credit, each of Australian Dollars, Canadian Dollars, Yen, Euro, Sterling and each other currency (other than Dollars) that is approved in accordance with Section 1.09; provided that for each Alternative Currency, such requested currency is an Eligible Currency and (b) a Borrowing by the Foreign Borrower, each of Australian Dollars, Canadian Dollars, Yen, Euro and Sterling and each other currency (other than Dollars) that is approved in accordance with Section 1.09; provided that for each Alternative Currency, such requested currency is an Eligible Currency.

Alternative Currency Equivalent” means, at any time, with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, the equivalent amount thereof in the applicable Alternative Currency as determined by the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender or the applicable L/C Issuers, as the case may be, by reference to Bloomberg (or such other publicly available service for displaying exchange rates), to be the exchange rate for the purchase of such Alternative Currency with Dollars at approximately 11:00 a.m. on the date two (2) Business Days prior to the date as of which the foreign exchange computation is made; provided, however, that if no such rate is available, the “Alternative Currency Equivalent” shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender or the applicable L/C Issuers, as the case may be, using any reasonable method of determination they deem appropriate in their sole discretion (and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error).

Anti-Money Laundering Laws” means any and all laws, statutes, regulations or obligatory government orders, decrees, ordinances or rules applicable to any Borrower, its respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates in jurisdictions in which the Company or any Material Subsidiary is domiciled or conducts business, related to terrorism financing or money laundering, including any applicable provision of the Act and The Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act (also known as the “Bank Secrecy Act,” 31 U.S.C. §§ 5311-5330 and 12 U.S.C. §§ 1818(s), 1820(b) and 1951-1959).

Applicable Foreign Obligor Documents” has the meaning specified in Section 5.20.

 

2


Applicable Law” means (a) in respect of any Person, all provisions of Laws applicable to such Person, and all orders and decrees of all courts and determinations of arbitrators applicable to such Person and (b) in respect of contracts made or performed in the State of Texas, “Applicable Law” shall also mean the Laws of the United States of America, including, without limiting the foregoing, 12 USC Sections 85 and 86, as amended to the date hereof and as the same may be amended at any time and from time to time hereafter, and any other statute of the United States of America now or at any time hereafter prescribing the maximum rates of interest on loans and extensions of credit, and the Laws of the State of Texas, including, without limitation, Chapter 303 of the Texas Finance Code, as amended, and any other statute of the State of Texas now or at any time hereafter prescribing maximum rates of interest on loans and extensions of credit; provided that the parties hereto agree pursuant to Texas Finance Code Section 346.004 that the provisions of Chapter 346 of the Texas Finance Code, shall not apply to Loans, the Letters of Credit, this Agreement, the Notes or any other Loan Document.

Applicable Percentage” means with respect to any Revolving Lender, at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Revolving Facility represented by such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Commitment at such time, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.16. If the Commitment of all Revolving Lenders to make Revolving Loans and the obligation of each L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02 or if the Commitments have expired, then the Applicable Percentage of each Lender in respect of the Revolving Facility shall be determined based on the Applicable Percentage of such Lender in respect of the Revolving Facility most recently in effect, giving effect to any subsequent assignments and to any Lender’s status as a Defaulting Lender at the time of determination. The Applicable Percentage of each Lender in respect of the Revolving Facility is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01(a) herein or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, or in any documentation executed by such Lender pursuant to Section 2.14, as applicable.

Applicable Rate” means, from time to time, the following percentages per annum, based upon the Debt Rating as set forth below, it being understood that the Applicable Rate for (a) Revolving Loans that are Base Rate Loans shall be the percentage set forth under the column “Base Rate”, (b) Domestic Swing Line Loans and Foreign Swing Line Loans shall be the percentage set forth under the column “Eurocurrency Rate/Non-Performance Letters of Credit/Daily Floating LIBOR Rate”, (c) Revolving Loans that are Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be the percentage set forth under the column “Eurocurrency Rate/Non-Performance Letters of Credit/Daily Floating LIBOR Rate”, (d) the Letter of Credit Fee for Non-Performance Letters of Credit shall be the percentage set forth under the column “Eurocurrency Rate/Non-Performance Letters of Credit/Daily Floating LIBOR Rate”, (e) the Letter of Credit Fee for Performance Letters of Credit shall be the percentage set forth under the column “Performance Letters of Credit”, and (f) the Commitment Fee shall be the percentage set forth under the column “Commitment Fee”:

 

Applicable Rate  

Pricing
Level

  

Debt Ratings

S&P/Moody’s/Fitch

   Commitment
Fee
    Eurocurrency
Rate
    Base
Rate
    Performance
Letters of
Credit
 
  Non-Performance
Letters of Credit
 
  Daily Floating
LIBOR Rate
 
1    ³ BBB / Baa2 / BBB      0.200     1.000     0.000     0.650
2    BBB- / Baa3/ BBB-      0.250     1.250     0.250     0.825
3    BB+ / Ba1/ BB+      0.300     1.500     0.500     1.000
4    BB / Ba2/BB      0.350     1.750     0.750     1.200
5    < BB /Ba2/BB      0.400     2.000     1.000     1.400

 

3


Debt Rating” means, as of any date of determination, the rating as determined by S&P, Moody’s and/or Fitch, respectively, of the Company’s non-credit-enhanced, senior unsecured long-term debt (each, a “S&P Debt Rating”, a “Moody’s Debt Rating” or a “Fitch Debt Rating,” as applicable, and collectively, the “Debt Ratings”); provided that (a) if S&P, Moody’s and Fitch each have in effect a rating, but such ratings are not all at the same level, and (i) two of the ratings are at the same level, the Pricing Level shall be determined by reference to the two ratings at the same level or (ii) each of the three ratings fall within different levels, the Pricing Level shall be determined by reference to the middle level, (b) if only two of S&P, Moody’s and Fitch shall have in effect a Debt Rating and (i) such Debt Ratings are at the same level, the Pricing Level shall be determined by reference to such level, (ii) such Debt Ratings are at different levels and separated by one level, the Pricing Level for the higher of such Debt Ratings shall apply (with the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 1 being the highest and the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 5 being the lowest) or (iii) such Debt Ratings are at different levels and separated by more than one level, the Pricing Level that is one level lower than the Pricing Level of the higher Debt Rating shall apply, (c) if only one of S&P, Moody’s and Fitch shall have in effect a Debt Rating, the Pricing Level that is one level lower than that of such Debt Rating shall apply; and (d) if the Company does not have any Debt Rating, Pricing Level 5 shall apply.

Initially, the Applicable Rate shall be determined based upon the current publicly announced Debt Rating that is specified in the certificate delivered pursuant to Section 4.01(a)(vii). Thereafter, each change in the Applicable Rate resulting from a publicly announced change in the Debt Rating shall be effective, in the case of an upgrade, on the date of such public announcement and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change and, in the case of a downgrade, during the period commencing on the date of the public announcement thereof and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change.

Applicable Revolving Percentage” means, with respect to any Revolving Lender at any time, such Revolving Lender’s Applicable Percentage in respect of the Revolving Facility at such time.

Applicable Time” means, with respect to any Borrowings and payments in any Alternative Currency, the local time in the place of settlement for such Alternative Currency as may be determined by the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender or the applicable L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to be necessary for timely settlement on the relevant date in accordance with normal banking procedures in the place of payment.

Appropriate Lender” means, at any time, (a) with respect to the Revolving Facility, a Lender that has a Commitment or holds a Revolving Loan at such time, (b) with respect to the Swing Line Sublimit, (i) the Swing Line Lender and (ii) if any Swing Line Loans are outstanding pursuant to Section 2.04(a), the Revolving Lenders, and (c) with respect to the Letter of Credit Sublimit, (i) each L/C Issuer and (ii) if any Letters of Credit have been issued pursuant to Section 2.03(a), the Revolving Lenders.

Approved Fund” means any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

Arrangers” means BofA Securities, Inc., Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, PNC Bank, National Association and Citibank, N.A., each in their capacity as a joint lead arranger and joint book manager.

 

4


Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 11.06(b)), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit E or any other form (including an electronic documentation form generated by use of an electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.

Attorney Costs” means and includes all reasonable and documented fees, expenses and disbursements of external legal counsel.

Attributable Indebtedness” means, on any date, (a) in respect of any Capital Lease of any Person, the capitalized amount thereof that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP, and (b) in respect of any Synthetic Lease Obligation, the capitalized amount of the remaining lease or similar payments under the relevant lease or other applicable agreement or instrument that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP if such lease or other agreement or instrument were accounted for as a Capital Lease.

Audited Financial Statements” means the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2020, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year of the Company and its Subsidiaries, including the notes thereto.

Australian Dollars” means the lawful currency of Australia.

Authorization to Share Insurance Information” means the authorization substantially in the form of Exhibit M (or such other form as required by each of the Loan Party’s insurance companies).

Auto-Extension Letter of Credit” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(b)(iii).

Availability Period” means, in respect of the Revolving Facility, the period from and including the Closing Date to the earliest of (a) the Maturity Date, (b) the date of termination of the Revolving Commitments pursuant to Section 2.06, and (c) the date of termination of the Revolving Commitment of each Revolving Lender and of the obligation of the L/C Issuers to make L/C Credit Extensions pursuant to Section 8.02.

Available Basket Amount” means, as at any date of determination, the sum of (a) $150,000,000 plus (b) 50% of Consolidated Net Income for the period commencing on September 1, 2019 and ending on the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter plus (c) 100% of the aggregate Net Proceeds received by the Company after the Closing Date from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

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

Bail-In Legislation” means, (a) with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law, rule, regulation or requirement for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule, and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 (as amended from time to time) and any other law, regulation or rule applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (other than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings).

 

5


Bank of America” means Bank of America, N.A. and its successors.

Base Rate” means for any day a fluctuating rate of interest per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50%, (b) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by Bank of America as its “prime rate,” and (c) the Eurocurrency Rate plus 1.00%, subject to the interest rate floors set forth therein; provided that if the Base Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed zero for purposes of this Agreement. The “prime rate” is a rate set by Bank of America based upon various factors including Bank of America’s costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate. Any change in such prime rate announced by Bank of America shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change. If the Base Rate is being used as an alternate rate of interest pursuant to Section 3.03 hereof, then the Base Rate shall be the greater of clauses (a) and (b) above and shall be determined without reference to clause (c) above.

Base Rate Loan” means a Revolving Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate. All Base Rate Loans shall be denominated in Dollars and shall be made to the Company and not to the Foreign Borrower.

Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

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

Benefit Plan” means any of (a) an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a “plan” as defined in and subject to Section 4975 of the Code or (c) any Person whose assets include (for purposes of ERISA Section 3(42) or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) the assets of any such “employee benefit plan” or “plan”.

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

Borrower” means either the Company or the Foreign Borrower and “Borrowers” means collectively the Company and the Foreign Borrower.

Borrower Materials” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

Borrowing” means a Revolving Borrowing or a Swing Line Borrowing, as the context may require.

Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the state where the Administrative Agent’s Office is located and:

(a) if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in Dollars, any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in Dollars in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, or any other dealings in Dollars to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, means any such day that is also a London Banking Day;

 

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(b) if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in Euro, any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in Euro in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, or any other dealings in Euro to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, means a Business Day that is also a TARGET Day;

(c) if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in a currency other than Dollars or Euro, means any such day on which dealings in deposits in the relevant currency are conducted by and between banks in the London or other applicable offshore interbank market for such currency; and

(d) if such day relates to any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in a currency other than Dollars or Euro in respect of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in a currency other than Dollars or Euro, or any other dealings in any currency other than Dollars or Euro to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan (other than any interest rate settings), means any such day on which banks are open for foreign exchange business in the principal financial center of the country of such currency.

CAM” means the “collection allocation mechanism” given effect by the CAM Exchange.

CAM Exchange” means the exchange of each Lender’s interests provided for in Section 10.01.

CAM Exchange Date” means the date on which (a) there shall occur any Event of Default described in Section 8.01(f) or (g) with respect to any Loan Party or (b) an acceleration of the maturity of the Loans pursuant to Section 8.02 shall occur.

CAM Exchange Party” means, as of the CAM Exchange Date, any Person that is a Lender.

CAM Percentage” means, as to each Lender a fraction, expressed as a decimal to 10 decimal places, of which (a) the numerator shall be the aggregate Designated Obligations owed to such Lender (whether or not at the time due and payable), and (b) the denominator shall be the aggregate Designated Obligations owed to all the Lenders (whether or not at the time due and payable). For purposes of computing any CAM Percentage, all Designated Obligations which shall be denominated in an Alternative Currency shall, for purposes of this calculation, be deemed converted into Dollars at the Spot Rate in effect on the CAM Exchange Date.

Canadian Dollars” and “CAD” means the lawful currency of Canada.

Capital Lease” means, as of any date, any lease of property, real or personal, the obligations of the lessee in respect of which have been or are required in accordance with GAAP to be capitalized on the balance sheet of the lessee.

Capitalized Rentals” means, for any Person and as of any date of any determination, the amount at which the aggregate Rentals due and to become due under all Capital Leases under which such Person is a lessee would be reflected as a liability on a consolidated balance sheet of such Person.

Cash and Cash Equivalents” means (a) cash, (b) marketable obligations issued or unconditionally guaranteed by the U.S. Government or issued by any of its agencies and backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S., in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition (and investments in mutual funds investing primarily in those obligations); (c) short-term investment grade domestic and eurodollar certificates of deposit or time deposits that are fully insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

 

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or are issued by commercial banks having combined capital, surplus, and undivided profits of not less than $100,000,000 (as shown on its most recently published statement of condition); (d) commercial paper and similar obligations rated “P-1” or “P-2” by Moody’s; or “A-1” or “A-2” by S&P; (e) readily marketable tax-free municipal bonds of a domestic issuer rated “Aaa” by Moody’s, or “AAA” by S&P, and maturing within one year from the date of issuance (and investments in mutual funds investing primarily in those bonds); (f) money market mutual funds or similar obligations rated Aaa by Moody’s or AAA by S&P; and (g) demand deposit accounts maintained in the ordinary course of business; provided that if any of the ratings issued by Moody’s and S&P with respect to the items set forth in clauses (e) and (f) are not equivalent and so long as the ratings do not differ by more than two levels, then the applicable rating for purposes of this definition shall be the higher of the two.

Cash Collateralize” means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent or directly to an L/C Issuer, for the benefit of one or more of the L/C Issuers or the Swing Line Lender (as applicable) or the Lenders as collateral for L/C Obligations, the Obligations in respect of Swing Line Loans or obligations of the Revolving Lenders to fund participations in respect of either thereof (as the context may require), (a) cash or deposit account balances, (b) backstop letters of credit entered into on terms, from issuers and in amounts satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the applicable L/C Issuer, and/or (c) if the Administrative Agent and the applicable L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender shall agree in their sole discretion, other credit support, in each case, in Dollars and pursuant to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the applicable L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender (as applicable). “Cash Collateral” shall have a meaning correlative to the foregoing and shall include the proceeds of such cash collateral and other credit support.

Cash Management Agreement” means any agreement that is not prohibited by the terms hereof to provide treasury or cash management services, including deposit accounts, overnight draft, credit cards, debit cards, p-cards (including purchasing cards and commercial cards), funds transfer, automated clearinghouse, zero balance accounts, returned check concentration, controlled disbursement, lockbox, account reconciliation and reporting and trade finance services and other cash management services.

Cash Management Bank” means any Person in its capacity as a party to a Cash Management Agreement that (a) at the time it enters into a Cash Management Agreement with a Loan Party or any Subsidiary of a Loan Party, is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, or (b) at the time it (or its Affiliate) becomes a Lender, is a party to a Cash Management Agreement with a Loan Party or any Subsidiary of a Loan Party, in each case in its capacity as a party to such Cash Management Agreement (even if such Person ceases to be a Lender or such Person’s Affiliate ceases to be a Lender); provided, however, that for any of the foregoing to be included as a “Secured Cash Management Agreement” on any date of determination by the Administrative Agent, the applicable Cash Management Bank (other than the Administrative Agent or an Affiliate of the Administrative Agent) must have delivered a Secured Party Designation Notice to the Administrative Agent prior to such date of determination; and, provided, further however, that if any Cash Management Bank ceases to be a Lender, then only such obligations, if any, that are owed to such Person and are secured by the Collateral at the time such Person ceases to be a Lender shall be deemed to be secured by the Collateral following such time.

Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the Closing Date, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith or in the implementation thereof and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted, implemented or issued.

 

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Change of Control” means, with respect to any Person, an event or series of events by which:

(a) any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person or its subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except that a person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all securities that such person or group has the right to acquire (such right, an “option right”), whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of 35% or more of the Voting Shares of such Person; or

(b) during any period of 12 consecutive calendar months, a majority of the members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of such Person cease to be composed of individuals (i) who were members of that board or equivalent governing body on the first day of such period, (ii) whose election or nomination to that board or equivalent governing body was nominated, appointed or approved by individuals referred to in clause (i) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body or (iii) whose election or nomination to that board or other equivalent governing body was nominated, appointed or approved by individuals referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body.

Closing Date” means the first date all the conditions precedent in Section 4.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 11.01.

CMC Steel Oklahoma” means CMC Steel Oklahoma, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company.

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

Collateral” means all of the “Collateral” referred to in the Security Instruments and all of the other property that is under the terms of the Security Instruments to be subject to Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

Collateral Event” means the occurrence of any of the following:

(1) if the Company has a Debt Rating from each of S&P, Moody’s and Fitch and only one or none of such Debt Ratings is an Investment Grade Rating, or

(2) if the Company has a Debt Rating from only two of S&P, Moody’s and Fitch: (a) both of such Debt Ratings are lower than an Investment Grade Rating, or (b) either (i) the S&P Debt Rating or the Fitch Debt Rating are BB or lower or (ii) the Moody’s Debt Rating is Ba2 or lower, or

(3) if the Company has a Debt Rating from only one of S&P, Moody’s or Fitch: if (a) the available Debt Rating is S&P, the S&P Debt Rating is BBB- or lower, (b) the available Debt Rating is Moody’s, the Moody’s Debt Rating is Baa3 or lower or (c) the available Debt Rating is Fitch, the Fitch Debt Rating is BBB- or lower, or

 

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(4) the Company has no S&P Debt Rating, Moody’s Debt Rating or Fitch Debt Rating.

Collateral Reinstatement Event” means the occurrence of a Collateral Event after the occurrence of a Collateral Release Event.

Collateral Release Event” means satisfaction of the following conditions:

(a) (1) if the Company has a Debt Rating from each of S&P, Moody’s and Fitch, two or more of the Rating Agencies maintain an Investment Grade Rating, or

(2) if the Company has a Debt Rating from only two of S&P, Moody’s and Fitch: either (i) both Debt Ratings are Investment Grade Ratings, or (ii) one such Debt Rating is an Investment Grade Rating and the other Debt Rating as assigned by S&P, Moody’s, or Fitch is not below BB+, Ba1, or BB+ respectively, or

(3) if the Company has a Debt Rating from only one of S&P, Moody’s or Fitch: if (i) the available Debt Rating is S&P, the S&P Debt Rating is BBB or higher, (ii) the available Debt Rating is Moody’s, the Moody’s Debt Rating is Baa2 or higher or (iii) the available Debt Rating is Fitch, the Fitch Debt Rating is BBB or higher,

(b) no Default exists, and

(c) the Administrative Agent’s receipt of a certificate from the Company’s chief financial officer or treasurer certifying to the foregoing.

Collateral Release Period” means each period commencing with the occurrence of a Collateral Release Event and continuing until the occurrence of the next Collateral Reinstatement Event, if any, immediately following such Collateral Release Event.

Commitment” means a Revolving Commitment.

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

Company” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit D.

Connection Income Taxes” means Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes.

Consolidated Assets” means the net book value of all assets of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries, all as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated EBITDA” means, for any period, the sum of the following determined on a consolidated basis, without duplication, for the Company and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, (a) Consolidated Net Income plus (b) the following to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income: (i) interest expense, (ii) taxes including (A) tax expense and (B) the provision for federal, state, local and foreign income taxes payable, (iii) depreciation and amortization expense and (iv) non-cash

 

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charges and losses (excluding any such non-cash charges or losses to the extent (A) there were cash charges with respect to such charges and losses in past accounting periods or (B) there is a reasonable expectation that there will be cash charges with respect to such charges and losses in future accounting periods) less (c) without duplication and to the extent of the amounts in this clause (c) increased Consolidated Net Income for such period, non-cash gains (excluding any such non-cash gains to the extent (i) there were cash gains with respect to such gains in past accounting periods or (ii) there is a reasonable expectation that there will be cash gains with respect to such gains in future accounting periods).

Consolidated Funded Debt” means all Funded Debt of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis and eliminating intercompany items.

Consolidated Interest Expense” means interest expense of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries, computed on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, for the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries computed on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, the net income of the Company and its Subsidiaries; provided that Consolidated Net Income shall exclude unusual and infrequent gains and unusual and infrequent losses for such period.

Consolidated Net Sales” means, for any period, for the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries computed on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP and in substantially the same manner as used in the preparation of the Audited Financial Statements, net sales of the Company and its Subsidiaries as stated in the income statement of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries.

Consolidated Net Worth” means the total shareholders’ equity of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries, calculated in accordance with GAAP and reflected on the most recent balance sheet of the Company.

Contractual Obligation” means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other written undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.

Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.

Covered Entity” means any of the following: (a) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (b) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (c) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

Covered Party” has the meaning specified in Section 11.28.

Credit Extension” means each of the following: (a) a Borrowing and (b) an L/C Credit Extension.

Daily Floating LIBOR Rate” means, for any day, a fluctuating rate of interest per annum, which can change on each Business Day, equal to the London Interbank Offered Rate, or a comparable or successor rate, which rate is approved by the Administrative Agent, as published on the applicable Bloomberg screen page (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) at or about 11:00 a.m., London time, two (2) Business Days prior to the date in question for Dollar deposits with a term equivalent to one (1) month

 

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beginning on that date. If such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the Daily Floating LIBOR Rate shall be the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate at which deposits in dollars in same day funds in the approximate amount of the Swing Line Loan being made by the Swing Line Lender and with a term equivalent to one (1) month would be offered by the Swing Line Lender’s London Branch to major banks in the London interbank eurodollar market at their request at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such day; provided that: (x) to the extent a comparable or successor rate is approved by the Administrative Agent in connection herewith, the approved rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided, further that to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, such approved rate shall be applied in a manner as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent and (y) if the Daily Floating LIBOR Rate shall be less than zero (0), such rate shall be deemed zero (0) for purposes of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Daily Floating LIBOR Rate on any day that is not a Business Day shall be the Daily Floating LIBOR Rate determined on the immediately preceding Business Day. Each change in the Daily Floating LIBOR Rate shall be effective, without notice to the Company or any other Person, upon the effective date of such change.

Debt Rating” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Applicable Rate”.

Debt to Capitalization Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Funded Debt as of such date to (b) Total Capitalization as of such date.

Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

Default” means any event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that, with the giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default.

Default Rate” means (a) when used with respect to Obligations other than Letter of Credit Fees and Eurocurrency Rate Loans, an interest rate equal to the lesser of (i) the Highest Lawful Rate and (ii)(A) the Base Rate plus (B) the Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (C) 2% per annum; (b) when used with respect to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan, a rate equal to the lesser of (i) the Highest Lawful Rate and (ii)(A) the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus (B) 2% per annum, and (b) when used with respect to Letter of Credit Fees, a rate equal to the lesser of (i) the Highest Lawful Rate and (ii) the Applicable Rate plus 2% per annum.

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

Defaulting Lender” means, subject to Section 2.16(b), any Lender that, (a) has failed to (i) fund all or any portion of its Loans within two (2) Business Days of the date such Loans were required to be funded hereunder unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Company in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) pay to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder (including in respect of its participation in Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans) within two Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Company, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender in writing that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations hereunder, or has made a public

 

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statement to that effect (unless such writing or public statement relates to such Lender’s obligation to fund a Loan hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lender’s determination that a condition precedent to funding (which condition precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing or public statement) cannot be satisfied), (c) has failed, within three Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent or the Company, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Company that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder (provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Company), or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, (ii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity, or (iii) become the subject of a Bail-In Action; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any Equity Interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority, so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender. Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under any one or more of clauses (a) through (d) above, and of the effective date of such status, shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.16(b)) as of the date established therefor by the Administrative Agent in a written notice of such determination, which shall be delivered by the Administrative Agent to the Company, the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender and each other Lender promptly following such determination.

Designated Jurisdiction” means any country or territory to the extent that such country or territory itself is the subject of any Sanction.

Designated Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 2.18.

Designated Obligations” means all Obligations of the Loan Parties in respect of (a) accrued and unpaid (i) principal of and interest on the Loans, (ii) Letter of Credit Fees and (iii) commitment fees, and (b) all Unreimbursed Amounts (including the amounts of any funded L/C Advances) and interest thereon, in each case whether or not the same shall at the time of any determination be due and payable under the terms of the Loan Documents.

Disposition” or “Dispose” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (including any Sale and Leaseback Transaction) of any property by any Person, including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith, including any securitization, transfer or encumbrance of any accounts receivable.

Disqualifying Event” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Eligible Currency”.

Dollar” and “$” mean lawful money of the United States.

Dollar Equivalent” means, for any amount, at the time of determination thereof, (a) if such amount is expressed in Dollars, such amount, (b) if such amount is expressed in an Alternative Currency, the equivalent of such amount in Dollars determined by using the rate of exchange for the purchase of Dollars with the Alternative Currency last provided (either by publication or otherwise provided to the

 

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Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender or the applicable L/C Issuer, as applicable) by the applicable Bloomberg source (or such other publicly available source for displaying exchange rates) on date that is two (2) Business Days immediately preceding the date of determination (or if such service ceases to be available or ceases to provide such rate of exchange, the equivalent of such amount in dollars as determined by the Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender or the applicable L/C Issuer, as applicable using any method of determination it deems appropriate in its reasonable discretion) and (c) if such amount is denominated in any other currency, the equivalent of such amount in Dollars as determined by the Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender or the applicable L/C Issuer, as applicable, using any reasonable method of determination it deems appropriate in its reasonable discretion. Any determination by the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender or the applicable L/C Issuer pursuant to clauses (b) or (c) above shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

Domestic Guarantors” means collectively, the Company and each Domestic Subsidiary that is identified as a “Domestic Guarantor” on Schedule 5.13 or that becomes a party to the Domestic Guaranty, whether pursuant to Section 6.14 or otherwise.

Domestic Guaranty” means that certain guaranty agreement made by the Domestic Guarantors in favor of the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties pursuant to which the Domestic Guarantors Guarantee the Secured Obligations, substantially in the form of Exhibit F-1.

Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of any political subdivision of the United States and is not otherwise a Foreign Subsidiary.

Domestic Swing Line Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(a).

Domestic Swing Line Sublimit” means the lesser of (a) $25,000,000 and (b) the Revolving Facility. The Domestic Swing Line Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Revolving Facility.

EEA Financial Institution” means (a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.

EEA Member Country” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

EEA Resolution Authority” means any public administrative authority or any person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.

Eligible Assignee” means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Section 11.06(b)(iii), (v) and (vi) (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 11.06(b)(iii)).

Eligible Currency” means any lawful currency other than Dollars that is readily available, freely transferable and convertible into Dollars in the international interbank market available to the Lenders in such market and as to which a Dollar Equivalent may be readily calculated. If, after the designation by the Lenders of any currency as an Alternative Currency, any change in currency controls or exchange regulations or any change in the national or international financial, political or economic conditions are

 

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imposed in the country in which such currency is issued, has the result that, in the reasonable opinion of the Required Lenders (in the case of any Loans to be denominated in an Alternative Currency) or an L/C Issuer (in the case of any Letter of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer to be denominated in an Alternative Currency), (a) such currency is no longer readily available, freely transferable and convertible into Dollars, (b) a Dollar Equivalent is no longer readily calculable with respect to such currency, (c) providing such currency is impracticable for the Lenders or (d) such currency is no longer a currency in which the Required Lenders are willing to make such Credit Extensions (each of clauses (a), (b), (c), and (d) a “Disqualifying Event”), then the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders and the Company, and such country’s currency shall no longer be an Alternative Currency until such time as the Disqualifying Event(s) no longer exist. Within five (5) Business Days after receipt of such notice from the Administrative Agent, the applicable Borrower shall repay all Loans in such currency to which the Disqualifying Event applies or convert such Loans into the Dollar Equivalent of Loans in Dollars, subject to the other terms contained herein.

Environment” means ambient air, indoor air, surface water, groundwater, drinking water, soil, surface and subsurface strata.

Environmental Laws” means any and all federal, state, local, and foreign statutes, laws, regulations, legally binding standards, ordinances, rules, judgments, legally binding interpretations, orders, decrees, permits, agreements or governmental restrictions relating to pollution or the protection of the Environment or human health (to the extent directly related to exposure to Hazardous Materials), including those relating to the generation, handling, transport, storage, treatment, Release or threat of Release of Hazardous Materials, air emissions and discharges to waste or public systems.

Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities) of the Company, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Subsidiaries, whether based in contract, tort, implied or express warranty, strict liability, criminal or civil statute, directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) a violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Materials or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

Environmental Permit” means any permit, certification, registration, approval, identification number, license or other authorization required under any Environmental Law.

Equity Interests” means, with respect to any Person, all of the shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other interests), and all of the other ownership or profit interests in such Person (including partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such shares, warrants, options, rights or other interests are outstanding on any date of determination.

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

 

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ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control with the Company within the meaning of Sections 414(b) or (c) of the Code (and Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the Code).

ERISA Event” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) the withdrawal of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which such entity was a “substantial employer” as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is insolvent or has been terminated; (d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, the treatment of a Pension Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 or 4041A of ERISA; (e) the institution by the PBGC of proceedings to terminate a Pension Plan; (f) any event or condition which constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan, Multiple Employer Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (g) the determination that any Pension Plan, Multiple Employer Plan or Multiemployer Plan is considered an at-risk plan or a plan in endangered or critical status within the meaning of Sections 430, 431 and 432 of the Code or Sections 303, 304 and 305 of ERISA; (h) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon the Company or any ERISA Affiliate or (i) a failure by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate to meet all applicable requirements under the Pension Funding Rules in respect of a Pension Plan, or the failure by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate to make any required contribution to a Multiemployer Plan.

EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person), as in effect from time to time.

Euro” and “” mean the single currency of the Participating Member States.

Eurocurrency Rate” means:

(a) for any Interest Period, with respect to any Credit Extension:

(i) denominated in a LIBOR Quoted Currency (other than Euros), the rate per annum equal to the London Interbank Offered Rate as administered by ICE Benchmark Administration (or any other Person that takes over the administration of such rate for U.S. Dollars for a period equal in length to such Interest Period) (“LIBOR”), or a comparable or successor rate which is approved by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 3.03, as published on the applicable Bloomberg screen page (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) (in such case, the “LIBOR Rate”) at or about 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the Rate Determination Date, for deposits in the relevant currency, with a term equivalent to such Interest Period;

(ii) denominated in Euros, the rate per annum equal to the Euro Interbank Offered Rate (“EURIBOR”), or a comparable or successor rate which rate is approved by the Administrative Agent, as published on the applicable Bloomberg screen page (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) (in such case, the “EURIBOR Rate”) at or about 11:00 a.m. (Brussels, Belgium time) on the Rate Determination Date with a term equivalent to such Interest Period;

 

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(iii) denominated in Canadian Dollars, the rate per annum equal to the Canadian Dollar Offered Rate (“CDOR”), or a comparable or successor rate which rate is approved by the Administrative Agent, as published on the applicable Bloomberg screen page (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) (in such case, the “CDOR Rate”) at or about 10:00 a.m. (Toronto, Ontario time) on the Rate Determination Date with a term equivalent to such Interest Period;

(iv) denominated in Australian Dollars, the rate per annum equal to the Bank Bill Swap Reference Bid Rate (“BBSY”), or a comparable or successor rate which rate is approved by the Administrative Agent, as published on the applicable Bloomberg screen page (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) at or about 10:30 a.m. (Melbourne, Australia time) on the Rate Determination Date with a term equivalent to such Interest Period;

(v) with respect to any Credit Extension denominated in any other Non-LIBOR Quoted Currency, the rate per annum as designated with respect to such Alternative Currency at the time such Alternative Currency is approved by the Administrative Agent and the relevant Lenders pursuant to Section 1.09(a); and

(b) for any interest rate calculation with respect to a Base Rate Loan on any date, the rate per annum equal to the LIBOR Rate, at or about 11:00 a.m. (London time) determined two (2) Business Days prior to such date for Dollar deposits being delivered in the London interbank market for deposits in Dollars with a term of one (1) month commencing that day;

provided that, (i) to the extent a comparable or successor rate is approved by the Administrative Agent in connection with any rate set forth in this definition, the approved rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided, further that, to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, such approved rate shall be applied in a manner as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent and (ii) if the Eurocurrency Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed zero for purposes of this Agreement.

Eurocurrency Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on clause (a) of the definition of “Eurocurrency Rate”. Eurocurrency Rate Loans may be denominated in Dollars or in an Alternative Currency. All Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency must be Eurocurrency Rate Loans.

Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01.

Excluded Foreign Subsidiaries” means, collectively, CMC GH Sisak d.o.o., CMC Commercial Metals de Mexico S. de. R.L. de C.V., Steel Products de Mexico S. de C.V., CMC Commercial Metals (Cyprus) Ltd. and CMC GH, Ltd.

Excluded Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Guarantor, any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the Guaranty of such Guarantor of, or the grant by such Guarantor of a Lien to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any Guaranty thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Guarantor’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act (determined after giving effect to Section 11.25 and any other “keepwell, support or other agreement” for the benefit of such

 

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Guarantor and any and all guarantees of such Guarantor’s Swap Obligations by other Loan Parties) at the time the Guaranty of such Guarantor, or a grant by such Guarantor of a Lien, becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation. If a Swap Obligation arises under a Master Agreement governing more than one Swap Contract, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to Swap Contracts for which such Guaranty or Lien is or becomes excluded in accordance with the first sentence of this definition.

Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to any Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its Lending Office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Company under Section 11.13), or (ii) such Lender changes its Lending Office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Sections 3.01(b) or (d), amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender became a party hereto or to such Lender immediately before it changed its Lending Office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 3.01(f) and (d) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed pursuant to FATCA.

Existing Letters of Credit” means the Letters of Credit set forth on Schedule 1.01(b).

Facility” means the Revolving Facility.

Facility Termination Date” means the date as of which all of the following shall have occurred: (a) the Aggregate Commitments have terminated, (b) all Obligations have been paid in full (other than contingent indemnification obligations), and (c) all Letters of Credit have terminated or expired (other than Letters of Credit as to which other arrangements with respect thereto satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the applicable L/C Issuers shall have been made).

FASB ASC” means the Accounting Standards Codification of the Financial Accounting Standards Board.

FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof and any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code.

Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day, the rate per annum calculated by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York based on such day’s federal funds transactions by depository institutions (as determined in such manner as the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shall set forth on its public website from time to time) and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as the federal funds effective rate; provided that if the Federal Funds Rate as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement.

Fee Letter” means, collectively, that certain fee letter agreement dated as of March 31, 2021 among the Company, Bank of America and Bank of America Securities, Inc.

Fitch” means Fitch Group, Inc. and any successor thereto.

 

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Foreign Borrower” means (a) CMC International Finance S.à r.l., a company organized and existing under the laws of Luxembourg as a société à responsabilité limitée, having its registered office at 1, rue Pletzer, L-8080 Bertrange, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, registered with the Luxembourg Register of Commerce and Companies under number B-161680, or (b) so long as the conditions set forth in Section 2.19 are satisfied as of the Foreign Borrower Replacement Date, the Successor Foreign Borrower.

Foreign Borrower Replacement Date” means that date that (a) CMC International Finance S.à r.l. irrevocably and unconditionally assigns all of its rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to the Successor Foreign Borrower and (b) the Successor Foreign Borrower irrevocably and unconditionally assumes all of CMC International Finance S.à r.l.’s obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

Foreign Borrower Sublimit” means, the lesser of (a) $50,000,000 and (b) the Revolving Facility. The Foreign Borrower Sublimit is a part of, and not in addition to, the Revolving Facility.

Foreign Guarantor” means CMC Poland Sp. z o.o., a Polish limited liability company, and any successor Person as a result of a change of legal name or conversion of form of legal entity, provided such change or conversion does not under the Laws of Poland result in a change or modification in any manner of the obligations thereof under the Loan Documents.

Foreign Guaranty” means that certain guaranty agreement made by the Foreign Guarantor in favor of the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties pursuant to which the Foreign Guarantor Guarantees the Foreign Obligations, substantially in the form of Exhibit F-2.

Foreign Lender” means, with respect to any Borrower, (a) if such Borrower is a U.S. Person, a Lender that is not a U.S. Person, and (b) if such Borrower is not a U.S. Person, a Lender that is a resident or organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than in which such Borrower is resident for tax purposes. For purposes of this definition, the United States, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.

Foreign Obligations” means (a) all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Foreign Obligor arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan made to the Foreign Borrower or Letter of Credit issued for the account of the Foreign Borrower, and (b) all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement and collection of the foregoing, including the fees, charges and disbursements of counsel (to the extent required to be paid by the Loan Parties under Section 11.04(a) of this Agreement), in each case, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest, expenses and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any Foreign Obligor of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest, expenses and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding.

Foreign Obligor” means a Loan Party that is a Foreign Subsidiary.

Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that (a) is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States, or a state or political subdivision thereof including the District of Columbia, (b) is a Subsidiary of a Subsidiary described in clause (a) or (c) is organized under the laws of the United States or a state or political subdivision thereof including the District of Columbia that is a disregarded entity for purposes of the Code and all of or substantially all of the assets of which consist of Equity Interest of one or more Subsidiaries described in clause (a) above.

Foreign Swing Line Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(a).

 

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Foreign Swing Line Sublimit” means the lesser of (a) $10,000,000 and (b) the Revolving Facility. The Foreign Swing Line Sublimit is part, and not in addition to, the Revolving Facility.

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

Fronting Exposure” means, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, (a) with respect to each L/C Issuer, such Defaulting Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all outstanding L/C Obligations with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer, other than L/C Obligations as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Revolving Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof, and (b) with respect to the Swing Line Lender, such Defaulting Lender’s Applicable Percentage of Swing Line Loans other than Swing Line Loans as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Revolving Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof.

Fund” means any Person (other than a natural Person or holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural Person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its activities.

Funded Debt” of any Person means, as of any date of determination and without duplication, the sum of: (a) the outstanding principal amount of all Indebtedness of such Person, whether current or long-term, for borrowed money or which has been incurred in connection with the acquisition of plant, property and equipment and all obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements (including this Agreement) or other similar instruments (other than any Receivables Facility Attributed Indebtedness of such Person); (b) all Capitalized Rentals of such Person, (c) without duplication, all Guarantees by such Person of Funded Debt of others. For the avoidance of doubt, Receivables Facility Attributed Indebtedness of any Person shall not be included as Funded Debt of such Person.

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth from time to time in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (or agencies with similar functions of comparable stature and authority within the accounting profession) including, without limitation, the FASB Accounting Standards Codification, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied and subject to Section 1.03.

Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank) and any group or body charged with setting financial accounting or regulatory capital rules or standards (including, without limitation, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the Bank for International Settlements or the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision or any successor or similar authority to any of the foregoing).

Guarantee” means, as to any Person, (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness of the kind described in clauses (a) through (h) of the definition thereof or other obligation payable or performable by another Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or

 

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performance of such Indebtedness or other obligation, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity or level of income or cash flow of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation, or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any assets of such Person securing any Indebtedness of the kind described in clauses (a) through (h) of the definition thereof or other obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed or expressly undertaken by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness to obtain any such Lien). The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith. The term “Guarantee” as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

Guaranties” means, collectively, the Domestic Guaranty and the Foreign Guaranty.

Guarantors” means, collectively, the Domestic Guarantors and the Foreign Guarantor.

Hazardous Materials” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, natural gas, natural gas liquids, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances, wastes, chemicals, pollutants, contaminants or compounds of any nature in any form regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.

Hedge Bank” means any Person in its capacity as a party to a Swap Contract that, (a) at the time it enters into a Swap Contract not prohibited under Articles VI or VII, is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, or (b) at the time it (or its Affiliate) becomes a Lender, is a party to a Swap Contract not prohibited under Articles VI or VII, in each case, in its capacity as a party to such Swap Contract (even if such Person ceases to be a Lender or such Person’s Affiliate ceased to be a Lender); provided, in the case of a Secured Hedge Agreement with a Person that is no longer a Lender (or Affiliate of a Lender), (x) such Person shall be considered a Hedge Bank only through the stated termination date (without extension or renewal) of such Secured Hedge Agreement, and (y) only such obligations, if any, under such Secured Hedge Agreement as are owed to such Person at the time such Person ceases to be a Lender shall be deemed to be secured by the Collateral hereunder following such time; and provided further that for any of the foregoing to be included as a “Secured Hedge Agreement” on any date of determination by the Administrative Agent, the applicable Hedge Bank (other than the Administrative Agent or an Affiliate of the Administrative Agent) must have delivered a Secured Party Designation Notice to the Administrative Agent prior to such date of determination.

Highest Lawful Rate” means at the particular time in question the maximum rate of interest which, under Applicable Law, any Lender is then permitted to charge on the Obligations. If the maximum rate of interest which, under Applicable Law, any Lender is permitted to charge on the Obligations shall change after the date hereof, the Highest Lawful Rate shall be automatically increased or decreased, as the case may be, from time to time as of the effective time of each change in the Highest Lawful Rate without notice to the Company. For purposes of determining the Highest Lawful Rate under Applicable Law, on each day, if any, that Chapter 303 of the Texas Finance Code, as amended, establishes the Highest Lawful Rate, such rate shall be the weekly ceiling computed in accordance with Section 303.003 of the Texas Finance Code, as amended, for that day.

IFRS” means international accounting standards within the meaning of IAS Regulation 1606/2002 to the extent applicable to the relevant financial statements delivered under or referred to herein.

 

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Impacted Loans” has the meaning specified in Section 3.03(a).

Increase Effective Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(d).

Increase Joinder” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(e).

Incremental Commitments” means Incremental Revolving Commitments and/or the Incremental Term Commitments.

Incremental Revolving Commitment” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.14(a).

Incremental Term Commitments” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.14(a).

Incremental Term Loan Maturity Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.14(b).

Incremental Term Loans” means any loans made pursuant to any Incremental Term Commitments.

Indebtedness” means, as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all of the following, whether or not included as indebtedness or liabilities in accordance with GAAP:

(a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money and all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments;

(b) all direct or contingent obligations of such Person arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments;

(c) net payment obligations of such Person under any Swap Contract;

(d) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business);

(e) indebtedness (excluding prepaid interest thereon) secured by a Lien on property owned or being purchased by such Person (including indebtedness arising under conditional sales or other title retention agreements), whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse;

(f) all Attributable Indebtedness in respect of Capital Leases and Synthetic Lease Obligations of such Person;

(g) all obligations to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise make any payments in respect of any Redeemable Stock of such Person;

(h) Receivables Facility Attributed Indebtedness; and

(i) all Guarantees of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing.

For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company or similar limited liability entity) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer and for whose Indebtedness such Person is directly or indirectly liable, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made non-

 

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recourse to such Person. The amount of any net payment obligation under any Swap Contract on any date shall be deemed to be the Swap Termination Value thereof as of such date. The amount of any Capital Lease or Synthetic Lease Obligation as of any date shall be deemed to be the amount of Attributable Indebtedness in respect thereof as of such date. Notwithstanding anything above to the contrary, any contingent obligations or any obligations which are not reflected as a debt or payable on any consolidated balance sheet of the Company prepared in accordance with GAAP arising under or in respect of any New Market Tax Credit Transactions in the maximum aggregate principal amount for all such New Market Tax Credit Transactions of Five Hundred Million ($500,000,000) US Dollars shall not be deemed Indebtedness for purposes of the Loan Documents.

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

Indemnitee” has the meaning specified in Section 11.04(b).

Information” has the meaning specified in Section 11.07.

Intangible Assets” means as of the date of any determination thereof the total amount of all goodwill, patents, trade names, trademarks, copyrights, franchises, experimental expense, organizational expense, unamortized debt discount and expense, deferred assets (other than prepaid insurance, prepaid taxes, and supplies, spare parts, and other tangible assets which are treated as deferred assets on the books of the Company), the excess of cost of shares acquired over book value of related assets, and such other assets of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as are properly classified as “Intangible Assets” in accordance with GAAP.

Interest Coverage Ratio” means, as of the end of each fiscal quarter, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDA to (b) Consolidated Interest Expense, in each case for the then most recently concluded period of four consecutive fiscal quarters.

Interest Payment Date” means, (a) as to any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan and Swing Line Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date; provided that if any Interest Period for a Eurocurrency Rate Loan exceeds three months, the respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates; and (b) as to any Base Rate Loan or a Swing Line Loan, the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, and the Maturity Date.

Interest Period” means, as to each Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such Eurocurrency Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Eurocurrency Rate Loan and ending on the date one, two, three or six months thereafter (in each case subject to availability for the interest rate applicable to the relevant currency), as selected by the Company in its Loan Notice; provided that:

(a) any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the immediately following Business Day unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the immediately preceding Business Day;

(b) any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and

(c) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date.

 

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Investment” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect acquisition or investment by such Person in another Person, whether by means of (a) the purchase or other acquisition of capital stock or other securities of another Person, (b) a loan, advance or capital contribution to, Guarantee or assumption of debt of, or purchase or other acquisition of any other debt or equity participation or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person and any arrangement pursuant to which the investor guaranties Indebtedness of such other Person, or (c) the purchase or other acquisition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of assets of another Person that constitute all or substantially all of the assets of such Person or of a division, line of business or other business unit of such Person. For purposes of covenant compliance, the amount of any Investment shall be the amount actually invested, without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment.

Investment Grade Rating” means a Debt Rating of the Company equal to or more favorable than (i) Baa3 from Moody’s, (ii) BBB- from S&P, or (iii) BBB- from Fitch.

IP Rights” has the meaning specified in Section 5.19.

IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

ISDA Definitions” means the 2006 ISDA Definitions published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. or any successor thereto, as amended or supplemented from time to time, or any successor definitional booklet for interest rate derivatives published from time to time by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. or such successor thereto.

ISP” means the International Standby Practices, International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 590 (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the applicable time).

Issuer Documents” means with respect to any Letter of Credit, the Letter of Credit Application, and any other document, agreement and instrument entered into by any L/C Issuer and the Company (or any Subsidiary) or in favor of such L/C Issuer and relating to such Letter of Credit.

Judgment Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 11.19.

Laws” means, collectively, all international, foreign, Federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case whether or not having the force of law.

L/C Advance” means, with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s funding of its participation in any L/C Borrowing in accordance with its Applicable Revolving Percentage. All L/C Advances shall be denominated in Dollars.

L/C Borrowing” means an extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Letter of Credit which has not been reimbursed on the date when made or refinanced as a Revolving Borrowing. All L/C Borrowings shall be denominated in Dollars.

 

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L/C Commitment” means, with respect to each L/C Issuer, the commitment of such L/C Issuer to issue Letters of Credit hereunder. The initial amount of each L/C Issuer’s Letter of Credit Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01(b), or if an L/C Issuer has entered into an Assignment and Assumption or has otherwise assumed a Letter of Credit Commitment after the Closing Date, the amount set forth for such L/C Issuer as its Letter of Credit Commitment in the Register maintained by the Administrative Agent. The Letter of Credit Commitment of an L/C Issuer may be modified from time to time by agreement between such L/C Issuer and the Company, and notified to the Administrative Agent.

L/C Credit Extension” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the issuance thereof or extension of the expiry date thereof, or the increase of the amount thereof.

L/C Disbursement” means a payment made by an L/C Issuer pursuant to a Letter of Credit.

L/C Issuer” means Bank of America (through itself or through one of its designated Affiliates or branch offices), Citibank, N.A. and up to two (2) additional Lenders approved in writing by the Company and Administrative Agent (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) and consented to by any such Lender, or any successor issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, provided that no Lender may be required to be an L/C Issuer without such Lender’s consent in such Lender’s sole discretion, in their respective capacities as issuers of Letters of Credit hereunder, or any successor issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder. An L/C Issuer may, in its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates of an L/C Issuer, in which case the term “L/C Issuer” shall include any such Affiliate with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate. References to the L/C Issuer herein shall, as the context may indicate (including with respect to any particular Letter of Credit, L/C Credit Extension, L/C Borrowing or L/C Obligations), mean the applicable L/C Issuer, each L/C Issuer, any L/C Issuer, or all L/C Issuers.

L/C Obligations” means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate amount available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all Unreimbursed Amounts, including all L/C Borrowings. For purposes of computing the amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.06. For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the ISP, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” in the amount so remaining available to be drawn. The L/C Obligations of (a) any Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Revolving Percentage of the total L/C Obligations at such time, and (b) any particular L/C Issuer at any time shall mean the L/C Obligations allocable to Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer.

LCA Election” means the Company’s election to treat an acquisition or other specified investment as a Limited Condition Acquisition.

LCA Test Date” has the meaning specified in Section 1.11.

Lender” means each of the Persons identified as a “Lender” on the signature pages hereto, each other Person that becomes a “Lender” in accordance with this Agreement, and their successors and assigns and, unless the context requires otherwise, includes the Swing Line Lender. The term “Lender” shall include any Designated Lender who has funded any Credit Extension.

Lending Office” means, as to the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or any Lender, the office or offices of such Person described as such in such Person’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as such Person may from time to time notify the Company and the Administrative Agent, which office may include any Affiliate of such Person or any domestic or foreign branch of such Person or such Affiliate.

 

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Letter of Credit” means any standby letter of credit (including any Performance Letter of Credit) issued hereunder and shall include the Existing Letters of Credit. Letters of Credit may be issued in Dollars or in an Alternative Currency.

Letter of Credit Application” means an application and agreement for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit in the form from time to time generally in use by any L/C Issuer.

Letter of Credit Expiration Date” means the day that is seven days prior to the Maturity Date then in effect (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day).

Letter of Credit Fee” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(l).

Letter of Credit Report” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit K or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

Letter of Credit Sublimit” means, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $50,000,000 and (b) the Revolving Facility; provided that each L/C Issuer’s Letter of Credit Sublimit shall not exceed its L/C Commitment. The Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Revolving Facility.

LIBOR” has the meaning specified in the definition of Eurocurrency Rate.

LIBOR Quoted Currency” means each of the following currencies: Dollars, Yen and Sterling, in each case so long as there is a published LIBOR rate with respect thereto.

LIBOR Replacement Date” has the meaning specified in Section 3.03(c).

LIBOR Screen Rate” means the LIBOR quote on the applicable screen page the Administrative Agent designates to determine LIBOR (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time).

LIBOR Successor Rate” has the meaning specified in Section 3.03(c).

LIBOR Successor Rate Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any proposed LIBOR Successor Rate, any conforming changes to the definition of Base Rate, Interest Period, timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest and other technical, administrative or operational matters (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the definition of Business Day, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices and length of lookback periods) as may be appropriate, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, to reflect the adoption and implementation of such LIBOR Successor Rate and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent determines that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or that no market practice for the administration of such LIBOR Successor Rate exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent determines is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and any other Loan Document).

Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or otherwise), charge, or preference, priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement in the nature of a security interest of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any easement, right of way or other encumbrance on title to real property, and any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

 

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Limited Condition Acquisition” means (i) any Permitted Acquisition or other Investment permitted hereunder by the Company or one or more of its Material Subsidiaries, including by way of merger, consolidation or amalgamation, for which the Company has obtained or intends to obtain third party financing, or (ii) any redemption, repurchase, defeasance, satisfaction and discharge or repayment of Indebtedness requiring irrevocable notice in advance of such redemption, repurchase, defeasance, satisfaction and discharge or repayment.

Loan” means an extension of credit by a Lender to a Borrower under Article II in the form of a Revolving Loan or a Swing Line Loan.

Loan Documents” means, collectively, (a) this Agreement, (b) each Note, (c) the Guaranties, (d) each Security Instrument, (e) each Loan Notice, (f) each Issuer Document, (g) the Fee Letter, (h) any agreement creating or perfecting rights in Cash Collateral pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.15 of this Agreement, and (i) all other certificates, agreements, documents and instruments executed and delivered, in each case, by or on behalf of any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or any Lender in connection herewith (but specifically excluding any Secured Hedge Agreement, Secured Cash Management Agreement or Secured Trade Document) and any amendments, modifications or supplements thereto or to any other Loan Document or waivers hereof or to any other Loan Document; provided, however, that for purposes of Section 11.01, “Loan Documents” shall mean this Agreement, the Guaranties and the Security Instruments.

Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Borrowing, (b) a conversion of Loans from one Type to another, or (c) a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a), which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A or such other form as may be approved by the Administrative Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent), appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the applicable Borrower.

Loan Parties” means, collectively, each Borrower and each Guarantor.

London Banking Day” means any day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank eurodollar market.

Master Agreement” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Swap Contract”.

Material Adverse Effect” means (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the operations, business, properties, liabilities (actual or contingent) or financial condition of the Company or the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or as to any Material Subsidiary (excluding any Excluded Foreign Subsidiary); (b) a material impairment of the ability of any Loan Party to perform under any Loan Document; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against any Loan Party of any Loan Document.

Material Domestic Subsidiary” means any Domestic Subsidiary that is a Material Subsidiary.

 

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Material Subsidiary” means:

(a) with respect to Domestic Subsidiaries, those Subsidiaries of the Company identified to the Administrative Agent in writing that on an individual basis (calculated on a stand-alone basis, without giving effect to Consolidated Net Sales or consolidated total assets (determined in accordance with GAAP), in each case, attributable to the Subsidiaries of such identified Subsidiary) represent (x) more than three percent (3%) of the Consolidated Net Sales of the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries for the four consecutive fiscal quarters most recently ended for which financial statements have been delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.01 or (y) more than three percent (3%) the consolidated total assets of the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries (determined in accordance with GAAP), as of the end of the fiscal quarter or fiscal year, as applicable, most recently ended for which financial statements have been delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.01; provided that (i) any Domestic Subsidiary that has a Subsidiary that is a Material Subsidiary shall itself constitute a Material Subsidiary, and (ii) in the event that the Domestic Subsidiaries that are Material Subsidiaries (after giving effect to clause (i) of this proviso and any other designation pursuant to this clause (ii) of this proviso, but excluding any Receivables Financing Subsidiary which is a Domestic Subsidiary), when combined with the Company (on a standalone basis), at any time represent less than ninety percent (90%) of (x) the Consolidated Net Sales of the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries (calculated solely for the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries, but excluding any Receivables Financing Subsidiary which is a Domestic Subsidiary) for the four consecutive fiscal quarters most recently ended for which financial statements have been delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.01 or (y) the consolidated total assets (determined in accordance with GAAP) of the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries (excluding any Receivables Financing Subsidiary which is a Domestic Subsidiary for this calculation) as of the end of the fiscal quarter or fiscal year, as applicable, most recently ended for which financial statements have been delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.01, the Company shall designate additional Domestic Subsidiaries as Material Subsidiaries in accordance with Section 2.17 so that the thresholds in this proviso shall have been satisfied; and

(b) with respect to Foreign Subsidiaries, the Foreign Borrower, and any other Foreign Subsidiary identified to the Administrative Agent in writing that on an individual basis (calculated on a stand-alone basis, without giving effect to Consolidated Net Sales or consolidated total assets (determined in accordance with GAAP), in each case, attributable to the Subsidiaries of such identified Subsidiary) represent (x) more than three percent (3%) of the Consolidated Net Sales of the Company and its Foreign Subsidiaries for the four consecutive fiscal quarters most recently ended for which financial statements have been delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.01 or (y) more than three percent (3%) of the consolidated total assets of the Company and its Foreign Subsidiaries (determined in accordance with GAAP) as of the end of the fiscal quarter or fiscal year, as applicable, most recently ended for which financial statements have been delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.01; provided that any Foreign Subsidiary that has a Subsidiary that is a Material Subsidiary shall itself constitute a Material Subsidiary.

Maturity Date” means the earliest of (a) March 31, 2026, (b) the date of termination of the Revolving Facility pursuant to Section 2.06, and (iii) the date of termination of the commitment of each Revolving Lender to make Revolving Loans and of the obligation of any L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions pursuant to Section 8.02; provided, however, that in each case, if such date is not a Business Day, the Maturity Date shall be the next preceding Business Day.

Minimum Collateral Amount” means, at any time, (i) with respect to Cash Collateral consisting of cash or deposit account balances provided to reduce or eliminate Fronting Exposure during the existence of a Defaulting Lender, an amount equal to 100% of the Fronting Exposure of any L/C Issuer with respect to Letters of Credit issued and outstanding at such time, (ii) with respect to Cash Collateral consisting of cash or deposit account balances provided in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.15(a)(i), (a)(ii) or (a)(iii), an amount equal to 100% of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, and (iii) otherwise, an amount determined by the Administrative Agent and the applicable L/C Issuer in their sole discretion (but in no event to exceed 100% of the outstanding amount of the L/C Obligations being Cash Collateralized).

 

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Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.

Multiemployer Plan” means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the preceding five (5) plan years, has made or been obligated to make contributions.

Multiple Employer Plan” means a Plan which has two or more contributing sponsors (including the Company or any ERISA Affiliate) at least two of whom are not under common control, as such a plan is described in Section 4064 of ERISA.

Net Proceeds” means the aggregate cash proceeds received by any Person in respect of a sale or other disposition of property by such Person (including, without limitation, any cash received upon the sale or other disposition of any non-cash consideration received in any such disposition), net of direct costs relating to such disposition, including, without limitation, legal accounting and investment banking fees, and sales commissions as a result thereof, taxes paid or payable as a result thereof, in each case, after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions or tax sharing arrangements with respect to such disposition, and amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness or other liabilities, secured by a Lien on the property or properties that were the subject of such disposition, or required to be paid as a result of such disposition, and any reserve for adjustment in respect of the sale price of such property or properties established in accordance with GAAP.

New Lenders” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(d).

New Markets Tax Credit Transactions” means collectively, (a) the New Markets Tax Credit Program (the “NMTCP”) enacted under the Community Renewal Tax Relief Act of 2000 and incorporated as Section 45D of the Code, as amended, and more specifically (subject to clause (y) in the last sentence of the definition hereof), the NMTCP utilized by the Loan Parties and CMC Steel Oklahoma in the development of its steel micro-mill facility in Durant, Oklahoma (the “Oklahoma Manufacturing Facility”) and (b) the “New Markets Tax Credit Agreements” which means, collectively, (i) the Loan Agreements under the NMTCP between CMC Steel Oklahoma and the NMTCP lenders party thereto providing funding for the development of the Oklahoma Manufacturing Facility, including, without limitation, the loans from (a) REI Subsidiary CDE 6, LLC, an Oklahoma limited liability company, in the principal amount of $14,550,000, (b) USBCDE Sub-CDE 143, LLC, a Missouri limited liability company, in the principal amount of $4,500,000, (c) MRC XVI, LLC, an Iowa limited liability company, in the principal amount of $11,000,000 and (d) NNMF Sub-CDE XXX LLC, a California limited liability company, in the principal amount of $20,685,000; and (ii) any and all ancillary agreements associated with, or referenced in, the New Markets Tax Credit Transactions. New Markets Tax Credit Transactions shall also mean and include (x) additional tranches under the NMTCP related to the Oklahoma Manufacturing Facility, which terms are substantially the same as the New Markets Tax Credit Agreements and ancillary agreements associated therewith entered into as of December 24, 2015 and (y) irrespective of facility or location, additional tranches under the NMTCP and ancillary agreements associated therewith, which terms are substantially similar in nature to New Markets Tax Credit Agreements.

NMTCP” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “New Markets Tax Credit Transactions”.

 

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Non-Consenting Lender” means any Lender that does not approve any consent, waiver or amendment that (a) requires the approval of all Lenders or all affected Lenders in accordance with the terms of Section 11.01 and (b) has been approved by the Required Lenders.

Non-Defaulting Lender” means, at any time, each Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender at such time.

Non-Extension Notice Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(b)(ii).

Non-LIBOR Quoted Currency” means any currency other than a LIBOR Quoted Currency.

Non-Performance Letter of Credit” means any standby Letter of Credit which is not a Performance Letter of Credit.

Note” means a Revolving Note.

Notice of Loan Prepayment” means a notice of prepayment with respect to a Loan, which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit J or such other form as may be approved by the Administrative Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent), appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer.

Obligations” means (a) all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Loan Party or any Affiliate of a Loan Party arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan or Letter of Credit, and (b) all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement and collection of the foregoing, including the fees, charges and disbursement of counsel (to the extent required to be paid by the Loan Parties under Section 11.04(a) of this Agreement), in each case whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest, expenses and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest, expenses and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding; provided that, without limiting the foregoing, the Obligations of a Loan Party shall exclude any Excluded Swap Obligations with respect to such Loan Party.

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

Oklahoma Manufacturing Facility” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “New Markets Tax Credit Transactions”.

Organization Documents” means, (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement or limited liability company agreement (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction) and (d) with respect to all entities, any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction) and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.

 

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Other Connection Taxes” means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan, Letter of Credit or Loan Document).

Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 3.06).

Outstanding Amount” means (a) with respect to Revolving Loans and Swing Line Loans on any date, the Dollar Equivalent amount of the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any Borrowings and prepayments or repayments of such Revolving Loans or Swing Line Loans, as the case may be, occurring on such date; and (b) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date, the Dollar Equivalent amount of the aggregate outstanding amount of such L/C Obligations on such date after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension occurring on such date and any other changes in the aggregate amount of the L/C Obligations as of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements by the Company of Unreimbursed Amounts.

Overnight Rate” means, for any day, (a) with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, the greater of (i) the Federal Funds Rate and (ii) an overnight rate determined by the Administrative Agent, the applicable L/C Issuer, or the Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, in accordance with usual and customary banking industry rules on interbank compensation; and (b) with respect to any amount denominated in an Alternative Currency, an overnight rate determined by the Administrative Agent, the applicable L/C Issuer, or the Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

Participant” has the meaning specified in Section 11.06(d).

Participant Register” has the meaning specified in Section 11.06(d).

Participating Member State” means any member state of the European Union that adopts or has adopted the Euro as its lawful currency in accordance with legislation of the European Union relating to Economic and Monetary Union.

PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

Pension Funding Rules” means the rules of the Code and ERISA regarding minimum funding standards with respect to Pension Plans and set forth in Sections 412, 430, 431, 432 and 436 of the Code and Sections 302, 303, 304 and 305 of ERISA.

Pension Plan” means any employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiple Employer Plan or a Multiemployer Plan) that is maintained or is contributed to by the Company and any ERISA Affiliate or with respect to which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate has any liability and is either covered by Title IV of ERISA or is subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Code.

 

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Performance Letter of Credit” means any standby Letter of Credit issued to support contractual obligations for supply, service or construction contracts, including bid, performance, advance payment, warranty, retention, availability and defects liability obligations.

Permitted Acquisition” means any non-hostile acquisition by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the form of an acquisition of any Person or all or substantially all of the business or a line of business of any Person (whether by the acquisition of all of the Equity Interests of such Person, all or substantially all assets of such Person or any combination thereof) if such acquisition meets all of the following requirements:

(a) the Person or business to be acquired, upon its acquisition, shall be (or be a part of) a Subsidiary in a line of business permitted under Section 7.06 and if such Person is a Domestic Subsidiary that is a Material Subsidiary, such Person shall comply with Section 6.14(b) within the timeframe provided therein;

(b) if such transaction is a merger or consolidation such transaction shall comply with Section 7.04;

(c) if the aggregate consideration for such acquisition exceeds $50,000,000, evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent of compliance on a pro forma basis (both immediately prior to consummation of such acquisition and immediately after giving effect thereto and any Indebtedness incurred, assumed and/or repaid in connection therewith) with Sections 7.10 and 7.11; and

(d) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing both immediately before and immediately after giving effect to such acquisition and any Indebtedness incurred or assumed in connection therewith.

Permitted Liens” has the meaning specified in Section 7.01.

Permitted Receivables Financing” means any transaction or series of transactions that may be entered into by the Company or any Subsidiary pursuant to which it sells, conveys or contributes to capital or otherwise transfers (which sale, conveyance, contribution to capital or transfer may include or be supported by the grant of a security interest in) Receivables or interests therein and all collateral securing such Receivables, all contracts and contract rights, purchase orders, security interests, financing statements or other documentation in respect of such Receivables, any guarantees, indemnities, warranties or other obligations in respect of such Receivables, any other assets that are customarily transferred or in respect of which security interests are customarily granted in connection with asset securitization transactions involving receivables similar to such Receivables and any collections or proceeds of any of the foregoing and any deposit account or securities account into which collections in respect of the foregoing may be deposited (collectively, the “Related Assets”), all of which such sales, conveyances, contributions to capital or transfers shall be made by the transferor for fair value as reasonably determined by the Company (calculated in a manner typical for such transactions including a fair market discount from the face value of such Receivables) (a) to a trust, partnership, corporation or other Person (other than the Company or any Subsidiary (other than any Receivables Financing Subsidiary)), which transfer is funded in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, by the incurrence or issuance by the transferee or any successor transferee of Indebtedness, fractional undivided interests or other securities that are to receive payments from, or that represent interests in, the cash flow derived from such Receivables and Related Assets or interests in such Receivables and Related Assets, or (b) directly to one or more investors or other purchasers (other than any Borrower or any Subsidiary), it being understood that a Permitted Receivables Financing may involve (i) one or more sequential transfers or pledges of the same Receivables and Related Assets, or interests

 

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therein (such as a sale, conveyance or other transfer to any Receivables Financing Subsidiary followed by a pledge of the transferred Receivables and Related Assets to secure Indebtedness incurred by the Receivables Financing Subsidiary), and all such transfers, pledges and Indebtedness incurrences shall be part of and constitute a single Permitted Receivables Financing, and (ii) periodic transfers or pledges of Receivables and/or revolving transactions in which new Receivables and Related Assets, or interests therein, are transferred or pledged upon collection of previously transferred or pledged Receivables and Related Assets, or interests therein, provided that any such transactions shall provide for recourse to any Subsidiary (other than any Receivables Financing Subsidiary) or any Borrower (as applicable) only in respect of the cash flows in respect of such Receivables and Related Assets and to the extent of breaches of representations and warranties relating to the Receivables, dilution of the Receivables, customary indemnities and other customary securitization undertakings in the jurisdiction relevant to such transactions.

The “amount” or “principal amount” of any Permitted Receivables Financing shall be deemed at any time to be (1) the aggregate principal or stated amount of the Indebtedness, fractional undivided interests (which stated amount may be described as a “net investment” or similar term reflecting the amount invested in such undivided interest) or other securities incurred or issued pursuant to such Permitted Receivables Financing, in each case outstanding at such time, or (2) in the case of any Permitted Receivables Financing in respect of which no such Indebtedness, fractional undivided interests or securities are incurred or issued, the cash purchase price paid by the buyer (other than any Receivables Financing Subsidiary) in connection with its purchase of Receivables less the amount of collections received by the Company or any Subsidiary in respect of such Receivables and paid to such buyer, excluding any amounts applied to purchase fees or discount or in the nature of interest.

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

Plan” means any employee benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA (including a Pension Plan, but excluding a Multiple Employer Plan or Multiemployer Plan), maintained for employees of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate or any such Plan to which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate is required to contribute on behalf of any of its employees.

Platform” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

Pre-Adjustment Successor Rate” has the meaning specified in Section 3.03(c).

Public Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

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

QFC Credit Support” has the meaning specified in Section 11.28.

Qualified ECP Guarantor” means, at any time, each Loan Party with total assets exceeding $10,000,000 or that qualifies at such time as an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act and can cause another Person to qualify as an “eligible contract participant” at such time under Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

Qualified Equity Interests” means any Equity Interests other than Redeemable Stock.

 

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Rate Determination Date” means two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period (or such other day as is generally treated as the rate fixing day by market practice in such interbank market, as determined by the Administrative Agent; provided that to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, then “Rate Determination Date” means such other day as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent).

Rating Agency” means each of S&P, Moody’s and Fitch.

Receivables” means accounts receivable (including all rights to payment created by or arising from the sale of goods, lease of goods or the rendition of services, no matter how evidenced (including in the form of a chattel paper)).

Receivables Facility Attributed Indebtedness” means the amount of obligations outstanding under a receivables purchase facility on any date of determination that would be characterized as principal if such facility were structured as a secured lending transaction rather than as a purchase transaction.

Receivables Financing Subsidiary” means CMC Receivables, Inc. and any other Subsidiary of the Company which is the transferee of Receivables in connection with, and the borrower under, a Permitted Receivables Financing.

Recipient” means the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party hereunder.

Redeemable Stock” means any Equity Interests of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which prior to June 30, 2026 by its terms (or by the terms of any security or other Equity Interests into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable at the option of the holder thereof), or upon the happening of any event or condition (a) matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests), pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise (except as a result of a change of control or asset sale so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale event shall be subject to the prior repayment in full of the Loans and all other Obligations that are accrued and payable and the termination of the Commitments and the termination of all outstanding Letters of Credit), (b) is redeemable (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests) or is required to be repurchased by such Person or any of its Affiliates at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, (c) provides for the scheduled payments of dividends in cash, or (d) is or becomes convertible into or exchangeable for Indebtedness or any other Equity Interests that would constitute Redeemable Stock; provided that if such Equity Interests are issued pursuant to a plan for the benefit of employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Equity Interests shall not constitute Redeemable Stock solely because such Equity Interests may be required to be repurchased by the Company or its Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s termination, death or disability.

Refinancing Indebtedness” means with respect to any particular outstanding Indebtedness (the “Refinanced Indebtedness”) any Indebtedness the proceeds of which are used to refinance, refund, renew or extend such Refinanced Indebtedness; provided that (i) the amount of such refinancing, refunding, renewing or extending Indebtedness does not exceed the outstanding amount of the Refinanced Indebtedness except by an amount equal to a reasonable premium or other reasonable amount paid, and reasonable fees and expenses incurred, in connection with such refinancing and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder, (ii) the final maturity date and weighted average life thereof shall not be prior to or shorter than that of the Refinanced Indebtedness, (iii) the terms relating to principal amount, amortization, maturity, collateral (if any) and subordination (if any), and other material terms taken as a whole, of any such refinancing, refunding, renewing or extending Indebtedness, and of any agreement entered into and of any instrument issued in connection therewith, are no less favorable in any material respect to the Loan Parties or the Lenders than the terms of any agreement or instrument governing the

 

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Refinanced Indebtedness and the interest rate applicable to any such refinancing, refunding, renewing or extending Indebtedness does not exceed the interest rates then prevailing in the applicable market for similar Indebtedness for Persons of similar credit quality and (iv) such refinancing, refunding, renewing or extending Indebtedness shall not constitute an obligation of any Subsidiary that shall not have been an obligor in respect of such Refinanced Indebtedness, and shall not constitute an obligation of the Company if the Company shall not have been an obligor in respect of such Refinanced Indebtedness and, in each case, shall constitute an obligation of such Subsidiary or of the Company only to the extent of their obligations in respect of such Refinanced Indebtedness.

Register” has the meaning specified in Section 11.06(c).

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

Related Adjustment” means, in determining any LIBOR Successor Rate, the first relevant available alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Administrative Agent applicable to such LIBOR Successor Rate:

(A) the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for the relevant Pre-Adjustment Successor Rate (taking into account the interest period, interest payment date or payment period for interest calculated and/or tenor thereto) and which adjustment or method (x) is published on an information service as selected by the Administrative Agent from time to time in its reasonable discretion or (y) solely with respect to Term SOFR, if not currently published, which was previously so recommended for Term SOFR and published on an information service acceptable to the Administrative Agent; or

(B) the spread adjustment that would apply (or has previously been applied) to the fallback rate for a derivative transaction referencing the ISDA Definitions (taking into account the interest period, interest payment date or payment period for interest calculated and/or tenor thereto).

Related Assets” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Permitted Receivables Financing”.

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

Release” means any release, spill, emission, discharge, deposit, disposal, leaking, pumping, pouring, dumping, emptying, injection or leaching into the Environment, or into, from or through any building, structure or facility.

Relevant Governmental Body” means the Federal Reserve Board and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Removal Effective Date” has the meaning specified in Section 9.06(b).

Rentals” means and includes as of the date of any determination thereof all fixed payments (including as such all payments which the lessee is obligated to make to the lessor on termination of the lease or surrender of the property) payable by the Company or a Material Subsidiary, as lessee or sublessee under a lease of real or personal property, but shall be exclusive of any amounts required to be paid by the Company or a Material Subsidiary (whether or not designated as rents or additional rents) on account of maintenance, repairs, insurance, taxes and similar charges. Fixed rents under any so-calledpercentage leases” shall be computed solely on the basis of the minimum rents, if any, required to be paid by the lessee regardless of sales volume or gross revenues.

 

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Reportable Event” means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than events for which the thirty (30) day notice period has been waived.

Request for Credit Extension” means (a) with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Revolving Loans, a Loan Notice, (b) with respect to an L/C Credit Extension, a Letter of Credit Application, and (c) with respect to a Swing Line Loan, a Swing Line Loan Notice.

Required Lenders” means, at any time, Lenders having Total Credit Exposures representing more than 50% of the Total Credit Exposures of all Lenders. The Total Credit Exposure of any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining Required Lenders at any time; provided that, the amount of any participation in any Swing Line Loan and Unreimbursed Amounts that such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund that have not been reallocated to and funded by another Lender shall be deemed to be held by the Lender that is the Swing Line Lender or an L/C Issuer, as the case may be, making such determination.

Required Revolving Lenders” means, at any time, Revolving Lenders having Revolving Exposures representing more than 50% of the Total Revolving Exposure of all Revolving Lenders. The Revolving Exposure of any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining Required Revolving Lenders at any time; provided that, the amount of any participation in Swing Line Loans and Unreimbursed Amounts that such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund that have not been reallocated to and funded by another Revolving Lender shall be deemed to be held by the Revolving Lender or an L/C Issuer, as the case may be, making such determination.

Rescindable Amount” has the meaning as defined in Section 2.12(b)(ii).

Resignation Effective Date” has the meaning specified in Section 9.06(a).

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

Responsible Officer” means the chief executive officer, chief operating officer, president, chief financial officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer or controller of a Loan Party, solely for purposes of the delivery of incumbency certificates pursuant to Section 4.01, the secretary or any assistant secretary of a Loan Party and, solely for purposes of notices given pursuant to Article II, any other officer of the applicable Loan Party so designated by any of the foregoing officers in a notice to the Administrative Agent or any other officer or employee of the applicable Loan Party designated in or pursuant to an agreement between the applicable Loan Party and the Administrative Agent. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Loan Party and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Loan Party. To the extent requested by the Administrative Agent, each Responsible Officer will provide an incumbency certificate and to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent, appropriate authorization documentation, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

Restricted Payment” means (a) any dividend or other distribution, direct or indirect, on account of any shares (or equivalent) of any class of Equity Interests of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, now or hereafter outstanding, (b) any redemption, retirement, sinking fund or similar payment, purchase or other acquisition for value, direct or indirect, of any shares (or equivalent) of any class of Equity Interests of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, now or hereafter outstanding, and (c) any payment made to retire, or to obtain the surrender of, any outstanding warrants, options or other rights to acquire shares of any class of Equity Interests of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, now or hereafter outstanding.

 

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Revaluation Date” means (a) with respect to any Loan, each of the following: (i) each date of a Borrowing of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in an Alternative Currency or a Foreign Swing Line Loan, (ii) each date of a continuation of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in an Alternative Currency pursuant to Section 2.02, and (iii) such additional dates as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably determine or the Swing Line Lender or Required Lenders shall reasonably require; and (b) with respect to any Letter of Credit, each of the following: (i) each date of issuance, amendment and/or extension of a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, (ii) each date of any payment by the applicable L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, (iii) in the case of all Existing Letters of Credit denominated in Alternative Currencies, the Closing Date, and (iv) such additional dates as the Administrative Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer shall determine or the Required Lenders shall require.

Revolving Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Revolving Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Revolving Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01(a).

Revolving Commitment” means, as to each Revolving Lender, its obligation to (a) make Revolving Loans to the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.01(a), (b) purchase participations in L/C Obligations, and (c) purchase participations in Swing Line Loans, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the Dollar amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 under the caption “Revolving Commitment”, or opposite such caption in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement. The Revolving Commitment of all of the Revolving Lenders on the Closing Date is $400,000,000.

Revolving Exposure” means, as to any Lender at any time, the aggregate principal amount at such time of its outstanding Revolving Loans and such Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans at such time.

Revolving Facility” means, at any time, the aggregate amount of the Revolving Lenders’ Revolving Commitments at such time.

Revolving Lender” means, at any time, (a) so long as any Revolving Commitment is in effect, any Lender that has a Revolving Commitment at such time or (b) if the Revolving Commitments have terminated or expired, any Lender that has a Revolving Loan or a participation in L/C Obligations or Swing Line Loans at such time.

Revolving Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(a).

Revolving Note” means (i) a promissory note made by the Company in favor of a Revolving Lender evidencing Revolving Loans or Swing Line Loans, as the case may be, made by such Revolving Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit C-1 and (ii) a promissory note made by the Foreign Borrower in favor of a Revolving Lender evidencing Revolving Loans or Swing Line Loans, as the case may be, made by such Revolving Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit C-2.

S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, a subsidiary of S&P Global Inc., and any successor thereto.

 

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Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means, with respect to any Loan Party or any Subsidiary, any arrangement, directly or indirectly, with any Person whereby such Loan Party or such Subsidiary shall sell or transfer any fixed or capital asset used or useful in its business, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and substantially contemporaneously rent or lease from the transferee such fixed or capital asset or other fixed or capital asset that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property being sold or transferred.

Same Day Funds” means (a) with respect to disbursements and payments in Dollars, immediately available funds, and (b) with respect to disbursements and payments in an Alternative Currency, same day or other funds as may be determined by the Administrative Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to be customary in the place of disbursement or payment for the settlement of international banking transactions in the relevant Alternative Currency.

Sanction(s)” means any international economic sanction administered or enforced by the United States Government (including, without limitation, OFAC), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury (“HMT”) or other relevant Governmental Authority.

Scheduled Unavailability Date” has the meaning specified in Section 3.03(c)(ii).

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

Secured Cash Management Agreement” means any Cash Management Agreement that is entered into at any time by and between any Loan Party (or any Affiliate of a Loan Party) and any Cash Management Bank.

Secured Hedge Agreement” means any interest rate, currency, foreign exchange, or commodity Swap Contract not prohibited under Article VI or VII that is entered into at any time by and between any Loan Party (or any Affiliate of a Loan Party) and any Hedge Bank.

Secured Obligations” means all Obligations and all Additional Secured Obligations.

Secured Parties” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Designated Lenders, the Hedge Banks, the Cash Management Banks, Trade Banks, each L/C Issuer, the Indemnitees, each co-agent or sub-agent appointed by the Administrative Agent from time to time pursuant to Section 9.05, and the other Person the Secured Obligations owing to which are or are purported to be secured by the Collateral under the terms of the Security Instruments.

Secured Party Designation Notice” means a notice from any Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender substantially in the form of Exhibit I.

Secured Trade Documents” means any Trade Document entered into at any time by and between any Loan Party (or any Affiliate of a Loan Party) and any Trade Bank.

Security Agreement” means that certain Amended and Restated Security Agreement dated as of the date hereof by the Company and the Domestic Guarantors in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, substantially in the form of Exhibit G.

Security Instruments” means, collectively, the Security Agreement and all other agreements (including joinder agreements, control agreements (if any), supplements, collateral assignments and similar agreements), instruments and other documents, whether now existing or hereafter in effect, pursuant to which the Company, any Subsidiary or other Person shall grant or convey to the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) a Lien in, or any other Person shall acknowledge any such Lien in, property as security for all or any portion of the Secured Obligations or any other obligation under any Loan Document.

 

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SOFR” with respect to any Business Day means the secured overnight financing rate published for such day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, as the administrator of the benchmark (or a successor administrator) on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s website (or any successor source) at approximately 8:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the immediately succeeding Business Day and, in each case, that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body.

Solvency Certificate” means a solvency certificate in substantially in the form of Exhibit L.

Solvent” and “Solvency” mean, with respect to any Person on any date of determination, that on such date (a) the fair value of the assets of such Person is greater than the total amount of liabilities, including contingent liabilities, of such Person, (b) the present fair saleable value of the assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured, (c) such Person does not intend to, and does not reasonably believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Person’s ability to pay such debts and liabilities as they mature, (d) such Person is not engaged in business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in business or a transaction, for which such Person’s property would constitute an unreasonably small capital, and (e) such Person is able to pay its debts and liabilities, contingent obligations and other commitments as they mature in the ordinary course of business. The amount of contingent liabilities at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in the light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability discounted to present value at rates believed to be reasonable by such Person acting in good faith.

Special Notice Currency” means at any time an Alternative Currency, other than the currency of a country that is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development at such time located in North America or Europe.

Specified Loan Party” means any Loan Party that is not then an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act (determined prior to giving effect to Section 11.25).

Spot Rate” for a currency means the rate determined by the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender with notice thereof to the Administrative Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer with notice thereof to the Administrative Agent to be the rate quoted by the Person acting in such capacity as the spot rate for the purchase by such Person of such currency with another currency through its principal foreign exchange trading office at approximately 11:00 a.m. on the date two Business Days prior to the date as of which the foreign exchange computation is made; provided that the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender or the applicable L/C Issuer may obtain such spot rate from another financial institution designated by the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender or such L/C Issuer if the Person acting in such capacity does not have as of the date of determination a spot buying rate for any such currency; and provided further that the Swing Line Lender or the applicable L/C Issuer may use such spot rate quoted on the date as of which the foreign exchange computation is made in case of any Swing Line Loan or Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency.

Sterling” and “£” mean the lawful currency of the United Kingdom.

 

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Subsidiary” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the Equity Interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than Equity Interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are at the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Company.

Successor Foreign Borrower” means a Luxembourg entity that irrevocably and unconditionally assumes all of CMC International Finance S.à r.l.’s obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents in accordance with Section 2.19.

Supported QFC” has the meaning specified in Section 11.28.

Swap Contract” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.

Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Guarantor, any obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of Section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

Swap Termination Value” means, in respect of any one or more Swap Contracts, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Swap Contracts, (a) for any date on or after the date such Swap Contracts have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market value(s) for such Swap Contracts, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Swap Contracts (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).

Swing Line Borrowing” means a borrowing of a Swing Line Loan pursuant to Section 2.04.

Swing Line Commitment” means, as to any Lender (a) the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 hereof or (b) if such Lender has entered into an Assignment and Assumption or has otherwise assumed a Swing Line Commitment after the Closing Date, the amount set forth for such Lender as its Swing Line Commitment in the Register maintained by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 11.06(c).

Swing Line Lender” means Bank of America, through itself or through one of its designated Affiliates or branch offices in its capacity as provider of Swing Line Loans, or any successor swing line lender hereunder.

Swing Line Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(a).

 

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Swing Line Loan Notice” means a notice of a Swing Line Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.04(b), which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit B or such other form as approved by the Administrative Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent), appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the applicable Borrower.

Swing Line Sublimit” means the total of the Domestic Swing Line Sublimit and the Foreign Swing Line Sublimit. The Swing Line Sublimit is part of and not in addition to the Revolving Facility.

Synthetic Lease Obligation” means the monetary obligation of a Person under (a) a so-called synthetic, off-balance sheet or tax retention lease, or (b) an agreement for the use or possession of property (including Sale and Leaseback Transactions), in each case creating obligations that do not appear on the balance sheet of such Person but which, upon the application of any Debtor Relief Laws to such Person, would be characterized as the indebtedness of such Person (without regard to accounting treatment).

TARGET2” means the Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross Settlement Express Transfer payment system which utilizes a single shared platform and which was launched on November 19, 2007.

TARGET Day” means any day on which TARGET2 (or, if such payment system ceases to be operative, such other payment system, if any, determined by the Administrative Agent to be a suitable replacement) is open for the settlement of payments in Euro.

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

Term SOFR” means the forward-looking term rate for any period that is approximately (as determined by the Administrative Agent) as long as any of the Interest Period options set forth in the definition of “Interest Period” and that is based on SOFR and that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body, in each case as published on an information service as selected by the Administrative Agent from time to time in its reasonable discretion.

Total Capitalization” means, as of any date of determination, for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the sum of (a) Consolidated Net Worth as of such date and (b) Consolidated Funded Debt as of such date.

Total Credit Exposure” means, as to any Lender at any time, the unused Commitments and Revolving Exposure of such Lender at such time.

Total Revolving Exposure” means, as to any Revolving Lender at any time, the unused Commitments and Revolving Exposure of such Revolving Lender at such time.

Total Revolving Outstandings” means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Revolving Loans, Swing Line Loans and L/C Obligations.

Trade Bank” means any Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender who prior to or on or after the Closing Date issued Trade Documents; even if such Person ceases to be a Lender or such Person’s Affiliate ceased to be a Lender; provided in the case of a Trade Document issued by a Person who is no longer a Lender (or Affiliate of a Lender), (x) such Person shall be considered a Trade Bank only through the stated termination or expiration date (without extension or renewal) of such Trade Document, and (y) only such obligations, if any, under such Trade Document as are owed to such Person at the time such Person ceases to be a Lender

 

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shall be deemed to be secured by the Collateral hereunder following such time, and provided further that for any of the foregoing to be included as a “Secured Trade Document” on any date of determination by the Administrative Agent, the applicable Trade Bank (other than the Administrative Agent or an Affiliate of the Administrative Agent) must have delivered a Secured Party Designation Notice to the Administrative Agent prior to such date of determination.

Trade Date” has the meaning specified in Section 11.06(b)(i)(B).

Trade Documents” means any commercial letters of credit, trade letters of credit, documentary letters of credit (excluding Letters of Credit issued hereunder), bankers’ acceptances, bank guarantees, standby letters of credit, supply chain finance and other trade related products (and any applications, agreements and documents related thereto) issued by any Trade Bank for the account or benefit of the Company or any direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company for use in the Company’s or such wholly-owned Subsidiary’s trading business.

Type” means, with respect to a Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a Eurocurrency Rate Loan.

UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of Texas; provided that, if perfection or the effect of perfection or non-perfection or the priority of any security interest in any Collateral is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in a jurisdiction other than the State of Texas, “UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in such other jurisdiction for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such perfection, effect of perfection or non-perfection or priority.

UCP” means the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 600 (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the applicable time).

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

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

United Kingdom” means the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

United States” and “U.S.” mean the United States of America.

Unreimbursed Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(f).

U.S. Person” means any Person that is a “United States Person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

U.S. Special Resolution Regimes” has the meaning specified in Section 11.28.

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(f)(ii)(B)(III).

 

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Voting Shares” of any Person means any class or classes of Equity Interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body of such Person, other than Equity Interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency.

Withholding Agent” means the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent.

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

Yen” means the lawful currency of Japan.

1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions. With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:

(a) The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.” The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.” Unless the context requires otherwise, (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document (including the Loan Documents and any Organization Document) shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, amended and restated, modified, extended, restated, replaced or supplemented from time to time (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein or in any other Loan Document), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (iii) the words “hereto,” “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document, shall be construed to refer to such Loan Document in its entirety and not to any particular provision thereof, (iv) all references in a Loan Document to Articles, Sections, Preliminary Statements, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Preliminary Statements, Exhibits and Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory rules, regulations, orders and provisions consolidating, amending, replacing or interpreting such law and any reference to any law, rule or regulation shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law, rule or regulation as amended, modified, extended, restated, replaced or supplemented from time to time, and (vi) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights. Any and all references to “Borrower” regardless of whether preceded by the term a, any, each of, all, and/or, or any other similar term shall be deemed to refer, as the context requires, to each and every (and/or any one or all) parties constituting a Borrower, individually and/or in the aggregate.

(b) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including;” the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding;” and the word “through” means “to and including.”

 

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(c) Section and Article headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

(d) Any reference herein to a merger, transfer, consolidation, amalgamation, assignment, sale, disposition or transfer, or similar term, shall be deemed to apply to a division of or by a limited liability company, or an allocation of assets to a series of a limited liability company (or the unwinding of such a division or allocation), as if it were a merger, transfer, consolidation, amalgamation, assignment, sale, disposition or transfer, or similar term, as applicable, to, of or with a separate Person. Any division of a limited liability company shall constitute a separate Person hereunder (and each division of any limited liability company that is a Subsidiary, joint venture or any other like term shall also constitute such a Person or entity).

(e) In this Credit Agreement and any other Loan Documents, where it relates to an entity established or incorporated in Luxembourg, a reference to:

(i) a moratorium, winding up, administration or dissolution includes, without limitation, any procedure or proceeding in relation to an entity becoming bankrupt (faillite), insolvency, voluntary or judicial liquidation, composition with creditors (concordat préventif de la faillite), moratorium or reprieve from payment (sursis de paiement), controlled management (gestion contrôlée), general settlement with creditors, reorganisation or any other similar proceedings affecting the rights of creditors generally under Luxembourg law, and shall be construed so as to include any equivalent or analogous liquidation or reorganisation proceedings;

(ii) security or a security interest includes, without limitation, any hypothèque, nantissement, gage, privilège, accord de transfert de propriété à titre de garantie, gage sur fonds de commerce, droit de retention or sûreté réelle whatsoever whether granted or arising by operation of law;

(iii) a custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official includes, without limitation, a juge délégué, commissaire, juge-commissaire, liquidateur or curateur or any other person performing the same function of each of the foregoing;

(iv) a Person being unable to pay its debts includes, without limitation, that Person being in a state of cessation of payments (cessation de paiements);

(v) an attachment includes a saisie;

(vi) Organization Documents includes its up-to-date (consolidated) articles of association (statuts); and

(vii) a director, officer or manager includes a gérant or an administrateur.

1.03 Accounting Terms.

(a) Generally. All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP applied on a consistent basis, as in effect from time to time, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the Audited Financial Statements, except (i) for changes in the method of inventory

 

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accounting prepared in conformity with GAAP and (ii) as otherwise specifically prescribed herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance with any covenant (including the computation of any financial covenant) contained herein, (i) Indebtedness of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and the effects of FASB ASC 825 on financial liabilities shall be disregarded, and (ii) all terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made, without giving effect to any election under FASB ASC Topic 825 “Financial Instruments” (or any other financial accounting standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary at “fair value”, as defined therein. For purposes of determining the amount of any outstanding Indebtedness, no effect shall be given to (x) any election by the Company to measure an item of Indebtedness using fair value (as permitted by Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 825–10–25 (formerly known as FASB 159) or any similar accounting standard) or (y) any change in accounting for leases pursuant to GAAP resulting from the implementation of Financial Accounting Standards Board ASU No. 2016–02, Leases (Topic 842), to the extent such adoption would require recognition of a lease liability where such lease (or similar arrangement) would not have required a lease liability under GAAP as in effect on December 31, 2015.

(b) Changes in GAAP. If at any time any change in GAAP (including the adoption of IFRS) would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either the Company or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Company shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided that, until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Company shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP. Without limiting the foregoing, leases shall continue to be classified and accounted for on a basis consistent with that reflected in the Audited Financial Statements dated August 31, 2019 for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any change in GAAP related thereto.

(c) Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities. All references herein to consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries or to the determination of any amount for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis or any similar reference shall, in each case, be deemed to include each variable interest entity that the Company is required to consolidate pursuant to FASB ASC 810 as if such variable interest entity were a Subsidiary as defined herein.

1.04 Rounding. Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Company or any Subsidiary pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).

1.05 Times of Day. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Central time (daylight or standard, as applicable).

1.06 Letter of Credit Amounts.

Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the Dollar Equivalent of the stated amount of such Letter of Credit in effect at such time; provided, however, that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any Issuer Document related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the Dollar Equivalent of the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at such time.

 

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1.07 UCC Terms.

Terms defined in the UCC in effect on the Closing Date and not otherwise defined herein shall, unless the context otherwise indicates, have the meanings provided by those definitions. Subject to the foregoing, the term “UCC” refers, as of any date of determination, to the UCC then in effect.

1.08 Exchange Rates; Currency Equivalents.

(a) The Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender or the applicable L/C Issuer, as applicable, shall determine the Dollar Equivalent amounts of Credit Extensions and Outstanding Amounts denominated in Alternative Currencies. Such Dollar Equivalent shall become effective as of such Revaluation Date and shall be the Dollar Equivalent of such amounts until the next Revaluation Date to occur. Except for purposes of financial statements delivered by Loan Parties hereunder or calculating financial covenants hereunder or except as otherwise provided herein, the applicable amount of any currency (other than Dollars) for purposes of the Loan Documents shall be such Dollar Equivalent amount as so determined by the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender or the applicable L/C Issuer, as applicable.

(b) Wherever in this Agreement in connection with a Borrowing, conversion, continuation or prepayment of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan or the issuance, amendment or extension of a Letter of Credit, an amount, such as a required minimum or multiple amount, is expressed in Dollars, but such Borrowing, Eurocurrency Rate Loan, Foreign Swing Line Loan or Letter of Credit is denominated in an Alternative Currency, such amount shall be the relevant Alternative Currency Equivalent of such Dollar amount (rounded to the nearest unit of such Alternative Currency, with 0.5 of a unit being rounded upward), as determined by the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender or the applicable L/C Issuer, as the case may be.

(c) The Administrative Agent does not warrant, nor accept responsibility, nor shall the Administrative Agent have any liability with respect to the administration, submission or any other matter related to the rates in the definition of “Eurocurrency Rate” or with respect to any rate that is an alternative or replacement for or successor to any of such rates (including, without limitation, any LIBOR Successor Rate) or the effect of any of the foregoing, or of any LIBOR Successor Rate Conforming Changes.

1.09 Additional Alternative Currencies.

(a) The Company may from time to time request that Eurocurrency Rate Loans and/or Foreign Swing Line Loans be made and/or Letters of Credit be issued in a currency other than those specifically listed in the definition of “Alternative Currency” or, in the case of Foreign Swing Line Loans, listed in Section 2.04(a); provided that (i) such requested currency is an Eligible Currency and (ii) such requested currency shall only be treated as a “LIBOR Quoted Currency” to the extent that there is published LIBOR rate for such currency. In the case of any such request with respect to the making of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, such request shall be subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent and each Lender with a Commitment under which such currency is requested to be made available; and in the case of any such request with respect to the issuance of Letters of Credit, such request shall be subject to the written approval of the Administrative Agent and the applicable L/C Issuer that will be issuing Letters of Credit in such currency.

 

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(b) Any such request shall be made to the Administrative Agent by the Company (i) in the case of any such request pertaining to Eurocurrency Rate Loans, to the Administrative Agent, (ii) in the case of any such request pertaining to Foreign Swing Line Loans, to the Administrative Agent and the Swing Line Lender and (iii) in the case of any such request pertaining to Letters of Credit, to the Administrative Agent and each L/C Issuer, in each case not later than 11:00 a.m., twenty (20) Business Days prior to the date of the desired Credit Extension (or such other time or earlier date as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent and, in the case of any such request pertaining to Letters of Credit, the applicable L/C Issuer or in the case of any such request pertaining to Foreign Swing Line Loans, the Swing Line Lender, in each case, in its or their sole discretion). In the case of any such request pertaining to Eurocurrency Rate Loans or Foreign Swing Line Loans, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Appropriate Lender thereof; and in the case of any such request pertaining to Letters of Credit, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the L/C Issuers thereof. Each Appropriate Lender (in the case of any such request pertaining to Eurocurrency Rate Loans), the Swing Line Lender and each Appropriate Lender (in the case of any such request pertaining to Foreign Swing Line Loans) or the L/C Issuers (in the case of a request pertaining to Letters of Credit) shall notify the Administrative Agent, not later than 11:00 a.m., ten (10) Business Days after receipt of such request whether it consents, in its sole discretion, to the making of Eurocurrency Rate Loans or Foreign Swing Line Loans or the issuance of Letters of Credit, as the case may be, in such requested currency. With respect to Letters of Credit, only those L/C Issuers that specifically approve any such requested currency shall be obligated to provide Letters of Credit in such currency.

(c) Any failure by a Lender, the Swing Line Lender or any L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to respond to such request within the time period specified in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to be a refusal by such Lender, the Swing Line Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to permit Eurocurrency Rate Loans or Foreign Swing Line Loans to be made or Letters of Credit to be issued in such requested currency. If the Administrative Agent and all the Appropriate Lenders consent to making Eurocurrency Rate Loans in such requested currency and the Administrative Agent and such Lenders reasonably determine that an appropriate interest rate is available to be used for such requested currency, the Administrative Agent shall so notify the Company and (i) the Administrative Agent and such Lenders may (with the Company’s prior written consent) amend the definition of Eurocurrency Rate for any Non-LIBOR Quoted Currency to the extent necessary to add the applicable Eurocurrency Rate for such currency and (ii) to the extent the definition of Eurocurrency Rate reflects the appropriate interest rate for such currency or has been amended to reflect the appropriate rate for such currency, such currency shall thereupon be deemed for all purposes to be an Alternative Currency for purposes of any Borrowings of Eurocurrency Rate Loans. If the Administrative Agent and any L/C Issuer consent to the issuance of Letters of Credit in such requested currency, the Administrative Agent shall so notify the Company and (iii) the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuers may (with the Company’s prior written consent) amend the definition of Eurocurrency Rate for any Non-LIBOR Quoted Currency to the extent necessary to add the applicable Eurocurrency Rate for such currency and (iv) to the extent the definition of Eurocurrency Rate reflects the appropriate interest rate for such currency or has been amended to reflect the appropriate rate for such currency, such currency shall thereupon be deemed for all purposes to be an Alternative Currency, for purposes of any Letter of Credit issuances. If the Administrative Agent shall fail to obtain consent to any request for an additional currency under this Section 1.09, the Administrative Agent shall promptly so notify the Company. Any specified currency of an Existing Letter of Credit that is neither Dollars nor one of the Alternative Currencies specifically listed in the definition of “Alternative Currency” shall be deemed an Alternative Currency with respect to such Existing Letter of Credit only.

 

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1.10 Change of Currency.

(a) Each obligation of the Borrowers to make a payment denominated in the national currency unit of any member state of the European Union that adopts the Euro as its lawful currency after the date hereof shall be redenominated into Euro at the time of such adoption. If, in relation to the currency of any such member state, the basis of accrual of interest expressed in this Agreement in respect of that currency shall be inconsistent with any convention or practice in the London interbank market for the basis of accrual of interest in respect of the Euro, such expressed basis shall be replaced by such convention or practice with effect from the date on which such member state adopts the Euro as its lawful currency; provided that, if any Borrowing in the currency of such member state is outstanding immediately prior to such date, such replacement shall take effect, with respect to such Borrowing, at the end of the then current Interest Period.

(b) Each provision of this Agreement shall be subject to such reasonable changes of construction as the Administrative Agent may from time to time specify to be appropriate to reflect the adoption of the Euro by any member state of the European Union and any relevant market conventions or practices relating to the Euro.

(c) Each provision of this Agreement also shall be subject to such reasonable changes of construction as the Administrative Agent may from time to time specify to be appropriate to reflect a change in currency of any other country and any relevant market conventions or practices relating to the change in currency.

1.11 Limited Condition Acquisitions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement and solely for the purpose of (A) measuring the financial ratios or any relevant covenant with respect to the incurrence of any Indebtedness (including any Incremental Revolving Commitments or Incremental Term Commitments) or Liens or the making of any Investments or Dispositions or (B) determining compliance with representations and warranties or the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, in each case, in connection with Borrower’s election to treat an acquisition or other specified investment as a Limited Condition Acquisition, the date of determination of whether any such action (i.e., the incurrence of any Indebtedness or Liens or the making of any Investments or Dispositions) is permitted hereunder shall be deemed to be the date on which the definitive agreements for such Limited Condition Acquisition are entered into (the “LCA Test Date”), and if, after giving pro forma effect to the Limited Condition Acquisition and the other transactions to be entered into in connection therewith as if they had occurred at the beginning of the most recent test period ending prior to the LCA Test Date, the Company could have taken such action on the relevant LCA Test Date in compliance with such financial ratio, covenant, representation or warranty, then such financial ratio, covenant, representation or warranty shall be deemed to have been complied with.

ARTICLE II.

THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS

2.01 Loans.

(a) Revolving Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Revolving Lender severally agrees to make revolving loans (each such loan, a “Revolving Loan”) to the Company or, as applicable, to the Foreign Borrower, in Dollars or in one or more Alternative Currencies from time to time, on any Business Day during the Availability Period for the Revolving Facility, in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Commitment; provided that after giving effect to any Revolving Borrowing, (i) the Total Revolving Outstandings shall not exceed the Revolving Facility, (ii) the Revolving Exposure of any Lender shall not exceed such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Commitment, and (iii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Revolving Loans made to the Foreign Borrower plus the Outstanding Amount of all Foreign Swing Line Loans made to the Foreign Borrower plus the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations of the Foreign Borrower shall not exceed the Foreign Borrower Sublimit. Within the limits of each Revolving Lender’s Revolving Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrowers may borrow under this Section 2.01(a), prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.01(a). Revolving Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurocurrency Rate Loans, as further provided herein; provided that each Revolving Loan denominated in an Alternative Currency shall be a Eurocurrency Rate Loan.

 

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2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Revolving and Term Loans.

(a) Notice of Borrowing. Each Borrowing, each conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be made upon irrevocable notice by the Company, or, as applicable, by the Foreign Borrower, to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by (A) telephone or (B) a Loan Notice; provided that any telephonic notice must be confirmed immediately by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a Loan Notice. Each such Loan Notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (i) three (3) Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars or of any conversion of Eurocurrency Rate Loans made to the applicable Borrower and denominated in Dollars to Base Rate Loans, (ii) four (4) Business Days (or five (5) Business Days in the case of a Special Notice Currency) prior to the requested date of any Borrowing or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies, and (iii) on the requested date of any Borrowing by the Company of Base Rate Loans. Upon receipt of such notice the Administrative Agent shall give prompt notice to the Appropriate Lenders of such request. Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of the Dollar Equivalent of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of the Dollar Equivalent of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. Except as provided in Sections 2.03(c) and 2.04(c), each Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of the Dollar Equivalent of $500,000 or a whole multiple of the Dollar Equivalent of $100,000 in excess thereof. Each Loan Notice and each telephonic notice shall specify (I) whether the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower, is requesting a Borrowing, (II) whether the Company is requested a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, (III) whether the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower, is requesting a continuation of Loans, (IV) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (V) the principal amount of Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (VI) the Type of Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Loans are to be converted, (VII) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto, (VIII) the currency of the Loans to be borrowed, and (IX) the name of the applicable Borrower. If the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower, fails to specify a currency in a Loan Notice requesting a Borrowing, then the Loans so requested shall be made in Dollars. If the Company fails to specify a Type of Loan in a Loan Notice or if the Company fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans; provided, however, that in the case of a failure to timely request a continuation of Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency, such Loans shall be continued as Eurocurrency Rate Loans in their original currency with an Interest Period of one (1) month. Any such automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Eurocurrency Rate Loans. If the Foreign Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a continuation, then the Loans shall be continued as Eurocurrency Rate Loans in their original currency with an Interest Period of one (1) month. If the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans in any such Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one (1) month. Except as provided pursuant to Section 2.12(a), no Loan may be converted into or continued as a Loan denominated in a different currency, but instead must be repaid in the original currency of such Loan and reborrowed in the other currency.

(b) Advances. Following receipt of a Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Appropriate Lender of the amount (and currency) of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Appropriate Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans or continuation of Loans denominated in a currency other than

 

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Dollars, in each case as described in Section 2.02(a). In the case of a Borrowing, each Appropriate Lender shall make the amount of its Loan available to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds in the applicable currency of such Borrowing at the Administrative Agent’s Office for the applicable currency not later than 1:00 p.m., in the case of any Loan denominated in Dollars, and not later than the Applicable Time specified by the Administrative Agent in the case of any Loan in an Alternative Currency, in each case on the Business Day specified in the applicable Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction (or waiver in accordance with Section 11.01) of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (and, if such Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section 4.01), the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the applicable Borrower, as promptly as reasonably practicable, in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of such Borrower on the books of Bank of America with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the applicable Borrower; provided that if, on the date the Loan Notice with respect to a Revolving Borrowing denominated in Dollars is given by the Company, there are L/C Borrowings outstanding, then the proceeds of such Revolving Borrowing, first, shall be applied to the payment in full of any such L/C Borrowings, and, second, shall be made available to the applicable Borrower as provided above.

(c) Eurocurrency Rate Loans. Except as otherwise provided herein, a Eurocurrency Rate Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurocurrency Rate Loan. During the existence of an Event of Default, no Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as Eurocurrency Rate Loans (whether in Dollars or any Alternative Currency) without the consent of the Required Lenders, and the Required Lenders may demand that any or all of the then outstanding Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars be converted immediately to Base Rate Loans and any or all of the then outstanding Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency be prepaid, or redenominated into Dollars in the amount of the Dollar Equivalent thereof, on the last day of the then current Interest Period with respect thereto.

(d) Interest Rates. Each determination of an interest rate by the Administrative Agent pursuant to any provision of this Agreement shall be conclusive and binding on the Borrowers and the Lenders in the absence of manifest error. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower (with a copy of such notice to the Company) and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Eurocurrency Rate Loans upon determination of such interest rate. At any time that Base Rate Loans are outstanding, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Company and the Lenders of any change in Bank of America’s prime rate used in determining the Base Rate promptly following the public announcement of such change.

(e) Interest Period. After giving effect to all Borrowings, all conversions of Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than ten (10) Interest Periods in aggregate in effect with respect to the Revolving Facility.

(f) Cashless Settlement Mechanism. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Lender may exchange, continue or rollover all or the portion of its Loans in connection with any refinancing, extension, loan modification or similar transaction permitted by the terms of this Agreement, pursuant to a cashless settlement mechanism approved by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and such Lender.

2.03 Letters of Credit.

(a) The Letter of Credit Commitment. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, in addition to the Loans provided for in Section 2.01, the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower may request that any L/C Issuer, in reliance on the agreements of the Revolving Lenders set forth in this

 

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Section 2.03, issue, at any time and from time to time during the Availability Period, Letters of Credit denominated in Dollars or one or more Alternative Currencies applicable to such L/C Issuer for its own account or the account of any of its Subsidiaries in such form as is acceptable to the Administrative Agent and such L/C Issuer in its reasonable determination. Letters of Credit issued hereunder (the amount of which shall be calculated in accordance with Section 1.06) shall constitute a dollar-for-dollar utilization of the Revolving Commitments. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the ability of the Company and the Foreign Borrower to obtain Letters of Credit shall be fully revolving, and accordingly the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower, may, during the foregoing period, obtain Letters of Credit to replace Letters of Credit that have expired or that have been drawn upon and reimbursed.

(b) Notice of Issuance, Amendment, Extension, Reinstatement or Renewal.

(i) To request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or the amendment of the terms and conditions, extension of the terms and conditions, extension of the expiration date, or reinstatement of amounts paid, or renewal of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower, shall deliver (or transmit by electronic communication, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the applicable L/C Issuer) to an L/C Issuer selected by it and to the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. at least two (2) Business Days (or such later date and time as the Administrative Agent and such L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in their sole discretion) prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be a notice requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit, or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended, extended, reinstated or renewed, and specifying the date of issuance, amendment, extension, reinstatement or renewal (which shall be a Business Day), the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with clause (d) of this Section 2.03), the amount of such Letter of Credit, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof, the purpose and nature of the requested Letter of Credit and such other information as shall be necessary to prepare, amend, extend, reinstate or renew such Letter of Credit. If requested by the applicable L/C Issuer, the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower also shall submit a Letter of Credit Application and reimbursement agreement on such L/C Issuer’s standard form in connection with any request for a Letter of Credit. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any form of Letter of Credit Application and reimbursement agreement or other agreement submitted by the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower, to, or entered into by the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower, with, an L/C Issuer relating to any Letter of Credit, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control. Subject to Section 2.16(c), unless the applicable L/C Issuer has received written notice from any Lender, the Administrative Agent or any Loan Party, at least one Business Day prior to the requested date of issuance or amendment of the applicable Letter of Credit, that one or more applicable conditions contained in Article IV shall not then be satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof (including the limitations set forth in Section 2.03(c)), such L/C Issuer shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the Company (or the applicable Subsidiary) or enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may be, in each case in accordance with this Agreement.

(ii) If the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower, so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application (or the amendment of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the applicable L/C Issuer may, in its sole discretion, agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic extension provisions (each, an “Auto-Extension Letter of Credit”); provided that any such Auto-Extension Letter of Credit shall permit such L/C Issuer to prevent any such extension at least once in each twelve-month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a day (the “Non-Extension Notice Date”) in each such twelve-month period to be agreed upon by the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign

 

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Borrower, and the applicable L/C Issuer at the time such Letter of Credit is issued. Unless otherwise directed by the applicable L/C Issuer, the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower, shall not be required to make a specific request to such L/C Issuer for any such extension. Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, the Revolving Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the applicable L/C Issuer to permit the extension of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiration date not later than the date permitted pursuant to Section 2.03(d); provided, that such L/C Issuer shall not (A) permit any such extension if (1) such L/C Issuer has determined that it would not be permitted, or would have no obligation, at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its extended form under the terms hereof (except that the expiration date may be extended to a date that is no more than one (1) year from the then-current expiration date) or (2) it has received notice (which may be in writing or by telephone (if promptly confirmed in writing)) on or before the day that is seven (7) Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date from the Administrative Agent that the Required Revolving Lenders have elected not to permit such extension or (B) be obligated to permit such extension if it has received notice (which may be in writing or by telephone (if promptly confirmed in writing)) on or before the day that is seven (7) Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date from the Administrative Agent, any Revolving Lender, the Company or the Foreign Borrower, that one or more of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied, and in each such case directing such L/C Issuer not to permit such extension.

(c) Limitations on Amounts, Issuance and Amendment. A Letter of Credit shall be issued, amended, extended, reinstated or renewed only if (and upon issuance, amendment, extension, reinstatement or renewal of each Letter of Credit the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower, shall be deemed to represent and warrant that), after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, extension, reinstatement or renewal (w) the aggregate amount of the outstanding Letters of Credit issued by any L/C Issuer shall not exceed its L/C Commitment, (x) the aggregate L/C Obligations shall not exceed the L/C Sublimit, (y) the Revolving Exposure of any Lender shall not exceed its Revolving Commitment and (z) the Total Revolving Exposure shall not exceed the total Revolving Commitments.

(i) No L/C Issuer shall be under any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if:

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

(B) the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of such L/C Issuer applicable to letters of credit generally;

(C) except as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and such L/C Issuer, the Letter of Credit is in an initial stated amount less than $10,000;

 

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(D) except as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and such L/C Issuer, the Letter of Credit is to be denominated in a currency other than Dollars or an Alternative Currency;

(E) such L/C Issuer does not, as of the issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit, issue Letters of Credit in the requested currency; or

(F) any Revolving Lender is at that time a Defaulting Lender, unless such L/C Issuer has entered into arrangements, including the delivery of Cash Collateral, satisfactory to such L/C Issuer (in its sole discretion) with the Company or such Lender to eliminate such L/C Issuer’s actual or potential Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 2.16(a)(iv)) with respect to the Defaulting Lender arising from either the Letter of Credit then proposed to be issued or that Letter of Credit and all other L/C Obligations as to which such L/C Issuer has actual or potential Fronting Exposure, as it may elect in its sole discretion.

(ii) No L/C Issuer shall amend any Letter of Credit if such L/C Issuer would not be permitted at such time to issue the Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof.

(iii) No L/C Issuer shall be under any obligation to amend any Letter of Credit if (A) such L/C Issuer would have no obligation at such time to issue the Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof, or (B) the beneficiary of the Letter of Credit does not accept the proposed amendment to the Letter of Credit.

(d) Expiration Date. Each Letter of Credit shall have a stated expiration date no later than the earlier of (x) the date twelve (12) months after the date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any extension of the expiration date thereof, whether automatic or by amendment, twelve months after the then current expiration date of such Letter of Credit) and (y) the date that is five (5) Business Days prior to the Maturity Date.

(e) Participations.

(i) By the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or an amendment to a Letter of Credit increasing the amount or extending the expiration date thereof), and without any further action on the part of the applicable L/C Issuer or the Lenders, such L/C Issuer hereby grants to each Revolving Lender, and each Revolving Lender hereby acquires from such L/C Issuer, a participation in such Letter of Credit equal to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. Each Revolving Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations pursuant to this clause (e) in respect of Letters of Credit is absolute, unconditional and irrevocable and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including any amendment, extension, reinstatement or renewal of any Letter of Credit or the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Revolving Commitments.

(ii) In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each Revolving Lender hereby absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for account of the applicable L/C Issuer, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of each L/C Disbursement made by an L/C Issuer not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in the notice provided by the Administrative Agent to the Revolving Lenders pursuant to Section 2.03(f) until such L/C Disbursement is reimbursed by the Company or at any time after any reimbursement payment is required to be refunded to the Company for any reason, including after the Maturity

 

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Date. Such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever. Each such payment shall be made in the same manner as provided in Section 2.02 with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.02 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Revolving Lenders pursuant to this Section 2.03), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the applicable L/C Issuer the amounts so received by it from the Lenders. Promptly following receipt by the Administrative Agent of any payment from the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower pursuant to Section 2.03(f), the Administrative Agent shall distribute such payment to the applicable L/C Issuer or, to the extent that the Revolving Lenders have made payments pursuant to this clause (e) to reimburse such L/C Issuer, then to such Lenders and such L/C Issuer as their interests may appear. Any payment made by a Lender pursuant to this clause (e) to reimburse an L/C Issuer for any L/C Disbursement shall not constitute a Loan and shall not relieve the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower of its obligation to reimburse such L/C Disbursement.

(iii) Each Revolving Lender further acknowledges and agrees that its participation in each Letter of Credit will be automatically adjusted to reflect such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit at each time such Lender’s Commitment is amended pursuant to the operation of Sections 2.14, as a result of an assignment in accordance with Section 11.06 or otherwise pursuant to this Agreement.

(iv) If any Revolving Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable L/C Issuer any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03(e), then, without limiting the other provisions of this Agreement, the applicable L/C Issuer shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to such L/C Issuer at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the applicable Overnight Rate and a rate determined by the applicable L/C Issuer in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by such L/C Issuer in connection with the foregoing. If such Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Revolving Loan included in the relevant Revolving Borrowing or L/C Advance in respect of the relevant L/C Borrowing, as the case may be. A certificate of any L/C Issuer submitted to any Revolving Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (e)(vi) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(f) Reimbursement. If an L/C Issuer shall make any L/C Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower, shall reimburse such L/C Issuer in respect of such L/C Disbursement. In the case of a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, the Company shall reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer in such Alternative Currency, unless (A) the applicable L/C Issuer (at its option) shall have specified in such notice that it will require reimbursement in Dollars, or (B) in the absence of any such requirement for reimbursement in Dollars, the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower, shall have notified the applicable L/C Issuer promptly following receipt of the notice of drawing that the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower, will reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer in Dollars. In the case of any such reimbursement in Dollars of a drawing under a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, the applicable L/C Issuer shall notify the Company of the Dollar Equivalent of the amount of the drawing promptly following the determination thereof. For Letters of Credit to be reimbursed in Dollars, the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower, shall reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer by paying to the Administrative Agent an amount equal to such L/C Disbursement not later than 11:00 a.m. on the Business Day that the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower, receives notice of such L/C Disbursement, provided that, with respect to Letters of Credit to be reimbursed

 

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in Dollars by the Company, if such L/C Disbursement is not less than $1,000,000, the Company may, subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section 2.02 or Section 2.04 that such payment be financed with a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans or a Domestic Swing Line Loan in an equivalent amount and, to the extent so financed, the Company’s obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting Borrowing of Base Rate Loans or Domestic Swing Line Loan. For Letters of Credit to be reimbursed in an Alternative Currency, the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower, shall reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer by paying to the Administrative Agent such L/C Disbursement not later than the Applicable Time in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing and in the applicable currency. In the event that (A) a drawing denominated in an Alternative Currency is to be reimbursed in Dollars pursuant hereto and (B) the Dollar amount paid by the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower, whether on or after the due date, shall not be adequate on the date of that payment to purchase in accordance with normal banking procedures a sum denominated in the Alternative Currency equal to the drawing, the Company and the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, agrees, as a separate and independent obligation, to indemnify the applicable L/C Issuer for the loss resulting from its inability on that date to purchase the Alternative Currency in the full amount of the drawing. If the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower, fails to make such payment when due, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the applicable L/C Disbursement, the payment then due from the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower in respect thereof (expressed in Dollars in the amount of the Dollar Equivalent thereof in the case of a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency) (the “Unreimbursed Amount”) and such Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof. Promptly upon receipt of such notice, each Revolving Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent its Applicable Percentage of the Unreimbursed Amount pursuant to Section 2.03(e)(ii), subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the aggregate Revolving Commitments. Any notice given by any L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.03(f) may be given by telephone 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.

(g) Obligations Absolute. The Company’s or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower’s obligation to reimburse L/C Disbursements as provided in clause (f) of this Section 2.03 shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under any and all circumstances whatsoever and irrespective of:

(i) any lack of validity or enforceability of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any Letter of Credit, or any term or provision herein or therein;

(ii) the existence of any claim, counterclaim, setoff, defense or other right that the Company or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, or any Subsidiary may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), any L/C Issuer or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by such Letter of Credit or any agreement or instrument relating thereto, or any unrelated transaction;

(iii) any draft, demand, endorsement, certificate or other document presented under or in connection with such Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement in such draft or other document being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under such Letter of Credit;

(iv) waiver by any L/C Issuer of any requirement that exists for such L/C Issuer’s protection and not the protection of the Company, the Foreign Borrower, or any Subsidiary or any waiver by such L/C Issuer which does not in fact materially prejudice the Company, the Foreign Borrower or any Subsidiary;

 

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(v) honor of a demand for payment presented electronically even if such Letter of Credit requires that demand be in the form of a draft;

(vi) any payment made by any L/C Issuer in respect of an otherwise complying item presented after the date specified as the expiration date of, or the date by which documents must be received under such Letter of Credit if presentation after such date is authorized by the UCC, the ISP or the UCP, as applicable;

(vii) any payment by the applicable L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document that does not comply strictly with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or any payment made by any L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit to any Person purporting to be a trustee in bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other representative of or successor to any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit, including any arising in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law;

(viii) any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section 2.03, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of setoff against, the Company’s obligations hereunder; or

(ix) any adverse change in the relevant exchange rates or in the availability of the relevant Alternative Currency to the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower or any Subsidiary or in the relevant currency markets generally.

(h) Examination. The Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower, shall promptly examine a copy of each Letter of Credit and each amendment thereto that is delivered to it and, in the event of any claim of noncompliance with the Company’s or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower’s instructions or other irregularity, the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower will promptly notify the applicable L/C Issuer as promptly as practicable but in no event later than two (2) Business Days following the receipt by a Responsible Officer of a copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment provided by the Administrative Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer. The Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower, shall be conclusively deemed to have waived any such claim against the applicable L/C Issuer and its correspondents unless such notice is given as aforesaid.

(i) Liability. None of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, any L/C Issuer, or any of their Related Parties shall have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit by the applicable L/C Issuer or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in Section 2.03(g)), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms, any error in translation or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of the applicable L/C Issuer; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse an L/C Issuer from liability to the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to consequential damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower to the extent permitted by Applicable Law) suffered by the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower that are caused by such L/C Issuer’s failure to exercise care when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof. The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of an L/C Issuer (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), an L/C Issuer shall be deemed to have exercised care in each such determination, and that:

 

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(i) an L/C Issuer may replace a purportedly lost, stolen, or destroyed original Letter of Credit or missing amendment thereto with a certified true copy marked as such or waive a requirement for its presentation;

(ii) an L/C Issuer may accept documents that appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, and may make payment upon presentation of documents that appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit and without regard to any non-documentary condition in such Letter of Credit;

(iii) an L/C Issuer shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to decline to accept such documents and to make such payment if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit; and

(iv) this sentence shall establish the standard of care to be exercised by an L/C Issuer when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof (and the parties hereto hereby waive, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, any standard of care inconsistent with the foregoing).

Without limiting the foregoing, none of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, any L/C Issuer, or any of their Related Parties shall have any liability or responsibility by reason of (A) any presentation that includes forged or fraudulent documents or that is otherwise affected by the fraudulent, bad faith, or illegal conduct of the beneficiary or other Person, (B) an L/C Issuer declining to take-up documents and make payment, (i) against documents that are fraudulent, forged, or for other reasons by which that it is entitled not to honor, (ii) following a Borrower’s waiver of discrepancies with respect to such documents or request for honor of such documents or (C) an L/C Issuer retaining proceeds of a Letter of Credit based on an apparently applicable attachment order, blocking regulation, or third-party claim notified to such L/C Issuer.

(j) Applicability of ISP. Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the applicable L/C Issuer and the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued by it (including any such agreement applicable to an Existing Letter of Credit), the rules of the ISP shall apply to each Letter of Credit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no L/C Issuer shall be responsible to the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower for, and no L/C Issuer’s rights and remedies against the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower shall be impaired by, any action or inaction of any L/C Issuer required or permitted under any law, order, or practice that is required or permitted to be applied to any Letter of Credit or this Agreement, including the Law or any order of a jurisdiction where any L/C Issuer or the beneficiary is located, the practice stated in the ISP, or in the decisions, opinions, practice statements, or official commentary of the ICC Banking Commission, the Bankers Association for Finance and Trade – International Financial Services Association (BAFT-IFSA), or the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice, whether or not any Letter of Credit chooses such law or practice.

(k) Benefits. Each L/C Issuer shall act on behalf of the Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and each L/C Issuer shall have all of the benefits and immunities (i) provided to the Administrative Agent in Article IX with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by such L/C Issuer in connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and Issuer Documents pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the term “Administrative Agent” as used in Article IX included such L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions, and (ii) as additionally provided herein with respect to such L/C Issuer.

 

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(l) Letter of Credit Fees. The Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender in accordance with its Applicable Revolving Percentage in Dollars a Letter of Credit fee (the “Letter of Credit Fee”) for each Letter of Credit equal to: (i) for Non-Performance Letters of Credit, the Applicable Rate for Non-Performance Letters of Credit times the Dollar Equivalent of the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit and (ii) for Performance Letters of Credit, the Applicable Rate for Performance Letters of Credit times the Dollar Equivalent of the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.06. Letter of Credit Fees shall be (i) due and payable on the first Business Day following the end of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit (or in the case of Existing Letters of Credit, after the end of March 2021), on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand and (ii) accrued through and including the last day of each calendar quarter in arrears. If there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the daily amount available to be drawn under each Letter of Credit shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.

(m) Fronting Fee and Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to L/C Issuers. The Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower shall pay directly to the applicable L/C Issuer for its own account, in Dollars, a fronting fee with respect to each Letter of Credit, at the greater of (A) $250.00 and (B) 1/8 of 1% per annum times the Dollar Equivalent of the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit on a quarterly basis in arrears. Such fronting fee shall be due and payable no later than the tenth Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December in the most recently-ended quarterly period (or portion thereof, in the case of the first payment), commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit (or in the case of Existing Letters of Credit, after the end of March 2021), on the Maturity Date and thereafter on demand. For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.06. In addition, the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower, shall pay directly to the applicable L/C Issuer for its own account, in Dollars the customary issuance, presentation, amendment and other processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of such L/C Issuer relating to letters of credit as from time to time in effect. Such customary fees and standard costs and charges are due and payable on demand and are nonrefundable.

(n) Disbursement Procedures. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, each L/C Issuer agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the Revolving Lenders set forth in this Section 2.03 and Section 2.16, to honor drawings under the Letters of Credit. The L/C Issuer for any Letter of Credit shall, within the time period set forth in the specific terms of the Letter of Credit (or a shorter time period, if required by Applicable Law) following its receipt thereof, examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under such Letter of Credit. Such L/C Issuer shall promptly after such examination notify the Administrative Agent and the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower in writing of such demand for payment if such L/C Issuer has made or will make an L/C Disbursement thereunder; provided that any failure to give or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower of its obligation to reimburse such L/C Issuer and the Lenders with respect to any such L/C Disbursement.

 

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(o) Interim Interest. If the L/C Issuer for any Letter of Credit shall make any L/C Disbursement, then, unless the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower shall reimburse such L/C Disbursement in full on the date such L/C Disbursement is made, the unpaid amount thereof shall bear interest, for each day from and including the date such L/C Disbursement is made to but excluding the date that the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower reimburses such L/C Disbursement, at the rate per annum then applicable to Base Rate Loans; provided that if the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower fails to reimburse such L/C Disbursement when due pursuant to clause (f) of this Section 2.03, then Section 2.08(b) shall apply. Interest accrued pursuant to this clause (o) shall be for account of such L/C Issuer, except that interest accrued on and after the date of payment by any Lender pursuant to clause (f) of this Section 2.03 to reimburse such L/C Issuer shall be for account of such Lender to the extent of such payment.

(p) Resignation and Replacement of any L/C Issuer.

(i) Any L/C Issuer may at any time give thirty (30) days prior written notice of its resignation to the Administrative Agent and the Company. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of any such resignation of an L/C Issuer. At the time any such resignation shall become effective, the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower shall pay all unpaid fees accrued for the account of the resigning L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(m). From and after the effective date of any such resignation, the resigning L/C Issuer shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of an L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as an L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c), but shall not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit. Upon the appointment by the Company of a successor L/C Issuer hereunder (which successor shall in all cases be a Lender other than a Defaulting Lender), (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer, (b) the retiring L/C Issuer shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, and (c) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to the resigning L/C Issuer to effectively assume the obligations of the resigning L/C Issuer with respect to such Letters of Credit.

(ii) Any L/C Issuer may be replaced at any time by written agreement between the Company, the Administrative Agent, the replaced L/C Issuer and the successor L/C Issuer. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of any such replacement of an L/C Issuer. At the time any such replacement shall become effective, the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower shall pay all unpaid fees accrued for the account of the replaced L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(m). From and after the effective date of any such replacement, (i) the successor L/C Issuer shall have all the rights and obligations of an L/C Issuer under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit to be issued by it thereafter and (ii) references herein to the term “L/C Issuer” shall be deemed to include such successor or any previous L/C Issuer, or such successor and all previous L/C Issuer, as the context shall require. After the replacement of an L/C Issuer hereunder, the replaced L/C Issuer shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of an L/C Issuer under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it prior to such replacement, but shall not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit.

(q) Cash Collateralization.

(i) If any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, on the Business Day that the Borrowers receive notice from the Administrative Agent or the Required Revolving Lenders (or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated, Revolving Lenders with L/C Obligations representing at least 66-2/3% of the total L/C Obligations) demanding the deposit of Cash Collateral pursuant to this clause (q), the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower shall

 

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immediately deposit into an account established and maintained on the books and records of the Administrative Agent (the “Collateral Account”) an amount in cash equal to 100% of the total L/C Obligations as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, provided that the obligation to deposit such Cash Collateral shall become effective immediately, and such deposit shall become immediately due and payable, without demand or other notice of any kind, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default with respect to the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower described in clause (f) of Section 8.01. Such deposit shall be held by the Administrative Agent as collateral for the payment and performance of the obligations of the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower under this Agreement. In addition, and without limiting the foregoing or clause (d) of this Section 2.03, if any L/C Obligations remain outstanding after the expiration date specified in said clause (d), the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower shall immediately deposit into the Collateral Account an amount in cash equal to 100% of such L/C Obligations as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon.

(ii) The Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over the Collateral Account. Other than any interest earned on the investment of such deposits, which investments shall be made at the option and sole discretion of the Administrative Agent (but in a manner reasonably consistent with bank practice for such situations) and at the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower’s risk and expense, such deposits shall not bear interest. Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in the Collateral Account. Moneys in the Collateral Account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse each L/C Issuer for L/C Disbursements for which it has not been reimbursed, together with related fees, costs, and customary processing charges, and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower for the L/C Obligations at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated (but subject to the consent of Lenders with L/C Obligations representing 66-2/3% of the total L/C Obligations), be applied to satisfy other obligations of the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower under this Agreement. If the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower is required to provide an amount of Cash Collateral hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default, such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower within three (3) Business Days after all Events of Default have been cured or waived.

(r) L/C Issuer Reports to the Administrative Agent. Unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent, each L/C Issuer shall, in addition to its notification obligations set forth elsewhere in this Section 2.03, provide the Administrative Agent a Letter of Credit Report, as set forth below:

(i) reasonably prior to the time that such L/C Issuer issues, amends, renews, increases or extends a Letter of Credit, the date of such issuance, amendment, renewal, increase or extension and the stated amount of the applicable Letters of Credit after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (and whether the amounts thereof shall have changed);

(ii) on each Business Day on which such L/C Issuer makes a payment pursuant to a Letter of Credit, the date and amount of such payment;

(iii) on any Business Day on which the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower fails to reimburse a payment made pursuant to a Letter of Credit required to be reimbursed to such L/C Issuer on such day, the date of such failure and the amount of such payment;

(iv) on any other Business Day, such other information as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request as to the Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer; and

 

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(v) for so long as any Letter of Credit issued by an L/C Issuer is outstanding, such L/C Issuer shall deliver to the Administrative Agent (A) on the last Business Day of each calendar month, (B) at all other times a Letter of Credit Report is required to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement, and (C) on each date that (1) an L/C Credit Extension occurs or (2) there is any expiration, cancellation and/or disbursement, in each case, with respect to any such Letter of Credit, a Letter of Credit Report appropriately completed with the information for every outstanding Letter of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer.

(s) Letters of Credit Issued for Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding that a Letter of Credit issued or outstanding hereunder is in support of any obligations of, or is for the account of, a Subsidiary, the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse, indemnify and compensate the applicable L/C Issuer hereunder for any and all drawings under such Letter of Credit as if such Letter of Credit had been issues solely for the account of the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower. Each of the Company and the Foreign Borrower irrevocably waives any and all defenses that might otherwise be available to it as a guarantor or surety of any or all of the obligations of such Subsidiary in respect of such Letter of Credit. Each of the Company and the Foreign Borrower hereby acknowledges that the issuance of Letters of Credit for the account of Subsidiaries inures to the benefit of the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower, and that the Company’s or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower’s business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of such Subsidiaries.

(t) Conflict with Issuer Documents. In the event of any conflict between the terms hereof and the terms of any Issuer Document, the terms hereof shall control.

2.04 Swing Line Loans.

(a) The Swing Line. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swing Line Lender agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Revolving Lenders set forth in this Section 2.04, may in its sole discretion to make loans (i) to the Company, in Dollars (each such loan to the Company, a “Domestic Swing Line Loan”) and (ii) to the Foreign Borrower, in Dollars, Euros, Sterling or another Alternative Currency approved for such purpose by the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 1.09 (each such Loan to the Foreign Borrower, a “Foreign Swing Line Loan” and collectively with the Domestic Swing Line Loans, the “Swing Line Loans”) from time to time on any Business Day during the Availability Period; provided that (x) after giving effect to any Swing Line Loan, (i) the Total Revolving Outstandings shall not exceed the Revolving Facility at such time, (ii) the Revolving Exposure of any Revolving Lender at such time shall not exceed such Lender’s Revolving Commitment, (iii) the Outstanding Amount of the Swing Line Loans shall not exceed the Swing Line Sublimit, notwithstanding the fact that such Swing Line Loans, when aggregated with the Applicable Revolving Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Loans and L/C Obligations of the Lender acting as Swing Line Lender, may exceed the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Commitment, (iv) the Outstanding Amount of Domestic Swing Line Loans shall not exceed the Domestic Swing Line Sublimit, (v) the Outstanding Amount of Foreign Swing Line Loans shall not exceed the Foreign Swing Line Sublimit, and (vi) in the case of a Foreign Swing Line Loan, the Outstanding Amount of all Revolving Loans made to the Foreign Borrower shall not exceed the Foreign Borrower Sublimit, (y) neither the Company nor the Foreign Borrower shall use the proceeds of any Swing Line Loan to refinance any outstanding Swing Line Loan and (z) the Swing Line Lender shall not be under any obligation to make any Swing Line Loan if it shall determine in good faith that it has, or will by such Credit Extension have, Fronting Exposure. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Company or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, may borrow under this Section 2.04, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.04. Each Swing Line Loan shall bear interest as set forth in Section 2.08. Immediately upon the making of a Swing Line Loan, each Revolving Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Swing Line Lender a risk participation in such Swing Line Loan in an amount equal to the product of such Lender’s Applicable Revolving Percentage times the amount of such Swing Line Loan.

 

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(b) Borrowing Procedures.

(i) Domestic Swing Line Loans. Each Swing Line Borrowing of a Domestic Swing Line Loan shall be made upon the Company’s notice to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent (at the Administrative Agent’s Office with respect to Dollars), which may be given by (A) telephone or (B) by a Swing Line Loan Notice; provided that any telephonic notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent of a Swing Line Loan Notice. Each such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon on the requested borrowing date, and shall specify (A) the amount to be borrowed, which shall be a minimum of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof and (B) the requested borrowing date, which shall be a Business Day. Promptly after receipt by the Swing Line Lender of any Swing Line Loan Notice, the Swing Line Lender will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has also received such Swing Line Loan Notice and, if not, the Swing Line Lender will notify the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) of the contents thereof. Unless the Swing Line Lender has received notice (by telephone or in writing) from the Administrative Agent (including at the request of any Lender) prior to 1:00 p.m. on the date of the proposed Swing Line Borrowing of Domestic Swing Line Loans (x) directing the Swing Line Lender not to make such Domestic Swing Line Loan as a result of the limitations set forth in the first proviso to the first sentence of Section 2.04(a), or (y) that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Article IV is not then satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Swing Line Lender may, not later than 2:00 p.m. on the borrowing date specified in such Swing Line Loan Notice, make the amount of its Domestic Swing Line Loan available to the Company at its office by crediting the account of the Company on the books of the Swing Line Lender in Same Day Funds.

(ii) Foreign Swing Line Loans. Each Swing Line Borrowing of a Foreign Swing Line Loan shall be made upon the Foreign Borrower’s delivery of a written Swing Line Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by two Responsible Officers of the Foreign Borrower (delivered at the Administrative Agent’s Office with respect to the requested currency of such Foreign Swing Line Loan). Each such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m. (London time) on the requested borrowing date, and shall specify (A) the amount to be borrowed, which shall be in a minimum of the Alternative Currency Equivalent of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof, (B) the currency of the Foreign Swing Line Loans to be borrowed, and (C) the requested borrowing date, which shall be a Business Day. Unless the Swing Line Lender has received notice from the Administrative Agent (including at the request of any Lender) prior to 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the date of the proposed Swing Line Borrowing (1) directing the Swing Line Lender not to make such Foreign Swing Line Loan as a result of the limitations set forth in the first proviso to the first sentence of Section 2.04(a), or (2) that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Article IV is not then satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Swing Line Lender may, not later than 3:00 p.m. (London time) on the borrowing date specified in such Swing Line Loan Notice, make the amount of its Foreign Swing Line Loan available to the Foreign Borrower

 

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(c) Refinancing of Swing Line Loans.

(i) The Swing Line Lender at any time in its sole discretion may request, on behalf of the Company or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable (which hereby irrevocably authorizes the Swing Line Lender to so request on its behalf), that each Revolving Lender make (x) a Base Rate Loan, in respect of Domestic Swing Line Loans and (y) a Eurocurrency Rate Loan, in respect of Foreign Swing Line Loans, in each case in an amount equal to such Lender’s Applicable Revolving Percentage of the amount of Swing Line Loans then outstanding. Such request shall be made in writing (which written request shall be deemed to be a Loan Notice for purposes hereof) and in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.02, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified therein for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans but subject to the unutilized portion of the aggregate Revolving Commitments and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02. The Swing Line Lender shall furnish the Company or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, with a copy of the applicable Loan Notice promptly after delivering such notice to the Administrative Agent. Each Revolving Lender shall make an amount equal to its Applicable Revolving Percentage of the amount specified in such Loan Notice available to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds (and the Administrative Agent may apply Cash Collateral available with respect to the applicable Swing Line Loan) in Dollars if the applicable Swing Line Loan is a Domestic Swing Line Loan or the currency of the applicable Swing Line Loan if the Swing Line Loan is a Foreign Swing Line Loan for the account of the Swing Line Lender at the Administrative Agent’s Office for such payments not later than 1:00 p.m. on the day specified in such Loan Notice, whereupon, subject to Section 2.04(c)(ii), each Revolving Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Loan or Eurocurrency Rate Loan, as applicable, to the Company or to the Foreign Borrower in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the Swing Line Lender.

(ii) If for any reason any Swing Line Loan cannot be refinanced by such a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.04(c)(i) (including, without limitation, the failure to satisfy the conditions set forth in Section 4.02), the request for Base Rate Loans, submitted by the Swing Line Lender as set forth herein shall be deemed to be a request by the Swing Line Lender that each of the Revolving Lenders fund its risk participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan and each Revolving Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.04(c)(i) shall be deemed payment in respect of such participation.

(iii) If any Revolving Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.04(c) by the time specified in Section 2.04(c)(i), the Swing Line Lender shall be entitled to recover from such Revolving Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the Swing Line Lender at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Swing Line Lender in connection with the foregoing. If such Revolving Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Revolving Loan included in the relevant Borrowing or funded participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan, as the case may be. A certificate of the Swing Line Lender submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (iii) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

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(iv) Each Revolving Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Loans or to purchase and fund risk participations in Swing Line Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Revolving Lender may have against the Swing Line Lender, the Company, the Foreign Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided that each Revolving Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than delivery by the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower of a Loan Notice). No such funding of risk participations shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Company or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, to repay Swing Line Loans, together with interest as provided herein.

(d) Repayment of Participations.

(i) At any time after any Revolving Lender has purchased and funded a risk participation in a Swing Line Loan, if the Swing Line Lender receives any payment on account of such Swing Line Loan, the Swing Line Lender will distribute to such Revolving Lender its Applicable Revolving Percentage thereof in the same funds as those received by the Swing Line Lender.

(ii) If any payment received by the Swing Line Lender in respect of principal or interest on any Swing Line Loan is required to be returned by the Swing Line Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 11.05 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Swing Line Lender in its discretion), each Revolving Lender shall pay to the Swing Line Lender its Applicable Revolving Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned, at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate. The Administrative Agent will make such demand upon the request of the Swing Line Lender. The obligations of the Revolving Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

(e) Interest for Account of Swing Line Lender. The Swing Line Lender shall be responsible for invoicing the Company (on behalf of the Foreign Borrower, if applicable) for interest on the Swing Line Loans. Until a Revolving Lender funds its Base Rate Loan or risk participation pursuant to this Section 2.04 to refinance such Lender’s Applicable Revolving Percentage of any Swing Line Loan, interest in respect of such Lender’s Applicable Revolving Percentage shall be solely for the account of the Swing Line Lender.

(f) Payments Directly to Swing Line Lender. The Company or the Foreign Borrower shall make all payments of principal and interest in respect of the Swing Line Loans directly to the Swing Line Lender.

2.05 Prepayments.

(a) Optional.

(i) Each Borrower may, upon notice from such Borrower to the Administrative Agent pursuant to delivery to the Administrative Agent of a Notice of Loan Prepayment, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay its Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty subject to Section 3.05; provided that, unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent, (i) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (A) three (3) Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars, (B) four (4) Business Days (or five (5), in the case of prepayment of Loans denominated in Special Notice Currencies) prior to any date of prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans

 

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denominated in Alternative Currencies, and (C) one Business Day prior to the date of prepayment of Base Rate Loans; (ii) any prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof; (iii) any prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies shall be in a minimum principal amount of the applicable Alternative Currency Equivalent of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of the applicable Alternative Currency Equivalent of $1,000,000 in excess thereof; and (iv) any prepayment of Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof or, in each case, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding. Each such notice shall specify the date, the currency and amount of such prepayment and the Type(s) of Loans to be prepaid, and, if Eurocurrency Rate Loans are to be prepaid, the Interest Period(s) of such Loans. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s ratable portion of such prepayment (based on such Lender’s Applicable Revolving Percentage). If such notice is given by a Borrower, the applicable Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein. Any prepayment of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05. Subject to Section 2.18, such prepayments shall be applied to Revolving Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Revolving Percentages.

(ii) The Company or the Foreign Borrower may, upon notice to the Swing Line Lender pursuant to the delivery to the Swing Line Lender of a Notice of Loan Prepayment (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at any time or from time to time, voluntarily prepay Swing Line Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that unless otherwise agreed to by the Swing Line Lender (i) such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than (A) in the case of Domestic Swing Line Loans, 12:00 noon on the date of the prepayment and (B) in the case of Foreign Swing Line Loans, 10:00 a.m. (London time) on the date that is one Business Day prior to the date of such prepayment and (ii) any such prepayment shall be in a minimum principal amount of (A) $100,000, or a whole multiple of $50,000 in excess thereof, in the case of Domestic Swing Line Loans and (B) the applicable Alternative Currency Equivalent of $500,000, in the case of Foreign Swing Line Loans (or in the case of (A) and (B) immediately above, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding). Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Company, the Company shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein.

(b) Mandatory.

(i) If the Administrative Agent notifies the Company and the Foreign Borrower at any time that the Total Revolving Outstandings at such time exceed the Revolving Facility, then, within two Business Days after receipt of such notice, the Borrowers shall prepay Revolving Loans (provided that the Foreign Borrower shall repay only those Revolving Loans that are attributable to it), Swing Line Loans and L/C Borrowings (together with all accrued but unpaid interest thereon) and/or the Company shall Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an aggregate amount sufficient to reduce the Total Revolving Outstandings as of such date of payment or Cash Collateralization to an amount not to exceed 100% of the Revolving Facility; provided, however, that, the Company shall not be required to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations pursuant to this Section 2.05(b) unless after the prepayment in full of the Revolving Loans the Total Revolving Outstandings exceed the Revolving Facility. The Administrative Agent may, at any time and from time to time after the initial deposit of such Cash Collateral (but only to the extent that, at such time, the Total Revolving Outstandings exceed the Revolving Facility), request that additional Cash Collateral be provided in order to protect against the results of further exchange rate fluctuations.

 

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(ii) If the Administrative Agent notifies the Company at any time that the Outstanding Amount of all Domestic Swing Line Loans that are not Cash Collateralized by the Company at such time exceeds an amount equal to the Domestic Swing Line Sublimit then in effect, then, within two Business Days after receipt of such notice, the Company shall prepay the Domestic Swing Line Loans in an aggregate amount sufficient to reduce such Outstanding Amount as of such date of payment to an amount not to exceed 100% of the Domestic Swing Line Sublimit.

(iii) If the Administrative Agent notifies the Foreign Borrower at any time that the Outstanding Amount of all Foreign Swing Line Loans that are not Cash Collateralized by the Foreign Borrower at such time exceeds an amount equal to the Foreign Swing Line Sublimit then in effect, then, within two Business Days after receipt of such notice, the Foreign Borrower shall prepay the Foreign Swing Line Loans in an aggregate amount sufficient to reduce such Outstanding Amount as of such date of payment to an amount not to exceed 100% of the Foreign Swing Line Sublimit.

(iv) If the Administrative Agent notifies the Foreign Borrower at any time that the Outstanding Amount of all Loans made to the Foreign Borrower and L/C Obligations of the Foreign Borrower at such time exceeds an amount equal to the Foreign Borrower Sublimit then in effect, then, within two Business Days after receipt of such notice, the Foreign Borrower shall prepay Loans made to them and L/C Borrowings of the Foreign Borrower (together with all accrued but unpaid interest thereon) and/or the Foreign Borrower shall Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations of the Foreign Borrower in an aggregate amount sufficient to reduce the Outstanding Amount of such Loans as of such date of payment or as of the date of such Cash Collateralization to an amount not to exceed 100% of the Foreign Borrower Sublimit.

2.06 Termination or Reduction of Commitments. The Company may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate the Revolving Facility, the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit or from time to time permanently reduce the Revolving Facility, the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. five (5) Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction, (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, (iii) the Company shall not terminate or reduce the (A) Revolving Facility if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Total Revolving Outstandings would exceed the Revolving Facility, (B) the Letter of Credit Sublimit if, after giving effect thereto, the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations not fully Cash Collateralized hereunder would exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit, or (C) the Swing Line Sublimit if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Outstanding Amount of Swing Line Loans would exceed the Swing Line Sublimit (iv) if, after giving effect to any reduction of the Revolving Facility, the Letter of Credit Sublimit, the Foreign Borrower Sublimit, or the Swing Line Sublimit exceeds the amount of the Revolving Facility, such Sublimit shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such excess. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any such notice of termination or reduction of either Facility. Any reduction of a Facility shall be applied to the Commitment of each Lender according to its Applicable Percentage in respect of such Facility (without giving effect to any adjustments under Section 2.16). All fees accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Revolving Facility shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.

 

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2.07 Repayment of Loans.

(a) Revolving Loans. Each Borrower shall repay to the Revolving Lenders on the Maturity Date for the Revolving Facility the aggregate principal amount of Revolving Loans made to such Borrower and outstanding on such date.

(b) Swing Line Loans. The Company or the Foreign Borrower shall repay each Swing Line Loan made to the Company or the Foreign Borrower on the earlier to occur of (a) the date ten Business Days after such Loan is made and (b) the Maturity Date for the Revolving Facility.

2.08 Interest and Default Rate.

(a) Interest. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.08(b) below, (i) each Eurocurrency Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period from the applicable Borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the lesser of (x) the Highest Lawful Rate and (y) the Eurocurrency Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate; (ii) each Loan denominated in Dollars and made as a Base Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable Borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the lesser of (x) the Highest Lawful Rate and (y) the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate; (iii) each Domestic Swing Line Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable Borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the lesser of (x) the Highest Lawful Rate and (y) the Daily Floating LIBOR Rate plus the Applicable Rate and (iv) each Foreign Swing Line Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof at the lesser of (x) the Highest Lawful Rate and (y) the Overnight Rate plus the Applicable Rate for Domestic Swing Line Loans. To the extent that any calculation of interest or any fee required to be paid under this Agreement shall be based on (or result in) a calculation that is less than zero, such calculation shall be deemed zero for purposes of this Agreement.

(b) Default Rate.

(i) If any amount of principal of any Loan is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Laws.

(ii) If any amount (other than principal of any Loan) payable by either Borrower under any Loan Document is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, then upon the request of the Required Lenders, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Laws.

(iii) Upon the request of the Required Lenders, while any Event of Default exists (other than as set forth in clauses (b)(i) and (b)(ii) above), the defaulting Borrower shall pay interest on the principal amount of all outstanding Obligations or Foreign Obligations (including Letter of Credit Fees) hereunder, as applicable, attributable to such defaulting Borrower at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Laws.

(iv) Accrued and unpaid interest on past due amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand.

 

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(c) Interest Payment Date. Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein. Interest hereunder shall be due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law.

(d) Interest Act (Canada). For the purposes of the Interest Act (Canada), (i) whenever a rate of interest or fee rate hereunder is calculated on the basis of a year (the “deemed year”) that contains fewer days than the actual number of days in the calendar year of calculation, such rate of interest or fee rate shall be expressed as a yearly rate by multiplying such rate of interest or fee rate by the actual number of days in the calendar year of calculation and dividing it by the number of days in the deemed year, (ii) the principle of deemed reinvestment of interest shall not apply to any interest calculation hereunder, and (iii) the rates of interest stipulated herein are intended to be nominal rates and not effective rates or yields.

2.09 Fees. In addition to certain fees described in subsections (l) and (m) of Section 2.03:

(a) Revolving Facility Commitment Fee. The Company and the Foreign Borrower (in respect of the following clause (i)) shall pay (in the case of the following clause (i), each in accordance with its pro rata share of the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Loans) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender in accordance with its Applicable Revolving Percentage, a commitment fee (the “Commitment Fee”) in Dollars equal to the Applicable Rate times the actual daily amount by which the Revolving Facility exceeds the sum of (i) the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Loans and (ii) the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.16. For the avoidance of doubt, the Outstanding Amount of Swing Line Loans shall not be counted towards or considered usage of the Revolving Facility for purposes of determining the Commitment Fee. The commitment fee shall accrue at all times during the Availability Period, including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Article IV is not met, and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and on the last day of the Availability Period. The commitment fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears, and if there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the actual daily amount shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.

(b) Other Fees.

(i) The Company shall pay to the Arrangers and the Administrative Agent for their own respective accounts, in Dollars, fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the Fee Letter. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

(ii) The Company shall pay to the Lenders, in Dollars, such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

2.10 Computation of Interest and Fees. All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans (including Base Rate Loans determined by reference to the Eurocurrency Rate) shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a three hundred sixty (360) day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365-day year), or, in the case of interest in respect of Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies as to which market practice differs from the foregoing, in accordance with such market practice. Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid, provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.12(a), bear interest for one day. Each determination by the Administrative Agent (or, if applicable, the Swing Line Lender or applicable L/C Issuer) of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

 

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2.11 Evidence of Debt.

(a) Maintenance of Accounts. The Credit Extensions made by each Lender and each L/C Issuer shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender or such L/C Issuer and by the Administrative Agent in the ordinary course of business. The Administrative Agent shall maintain the Register in accordance with Section 11.06(c). The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender or such L/C Issuer shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Credit Extensions made by the Lenders or such L/C Issuer to the Borrowers and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrowers hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender or any L/C Issuer and Register, the Register shall control in the absence of manifest error. Upon the request of any Lender to a Borrower made through the Administrative Agent, such Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans to such Borrower in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to its Note and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount, currency and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.

(b) Maintenance of Records. In addition to the accounts and records referred to in Section 2.11(a), each Lender and the Administrative Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice accounts or records evidencing the purchases and sales by such Lender of participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by the Administrative Agent and the accounts and records of any Lender in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.

2.12 Payments Generally; Administrative Agents Clawback.

(a) General. All payments to be made by the Company or by the Foreign Borrower with respect to the Obligations or the Foreign Obligations, as applicable, shall be made free and clear of and without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein and except with respect to principal of and interest on Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency and Foreign Swing Line Loans, all payments by the Company or by the Foreign Borrower hereunder with respect to the Obligations or the Foreign Obligations, as applicable, shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders (including without limitation, the Swing Line Lender) to which such payment is owed, at the applicable Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars and in Same Day Funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified herein. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Company or by the Foreign Borrower hereunder with respect to principal and interest on Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency and Foreign Swing Line Loans (in each case, as such Loans or Swing Line Loans may be attributable to the Obligations or the Foreign Obligations, as applicable) shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the applicable Administrative Agent’s Office in such Alternative Currency and in Same Day Funds not later than the Applicable Time specified by the Administrative Agent on the dates specified herein. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent may require that any payments due under this Agreement be made in the United States. If, for any reason, the Company or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, is prohibited by any Law from making any required payment hereunder in an Alternative Currency, such Borrower shall make such payment in Dollars in the Dollar Equivalent of the Alternative Currency payment amount. The Administrative Agent will promptly

 

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distribute to each Lender its Applicable Percentage (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative Agent (i) after 2:00 p.m., in the case of payments in Dollars, or (ii) after the Applicable Time specified by the Administrative Agent in the case of payments in an Alternative Currency, shall in each case be deemed received on the immediately following Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue. If any payment to be made by the Company or by the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the immediately following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.

(b) (i) Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing of Eurocurrency Rate Loans (or, in the case of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, prior to 12:00 noon on the date of such Borrowing) that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.02 (or, in the case of a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, that such Lender has made such share available in accordance with and at the time required by Section 2.02) and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the applicable Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Company or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount in Same Day Funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to such Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the Overnight Rate, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing, and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by such Borrower, the interest rate applicable to the Base Rate Loans or in the case of Alternative Currencies in accordance with market practice applicable to borrowers similarly situated to the Borrowers hereunder in credit facilities similar to the credit facility evidenced by this Agreement, in each case, as applicable. If such Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to such Borrower the amount of such interest paid by such Borrower for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing. Any payment by such Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim such Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

(ii) Payments by Borrowers; Presumptions by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Company or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or any L/C Issuer hereunder that the applicable Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Appropriate Lenders or the applicable L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the amount due. With respect to any payment that the Administrative Agent makes for the account of the Lenders or any L/C Issuer hereunder as to which the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that any of the following applies (such payment referred to as the “Rescindable Amount”): (1) the Company or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, has not in fact made such payment; (2) the Administrative Agent has made a payment in excess of the amount so paid by the Company or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, (whether or not then owed); or (3) the Administrative agent has for any reason otherwise erroneously made such payment; then each of the Appropriate Lenders or the applicable L/C Issuer, as the case may be, severally agrees to

 

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repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the Rescindable Amount so distributed to such Lender or such L/C Issuer, in Same Day Funds 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 Overnight Rate. A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or a Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this clause (b) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

(iii) Payments in Other Currencies. A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender, the Company or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, with respect to any amount owing under this clause (b) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

(c) Failure to Satisfy Conditions Precedent. If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender to any Borrower as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Article II, and such funds are not made available to such Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Article IV are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.

(d) Obligations of Lenders Several. The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Revolving Loans, to fund participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans, in each case to the Company or to the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, and to make payments pursuant to Section 11.04(c) are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan, to fund any such participation or to make any payment under Section 11.04(c) on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Loan, to purchase its participation or to make its payment under Section 11.04(c).

(e) Funding Source. Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner.

(f) Pro Rata Treatment. Except to the extent otherwise provided herein: (i) each Borrowing (other than Swing Line Borrowings) shall be made from the Appropriate Lenders, each payment of fees under Section 2.09 and clauses (l) and (m) of Sections 2.03 shall be made for account of the Appropriate Lenders, and each termination or reduction of the amount of the Commitments shall be applied to the respective Commitments of the Lenders, pro rata according to their respective Commitments; (ii) each Borrowing shall be allocated pro rata among the Lenders according to the amounts of their respective Commitments (in the case of the making of Revolving Loans) or their respective Loans that are to be included in such Borrowing (in the case of conversions and continuations of Loans); (iii) each payment or prepayment of principal of Loans by a Borrower shall be made for account of the Appropriate Lenders pro rata in accordance with the respective unpaid principal amounts of the Loans held by them, as the case may be; and (iv) each payment of interest on Loans by a Borrower shall be made for account of the Appropriate Lenders pro rata in accordance with the amounts of interest on such Loans then due and payable to the respective Appropriate Lenders.

2.13 Sharing of Payments by Lenders. If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of (a) Obligations in respect of any of the Facilities due and payable to such Lender hereunder and under the other Loan Documents at such time in excess of its ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such Obligations due and payable to such Lender at such time to (ii) the aggregate amount of the Obligations in respect of the Revolving Facility due and payable to all Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents at such time) of payments on

 

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account of the Obligations in respect of the Revolving Facility due and payable to all Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents at such time obtained by all the Lenders at such time or (b) Obligations in respect of the Revolving Facility owing (but not due and payable) to such Lender hereunder and under the other Loan Documents at such time in excess of its ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such Obligations owing (but not due and payable) to such Lender at such time to (ii) the aggregate amount of the Obligations in respect of the Revolving Facility owing (but not due and payable) to all Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents at such time) of payment on account of the Obligations in respect of the Revolving Facility owing (but not due and payable) to all Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents at such time obtained by all of the Lenders at such time then, in each case under clauses (a) and (b) above, 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 subparticipations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans 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 Obligations in respect of the Revolving Facility then due and payable to the Lenders or owing (but not due and payable) to the Lenders, as the case may be, provided that:

(i) if any such participations or subparticipations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations or subparticipations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest; and

(ii) the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment made by or on behalf of a Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement (including the application of funds arising from the existence of a Defaulting Lender), (y) the application of Cash Collateral provided for in Section 2.15, or (z) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or subparticipations in L/C Obligations or Swing Line Loans to any assignee or participant, other than an assignment to the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section 2.13 shall apply).

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

2.14 Increase in Commitments.

(a) Request for Increase. Provided (i) subject to Section 1.11, there exists no Default both before and after giving effect to any Incremental Revolving Commitment or Incremental Term Commitment (including compliance by the Company with the covenants set forth in Sections 7.10 and 7.11 determined on a pro forma basis) and (ii) upon notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders), the Company may from time to time, request, and, subject to this Section 2.14 (including Section 2.14(c)) Lenders hereby consent to, (x) an increase in the Revolving Facility (each, an “Incremental Revolving Commitment”) and/or (y) the establishment of one or more new term loan commitments (each, an “Incremental Term Commitment”), by an amount (for all such requests in the aggregate) not exceeding $250,000,000; provided that (A) any such request for an increase shall be in a minimum amount of $5,000,000, and (B) no such increase shall increase the Letter of Credit Sublimit, the Domestic Swing Line Sublimit, the Foreign Swing Line Sublimit or the Foreign Borrower Sublimit. At the time of sending such notice, the Company (in consultation with the Administrative Agent) shall specify the time period within which each Lender is requested to respond (which shall in no event be less than ten (10) Business Days from the date of delivery of such notice to the Lenders or such other time period as agreed to by the Company and any Lender providing an Incremental Revolving Commitment or an Incremental Term Commitment).

 

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(b) Terms of New Loans and Commitments. The terms and provisions of Loans made pursuant to Incremental Commitments shall be as follows:

(i) the terms and provisions of Incremental Term Loans shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; provided that in any event the Incremental Term Loans must comply with clause (iii) below;

(ii) the terms and provisions of Revolving Loans made pursuant to Incremental Revolving Commitments shall be identical to the Revolving Loans; and

(iii) the maturity date of Incremental Term Loans (the “Incremental Term Loan Maturity Date”) shall not be earlier than the Maturity Date.

(c) Lender Elections to Increase. Each Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent within such time period specified in the notice referred to in subsection (a) above (i) whether or not it agrees to provide an Incremental Term Commitment and (ii) whether or not it agrees to increase its Revolving Commitment and, if so, whether by an amount equal to, greater than, or less than its Applicable Revolving Percentage of such requested increase, as applicable. Any Lender not responding within such time period shall be deemed to have declined to provide an Incremental Term Commitment or increase its Revolving Commitment, as applicable.

(d) Notification by Administrative Agent; Additional Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Company and each Lender of the Lenders’ responses to each request made hereunder. To achieve the full amount of a requested increase, and subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Swing Line Lender (which approvals shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), the Company may also invite additional Eligible Assignees to become Lenders (the “New Lenders”).

(e) Increase Joinder; Effective Date; Allocations. The Incremental Commitments shall be effected by a joinder agreement (the “Increase Joinder”) executed by the Company, the Administrative Agent and each Lender making such Incremental Commitment, including each New Lender, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to each of them. The Administrative Agent and the Company shall determine the effective date (the “Increase Effective Date”) and the final allocation of such increase. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Company and the Lenders of the final allocation of such increase and the Increase Effective Date. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 11.01, the Increase Joinder 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, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.14. In addition, unless otherwise specifically provided herein, all references in the Loan Documents to Loans shall be deemed, unless the context otherwise requires, to include references to Revolving Loans made pursuant to Incremental Revolving Commitments and Incremental Term Loans made pursuant to Incremental Term Commitments, respectively, made pursuant to this Agreement.

(f) Conditions to Effectiveness of Increase. As a condition precedent to such increase, the Company shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of each Borrower dated as of the Increase Effective Date (in sufficient copies for each Lender) signed by a Responsible Officer of such Borrower (i) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by such Borrower approving or consenting to such increase, and (ii) in the case of the Company, certifying that, before and after giving effect to such increase,

 

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(A) each of the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 shall have been satisfied; (B) the representations and warranties contained in Article V and the other Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects (except to the extent that any representation and warranty that is already qualified by materiality in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all respects), on and as of the Increase Effective Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct in all material respects (except that any representation and warranty is qualified as to “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” shall be true and correct in all respects) as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 2.14, the representations and warranties contained in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 5.05 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01, (C) no Default exists and (D) the Company’s compliance with the covenants set forth in Sections 7.10 and 7.11 determined on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such increase. The Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered any other customary documents, including, without limitation, legal opinions, as reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Incremental Revolving Commitment or Incremental Term Commitment. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section and solely in the case of any Incremental Commitments incurred in connection with a Limited Condition Acquisition, the Company’s compliance with any representation or warranty, covenant or other condition shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.11 hereof. Notwithstanding Section 2.14(f) or in any other provision of any Loan Document, if the proceeds of any Incremental Term Loans are to incurred in connection with a Limited Condition Acquisition and the Lenders or other lenders providing such Incremental Term Loans so agree, the availability thereof shall be subject to customary “SunGard” conditionality.

(g) Adjustment of Revolving Loans. To the extent the Commitments being increased on the relevant Increase Effective Date are Incremental Revolving Commitments, each Revolving Lender shall purchase or sell (as the case may be), without recourse, an amount of the Revolving Loans outstanding such that, after giving effect to the Incremental Revolving Commitments, the amount of each such Lender’s Revolving Commitment utilized and the amount of the Revolving Loans owed to each Revolving Lender will be equal to its Applicable Revolving Percentage thereof after giving effect to such increase. The Borrowers shall pay each Revolving Lender any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05 as a result of any such purchases or sales.

(h) Making of New Incremental Term Loans. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, on any Increase Effective Date on which new Incremental Term Commitments for Incremental Term Loans are effective, subject to the satisfaction of the foregoing terms and conditions, each Lender of each new Incremental Term Commitment shall make an Incremental Term Loan to the Company in an amount equal to its new Incremental Term Commitment.

(i) Equal and Ratable Benefit. The Loans and Commitments established pursuant to this paragraph shall constitute Loans and Commitments under, and shall be entitled to all the benefits afforded by, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and shall, without limiting the foregoing, benefit equally and ratably from the Guaranties and the Security Instruments.

(j) Conflicting Provisions. This Section shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.13 or 11.01 to the contrary.

2.15 Cash Collateral.

(a) Certain Credit Support Events. If (i) any L/C Issuer has honored any full or partial drawing request under any Letter of Credit and such drawing has resulted in an L/C Borrowing, (ii) as of the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, any L/C Obligation for any reason remains outstanding, (iii) the Company shall be required to provide Cash Collateral pursuant to Section 2.05 or 8.02(c), or (iv) there shall exist a

 

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Defaulting Lender, the Company shall immediately (in the case of clause (iii) above) or within one Business Day (in all other cases) following any request by the Administrative Agent or applicable L/C Issuer, provide Cash Collateral in an amount not less than the applicable Minimum Collateral Amount (determined in the case of Cash Collateral provided pursuant to clause (iv) above, after giving effect to Section 2.16(a)(iv) and any Cash Collateral provided by the Defaulting Lender).

(b) Grant of Security Interest. The Company, and to the extent provided by any Defaulting Lender, such Defaulting Lender, hereby grants to (and subjects to the control of) the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders, and agrees to maintain, a first priority security interest in all such cash, deposit accounts and all balances therein, and all other property so provided as Collateral pursuant hereto, and in all proceeds of the foregoing, all as security for the obligations to which such Cash Collateral may be applied pursuant to Section 2.15(c). If at any time the Administrative Agent determines that Cash Collateral is subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Administrative Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer as herein provided, or that the total amount of such Cash Collateral is less than the Minimum Collateral Amount, the Company will, promptly upon demand by the Administrative Agent, pay or provide to the Administrative Agent additional Cash Collateral in an amount sufficient to eliminate such deficiency (determined in the case of Cash Collateral provided pursuant to Section 2.16(a)(v), after giving effect to Section 2.16(a)(iv) and any Cash Collateral provided by the Defaulting Lender). All Cash Collateral (other than credit support not constituting funds subject to deposit) shall be maintained in blocked, non-interest bearing deposit accounts at Bank of America. The Company shall pay on demand therefor from time to time all customary account opening, activity and other administrative fees and charges in connection with the maintenance and disbursement of Cash Collateral.

(c) Application. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Cash Collateral provided under any of this Section 2.15 or Sections 2.03, 2.04, 2.05, 2.16, or 8.02 in respect of Letters of Credit shall be held and applied to the satisfaction of the specific L/C Obligations, obligations to fund participations therein (including, as to Cash Collateral provided by a Revolving Lender that is a Defaulting Lender, any interest accrued on such obligation) and other obligations for which the Cash Collateral was so provided, prior to any other application of such property as may otherwise be provided for herein.

(d) Release. Cash Collateral (or the appropriate portion thereof) provided to reduce Fronting Exposure or to secure other obligations shall be released promptly following (i) the elimination of the applicable Fronting Exposure or other obligations giving rise thereto (including by the termination of Defaulting Lender status of the applicable Revolving Lender (or, as appropriate, its assignee following compliance with Section 11.06(b)(vi))) or (ii) the determination by the Administrative Agent and the applicable L/C Issuer that there exists excess Cash Collateral; provided, however, (x) any such release shall be without prejudice to, and any disbursement or other transfer of Cash Collateral shall be and remain subject to, any other Lien conferred under the Loan Documents and the other applicable provisions of the Loan Documents, and (y) the Person providing Cash Collateral and the applicable L/C Issuer may agree that Cash Collateral shall not be released but instead held to support future anticipated Fronting Exposure or other obligations.

2.16 Defaulting Lenders.

(a) Adjustments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, until such time as that Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law:

 

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(i) Waivers and Amendments. Such Defaulting Lender’s right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement shall be restricted as set forth in the definition of “Required Lenders” and Section 11.01.

(ii) Defaulting Lender Waterfall. Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article VIII or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 11.08, shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the applicable L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender hereunder; third, to Cash Collateralize such L/C Issuer’s Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender in accordance with Section 2.15; fourth, as the Company or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; fifth, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Company or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to (x) satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement and (y) Cash Collateralize the applicable L/C Issuer’s future Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to future Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement, in accordance with Section 2.15; sixth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the applicable L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender as a result of any final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, such L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; seventh, so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Company or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, as a result of any final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by such Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and eighth, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise as may be required under the Loan Documents in connection with any Lien thereunder or directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or L/C Borrowings in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (y) such Loans were made or the related Letters of Credit were issued at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and L/C Obligations owed to, all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or L/C Obligations owed to, such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded and unfunded participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Commitments hereunder without giving effect to Section 2.16(a)(iv). Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 2.16(a)(ii) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

(iii) Certain Fees.

(A) No Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive any fee payable under Section 2.09(a) for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and neither the Company nor the Foreign Borrower shall be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender). For the avoidance of doubt, no Commitment Fee shall accrue on any of the Revolving Commitments of a Defaulting Lender so long as such Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender.

 

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(B) Each Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive Letter of Credit Fees for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender only to the extent allocable to its Applicable Revolving Percentage of the stated amount of Letters of Credit for which such Defaulting Lender has provided Cash Collateral pursuant to Section 2.16 or otherwise. If any portion of a Defaulting Lender’s pro rata share of any Letter of Credit is Cash Collateralized by the Company or Foreign Borrower or reallocated to the other Revolving Lenders pursuant to Section 2.16(a)(iv), then the Company or, as applicable, the Foreign Borrower shall not be required to pay a Letter of Credit Fee to such Defaulting Lender with respect to such portion of such Defaulting Lender’s pro rata share so long as it is Cash Collateralized by the Borrower or reallocated to the other Lenders. For the avoidance of doubt, Letter of Credit Fees not required to be paid to any Defaulting Lender shall be subject to clause (C) below.

(C) With respect to any Letter of Credit Fee not required to be paid to any Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (B) above, the Company or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, shall (x) pay to each Non-Defaulting Lender that portion of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations or Swing Line Loans that has been reallocated to such Non-Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (iv) below, (y) pay to the applicable L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender, as applicable, the amount of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender to the extent allocable to such L/C Issuer’s or Swing Line Lender’s Fronting Exposure to such Defaulting Lender, and (z) not be required to pay the remaining amount of any such fee.

(iv) Reallocation of Applicable Percentages to Reduce Fronting Exposure. All or any part of such Defaulting Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans shall be reallocated among the Non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Revolving Percentages (calculated without regard to such Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Commitment) but only to the extent that such reallocation does not cause the aggregate Revolving Exposure of any Non-Defaulting Lender to exceed such Non-Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Commitment. Subject to Section 11.26, no reallocation hereunder shall constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder against a Defaulting Lender arising from that Lender having become a Defaulting Lender, including any claim of a Non-Defaulting Lender as a result of such Non-Defaulting Lender’s increased exposure following such reallocation.

(v) Cash Collateral, Repayment of Swing Line Loans. If the reallocation described in clause (a)(iv) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Company or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, shall, without prejudice to any right or remedy available to it hereunder or under Applicable Law, (x) first, prepay Swing Line Loans in an amount equal to the Swing Line Lenders’ Fronting Exposure and (y) second, Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuers’ Fronting Exposure in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.15.

(b) Defaulting Lender Cure. If the Company, the Foreign Borrower, the Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and each L/C Issuer agree in writing that a Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein (which may include arrangements with respect to any Cash Collateral), that Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase at par that portion of outstanding Loans of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary

 

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to cause the Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans to be held on a pro rata basis by the Lenders in accordance with their Revolving Commitments (without giving effect to Section 2.16(a)(iv)), whereupon that Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Company while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided, further, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

(c) New Swing Line Loans/Letters of Credit. So long as any Revolving Lender is a Defaulting Lender, (i) the Swing Line Lender shall not be required to fund any Swing Line Loans unless it is satisfied that it will have no Fronting Exposure after giving effect to such Swing Line Loan (and, for the avoidance of doubt, after giving effect to any reallocation described in Section 2.16(a)(iv) above) and (ii) no L/C Issuer shall be required to issue, extend, increase, reinstate or renew any Letter of Credit unless it is satisfied that it will have no Fronting Exposure after giving effect thereto.

2.17 Designation of Material Subsidiaries. If, at the time a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a), the Material Subsidiaries that are Domestic Subsidiaries are insufficient to satisfy each of the thresholds set forth in part (a) of the definition of Material Subsidiaries, the Company shall, no later than thirty (30) days after the date of delivery of such Compliance Certificate, designate in writing to the Administrative Agent such additional Domestic Subsidiaries as “Material Subsidiaries” as are necessary to comply with such definition. In the case of any designations pursuant to this Section each such designated Subsidiary shall comply with all the applicable provisions of Section 6.14 within the time provided therein.

2.18 Designated Lender. Subject to the first sentence of Section 3.06(a), each of the Administrative Agent, each L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender and each Lender at its option may make any Credit Extension or otherwise perform its obligations hereunder through any Lending Office (each, a “Designated Lender”); provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of such Borrower to repay such Credit Extension in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Any Designated Lender shall be considered a Lender, provided that designation of a Designated Lender is for administrative convenience only and does not expand the scope of liabilities or obligations of any Lender or Designated Lender beyond those of the Lender designating such Person as a Designated Lender as provided in this Agreement.

2.19 Successor Foreign Borrower. Notwithstanding anything set forth in Section 7.04 and Section 11.06(a) to the contrary, upon at least five (5) Business Days prior written notice to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, CMC International Finance S.à r.l. may assign all of its rights and obligations hereunder and be replaced as the Foreign Borrower by an entity that assumes all of CMC International Finance S.à r.l.’s obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents so long as each of the following conditions are satisfied on or prior to the Foreign Borrower Replacement Date:

(a) The Successor Foreign Borrower shall be organized and existing under the laws of Luxembourg.

(b) The Foreign Guarantor shall continue to be a direct Subsidiary of the Successor Foreign Borrower and the Foreign Guaranty shall not be affected by the Successor Foreign Borrower’s assumption all of CMC International Finance S.à r.l.’s obligations under this Agreement.

 

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(c) CMC International Finance S.à r.l. and the Successor Foreign Borrower shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an assumption, assignment and ratification agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(d) The Administrative Agent shall have received the following each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the Successor Foreign Borrower and in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:

(i) Notes executed by the Successor Foreign Borrower in favor of each Lender that has requested a Note;

(ii) such certificates, resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of the Responsible Officer, secretary or assistant secretary (or other individuals performing similar functions) of the Successor Foreign Borrower evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which the Successor Foreign Borrower is a party;

(iii) such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that the Successor Foreign Borrower is duly organized or formed, and is validly existing, in good standing or the equivalent thereof (to the extent applicable) and qualified to engage in business in its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization;

(iv) a favorable opinion of special counsel to the Successor Foreign Borrower in Luxembourg, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, as to the matters concerning the Loan Parties and the Loan Documents as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may reasonably request;

(v) a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Successor Foreign Borrower either (A) attaching copies of all consents, licenses and approvals required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Successor Foreign Borrower and the validity against the Successor Foreign Borrower of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and such consents, licenses and approvals shall be in full force and effect, or (B) stating that no such consents, licenses or approvals are so required;

(vi) a certificate for each of the Company and the Successor Foreign Borrower, as applicable, signed by a Responsible Officer thereof certifying (A) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (B) that there has been no event or circumstance since the date of the Audited Financial Statements that has had or could be reasonably expected, either individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(vii) updated schedules to the Loan Documents if, and as, requested by the Administrative Agent, and

(viii) such other documents as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, all in form, content and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(e) Upon the reasonable request of any Lender made prior to the Foreign Borrower Replacement Date, the Successor Foreign Borrower shall have provided to such Lender, and such Lender shall be reasonably satisfied with, the documentation and other information so requested in connection with applicable “know your customer” and Anti-Money Laundering Laws, including, without limitation, the PATRIOT Act.

 

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(f) At least three (3) Business Days prior to the Foreign Borrower Replacement Date, if the Successor Foreign Borrower qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, such Successor Foreign Borrower shall have provided, to each Lender that so requests, information required to complete a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to such Borrower and will provide such Beneficial Ownership Certification executed by such Successor Foreign Borrower on the Foreign Borrower Replacement Date.

Notwithstanding anything set forth in Section 11.01 to the contrary, any waiver, consent or other amendment to any term or provision of this Agreement and the Exhibits hereto necessary or advisable to effectuate the intent of this Section 2.19 to allow for a Successor Foreign Borrower shall be effective when executed by the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers.

ARTICLE III.

TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

3.01 Taxes.

(a) Defined Terms. For purposes of this Section 3.01, the term “Applicable Law” includes FATCA and the term “Lender” includes any L/C Issuer.

(b) Payments Free of Taxes; Obligation to Withhold; Payments on Account of Taxes. Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document shall be made without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by Applicable Laws. If any Applicable Laws (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable Withholding Agent) require the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by a Withholding Agent, then the applicable Withholding Agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with Applicable Law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the applicable Loan Party shall be increased as necessary so that after any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.01) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such withholding or deduction been made.

(c) Payment of Other Taxes by the Loan Parties. The Loan Parties shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with Applicable Law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes.

(d) Tax Indemnifications.

(i) Each of the Loan Parties shall, and does hereby, jointly and severally indemnify each Recipient, and shall make payment in respect thereof 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 3.01) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient, and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Company by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

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(ii) Each Lender shall, and does hereby, severally indemnify and shall make payment in respect thereof within ten (10) days after demand therefor, (A) the Administrative Agent against any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that any Loan Party has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Loan Parties to do so), (B) the Administrative Agent and the Loan Parties, as applicable, against any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 11.06(d) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (C) the Administrative Agent and the Loan Parties, as applicable, against any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent or a Loan Party in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this clause (d)(ii).

(e) Evidence of Payments. As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by any Loan Party to a Governmental Authority, as provided in this Section 3.01, the Company shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of any return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(f) Status of Lenders; Tax Documentation.

(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 Company and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Company or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Company 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 Company or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by Applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Company or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Company 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 3.01(f)(ii)(A), (ii)(B) and (ii)(D) below) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.

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

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

 

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

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

(2) executed copies of IRS Form W–8ECI;

(3) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H–1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Company within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) executed copies of IRS Form W–8BEN–E (or W–8BEN, as applicable); or

(4) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed copies of IRS Form W–8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W–8ECI, IRS Form W–8BEN–E (or W–8BEN, as applicable), a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H–2 or Exhibit H–3, IRS Form W–9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H–4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;

(C) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Company 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 Company or the Administrative Agent), executed copies (or originals, as required) 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 Company or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and

 

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(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 Company and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Company 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 Company or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Company 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 the purposes of this clause (f)(ii)(D), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

(iii) Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered pursuant to this Section 3.01 expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Company and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.

(g) Treatment of Certain Refunds. Unless required by Applicable Laws, at no time shall the Administrative Agent have any obligation to file for or otherwise pursue on behalf of a Lender, or have any obligation to pay to any Lender, any refund of Taxes withheld or deducted from funds paid for the account of such Lender. If any Recipient 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 by any Loan Party or with respect to which any Loan Party has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 3.01, it shall pay to such Loan Party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by such Loan Party under this Section 3.01 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) incurred by such Recipient, as the case may be, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), provided that each Loan Party, upon the request of the Recipient, agrees to repay the amount paid over to such Loan Party (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Recipient in the event the Recipient is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this clause (g), in no event will the applicable Recipient be required to pay any amount to such Loan Party pursuant to this clause (g) the payment of which would place the Recipient in a less favorable net after-Tax position than such Recipient 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 clause (g) shall not be construed to require any Recipient to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to any Loan Party or any other Person.

(h) Survival. Each party’s obligations under this Section 3.01 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all other Obligations.

 

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3.02 Illegality and Designated Lenders.

(a) If any Lender determines in good faith that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund or charge interest with respect to any Credit Extension, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurocurrency Rate, or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, Dollars or any Alternative Currency in the applicable interbank market, then, upon notice thereof by such Lender to the Company (through the Administrative Agent), (i) any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Eurocurrency Rate Loans in the affected currency or currencies or, in the case of Eurocurrency Rate Loans in Dollars, to convert Base Rate Loans to Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be suspended, and (ii) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender making or maintaining Base Rate Loans the interest rate on which is determined by reference to the Eurocurrency Rate component of the Base Rate, the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Eurocurrency Rate component of the Base Rate, in each case until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Company that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist (which such Lender agrees to do promptly upon the occurrence thereof). Upon receipt of such notice, (x) the Borrowers shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable and such Loans are denominated in Dollars, convert all such Eurocurrency Rate Loans of such Lender to the Company to Base Rate Loans (the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Eurocurrency Rate component of the Base Rate), either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurocurrency Rate Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurocurrency Rate Loans and (y) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon the Eurocurrency Rate, the Administrative Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the Eurocurrency Rate component thereof until the Administrative Agent is advised in writing by such Lender that it is no longer illegal for such Lender to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurocurrency Rate. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrowers shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05.

(b) If, in any applicable jurisdiction, the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or any Lender or any Designated Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or any Lender or its applicable Designated Lender to (i) perform any of its obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, (ii) to fund, hold a commitment or maintain its participation in any Loan or Letter of Credit or (iii) issue, make, maintain, fund or charge interest or fees with respect to any Credit Extension to the Foreign Borrower, such Person shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent, then, upon the Administrative Agent notifying the Company, and until such notice by such Person is revoked, any obligation of such Person to issue, make, maintain, fund or charge interest or fees with respect to any such Credit Extension shall be suspended, and to the extent required by Applicable Law, cancelled. Upon receipt of such notice, the Loan Parties shall, (A) repay that Person’s participation in the Loans or other applicable Obligations on the last day of the Interest Period for each Loan or other Obligation occurring after the Administrative Agent has notified the Company or, if earlier, the date specified by such Person in the notice delivered to the Administrative Agent (being no earlier than the last day of any applicable grace period permitted by Applicable Law), (B) to the extent applicable to any L/C Issuer, Cash Collateralize that portion of applicable L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer to the extent not otherwise Cash Collateralized and (C) take all reasonable actions requested by such Person to mitigate or avoid such illegality.

 

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3.03 Inability to Determine Rates.

(a) If in connection with any request for a Eurocurrency Rate Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof, (i) the Administrative Agent determines that (A) deposits (whether in Dollars or an Alternative Currency) are not being offered to banks in the applicable offshore interbank market for such currency for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, (B) (1) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the Eurocurrency Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurocurrency Rate Loan (whether denominated in Dollars or an Alternative Currency) or in connection with an existing or proposed Base Rate Loan and (2) the circumstances described in Section 3.03(c)(i) do not apply or (C) a fundamental change has occurred in the foreign exchange or interbank markets with respect to such Alternative Currency (including, without limitation, changes in national or international financial, political or economic conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls) (in each case with respect to this clause (i), “Impacted Loans”), or (ii) the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders determine that for any reason Eurocurrency Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurocurrency Rate Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Company and each Lender. Thereafter, (x) the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Eurocurrency Rate Loans in the affected currency or currencies shall be suspended (to the extent of the affected Eurocurrency Rate Loans or Interest Periods), and (y) in the event of a determination described in the preceding sentence with respect to the Eurocurrency Rate component of the Base Rate, the utilization of the Eurocurrency Rate component in determining the Base Rate shall be suspended, in each case until the Administrative Agent (or, in the case of a determination by the Required Lenders described in clause (ii) of this Section 3.03(a), until the Administrative Agent upon instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, the Company may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans in the affected currency or currencies (to the extent of the affected Eurocurrency Rate Loans or Interest Periods) or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in Dollars in the amount specified therein.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Administrative Agent has made the determination described in clause (a)(i) of this Section 3.03, the Administrative Agent in consultation with the Company, may establish an alternative interest rate for the Impacted Loans, in which case, such alternative rate of interest shall apply with respect to the Impacted Loans until (i) the Administrative Agent revokes the notice delivered with respect to the Impacted Loans under clause (a)(i) of this Section 3.03, (ii) the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders notify the Administrative Agent and the Company that such alternative interest rate does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to the Lenders of funding the Impacted Loans, or (iii) any Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for such Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to such alternative rate of interest or to determine or charge interest rates based upon such rate or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to do any of the foregoing and provides the Administrative Agent and the Company written notice thereof.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Documents, if the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error), or the Company or Required Lenders notify the Administrative Agent (with, in the case of the Required Lenders, a copy to the Company) that the Company or Required Lenders (as applicable) have determined, that:

(i) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining LIBOR for any Interest Period hereunder or any other tenors of LIBOR, including, without limitation, because the LIBOR Screen Rate is not available or published on a current basis and such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary; or

 

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(ii) the administrator of the LIBOR Screen Rate or a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent or such administrator has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which LIBOR or the LIBOR Screen Rate shall no longer be made available, or used for determining the interest rate of loans, provided that, at the time of such statement, there is no successor administrator that is satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, that will continue to provide LIBOR after such specific date (such specific date, the “Scheduled Unavailability Date”); or

(iii) the administrator of the LIBOR Screen Rate or a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over such administrator has made a public statement announcing that all Interest Periods and other tenors of LIBOR are no longer representative; or

(iv) syndicated loans currently being executed, or that include language similar to that contained in this Section 3.03, are being executed or amended (as applicable) to incorporate or adopt a new benchmark interest rate to replace LIBOR,

then, in the case of clauses (i)-(iii) above, on a date and time determined by the Administrative Agent (any such date, the “LIBOR Replacement Date”), which date shall be at the end of an Interest Period or on the relevant interest payment date, as applicable, for interest calculated and shall occur within a reasonable period of time after the occurrence of any of the events or circumstances under clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above and, solely with respect to clause (ii) above, no later than the Scheduled Unavailability Date, LIBOR will be replaced hereunder and under any Loan Document with, subject to the proviso below, the first available alternative set forth in the order below for any payment period for interest calculated that can be determined by the Administrative Agent, in each case, without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document (the “LIBOR Successor Rate”; and any such rate before giving effect to the Related Adjustment, the “Pre-Adjustment Successor Rate”):

(x) Term SOFR plus the Related Adjustment; and

(y) SOFR plus the Related Adjustment;

and in the case of clause (iv) above, the Company and Administrative Agent may amend this Agreement solely for the purpose of replacing LIBOR under this Agreement and under any other Loan Document in accordance with the definition of “LIBOR Successor Rate” and such amendment will become effective at 5:00 p.m., on the fifth Business Day after the Administrative Agent shall have notified all Lenders and the Company of the occurrence of the circumstances described in clause (iv) above unless, prior to such time, Lenders comprising the Required Lenders have delivered to the Administrative Agent written notice that such Required Lenders object to the implementation of a LIBOR Successor Rate pursuant to such clause;

provided that, if the Administrative Agent determines that Term SOFR has become available, is administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent and would have been identified as the Pre-Adjustment Successor Rate in accordance with the foregoing if it had been so available at the time that the LIBOR Successor Rate then in effect was so identified, and the Administrative Agent notifies the Company and each Lender of such availability, then from and after the beginning of the Interest Period, relevant interest payment date or payment period for interest calculated, in each case, commencing no less than thirty (30) days after the date of such notice, the Pre-Adjustment Successor Rate shall be Term SOFR and the LIBOR Successor Rate shall be Term SOFR plus the relevant Related Adjustment.

The Administrative Agent will promptly (in one or more notices) notify the Company and each Lender of (x) any occurrence of any of the events, periods or circumstances under clauses (i) through (iii) above, (y) a LIBOR Replacement Date and (z) the LIBOR Successor Rate.

 

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Any LIBOR Successor Rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided that to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, such LIBOR Successor Rate shall be applied in a manner as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent.

Notwithstanding anything else herein, if at any time any LIBOR Successor Rate as so determined would otherwise be less than 0%, the LIBOR Successor Rate will be deemed to be 0% for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

In connection with the implementation of a LIBOR Successor Rate, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make LIBOR Successor Rate Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such LIBOR Successor Rate Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement; provided that, with respect to any such amendment effected, the Administrative Agent shall post each such amendment implementing such LIBOR Successor Rate Conforming Changes to the Company and the Lenders reasonably promptly after such amendment becomes effective.

If the events or circumstances of the type described in Section 3.03(c)(i)-(iii) have occurred with respect to the LIBOR Successor Rate then in effect, then the successor rate thereto shall be determined in accordance with the definition of “LIBOR Successor Rate.”

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, (i) after any such determination by the Administrative Agent or receipt by the Administrative Agent of any such notice described under Section 3.03(c)(i)-(iii), as applicable, if the Administrative Agent determines that none of the LIBOR Successor Rates is available on or prior to the LIBOR Replacement Date, (ii) if the events or circumstances described in Section 3.03(c)(iv) have occurred but none of the LIBOR Successor Rates is available, or (iii) if the events or circumstances of the type described in Section 3.03(c)(i)-(iii) have occurred with respect to the LIBOR Successor Rate then in effect and the Administrative Agent determines that none of the LIBOR Successor Rates is available, then in each case, the Administrative Agent and the Company may amend this Agreement solely for the purpose of replacing LIBOR or any then current LIBOR Successor Rate in accordance with this Section 3.03 at the end of any Interest Period, relevant interest payment date or payment period for interest calculated, as applicable, with another alternate benchmark rate giving due consideration to any evolving or then existing convention for similar U.S. dollar denominated syndicated credit facilities for such alternative benchmarks and, in each case, including any Related Adjustments and any other mathematical or other adjustments to such benchmark giving due consideration to any evolving or then existing convention for similar U.S. dollar denominated syndicated credit facilities for such benchmarks, which adjustment or method for calculating such adjustment shall be published on an information service as selected by the Administrative Agent from time to time in its reasonable discretion and may be periodically updated. For the avoidance of doubt, any such proposed rate and adjustments shall constitute a LIBOR Successor Rate. Any such amendment shall become effective at 5:00 p.m. on the fifth Business Day after the Administrative Agent shall have posted such proposed amendment to all Lenders and the Company unless, prior to such time, Lenders comprising the Required Lenders have delivered to the Administrative Agent written notice that such Required Lenders object to such amendment.

(e) If, at the end of any Interest Period, relevant interest payment date or payment period for interest calculated, no LIBOR Successor Rate has been determined in accordance with clauses (c) or (d) of this Section 3.03 and the circumstances under clauses (c)(i) or (c)(iii) above exist or the Scheduled Unavailability Date has occurred (as applicable), the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Company and each Lender. Thereafter, (x) the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be suspended, (to the extent of the affected Eurocurrency Rate Loans, Interest Periods,

 

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interest payment dates or payment periods), and (y) the Eurocurrency Rate component shall no longer be utilized in determining the Base Rate, until the LIBOR Successor Rate has been determined in accordance with clauses (c) or (d). Upon receipt of such notice, the Company may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans (to the extent of the affected Eurocurrency Rate Loans, Interest Periods, interest payment dates or payment periods) or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans (subject to the foregoing clause (y)) in the amount specified therein.

3.04 Increased Costs; Reserves on Eurocurrency Rate Loans.

(a) Increased Costs Generally. If any Change in Law shall:

(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender (except any reserve requirement contemplated by Section 3.04(e)) or the applicable L/C Issuer;

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

(iii) impose on any Lender or any L/C Issuer or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or Eurocurrency Rate Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer or participation therein;

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender 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 or any L/C Issuer 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 or such L/C Issuer hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender or such L/C Issuer, the Company will pay (or cause the applicable Borrower to pay) to such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

(b) Capital or Liquidity Requirements. If any Lender or any L/C Issuer in good faith determines (which such determination shall, absent manifest error, be final and conclusive and binding upon all parties) that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or any L/C Issuer or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’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 such L/C Issuer’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’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 Line Loans held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer, to a level below that which such Lender or such L/C Issuer or such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity), then from time to time the Company will pay (or cause the applicable Borrower to pay) to such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such L/C Issuer or such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

 

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(c) Reserved.

(d) Certificates for Reimbursement. A certificate of a Lender or such L/C Issuer setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or such L/C Issuer or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in subsection (a), (b) or (c) of this Section and delivered to the Company shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Company shall pay (or cause the applicable Borrower to pay) such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.

(e) Reserves on Eurocurrency Rate Loans. The Company or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, shall pay to each Lender, (i) as long as such Lender shall be required to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including eurocurrency funds or deposits (currently known as “Eurocurrency liabilities”), additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Eurocurrency Rate Loan equal to the actual costs of such reserves allocated to such Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive), and (ii) as long as such Lender shall be required to comply with any reserve ratio requirement or analogous requirement of any central banking or financial regulatory authority imposed in respect of the maintenance of the Commitments or the funding of the Loans, such additional costs (expressed as a percentage per annum and rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest five decimal places) equal to the actual costs allocated to such Commitment or Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive), which in each case shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan, provided the Company or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, shall have received at least ten (10) Business Days’ prior notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional interest or costs from such Lender. If a Lender fails to give notice ten (10) days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date, such additional interest or costs shall be due and payable ten (10) Business Days from receipt of such notice.

(f) Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or any L/C Issuer to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.04 shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s right to demand such compensation, provided that no Borrower shall be required to compensate a Lender or an L/C Issuer pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.04 for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than nine (9) months prior to the date that such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, notifies the Company of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the nine-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).

3.05 Compensation for Losses. Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Company or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, shall promptly compensate such Lender for, and hold such Lender harmless, from any loss, cost or expense incurred by it as a result of:

(i) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise);

(ii) any failure by such Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on the date or in the amount notified by the Company or the applicable Borrower;

 

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(iii) any failure by such Borrower to make payment of any Loan or drawing under any Letter of Credit (or interest due thereon) denominated in an Alternative Currency on its scheduled due date or any payment thereof in a different currency; or

(iv) any assignment of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Company pursuant to Section 11.13;

including 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 but excluding any loss of profits or margin. The Company or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, shall also pay any reasonable and customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.

For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Company or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, to the Lenders under this Section 3.05, each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Eurocurrency Rate Loan made by it at the Eurocurrency Rate for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the offshore interbank market for such currency for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such Eurocurrency Rate Loan was in fact so funded.

3.06 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

(a) Designation of a Different Lending Office. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or requires any Borrower to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender, any L/C Issuer, or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender or any L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, then at the request of such Borrower such Lender or such L/C Issuer shall, as applicable, use reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender or such L/C Issuer, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.04, as the case may be, in the future, or eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to Section 3.02, as applicable, and (ii) in each case, would not subject such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be. The Company or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender or any L/C Issuer in connection with any such designation or assignment.

(b) Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04 or gives a notice provided for under Section 3.02 or if any Loan Party is required to pay Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, and, in each case, such Lender has declined or is unable to designate a different lending office in accordance with Section 3.06(a), the Company may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 11.13.

3.07 Survival. All of the Borrowers’ obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, repayment of all other Obligations hereunder, resignation of the Administrative Agent and the Facility Termination Date.

 

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ARTICLE IV.

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS

4.01 Conditions of Initial Credit Extension. The obligation of each L/C Issuer and each Lender to make its initial Credit Extension hereunder is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

(a) The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals, telecopies or “PDFs” (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party, each dated the Closing Date (or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the Closing Date) and each in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

(i) executed counterparts of this Agreement, the Guaranties and the applicable Security Instruments, sufficient in number for distribution to the Administrative Agent, each Lender, the Company and the Foreign Borrower;

(ii) Notes executed by each of the Borrowers in favor of each Lender that has requested Notes;

(iii) such certificates, resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers, secretaries or assistant secretaries (or other individuals performing similar functions) of each Loan Party as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party;

(iv) such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that each Loan Party is duly organized or formed, and that each of the Loan Parties is validly existing, in good standing or the equivalent thereof (to the extent applicable) and qualified to engage in business in its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization;

(v) a favorable opinion of counsel to the Loan Parties including special counsel to the Foreign Borrower in Luxembourg, and special counsel to the Foreign Guarantor in Poland, in each case, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender (and expressly permitting reliance by successors and assigns of the Administrative Agent and each Lender), as to the matters concerning the Loan Parties and the Loan Documents as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may reasonably request;

(vi) a certificate of a Responsible Officer of each Loan Party either (A) attaching copies of all consents, licenses and approvals required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by such Loan Party and the validity against such Loan Party of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and such consents, licenses and approvals shall be in full force and effect, or (B) stating that no such consents, licenses or approvals are so required;

(vii) a certificate for each Company and the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, signed by a Responsible Officer thereof certifying (A) that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied, (B) that there has been no event or circumstance since the date of the Audited Financial Statements that has had or could be reasonably expected, either individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect and (C) the current Debt Ratings; and

 

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(viii) such other assurances, certificates, documents, consents or opinions as the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender or the Required Lenders reasonably may require.

(b) The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence satisfactory to it of the insurance required to be maintained by the Loan Parties pursuant to the Security Agreement.

(c) The Administrative Agent shall have received the results of a Lien search (including a search as to judgments and tax matters), in form and substance reasonably satisfactory thereto, made against the Loan Parties under the Uniform Commercial Code (or applicable judicial docket) as in effect in each jurisdiction in which filings or recordations under the Uniform Commercial Code should be made to evidence or perfect security interests in assets of the same type as the Collateral of such Loan Party, indicating among other things that the assets of each such Loan Party are free and clear of any Lien (except for Liens permitted pursuant to Section 7.01).

(d) Any fees and expenses required to be paid on or before the Closing Date under the Fee Letters or under any Loan Document shall have been paid.

(e) Unless waived by the Administrative Agent, the Company and the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, each shall have paid all fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent (directly to such counsel if requested by the Administrative Agent) to the extent invoiced prior to or on the Closing Date, plus such additional amounts of such fees, charges and disbursements as shall constitute its reasonable estimate of such fees, charges and disbursements incurred or to be incurred by it through the closing proceedings (provided that such estimate shall not thereafter preclude a final settling of accounts between the Company and the Administrative Agent).

(f) The Administrative Agent shall have received a Solvency Certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Company as to the Solvency of the Company and its Subsidiaries, both before and after giving effect to the initial Borrowings under the Loan Documents and the other transactions contemplated hereby.

(g) At least three (3) Business Days prior to the proposed Closing Date, and upon the reasonable request of any Lender, the Company shall have provided to such Lender, and such Lender shall be reasonably satisfied with, the documentation and other information so requested in connection with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money-laundering rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the Patriot Act, and any Loan Party that qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation shall have delivered to each Lender that so requests, a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to such Loan Party.

(h) Each Lender shall have obtained all applicable licenses, consents, permits and approvals as deemed necessary by such Lender in order to execute and perform the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents.

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 9.03, for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4.01, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.

 

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4.02 Conditions to all Credit Extensions. The obligation of each Lender and the L/C Issuer to honor any Request for Credit Extension (other than a Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans) is subject to the following conditions precedent:

(a) The representations and warranties of (i) the Borrowers contained in Article V and (ii) each Loan Party contained in each other Loan Document or in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct in all material respects (except that any representation or warranty that is qualified as to “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the date of such Credit Extension, except (i) to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct in all material respects (except that any representation or warranty that is qualified as to “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” shall be true and correct in all respects) as of such earlier date, and (ii) that for purposes of this Section 4.02, the representations and warranties contained in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 5.05 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to subsections (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01.

(b) No Default shall exist, or would result from such proposed Credit Extension or from the application of the proceeds thereof.

(c) The Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the applicable L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.

(d) In the case of a Credit Extension to be denominated in an Alternative Currency, such currency remains an Eligible Currency.

(e) There shall be no impediment, restriction, limitation or prohibition imposed under Law or by any Governmental Authority, as to the proposed financing under this Agreement or the repayment thereof or as to rights created under any Loan Document or as to application of the proceeds of the realization of any such rights.

Each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Loan Notice (x) requesting only a conversion of Loans to the other Type or a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans or (y) deemed submitted pursuant to Section 2.04(c)(i)) submitted by the Company shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.

ARTICLE V.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

The Company, as to itself and its Subsidiaries, and the Foreign Borrower solely as to itself and its Subsidiaries, represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, as of the date made or deemed made, that:

5.01 Existence, Qualification and Power. Each Loan Party and each other Material Subsidiary (a) is duly organized or formed, validly existing and, as applicable, in good standing or the equivalent thereof (to the extent applicable) under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, organization or formation, or its place of central administration (head-office), (b) has all requisite power and authority and all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to (i) own or lease its assets and carry on its business and (ii) execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, (c) is duly qualified and is licensed and, as applicable, in good standing or the equivalent

 

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thereof (to the extent applicable) under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification or license and (d) is in compliance with all Laws; except in each case referred to in clause (b)(i), (c) or (d), to the extent that failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The copy of the Organization Documents of each Loan Party provided to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms of this Agreement is a true and correct copy of each such document, each of which is valid and in full force and effect.

5.02 Authorization; No Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is or is to be a party, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and do not and will not (a) contravene the terms of any of such Person’s Organization Documents; (b) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of (or the requirement to create) any Lien under, or require any payment to be made under (i) any Contractual Obligation to which such Person is a party or affecting such Person or the properties of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Person or its property is subject; or (c) violate any Applicable Law, except in the case of the preceding clause (b) to the extent that any such violation, conflict, breach, contravention or creation would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.03 Governmental Authorization; Other Consents. No approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is necessary or required in connection with (a) the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (b) the grant by any Loan Party of the Liens granted by it pursuant to the Security Instruments, (c) the perfection or maintenance of the Liens created under the Security Instruments (including the first priority nature thereof) or (d) the exercise by the Administrative Agent or any Lender of its rights under the Loan Documents or the remedies in respect of the Collateral pursuant to the Security Instruments, other than (i) authorizations, approvals, actions, notices and filings which have been duly obtained and (ii) filings to perfect the Liens created by the Security Instruments.

5.04 Binding Effect. This Agreement has been, and each other Loan Document, when delivered hereunder, will have been, duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is party thereto. This Agreement constitutes, and each other Loan Document when so delivered will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party that is a party thereto, enforceable against each Loan Party that is party thereto in accordance with its terms subject to applicable bankruptcy, solvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principals of equity.

5.05 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect; Casualty Events.

(a) Audited Financial Statements. The Audited Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; (ii) fairly present the financial condition of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; and (iii) show all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the date thereof, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness.

 

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(b) Quarterly Financial Statements. The unaudited consolidated balance sheets of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries dated November 30, 2020, and the related consolidated statements of income and cash flows for the fiscal quarter ended on that date (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein, and (ii) fairly present the financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations and cash flows for the period covered thereby, subject, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), to the absence of footnotes and to normal year-end audit adjustments.

(c) Since the date of the Audited Financial Statements, there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.06 Litigation. There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the actual knowledge of the Company, threatened or contemplated, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries or against any of their respective properties or revenues that (a) purport to pertain to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or (b) either individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.07 No Default. Neither the Company nor any Material Subsidiary is in default under or with respect to any Contractual Obligation that would, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

5.08 Ownership of Property; Liens. Each of the Company and its Material Subsidiaries has good record and indefeasible title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all real property necessary or used in the ordinary conduct of its business, except for such defects in title as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The property of the Company and its Material Subsidiaries is subject to no Liens, other than Permitted Liens.

5.09 Environmental Compliance. The Company and its Material Subsidiaries have complied with all Environmental Laws except for any Environmental Liability as a result of any non-compliance therewith which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.10 Insurance. The properties of the Company and its Material Subsidiaries are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Borrower, in such amounts, with such deductibles and covering such risks as are customarily carried by companies of similar size engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in localities where the Company or the applicable Subsidiary operates, except to the extent failure to maintain any such insurance would not reasonably be expect to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

5.11 Taxes. The Company and its Material Subsidiaries have filed all Federal, state and other material tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all Federal, state and other material taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges levied or imposed upon them or their properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable, except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP. There is no proposed tax assessment against the Company or any Material Subsidiary that would, if made, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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5.12 ERISA Compliance.

(a) Each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other federal or state laws. Each Plan that is intended to be a qualified plan under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter or is subject to a favorable opinion letter from the IRS to the effect that the form of such Plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code, or an application for such a letter is currently being processed by the IRS. To the best knowledge of the Company, nothing has occurred that would prevent or cause the loss of such tax-qualified status.

(b) There are no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There has been no non-exempt prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan that has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) Except as would not reasonably be expected to constitute or result in a Material Adverse Effect (i) no ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably be expected to occur; (ii) as of the most recent valuation date for any Pension Plan, the funding target attainment percentage (as defined in Section 430(d)(2) of the Code) is 60% or higher, and it is reasonably expected that no such funding target attainment percentage will fall below 60%; (iii) neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any liability to the PBGC other than for the payment of premiums, and there are no premium payments which have become due that are unpaid; (iv) neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or Section 4212(c) of ERISA; and (v) no Pension Plan has been terminated by the plan administrator thereof nor by the PBGC, and no event or circumstance has occurred or exists that could reasonably be expected to cause the PBGC to institute proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate any Pension Plan.

(d) Neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate maintains or contributes to, or has any unsatisfied obligation to contribute to, or liability under, any active or terminated Pension Plan other than (i) on the Closing Date, those listed on Schedule 5.12 hereto and (ii) thereafter, Pension Plans not otherwise prohibited by this Agreement.

(e) The Company represents and warrants as of the Closing Date that the Company is not and will not be using “plan assets” (within the meaning of Section 3(42) of ERISA or otherwise) of one or more Benefit Plans with respect to the Company’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments or this Agreement.

5.13 Subsidiaries; Equity Interests.

(a) Subsidiaries. As of the Closing Date, the Company has no Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed in Part (a) of Schedule 5.13, and all of the outstanding Equity Interests in such Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are (as applicable) fully paid (other than, until July 22, 2021, a portion of the purchase price for the Equity Interests owned by the Foreign Guarantor in its wholly owned subsidiary Ecosteel sp. z o.o) and non-assessable and are owned, directly or indirectly, by the applicable Loan Party in the amounts specified on Part (a) of Schedule 5.13 free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens permitted under Section 7.01). As of the Closing Date, the Company owns no Equity Interests in any other corporation or entity other than those specifically disclosed in Part (b) of Schedule 5.13. All of the outstanding Equity Interests in the Company have been validly issued, and are fully paid and non-assessable. Each of the Domestic Guarantors (other than the Company), the Foreign Borrower and the Foreign Guarantor and each Material Subsidiary is identified as such in Part (a) of Schedule 5.13.

 

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(b) Loan Parties. Set forth on Part (b) of Schedule 5.13 is a complete and accurate list of all Loan Parties, showing as of the Closing Date, (i) the exact legal name, (ii) any former legal names of such Loan Party in the four (4) months prior to the Closing Date, (iii) the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, as applicable, (iv) the type of organization, (v) the jurisdictions in which such Loan Party is qualified to do business, (vi) the address of its chief executive office, (vii) the address of its principal place of business, (viii) its U.S. federal taxpayer identification number or, in the case of any non-U.S. Loan Party that does not have a U.S. taxpayer identification number, its unique identification number issued to it by the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (ix) the organization identification number and (x) ownership information (e.g., publicly held or if private or partnership, the owners and partners of each of the Loan Parties).

5.14 Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act.

(a) No Borrower nor any Subsidiary is engaged or will engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock. Following the application of the proceeds of each Borrowing or drawing under each Letter of Credit, not more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the value of the assets (either of the applicable Borrower only or of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis) subject to the provisions of Section 7.01 or Section 7.05 or subject to any restriction contained in any agreement or instrument between any Borrower and any Lender or any Affiliate of any Lender relating to Indebtedness and within the scope of Section 8.01(e) will be margin stock.

(b) None of the Company, any Person Controlling the Company or any Subsidiary is or is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

5.15 Disclosure. The Company has disclosed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions actually known to the Company to which it or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, and all other matters actually known to it, that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No report, financial statement, certificate or other written information furnished by or on behalf of any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder or under any other Loan Document (in each case as modified or supplemented by other written information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Company represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based on assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time.

5.16 Compliance with Laws. Each Loan Party and each Subsidiary thereof is in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of all Applicable Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its properties, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted or (b) the failure to comply therewith, either individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.17 Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc. The Company and its Material Subsidiaries own, or possess the right to use, all of the trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, patents, patent rights, trade secrets, know-how, franchises, licenses and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “IP Rights”) that are reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses, without conflict with the rights of any other Person. To the best knowledge of the Company, no slogan or other advertising

 

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device, product, process, method, substance, part or other material now employed, or now contemplated to be employed, by the Company or any Subsidiary infringes, misappropriates or otherwise violates upon any rights held by any other Person. No claim or litigation regarding any of the foregoing is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened, which, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. To the actual knowledge of the Company, there has been no unauthorized use, access, interruption, modification or corruption of any information stored within the technology assets or owned or used by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the past two years, which, either individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. To the actual knowledge of the Company, there has been no unplanned interruption or malfunction of any information technology assets or systems owned or used by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the past two years, which, either individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.18 Solvency. The Company is, the Foreign Borrower is, and the Company and its Subsidiaries are on a consolidated basis, Solvent.

5.19 Representations as to Foreign Obligors.

(a) Each Foreign Obligor is subject to civil and commercial Laws with respect to its obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party (collectively as to such Foreign Obligor, the “Applicable Foreign Obligor Documents”), and the execution, delivery and performance by such Foreign Obligor of the Applicable Foreign Obligor Documents constitute and will constitute private and commercial acts and not public or governmental acts. Neither such Foreign Obligor nor any of its property has any immunity from jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service or notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution, execution or otherwise) under the laws of the jurisdiction in which such Foreign Obligor is organized and existing in respect of its obligations under the Applicable Foreign Obligor Documents.

(b) The Applicable Foreign Obligor Documents are in proper legal form under the Laws of the jurisdiction in which such Foreign Obligor is organized and existing for the enforcement thereof against such Foreign Obligor under the Laws of such jurisdiction, and to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability, priority or admissibility in evidence of the Applicable Foreign Obligor Documents. It is not necessary to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability, priority or admissibility in evidence of the Applicable Foreign Obligor Documents that the Applicable Foreign Obligor Documents be filed, registered or recorded with, or executed or notarized before, any court or other authority in the jurisdiction in which such Foreign Obligor is organized and existing or that any registration charge or stamp or similar tax be paid on or in respect of the Applicable Foreign Obligor Documents or any other document, except for (i) any such filing, registration, recording, execution or notarization as has been made or is not required to be made until the Applicable Foreign Obligor Document or any other document is sought to be enforced and (ii) any charge or tax as has been timely paid.

(c) There is no tax, levy, impost, duty, fee, assessment or other governmental charge, or any deduction or withholding, imposed by any Governmental Authority in or of the jurisdiction in which such Foreign Obligor is organized and existing either (i) on or by virtue of the execution or delivery of the Applicable Foreign Obligor Documents or (ii) on any payment to be made by such Foreign Obligor (other than the Foreign Guarantor) pursuant to the Applicable Foreign Obligor Documents. It is not required under the Laws of the jurisdiction in which any Foreign Obligor (other than the Foreign Guarantor) is incorporated or resident or at the address specified for each Foreign Obligor on Schedule 11.02 to make any deduction for or on account of Tax from any payment it may make under any Loan Document.

 

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(d) The execution, delivery and performance of the Applicable Foreign Obligor Documents executed by such Foreign Obligor are, under applicable foreign exchange control regulations of the jurisdiction in which such Foreign Obligor is organized and existing, not subject to any notification or authorization except (i) such as have been made or obtained or (ii) such as cannot be made or obtained until a later date (provided that any notification or authorization described in clause (ii) shall be made or obtained as soon as is reasonably practicable).

(e) The choice of the law of the State of Texas as the governing law of the Loan Documents will be recognized and enforced in each Foreign Obligor’s jurisdiction of incorporation subject, where applicable, to the relevant provisions of Regulation (EC) 593/2008 of 17 June 2008 on the law applicable to contractual obligations, and any judgment obtained in Texas in relation to a Loan Document will be recognized and enforced in each Foreign Obligor’s jurisdiction of incorporation.

(f) Under the Laws of the jurisdiction in which each Foreign Obligor is incorporated it is not necessary that the Loan Documents be filed, recorded or enrolled with any court or other authority in that jurisdiction or that any stamp, registration or similar tax be paid on or in relation to the Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents, except for Luxembourg registration duties (droit d’enregistrement) in case of voluntary registration of the Loan Documents by a Loan Party with the Administration de l’Enregistrement et des Domaines in Luxembourg, or in case the Loan Documents are appended to a document that requires obligatory registration in Luxembourg. According to Luxembourg law, a judgment rendered in respect of the Loan Documents against a Luxembourg Person by a court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Texas would be recognized and enforced by a Luxembourg court, in principle without reconsideration of the merits, in compliance with the enforcement (exequatur) procedures set out in articles 678 and seq. of the Luxembourg New Code of Civil Procedure (Nouveau Code de Procédure Civile) subject to the following conditions:

(i) the judgment of the foreign court must be enforceable (executoire) in the country in which it was rendered;

(ii) the foreign court must have had jurisdiction according to the Luxembourg conflict of jurisdiction rules;

(iii) the foreign court must have applied to the matter submitted to it the proper law designated by the Luxembourg conflict of laws rules (although some case law mandates that this condition no longer applies);

(iv) the judgment of the foreign court must not have been obtained by fraud, but in compliance with procedural rules of the country in which it was rendered, in particular with regard to the rights of the defendant; and

(v) the judgment of the foreign court must not be contrary to Luxembourg international public policy.

5.20 Sanctions Concerns and Anti-Corruption.

(a) Sanctions Concerns. Neither Borrower, any Subsidiary of either Borrower or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, employee, agent, or representative thereof or any other Affiliate of either Borrower, is an individual or entity that is (i) currently the subject or target of any Sanctions, (ii) included on OFAC’s List of Specially Designated Nationals or HMT’s Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets, or any similar list enforced by any other relevant sanctions authority, in each case, that would constitute a violation of applicable Laws or (iii) located, organized or resident in a

 

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Designated Jurisdiction. The Company and its Subsidiaries have conducted their businesses in compliance with all applicable Sanctions in jurisdictions in which the Company or any such Subsidiary is domiciled or conducts business and have instituted and maintained policies and procedures reasonably designed to promote and achieve compliance with such Sanctions.

(b) Anti-Corruption Laws. The Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries have conducted their business in compliance in all material respects with the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010 and other applicable anti-corruption legislation in other jurisdictions in which the Company or any such Subsidiary is domiciled or conducts business, and have instituted and maintained policies and procedures reasonably designed to promote and achieve compliance in all material respects with such laws.

5.21 Collateral Representations.

The provisions of the Security Instruments are effective to create in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties a legal, valid and enforceable security interest in all of the applicable Loan Party’s right, title, and interest in and to the Collateral described therein. The security interests granted pursuant to the Security Instruments shall constitute valid and perfected first priority security interests (subject to Permitted Liens) in all of the Collateral to the extent such security interests can be perfected by (i) the filing by the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, of UCC financing statements (which are in appropriate form and describe the Collateral) with the appropriate offices in the jurisdiction of organization of each Loan Party of the Collateral with respect to which security interest can be perfected by filing one or more UCC financing statements or (ii) upon the taking of possession, delivery or control by the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, of the Collateral with respect to which a security interest can be perfected only by possession, delivery or control under the terms of the UCC. Except for filings completed prior to the Closing Date and as contemplated hereby and by the Security Instruments, no filing or other action will be necessary to perfect or protect such Liens.

5.22 Affected Financial Institution. No Loan Party is an Affected Financial Institution.

5.23 Covered Entities. No Loan Party is a Covered Entity.

5.24 Beneficial Ownership Certification. The information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification, if applicable, is true and correct in all material respects.

ARTICLE VI.

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation (other than contingent indemnification obligations as to which no claim has been asserted) shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, the Company shall, and shall (except in the case of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.01, 6.02, 6.03, 6.11 and 6.16) cause each Material Subsidiary to:

6.01 Financial Statements. Deliver to the Administrative Agent with sufficient copies for each Lender, in form and detail satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

(a) as soon as available and in any event within 5 days after the date that annual financial statements are required to be filed with the SEC, but in no event later than 100 days after the close of each fiscal year, copies of:

 

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(i) consolidated balance sheets of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the close of such fiscal year;

(ii) consolidated statements of income and retained earnings of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries for such fiscal year; and

(iii) consolidated statements of cash flows of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries for such fiscal year,

in each case setting forth in comparative form the consolidated figures for the preceding fiscal year, and the Company further agrees to provide with such financial statements information (by business segment) as to the amount charged to amortization and depreciation expense, interest expense, rental expense and capital spending for such fiscal year and the unamortized balance of goodwill as of the end of such fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and accompanied by an unqualified opinion thereon of a public accounting firm of recognized national standing to the effect that the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of the fiscal year being reported on and the consolidated results of the operations and cash flows for said year in conformity with GAAP and applicable Securities Laws, without expressing a doubt as to the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern or like qualification or exception or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit, and that the examination of such accountants in connection with such financial statements has been conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and included such tests of the accounting records and such other auditing procedures as said accountants deemed necessary in the circumstances;

(b) as soon as available and in any event within 5 days after the date that quarterly financial statements are required to be filed with the SEC (excluding the last quarterly fiscal period of each fiscal year), but in no event later than 50 days after the end of each quarterly fiscal period (except the last) of each fiscal year, copies of:

(i) consolidated balance sheets of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the close of such quarterly fiscal period, and, to the extent available to the Company, setting forth in comparative form the consolidated figures for the corresponding period of the preceding fiscal year;

(ii) consolidated statements of income of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries for the portion of the fiscal year ending with such quarterly fiscal period, and, to the extent available to the Company, in each case setting forth in comparative form the consolidated figures for the corresponding periods of the preceding fiscal year; and

(iii) consolidated statements of cash flows of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries for the portion of the fiscal year ending with such quarterly fiscal period, and, to the extent available to the Company, setting forth in comparative form the consolidated figures for the corresponding period of the preceding fiscal year,

all in reasonable detail and certified as complete and correct by an authorized financial officer of the Company and the Company further agrees to provide with such financial statements information (by business segment) as to the amount charged to amortization and depreciation expense, interest expense, rental expense and net capital spending, in each case for the periods indicated above and the unamortized balance of goodwill as at the end of the periods indicated above.

 

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As to any information contained in materials furnished pursuant to Section 6.02(c), the Company shall not be separately required to furnish such information under subsection (a) or (b) above, but the foregoing shall not be in derogation of the obligation of the Company to furnish the information and materials described in subsections (a) and (b) above at the times specified therein.

6.02 Certificates; Other Information. Deliver to the Administrative Agent, in form and detail satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

(a) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(a) and (b), a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Company;

(b) promptly after any request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, copies of any detailed audit reports of the Company by independent accountants in connection with the accounts or books of the Company or any Subsidiary, or any audit of any of them;

(c) promptly after the same are available, copies of each (i) annual report, proxy or financial statement or, at the Administrative Agent’s request, copies of each other report or communication sent to the stockholders of the Company, and copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports (including Forms 10K, 10Q and 8K) and registration statements which the Company may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, and not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto and (ii) without duplication, copies of any certifications or affidavits required by the SEC in connection with the filing of Forms 10K, 10Q and 8K;

(d) promptly, such additional information regarding the business, financial or corporate affairs of the Company or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may from time to time reasonably request;

(e) promptly following any request therefor, provide information and documentation reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for purposes of compliance with applicable “know your customer” and Anti-Money Laundering Laws, including, without limitation, the Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation; and

(f) not less than ten (10) days prior (or such later or extended period of time as agreed to by the Administrative Agent) provide notice of any change in (i) any Loan Party’s legal name or jurisdiction of organization or (ii) either Borrower’s organizational existence.

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) or Section 6.02(c) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Company posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Company’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 11.02; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Company’s behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that the Company shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent for any Lender that requests the Company to deliver such paper copies until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent or such Lender. The Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery of or to maintain paper copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Company with any such request by a Lender for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents.

 

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Each Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or an Affiliate thereof may, but shall not be obligated to, make available to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of such Borrower hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials” by posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks, Syndtrak, ClearPar or a substantially similar electronic transmission system (the “Platform”) and (b) certain of the Lenders may have personnel who do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Borrowers, or the securities of the Company (each, a “Public Lender”), and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to the Company’s securities. The Company hereby agrees that so long as the Company is the issuer of any outstanding debt or equity securities that are registered or issued pursuant to a private offering or is actively contemplating issuing any such securities (A) all Borrower Materials that are to be made available to Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (B) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Borrowers shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, any Affiliate thereof, the Arrangers, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information (although it may be sensitive and proprietary) with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws (provided, however, that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute confidential Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 11.07); (C) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Side Information;” and (D) the Administrative Agent, any Affiliate thereof and the Arrangers shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Side Information.” Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrowers shall be under no obligation to mark any Borrower Materials “PUBLIC.”

6.03 Notices. Promptly notify the Administrative Agent:

(a) of the occurrence of any Default;

(b) of any matter that has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, including to the extent any of the following would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (i) any breach or non-performance of, or any default (after giving effect to any applicable grace or cure period) under, a Contractual Obligation of the Company or any Subsidiary; (ii) any action, suit, dispute, litigation, investigation, proceeding or suspension involving the Company or any Subsidiary and any Governmental Authority; or (iii) the commencement of, or any material development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting the Company or any Subsidiary, including pursuant to any applicable Environmental Laws;

(c) of the occurrence of any ERISA Event that would reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Company in an aggregate amount in excess of $12,500,000;

(d) of any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices by the Company or any Subsidiary thereof; or

(e) of any announcement by Moody’s, S&P or Fitch of any change in a Debt Rating.

Each notice pursuant to this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Company setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and to the extent applicable stating what action the Company has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto. Each notice pursuant to Section 6.03(a) shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of this Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been breached.

 

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6.04 Payment of Obligations. Pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable, all its material obligations and liabilities, including (a) all material tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it or its properties or assets, unless the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by the Company or such Material Subsidiary; (b) all lawful claims which, if unpaid, would by Law become a Lien upon its property, unless the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by the Company or such Material Subsidiary; and (c) all Indebtedness with a principal obligation of not less than $10,000,000, as and when due and payable, but subject to any subordination provisions contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness.

6.05 Preservation of Existence, Etc. (a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section 7.04 or 7.05; (b) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges, permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except to the extent that failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) preserve or renew all of its registered patents, trademarks, trade names and service marks, the non-preservation of which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.06 Maintenance of Properties. (a) Maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment used in the operation of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted and except in connection with transactions permitted by Section 7.05; and (b) make all necessary repairs thereto and renewals and replacements thereof except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.07 Maintenance of Insurance.

(a) Maintenance of Insurance. Maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Company, insurance with respect to its properties and business against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by Persons engaged in the same or similar business, of such types and in such amounts as are customarily carried under similar circumstances by such other Persons.

(b) Evidence of Insurance. Cause the Administrative Agent to be named as lenders’ loss payable or loss payee, as its interest may appear, and/or additional insured with respect of any such insurance providing liability coverage or coverage in respect of any Collateral. Annually, upon expiration of current insurance coverage, within a reasonable period of time, the Loan Parties shall provide, or cause to be provided, to the Administrative Agent, such evidence of insurance as reasonably required by the Administrative Agent. As requested by the Administrative Agent, the Loan Parties agree to deliver to the Administrative Agent an Authorization to Share Insurance Information; provided that Administrative Agent shall only directly communicate with a Loan Party’s insurance company or agent pursuant to such Authorization to Share Insurance Information if the Company fails to provide the information required by this Section 6.07(b) within five (5) days of written request therefor by Administrative Agent.

6.08 Compliance with Laws. Comply in all material respects with the requirements of all Applicable Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted; or (b) the failure to comply therewith would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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6.09 Books and Records. (a) Maintain proper books of record and account, in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with GAAP, consistently applied shall be made of all financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Company or such Material Subsidiary, as the case may be; and (b) maintain such books of record and account in material conformity with all applicable requirements of any Governmental Authority having regulatory jurisdiction over the Company or such Material Subsidiary, as the case may be.

6.10 Inspection Rights. Permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent, on behalf of Lenders, to visit and inspect any of its properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its officers and independent public accountants, in each case as reasonably necessary, and all at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice (which notice shall include the subject matter of the proposed inspection, examination or discussion) to the Company; provided, however, that when an Event of Default exists the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Company at any time during normal business hours upon no less than two days advance notice.

6.11 Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of the Credit Extensions for general corporate purposes not in contravention of any Law or of any Loan Document.

6.12 Compliance with Environmental Laws. Except, in each case, to the extent that the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, (a) comply, and take all reasonable actions to cause any lessees and other Persons operating or occupying its properties to comply, with all applicable Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits; (b) obtain and renew all Environmental Permits necessary for its operations and properties; and (c) in each case to the extent required by applicable Environmental Laws, conduct any investigation, study, sampling and testing, and undertake any cleanup, removal, remedial or other action necessary to remove and clean up all Hazardous Materials from any of its properties, in accordance with the requirements of all applicable Environmental Laws.

6.13 Approvals and Authorizations. Maintain all authorizations, consents, approvals and licenses from, exemptions of, and filings and registrations with, each Governmental Authority of the jurisdiction in which each Foreign Obligor is organized and existing, and all approvals and consents of each other Person in such jurisdiction, in each case that are necessary to maintain the enforceability of, and the practical realization by the Secured Parties of the intended benefit of, the applicable Loan Documents against such Foreign Obligors.

6.14 Notices Regarding Subsidiaries; Covenant to Guarantee and Give Security; Scope of Collateral.

(a) Notices and Information. Provide notice to the Administrative Agent (i) no later than 15 days after the date on which any Person becomes, as a result of formation or acquisition, a Domestic Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Guarantor but is a Material Subsidiary (other than by virtue of clause (ii) of the proviso contained in the definition of “Material Subsidiary”) and (ii) no later than 30 days after the delivery of each Compliance Certificate of any Domestic Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Guarantor but is as of the last day of the fiscal quarter for which such Compliance Certificate was delivered a Material Subsidiary.

 

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(b) Domestic Guarantors and Collateral. Within 30 days (or such later time as may be determined by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion) after the date any notice is provided, or is required to be provided, pursuant to Section 6.14(a)(i) or (ii) above, if any relevant Person is an indirect or direct Domestic Subsidiary that is a Material Subsidiary, cause such Domestic Subsidiary to (as applicable):

(i) become a Domestic Guarantor by execution and delivery to the Administrative Agent of a joinder agreement in the form provided in the Domestic Guaranty or in such other form as is reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent;

(ii) except during a Collateral Release Period, grant a security interest in all of its assets of the type constituting, or required to constitute, Collateral (subject to the exceptions contained in the applicable Security Instruments) owned by such Domestic Subsidiary by execution and delivery to the Administrative Agent of a supplement or joinder agreement in the form provided in the applicable Security Instrument or in such other form as is reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent; and

(iii) in furtherance of clauses (i) and (ii) above, deliver to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, (A) such other document or documents as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably deem appropriate to effect the purposes set forth in such clauses, (B) such documents and certificates referred to in Section 4.01 (including, without limitation, legal opinions) as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, (C) except during a Collateral Release Period, such original Collateral (together with transfer powers) and other items as may be required to be delivered hereunder and under the terms of the applicable Security Instruments, (D) updated schedules to the Loan Documents if, and as, requested by the Administrative Agent and (E) such other documents as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, all in form, content and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(c) Scope of Collateral Application. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Credit Agreement or in any other Loan Document, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers, the Swing Line Lender and the Lenders agree and acknowledge, for the avoidance of doubt, that (i) the Foreign Borrower shall be liable only for repayment of Loans that are made to it, in its capacity as a Borrower hereunder and (ii) the Foreign Guaranty shall only guaranty repayment of the Foreign Obligations.

6.15 Further Assurances. Promptly upon the written request by the Administrative Agent (which may act at the request of any Lender), the Company or the applicable Loan Party shall (a) correct any material defect or error that may be discovered in any Loan Document or in the execution, acknowledgment, filing or recordation thereof, and (b) do, execute, acknowledge, deliver, record, re-record, file, re-file, register and re-register any and all such further acts, deeds, certificates, assurances and other instruments as the Administrative Agent, may reasonably require from time to time in order to (i) carry out more effectively the purposes of the Loan Documents, (ii) except during a Collateral Release Period, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws, subject any Loan Party’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ properties, assets, rights or interests to the Liens now or hereafter intended to be covered by any of the Security Instruments, (iii) except during a Collateral Release Period, perfect and maintain the validity, effectiveness and priority of any of the Security Instruments and any of the Liens intended to be created thereunder in accordance with the applicable terms of the Security Instruments and (iv) except during a Collateral Release Period, assure, convey, grant, assign, transfer, preserve, protect and confirm more effectively unto the Secured Parties the rights granted or now or hereafter intended to be granted to the Secured Parties under any Loan Document or under any other instrument executed in connection with any Loan Document to which any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is or is to be a party, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to do so. Each Loan Party shall make, execute or endorse, and acknowledge and deliver or file or cause the same to be done, all such vouchers, invoices, notices, certifications, and additional agreements, undertakings, conveyances, transfers, assignments, financing statements, or other assurances, and shall take any and all such other action, as the Administrative Agent may, from time to time, and acting reasonably, deem necessary in connection with this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, the obligations of such Loan Party hereunder or thereunder for better assuring and confirming unto the Secured Parties all or any part of the Collateral for any of such obligations.

 

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6.16 Corporate Ratings. Use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain at all times a Debt Rating from at least two of the following three rating agencies: Moody’s, S&P and Fitch (or, if one of the ratings is not available or cannot be obtained by using commercially reasonable efforts, use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain a similar type rating from another rating agency reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent).

6.17 Post-Closing Matters. Execute and deliver the documents and complete the tasks set forth on Schedule 6.17, in each case within the time limits specified therefor on such schedule (as such time periods may be extended by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion).

6.18 Pari Passu Ranking. Ensure that the payment obligations of the Loan Parties under the Loan Documents rank and continue to rank at least pari passu with the claims of all of the Loan Parties’ other unsecured and unsubordinated creditors, except for obligations mandatorily preferred by Law applying to companies generally.

6.19 Anti-Money Laundering Laws; Anti-Corruption Laws. Conduct its business in compliance in all material respects with the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010 and other applicable anti-corruption legislation in other jurisdictions in which the Company or any such Material Subsidiary is domiciled or conducts business and with all applicable Sanctions in such jurisdictions, and maintain policies and procedures reasonably designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws and Sanctions.

ARTICLE VII.

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation (other than contingent indemnification obligations as to which no claim has been asserted) shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding:

7.01 Liens. The Company shall not, nor shall it permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than the following (“Permitted Liens”):

(a) Liens for property taxes and assessments or governmental charges or levies and Liens securing claims or demands of mechanics and materialmen, if payment thereof is not at the time required by Section 6.04;

(b) Liens of or resulting from any judgment or award, the time for the appeal or petition for rehearing of which shall not have expired, or in respect of which the Company or a Subsidiary shall at any time in good faith be prosecuting an appeal or proceeding for a review and in respect of which a stay of execution pending such appeal or proceeding for review shall have been secured or which are covered by insurance and which are removed within 60 days after attachment; provided the aggregate amount of such judgments and awards shall not exceed $10,000,000;

 

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(c) Liens incidental to the conduct of business or the ownership of properties and assets (including Liens in connection with worker’s compensation, unemployment insurance and other like laws, warehousemen’s and attorneys’ liens and statutory landlords’ liens, but excluding any Lien imposed by ERISA) and Liens to secure the performance of bids, tenders or trade contracts, or to secure statutory obligations, surety or appeal bonds or other Liens of like general nature incurred in the ordinary course of business and not in connection with the borrowing of money, if in each case, the obligation secured is not overdue or, if overdue, is being contested in good faith by appropriate actions or proceedings;

(d) Liens securing Indebtedness of a Subsidiary to the Company or to a Material Domestic Subsidiary;

(e) Liens existing as of the Closing Date and reflected in Schedule 7.01 and any extension, renewal or replacement of such liens in connection with the extension, renewal or refunding of the Indebtedness secured thereby, provided (i) the principal amount of such Indebtedness is not increased, other than through the capitalization of accrued interest, and (ii) such extension, renewal or replacement shall be limited to all or any part of the same property that secured the Lien extended, renewed or replaced (together with improvements on such property);

(f) Liens incurred after the Closing Date given to secure the payment of the purchase price incurred in connection with the acquisition, alteration or improvement of fixed assets useful and intended to be used in carrying on the business of the Company or a Subsidiary (and any renewals or extensions of any Indebtedness so secured), including Liens existing on such fixed assets at the time of acquisition thereof or at the time of acquisition by the Company or a Subsidiary of any business entity then owning such fixed assets, whether or not such existing Liens were given to secure the payment of the purchase price of the fixed assets to which they attach so long as they were not incurred, extended or renewed in contemplation of such acquisition, provided (i) the Lien shall attach solely to the fixed assets acquired, altered or improved and (ii) at the time of acquisition, alteration or improvement of such fixed assets, the aggregate amount remaining unpaid on all Indebtedness secured by Liens on such fixed assets whether or not assumed by the Company or a Subsidiary shall not exceed an amount equal to the lesser of the total cost of such acquisition, alteration or improvement or fair market value at the time of acquisition, alteration or improvement of such fixed assets (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company);

(g) Liens on Receivables and Related Assets arising under Permitted Receivables Financing permitted under Section 7.03(k), provided that any such Lien shall only apply to Receivables of the Company or any applicable Subsidiary purported to be transferred to a Receivables Financing Subsidiary or another applicable Person in accordance with the applicable Permitted Receivables Financing and the Related Assets with respect thereto.

(h) Liens on the assets of CMC Poland Sp. z o.o., a Polish limited liability company, in an amount not to exceed $50,000,000 in the aggregate, provided that such Liens are non-recourse to the Company and its other Subsidiaries;

(i) Liens pursuant to any Loan Document;

(j) Liens against proceeds of the New Markets Tax Credit Transactions or any reserve or disbursement accounts holding such proceeds granted in connection with any New Markets Tax Credit Transactions; and

(k) Liens in addition to those permitted by the foregoing clauses (a) through (i) created after the Closing Date, provided at the time of the creation of any such Lien and after giving effect thereto and to the application of the proceeds of any Indebtedness secured thereby, the aggregate amount of all Indebtedness secured by such Liens does not exceed 12.5% of Consolidated Net Worth; provided that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section, none of the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.01 (other than clause (i) above) shall permit any Lien to exist on assets that constitute or would constitute Collateral if a Collateral Event was to take place.

 

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7.02 Investments. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Material Subsidiary to, make any Investments, except:

(a) Investments held by the Company or any Subsidiary in the form of Cash and Cash Equivalents;

(b) loans and advances to (i) employees of the Company and Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and (ii) Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business; provided if any loans or advances under this clause (ii) are owing by a Loan Party to a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, the repayment thereof shall be subordinated to the Obligations in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

(c) Investments consisting of extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising from the grant of trade credit in the ordinary course of business, and Investments received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled account debtors, and Investments consisting of prepayments to suppliers in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice;

(d) Guarantees permitted by Section 7.03;

(e) Investments existing as of the Closing Date and listed on Schedule 7.02;

(f) Permitted Acquisitions;

(g) so long as no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, Investments (other than a hostile acquisition) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount that, when combined with all other Investments previously made pursuant to this clause (g) does not exceed 10% of Consolidated Assets;

(h) deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure the performance of leases or other obligations;

(i) Swap Contracts permitted pursuant to Section 7.03;

(j) Investments (including debt obligations and Equity Interests) received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of suppliers and customers or in settlement of delinquent obligations of, or other disputes with, customers and suppliers arising in the ordinary course of business or upon the foreclosure (or other transfer of title in lieu of foreclosure) with respect to any secured Investment;

(k) Investments arising out of the receipt by the Company or any Subsidiary of non-cash consideration for the Disposition of assets permitted under Section 7.05;

(l) Investments represented by Guarantees by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of operating leases or of other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness, in each case, entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(m) extensions of trade credit in the ordinary course of business and consistent with customary credit practices and policies;

 

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(n) Investments in the ordinary course of business consisting of endorsements for collection or deposit; and

(o) Investments in respect of New Markets Tax Credit Transactions, the net amount of which shall not exceed an aggregate amount of Five Hundred Million ($500,000,000) US Dollars.

7.03 Indebtedness. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:

(a) Indebtedness under the Loan Documents;

(b) Indebtedness outstanding on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 7.03 and any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof;

(c) Guarantees of the Company or any Subsidiary in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder;

(d) obligations (contingent or otherwise) of the Company or any Subsidiary existing or arising under any Swap Contract, provided that (i) such obligations are (or were) entered into by such Person in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of mitigating risks associated with liabilities, commitments, investments, assets, or property held or reasonably anticipated by such Person, or changes in the value of securities issued by such Person, and not for purposes of speculation or taking a “market view;” and (ii) such Swap Contract does not contain any provision exonerating the non-defaulting party from its obligation to make payments on outstanding transactions to the defaulting party;

(e) unsecured intercompany Indebtedness owed by the Company or any Subsidiary to (i) the Company, (ii) any other Loan Party or (iii) any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party; provided if Indebtedness arising under clause (iii) is owing by a Loan Party, it is subordinated to the Obligations in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

(f) Indebtedness in respect of capital leases, Synthetic Lease Obligations and purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets within the limitations set forth in Section 7.01(f) and Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of such Indebtedness; provided that (i) at the time of incurrence thereof, no Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from the incurrence of such Indebtedness immediately following the incurrence of such Indebtedness; and (ii) immediately before and immediately after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be in compliance with each of the financial covenants contained in Sections 7.10 and 7.11;

(g) other Indebtedness; provided that (i) at the time of incurrence thereof, no Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from the incurrence of such Indebtedness immediately following the incurrence of such Indebtedness; (ii) immediately before and immediately after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be in compliance with each of the financial covenants contained in Sections 7.10 and 7.11; (iii) such Indebtedness shall not be scheduled to mature prior to the Maturity Date and shall not have a weighted average life to maturity (as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with customary financial practice) that is shorter than the remaining term of the Commitments; and (iv) if such Indebtedness is secured, the aggregate amount of such secured Indebtedness does not exceed the amount permitted pursuant to Section 7.01(k);

(h) Indebtedness under or in respect of Cash Management Agreements;

 

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(i) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or other similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business;

(j) Indebtedness under letters of credit, performance bonds, surety bonds, release, appeal and similar bonds, statutory obligations or with respect to workers’ compensation claims, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business, and reimbursement obligations in respect of any of the foregoing (including in respect of letters of credit issued in support of any of the foregoing);

(k) Indebtedness in respect of Permitted Receivables Financings of the Company and/or its Domestic Subsidiaries, Indebtedness in respect of Permitted Receivables Financings of Foreign Subsidiaries and unsecured Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries, so long as the aggregate outstanding amount of all Permitted Receivables Financing including Receivables and Related Assets, and all unsecured Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries shall not exceed $550,000,000 at any time;

(l) other unsecured Indebtedness (excluding such Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries); provided that (i) at the time of the incurrence thereof, no Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from the incurrence of such Indebtedness immediately following the incurrence of such Indebtedness; (ii) immediately before and immediately after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be in compliance with each of the financial covenants contained in Sections 7.10 and 7.11; and (iii) at the time of the incurrence thereof, the outstanding aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness shall not exceed 10% of Consolidated Assets; and

(m) Indebtedness under or in respect of Trade Documents.

7.04 Fundamental Changes. The Company shall not, nor shall it permit any Material Subsidiary to, merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, or Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person, except that, so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom:

(a) any Subsidiary may merge with (i) the Company, provided that the Company shall be the continuing or surviving Person, or (ii) any one or more other Subsidiaries, provided that each of the following must be satisfied:

(i) when the Foreign Borrower is merging with another Subsidiary the continuing or surviving Person shall be the Foreign Borrower; or

(ii) when any Guarantor is merging with another Subsidiary, (1) the continuing or surviving person shall be (x) such Guarantor or (y) become a Guarantor substantially simultaneously with such merger and (in the case of this clause (y)) assume all of the obligations of the non-surviving or non-continuing Guarantor pursuant to documentation (including, if reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, legal opinions) in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (2) if either party is a Domestic Guarantor, the continuing or surviving Person shall be or become a Domestic Guarantor; and

(b) any Subsidiary may Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to the Company or to any other Subsidiary; provided that if the transferor in such a transaction is a Guarantor, then the transferee must either be the Company or a Guarantor.

 

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7.05 Dispositions. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Material Subsidiary to make any Disposition, except:

(a) Dispositions of obsolete or worn out property in the ordinary course of business;

(b) Dispositions of inventory and Cash and Cash Equivalents in the ordinary course of business;

(c) Dispositions of property by any Subsidiary to the Company or to another Subsidiary; provided that if the transferor of such property is a Guarantor, the transferee thereof must either be the Company or a Guarantor;

(d) Dispositions in which the Net Proceeds thereof are used 365 days prior to or 365 days after such Disposition to purchase assets useful in the business of the Company and its Material Subsidiaries;

(e) Dispositions of Receivables and Related Assets pursuant to a Permitted Receivables Financing in accordance with the terms thereof; and

(f) Dispositions other than those otherwise specifically permitted pursuant to clauses (a) through (e) above, provided that the aggregate book value of assets Disposed of during any fiscal year may not exceed 15% of Consolidated Assets determined as of the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year;

Provided, however, notwithstanding anything above to the contrary, in no event shall any Disposition be less than for full, fair and reasonable consideration.

7.06 Change in Nature of Business. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the Company and its Subsidiaries on the date hereof or any business substantially related or incidental thereto.

7.07 Transactions with Affiliates. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Material Subsidiary to, enter into or be a party to any transaction or arrangement with any Affiliate (including the purchase from, sale to or exchange of property with, or the rendering of any service by or for, any Affiliate), except in the ordinary course of, and pursuant to the reasonable requirements of the Company’s or such Material Subsidiary’s business and upon fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to the Company or such Material Subsidiary than would obtain in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate; provided, however, (i) the Company may make charitable contributions to any tax-exempt entity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Code, in an amount up to 5% of the Company’s pre-tax profit in any fiscal year and (ii) the Company and its Subsidiaries may enter into and perform their respective obligations, subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement, under and pursuant to New Markets Tax Credit Transactions; provided that the aggregate principal amount of all such New Market Tax Credit Transactions does not exceed $500,000,000.

7.08 Burdensome Agreements. The Company shall not, nor shall it permit any Material Subsidiary to, enter into any Contractual Obligation (other than this Agreement or any other Loan Document) that (a) limits the ability (i) of any Material Subsidiary to declare or pay dividends to the Company or to otherwise transfer property to the Company, or (ii) of the Company or any Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on property of such Person; provided, however, that this clause (ii) shall not prohibit any negative pledge or restriction on transfer incurred or provided in favor of any holder of Indebtedness solely to the extent any such negative pledge or restriction on transfer relates to the property financed by or the subject of such Indebtedness; or (b) requires the grant of a Lien to secure an obligation of such Person if a Lien is granted to secure another obligation of such Person; provided that the foregoing clauses (a)(ii) and (b) shall not prohibit any such Contractual Obligation in favor of a holder of Indebtedness pursuant to the 2013 Indenture or the holder of any Indebtedness under any agreement on terms substantially similar to or less restrictive than the 2013 Indenture.

 

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7.09 Use of Proceeds. The Company shall not, nor shall it permit any Subsidiary to, use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U of the FRB) or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock or to refund indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose.

7.10 Interest Coverage Ratio. The Company shall not permit the Interest Coverage Ratio to be less than 2.50 to 1.00 at any time.

7.11 Debt to Capitalization Ratio. The Company shall not permit the Debt to Capitalization Ratio to be greater than 0.60 to 1.00 at any time.

7.12 Accounting Changes. The Company shall not, and shall not suffer or permit any Material Subsidiary to, make any significant change in accounting treatment or reporting practices, except as required or permitted by GAAP or any Governmental Authority, as applicable, or change the fiscal year of the Company or of any Material Subsidiary.

7.13 Speculative Hedges. The Company will not, and will not permit any Material Subsidiary to, enter into any interest rate protection agreement, foreign currency exchange agreement, commodity price protection agreement or other interest, currency exchange rate or commodity price hedging agreement except those entered into with the intention to hedge or mitigate risks to which the Company or such Material Subsidiary is exposed in the conduct of its business or the management of its liabilities.

7.14 Restricted Payments. The Company shall not, nor shall it permit any Material Subsidiary to, declare or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, or incur any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to do so, except that, so long as no Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of any action described below or would result therefrom:

(a) each Subsidiary may make dividends or distributions to the Company, the Guarantors, another Subsidiary and any other Person that owns an Equity Interest in such Subsidiary, ratably according to their respective holdings of the type of Equity Interest in respect of which such Restricted Payment is being made;

(b) the Company and each Subsidiary may declare and make dividend payments or other distributions payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Redeemable Stock) of such Person;

(c) the Company and each Subsidiary may purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire Equity Interests issued by it with the proceeds received from the substantially concurrent issue of new shares of its Equity Interests (other than Redeemable Stock); and

(d) the Company and its Subsidiaries may pay dividends, make other distributions and/or purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire Equity Interests issued by it so long as such dividends, distributions, purchases, redemptions or acquisitions of or in respect of Equity Interests in the aggregate since the Closing Date do not exceed the Available Basket Amount at such time.

 

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7.15 Organizational Documents. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Material Subsidiary to, amend, modify or change any Organization Document of any Loan Party in any manner that materially and adversely affects the rights and interests of the Secured Parties under the Loan Documents or the rights and interests of the Secured Parties with respect to the Collateral.

7.16 Anti-Money Laundering Laws; Anti-Corruption Laws. The Company shall not, nor shall it permit any Subsidiary to:

(a) directly, or, to the Company’s knowledge after due investigation, indirectly, use any Credit Extension or the proceeds of any Credit Extension, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such Credit Extension or the proceeds of any Credit Extension to any Person, to fund any activities of or business with any Person, that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of Sanctions, or in any other manner that will result in a violation by any Person that is a party to this Agreement (including any Person participating in this transaction, whether as Lender, Arranger, Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer, Swing Line Lender, or otherwise) or Subsidiaries of the Company of Sanctions; or

(b) directly, or, to the Company’s knowledge after due investigation, indirectly, use any Credit Extension or the proceeds of any Credit Extension for any purpose which would breach the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010 and other similar anti-corruption legislation in other jurisdictions in which the Company or any such Subsidiary is domiciled or conducts business.

It is acknowledged and agreed that the representations, covenants and undertakings (as applicable) set out in Sections 5.20, 6.19 and 7.16 are only sought and given with respect to any natural or legal person resident or incorporated in the European Union to the extent permissible pursuant to (i) any provision of Council Regulation (EC) No. 2271/1996 of 22 November 1996 (or any law or regulation implementing such Regulation in any member state of the European Union) as amended, supplemented or otherwise altered from time to time, or (ii) any similar blocking or anti-boycott law.

ARTICLE VIII.

EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

8.01 Events of Default. Any of the following shall constitute an Event of Default:

(a) Non-Payment. The Company, the Foreign Borrower or any other Loan Party, as applicable, (i) fails to pay (x) when and as required to be paid herein and in the currency required hereunder, any amount of principal of any Loan or any L/C Obligation, or (y) the earlier of (A) five calendar days or (B) three Business Days after notice, that the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan or on any L/C Obligation, or any commitment fee or any other fees or amounts due hereunder or under any other Loan Document or (ii) fails to deposit the earlier of (A) five calendar days or (B) three Business Days after notice, that the same becomes required to be deposited, any funds as Cash Collateral in respect of L/C Obligations; or

(b) Specific Covenants. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 6.03, 6.05, 6.10, 6.11, 6.14, 6.15, 6.17 or Article VII; or

(c) Other Defaults. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in subsection (a) or (b) above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for 30 days after the earlier of (i) the date upon which a Responsible Officer knew or reasonably should have known of such failure or (ii) the date upon which written notice thereof is given to the Company by the Administrative Agent or any Lender; or

 

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(d) Representations and Warranties. Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary, or the Foreign Borrower, as applicable, herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed made; or

(e) Cross-Default. (i) The Company or any Material Subsidiary (A) fails to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) in respect of any Indebtedness or Guarantee (other than Indebtedness hereunder and Indebtedness under Swap Contracts) having an aggregate principal amount (including undrawn committed or available amounts and including amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit arrangement) of more than $25,000,000 and such failure continues after the applicable grace or notice period, if any, specified in the relevant document on the date of such failure, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or Guarantee or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event or condition occurs, the effect of which default or other event or condition is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness or the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Guarantee (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness to be demanded or to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity, or such Guarantee to become payable or cash collateral in respect thereof to be demanded; or (ii) there occurs under any Swap Contract an Early Termination Date (as defined in such Swap Contract) resulting from (A) any event of default under such Swap Contract as to which the Company or any Material Subsidiary is the Defaulting Party (as defined in such Swap Contract) or (B) any Termination Event (as so defined) under such Swap Contract as to which the Company or a Material Subsidiary is an Affected Party (as so defined) and, in either event, the Swap Termination Value owed by the Company or such Material Subsidiary as a result thereof is greater than $25,000,000; or

(f) Insolvency Proceedings, Etc. The Company or any Material Subsidiary institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for 60 calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or any Material Subsidiary shall become subject to any conservation, rehabilitation or liquidation order, directive or mandate issued by an Governmental Authority; or

(g) Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment. (i) The Company or any Material Subsidiary becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, subject to applicable grace periods, if any, whether at stated maturity or otherwise, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of any such Person and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within 60 days after its issue or levy; or

(h) Monetary Judgments. One or more non-interlocutory judgments, non-interlocutory orders, decrees or arbitration awards is entered against the Company or any Subsidiary involving in the aggregate a liability (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer does not dispute coverage) as to any single or related series of transactions, incidents or conditions, of $25,000,000 or more, and the same shall remain unsatisfied, unvacated and unstayed pending appeal for a period of 30 days after the entry thereof; or

 

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(i) ERISA. (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Company under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of $25,000,000; or (ii) the Company or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount in excess of $25,000,000; or

(j) Invalidity of Loan Documents. Any Loan Document, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect; or the Company or any other Person contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any Loan Document; or any Loan Party denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Loan Document, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any Loan Document; or it is or it becomes unlawful for any Loan Party to perform any of its obligations under the Loan Documents; or

(k) Security Instrument. Any Security Instrument after delivery thereof pursuant to the terms of the Loan Documents shall for any reason (other than pursuant to the terms thereof including as a result of a transaction not prohibited under this Agreement or the occurrence of a Collateral Release Event) cease to create a valid and perfected Lien (subject to Permitted Liens) with the priority required by the Security Instrument on the Collateral purported to be covered thereby, or any Loan Party shall assert in writing the invalidity of such Liens, except in all cases to the extent that any such perfection or priority is not required pursuant to the Loan Documents or any loss of perfection or priority results from (x) the failure of the Administrative Agent to (i) maintain possession of Collateral actually delivered to it and pledged under the Security Instrument or (ii) file initial UCC financing statements or UCC continuation statements or (y) the Administrative Agent taking any action to terminate a UCC financing statement; or

(l) Change of Control. (i) There occurs any Change of Control with respect to the Company or (ii) the Company shall cease to own and control, of record and beneficially, directly or indirectly, 100% of the Equity Interests of the Foreign Borrower.

Without limiting the provisions of Article IX, if a Default shall have occurred under the Loan Documents, then such Default will continue to exist until it either is cured (to the extent specifically permitted) in accordance with the Loan Documents or is otherwise expressly waived by Administrative Agent (with the approval of requisite Appropriate Lenders (in their sole discretion)) as determined in accordance with Section 11.01; and once an Event of Default occurs under the Loan Documents, then such Event of Default will continue to exist until it is expressly waived by the requisite Appropriate Lenders or by the Administrative Agent with the approval of the requisite Appropriate Lenders, as required hereunder in Section 11.01.

8.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions:

(a) declare the Commitment of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of an L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;

(b) declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrowers;

 

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(c) require that the Company Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to the Minimum Collateral Amount with respect thereto); and

(d) exercise on behalf of itself, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers all rights and remedies available to it, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers under the Loan Documents or Applicable Law or equity;

provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default described in Section 8.01(f) with respect to either Borrower, the Commitment of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of an L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, and the obligation of the Company to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations as aforesaid shall automatically become effective, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

8.03 Application of Funds.

(a) After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable and the L/C Obligations have automatically been required to be Cash Collateralized as set forth in the proviso to Section 8.02), or if at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all Secured Obligations then due hereunder, any amounts received on account of the Secured Obligations shall, subject to the provisions of Sections 2.15 and 2.16, be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:

First, to payment of that portion of the Secured Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges, Attorney Costs and amounts payable under Article III) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;

Second, to payment of that portion of the Secured Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal, interest and Letter of Credit Fees) payable to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers (including fees, charges, Attorney Costs of counsel to the respective Lenders and the L/C Issuers, if any under Section 11.04(a)) arising under the Loan Documents and amounts payable under Article III, ratably among them in proportion to the amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;

Third, to payment of that portion of the Secured Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid Letter of Credit Fees and interest on the Loans and L/C Borrowings and other Secured Obligations arising under the Loan Documents, ratably among the Lenders and the L/C Issuers in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;

Fourth, to payment of that portion of the Secured Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans and L/C Borrowings and Secured Obligations then owing under Secured Hedge Agreements, Secured Cash Management Agreements, and Secured Trade Documents and to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable L/C Issuer, to Cash Collateralize that portion of L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit to the extent not otherwise Cash Collateralized by the Company pursuant to Sections 2.03 and 2.15, ratably among the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the L/C Issuers, the Hedge Banks, the Cash Management Banks, and the Trade Banks in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them; and

Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Secured Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, to the Company or as otherwise required by Law.

 

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(b) Subject to Section 2.03(c) and 2.15, amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Fourth above shall be applied to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur. If any amount remains on deposit as Cash Collateral after all Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be applied to the other Secured Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above. Excluded Swap Obligations with respect to any Guarantor shall not be paid with amounts received from such Guarantor or its assets, but appropriate adjustments shall be made with respect to payments from other Loan Parties and Affiliates of Loan Parties to preserve the allocation to Secured Obligations otherwise set forth above in this Section 8.03.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, Secured Obligations arising under Secured Cash Management Agreements, Secured Hedge Agreements and Secured Trade Documents shall be excluded from the application described above if the Administrative Agent has not received a Secured Party Designation Notice, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may request, from the applicable Cash Management Bank, Hedge Bank or Trade Bank, as the case may be. Each Cash Management Bank, Hedge Bank or Trade Bank not a party to the Credit Agreement that has given the notice contemplated by the preceding sentence shall, by such notice, be deemed to have acknowledged and accepted the appointment of the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms of Article IX hereof for itself and its Affiliates as if a “Lender” party hereto.

ARTICLE IX.

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

9.01 Appointment and Authority.

(a) Appointment. Each of the Lenders and the L/C Issuers hereby irrevocably appoints, designates and authorizes Bank of America 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 Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers, and neither the Company nor any other Loan Party shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions (other than in respect of the consent right of the Company set forth in Section 9.06). It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” herein or in any other Loan Documents (or any other similar term) with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any Applicable Law. Instead such term is used as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties.

(b) Collateral Agent. The Administrative Agent shall also act as the “collateral agent” under the Loan Documents, and each of the Lenders (including in its capacities as a potential Hedge Bank, a potential Cash Management Bank and a potential Trade Bank) and each L/C Issuer hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to act as the agent of such Lender and such L/C Issuer for purposes of acquiring, holding and enforcing any and all Liens on Collateral granted by any of the Loan Parties to secure any of the Secured Obligations, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto. In this connection, the Administrative Agent, as “collateral agent” and any co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact appointed by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.05 for purposes of holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral (or any portion thereof) granted under the Security Instruments, or for exercising any rights and remedies thereunder at the direction of the Administrative Agent, shall be entitled to the benefits of all provisions of this Article IX and Article XI (including Section 11.04(c), as though such co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact were the “collateral agent” under the Loan Documents) as if set forth in full herein with respect thereto.

 

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9.02 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, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust, financial, advisory, underwriting or other business with any Loan Party 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 or to provide notice to or consent of the Lenders with respect thereto.

9.03 Exculpatory Provisions.

(a) The Administrative Agent, or the Arrangers, as applicable shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, and its duties hereunder shall be administrative in nature. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent or the Arrangers, as applicable, and their respective Related Parties:

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

(ii) shall not have any duty or responsibility to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents), provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or Applicable Law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any Debtor Relief Law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any Debtor Relief Law; and

(iii) shall not have any duty or responsibility to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, to any Lender or any L/C Issuer any credit or other information concerning the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition or creditworthiness of any of the Loan Parties or any of their Affiliates that is communicated to, or in the possession of, the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or any of their Related Parties in any capacity, except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent herein.

(b) Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its Related Parties shall be liable for any action taken or not taken by the Administrative Agent under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions contemplated hereby (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 11.01 and 8.02) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable judgment. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given in writing to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, a Lender or an L/C Issuer.

 

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(c) Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its Related Parties shall have any duty or obligation to any Lender or participant or any other Person to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, or the creation, perfection or priority of any Lien purported to be created by the Security Instruments, (v) the value or sufficiency of any Collateral or (vi) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

9.04 Reliance by Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall be fully protected in relying and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, communication, 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 be fully protected in relying 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, extension, renewal or increase of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or an L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or such L/C Issuer unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or such L/C Issuer prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts. For purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in Section 4.01, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objections.

9.05 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 Article shall apply to any such sub agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and non-appealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agents.

9.06 Resignation of Administrative Agent.

(a) Notice. The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Company. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Company, to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States.

 

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If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Resignation Effective Date”), then the retiring Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) on behalf of the Lenders and the L/C Issuers, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above; provided that in no event shall any successor Administrative Agent be a Defaulting Lender. Whether or not a successor has been appointed, such resignation shall become effective in accordance with such notice on the Resignation Effective Date.

(b) Defaulting Lenders. If the Person serving as Administrative Agent is a Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (d) of the definition thereof, the Required Lenders may, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, by notice in writing to the Company and such Person remove such Person as Administrative Agent and, in consultation with the Borrower, appoint a successor. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Removal Effective Date”), then such removal shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice on the Removal Effective Date.

(c) Effect of Resignation or Removal. With effect from the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date (as applicable) (1) the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and (2) except for any indemnity payments or other amounts then owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent, all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender and the L/C Issuer directly, until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or removed) Administrative Agent (other than as provided in Section 3.01(g) and other than any rights to indemnity payments or other amounts owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent as of the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date, as applicable), and the retiring or removed 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 9.06). The fees payable by the Company to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Company and such successor. After the retiring or removed Administrative Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 11.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring or removed Administrative Agent, its sub agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them (i) while the retiring or removed Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent and (ii) after such resignation or removal for as long as any of them continues to act in any capacity hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, including, without limitation, (A) acting as collateral agent or otherwise holding any collateral security on behalf of any of the Secured Parties and (B) in respect of any actions taken in connection with transferring the agency to any successor Administrative Agent.

(d) L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender. Any resignation by Bank of America as Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section shall also constitute its resignation as an L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender. If Bank of America resigns as an L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of an L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its

 

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resignation as an L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c). If Bank of America resigns as Swing Line Lender, it shall retain all the rights of the Swing Line Lender provided for hereunder with respect to Swing Line Loans made by it and outstanding as of the effective date of such resignation, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(c). Upon the appointment by the Company of a successor L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender hereunder (which successor shall in all cases be a Lender other than a Defaulting Lender), (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as applicable, (b) the retiring L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender shall be discharged from all of their respective duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, and (c) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to Bank of America to effectively assume the obligations of Bank of America with respect to such Letters of Credit.

9.07 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders. Each Lender and each L/C Issuer expressly acknowledges that none of the Administrative Agent nor the Arrangers has made any representation or warranty to it, and that no act by the Administrative Agent or the Arrangers hereafter taken, including any consent to, and acceptance of any assignment or review of the affairs of any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by the Administrative Agent or the Arrangers to any Lender or each L/C Issuer as to any matter, including whether the Administrative Agent or the Arrangers have disclosed material information in their (or their Related Parties’) possession. Each Lender and each L/C Issuer represents to the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, 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 of, appraisal of, and investigation into, the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, and all applicable bank or other regulatory Laws relating to the transactions contemplated hereby, and made its own decision to enter into this Agreement and to extend credit to the Borrowers hereunder. Each Lender and each L/C Issuer also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, 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 credit analysis, appraisals and 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, and to make such investigations as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Loan Parties. Each Lender and each L/C Issuer represents and warrants that (i) the Loan Documents set forth the terms of a commercial lending facility and (ii) it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans in the ordinary course and is entering into this Agreement as a Lender or L/C Issuer for the purpose of making, acquiring or holding commercial loans and providing other facilities set forth herein as may be applicable to such Lender or L/C Issuer, and not for the purpose of purchasing, acquiring or holding any other type of financial instrument, and each Lender and each L/C Issuer agrees not to assert a claim in contravention of the foregoing. Each Lender and each L/C Issuer represents and warrants that it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to make, acquire and/or hold commercial loans and to provide other facilities set forth herein, as may be applicable to such Lender or such L/C Issuer, and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to make, acquire and/or hold such commercial loans or to provide such other facilities, is experienced in making, acquiring or holding such commercial loans or providing such other facilities.

9.08 No Other Duties, Etc. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the titles listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender or an L/C Issuer hereunder.

 

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9.09 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim; Credit Bidding.

(a) In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or L/C Obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on either Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise

(i) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, L/C Obligations and all other Secured Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.03(h) and (i), 2.09 and 11.04) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

(ii) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and each L/C Issuer to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 11.04.

(b) Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender or L/C Issuer any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Secured Obligations or the rights of any Lender or L/C Issuer to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender or L/C Issuer in any such proceeding.

(c) The Secured Parties hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at the direction of the Required Lenders, to credit bid all or any portion of the Secured Obligations (including accepting some or all of the Collateral in satisfaction of some or all of the Secured Obligations pursuant to a deed in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise) and in such manner purchase (either directly or through one or more acquisition vehicles) all or any portion of the Collateral (i) at any sale thereof conducted under the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, including under Sections 363, 1123 or 1129 of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, or any similar Laws in any other jurisdictions to which a Loan Party is subject or (ii) at any other sale or foreclosure or acceptance of collateral in lieu of debt conducted by (or with the consent or at the direction of) the Administrative Agent (whether by judicial action or otherwise) in accordance with any Applicable Law. In connection with any such credit bid and purchase, the Secured Obligations owed to the Secured Parties shall be entitled to be, and shall be, credit bid on a ratable basis (with Secured Obligations with respect to contingent or unliquidated claims receiving contingent interests in the acquired assets on a ratable basis that would vest upon the liquidation of such claims in an amount proportional to the liquidated portion of the contingent claim amount used in allocating the contingent interests) in the asset or assets so purchased (or in the Equity Interests or debt instruments of the acquisition

 

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vehicle or vehicles that are used to consummate such purchase). In connection with any such bid, the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to (i) form one or more acquisition vehicles to make a bid, (ii) adopt documents providing for the governance of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles (provided that any actions by the Administrative Agent with respect to such acquisition vehicle or vehicles, including any disposition of the assets or Equity Interests thereof shall be governed, directly or indirectly, by the vote of the Required Lenders, irrespective of the termination of this Agreement and without giving effect to the limitations on actions by the Required Lenders contained in clauses (a) through (i) of Section 11.01 of this Agreement, (iii) assign the relevant Secured Obligations to any such acquisition vehicle pro rata by the Lenders, as a result of which each of the Lenders shall be deemed to have received a pro rata portion of any Equity Interests and/or debt instruments issued by such an acquisition vehicle on account of the assignment of the Secured Obligations to be credit bid, all without the need for any Secured Party or acquisition vehicle to take any further action. In addition, to the extent that Secured Obligations that are assigned to an acquisition vehicle are not used to acquire Collateral for any reason (as a result of another bid being higher or better, because the amount of Secured Obligations assigned to the acquisition vehicle exceeds the amount of debt credit bid by the acquisition vehicle or otherwise), such Secured Obligations shall automatically be reassigned to the Lenders pro rata and the Equity Interests and/or debt instruments issued by any acquisition vehicle on account of the Secured Obligations that had been assigned to the acquisition vehicle shall automatically be cancelled, without the need for any Secured Party or any acquisition vehicle to take any further action.

9.10 Collateral and Guaranty Matters.

(a) Each of the Lenders (including in its capacity as a potential Cash Management Bank, a potential Hedge Bank, and a potential Trade Bank) and each L/C Issuer irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion,

(i) to release any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document (i) upon the Facility Termination Date, (ii) that is sold or otherwise disposed of or to be sold or otherwise disposed of as part of or in connection with any sale or other disposition permitted hereunder or under any other Loan Document, (iii) in connection with the release of the Collateral provided in Section 11.21(a) or (iv) if approved, authorized or ratified in writing in accordance with Section 11.01;

(ii) to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty if such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary as a result of a transaction permitted under the Loan Documents; and

(iii) to subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted by Section 7.01(f).

(b) Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release or subordinate its interest in particular types or items of property, or to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty pursuant to this Section 9.10. In each case as specified in this Section 9.10, the Administrative Agent will, at the Company’s expense, execute and deliver to the applicable Loan Party such documents as such Loan Party may reasonably request to evidence the release of such item of Collateral from the assignment and security interest granted under the Security Instruments or to subordinate its interest in such item, or to release such Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents and this Section 9.10.

 

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(c) The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have a duty to ascertain or inquire into any representation or warranty regarding the existence, value or collectability of the Collateral, the existence, priority or perfection of the Administrative Agent’s Lien thereon, or any certificate prepared by any Loan Party in connection therewith, nor shall the Administrative Agent be responsible or liable to the Lenders for any failure to monitor or maintain any portion of the Collateral.

9.11 Secured Cash Management Agreements, Secured Hedge Agreements and Trade Documents. Except as otherwise expressly set forth in any Guaranty or any Security Instrument, no Cash Management Bank, Hedge Bank or Trade Bank that obtains the benefit of the provisions of Section 8.03, any Guaranty or any Collateral by virtue of the provisions hereof or of any Guaranty or Security Instrument shall have any right to notice of any action or to consent to, direct or object to any action hereunder or under any other Loan Document or otherwise in respect of the Collateral (including the release or impairment of any Collateral) (or to notice of or to consent to any amendment, waiver or modification of the provisions hereof or of any Guaranty or any Security Instrument) other than in its capacity as a Lender and, in such case, only to the extent expressly provided in the Loan Documents. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article IX to the contrary, the Administrative Agent shall not be required to verify the payment of, or that other satisfactory arrangements have been made with respect to, Secured Obligations arising under Secured Cash Management Agreements, Secured Hedge Agreements and Secured Trade Documents except to the extent expressly provided herein and unless the Administrative Agent has received a Secured Party Designation Notice of such Secured Obligations, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may request, from the applicable Cash Management Bank, Hedge Bank or Trade Bank, as the case may be. The Administrative Agent shall not be required to verify the payment of, or that other satisfactory arrangements have been made with respect to, Secured Obligations arising under Secured Cash Management Agreements, Secured Hedge Agreements or Secured Trade Documents in the case of a Facility Termination Date.

9.12 Recovery of Erroneous Payments. Without limitation of any other provision in this Agreement, if at any time the Administrative Agent makes a payment hereunder in error to any Lender or any L/C Issuer (the “Credit Party”), whether or not in respect of an Obligation due and owing by Company or the Foreign Borrower at such time, where such payment is a Rescindable Amount, then in any such event, each Credit Party receiving a Rescindable Amount severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the Rescindable Amount received by such Credit Party in immediately available funds in the currency so received, with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such Rescindable Amount is received by it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation. Each Credit Party irrevocably waives any and all defenses, including any “discharge for value” (under which a creditor might otherwise claim a right to retain funds mistakenly paid by a third party in respect of a debt owed by another) or similar defense to its obligation to return any Rescindable Amount. The Administrative Agent shall inform each Credit Party promptly upon determining that any payment made to such Credit Party comprised, in whole or in part, a Rescindable Amount.

ARTICLE X.

COLLECTION ALLOCATION MECHANISM

10.01 Implementation of CAM.

(a) On the CAM Exchange Date, to the extent not otherwise prohibited by Law or otherwise, (i) each Lender shall immediately be deemed to have acquired participations in the Swing Line Loans in an amount equal to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of each Swing Line Loan outstanding on such date, and shall promptly make payment therefor to the Swing Line Lender in accordance with Section 2.04(c)

 

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(each of which such participations shall, upon funding thereof, be deemed to result in such funding Lender directly holding the share of the Swing Line Loans so participated), (ii) each Lender shall promptly make payment of any L/C Advance owing by it to any L/C Issuer (together with an interest thereon), (iii) all Loans and any Unreimbursed Amounts outstanding in any currency other than Dollars (collectively, “Obligations to be Converted”) shall be converted into Dollars (calculated on the basis of the relevant Spot Rates as of the Business Day immediately preceding the CAM Exchange Date) (“Converted Loans”), and (iv) each CAM Exchange Party that is a party hereto severally, unconditionally and irrevocably agrees that it shall purchase or sell in Dollars a participating interest in the Designated Obligations in an amount equal to its CAM Percentage of the outstanding principal amount of the Designated Obligations, such that in lieu of the interest of each CAM Exchange Party in the applicable Facility in which it shall participate prior to the CAM Exchange Date, each such CAM Exchange Party shall hold an interest in every one of the applicable Facilities whether or not such CAM Exchange Party shall have previously participated therein, equal to such CAM Exchange Party’s CAM Percentage thereof on the CAM Exchange Date. All Converted Loans made to the Company shall bear interest at the rate which would otherwise be applicable to Base Rate Loans and all Converted Loans made to the Foreign Borrower shall bear interest at the Overnight Rate applicable to Dollars. Each CAM Exchange Party that is a party hereto and each Borrower hereby consents and agrees to the CAM Exchange, and each such CAM Exchange Party agrees that the CAM Exchange shall be binding upon its successors and assigns and any person that acquires a participation in its interests hereunder. Each Borrower agrees from time to time to execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent all instruments and documents as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request to evidence and confirm the respective interests of the CAM Exchange Parties after giving effect to the CAM Exchange.

(b) If, for any reason, the Obligations to be Converted may not be converted into Dollars in the manner contemplated by subsection (a) of this Section 10.01, the Administrative Agent shall determine the Dollar Equivalent of the Obligations to be Converted (calculated on the basis of the Spot Rate as of the Business Day immediately preceding the date on which such conversion would otherwise occur pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section 10.01). Such determination shall be utilized to determine the CAM Percentage of each CAM Exchange Party and the participations to be exchanged.

(c) As a result of the CAM Exchange, upon and after the CAM Exchange Date, each payment received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to any Loan Document in respect of the Designated Obligations, and each distribution made by the Administrative Agent pursuant to any Security Instrument in respect of the Designated Obligations, shall be distributed to the CAM Exchange Parties pro rata in accordance with their respective CAM Percentages. Any direct payment received by a CAM Exchange Party upon or after the CAM Exchange Date, including by way of setoff, in respect of a Designated Obligation shall be paid over to the Administrative Agent for distribution to the CAM Exchange Parties in accordance herewith.

10.02 Letters of Credit. In the event that, on or after the CAM Exchange Date, the aggregate amount of the Designated Obligations shall change as a result of a drawing under a Letter of Credit that is not reimbursed by the Company, then (i) each Lender shall, in accordance with Section 2.03(c), promptly make its L/C Advance in respect of such Unreimbursed Amount (without giving effect to the CAM Exchange), (ii) the Administrative Agent shall redetermine the CAM Percentages after giving effect to such drawing and the making of such L/C Advances and each of the CAM Exchange Parties shall automatically and without further act be deemed to have exchanged interests in the Designated Obligations such that each CAM Exchange Party shall own an interest equal to such CAM Exchange Party’s CAM Percentage in the Designated Obligations (and the interests in the Designated Obligations to be received in such deemed exchange shall, automatically and with no further action required, be converted into Dollars in accordance with the first sentence of Section 10.01), and (iii) in the event distributions shall have been made in accordance with clause (c) of Section 10.01, the CAM Exchange Parties shall make such payments to one another as shall be necessary in order that the amounts received by them shall be equal to the amounts they would have received had each such drawing and L/C Advance been outstanding on the CAM Exchange Date. Each such redetermination shall be binding on each of the Lenders and their successors and assigns and shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

 

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10.03 No Additional Obligations of Loan Parties. The provisions of this Article X are solely an agreement among the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Administrative Agent for the purpose of allocating risk and no Loan Party shall have any additional obligations to any of the Lenders, the L/C Issuers, the Administrative Agent or any other Person solely as a result of the operation of this Article X (except for the obligations of the Borrowers under the last sentence of Section 10.01(a)).

ARTICLE XI.

MISCELLANEOUS

11.01 Amendments, Etc.

(a) Subject to Section 3.03(c) and the last paragraph of this Section 11.01, no amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Company or any other Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders (or by the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders) and the Company or the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

(i) waive any condition set forth in Section 4.01(a) without the written consent of each Lender;

(ii) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 8.02) without the written consent of such Lender (it being understood and agreed that a waiver of any condition precedent in Section 4.02 or of any Default is not considered an extension or increase in Commitments of any Lender);

(iii) postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment (excluding mandatory prepayments) of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to the Lenders (or any of them) hereunder or under such other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender entitled to such payment;

(iv) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or L/C Borrowing, or (subject to clause (iv) of the second proviso to this Section 11.01) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender entitled to such amount; provided, however, that only the consent of (i) the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition of “Default Rate” or (ii) the Required Revolving Lenders to waive any obligation of any Borrower to pay interest or Letter of Credit Fees at the Default Rate;

(v) change (i) Section 8.03 or Section 2.13 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender, or (ii) Section 2.12(f) in a manner that would alter the pro rata application required thereby without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;

(vi) amend Section 1.09 or the definition of “Alternative Currency” without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;

 

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(vii) change any provision of this Section or the definition of “Required Lenders,” “Required Revolving Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder without the written consent of each Lender;

(viii) release or subordinate all or substantially all of the value of the Collateral (other than as authorized by Sections 9.10 or 11.21) without the written consent of each Lender;

(ix) release (i) either Borrower from its respective Obligations hereunder or under the Loan Documents, (ii) the Company from its Obligations as a Guarantor of the Obligations hereunder or under the Loan Documents, or (iii) other Guarantors comprising all or substantially all of the credit support, in each case (other than as authorized by Section 9.10) without the written consent of each Lender;

and, provided further, that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the applicable L/C Issuer in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of such L/C Issuer under this Agreement or any Issuer Document relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by it; (ii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Swing Line Lender in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Swing Line Lender under this Agreement; (iii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; and (iv) the Fee Letters may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, (A) 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 effective 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 or the principal owed to such Defaulting Lender reduced or the final maturity thereof extended without the consent of such Defaulting Lender, and (y) any waiver, amendment or other 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, (B) any waiver, consent or other amendment to any term or provision of this Agreement necessary or advisable to effectuate the intent of Section 2.14 to provide any Incremental Commitments shall be effective when executed by the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and each Lender or other approved financial institution making such Incremental Commitment, (C) each Lender is entitled to vote as such Lender sees fit on any bankruptcy reorganization plan that affects the Loans, and each Lender acknowledges that the provisions of Section 1126(c) of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States supersedes the unanimous consent provisions set forth herein and (D) the Required Lenders shall determine whether or not to allow a Loan Party to use cash collateral in the context of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding and such determination shall be binding on all of the Lenders.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, this Agreement may be amended and restated without the consent of any Lender (but with the consent of the Company and the Administrative Agent) if, upon giving effect to such amendment and restatement, such Lender shall no longer be a party to this Agreement (as so amended and restated), the Commitments of such Lender shall have terminated, such Lender shall have no other commitment or other obligation hereunder and shall have been paid in full all principal, interest and other amounts owing to it or accrued for its account under this Agreement.

 

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(d) Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, this Agreement may be amended with the written consent of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers, the Borrowers and the Lenders affected thereby to amend the definition of “Alternative Currency” or “Eurocurrency Rate” or Section 1.09 solely to add additional currency options and the applicable interest rate with respect thereto, in each case solely to the extent permitted pursuant to Section 1.09.

(e) Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, if the Administrative Agent and the Company acting together identify any ambiguity, omission, mistake, typographical error or other defect in any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (including the schedules and exhibits thereto), then the Administrative Agent and the Company shall be permitted to amend, modify or supplement such provision to cure such ambiguity, omission, mistake, typographical error or other defect, and such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement.

11.02 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.

(a) Notices Generally. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by fax transmission or e-mail transmission as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:

(i) if to the Company or any other Loan Party, the Administrative Agent, an L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 11.02; and

(ii) if to any other Lender, to the address, fax number, e-mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire (including, as appropriate, notices delivered solely to the Person designated by a Lender on its Administrative Questionnaire then in effect for the delivery of notices that may contain material non-public information relating to the Borrower).

Notices and other communications sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices and other communications sent by fax transmission 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 and other communications delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in clause (b) below, shall be effective as provided in such clause (b).

 

This Agreement was prepared by:

   Greenberg Traurig, LLP
   2200 Ross Avenue, Suite 5200
   Dallas, Texas 75202
   Attention: Lou Ann Brunenn
   Phone: 214-665-3661
   E-mail: [email protected]

(b) Electronic Communications.

(i) Notices and other communications to the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Swing Line Lender and the L/C Issuers hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail, FPML messaging, and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion; provided that the foregoing

 

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shall not apply to notices to any Lender, the Swing Line Lender or any L/C Issuer pursuant to Article II if such Lender, the Swing Line Lender or such L/C Issuer, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article II by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender, any L/C Issuer or any Borrower may each, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

(ii) Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (A) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgment from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement) and (B) notices and other communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received by the intended recipient 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 address or other written acknowledgement) indicating that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; provided that for both clauses (A) and (B), if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice, email or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient.

(c) The Platform. THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have any liability to the Company, any other Loan Party, any Lender or L/C Issuer or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Company’s, any other Loan Party’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of Borrower Materials or notices through the Platform, any other electronic platform or electronic messaging service, or through the Internet.

(d) Change of Address, Etc. Each of the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender may change its address, fax number or telephone number or e-mail address for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, fax number or telephone number or e-mail address for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Company, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Swing Line Lender. In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, fax number and e-mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender. Furthermore, each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the “Private Side Information” or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public Lender’s compliance procedures and Applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws, to make reference to Borrower Materials that are not made available through the “Public Side Information” portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public information with respect to the Company or its securities for purposes of United States Federal or state securities laws.

 

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(e) Reliance by Administrative Agent, L/C Issuers and Lenders. The Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic or electronic notices, Loan Notices, Letter of Credit Applications, Notice of Loan Prepayment and Swing Line Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Company even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. The Company shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each L/C Issuer, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower. All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

11.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement.

(a) No failure by any Lender or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Loan Document preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided, and provided under each other Loan Document, are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against the 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 Section 8.02 for the benefit of all the Lenders and the L/C Issuers; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (b) any L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender from exercising the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as an L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (c) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 11.08 (subject to the terms of Section 2.13), 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 Debtor Relief Law; 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 Section 8.02 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b), (c) and (d) of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.13, 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.

11.04 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

(a) Costs and Expenses. The Borrowers shall, jointly and severally, pay (i) all reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including the Attorney Costs of counsel for 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

 

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(whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred by the L/C Issuers in connection with the issuance, amendment, extension, reinstatement or renewal of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all out of pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or L/C Issuer (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel which shall be limited to one counsel to the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and L/C Issuers taken as a whole and, if reasonably necessary, one local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction material to the interests of the Lenders taken as a whole and, solely in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest, one additional counsel in each relevant jurisdiction to each group of similarly situated affected parties), 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.

(b) Indemnification by the Borrowers.

(i) Each Borrower shall jointly and severally indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender and each L/C Issuer, 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 Attorney Costs for any Indemnitee, but limited in the case of legal fees and expenses to the reasonable and documented or invoiced out-of-pocket fees, disbursements and other charges of one counsel to all Indemnitees taken as a whole and, if necessary, one local counsel for all Indemnitees taken as a whole in each relevant jurisdiction material to the interests of the Lenders and, solely in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest, where the Indemnitee affected by such conflict informs the Company of such conflict and thereafter retains its own counsel, one additional counsel in each relevant jurisdiction to each group of similarly situated affected Indemnitees), incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any Person (including 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 other agreement (other than administration costs, fees or expenses incurred in the ordinary administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents related to the information postings, Loan Notices, payment notices, billing, collection of Lender payments and the distribution of payments made by the Borrowers to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders that have been paid and are contemplated by the Fee Letter), or instrument delivered in connection with the transactions and contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or, in the case of the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including in respect of any matters addressed in Section 3.01), (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by any L/C Issuer 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) any actual or alleged presence or Release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned, leased or operated by a Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to a Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by a Borrower or any other Loan Party, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto, IN ALL CASES, WHETHER OR NOT CAUSED BY OR ARISING, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, OUT OF THE COMPARATIVE, CONTRIBUTORY OR SOLE NEGLIGENCE OF THE INDEMNITEE; provided that such

 

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indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available (x) to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and non-appealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or (y) for any loss asserted against it by another Indemnitee, provided that such asserted loss was not a result of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ own conduct. Without limiting the provisions of Section 3.01(c), this Section 11.04(b) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim.

(ii) EACH INDEMNITEE AGREES WITH RESPECT TO ANY ACTION AGAINST IT IN RESPECT OF WHICH INDEMNITY MAY BE SOUGHT UNDER THIS SECTION 11.04, THAT SUCH INDEMNITEE WILL GIVE WRITTEN NOTICE OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF SUCH ACTION TO THE COMPANY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME AFTER SUCH INDEMNITEE IS MADE A PARTY TO SUCH ACTION. UPON RECEIPT OF ANY SUCH NOTICE BY THE COMPANY, THE COMPANY, UNLESS SUCH INDEMNITEE SHALL BE ADVISED BY ITS COUNSEL THAT THERE ARE OR MAY BE LEGAL DEFENSES AVAILABLE TO SUCH INDEMNITEE THAT ARE DIFFERENT FROM, IN ADDITION TO, OR IN CONFLICT WITH, THE DEFENSES AVAILABLE TO THE COMPANY OR ANY OTHER LOAN PARTY, MAY PARTICIPATE WITH THE INDEMNITEE IN THE DEFENSE OF SUCH INDEMNIFIED MATTER; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, NOTHING PROVIDED HEREIN SHALL (i) ENTITLE THE COMPANY OR ANY OTHER LOAN PARTY TO ASSUME THE DEFENSE OF SUCH INDEMNIFIED MATTER OR (ii) REQUIRE THE CONSENT OF THE COMPANY OR ANY OTHER LOAN PARTY FOR ANY SETTLEMENT OR ACTION IN RESPECT OF SUCH INDEMNIFIED MATTER, ALTHOUGH EACH INDEMNITEE AGREES TO CONFER AND CONSULT WITH THE COMPANY OR ANY OTHER LOAN PARTY BEFORE MAKING ANY SETTLEMENT OF SUCH INDEMNIFIED MATTER.

(c) Reimbursement by Lenders. To the extent that the Company for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), any L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), such L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s pro rata share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought based on each Lender’s share of the Total Credit Exposure at such time) of such unpaid amount (including any such unpaid amount in respect of a claim asserted by such Lender), such payment to be made severally among them based on such Lender’s Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought), provided further that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), such L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), such L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender in connection with such capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 2.12(d).

(d) Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Borrowers shall not assert, and hereby waive, and acknowledge that no other Person shall have, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnitee referred to in subsection (b) above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by

 

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unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed to such unintended recipients by such Indemnitee through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby other than for direct or actual damages resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee as determined by a final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

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

(f) Survival. The agreements in this Section and the indemnity provisions of Section 11.02(e) shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.

11.05 Payments Set Aside. To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of any Loan Party is made to the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent, such L/C Issuer or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender and each L/C Issuer severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect, in the applicable currency of such recovery or payment. The obligations of the Lenders and the L/C Issuers under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

11.06 Successors and Assigns.

(a) Successors and Assigns Generally. The provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and thereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that neither the Company nor any other Loan Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.06(b), (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.06(d), or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of Section 11.06(f) (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 11.06(d) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

(b) Assignments by Lenders. Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans (including for purposes of this subsection (b), participations in L/C Obligations and in Swing Line Loans) at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

 

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(i) Minimum Amounts.

(A) in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment under any Facility and/or the Loans at the time owing to it (in each case with respect to any Facility) or contemporaneous assignments to related Approved Funds (determined after giving effect to such assignments) that equal at least the amount specified in clause (b)(i)(B) of this Section 11.06 in the aggregate or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and

(B) in any case not described in clause (b)(i)(A) of this Section 11.06, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $5,000,000, in the case of any assignment in respect of the Revolving Facility, unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company otherwise consents (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 and the other Loan Documents with respect to the Loans and/or the Commitment assigned, except that this clause (ii) shall not (A) apply to the Swing Line Lender’s rights and obligations in respect of Swing Line Loans or (B) prohibit any Lender from assigning all or a portion of its rights and obligations under separate Facilities on a non-pro rata basis;

(iii) Required Consents. No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by clause (b)(i)(B) of this Section 11.06 and, in addition:

(A) the consent of the Company (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (1) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; provided that the Company shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within ten (10) Business Days after having received notice thereof;

(B) the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for assignments in respect of any Revolving Commitment or Revolving Loans if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to a Lender; and

(C) the consent of each L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment in respect of the Revolving Facility.

 

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(iv) Assignment and Assumption. The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount of $3,500; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment. The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

(v) No Assignment to Certain Persons. No such assignment shall be made (A) to the Company or any of the Company’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries, (B) to any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (B), or (C) to a natural person (or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated by or for the primary benefit of, one or more natural Persons).

(vi) Certain Additional Payments. In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or subparticipations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Company and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or any Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon) and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans and participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under Applicable Law without compliance with the provisions of this clause (b)(vi), then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.

(vii) No Assignment Resulting in Additional Indemnified Taxes. No such assignment shall be made to any Person (other than an assignment at the request of the Company pursuant to Section 11.13) that, through its Lending Offices, is not capable of lending such Alternative Currency to the relevant Borrowers without the imposition of any additional Taxes for which the Loan Parties are required to indemnify the Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant to Section 3.01; provided that this clause (vii) shall not apply after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default.

(viii) Alternative Currencies. Unless at the time of any assignment an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, no such assignment shall be made to any Person that cannot make Loans to the Borrowers in all Alternative Currencies then available to the Borrowers hereunder unless the Company consents to such assignment.

(ix) Luxembourg Civil Code. The parties hereto hereby expressly accept and confirm, for the purpose of articles 1278 and seq. of the Luxembourg Civil Code that, notwithstanding any assignment, transfer and/or novation permitted under, and made in accordance with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, any Guaranty or Collateral given under this Agreement or pursuant to any other Loan Document shall be preserved for the benefit of any assignee or transferee. The sending to the Foreign Borrower of a copy of the agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lenders sells a participation in accordance with Section 11.06(d) shall be deemed in relation to the Loan Documents to be sufficient to fulfill the notification requirement of article 1690 of the Luxembourg Civil Code (to the extent applicable).

 

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(x) Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 11.06(c), from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04, 3.05, and 11.04 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment); provided, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no assignment by a Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender. Upon request, the Borrowers (at their expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection 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 11.06(d).

(c) Register. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrowers, (and such agency being solely for Tax purposes) shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it (or the equivalent thereof in electronic form) and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts (and interest amounts) of the Loans and L/C Obligations owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrowers and any Lender (with respect to such Lender’s interest only), at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

(d) Participations.

(i) Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent (but with notice by such Lender to the Administrative Agent at least 5 Business Days prior to any such sale, which notice the Administrative Agent shall use commercially reasonable efforts to disclose to the Company prior to such sale), sell participations to any Person (other than a natural Person (or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, one or more natural Persons), a Defaulting Lender or the Company or any of the Company’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans (including such Lender’s participations in L/C Obligations and/or Swing Line Loans) owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, each Lender shall be responsible for the indemnity under Section 11.04(d) without regard to the existence of any participations.

 

 

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(ii) Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section 11.01 that affects such Participant. The Borrowers agree that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 3.01(e) (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 3.01(e) shall be delivered to the Lender who sells the participation)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to clause (b) of this Section 11.06; provided that such Participant (A) shall be subject to the provisions of Sections 3.06 and 11.13 as if it were an assignee under clause (b) of this Section 11.06 and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 3.01 or 3.04, with respect to any participation, than the Lender from whom it acquired the applicable participation 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 3.06 with respect to any Participant. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 11.08 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrowers, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and interest amounts) 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.

(e) Limitations upon Participant Rights. Notwithstanding anything in Section 11.06(d)(ii) to the contrary, a Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 3.01 or 3.04 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Company’s prior written consent. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 3.01 unless the Company is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrowers, to comply with Section 3.01(e) as though it were a Lender.

(f) Certain Pledges. Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note(s), if any) 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.

 

 

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(g) Resignation as an L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender after Assignment. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if at any time Bank of America assigns all of its Revolving Commitment and Revolving Loans pursuant to subsection (b) above, Bank of America may, (i) upon 30 days’ notice to the Company and the Lenders, resign as an L/C Issuer and/or (ii) upon 30 days’ notice to the Company, resign as Swing Line Lender. In the event of any such resignation as an L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, the Company shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a successor L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender hereunder; provided, however, that no failure by the Company to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of Bank of America as an L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be. If Bank of America resigns as an L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of an L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit issued by it and outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as an L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c)). If Bank of America resigns as Swing Line Lender, it shall retain all the rights of the Swing Line Lender provided for hereunder with respect to Swing Line Loans made by it and outstanding as of the effective date of such resignation, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(c). Upon the appointment of a successor L/C Issuer and/or Swing Line Lender, (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, and (b) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit issued by Bank of America, if any, and outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to Bank of America to effectively assume the obligations of Bank of America with respect to such Letters of Credit. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary and without limiting the foregoing, if at any time an L/C Issuer other than Bank of America assigns all of its Revolving Commitment and Revolving Loans pursuant to such subsection (b) above, such L/C Issuer may, (i) upon 30 days’ notice to the Company and the Lenders, resign as an L/C Issuer. In the event of any such resignation as an L/C Issuer, the Company shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a successor L/C Issuer hereunder; provided, however, that no failure by the Company to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of such L/C Issuer. Such resigning L/C Issuer shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of an L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit issued by it and outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as an L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c)). Upon the appointment of a successor L/C Issuer, (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer and (b) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit issued by the resigning L/C Issuer, if any, and outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to the resigning L/C Issuer to effectively assume the obligations of such resigning L/C Issuer with respect to such Letters of Credit.

11.07 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality.

(a) Treatment of Certain Information. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (i) to its Affiliates, its auditors and to its Related Parties (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 required or requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over such Person or its Related Parties (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (iii) to the extent required by Applicable Laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (iv) to any

 

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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 11.07, to (x) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement or any Eligible Assignee invited to be a Lender pursuant to Section 2.14(c) or (y) any actual or prospective party (or its Related Parties) to any swap, derivative or other transaction under which payments are made by reference to either Borrower and its obligations, this Agreement or payments hereunder, (vii) on a confidential basis to (x) any rating agency in connection with rating the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or the credit facilities provided hereunder, (y) the provider of any Platform or other electronic delivery service used by the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender to deliver Borrower Materials or notices to the Lenders, or (z) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the application, issuance, publishing and monitoring of CUSIP numbers or other market identifiers with respect to the credit facilities provided hereunder, (viii) with the consent of the Company, (ix) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Company or (x) if such Information is independently discovered or developed by a party hereto without utilizing any Information received from the Company or violating the terms of this Section 11.07. For purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Company or any Subsidiary relating to the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or L/C Issuer on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Company or any Subsidiary, provided that, in the case of information received from the Company or any Subsidiary after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section 11.07 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. In addition, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may disclose the existence of this Agreement and publicly available information about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry and service providers to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in connection with the administration of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and the Commitments.

(b) Non-Public Information. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers acknowledges that (i) the Information may include material non-public information concerning the Company or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (ii) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and (iii) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with Applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws.

(c) Press Releases. The Loan Parties and their Affiliates agree that they will not in the future issue any press releases or other public disclosure using the name of the Administrative Agent or any Lender or their respective Affiliates or referring to this Agreement or any of the Loan Documents without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, unless (and only to the extent that) the Loan Parties or such Affiliate is required to do so under applicable Law. For the avoidance of doubt, the Loan Parties shall not be prohibited from filing annual, regular, periodic and special reports (including Forms 10K, 10Q and 8K) and registration statements which the Company may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which reports and statements may refer to this Agreement and any other Loan Documents, and to the names of the Administrative Agent and any Lender, and the Administrative Agent hereby consents to the filing by the Loan Parties of any such reports or statements; provided, however, in no event shall the Company disclose the fees provided for in the Fee Letter unless otherwise required by applicable Law.

 

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(d) Customary Advertising Material. The Loan Parties consent to the publication by the Administrative Agent or any Lender of customary advertising material relating to the transactions contemplated hereby using the name, product photographs, logo or trademark of the Loan Parties.

11.08 Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, each L/C Issuer and each of their respective Affiliates 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, such L/C Issuer or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of either Borrower or any other Loan Party against any and all of the obligations of such Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or such L/C Issuer or their respective Affiliates, irrespective of whether or not such Lender, such L/C Issuer or Affiliate shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of such Borrower or such Loan Party may be contingent or unmatured, secured or unsecured, or are owed to a branch, office or Affiliate of such Lender or such L/C Issuer different from the branch, office or Affiliate holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness; provided, that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff hereunder, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.16 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Secured Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. The rights of each Lender, each L/C Issuer and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, such L/C Issuer or their respective Affiliates may have under Applicable Law. Each Lender and each L/C Issuer agrees to notify the Company 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.

11.09 Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the Highest Lawful Rate. If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Highest Lawful Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Company or the other applicable Loan Party. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Highest Lawful Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.

11.10 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents 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, the other Loan Documents, and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof 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 or any other Loan Document, or any certificate delivered thereunder, by fax transmission or e-mail transmission (e.g., “pdf”

 

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or “tif”) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement or such other Loan Document or certificate. Without limiting the foregoing, to the extent a manually executed counterpart is not specifically required to be delivered under the terms of any Loan Document, upon the request of any party, such fax transmission or e-mail transmission shall be promptly followed by such manually executed counterpart.

11.11 Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof. Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding.

11.12 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.12, if and to the extent that the enforceability of any provision of this Agreement relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, as applicable, then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent so limited.

11.13 Replacement of Lenders.

(a) If the Company is entitled to replace a Lender or Designated Lender pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.06, or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or a Non-Consenting Lender, or if any other circumstance exists hereunder that gives the Company the right to replace a Lender as a party hereto, then the Company may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 11.06), all of its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Sections 3.01 and 3.04) and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:

(i) the Company shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee (if any) specified in Section 11.06(b) (other than in the case of the replacement of a Defaulting Lender or a Non-Consenting Lender);

(ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and L/C 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 3.05) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Company, or the Foreign Borrower (in case of all other amounts);

 

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(iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter;

(iv) such assignment does not conflict with Applicable Laws; and

(v) in the case of an assignment resulting from a Lender becoming a Non-Consenting Lender, the applicable assignee shall have consented to the applicable amendment, waiver or consent.

(b) 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 Company to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

(c) Each party hereto agrees that (i) an assignment required pursuant to this Section 11.13 may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and the assignee and (ii) the Lender required to make such assignment need not be a party thereto in order for such assignment to be effective and shall be deemed to have consented to an be bound by the terms thereof; provided, that, following the effectiveness of any such assignment, the other parties to such assignment agree to execute and deliver such documents necessary to evidence such assignment as reasonably requested by the applicable Lender, provided further that any such documents shall be without recourse to or warranty by the parties thereto.

(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 11.13 to the contrary, (A) any Lender that acts as an L/C Issuer may not be replaced hereunder at any time it has any Letter of Credit outstanding hereunder unless arrangements satisfactory to such Lender (including the furnishing of a backstop standby letter of credit in form and substance, and issued by an issuer, reasonably satisfactory to such L/C Issuer or the depositing of Cash Collateral into a Cash Collateral account in amounts and pursuant to arrangements reasonably satisfactory to such L/C Issuer) have been made with respect to such outstanding Letter of Credit and (B) the Lender that acts as the Administrative Agent may not be replaced hereunder except in accordance with the terms of Section 9.06.

11.14 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

(a) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS AND ANY CLAIMS, CONTROVERSY, DISPUTE OR CAUSE OF ACTION (WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE) BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT (EXCEPT, AS TO ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH THEREIN) AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF TEXAS; PROVIDED THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, EACH LENDER AND EACH LOAN PARTY SHALL RETAIN ALL RIGHTS UNDER FEDERAL LAW.

(b) SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. EACH BORROWER IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT COMMENCE ANY ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING OF ANY KIND OR DESCRIPTION, WHETHER IN LAW OR EQUITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR IN TORT OR OTHERWISE, AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER, ANY L/C ISSUER, OR ANY RELATED PARTY OF THE FOREGOING IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATING HERETO OR THERETO, IN ANY FORUM OTHER THAN THE

 

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COURTS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS SITTING IN DALLAS COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS AND AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH TEXAS STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER OR THE L/C ISSUER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST EITHER BORROWER OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

(c) WAIVER OF VENUE. EACH BORROWER IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

(d) SERVICE OF PROCESS. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 11.02. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

(e) SERVICE OF PROCESS FOR FOREIGN BORROWER. WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO ANY OTHER MODE OF SERVICE ALLOWED UNDER ANY RELEVANT LAW, THE FOREIGN BORROWER: (i) IRREVOCABLY APPOINTS THE COMPANY AS ITS AGENT FOR SERVICE OF PROCESS IN RELATION TO ANY PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS IN CONNECTION WITH ANY LOAN DOCUMENT AND (ii) AGREES THAT FAILURE BY A PROCESS AGENT TO NOTIFY THE FOREIGN BORROWER OF THE PROCESS WILL NOT INVALIDATE THE PROCEEDINGS CONCERNED. THE FOREIGN BORROWER EXPRESSLY AGREES AND CONSENTS TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION 11.14(e).

11.15 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, 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.

 

 

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11.16 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), each Borrower acknowledges and agrees that: (i)(A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Arrangers and their respective Affiliates’ are arm’s-length commercial transactions between such Borrower, each other Loan Party and their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Arrangers and their respective Affiliates’, on the other hand, (B) such Borrower and the other Loan Parties have consulted their own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) such Borrower and each other Loan Party is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii)(A) the Administrative Agent, each Lender, each Arranger and their respective Affiliates each is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for such Borrower, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) neither the Administrative Agent, any Lender nor any Arranger or any of their respective Affiliates has any obligation to such Borrower, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the Administrative Agent, each Lender, and each Arranger and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of such Borrower, the other Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent, any Lender nor Arranger or any of their respective Affiliates has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to such Borrower, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by law, each Borrower hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent, each Lender, each Arranger and their respective Affiliates with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transactions contemplated hereby.

11.17 Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents.

(a) The words “deliver”, “execute”, “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Loan Document or other document executed in connection therewith shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, the electronic matching of assignment terms and contract formations on electronic platforms approved by the Administrative Agent, or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, the physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any Applicable Law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act; provided that notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Administrative Agent is under no obligation to agree to accept electronic signatures in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by the Administrative Agent pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided, further, without limiting the foregoing, upon the request of the Administrative Agent, any electronic signature shall be promptly followed by such manually executed counterpart. For the avoidance of doubt, the authorization under this paragraph may include, without limitation, use or acceptance by the Administrative Agent and each of the Secured Parties of a manually signed paper document, amendment, approval, consent, information, notice, certificate, request, statement, disclosure or authorization related to this Agreement (each a “Communication”) which has been converted into electronic form (such as scanned into PDF format), or an electronically signed Communication converted into another format, for transmission, delivery and/or retention.

 

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(b) The Borrowers hereby acknowledge the receipt of a copy of this Agreement and all other Loan Documents. The Administrative Agent and each Lender may, on behalf of the Borrowers, create a microfilm or optical disk or other electronic image of this Agreement and any or all of the other Loan Documents. The Administrative Agent and each Lender may store the electronic image of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents in its electronic form and then destroy the paper original as part of the Administrative Agent’s and each Lender’s normal business practices, with the electronic image deemed to be an original and of the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as the paper originals.

11.18 USA PATRIOT Act. Each Lender that is subject to the Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrowers that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Act”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrowers, which information includes the name and address of each Borrower and each other Loan Party and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify such Borrower and each other Loan Party in accordance with the Act. Each Borrower shall, promptly following a request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide all such other documentation and information that the Administrative Agent or such Lender requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Act.

11.19 Judgment Currency. If, for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court, it is necessary to convert a sum due hereunder or any other Loan Document in one currency into another currency, the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Administrative Agent could purchase the first currency with such other currency on the Business Day preceding that on which final judgment is given. The obligation of each Borrower in respect of any such sum due from it to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder or under the other Loan Documents shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency (the “Judgment Currency”) other than that in which such sum is denominated in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Agreement (the “Agreement Currency”), be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency, the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase the Agreement Currency with the Judgment Currency. If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to the Administrative Agent or any Lender from a Borrower in the Agreement Currency, such Borrower agrees, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, against such loss. If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is greater than the sum originally due to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in such currency, the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, agrees to return the amount of any excess to such Borrower (or to any other Person who may be entitled thereto under Applicable Law).

11.20 Exceptions to Covenants. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary shall be deemed to be permitted to take any action or fail to take any action which is permitted as an exception to any of the covenants contained herein or which is within the permissible limits of any of the covenants contained herein if such action or omission would result in the breach of any other covenant contained herein.

11.21 Release and Reinstatement of Collateral.

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, any Loan Document or any other document executed in connection herewith, if at any time (including after a Collateral Reinstatement Event shall have previously occurred) Collateral Release Event shall have occurred, then all Collateral (other than Cash Collateral) and the Security Instruments (other than Security

 

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Instruments entered into in connection with Cash Collateral) shall be released automatically and terminated without any further action. In connection with the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the Company’s sole expense and at the Company’s request, promptly execute and file in the appropriate location and deliver to the Company such termination and full or partial release statements or confirmation thereof, as applicable, and do such other things as are reasonably necessary to release the Liens to be released pursuant hereto promptly upon the effectiveness of any such release.

(b) Notwithstanding clause (a) above, if Collateral Reinstatement Event shall have occurred, all Collateral and Security Instruments shall, at the Company’s sole cost and expense, be reinstated and all actions reasonably necessary, or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, to provide to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties valid, perfected, first priority security interests (subject to Liens permitted under Section 7.01) in the Collateral (including without limitation the delivery of documentation and taking of actions of the type described in Sections 6.14 and 6.15) shall be taken within 30 days of such event, which 30 day period may be extended by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion.

11.22 Limitation on Obligations of Foreign Obligors. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, no Foreign Obligor shall Guarantee or provide Collateral, or be deemed to have Guaranteed or provided Collateral, supporting or securing any Obligations other than Foreign Obligations.

11.23 Release of Guaranties and Collateral. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, and without limitation of Section 11.21, each Secured Party that is a party hereto hereby agrees that:

(a) upon the Facility Termination Date, (i) any Lien on any Collateral (including Cash Collateral, except to the extent intended to remain in place with respect to Letters of Credit by agreement between the Company and the applicable L/C Issuer) shall be released and (ii) each Guarantor shall be released from its obligations under the applicable Guaranty, but only to the extent provided therein and, in any case, in accordance with the terms thereof;

(b) any Lien on any asset constituting Collateral shall be released in the event that such asset is Disposed of as part of or in connection with any Disposition permitted hereunder or under any other Loan Document; and

(c) any Guarantor shall be released from its obligations under the applicable Guaranty if such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary as a result of a transaction or designation permitted hereunder, and any Lien on any asset of, or Equity Interests issued by, such Guarantor constituting Collateral shall be released as well.

In connection with the foregoing, and subject to Section 9.10 (including the right of the Administrative Agent to obtain confirmation thereof from the Required Lenders), the Administrative Agent shall, at the Company’s sole expense and at the Company’s request, (x) promptly execute and file in the appropriate location and deliver to the Company such termination and full or partial release statements or confirmations thereof, as applicable, and (y) do such other things as are reasonably necessary to release the Liens and Guarantees to be released pursuant hereto promptly upon the effectiveness of any such release.

11.24 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THE PARTIES.

 

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11.25 Keepwell. Each Loan Party that is a Qualified ECP Guarantor at the time the Guaranty or the grant of the security interest under the Collateral Documents, in each case, by any Specified Loan Party, becomes effective with respect to any Swap Obligation, hereby jointly and severally, absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to provide such funds or other support to each Specified Loan Party with respect to such Swap Obligation as may be needed by such Specified Loan Party from time to time to honor all of its obligations under its Guaranty and the other Loan Documents in respect of such Swap Obligation (but, in each case, only up to the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering such Qualified ECP Guarantor’s obligations and undertakings under this Section 11.25 voidable under Applicable Law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not for any greater amount). The obligations and undertakings of each Qualified ECP Guarantor under this Section 11.25 shall remain in full force and effect until the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid and performed in full. Solely for purposes of the Commodity Exchange Act, each Qualified ECP Guarantor intends this Section 11.25 to constitute, and for such purposes this Section 11.25 shall be deemed to constitute, a guarantee of the obligations of, and a “keepwell, support, or other agreement” for the benefit of, each Specified Loan Party.

11.26 Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any Lender that is an Affected 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 the applicable Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

(a) the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any Lender that is an Affected Financial Institution; and

(b) the effects of any Bail-in Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:

(i) a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;

(ii) a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such Affected Financial Institution, its parent 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 the applicable Resolution Authority.

11.27 [Reserved].

11.28 Acknowledgment Regarding Any Supported QFCs. To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for any Swap Contract or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support, “QFC Credit Support”, and each such QFC, a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated

 

148


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

11.29 Amendment and Restatement; No Novation

(a) This Agreement constitutes an amendment and restatement of the Existing Credit Agreement, as amended, effective from and after the Closing Date. The execution and delivery of this Agreement shall not constitute a novation of any debt or other obligations owing to the Lenders or the Administrative Agent under the Existing Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document based on facts or events occurring or existing prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement. On the Closing Date, the credit facilities described in the Existing Credit Agreement, as amended, shall be amended, supplemented, modified and restated in their entirety by the credit facilities described herein, and all loans and other obligations of the Borrowers outstanding as of such date under the Existing Credit Agreement, as amended, to the extent not repaid in accordance with the terms herein, shall be deemed to be loans and obligations outstanding under the corresponding facilities described herein, without any further action by any Person, except that the Administrative Agent shall make such transfers of funds as are necessary in order that the outstanding balance of such Loans, together with any Loans funded on the Closing Date, reflect the respective Commitments of the Lenders hereunder.

(b) On the Closing Date, (i) all outstanding loans under the Existing Credit Agreement (“Existing Loans”) made by any Person that is a “Lender” under the Existing Credit Agreement which is not a Lender hereunder (each, an “Exiting Lender”) shall be repaid in full and the commitments and other obligations and rights (except as expressly set forth in the Existing Credit Agreement) of such Exiting Lender shall be terminated, (ii) all outstanding Existing Loans constituting Revolving Loans under the Existing Credit Agreement that are not being repaid under clause (i) above shall be Revolving Loans hereunder in accordance with Section 2.01(a) and the Administrative Agent shall make such transfers of funds as are necessary in order that the outstanding balance of such Revolving Loans, together with any Revolving Loans funded on the Closing Date, are in accordance with the relevant Applicable Percentages of the Lenders hereunder, (iii) there shall have been paid in cash in full all accrued but unpaid interest on the Existing Loans to the Closing Date, (iv) there shall have been paid in cash in full all accrued but unpaid fees under the Existing Credit Agreement due to the Closing Date and all other amounts, costs and expenses then owing to any of the Exiting Lenders, Lenders and/or Bank of America, as administrative agent under the Existing Credit Agreement and (v) all outstanding Letters of Credit under the Existing Credit Agreement shall be Letters of Credit hereunder.

 

149


(c) All security agreements and other documents and instruments granting a security interest or Lien in the assets of the Company and the Domestic Guarantors that restate any previously granted security interest or Liens shall supersede any security agreements, mortgages and other documents and instruments granting any such security interest that were executed and delivered in connection with the Existing Credit Agreement (the “Original Security Documents”), except for the security interests and Liens created under the Original Security Documents which shall remain valid, binding and enforceable security interests and Liens against the Company and Domestic Guarantors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that any Liens on Available Receivables (as defined in the Original Security Documents) are being released simultaneously with the effectiveness of this Agreement. Except to the extent specifically released, all other Original Security Documents shall continue to secure the Secured Obligations as herein defined, and shall be in full force and effect. The Lenders acknowledge that the intent of this paragraph is to maintain the priority of the security interests and Liens on the assets of the company and Domestic Guarantors to secure the Secured Obligations.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

150


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY,
as Borrower
By:  

/s/ Matthew McClellan

  Name: Matthew McClellan
  Title: Treasurer

 

Signature Page to Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement


CMC INTERNATIONAL FINANCE, a société à responsabilité limitée, as Borrower
By:  

/s/ Pieter Jan van der Meer

  Name: Pieter Jan van der Meer
  Title: Class A Manager
By:  

/s/ Nathan Kraus

  Name: Nathan Kraus
  Title: Class B Manager

 

Signature Page to Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement


BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent
By:  

/s/ Melissa Mullis

  Name: Melissa Mullis
  Title: Vice President

 

Signature Page to Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement


BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Lender, L/C Issuer and Swingline Lender
By:  

/s/ Scott Blackman

  Name: Scott Blackman
  Title: SVP

 

Signature Page to Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement


CITIBANK, N.A.,
as Lender and L/C Issuer
By:  

/s/ Brad Peters

  Name: Brad Peters
  Title: Director

 

Signature Page to Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement


WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as Lender
By:  

/s/ Jonathan D. Beck

  Name: Jonathan D. Beck
  Title: Director

 

Signature Page to Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement


PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as Lender
By:  

/s/ Joseph McElhinny

  Name: Joseph McElhinny
  Title: Vice President

 

Signature Page to Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement


TRUIST BANK
as Lender
By:  

/s/ William P. Rutkowski

  Name: William P. Rutkowski
  Title: Director

 

Signature Page to Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement


FIFTH THIRD BANK, an Ohio Banking Corporation
as Lender
By:  

/s/ Justin Brauer

  Name: Justin Brauer
  Title: Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement


BMO HARRIS BANK, N.A.
as Lender
By:  

/s/ Jason Deegan

  Name: Jason Deegan
  Title: Director

 

Signature Page to Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement


U.S. BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as Lender
By:  

/s/ Jonathan F. Lindvall

  Name: Jonathan F. Lindvall
  Title: Senior Vice President

 

Signature Page to Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement


CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as Lender
By:  

/s/ Neha H. Shah

  Name: Neha H. Shah
  Title: Duly Authorized Signatory

 

Signature Page to Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement


REGIONS BANK
as Lender
By:  

/s/ Claudia Biedenharn

  Name: Claudia Biedenharn
  Title: Vice President

 

Signature Page to Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

Exhibit 10.2

Execution Version

AMENDMENT NO. 9 TO RECEIVABLES PURCHASE AGREEMENT

THIS AMENDMENT NO. 9 TO RECEIVABLES PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”), dated and effective as of April 1, 2021 (the “Effective Date”), is entered into by and among:

(a) CMC Receivables, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Seller”),

(b) Commercial Metals Company, a Delaware corporation (“CMC” or the “Servicer”),

(c) Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., a national banking association (WFB” or a “Committed Purchaser”),

(d) Coöperatieve Rabobank U.A. (“Rabobank” or a “Committed Purchaser”),

(e) Nieuw Amsterdam Receivables Corporation B.V. (Nieuw Amsterdam or a Conduit Purchaser and, together with the Committed Purchasers, the Purchasers),

(f) Rabobank in its capacity as administrator of the Funding Group (in such capacity, together with its successor and assigns in such capacity, the “Nieuw Amsterdam Administrator”), and

(g) WFB in its capacity as administrative agent for the Purchasers (in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns in such capacity, the Administrative Agent”).

Preliminary Statements

The parties hereto desire to amend that certain Receivables Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 5, 2011 (as amended, restated, or modified from time to time, the “Receivables Purchase Agreement”), on the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants herein contained, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein are used with the meanings attributed thereto in the Receivables Purchase Agreement.

2. Amendment. On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, the Receivables Purchase Agreement is hereby amended to reduce Rabobank’s Commitment to $0 and to remove Rabobank, individually and as Nieuw Amsterdam Administrator, and Nieuw Amsterdam as parties thereto.

3. Effect of Amendment. This Amendment shall not constitute a novation of the Receivables Purchase Agreement but shall constitute an amendment thereto to the extent set forth herein. From and after the effectiveness of each of the amendments set forth in Section 2 above, each reference in the Receivables Purchase Agreement to the “Receivables Purchase Agreement”, “this Agreement”, “hereunder,” “hereof,” “herein,” “hereby” or words of like import shall mean and be a reference to the Receivables Purchase Agreement as amended by such Section, and each reference to the Receivables Purchase Agreement in any other document, instrument and agreement executed and/or delivered in connection with the Receivables Purchase Agreement shall mean and be a reference to the Receivable Purchase Agreement as amended by such Section.

 

1


4. Representations and Warranties. In order to induce the Administrative Agent, the Nieuw Amsterdam Administrator and the Purchasers to enter into this Amendment, each of the Seller and the Servicer hereby represents and warrants that (i) its execution and delivery of this Amendment is within its corporate powers and authority and has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on its part, (ii) this Amendment has been duly executed and delivered by it, (iii) each of its representations and warranties set forth in Article III of the Receivables Purchase Agreement is true and correct on and as of the Effective Date as though made on and as of each such date, except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, in which case each of such representations and warranties remains true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date, and (iv) no Investment Excess exists on and as of the Effective Date.

5. Conditions Precedent. Effectiveness of the amendment set forth in Section 2 hereof is subject to the prior or contemporaneous satisfaction of each of the following conditions precedent:

(a) (i) Receipt by the Administrative Agent of counterparts of this Amendment, duly executed by each of the parties hereto, and (ii) issuance by the Nieuw Amsterdam Administrator of an invoice for, and receipt by it of payment in full of, all unpaid reimbursable expenses and Fees, accrued through the date hereof under the Receivables Purchase Agreement or the Fee Letter.

(b) Each of the representations and warranties set forth in Section 4 of this Amendment shall be true and correct as of the Effective Date.

6. Miscellaneous.

6.1. GOVERNING LAW. THIS AMENDMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO THE CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF OTHER THAN SECTIONS 5-1401 AND 5-1402 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW WHICH SHALL APPLY HERETO).

6.2. Integration; Binding Effect. This Amendment and each other Transaction Document contain the final and complete integration of all prior expressions by the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and shall constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof superseding all prior or contemporaneous oral or written understandings. There are no unwritten oral agreements between the parties hereto with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents. This Amendment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns (including any trustee in bankruptcy).

6.3. Counterparts; Severability. This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which when taken together shall constitute one and the same Amendment. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Amendment by telefacsimile or electronic image scan transmission (such as a “pdf” file) will be effective to the same extent as delivery of a manually executed original counterpart of this

 

2


Amendment. Any provisions of this Amendment which are prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

6.4. Reaffirmation. Except as expressly modified herby, the Receivables Purchase Agreement is hereby ratified and remains unaltered and in full force and effect.

<Signature pages follow>

 

3


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed and delivered by their duly authorized officers as of the Effective Date.

 

CMC RECEIVABLES, INC., AS SELLER
By:  

/s/ Matthew McClellan

Name:   Matthew McClellan
Title:   Vice President

 

4


COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY, AS THE SERVICER
By:  

/s/ Matthew McClellan

Name:   Matthew McClellan
Title:   Treasurer

 

5


WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., AS A COMMITTED PURCHASER  AND AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

By:  

/s/ Michaela Rankins

Name:   Michaela Rankins
Title:   Assistant Vice President

 

6


COÖPERATIEVE RABOBANK U.A., AS A COMMITTED PURCHASER AND AS NIEUW AMSTERDAM ADMINISTRATOR

 

By:  

/s/ Katherine Bouton

Name:   Katherine Bouton
Title:   Vice President
By:  

/s/ Christopher Lew

Name:   Christopher Lew
Title:   Managing Director

 

7


NIEUW AMSTERDAM RECEIVABLES CORPORATION B.V., AS A CONDUIT PURCHASER

 

By:  

/s/ Sytse van Ulsen

Name:   Sytse van Ulsen
Title:   Proxyholder
 
 
 
 

Intertrust Management B.V.

 

Director

 

By:  

/s/ Peter van der Linden

Name:   Peter van der Linden
Title:   Proxyholder

 

8

Exhibit 10.3

Omnibus Amendment No. 4

OMNIBUS AMENDMENT NO. 4

[First Amendment and Restatement of each of the RPA, the RSA and the Performance Undertaking]

THIS OMNIBUS AMENDMENT NO. 4 (this “Amendment”), dated as of April 1, 2021, is by and among COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, individually (“CMC”), as the initial Servicer (in such capacity, the Servicer), and as provider of the Performance Undertaking (in such capacity, the Performance Guarantor), STRUCTURAL METALS, INC., a Texas corporation (“SMI”), CMC STEEL FABRICATORS, INC., a Texas corporation (“CMC Steel”), SMI STEEL LLC, an Alabama limited liability company (“SMI Steel”), OWEN ELECTRIC STEEL COMPANY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, a South Carolina corporation (Owen Electric), AHT, INC., a Pennsylvania corporation (“AHT”), CMC STEEL OKLAHOMA, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (Oklahoma), CMC STEEL US, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (CMC-US), and TAMCO, a California corporation (TAMCO and together with CMC, SMI, CMC Steel, SMI Steel, Owen Electric, Oklahoma and CMC-US, the Existing Originators”), CMC POST OKLAHOMA, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (Post , and together with the Existing Originators, the Originators), CMC RECEIVABLES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “SPE”), WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., a national banking association (“WFB” or a Purchaser), TRUIST BANK, a North Carolina bank (Truist or a Purchaser), and WFB in its capacity as administrative agent for the Purchasers (in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns in such capacity, the Administrative Agent”).

Preliminary Statements

A. The Existing Originators and the SPE are parties to that certain Receivables Sale Agreement dated as of April 5, 2011 (as amended, restated, or modified from time to time, the “Sale Agreement”).

B. The Performance Guarantor and the SPE are parties to that certain Performance Undertaking dated as of April 5, 2011 (as amended, restated, or modified from time to time, the “Performance Undertaking”).

C. The SPE, the Servicer, the Purchasers, and the Administrative Agent are parties to that certain Receivables Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 5, 2011 (as amended, restated, or modified from time to time, the “Purchase Agreement” and, together with the Performance Undertaking and the Sale Agreement, the “Agreements”).

D. On the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth, (1) Post desires to join the Sale Agreement as an Originator, (2) Truist desires to join the Purchase Agreement as a Purchaser, and (3) all of the parties hereto desire to amend and restate in their entirety each of the Sale Agreement, the Performance Undertaking and the Purchase Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants herein contained, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein are used with the meanings attributed thereto in the Agreements.

 

1


Omnibus Amendment No. 4

 

2. Joinder to the Sale Agreement. Effective as of the Effective Date (hereinafter defined), immediately after giving effect to Amendment No. 9 to the Purchase Agreement:

2.1. Post hereby joins the Sale Agreement as an Originator and agrees to be bound by the terms of, and to perform all of the obligations of an Originator under the Sale Agreement and all related agreements.

2.2. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Sale Agreement, (a) Post hereby confirms its sale, assignment, transfer and conveyance to the SPE pursuant to Section 1.1(a) thereof, without recourse (except to the extent expressly provided in the Sale Agreement), and the SPE hereby confirms its purchase from Post, of all of Post’s right, title and interest in and to all Receivables existing as of the close of business on the eve of the Effective Date (“Post’s Initial Cutoff Date”) and all Receivables thereafter arising through and including the Termination Date, together, in each case, with all Related Security relating thereto and all Collections thereof, and (b) the SPE shall be obligated to pay the Purchase Price for each such Receivable purchased from Post in accordance with Section 1.2 of the Sale Agreement.

2.3. Post hereby confirms its grant to the SPE pursuant to Section 1.6 of the Sale Agreement of a security interest in all of Post’s right, title and interest in, to and under (i) all Receivables existing as of the close of business on Post’s Initial Cutoff Date or thereafter arising from time to time prior to the Termination Date, and all rights and payments relating thereto, (ii) all Related Security relating thereto, whether existing on Post’s Initial Cutoff Date or thereafter arising, (iii) all Collections thereof, whether existing on Post’s Initial Cutoff Date or thereafter arising, (iv) each Lock-Box and each Lock-Box Account, whether existing on Post’s Initial Cutoff Date or thereafter arising, and (v) all proceeds of any of the foregoing, whether existing on Post’s Initial Cutoff Date or thereafter arising, to secure the prompt and complete payment of a loan deemed to have been made by the SPE to Post in an amount equal to the aggregate Purchase Price for the Receivables originated by Post, together with all other obligations of Post under the Sale Agreement, which security interest, Post hereby represents and warrants, is valid, duly perfected and prior to all Adverse Claims.

3. Reductions of Commitments; Joinder to the Purchase Agreement. Effective as of the Effective Date (hereinafter defined), immediately after giving effect to Amendment No. 9 to the Purchase Agreement:

3.1. WFB’s Commitment is hereby reduced to $100,000,000.

3.2. Truist hereby joins the Purchase Agreement as a Purchaser with a Commitment of $50,000,000 and agrees to be bound by the terms of, and to perform all of the obligations of a Purchaser with such a Commitment under the Purchase Agreement and all related agreements.

4. Amendments. Effective as of the Effective Date, immediately after giving effect to Amendment No. 9 to the Purchase Agreement and the joinders described in Sections 2 and 3 of this Amendment:

4.1. The Purchase Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as set forth in Exhibit A hereto. For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any prior amendment or amendments to the Purchase Agreement, the Purchase Agreement set forth in Exhibit A hereto reflects the current agreement of the parties hereto as to all of the terms and provisions of the Purchase Agreement as of the date hereof.

 

2


Omnibus Amendment No. 4

 

4.2. The Sale Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as set forth in Exhibit B hereto. For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any prior amendment or amendments to the Sale Agreement, the Sale Agreement set forth in Exhibit B hereto reflects the current agreement of the parties hereto as to all of the terms and provisions of the Sale Agreement as of the date hereof.

4.3. The Performance Undertaking is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as set forth in Exhibit C hereto. For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any prior amendment or amendments to the Performance Undertaking, the Performance Undertaking set forth in Exhibit C hereto reflects the current agreement of the parties hereto as to all of the terms and provisions of the Performance Undertaking as of the date hereof.

5. Effect of Amendments.

5.1. Except as specifically amended hereby, each of the Agreements shall remain unaltered and in full force and effect. The parties intend that this Amendment shall not constitute a novation of any of the Agreements but shall constitute an amendment to each of the Agreements as noted above. The parties hereto agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Agreements, as amended and restated hereby, as though such terms and conditions were set forth in full herein.

5.2. In furtherance of the parties’ intention that this Amendment not constitute a novation of any of the Agreements, (a) each of the Existing Originators hereby ratifies and confirms its grant of a security interest in its existing and future right, title and interest in and to the Originator Collateral under the Sale Agreement to secure the prompt and complete payment of a loan deemed to have been made by the SPE to each Originator in an amount equal to the aggregate Purchase Price for the Purchased Receivables originated by such Originator (and, in the case of CMC, the Purchase Price that would have been payable for its Contributed Receivables had they not been contributed to the Buyer’s capital), together with all other obligations of such Originator under the Sale Agreement, which security interest, each of the Originators hereby represents and warrants, is valid, duly perfected and prior to all Adverse Claims; and (b) the SPE hereby ratifies and confirms its grant to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Purchasers of a security interest in the SPE’s existing and future right, title and interest in, to and under the Purchased Assets, prior to all other liens on and security interests therein to secure the prompt and complete payment of the Aggregate Unpaids and the performance of all of the SPE’s obligations under the Transaction Documents

6. Representations and Warranties. In order to induce the parties to enter into this Amendment, each of the Performance Guarantor, the Originators, the Servicer and the SPE hereby represents and warrants that (a) its execution and delivery of this Amendment is within its corporate or limited liability company powers and authority and has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or limited liability company action on its part, (b) this Amendment has been duly executed and delivered by it, (c) each of its representations and warranties set forth in the Agreements to which it is a party is true and correct on and as of the Effective Date as though made on and as of each such date, except to

 

3


Omnibus Amendment No. 4

 

the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, in which case each of such representations and warranties remains true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date, and (d) no event has occurred and is continuing that will constitute a Termination Event or an Unmatured Termination Event on and as of the Effective Date.

7. Conditions Precedent. Effectiveness of this Amendment is subject to the satisfaction of each of the following conditions precedent on or prior to the date hereof (the “Effective Date”):

7.1. The Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts of this Amendment, duly executed by each of the parties hereto.

7.2. The Administrative Agent shall have received copies of each of the opinions and other documents set forth on Annex 1 hereto, duly executed by the applicable parties thereto, where applicable.

7.3. Each of the representations and warranties contained in Section 5 of this Amendment shall be true and correct as of the Effective Date.

8. Miscellaneous.

8.1. GOVERNING LAW. AS TO ITS IMPACT ON EACH OF THE AGREEMENTS AMENDED HEREBY, THIS AMENDMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAME LAWS THAT GOVERN SUCH AGREEMENT.

8.2. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY UNITED STATES FEDERAL OR NEW YORK STATE COURT SITTING IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE AGREEMENTS, THIS AMENDMENT OR ANY DOCUMENT EXECUTED BY ANY PARTY PURSUANT TO THE AGREEMENTS OR THIS AMENDMENT, AND EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN ANY SUCH COURT AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE AS TO THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN SUCH A COURT OR THAT SUCH COURT IS AN INCONVENIENT FORUM. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL LIMIT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO (OR ITS ASSIGNS) TO BRING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST ANY OTHER PARTY HERETO IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING BY ANY PARTY HERETO AGAINST ANY OTHER PARTY HERETO OR ANY AFFILIATE THEREOF INVOLVING, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ANY MATTER IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR CONNECTED WITH THE SALE AGREEMENT, THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY DOCUMENT EXECUTED BY ANY PARTY HERETO PURSUANT TO AN AGREEMENT OR THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE BROUGHT ONLY IN A COURT IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK.

8.3. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING INVOLVING, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ANY MATTER (WHETHER SOUNDING IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR CONNECTED WITH THIS AMENDMENT, THE AGREEMENTS, EACH OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENT, ANY DOCUMENT EXECUTED BY ANY OF THE PARTIES PURSUANT TO THE ANY AGREEMENT, THIS AMENDMENT OR THE RELATIONSHIP ESTABLISHED HEREUNDER OR THEREUNDER.

 

4


Omnibus Amendment No. 4

 

8.4. Integration; Binding Effect. This Amendment and each other Transaction Document contain the final and complete integration of all prior expressions by the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and shall constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof superseding all prior oral or written understandings. This Amendment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns (including any trustee in bankruptcy).

8.5. Counterparts; Severability. This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which when taken together shall constitute one and the same Amendment. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Amendment by telefacsimile or electronic image scan transmission (such as a “pdf” file) will be effective to the same extent as delivery of a manually executed original counterpart of this Amendment. Any provisions of this Amendment which are prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

8.6. Reaffirmation. Except as expressly modified hereby, each of the Agreements is hereby ratified and remains unaltered and in full force and effect.

<Signature pages follow>

 

5


Omnibus Amendment No. 4

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed and delivered by their duly authorized officers as of the date hereof.

 

CMC RECEIVABLES, INC.
By:  

/s/ Matthew McClellan

Name:   Matthew McClellan
Title:   Vice President

 

S-1


Omnibus Amendment No. 4

 

COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY, AS AN ORIGINATOR, AS THE SERVICER AND AS PERFORMANCE GUARANTOR

 

By:  

/s/ Matthew McClellan

Name:   Matthew McClellan
Title:   Treasurer

 

S-2


Omnibus Amendment No. 4

 

STRUCTURAL METALS, INC., AS AN ORIGINATOR

 

By:  

/s/ Paul J. Lawrence

Name:   Paul J. Lawrence
Title:   Treasurer

 

S-3


Omnibus Amendment No. 4

 

CMC STEEL FABRICATORS, INC., AS AN ORIGINATOR

 

By:  

/s/ Paul J. Lawrence

Name:   Paul J. Lawrence
Title:   Treasurer

 

S-4


Omnibus Amendment No. 4

 

SMI STEEL LLC, AS AN ORIGINATOR

 

By:  

/s/ Paul J. Lawrence

Name:   Paul J. Lawrence
Title:   Treasurer

 

S-5


Omnibus Amendment No. 4

 

OWEN ELECTRIC STEEL COMPANY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, AS AN ORIGINATOR

 

By:  

/s/ Paul J. Lawrence

Name:   Paul J. Lawrence
Title:   Treasurer

 

S-6


Omnibus Amendment No. 4

 

AHT, INC., AS AN ORIGINATOR

 

By:  

/s/ Paul J. Lawrence

Name:   Paul J. Lawrence
Title:   Treasurer

 

S-7


Omnibus Amendment No. 4

 

CMC STEEL OKLAHOMA, LLC, AS AN ORIGINATOR

 

By:  

/s/ Paul J. Lawrence

Name:   Paul J. Lawrence
Title:   Treasurer

 

S-8


Omnibus Amendment No. 4

 

CMC STEEL US, LLC, AS AN ORIGINATOR

 

By:  

/s/ Paul J. Lawrence

Name:   Paul J. Lawrence
Title:   Treasurer

 

S-9


Omnibus Amendment No. 4

 

TAMCO, AS AN ORIGINATOR

 

By:  

/s/ Paul J. Lawrence

Name:   Paul J. Lawrence
Title:   Treasurer

 

S-10


Omnibus Amendment No. 4

 

CMC POST OKLAHOMA, LLC, AS AN ORIGINATOR

 

By:  

/s/ Paul J. Lawrence

Name:   Paul J. Lawrence
Title:   Treasurer

 

S-11


Omnibus Amendment No. 4

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., AS A PURCHASER AND AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

 

By:  

/s/ Michaela Rankins

Name:   Michaela Rankins
Title:   Assistant Vice President

 

S-12


Omnibus Amendment No. 4

 

TRUIST BANK, AS A PURCHASER

 

By:  

/s/ Jason Meyer

Name:   Jason Meyer
Title:   Managing Director

 

S-13


Omnibus Amendment No. 4

 

ANNEX 1

CLOSING DOCUMENTS

 

1.

Amendment No. 9 to Receivables Purchase Agreement, duly executed by the parties thereto, and confirmation from Rabobank that it has received payment in full of all invoiced amounts owing to it under the Purchase Agreement as in effect on the eve of the Effective Date.

 

2.

This Omnibus Amendment No. 4, duly executed by each of the parties hereto, attaching:

 

   

Exhibit A –Amended and Restated Receivables Purchase Agreement

 

   

Exhibit B –Amended and Restated Receivables Sale Agreement

 

   

Exhibit C –Amended and Restated Performance Undertaking

 

3.

New Fee Letter, duly executed by the SPE, the Purchasers and the Administrative Agent., and payment of all upfront fees due thereunder.

 

4.

Subordinated Note, duly executed by the SPE in favor of CMC Post Oklahoma, LLC.

 

5.

Delaware UCC-1 naming CMC Post Oklahoma, LLC, as debtor/seller, the Administrative Agent, as Total Assignee of Secured Party/Buyer, and the SPE, as the Assignor Secured Party/Buyer.

 

6.

New Opinion of Haynes and Boone addressed to the Administrative Agent, WFB and Trust:

 

  a.

Omnibus Amendment No. 4 (with the RPA, RSA, Performance Undertaking) and Fee Letter are legal, valid, binding and enforceable against the CMC entities.

 

  b.

No violation of applicable law (Texas, NY, Article 9 of DE UCC)

 

  c.

No consent/approval/waiver/license of a governmental authority under applicable law

 

  d.

Solely as to CMC Post Oklahoma, LLC , valid creation and perfection of a security interest in the collateral described in Section 2.3 of this Amendment.

 

7.

In-House Counsel New Opinion addressed to the Administrative Agent, WFB and Truist:

 

  a.

Each CMC Entity is validly existing and in good standing

 

  b.

Corporate power/authority for CMC entities whose jurisdiction is DE/NY (each, “Covered CMC Entity”)

 

  i.

CMC Receivables, Inc. (DE)

 

  ii.

Commercial Metals Company (DE)

 

  iii.

Structural Metals, Inc. (TX)

 

  iv.

CMC Steel Fabricators, Inc. (TX)

 

  v.

CMC Steel US LLC (DE)

 

Annex 1-1


Omnibus Amendment No. 4

 

  vi.

CMC Steel Oklahoma (DE)

 

  vii.

TAMCO (CA)

 

  viii.

CMC Post Oklahoma, LLC (DE)

 

  c.

Due authorization of each Covered CMC Entity

 

  d.

No consent/approval/waiver/license of a governmental authority under applicable law (Texas, DE) for Covered CMC Entities

 

  e.

For Covered CMC Entities, no conflict with org docs or violation of applicable laws

 

  f.

For all CMC entities, no conflict with orders/writs (known to GC) or material agreements

 

  g.

No CMC Covered Entity is an investment company

 

8.

Copy of existing Haynes and Boone Bankruptcy Opinion, together with a Bring-down and Reliance Letter addressed to the Administrative Agent, WFB and Truist

 

9.

Officer’s certificates attaching

 

  a.

Certified articles/formation (if they have been amended since the last certificate – or restated forward only)

 

  b.

Good standing in jurisdiction of formation/incorporation

 

  c.

Bylaws/LLC agreements (if they have been amended since the last certificate)

 

  d.

Resolutions

 

  e.

Incumbency

 

Annex 1-2


Omnibus Amendment No. 4

 

EXHIBIT A

RECEIVABLES PURCHASE AGREEMENT, AS AMENDED AND RESTATED HEREBY

[See Attached]


EXHIBIT A TO OMNIBUS AMENDMENT NO. 4

 

RECEIVABLES PURCHASE AGREEMENT

DATED AS OF APRIL 5, 2011

AS AMENDED AND RESTATED IN OMNIBUS AMENDMENT NO. 4 DATED AS OF APRIL 1, 2021

AMONG

CMC RECEIVABLES, INC., AS THE SELLER,

COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY, AS THE SERVICER,

TRUIST BANK, AS A PURCHASER,

WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., AS A PURCHASER,

AND

WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         PAGE  

ARTICLE I. TERMS OF THE INVESTMENTS

     1  

Section 1.1.

  [Reserved]      1  

Section 1.2.

  Purchased Assets      1  

Section 1.3.

  Requesting Investments      2  

Section 1.4.

  Voluntary Reductions      2  

Section 1.5.

  Mandatory Reductions      3  

Section 1.6.

  Amount of Collections      3  

Section 1.7.

  Payment Requirements      4  

Section 1.8.

  Fees      4  

Section 1.9.

  Yield      4  

Section 1.10.

  Voluntary Reductions of the Commitment; Optional Repurchase      4  

Section 1.11.

  Intent of the Parties      4  

Section 1.12.

  Designated Funding Offices      5  

Section 1.13.

  Nature of Obligations; Defaulting Purchasers      5  

Section 1.14.

  Inability to Determine Rates      5  

Section 1.15.

  Qualified Financial Contracts      9  

ARTICLE II. PAYMENTS AND COLLECTIONS

     9  

Section 2.1.

  Collections during the Revolving Purchase Period; Reinvestments      9  

Section 2.2.

  Collections During the Liquidation Period Absent Dominion      10  

Section 2.3.

  Collections During the Liquidation Period in Dominion      11  

Section 2.4.

  Payment Rescission      12  

ARTICLE III. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     12  

Section 3.1.

  Representations and Warranties of the Seller      12  

Section 3.2.

  Representations and Warranties of the Servicer      17  

ARTICLE IV. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

     20  

Section 4.1.

  Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness      20  

Section 4.2.

  Conditions Precedent to All Investments      20  

ARTICLE V. COVENANTS

     20  

Section 5.1.

  Affirmative Covenants of the Seller Parties      20  

Section 5.2.

  Negative Covenants of the Seller Parties      29  

ARTICLE VI. ADMINISTRATION AND COLLECTION

     30  

Section 6.1.

  Designation of the Servicer      30  

Section 6.2.

  Duties of the Servicer      31  

 

i


Section 6.3.

  Lock-Box Accounts      33  

Section 6.4.

  Collection Notices      33  

Section 6.5.

  Responsibilities of the Seller      34  

Section 6.6.

  Reports      34  

Section 6.7.

  Servicing Fees      34  

ARTICLE VII. AMORTIZATION EVENTS

     34  

Section 7.1.

  Amortization Events      34  

Section 7.2.

  Remedies      38  

ARTICLE VIII. INDEMNIFICATION

     38  

Section 8.1.

  Indemnities by the Seller      38  

Section 8.2.

  Indemnities by the Servicer      41  

Section 8.3.

  Increased Costs and Reduced Return      43  

Section 8.4.

  Other Costs and Expenses      44  

Section 8.5.

  Taxes      44  

ARTICLE IX. THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

     46  

Section 9.1.

  Appointment.      46  

Section 9.2.

  Delegation of Duties      47  

Section 9.3.

  Exculpatory Provisions      47  

Section 9.4.

  Reliance by the Investor Parties      47  

Section 9.5.

  Notice of Amortization Events      47  

Section 9.6.

  Non-Reliance on the Other Investor Parties      48  

Section 9.7.

  Indemnification of Administrative Agent      48  

Section 9.8.

  Administrative Agent in its Individual Capacity      49  

Section 9.9.

  Successor Administrative Agent      49  

Section 9.10.

  UCC Filings      49  

ARTICLE X. ASSIGNMENTS; PARTICIPATIONS

     49  

Section 10.1.

  Assignments; Pledge to Federal Reserve Bank      49  

Section 10.2.

  Participations      50  

Section 10.3.

  Replacement of a Purchaser      51  

ARTICLE XI. GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST

     51  

Section 11.1.

  Grant of Security Interest      51  

ARTICLE XII. MISCELLANEOUS

     52  

Section 12.1.

  Waivers and Amendments      52  

Section 12.2.

  Notices      52  

Section 12.3.

  Ratable Payments      53  

Section 12.4.

  Protection of Ownership and Security Interests      53  

 

ii


Section 12.5.

 

Confidentiality

     54  

Section 12.6.

 

Limitation of Liability

     54  

Section 12.7.

 

CHOICE OF LAW

     55  

Section 12.8.

 

CONSENT TO JURISDICTION

     55  

Section 12.9.

 

WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

     55  

Section 12.10.

 

Integration; Binding Effect; Survival of Terms

     55  

Section 12.11.

 

Counterparts; Severability; Section References

     56  

Section 12.12.

 

PATRIOT Act

     56  

Section 12.13.

 

Recourse Against Certain Parties

     56  

EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES

 

Exhibit I    Definitions
Exhibit II-A    Form of Investment Notice
Exhibit II-B    Form of Reduction Notice
Exhibit III    The Seller’s Chief Executive Office, Principal Place of Business, Records Locations, Federal Taxpayer ID Number and Organizational ID Number
Exhibit IV    Lock-Boxes and Lock-Box Accounts
Exhibit V    Form of Compliance Certificate
Exhibit VI    [Reserved]
Exhibit VII    Credit and Collection Policy
Exhibit VIII    Form of Interim Report
Exhibit IX    Form of Monthly Report
Exhibit X    Form of Performance Undertaking
Exhibit XI    Corporate Names; Trade Names; Assumed Names
Schedule A    Commitments
Schedule B    [Reserved]
Schedule C    Divisions

 

iii


RECEIVABLES PURCHASE AGREEMENT

THIS RECEIVABLES PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated as of April 5, 2011 and amended and restated as of April 1, 2021, is entered into by and among:

(a) CMC Receivables, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Seller”),

(b) Commercial Metals Company, a Delaware corporation (“CMC”), as initial Servicer,

(c) Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., a national banking association (“WFB” or a “Purchaser”),

(d) Truist Bank (“Truist” or a “Purchaser”), and

(e) WFB in its capacity as administrative agent for the Purchasers (in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”).

Unless defined elsewhere herein, capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in Exhibit I.

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS

The Seller desires to transfer and assign undivided interests in its Receivables to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Purchasers from time to time. On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, the Purchasers desire to acquire through the Administrative Agent undivided interests in the Receivables from the Seller from time to time.

ARTICLE I.

TERMS OF THE INVESTMENTS

Section 1.1. [Reserved].

Section 1.2. Purchased Assets.

(a) Purchase and Sale of Undivided Interests. On the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement: (i) the Seller hereby sells, conveys, transfers and assigns to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Purchasers, a variable undivided percentage interest (each such interest, an “Undivided Interest”) equal to the Purchased Assets Coverage Percentage in all of the Seller’s right, title and interest in and to the following: (A) all existing and future Receivables arising from time to time prior to the Facility Termination Date, and all rights and payments relating thereto, (B) all existing and future Related Security relating to such Receivables, (C) all existing and future Collections of such Receivables and Related Security, (D) each existing and future Lock-Box and Lock-Box Account, and (E) all existing and future proceeds of any of the foregoing (all of the foregoing, collectively, the “Purchased Assets”), and (ii) each of the Purchasers hereby severally purchases its Percentage of the Undivided Interests in all Receivables existing as of Apri1 1, 2021 and severally commits to purchase its Percentage of such Undivided Interests in the Purchased Assets thereafter from time to time prior to the Facility Termination Date, through the Administrative Agent and agrees to pay its Percentage of the Cash Purchase Price therefor.


(b) Obligations Not Assumed. The Investments do not constitute and are not intended to result in the creation, or an assumption by any of the Investor Parties of any obligation of the Seller, any Originator or any other Person under or in connection with the Receivables or any Related Security, all of which shall remain the obligations and liabilities of the Seller, such Originator and/or such other Person, as applicable.

Section 1.3. Requesting Investments.

(a) On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, from time to time prior to the Facility Termination Date: (i) the Seller may request that the Purchasers make Investments in Undivided Interests in the Purchased Assets in accordance with Section 1.3(b), and (ii) each of the Purchasers hereby severally commits to make such Investments (through the Administrative Agent), based on its Percentage of such Undivided Interests in the Purchased Assets and agrees to pay its Percentage of the associated Cash Purchase Price therefor; provided that under no circumstances shall any Purchaser make any Investment if, after giving effect to such Investment, (x) such Purchaser’s Capital outstanding would exceed such Purchaser’s Commitment, (y) the Aggregate Capital would exceed the Purchase Limit, or (z) the Purchased Assets Coverage Percentage would exceed 100%.

(b) The initial request for an Investment hereunder, and each subsequent request for an incremental Investment, may be made on any Business Day prior to the Facility Termination Date upon the Seller’s irrevocable written notice in the form of Exhibit II-A hereto (each, an “Investment Notice”) delivered to and received by the Purchasers prior to 12:00 noon (New York time) at least one (1) Business Day before the requested Investment Date, specifying: (i) the aggregate amount of cash requested to be paid to the Seller for such incremental Investment (which shall not be less than US$1,000,000 or a larger integral multiple of US$100,000), (ii) the requested date of such incremental Investment (which shall be a Business Day) and (iii) the pro forma calculation of the Purchased Assets Coverage Percentage after giving effect to the requested Investment. For security purposes, the amount of WFB’s Percentage of the Cash Purchase Price for each Incremental Investment shall also be entered by the Seller into WFB’s online “C.E.O. portal,” or funding may be delayed pending telephonic verification of such amount. If any Investment Notice is received or confirmed after 12:00 noon (New York time) on a Business Day, the Purchasers will endeavor to honor such notice on that Business Day but will honor it not later than the next succeeding Business Day.

Section 1.4. Voluntary Reductions. If at any time the Seller wishes to cause the reduction of Aggregate Capital (but not to commence the liquidation, or reduction to zero, of the entire Aggregate Capital), the Seller may do so as follows:

(a) The Seller shall provide the Purchasers and the Servicer with irrevocable prior written notice in the form of Exhibit II-B hereto (each, a “Reduction Notice”) of any proposed reduction of Aggregate Capital not later than 12:00 noon (New York City time) on the Business Day on which the proposed reduction is to occur (the “Proposed Reduction Date”). Such

 

2


Reduction Notice shall (i) be prepared in accordance with the most recent Settlement Report, and (ii) designate (A) the Proposed Reduction Date, and (B) the amount of Aggregate Capital to be reduced (the “Aggregate Reduction”) which shall be not less than the lesser of (x) US$1,000,000 and (y) Aggregate Capital; and

(b) The Servicer shall cause Collections in excess of the Required Amounts to be set aside until they equal the desired amount of Capital Reduction, and on the Proposed Reduction Date, the Servicer shall wire transfer the funds so set aside to the Administrative Agent for prompt distribution to the applicable Purchasers and application to the outstanding Capital.

(c) Only one (1) Reduction Notice shall be outstanding at any time.

Section 1.5. Mandatory Reductions.

(a) Purchased Assets Coverage Percentage Computation. The Purchased Assets Coverage Percentage shall be computed on April 1, 2021. Thereafter, until the Facility Termination Date, such Purchased Assets Coverage Percentage shall be automatically deemed recomputed on each Business Day other than a Termination Day. From and after the occurrence of any Termination Day, the Purchased Assets Coverage Percentage shall (until the event(s) giving rise to such Termination Day are satisfied or are waived in accordance with the terms of this Agreement) be deemed to be 100%. The Purchased Assets Coverage Percentage shall become zero when the Final Payout Date has occurred and the Servicer shall have received the accrued Servicing Fee thereon. If on any date of determination, the Purchased Asset Coverage Percentage exceeds 100%, not later than the next Business Day, the Seller shall deliver to the Servicer, and the Servicer shall pay to the Administrative Agent’s Account for prompt distribution to the Purchasers, their respective Percentages of the aggregate amount necessary to reduce the Purchased Asset Coverage Percentage to 100% or less, and the Purchasers will apply the funds received to the reduction of Capital.

(b) Deemed Collections. If on any day a Dilution occurs, the Seller shall be deemed to have received a Deemed Collection and such Deemed Collection shall be immediately applied to reduce the Net Pool Balance by the amount of such Deemed Collection. To the extent the effect of such Deemed Collection on the Net Pool Balance shall cause an Investment Excess, the Seller shall deliver to the Servicer immediately available funds in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the sum of all Deemed Collections deemed received by the Seller and (ii) an amount necessary to eliminate such Investment Excess, and in each case, the Servicer shall remit the same to the Administrative Agent’s Account pursuant to this Section 1.5(b) within one (1) Business Day after its receipt thereof, and the Purchasers will apply the funds received to the reduction of their Capital.

Section 1.6. Amount of Collections. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, failure to have sufficient Collections to make any payment due and payable hereunder shall in no event defer the due date of such payment, and the applicable Seller Party shall remain obligated for the amount of such deficiency.

 

3


Section 1.7. Payment Requirements. All payments in respect of Capital shall be paid to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the applicable Purchasers. One or more Seller Parties shall initiate a wire transfer of amounts to be paid or deposited by it pursuant to any provision of this Agreement no later than 1:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the day when due in immediately available funds. Any amounts that are payable to the Administrative Agent or WFB, they shall be paid to the Administrative Agent’s Account for prompt distribution to the appropriate party or parties. Any amounts that are payable to Truist shall be paid to the Truist Account. All computations of Yield and per annum Fees under the Transaction Documents shall be made on the basis of a year consisting of three hundred sixty (360) days for the actual number of days elapsed, and shall be invoiced by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Investor Parties. If any amount hereunder shall be payable on a day which is not a Business Day, such amount shall be payable on the next succeeding Business Day.

Section 1.8. Fees. The Seller shall pay to the Investor Parties the Fees, in the amounts and on the dates set forth in the Fee Letter.

Section 1.9. Yield. The Capital of each Investment shall accrue Yield for each day at its then applicable Yield Rate. On each Monthly Payment Date, the Seller shall pay in arrears to each Purchaser an amount equal to the accrued and unpaid Yield on its Capital for each day during the Calculation Period (or portion thereof) then most recently ended.

Section 1.10. Voluntary Reductions of the Commitment; Optional Repurchase.

(a) The Seller may, upon at least ten (10) Business Days’ notice to the Administrative Agent (who will promptly notify the Purchasers), terminate in whole or reduce in part, ratably amongst the Purchasers in accordance with their respective Percentages, the unused portion of the Purchase Limit; provided that (i) each partial reduction of the Purchase Limit shall be in a minimum amount of $1,000,000 (or a larger integral multiple of $100,000) for all of the Purchasers considered as a whole, and (ii) in no event may the Purchase Limit be reduced below the outstanding Aggregate Capital unless accompanied by a payment of Aggregate Capital in an aggregate amount necessary to reduce the Aggregate Capital to the reduced Purchase Limit.

(b) In addition, the Seller may, upon at least ten (10) Business Days’ notice to the Administrative Agent (who will promptly notify the Purchasers), purchase all, but not less than all, of the Undivided Interests in the Purchased Assets. The purchase price in respect thereof shall be an amount equal to the Aggregate Unpaids through the date of such purchase, payable in immediately available funds. Such purchase shall be without representation, warranty or recourse of any kind by, on the part of, or against any Investor Party except for a representation and warranty that the conveyance to the Seller is being made free and clear of any Lien created by such Person. On the date of purchase of all Undivided Interests in the Purchased Assets by the Seller pursuant to this Section, the Commitments shall automatically terminate.

Section 1.11. Intent of the Parties. The parties to this Agreement intend that the sale, assignment and transfer of Undivided Interests in the Purchased Assets to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Purchasers shall be treated as an interest-bearing loan in an amount equal to the aggregate Capital secured by the Purchased Assets for all purposes including federal, state and local income and franchise tax (in the nature of income tax) purposes. The provisions of this Agreement and all related Transaction Documents shall be construed to further these intentions of the parties.

 

4


Section 1.12. Designated Funding Offices. Each Purchaser at its option may make any Investment or otherwise perform its obligations hereunder through any funding office (each, a “Designated Funding Office”); provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Seller Parties to turn over Collections in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Any Designated Funding Office shall be considered part of the related Purchaser; provided that such provisions that would be applicable with respect to Investments actually provided by such Affiliate or branch of such Purchaser shall apply to such Affiliate or branch of such Purchaser to the same extent as such Purchaser.

Section 1.13. Nature of Obligations; Defaulting Purchasers. Each Purchaser’s obligations hereunder shall be several, such that the failure of any Purchaser to make a payment in connection with any Investment (each such Purchaser, a “Defaulting Purchaser”) shall not relieve any other Purchaser of its obligation hereunder to make payment for any such Investment. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 1.13 to the contrary, no Purchaser shall be required to make any Investment for an amount which would cause the aggregate Capital of such Purchaser (after giving effect to such Investment) to exceed such Purchaser’s Commitment. At any time while a Purchaser is a Defaulting Purchaser, such Defaulting Purchaser shall forfeit the right to vote on amendments and waivers to the Transaction Documents, or to receive any fees described in the Fee Letter.

Section 1.14. Inability to Determine Rates.

(a) If, in connection with any request for an Investment, (i) the Administrative Agent determines that (A) one-month deposits in Dollars are not being offered to banks in the London interbank market, (B) (1) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining one-month LIBOR and, accordingly, the LMIR, with respect to a proposed Investment and (2) the circumstances described in Section 1.14(c)(i) do not apply or (C) a fundamental change has occurred in the foreign exchange or interbank markets with respect to Dollars (including, without limitation, changes in national or international financial, political or economic conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls) (in each case with respect to this clause (i), “Impacted Investments”), or (ii) the Administrative Agent or the Required Purchasers determine that for any reason a rate based on one-month LIBOR does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to the Purchasers of funding such Investment, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Seller and each Purchaser. Thereafter, the obligation of the Purchasers to make Incremental Investments or Rollover Investments at the LMIR shall be suspended (to the extent of the affected Investments), in each case until the Administrative Agent (or, in the case of a determination by the Required Purchasers described in clause (ii) of this Section 1.14(a), until the Administrative Agent upon instruction of the Required Purchasers) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, the Seller may revoke any pending request for an Investment accruing Yield at the LMIR or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for an Investment accruing Yield at the Alternate Base Rate in the amount specified therein.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Administrative Agent has made the determination described in clause (a)(i) of this Section 1.14, the Administrative Agent in consultation with the Seller, may establish an alternative interest rate for the Impacted Loans, in which case, such alternative rate of interest shall apply with respect to the Impacted Loans until (i) the Administrative Agent revokes the notice delivered with respect to the Impacted Loans under

 

5


clause (a)(i) of this Section 1.14, (ii) the Administrative Agent or the Required Purchasers notify the Administrative Agent and the Seller that such alternative interest rate does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to the Purchasers of funding the Impacted Investments, or (iii) any Purchaser determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for such Purchaser or its Designated Funding Office to make, maintain or fund Investments whose Yield is determined by reference to such alternative rate of interest or to determine or charge interest rates based upon such rate or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Purchaser to do any of the foregoing and provides the Administrative Agent and the Seller written notice thereof.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Transaction Documents, if the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error), or the Seller or Required Purchasers notify the Administrative Agent (with, in the case of the Required Purchasers, a copy to the Seller) that the Seller or Required Purchasers (as applicable) have determined, that:

(i) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining LIBOR, including, without limitation, because the LIBOR Screen Rate is not available or published on a current basis and such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary; or

(ii) the administrator of the LIBOR Screen Rate or a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent or such administrator has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which LIBOR or the LIBOR Screen Rate shall no longer be made available, or used for determining the interest rate of loans or investments, provided that, at the time of such statement, there is no successor administrator that is satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, that will continue to provide LIBOR after such specific date (such specific date, the “Scheduled Unavailability Date”); or

(iii) the administrator of the LIBOR Screen Rate or a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over such administrator has made a public statement announcing that all interest periods and other tenors of LIBOR are no longer representative; or

(iv) syndicated trade receivables securitizations currently being executed, or that include language similar to that contained in this Section 1.14, are being executed or amended (as applicable) to incorporate or adopt a new benchmark interest rate to replace LIBOR,

then, in the case of clauses (i)-(iii) above, on a date and time determined by the Administrative Agent (any such date, the “LIBOR Replacement Date”), which date shall occur reasonably promptly upon the occurrence of any of the events or circumstances under clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above and, solely with respect to clause (ii) above, no later than the Scheduled Unavailability Date, one-month LIBOR as a basis for LMIR will be replaced hereunder and under any Transaction Document with, subject to the proviso below, the first available alternative set forth in the order below for a one-month tenor that can be determined by the Administrative Agent, in each case, without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Transaction Document (the “LIBOR Successor Rate”; and any such rate before giving effect to the Related Adjustment, the “Pre-Adjustment Successor Rate”):

 

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(x) Term SOFR plus the Related Adjustment; and

(y) SOFR plus the Related Adjustment;

and in the case of clause (iv) above, the Seller and Administrative Agent may amend this Agreement solely for the purpose of replacing LIBOR under this Agreement and under any other Transaction Document in accordance with the definition of “LIBOR Successor Rate” and such amendment will become effective at 5:00 p.m. (New York time) on the fifth Business Day after the Administrative Agent shall have notified all Purchasers and the Seller of the occurrence of the circumstances described in clause (iv) above unless, prior to such time, Purchasers comprising the Required Purchasers have delivered to the Administrative Agent written notice that such Required Purchasers object to the implementation of a LIBOR Successor Rate pursuant to such clause;

provided that, if the Administrative Agent determines that one-month Term SOFR has become available, is administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent and would have been identified as the Pre-Adjustment Successor Rate in accordance with the foregoing if it had been so available at the time that the LIBOR Successor Rate then in effect was so identified, and the Administrative Agent notifies the Seller and each Purchaser of such availability, then from and after the beginning of the next Calculation Period, commencing no less than thirty (30) days after the date of such notice, the Pre-Adjustment Successor Rate shall be Term SOFR and the LIBOR Successor Rate shall be Term SOFR plus the relevant Related Adjustment.

The Administrative Agent will promptly (in one or more notices) notify the Seller and each Purchaser of (x) any occurrence of any of the events, periods or circumstances under clauses (i) through (iii) above, (y) a LIBOR Replacement Date and (z) the LIBOR Successor Rate.

Any LIBOR Successor Rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided that to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, such LIBOR Successor Rate shall be applied in a manner as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent.

Notwithstanding anything else herein, if at any time any LIBOR Successor Rate as so determined would otherwise be less than 0%, the LIBOR Successor Rate will be deemed to be 0% for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents.

In connection with the implementation of a LIBOR Successor Rate, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make LIBOR Successor Rate Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Transaction Document, any amendments implementing such LIBOR Successor Rate Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement; provided that, with respect to any such amendment effected, the Administrative Agent shall post each such amendment implementing such LIBOR Successor Rate Conforming Changes to the Seller and the Purchasers reasonably promptly after such amendment becomes effective.

 

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If the events or circumstances of the type described in Section 1.14(c)(i)-(iii) have occurred with respect to the LIBOR Successor Rate then in effect, then the successor rate thereto shall be determined in accordance with the definition of “LIBOR Successor Rate.”

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, (i) after any such determination by the Administrative Agent or receipt by the Administrative Agent of any such notice described under Section 1.14(c)(i)-(iii), as applicable, if the Administrative Agent determines that none of the LIBOR Successor Rates is available on or prior to the LIBOR Replacement Date, (ii) if the events or circumstances described in Section 1.14(c)(iv) have occurred but none of the LIBOR Successor Rates is available, or (iii) if the events or circumstances of the type described in Section 1.14(c)(i)-(iii) have occurred with respect to the LIBOR Successor Rate then in effect and the Administrative Agent determines that none of the LIBOR Successor Rates is available, then in each case, the Administrative Agent and the Seller may amend this Agreement solely for the purpose of replacing LIBOR or any then current LIBOR Successor Rate in accordance with this Section 1.14 as of the beginning of the next Calculation Period with another alternate benchmark rate giving due consideration to any evolving or then existing convention for similar U.S. dollar denominated syndicated trade receivables securitization facilities for such alternative benchmarks and, in each case, including any Related Adjustments and any other mathematical or other adjustments to such benchmark giving due consideration to any evolving or then existing convention for similar U.S. dollar denominated syndicated trade receivable securitization facilities for such benchmarks, which adjustment or method for calculating such adjustment shall be published on an information service as selected by the Administrative Agent from time to time in its reasonable discretion and may be periodically updated. For the avoidance of doubt, any such proposed rate and adjustments shall constitute a LIBOR Successor Rate. Any such amendment shall become effective at 5:00 p.m. (New York time) on the fifth Business Day after the Administrative Agent shall have posted such proposed amendment to all Purchasers and the Seller unless, prior to such time, Purchasers comprising the Required Purchasers have delivered to the Administrative Agent written notice that such Required Purchasers object to such amendment.

(e) If, at the end of any Calculation Period, no LIBOR Successor Rate has been determined in accordance with clauses (c) or (d) of this Section 1.14 and the circumstances under clauses (c)(i) or (c)(iii) above exist or the Scheduled Unavailability Date has occurred (as applicable), the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Seller and each Purchaser. Thereafter, the obligation of the Purchasers to make or rollover Investments accruing Yield at the LMIR shall be suspended (to the extent of the affected Investments) until the LIBOR Successor Rate has been determined in accordance with clauses (c) or (d). Upon receipt of such notice, the Seller may revoke any pending request for an Investment accruing Yield at the LMIR (to the extent of the affected Investments) or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for an Investment accruing Yield at the Alternate Base Rate (subject to the foregoing clause (y)) in the amount specified therein.

 

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Section 1.15. Qualified Financial Contracts.

(a) As used in this Section 1.15, the following terms have the following meanings: (i) “BHC Act Affiliate” of a party means an “affiliate” (as such term is defined under, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 1841(k)) of such party; (ii) “Covered Entity” means any of the following: (A) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §252.82(b); (B) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (C) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b); (iii) “Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable; and (iv) “QFC” has the meaning assigned to the term “qualified financial contract” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 5390(c)(8)(D).

(b) To the extent that the Transaction Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for Swap Agreements or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support, “QFC Credit Support,” and each such QFC a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the “U.S. Special Resolution Regimes”) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Transaction Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States):    In the event that a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a “Covered Party”) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Transaction Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Transaction Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Purchaser that defaults in its funding obligations under this Agreement shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support.

ARTICLE II.

PAYMENTS AND COLLECTIONS

Section 2.1. Collections during the Revolving Purchase Period; Reinvestments. During the Revolving Purchase Period, all Collections and Deemed Collections received by the Servicer shall be administered in accordance with Section 6.2 and shall be held in trust (i) for the payment of the accrued and unpaid Aggregate Unpaids that are then due and owing, (ii) for a Reinvestment as provided in Section 2.1(c), or (iii) for payment to the Seller for its own account.

 

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(a) Capital shall not be payable during the Revolving Purchase Period except to the extent provided in Section 1.4 and Section 1.5.

(b) On each Business Day during the Revolving Purchase Period, subject to Section 2.1(e) and to Section 4.2, Collections that are not required to be segregated or used to pay Aggregate Unpaids (including, without limitation, Capital payable pursuant to Section 2.1(b)) shall be first, paid to the Seller as an Investment in the amount necessary to maintain the current amount of Capital outstanding (such an Investment, a “Reinvestment”), and second, paid to the Seller for its own account.

(c) On each Monthly Payment Date during the Revolving Purchase Period, after deduction of the Servicer’s Servicing Fee from Collections received (or deemed received) during the Calculation Period (or portion thereof) then most recently ended, the Servicer shall deliver to the Administrative Agent’s Account from the Collections received (or deemed received) during such Calculation Period (or portion thereof), an amount equal to the Required Amounts due and owing on such Monthly Payment Date. Following the Dominion Date, the Administrative Agent shall make distributions of the Servicing Fee and other Required Amounts from Collections held by it.

(d) If, on any Monthly Payment Date during the Revolving Purchase Period, there are insufficient Collections to pay all amounts required to be paid pursuant to Section 2.1(b) or Section 2.1(d), as applicable, (i) no Reinvestment shall be made until such amounts have been paid in full, and (ii) Collections to be applied to the Required Amounts shall be applied in the following order of priority:

first, to accrued and unpaid Servicing Fees that are then due and owing to the Servicer if not withheld by the Servicer prior to turnover of the Collections;

second, to out-of-pocket expenses (if any) of any Investor Party that are then due and owing under Section 8.4;

third, to accrued and unpaid Yield then due and owing, including any previously accrued Yield that remains unpaid; and

fourth, to all Fees accrued during the Calculation Period (or portion thereof) then most recently ended, plus any previously accrued Fees that remain unpaid.

Section 2.2. Collections During the Liquidation Period Absent Dominion.

(a) On each day during the Liquidation Period, unless the Dominion Date shall have occurred, all Collections shall be administered in accordance with Section 6.2.

(b) On each Monthly Payment Date during the Liquidation Period, unless the Dominion Date shall have occurred, the Servicer shall wire transfer all Collections so held by the Servicer (after deducting its Servicing Fee therefrom) to the Administrative Agent’s Account for distribution and application in the following order of priority:

 

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first, to the Servicer, in payment of its Servicing Fee to the extent not retained;

second, to the Administrative Agent , in payment of its out-of-pocket expenses in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, to the extent reimbursable under Section 8.4 and not otherwise paid by the Seller;

third, to the Purchasers, in payment of any accrued and unpaid Yield then due and owing on account of their Capital, including any previously accrued Yield that was not previously paid;

fourth, to the Investor Parties, in payment of any Fees accrued during the Calculation Period (or portion thereof) then most recently ended, plus any previously accrued Fees not paid on a prior Monthly Payment Date;

fifth, to the Purchasers, in reduction of Capital, until Capital is reduced to $0;

sixth, to out-of-pocket expenses (if any) of any Investor Party that are then due and owing under Section 8.4 and not otherwise paid pursuant to clause “second” above and to any other Aggregate Unpaids until reduced to $0; and

seventh, if the Aggregate Unpaids have been reduced to $0, to the Seller, free and clear of any interest of the Investor Parties.

Section 2.3. Collections During the Liquidation Period in Dominion.

(a) On each day during the Liquidation Period if the Dominion Date shall have occurred, all Collections shall be administered by the Administrative Agent in accordance with this Section 2.3.

(b) On each Business Day during the Liquidation Period if the Dominion Date shall have occurred, the Administrative Agent shall distribute and apply all Collections received by it in the following order of priority:

first, to the Servicer, in payment of its Servicing Fee to the extent not retained;

second, in payment of the Administrative Agent’s out-of-pocket expenses in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, to the extent reimbursable under Section 8.4 and not otherwise paid by the Seller;

 

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third, to the Purchasers, in payment of any accrued and unpaid Yield then due and owing on account of their Capital, including any previously accrued Yield that was not previously paid;

fourth, to the Investor Parties, in payment of any Fees accrued during the Calculation Period (or portion thereof) then most recently ended, plus any previously accrued Fees not paid on a prior Monthly Payment Date;

fifth, to the Purchasers, in reduction of Capital, until Capital is reduced to $0;

sixth, to out-of-pocket expenses (if any) of any Investor Party that are then due and owing under Section 8.4 and not otherwise paid pursuant to clause “second” above and to any other Aggregate Unpaids until reduced to $0; and

seventh, if the Aggregate Unpaids have been reduced to $0, to the Seller, free and clear of any interest of the Investor Parties.

Section 2.4. Payment Rescission. No payment of any of the Aggregate Unpaids shall be considered paid or applied hereunder to the extent that, at any time, all or any portion of such payment or application is rescinded by application of law or judicial authority or must otherwise be returned or refunded for any reason. The Seller shall remain obligated for the amount of any payment or application so rescinded, returned or refunded, and shall promptly pay to the applicable Investor Party the full amount thereof together with any Yield thereon from the date of any such rescission, return or refunding.

ARTICLE III.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

Section 3.1. Representations and Warranties of the Seller. The Seller hereby represents and warrants to the Investor Parties, as of the date hereof and as of the date of each Investment that:

(a) Existence and Power. The Seller is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. The Seller is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation and has and holds all corporate power and all governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals required to carry on its business in each jurisdiction in which its business is conducted except where the failure to so qualify or so hold could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Power and Authority; Due Authorization, Execution and Delivery. The execution and delivery by the Seller of this Agreement and each other Transaction Document to which it is a party, the performance of its obligations hereunder and thereunder and the use of the proceeds of the Purchases made hereunder, are within its corporate powers and authority and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on its part. This Agreement and each other Transaction Document to which the Seller is a party has been duly executed and delivered by the Seller.

 

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(c) No Conflict. The execution and delivery by the Seller of this Agreement and each other Transaction Document to which it is a party, and the performance of its obligations hereunder and thereunder do not contravene or violate (i) its Organic Documents, (ii) any law, rule or regulation applicable to it, (iii) any restrictions under any material agreement, contract or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound, or (iv) any order, writ, judgment, award, injunction or decree binding on or affecting it or its property, and do not result in the creation or imposition of any Adverse Claim on assets of the Seller (except as created hereunder) except, in any case with respect to Clauses (i) through (iv) above, where such contravention or violation could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and no transaction contemplated hereby requires compliance with any bulk sales act or similar law.

(d) Governmental Authorization. Other than the filing of the financing statements required hereunder, no authorization or approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body is required for the due execution and delivery by the Seller of this Agreement and each other Transaction Document to which it is a party and the performance of its obligations hereunder and thereunder.

(e) Actions, Suits. (i) There are no actions, suits or proceedings pending, or to the best of the Seller’s knowledge, threatened in writing, against or affecting the Seller, or any of its properties, in or before any court, arbitrator or other body, and which determination could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (ii) the Seller is not in default with respect to any order of any court, arbitrator or governmental body.

(f) Binding Effect. This Agreement and each other Transaction Document to which the Seller is a party constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Seller enforceable against the Seller in accordance with their respective terms, except as such enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar laws relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law).

(g) Accuracy of Information. All information (other than projections but including, without limitation, Interim Reports and Monthly Reports) heretofore furnished by the Seller or by any Authorized Officer of an Originator to any of the Investor Parties for purposes of or in connection with this Agreement, any of the other Transaction Documents or any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby is, and all such information hereafter furnished by the Seller or any such Authorized Officer to any of the Investor Parties will be, true and accurate in all material respects on the date such information is stated or certified and does not and will not contain any material misstatement of fact or omit to state a material fact or any fact necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading.

(h) Use of Proceeds. The Seller will not use the proceeds of any Investment hereunder (i) for a purpose that violates, or would be inconsistent with, Regulation T, U or X promulgated by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System from time to time or (ii) to acquire any security in any transaction which is subject to Section 12, 13 or 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

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(i) Good Title. Immediately prior to or contemporaneously with each Investment hereunder, the Seller shall be the legal and beneficial owner of the Receivables and Related Security with respect thereto, free and clear of any Adverse Claim, except as created by the Transaction Documents. There have been duly filed all financing statements or other similar instruments or documents necessary under the UCC (or any comparable law) of all appropriate jurisdictions to perfect the Seller’s ownership interest in each Receivable, its Collections and the Related Security.

(j) Perfection. Assuming the filing of the financing statements approved by the Seller on the date hereof (which will be filed by the Administrative Agent or its representatives), this Agreement, together with the filing of such financing statements, is effective to, and shall, upon each Investment hereunder, transfer to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the relevant Purchaser or Purchasers (and the Administrative Agent for the benefit of such Purchaser or Purchasers shall acquire from the Seller) a valid and perfected first priority ownership or security interest in each Receivable existing or hereafter arising and in all other Purchased Assets, free and clear of any Adverse Claim, except as created or permitted by the Transaction Documents. In accordance with the preceding sentence, the Administrative Agent confirms that it or its representatives have duly filed all financing statements or other similar instruments or documents necessary under the UCC (or any comparable law) of all appropriate jurisdictions to perfect the Administrative Agent’s (on behalf of the Purchasers) ownership or security interest in the Purchased Assets.

(k) Places of Business and Locations of Records. The principal places of business and chief executive office of the Seller and the offices where it keeps all of its Records are located at the address(es) listed on Exhibit III or such other locations of which the Purchasers have been notified in accordance with Section 5.2(a) in jurisdictions where all action required by Section 12.4(a) has been taken and completed. The Seller’s Federal Employer Identification Number and Organizational Identification Number are correctly set forth on Exhibit III.

(l) Collections. The conditions and requirements set forth in Section 5.1(j) and Section 6.2 have at all times been satisfied and duly performed. The names and addresses of all Lock-Box Banks, together with the account numbers of the Lock-Box Accounts of the Seller at each Lock-Box Bank and the post office box number of each Lock-Box, are listed on Exhibit IV. The Seller has not granted any Person, other than the Administrative Agent as contemplated by this Agreement, control of any Lock-Box Account, or the right to take control of any such Lock-Box Account at a future time or upon the occurrence of a future event. Each remittance of Collections by the Seller Parties to any of the Investor Parties hereunder has been made (i) in payment of a debt incurred by such Seller Party in the ordinary course of its business or financial affairs, and (ii) in the ordinary course of business or financial affairs of such Seller Party.

(m) Material Adverse Effect. Since August 31, 2020, no event has occurred that would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(n) Names. Except as stated on Exhibit XI, in the past five (5) years, the Seller has not used any legal names, trade names or assumed names other than the name in which it has executed this Agreement.

(o) Ownership of the Seller. CMC owns, directly or indirectly, 100% of the issued and outstanding Capital Securities of all classes of the Seller, free and clear of any Adverse Claim (other than Adverse Claims granted in connection with the Senior Credit Agreement, as such agreement may be amended or refinanced from time to time). Such Capital Securities are validly issued and there are no options, warrants or other rights to acquire Capital Securities of the Seller.

(p) Not an Investment Company; Volcker Rule. The Seller is not an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or any successor statute. The Seller is not a “covered fund” under the Volcker Rule. In determining that the Seller is not a covered fund, the Seller does not rely solely on the exemption from the definition of “investment company” set forth in Section 3(c)(1) and/or 3(c)(7) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 or is entitled to the benefit of the exclusion for loan securitizations in the Volcker Rule under 17 C.F.R. 75.10(c)(8).

(q) Compliance with Law. The Seller has complied in all respects with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, orders, writs, judgments, injunctions, decrees or awards to which it may be subject, except where the failure to so comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each Receivable, together with the Contract related thereto, does not contravene any laws, rules or regulations applicable thereto (including, without limitation, laws, rules and regulations relating to truth in lending, fair credit billing, fair credit reporting, equal credit opportunity, fair debt collection practices and privacy), and no part of such Contract is in violation of any such law, rule or regulation, except, in each case, where such contravention or violation could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(r) Compliance with Credit and Collection Policy. The Seller has complied in all material respects with the Credit and Collection Policy with regard to each Receivable and the related Contract and has not made any change to such Credit and Collection Policy prohibited by Section 5.2(c).

(s) (s) Payments to Applicable Originators. With respect to each Receivable, the Seller has given reasonably equivalent value to the applicable Originator in consideration therefor and such transfer was not made for or on account of an antecedent debt. No transfer by any Originator of any Receivable under the Sale Agreement is or may be voidable under any section of the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978 (11 U.S.C. §§ 101 et seq.), as amended.

(t) Enforceability of Contracts. Each Contract with respect to each Eligible Receivable is effective to create, and has created, a legal, valid and binding obligation of the related Obligor to pay the Outstanding Balance of the Eligible Receivable created thereunder and any accrued interest thereon, enforceable against the Obligor in accordance with its terms, except as such enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar laws relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

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(u) Eligible Receivables. Each Receivable included in the Net Pool Balance on a Settlement Report as an Eligible Receivable was an Eligible Receivable as of the last day of the period covered by such Settlement Report.

(v) No Investment Excess. The Seller has determined that, immediately after giving effect to each Investment hereunder, no Investment Excess exists.

(w) Financial Information. All financial statements and all other financial information furnished to the Purchasers and described in Section 5.1 have been and will be prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, and do or will present fairly the consolidated financial condition of the Persons covered thereby as at the dates thereof and the results of their operations for the periods then ended; provided that unaudited financial statements of the Seller and each of Performance Guarantor and its Subsidiaries have been prepared without footnotes, without reliance on any physical inventory and are subject to year-end adjustments. Any projections furnished by the Seller or by any Authorized Officer of an Originator to the Purchasers for purposes of or in connection with this Agreement were prepared in good faith based upon estimates and assumptions stated therein which, at the time of preparation, were believed to be reasonable.

(x) OFAC; Sanctions; Anti-Corruption Laws; Anti-Money Laundering Laws. The Seller is not in violation of any applicable Sanctions or, in any material respect, any Anti-Corruption Law or Anti-Money Laundering Law, in each case in jurisdictions in which such Person is domiciled or conducts business. The Seller is not, nor, to the knowledge of the Seller, is any director, officer, employee, agent or Affiliate of the Seller, a Sanctioned Person or a Sanctioned Entity. The Seller conducts its business in compliance with all applicable Sanctions in jurisdictions in which the Seller is domiciled or conducts business. The Seller has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance with applicable Sanctions, Anti-Corruption Laws and Anti-Money Laundering Laws, in each case in jurisdictions in which the Seller is domiciled or conducts business. The Seller shall not use the proceeds of any sale hereunder directly or (to the knowledge of the Seller) indirectly to fund any operations in, finance any investments or activities in, or make any payments to, a Sanctioned Person or a Sanctioned Entity, or otherwise used in any manner that would result in a violation of any applicable Sanction, Anti-Corruption Law or Anti-Money Laundering Law, in each case applicable to jurisdictions in which the Seller is domiciled or conducts business, by any Person that is party to this Agreement (including the Administrative Agent and the Purchasers).

(y) PATRIOT Act. To the extent applicable, the Seller is in compliance, in all material respects, with the (a) Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, and each of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) and any other enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto, and (b) the PATRIOT Act.

(z) Beneficial Ownership Rule. The Seller is an entity that is organized under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof and at least 51 percent of whose common stock or analogous equity interest is owned by a Person whose common stock or analogous equity interests are listed on the New York Stock Exchange or the American Stock Exchange or has been designated as a NASDAQ National Market Security listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange and is excluded on that basis from the definition of “Legal Entity Customer” as defined in the Beneficial Ownership Rule.

 

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Section 3.2. Representations and Warranties of the Servicer. The Servicer hereby represents and warrants to the Investor Parties as of the date hereof and as of each Investment Date that:

(a) Existence and Power. The Servicer is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. The Servicer is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation and has and holds all corporate power and all governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals required to carry on its business in each jurisdiction in which its business is conducted except where the failure to so qualify or so hold could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Power and Authority; Due Authorization, Execution and Delivery. The execution and delivery by the Servicer of this Agreement and each other Transaction Document to which it is a party, the performance of its obligations hereunder and thereunder, are within its corporate powers and authority and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on its part. This Agreement and each other Transaction Document to which the Servicer is a party has been duly executed and delivered by the Servicer.

(c) No Conflict. The execution and delivery by the Servicer of this Agreement and each other Transaction Document to which it is a party, and the performance of its obligations hereunder and thereunder do not contravene or violate (i) its Organic Documents, (ii) any law, rule or regulation applicable to it, (iii) any restrictions under any material agreement, contract or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound, or (iv) any order, writ, judgment, award, injunction or decree binding on or affecting it or its property, and do not result in the creation or imposition of any Adverse Claim on assets of the Servicer (except as created hereunder) except, in any case with respect to clauses (i) through (iv) above, where such contravention or violation could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and no transaction contemplated hereby requires compliance with any bulk sales act or similar law.

(d) Governmental Authorization. No authorization or approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body is required for the due execution and delivery by the Servicer of this Agreement and each other Transaction Document to which it is a party and the performance of its obligations hereunder and thereunder.

(e) Actions, Suits. (i) There are no actions, suits or proceedings pending, or to the best of the Servicer’s knowledge, threatened in writing, against or affecting the Servicer, or any of its properties, in or before any court, arbitrator or other body, that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (ii) the Servicer is not in default with respect to any order of any court, arbitrator or governmental body that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(f) Binding Effect. This Agreement and each other Transaction Document to which the Servicer is a party constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Servicer enforceable against the Servicer in accordance with their respective terms, except as such enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar laws relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law).

(g) Accuracy of Information. All information (other than projections) heretofore furnished by the Servicer or by any Authorized Officer of an Originator to any of the Investor Parties for purposes of or in connection with this Agreement, any of the other Transaction Documents or any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby is, and all such information hereafter furnished by the Servicer or any such Authorized Officer to any of the Investor Parties will be, true and accurate in all material respects on the date such information is stated or certified and does not and will not contain any material misstatement of fact or omit to state a material fact or any fact necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading.

(h) Collections. The conditions and requirements set forth in Section 5.1(j) and Section 6.2 have at all times been satisfied and duly performed.

(i) Material Adverse Effect. Since August 31, 2020, no event has occurred that would have a Material Adverse Effect.

(j) Not an Investment Company. The Servicer is not an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or any successor statute.

(k) Compliance with Law. The Servicer has complied in all respects with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, orders, writs, judgments, injunctions, decrees or awards to which it may be subject, except where the failure to so comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(l) Compliance with Credit and Collection Policy. The Servicer has complied in all material respects with the Credit and Collection Policy with regard to each Receivable and the related Contract and has not made any change to such Credit and Collection Policy prohibited by Section 5.2(c).

(m) OFAC Sanctions; Anti-Money Laundering Laws; Anti-Corruption Laws. None of the Servicer nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any applicable Sanctions or, in any material respect, any Anti-Corruption Law or Anti-Money Laundering Law, in each case in jurisdictions in which such Person is domiciled or conducts business. None of the Servicer or any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of such Person, any director, officer, employee, agent or Affiliate of the Servicer or such Subsidiary, is a Sanctioned Person or a Sanctioned Entity. The Servicer and each of its Subsidiaries have conducted their businesses in compliance with all applicable Sanctions in jurisdictions in which such Persons are domiciled or conduct business. Each of the Servicer and its Subsidiaries has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance with applicable Sanctions, Anti-Corruption Laws and Anti-Money Laundering Laws, in each case in jurisdictions in which such Person is domiciled or conducts business. CMC shall not and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to use the proceeds of any sale hereunder directly or (to the knowledge of CMC or such Subsidiary)

 

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indirectly to fund any operations in, finance any investments or activities in, or make any payments to, a Sanctioned Person or a Sanctioned Entity, or otherwise used in any manner that would result in a violation of any applicable Sanction, Anti-Corruption Law or Anti-Money Laundering Law, in each case applicable to jurisdictions in which such Person is domiciled or conducts business, by any Person that is party to this Agreement (including the Administrative Agent and the Purchasers).

(n) PATRIOT Act. To the extent applicable, each of the Performance Guarantor and the Originators is in compliance, in all material respects, with the (a) Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, and each of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) and any other enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto, and (b) the PATRIOT Act.

(o) 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 a favorable determination letter from the IRS or an application for such a letter is currently being processed by the IRS with respect thereto and, to the best knowledge of the Servicer, nothing has occurred which would prevent, or cause the loss of, such qualification. The Servicer and each ERISA Affiliate have made all required contributions to each Pension Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code, and no application for a funding waiver or an extension of any amortization period pursuant to Section 412 of the Code has been made with respect to any Pension Plan.

(ii) There are no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Servicer, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Pension Plan that would be reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There has been no prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Pension Plan that has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(iii) (A) No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; (B) no Pension Plan has any Unfunded Pension Liability which has resulted or which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (C) neither the Servicer nor any ERISA Affiliate 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) which has resulted or which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (D) neither the Servicer nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability (and no event has occurred which, with the giving of notice under Section 4219 of ERISA, would result in such liability) under Sections 4201 or 4243 of ERISA with respect to a Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (E) neither the Servicer nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Sections 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA which has resulted or which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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ARTICLE IV.

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

Section 4.1. Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness. The effectiveness of this Agreement is subject to (a) satisfaction of each of the conditions precedent set forth in Omnibus Amendment No. 4 dated as of April 1, 2021, and (b) the Administrative Agent and each of the Purchasers shall have received all Fees and expenses required to be paid on such date pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and the Fee Letter.

Section 4.2. Conditions Precedent to All Investments. Each Investment shall be subject to the further conditions precedent that (a) the Servicer shall have delivered to the Purchasers on or prior to the date of such Investment, in form satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, all Settlement Reports as and when due under Section 6.6; (b) the Facility Termination Date shall not have occurred; (c) the Administrative Agent and the Purchasers shall have received such other approvals, opinions or documents as it may reasonably request, it being understood that no such opinions shall be requested unless there has been a change in law or circumstance; and (d) on the applicable Investment Date, the following statements shall be true (and acceptance of the proceeds of such Investment shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Seller that such statements are then true):

(i) the representations and warranties set forth in Article III are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Investment as though made on and as of such date, except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall remain true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date;

(ii) no event has occurred and is continuing, or would result from such Investment, that will constitute an Amortization Event or a Potential Amortization Event; and

(iii) no Investment Excess exists or will result from such Investment.

ARTICLE V.

COVENANTS

Section 5.1. Affirmative Covenants of the Seller Parties. Until the date on which the Aggregate Unpaids have been paid in full (other than contingent indemnification obligations to the extent no claim giving rise thereto has been asserted) and the termination or expiration of all of the Commitments:

(a) Financial Reporting. Such Seller Party will maintain, for itself and each of its Subsidiaries, a system of accounting established and administered in accordance with GAAP, and furnish or cause to be furnished to the Purchasers:

 

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(i) Annual Reporting. As soon as available and in any event within five (5) days after the date the annual financial statements are required to be filed with the SEC, but in no event later than one hundred (100) days after the end of each Fiscal Year, (A) a copy of the consolidated balance sheet of Performance Guarantor and its Subsidiaries, and the related consolidated statements of income and cash flow of Performance Guarantor and its Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Year, setting forth in comparative form the figures for the immediately preceding Fiscal Year, audited (without any Impermissible Qualification) by a “Big Four” accounting firm or other independent public accountants reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, together with (B) the balance sheet and the related income statement of the Seller.

(ii) Quarterly Reporting. As soon as available and in any event within five (5) days after the date that quarterly financial statements are required to be filed with the SEC (excluding the last quarterly fiscal quarter of each Fiscal Year), but in no event later than fifty (50) days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each Fiscal Year, (A) an unaudited consolidated balance sheet of Performance Guarantor and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal quarter and consolidated statements of income and cash flow of Performance Guarantor and its Subsidiaries for such fiscal quarter and for the period commencing at the end of the previous Fiscal Year and ending with the end of such fiscal quarter, and including (in each case), in comparative form the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter in, and year to date portion of, the immediately preceding Fiscal Year, certified as complete and correct by the chief financial or accounting Authorized Officer of Performance Guarantor (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments), together with (B) the balance sheet and the related income statement of the Seller.

(iii) Compliance Certificates. Together with the financial statements required hereunder, a compliance certificate in substantially the form of Exhibit V signed by the applicable Seller Party’s Authorized Officer and dated the date of such annual financial statement or such quarterly financial statement, as the case may be, and concurrently with delivery of any financial compliance computation or certificate under the Senior Credit Agreement, a copy of same addressed to the Purchaser).

(iv) Shareholders Statements and Reports. Promptly and in any event within five (5) Business Days upon the furnishing thereof to the shareholders of Performance Guarantor, copies of all financial statements, reports and proxy statements so furnished.

(v) S.E.C. Filings. Promptly and in any event within five (5) Business Days upon the filing thereof, copies of all registration statements (other than any registration statements on Form S-8 or its equivalent) and any reports on Form 8-K, 10-K or 10-Q which Performance Guarantor files with the SEC.

(vi) Copies of Notices. Promptly and in any event within five (5) Business Days upon its receipt of any notice, request for consent, financial statements, certification, report or other communication under or in connection with any Transaction Document from any Originator or any Lock-Box Bank, copies of the same.

 

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(vii) Material Indebtedness, Projections and Notices. Promptly upon furnishing thereof to the lenders or noteholders under any agreement governing any Material Indebtedness of CMC and its Subsidiaries (or any agent or trustee for the foregoing), and in any event within five (5) Business Days copies of all projections, compliance certificates and default notices required to be delivered pursuant to such agreements (in each case without duplication of any of the items described above in this Section 5.1(a)).

(viii) Other Information. (A) Promptly upon the request thereof, such other information and documentation required by bank regulatory authorities under applicable Anti-Money Laundering Laws (including, without limitation, any applicable “know your customer” rules and regulations and the Patriot Act), as from time to time reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any of the Investor Parties; and (B) reasonably promptly, from time to time, such other information, documents, records or reports relating to the Receivables or the financial condition, operations or business of such Seller Party as the Administrative Agent or any Purchaser may from time to time reasonably request in order to protect the interests of the Investor Parties under or as contemplated by this Agreement, or to assist any Investor Party in complying with the requirements of Article 122a(4) and (5) of the European Union Capital Requirements Directive if applicable to such Investor Party, the Beneficial Ownership Rule and other applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the PATRIOT Act. Promptly following any change that would result in a change to the status of the Seller as an excluded “Legal Entity Customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Rule, the Seller shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent for delivery to each of the Investor Parties, a Certification of Beneficial Owner(s) complying with the Beneficial Ownership Rule, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

Reports and financial statements required to be delivered pursuant to clauses (i), (ii), (iv) and (v) of this Section 5.1(a) shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date when such reports, or reports containing such financial statements, are posted on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or CMC’s website at www.cmc.com.

(b) Notices. Such Seller Party will notify the Purchasers in writing of any of the following promptly upon learning of the occurrence thereof, describing the same and, if applicable, the steps being taken with respect thereto:

(i) Amortization Events or Potential Amortization Events. The occurrence of each Amortization Event and each Potential Amortization Event, by a statement of an Authorized Officer of such Seller Party.

(ii) Judgment and Proceedings. (A) (1) the entry of any judgment or decree against the Servicer or any of its respective Subsidiaries (other than the Seller) if the aggregate amount of all judgments and decrees then outstanding against the Servicer and such Subsidiaries exceeds $50,000,000 after deducting (x) the amount with respect to which the Servicer or any such Subsidiary is insured and with respect to which the insurer has not disputed coverage, and (y) the amount for which the Servicer or any such

 

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Subsidiary is otherwise indemnified if the terms of such indemnification are satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and (2) the institution of any litigation, arbitration proceeding or governmental proceeding against the Seller or the Servicer which, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (B) the entry of any judgment or decree against the Seller if the aggregate amount of all judgments and decrees then outstanding against the Seller equals or exceeds $16,750 after deducting (x) the amount with respect to which the Seller is insured and with respect to which the insurer has not disputed coverage, and (y) the amount for which the Seller is otherwise indemnified if the terms of such indemnification are satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(iii) Material Adverse Effect. The occurrence of any event or condition that has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.

(iv) Defaults and Collateral Events Under Other Agreements. The occurrence of a default or an event of default under any other financing arrangement relating to Material Indebtedness in aggregate principal amount pursuant to which any Originator is a debtor or an obligor, or the occurrence of a Collateral Event or Collateral Reinstatement Event, in each case, under and as defined in the Senior Credit Agreement.

(v) Termination Date. The occurrence of the “Termination Date” under and as defined in the Sale Agreement.

(vi) Change of Independent Director. At least 10 days prior to any proposed change of the sole (or, as applicable, the sole remaining) Independent Director for any reason other than death, incapacity or resignation of the incumbent director, notice of such proposed change together with a certificate of the Seller certifying that the proposed replacement director satisfies the criteria set forth in the definition of “Independent Director” and requesting the Administrative Agent’s written acknowledgement that in its reasonable judgment, the designated replacement satisfies such criteria. As soon as reasonably practicable but in any event within 10 days after any Seller Party receives notice of the death, incapacity or resignation of the sole (or, as applicable, the sole remaining) incumbent Independent Director, notice of the proposed replacement director together with a certificate of the Seller certifying that the proposed replacement director satisfies the criteria set forth in the definition of “Independent Director” and requesting the Administrative Agent’s written acknowledgement that in its reasonable judgment, the designated replacement satisfies such criteria.

(vii) Ratings Change. The occurrence of any change from time to time in the ratings from S&P or Moody’s of the Performance Guarantor’s long-term unsecured debt.

(c) Compliance with Laws and Preservation of Legal Existence. Such Seller Party will comply with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, orders, writs, judgments, injunctions, decrees or awards to which it may be subject, except where the failure to so comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Such Seller Party will preserve and maintain its legal existence, rights, franchises and privileges in the jurisdiction of its organization, and qualify and remain qualified in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction where its business is conducted, except where the failure to so preserve and maintain or qualify could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(d) Audits. Such Seller Party will furnish to the Administrative Agent from time to time such information with respect to it and the Receivables as the Administrative Agent or any Purchaser may reasonably request. Such Seller Party will, from time to time during regular business hours as reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Purchaser upon at least five (5) Business Days’ notice and at the sole cost of such Seller Party, permit the Administrative Agent (accompanied by any Purchaser) or its respective agents or representatives (and shall cause each Originator to permit the Administrative Agent (accompanied by any Purchaser) or its respective agents or representatives): (i) to examine and make copies of and abstracts from all Records in the possession or under the control of such Person relating to the Receivables and the Related Security, including, without limitation, the related Contracts, and (ii) to visit the offices and properties of such Person for the purpose of examining such materials described in clause (i) above, and to discuss matters relating to such Person’s financial condition or the Receivables and the Related Security or any Person’s performance under any of the Transaction Documents or any Person’s performance under the Contracts and, in each case, with any of the officers or employees of the Seller or the Servicer having knowledge of such matters (each such visit, a “Review”); provided that, so long as no Amortization Event has occurred and is continuing, the Seller Parties shall only be responsible for the costs and expenses of two(2) such Reviews in any one Contract Year.

(e) Keeping and Marking of Records and Books.

(i) the Servicer will (and will cause each Originator to) maintain and implement administrative and operating procedures (including, without limitation, an ability to recreate records evidencing Receivables in the event of the destruction of the originals thereof), and keep and maintain all documents, books, records and other information reasonably necessary or advisable for the collection of all Receivables (including, without limitation, records adequate to permit the prompt identification of each new Receivable and all Collections of and adjustments to each existing Receivable). The Servicer will (and will cause each Originator to) give the Purchasers notice of any material change in the administrative and operating procedures referred to in the previous sentence.

(ii) The Servicer will (and will cause each other Originator to) (A) on or prior to the date hereof, make a notation in its books and records relating to the Receivables, acceptable to the Administrative Agent, evidencing that the Receivables and related Contracts included in the Purchased Assets have been sold in accordance with the Agreement, and (B) upon the request of the Administrative Agent following the occurrence and during the continuation of an Amortization Event, deliver to the Administrative Agent all invoices included in the Contracts (including, without limitation, all multiple originals of any such invoice) relating to the Receivables.

(f) Compliance with Contracts and Credit and Collection Policy. The Servicer will (and will cause each Originator to) timely and fully (i) perform and comply in all material respects with all provisions, covenants and other promises required to be observed by it under the Contracts related to the Receivables, and (ii) comply in all material respects with the Credit and Collection Policy in regard to each Receivable and the related Contract.

 

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(g) Performance and Enforcement of the Sale Agreement and the Performance Undertaking. The Seller will, and will require each of the Originators to, perform each of their respective obligations and undertakings under and pursuant to the Sale Agreement in all material respects. The Seller will purchase Receivables under the Sale Agreement in material compliance with the terms thereof and will vigorously enforce the rights and remedies accorded to it as purchaser under the Sale Agreement. The Seller will take all actions to perfect and enforce its rights and interests (and the rights and interests of the Investor Parties as assignees of the Seller) under the Sale Agreement and the Performance Undertaking as the Administrative Agent or any Administrator may from time to time reasonably request, including, without limitation, making claims to which it may be entitled under any indemnity, reimbursement or similar provision contained in the Sale Agreement.

(h) Ownership. The Seller will (or will require each Originator to) take all necessary action to (i) vest legal and equitable title to the Receivables, the Related Security and the Collections irrevocably in the Seller, free and clear of any Adverse Claims other than Adverse Claims in favor of the Administrative Agent and the Purchasers (including, without limitation, the filing of all financing statements or other similar instruments or documents necessary under the UCC (or any comparable law) of all appropriate jurisdictions to perfect the Seller’s interest in such Receivables, Related Security and Collections and such other action to perfect, protect or more fully evidence the interest of the Seller therein as the Administrative Agent or any Administrator may reasonably request), and (ii) establish and maintain, in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Purchasers, a valid and perfected first priority ownership interest (and/or a valid and perfected first priority security interest) in the Purchased Assets to the full extent contemplated herein, free and clear of any Adverse Claims other than Adverse Claims in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Purchasers (including, without limitation, the filing of all financing statements or other similar instruments or documents necessary under the UCC (or any comparable law) of all appropriate jurisdictions to perfect the Administrative Agent’s (for the benefit of the Purchasers) interest in the Purchased Assets and such other action to perfect, protect or more fully evidence the interest of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Purchasers as the Administrative Agent or any Administrator may reasonably request).

(i) Separateness. The Seller acknowledges that the Investor Parties are entering into the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in reliance upon the Seller’s identity as a legal entity that is separate from each of the Originators and their respective other Affiliates (each, a “CMC Entity”). Therefore, from and after the date of execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Seller shall take all reasonable steps, including, without limitation, all steps that the Administrative Agent or any Administrator may from time to time reasonably request, to maintain the Seller’s identity as a separate legal entity and to make it manifest to third parties that the Seller is an entity with assets and liabilities distinct from those of the other CMC Entities and not just a division thereof. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing and in addition to the other covenants set forth herein, except as herein specifically otherwise provided, the Seller will:

 

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(i) compensate all employees, consultants and agents directly, from the Seller’s bank accounts, for services provided to the Seller by such employees, consultants and agents and, to the extent any employee, consultant or agent of the Seller is also an employee, consultant or agent of any other CMC Entity, allocate the compensation of such employee, consultant or agent between the Seller and such CMC Entity on a basis which reflects the services rendered to the Seller and such CMC Entity;

(ii) clearly identify its offices as separate and distinct from any space occupied by any other CMC Entity even if such space is leased or subleased from, or is on or near premises occupied by, any other CMC Entity;

(iii) have separate stationery and other business forms (each of which may be computer-generated);

(iv) conduct its business solely in its own name through its duly authorized officers or agents including, without limitation, in all oral and written communications such as letters, invoices, purchase orders, contracts, statements and applications;

(v) allocate all overhead expenses (including, without limitation, telephone and other utility charges) for items shared between the Seller and any other CMC Entity on the basis of actual use to the extent practicable and, to the extent such allocation is not practicable, on a basis reasonably related to actual use;

(vi) at all times maintain at least one Independent Director;

(vii) maintain its Organic Documents in conformity with this Agreement, such that (A) it does not amend, restate, supplement or otherwise modify such Organic Document in any respect that would impair its ability to comply with the terms or provisions of any of the Transaction Documents, including, without limitation, this Section 5.1(i); and (B) it provides for the notice, the Seller certification and the Administrative Agent’s written acknowledgement specified in Section 5.1(b)(vi) hereof;

(viii) ensure that all corporate actions with respect to (A) the filing for any petition of bankruptcy of the Seller and (B) the merger, consolidation, dissolution or liquidation of the Seller are duly authorized by unanimous vote of its directors (including the Independent Director);

(ix) maintain complete and correct books and records of account and minutes of meetings and other proceedings of its shareholder(s) and directors;

(x) maintain its certificate of incorporation and by-laws in conformity with this Agreement, such that it does not amend, restate, supplement or otherwise modify its Organic Documents in any respect that would impair its ability to comply with the terms or provisions of any of the Transaction Documents, including, without limitation, this Section 5.1(i);

(xi) maintain its financial, corporate and other books and records separate from those of any other CMC Entity;

 

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(xii) prepare its financial statements separately from those of other CMC Entities and insure that any consolidated financial statements of any other CMC Entity that include the Seller have detailed notes clearly stating that the Seller is a separate corporate entity;

(xiii) maintain bank account(s) that are separate from those of any other CMC Entity and, except as permitted in the Transaction Documents, not commingle funds or other assets of the Seller with those of any other CMC Entity;

(xiv) except as permitted herein, pay operating expenses and liabilities from its own funds and not permit any other CMC Entity to pay any of the Seller’s operating expenses or liabilities (except pursuant to allocation arrangements that comply with the requirements of clause (ii) above);

(xv) maintain adequate capitalization in light of its business and purpose and in any event maintain at all times the Required Capital Condition and refrain from making any dividend, distribution, redemption of capital stock or payment of any subordinated indebtedness which would cause such Required Capital Condition to cease to be so maintained;

(xvi) not hold itself out or permit itself to be held out as having agreed to pay or as being liable for the debts of any other CMC Entity nor will it hold any other CMC Entity out or permit any other CMC Entity to be held out as having agreed to pay or as being liable for the debts of the Seller nor will it fail to correct any known misrepresentation with respect to the foregoing;

(xvii) not operate or purport to operate as an integrated, single economic unit with one or more of the other CMC Entities;

(xviii) not seek or obtain credit or incur any obligation to any third party based upon the assets of one or more of the other CMC Entities or induce any such third party to reasonably rely on the creditworthiness of one or more of the other CMC Entities;

(xix) not guaranty or otherwise become liable with respect to indebtedness of any other CMC Entity nor permit guaranties or liability by any other CMC Entity of the indebtedness of the Seller (except as contemplated by the Performance Undertaking and this Agreement);

(xx) maintain an arm’s-length relationship with each other CMC Entity, including, without limitation, payment of an arm’s-length servicing fee for any receivables-servicing functions performed by any other CMC Entity on behalf of the Seller;

(xxi) not, directly or indirectly, be named and shall not enter into any agreement to be named as a direct or contingent beneficiary or loss payee on any insurance policy covering the property of any other CMC Entity; and

(xxii) take such other actions as are necessary on its part to ensure that the facts and assumptions set forth in the opinion issued by Haynes and Boone, LLP, as counsel for the Seller Parties, in connection with the closing or initial purchase under the Sale Agreement and relating to substantive consolidation issues, and in the certificates accompanying such opinion, remain true and correct in all material respects at all times.

 

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(j) Collections. Such Seller Party will cause (1) all proceeds from all Lock-Boxes to be directly deposited by a Lock-Box Bank into a Lock-Box Account and (2) each Lock-Box and Lock-Box Account to be subject at all times to a Lock-Box Agreement that is in full force and effect. In the event any payments relating to Receivables are remitted directly to the Seller or any Affiliate of the Seller, the Seller will remit (or will cause all such payments to be remitted) directly to a Lock-Box Bank and deposited into a Lock-Box Account within one (1) Business Day following receipt thereof, and, at all times prior to such remittance, the Seller will itself hold or, if applicable, will cause such payments to be held in trust for the exclusive benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Purchasers, subject to the Servicer’s rights under Section 6.2(c).

(k) Taxes. Such Seller Party will file all federal and all other material tax returns and reports required by law to be filed by it and will promptly pay all taxes and governmental charges at any time owing, except any such taxes which are not yet delinquent or are being diligently contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP shall have been set aside on its books. The Seller will pay when due any taxes payable in connection with the Receivables, exclusive of Excluded Taxes.

(l) Insurance. The Seller will maintain in effect, or cause to be maintained in effect, at the Seller’s own expense, such casualty and liability insurance as the Seller shall deem appropriate in its good faith business judgment.

(m) Payment to Originators. With respect to any Receivable purchased by the Seller from an Originator, such purchase shall be effected under, and in strict compliance with the terms of, the Sale Agreement, including, without limitation, the terms relating to the amount and timing of payments to be made to such Originator in respect of the purchase price for such Receivable.

(n) Use of Proceeds. The Seller will not use the proceeds of the Purchases for any purpose other than paying for Receivables and Related Security under and in accordance with the Receivables Sale Agreement, including without limitation, making payments on the Intercompany Note (as defined in the Receivables Sale Agreement) to the extent permitted thereunder and under the Receivables Sale Agreement, paying the Servicing Fee and its other ordinary and necessary operating expenses when and as due, and making Restricted Junior Payments to the extent permitted under this Agreement. The Seller will not, and will not permit any of its directors, officers, employees and agents to, use the proceeds of the Purchases for the purpose of (A) offering, paying, promising to pay, or authorizing of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws, or (B) funding, financing or facilitating any activities, business or transaction of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country.

(o) OFAC Sanctions; Anti-Money Laundering Laws; Anti-Corruption Laws. The Seller will implement and maintain in effect policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance with applicable Sanctions, Anti-Corruption Laws and Anti-Money Laundering Laws, in each case in jurisdictions in which Seller is domiciled or conducts business.

 

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Section 5.2. Negative Covenants of the Seller Parties. Until the date on which the Aggregate Unpaids have been paid in full (other than contingent indemnification obligations to the extent no claim giving rise thereto has been asserted) and the termination or expiration of all of the Commitments:

(a) Name Change, Offices and Records. The Seller will not change its name, identity or legal structure (within the meaning of Section 9-507(c) of any applicable enactment of the UCC) or relocate its chief executive office or any office where Records are kept unless it shall have: (i) given the Administrative Agent at least thirty (30) days’ prior written notice thereof and (ii) delivered to the Administrative Agent all financing statements, instruments and other documents reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Purchaser in connection with such change or relocation.

(b) Change in Payment Instructions to Obligors. Except as may be required by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.2(b), such Seller Party will not add or terminate any bank as a Lock-Box Bank, or make any change in the instructions to Obligors regarding payments to be made to any Lock-Box or Lock-Box Account, unless the Administrative Agent shall have received, at least twenty (20) days before the proposed effective date therefor, (i) written notice of such addition, termination or change and (ii) with respect to the addition of a Lock-Box Bank or a Lock-Box Account or Lock-Box, an executed Lock-Box Agreement with respect to the new Lock-Box Account or Lock-Box; provided, however, that the Servicer may make changes in instructions to Obligors regarding payments if such new instructions require such Obligor to make payments to another existing Lock-Box Account that is subject to a fully-executed and effective Lock-Box Agreement.

(c) Modifications to Contracts and Credit and Collection Policy. No Seller Party will, and no Seller Party will permit any Originator to, make any change to the Credit and Collection Policy that could reasonably be expected to materially decrease the credit quality of any newly created Receivables or materially adversely affect the collectability of the Receivables. Except as provided in Section 6.2(d), no Seller Party will, or will permit any Originator to, extend, amend or otherwise modify the terms of any Receivable or any terms of any Contract related to such Receivable in any material respect other than in accordance with the Credit and Collection Policy.

(d) Sales, Liens. Other than the ownership and security interests contemplated by the Transaction Documents, the Seller will not sell, assign (by operation of law or otherwise) or otherwise dispose of, or grant any option with respect to, or create or suffer to exist any Adverse Claim upon (including, without limitation, the filing of any financing statement) or with respect to, any Receivable, Related Security or Collections, or upon or with respect to any Contract under which any Receivable arises, or any Lock-Box or Lock-Box Account, or assign any right to receive income with respect thereto (other than, in each case, the creation of the interests therein in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Purchasers provided for herein), and the Seller will defend the right, title and interest of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Purchasers in, to and under any of the foregoing property, against all claims of third parties claiming through or under the Seller or any Originator.

 

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(e) Termination of Sale Agreement. Except as otherwise permitted under Section 7.1(k), the Seller will not terminate the Sale Agreement or send any termination notice to any Material Originator in respect thereof, without the prior written consent of each of the Purchasers.

(f) Restricted Junior Payments. After the occurrence and during the continuance of any Amortization Event, the Seller will not make any Restricted Junior Payment while any Aggregate Unpaids remain outstanding.

(g) Seller Indebtedness. Except as contemplated by the Transaction Documents, the Seller will not incur or permit to exist any Indebtedness or liability on account of deposits except: (i) the Aggregate Unpaids, (ii) the Subordinated Loans, and (iii) other current accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business and not overdue.

(h) Prohibition on Additional Negative Pledges. The Seller will not (and will not authorize any Originator to) enter into or assume any agreement (other than this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents) prohibiting the creation or assumption of any Adverse Claim upon the Purchased Assets except as contemplated by the Transaction Documents, or otherwise prohibiting or restricting any transaction contemplated hereby or by the other Transaction Documents.

(i) ERISA. Servicer shall not, and will not suffer or permit any of its ERISA Affiliates to: (a) engage in a prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Pension Plan which has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (b) engage in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA or (c) withdraw from any Multiemployer Plan or permit any Pension Plan maintained by it to be terminated if such withdrawal or termination could result in withdrawal liability (as described in Part 1 of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA) or the imposition of a Lien on any property of Servicer or any Subsidiary pursuant to Section 4068 of ERISA.

ARTICLE VI.

ADMINISTRATION AND COLLECTION

Section 6.1. Designation of the Servicer.

(a) The servicing, administration and collection of the Receivables shall be conducted by such Person (the “Servicer”) so designated from time to time in accordance with this Section 6.1. CMC is hereby designated as, and hereby agrees to perform the duties and obligations of, the Servicer pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. At any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Amortization Event, the Required Purchasers may at any time designate as the Servicer any Person to succeed CMC or any successor Servicer.

 

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(b) CMC may delegate to the Originators, as sub-Servicers of the Servicer, certain of its duties and responsibilities as the Servicer hereunder in respect of the Receivables originated by such Originators. Without the prior written consent of the Purchasers, the Servicer shall not be permitted to delegate any of its duties or responsibilities as the Servicer to any Person other than (i) the other Originators, and (ii) with respect to certain Charged-Off Receivables, outside collection agencies in accordance with its customary practices. The Seller shall not be permitted to further delegate to any other Person any of the duties or responsibilities of the Servicer delegated to it by CMC. If at any time following the occurrence of an Amortization Event, the Required Purchasers, acting jointly, shall designate as the Servicer any Person other than CMC, all duties and responsibilities theretofore delegated by CMC to the Seller or any Originator may, at the discretion of such Required Purchasers, be terminated forthwith on notice given by the Required Purchasers to CMC and to the Seller with a copy to the Administrative Agent other Purchasers.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing subsection (b), (i) the Servicer shall be and remain primarily liable to the Investor Parties for the full and prompt performance of all duties and responsibilities of the Servicer hereunder and (ii) the Investor Parties shall be entitled to deal exclusively with the Servicer in matters relating to the discharge by the Servicer of its duties and responsibilities hereunder. The Investor Parties shall not be required to give notice, demand or other communication to any Person other than the Servicer in order for communication to the Servicer and its sub-Servicer or other delegate with respect thereto to be accomplished. The Servicer, at all times that it is the Servicer, shall be responsible for providing any sub-Servicer or other delegate of the Servicer with any notice given to the Servicer under this Agreement.

Section 6.2. Duties of the Servicer.

(a) The Servicer shall take or cause to be taken all such actions as may be necessary or advisable to collect each Receivable from time to time, all in accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, with reasonable care and diligence, and in accordance with the Credit and Collection Policy of each respective Originator.

(b) The Servicer will instruct all Obligors to pay all Collections directly to a Lock-Box or Lock-Box Account. The Servicer shall cause a Lock-Box Agreement in form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent to be in effect with respect to each Lock-Box and Lock-Box Account. In the case of any remittances received in any Lock-Box or Lock-Box Account that shall have been identified, to the satisfaction of the Servicer, to not constitute Collections or other proceeds of the Purchased Assets, the Servicer shall promptly remit such items to the Person identified to it as being the owner of such remittances. From and after the date the Administrative Agent delivers to any Lock-Box Bank a Collection Notice pursuant to Section 6.4 (such date, the “Dominion Date”), the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Purchasers, may request that the Servicer, and the Servicer thereupon promptly shall instruct all Obligors to remit all payments thereon to a new depositary account specified by the Administrative Agent and, at all times thereafter, the Seller and the Servicer shall not deposit or otherwise credit, and shall not permit any other Person to deposit or otherwise credit to such new depositary account any cash or payment item other than Collections.

 

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(c) The Servicer (and from and after the Dominion Date, the Administrative Agent) shall administer the Collections in accordance with the procedures described herein and in Article II. In the event that the instruments and cash being collected in the Lock-Boxes and Lock-Box Accounts that do not constitute Collections exceed 45% of total Collections for each of three (3) consecutive calendar months, the Administrative Agent may notify (and, at the direction of the Required Purchasers, will notify) the Seller Parties to direct such instruments and cash to be paid into lock-boxes and lock-box accounts into which no Collections are flowing, and the Seller Parties to establish such new lock-boxes and lock-box accounts, and to notify the obligors on the applicable receivables to make payments to such new lock-boxes and lock-box accounts, as soon as practicable and in any event within 45 days after receipt of such notice. Subject to the last sentence of this Section 6.2(c), the Servicer shall hold in trust for the account of the Seller and the Investor Parties their respective shares of the Collections in accordance with Article II. Following the occurrence of the Dominion Date, the Servicer shall, upon the request of the Administrative Agent or any Administrator, segregate, in a manner acceptable to the Administrative Agent, all cash, checks and other instruments received by it from time to time constituting Collections from the general funds of the Servicer or the Seller prior to the remittance thereof in accordance with Article II to the extent of any accrued and unpaid Aggregate Unpaids, and the requirement to continue such segregation shall continue until such Amortization Event is waived in the sole discretion of the Required Purchasers or until the conditions to further Purchases and Reinvestments set forth in Section 4.2 are satisfied. Subject to Section 2.2, at all times while the Servicer is required to segregate Collections pursuant to the preceding sentence, the Servicer shall segregate and deposit with a bank designated by the Administrative Agent such allocable share of Collections of Receivables set aside for the Purchasers on the first Business Day following receipt by the Servicer of such Collections, duly endorsed or with duly executed instruments of transfer. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, for so long as the Administrative Agent or any Administrator is not permitted to and has not requested the segregation of Collections in accordance with this Section 6.2(c) and CMC or one of its Affiliates is the Servicer, the Servicer may process Collections as a part of a central cash management system maintained by CMC and its Affiliates, which system shall include written records (which may be electronic) of all debits and credits attributable to the Seller and its Receivables and all other participants in such system and, prior to the Dominion Date, such funds may be commingled with other funds of CMC and its Affiliates.

(d) The Servicer may, in accordance with the Credit and Collection Policy, extend the maturity of any Receivable or adjust the Outstanding Balance of any Receivable as the Servicer determines to be appropriate to maximize Collections thereof; provided, however, that such extension or adjustment shall not alter the status of such Receivable as a Delinquent Receivable, Defaulted Receivable or Charged-Off Receivable or limit the rights of the Investor Parties under this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, following the occurrence and during continuation of an Amortization Event, the Administrative Agent shall have the absolute and unlimited right to direct the Servicer to commence or settle any legal action with respect to any Receivable or to foreclose upon or repossess any Related Security.

(e) The Servicer shall hold in trust for the Seller and the Investor Parties all Records in its possession that (i) evidence or relate to the Receivables, the related Contracts and Related Security or (ii) are otherwise necessary or desirable to collect the Receivables and shall, following the occurrence of an Amortization Event that is continuing (provided such Amortization Event is not, in the sole discretion of the applicable Investor Parties, waived in accordance with this Agreement, none of the Investor Parties shall be required to grant any such waiver), as soon as practicable upon demand of the Administrative Agent, deliver or make available to the

 

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Administrative Agent all such Records, at a place selected by the Administrative Agent. The Servicer shall, one (1) Business Day following receipt thereof turn over (A) to the Seller any cash collections or other cash proceeds in accordance with Article II and (B) to the applicable Person any cash collections or other cash proceeds received with respect to Indebtedness not constituting Receivables. The Servicer shall, from time to time at the request of the Administrative Agent or any Administrator, furnish to the Administrative Agent (promptly after any such request) (who will promptly deliver a copy to the Purchasers) a calculation of the amounts set aside for the Investor Parties pursuant to Article II.

(f) Any payment by an Obligor in respect of any indebtedness owed by it to an Originator or the Seller shall, except as otherwise specified by such Obligor or otherwise required by Contract or law and unless otherwise instructed by the Administrative Agent, be applied as a Collection of any Receivable of such Obligor (starting with the oldest such Receivable) to the extent of any amounts then due and payable thereunder before being applied to any other receivable or other obligation of such Obligor.

Section 6.3. Lock-Box Accounts. Pursuant to the Sale Agreement, the applicable Originator has granted to the Seller a security interest in, among other things, each Lock-Box Account. The Seller hereby assigns its security interest in each Lock-Box Account to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Investor Parties. Subject to the terms of the applicable Lock-Box Agreement, the Administrative Agent has been given “control” (within the meaning of the UCC) over each Lock-Box Account. The Seller hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent, and agrees that the Administrative Agent shall be entitled after the occurrence of an Amortization Event to (a) endorse the Seller’s name on checks and other instruments representing Collections, (b) enforce the Receivables, the related Contracts and the Related Security and (c) take such action as shall be necessary or desirable to cause all cash, checks and other instruments constituting Collections of Receivables to come into the possession of the Administrative Agent rather than the Seller.

Section 6.4. Collection Notices. The Administrative Agent is authorized to date and to deliver to the Lock-Box Banks the Collection Notices (i) upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Amortization Event or (ii) upon not less than five (5) Business Days’ prior written notice to the Seller Parties if deemed necessary or advisable in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent or the Required Purchasers following a material adverse change in financial condition or circumstances of the Seller or the Performance Guarantor at any time that Excess Availability is less than $20,000,000 (it being understood that (a) if Excess Availability of at least $20,000,000 is restored before the Administrative Agent delivers any Collection Notice, the Administrative Agent shall not be allowed to deliver any Collection Notices unless and until Excess Availability falls below $20,000,000 again, and (b) no further prior notice to the Seller Parties shall be required to deliver such Collection Notice). Subject to the terms of the applicable Lock-Box Agreement, the Seller has transferred to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Investor Parties, effective when the Administrative Agent delivers such notice, exclusive “control” over each Lock-Box and related Lock-Box Accounts. In case any authorized signatory of the Seller whose signature appears on a Lock-Box Agreement shall cease to have such authority before the delivery of such notice, such Collection Notice shall nevertheless be valid as if such authority had remained in force. The Seller hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent, and agrees that the Administrative Agent shall be entitled (x) at any time after delivery of the Collection Notices, to

 

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endorse the Seller’s name on checks and other instruments representing Collections, (y) at any time after an Amortization Event hereunder has occurred and is continuing, to enforce the Receivables, the related Contracts and the Related Security, and (z) at any time after an Amortization Event hereunder has occurred and is continuing, to take such action as shall be necessary or desirable to cause all cash, checks and other instruments constituting Collections of Receivables to come into the possession of the Administrative Agent rather than the Seller.

Section 6.5. Responsibilities of the Seller. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the exercise by any of the Investor Parties of their rights hereunder shall not release the Servicer, any Originator or the Seller from any of their duties or obligations with respect to any Receivables or under the related Contracts. The Investor Parties shall have no obligation or liability with respect to any Receivables or related Contracts, nor shall any of them be obligated to perform the obligations of the Seller.

Section 6.6. Reports.

(a) On each Interim Reporting Date (if any), the Servicer shall prepare and deliver not later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) to the Purchasers an Interim Report in the form of Exhibit VIII hereto (appropriately completed and executed).

(b) On each Monthly Reporting Date, the Servicer shall prepare and deliver not later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) to the Purchasers, a Monthly Report for the calendar month then most recently ended in the form of Exhibit IX hereto (appropriately completed and executed).

(c) At such times as any Purchaser shall reasonably request, the Servicer shall prepare and deliver not later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) two (2) Business Days after such request to the Purchasers a listing by Obligor of all Receivables together with an aging of such Receivables.

Section 6.7. Servicing Fees. In consideration of CMC’s agreement to act as the Servicer hereunder, so long as CMC shall continue to perform as the Servicer hereunder, CMC shall be paid a fee (the “Servicing Fee”) on each Monthly Payment Date, in arrears for the immediately preceding Calculation Period, equal to 1.0% per annum of the average aggregate Outstanding Balance of all Receivables during such period. At any time while the Servicer is not an Affiliate of the Seller, the Servicing Fee shall be computed at such rate per annum as the Required Purchasers, the Seller and the substitute Servicer may mutually agree.

ARTICLE VII.

AMORTIZATION EVENTS

Section 7.1. Amortization Events. The occurrence of any one or more of the following events shall constitute an “Amortization Event”:

 

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(a) (i) Any Seller Party shall fail to make any payment or deposit of Capital required to be paid or deposited for the benefit of any Investor Party under any Transaction Document and such failure under this clause (i) continues for one (1) Business Day after the date when the same was required to be made; or (ii) any Seller Party shall fail to make any payment or deposit of any other amount required to be paid to or for the benefit of any Investor Party or Indemnified Party under this Agreement or any other Transaction Document to which it is a party and such failure under this clause (ii) continues for three (3) Business Days after the date when the same was required to be made.

(b) Any Seller Party shall fail to perform or observe any covenant contained in any provision of Section 5.1(b)(vi), Section 5.1(i)(vi), Section 5.2, Section 6.2(c) or Section 6.6 (and, (i) in the case of Section 6.6 only, such failure continues for two (2) Business Days after the date when the same was required to be performed and (ii) in the case of Section 5.1(b)(vi) and Section 5.1(i)(vi) only, such failure continues for ten (10) Business Days after the date when the same was required to be performed).

(c) Any Seller Party shall fail to perform or observe any other covenant, agreement or other obligation hereunder (other than as referred to in another paragraph of this Section 7.1) or any other Transaction Document to which it is a party and such failure shall continue for thirty (30) consecutive days following the earlier to occur of (i) notice from any Investor Party of such non-performance or non-observance, or (ii) the date on which an Authorized Officer of such Seller Party otherwise becomes aware of such non-performance or non-observance.

(d) Any representation, warranty, certification or statement made by any Seller Party in this Agreement, any other Transaction Document or in any other document required to be delivered pursuant hereto or thereto shall prove to have been incorrect when made or deemed made in any material respect; provided that the materiality threshold in this subsection shall not be applicable with respect to any representation or warranty which itself contains a materiality threshold; provided further that in the case of Section 3.1(v) only, such failure continues for one (1) Business Day after the date when the representation, warranty, certification or statement was required to be made.

(e) [Intentionally Reserved].

(f) (i) The Seller shall fail to pay any principal of or premium or interest on any of its Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness under this Agreement) which is outstanding when the same becomes due and payable (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise), and such failure shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in the agreement or instrument relating to such Indebtedness; or any other event shall occur or condition shall exist under any agreement or instrument relating to any such Indebtedness and shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in such agreement or instrument, if the effect of such event or condition is to accelerate, or permit the acceleration of, the maturity of such Indebtedness; or any such Indebtedness shall be declared to be due and payable, or required to be prepaid (other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment), redeemed, purchased or defeased, or an offer to repay, redeem, purchase or defease such Indebtedness shall be required to be made, in each case prior to the stated maturity thereof; or

 

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(ii) Performance Guarantor or any Originator shall fail to pay any principal of or premium or interest on any of its Material Indebtedness when the same becomes due and payable (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise), and such failure shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in the agreement or instrument relating to such Material Indebtedness; or any other event shall occur or condition shall exist under any agreement or instrument relating to any such Material Indebtedness and shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in such agreement or instrument, if the effect of such event or condition is to accelerate, or permit the acceleration of, the maturity of such Material Indebtedness; or any such Material Indebtedness shall be declared to be due and payable, or required to be prepaid (other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment), redeemed, purchased or defeased, or an offer to repay, redeem, purchase or defease such Material Indebtedness shall be required to be made, in each case prior to the stated maturity thereof.

(g) (i) Any Seller Party, any Originator or any other Material Subsidiary shall generally not pay its debts as such debts become due or shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally or shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors;

(ii) any proceeding shall be instituted by the Seller seeking to adjudicate it bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking liquidation, winding up, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, protection, relief or composition of it or its debts under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors, or seeking the entry of an order for relief or the appointment of a receiver, trustee or other similar official for it or any substantial part of its property;

(iii) any proceeding shall be instituted against the Seller seeking to adjudicate it bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking liquidation, winding up, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, protection, relief or composition of it or its debts under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors, or seeking the entry of an order for relief or the appointment of a receiver, trustee or other similar official for it or any substantial part of its property and, unless such proceeding is consented to or acquiesced in by the Seller, such proceeding of the type described in this clause (iii) remains undismissed, unvacated or unstayed for a period of sixty (60) days;

(iv) (A) any proceeding shall be instituted by Performance Guarantor, Servicer, any Originator or any Material Subsidiary (other than the Seller) seeking to adjudicate it bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking liquidation, winding up, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, protection, relief or composition of it or its debts under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors, or seeking the entry of an order for relief or the appointment of a receiver, trustee or other similar official for it or any substantial part of its property, or (B) any proceeding shall be instituted against any Performance Guarantor, Servicer, any Originator or any Material Subsidiary (other than the Seller) seeking to adjudicate it bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking liquidation, winding up, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, protection, relief or composition of it or its debts under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors, or seeking the entry of an order for relief or the appointment of a receiver, trustee or other similar official for it or any substantial part of its property and, unless such proceeding is consented to or acquiesced in by Performance Guarantor, Servicer, such Originator or such Material Subsidiary, such proceeding of the type described in this clause (B) remains undismissed, unvacated or unstayed for a period of sixty (60) days; or

 

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(v) Any Seller Party, any Originator or any Material Subsidiary shall take any corporate action to authorize any of the actions set forth in clauses (i), (ii) or (iv) above in this subsection (g).

(h) As at the end of any calendar month:

(i) the average of the Delinquency Ratios for the three months then most recently ended shall exceed 5.00%;

(ii) the average of the Default Ratios for the three months then most recently ended shall exceed 4.00%; or

(iii) the average of the Dilution Ratios for the three months then most recently ended shall exceed 8.00%.

(i) A Change of Control shall occur.

(j) (i) One or more final judgments for the payment of money in an amount of $16,750 or more, individually or in the aggregate, shall be entered against the Seller or (ii) one or more final judgments for the payment of money in an amount in excess of $25,000,000, individually or in the aggregate, shall be entered against Performance Guarantor, Servicer or any Originator on claims not covered by insurance or as to which the insurance carrier has denied its responsibility, and such judgment shall continue unsatisfied and in effect for thirty (30) consecutive days without a stay of execution.

(k) Either (i) the “Termination Date” under and as defined in the Sale Agreement shall occur with respect to any Material Originator or (ii) any Material Originator shall for any reason cease to transfer, or cease to have the legal capacity to transfer, or otherwise be incapable of transferring Receivables to the Seller under the Sale Agreement.

(l) The Performance Undertaking shall cease to be effective or to be the legally valid, binding and enforceable obligation of Performance Guarantor, or Performance Guarantor shall contest in any proceeding in any court or any mediation or arbitral proceeding such effectiveness, validity, binding nature or enforceability of its obligations thereunder.

(m) This Agreement shall terminate in whole or in part (except in accordance with its terms), or shall cease to be effective or to be the legally valid, binding and enforceable obligation of the Seller, or any Originator shall directly or indirectly contest in any manner such effectiveness, validity, binding nature or enforceability, or the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Purchasers shall cease to have a valid and perfected first priority security interest in the Receivables, the Related Security and the Collections with respect thereto and the Lock-Box Accounts.

(n) The Internal Revenue Service shall file notice of a lien pursuant to Section 6323 of the Internal Revenue Code with regard to any of the Receivables or Related Security and such lien shall not have been released within ten (10) Business Days.

 

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(o) The PBGC shall file notice of a lien pursuant to Section 4068 of ERISA with respect to any of the Receivables or Related Security and such lien shall not have been released within ten (10) Business Days; or any of the following events shall occur with respect to any Pension Plan: (i) the institution of any steps by Performance Guarantor, any member of its Controlled Group or any other Person to terminate a Pension Plan if, as a result of such termination, Performance Guarantor or any such member could be required to make a contribution to such Pension Plan, or could reasonably expect to incur a liability or obligation to such Pension Plan, in excess of $25,000,000; of (ii) a contribution failure occurs with respect to any Pension Plan sufficient to give rise to a lien under section 302(f) of ERISA.

(p) The Interest Coverage Ratio shall be less than 2.50 to 1.00 at any time.

(q) The Debt to Capitalization Ratio shall be greater than 0.60 to 1.00 at any time.

(r) Any Subsidiary Originator shall commence or institute any lawsuit or similar proceeding seeking to collect payment under the applicable Subordinated Note.

Section 7.2. Remedies. Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Amortization Event, the Administrative Agent may, and upon the direction of the Required Purchasers, shall, take any of the following actions: (i) replace the Person then acting as the Servicer, (ii) upon notice to the Seller Parties, declare the Amortization Date to have occurred, whereupon the Commitments shall terminate and the Amortization Date shall forthwith occur, without demand, protest or further notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by each Seller Party; provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an Amortization Event described in Section 7.1(g)(ii) or (iii), or of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to any Seller Party under the Federal Bankruptcy Code, the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the Amortization Date shall automatically occur, without demand, protest or any notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by each Seller Party, and (iii) notify Obligors of the Administrative Agent’s and other Investor Parties’ interest in the Receivables. The aforementioned rights and remedies shall be without limitation and shall be in addition to all other rights and remedies of the Investor Parties otherwise available under any other provision of this Agreement, by operation of law, at equity or otherwise, all of which are hereby expressly preserved, including, without limitation, all rights and remedies provided under the UCC, all of which rights shall be cumulative.

ARTICLE VIII.

INDEMNIFICATION

Section 8.1. Indemnities by the Seller.

(a) Without limiting any other rights that the Investor Parties may have hereunder or under applicable law, the Seller hereby agrees to indemnify (and pay, within 30 days after receipt of a reasonably detailed invoice) each Investor Party and each of the respective assigns, officers, directors, agents and employees of such Investor Party (each of the foregoing, an “Indemnified Party”), from and against any and all damages, losses, claims, liabilities, costs,

 

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reasonable expenses, penalties and for all other amounts payable, including reasonable fees and disbursements of outside counsel (all of the foregoing being collectively referred to as “Indemnified Amounts”) awarded against or incurred by such Indemnified Party arising out of or as a result of this Agreement or the acquisition, either directly or indirectly, by such Investor Party or other Funding Source of an interest in the Purchased Assets or the use of the proceeds therefrom excluding, however, in all of the foregoing instances:

(i) Indemnified Amounts to the extent a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction holds that such Indemnified Amounts resulted from gross negligence, willful misconduct or fraud on the part of the Indemnified Party seeking indemnification;

(ii) Indemnified Amounts to the extent the same includes losses in respect of Receivables that are uncollectible solely on account of the insolvency, bankruptcy or lack of creditworthiness of the related Obligor; or

(iii) Taxes (which shall be governed by Sections 8.3 and 8.5);

provided, however, that nothing contained in this sentence shall limit the liability of the Seller or limit the recourse of the Investor Parties to the Seller for amounts otherwise specifically provided to be paid by the Seller under the terms of this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing indemnification, the Seller shall indemnify the Indemnified Parties for Indemnified Amounts (including, without limitation, losses in respect of uncollectible Receivables, regardless of whether reimbursement therefor would constitute recourse to the Seller) relating to or resulting from:

(1) any representation or warranty made by any Seller Party, the Performance Guarantor or any Originator (or any officers of any such Person) under or in connection with this Agreement, any other Transaction Document or any other information or report required to be delivered by any such Person pursuant hereto or thereto, which shall have been false or incorrect when made or deemed made;

(2) the failure by any Seller Party or any Originator to comply with any applicable law, rule or regulation with respect to any Receivable or Contract related thereto, or the nonconformity of any Receivable or Contract included therein with any such applicable law, rule or regulation or any failure of any Originator to keep or perform any of its obligations, express or implied, with respect to any Contract;

(3) any failure of any Seller Party, any Originator or the Performance Guarantor to perform its duties, covenants or other obligations in accordance with the provisions of any Transaction Document to which it is a party;

(4) any environmental liability, products liability, personal injury or damage suit, or other similar claim arising out of or in connection with merchandise, insurance or services that are the subject of any Contract or any Receivable;

 

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(5) any dispute, claim, offset or defense (other than discharge in bankruptcy of the Obligor) of the Obligor to the payment of any Receivable (including, without limitation, a defense based on such Receivable or the related Contract not being a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Obligor enforceable against it in accordance with its terms), or any other claim resulting from the sale of the merchandise or service related to such Receivable or the furnishing or failure to furnish such merchandise or services;

(6) the commingling of Collections of Receivables at any time with other funds;

(7) any investigation, litigation or proceeding related to or arising from this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, the transactions contemplated hereby, the use of the proceeds of an Investment, the ownership of the Purchased Assets or any Investment therein or any other investigation, litigation or proceeding relating to any Seller Party or any Originator in which any Indemnified Party becomes involved as a result of any of the transactions contemplated hereby;

(8) any inability to litigate any claim against any Obligor in respect of any Receivable as a result of such Obligor being immune from civil and commercial law and suit on the grounds of sovereignty or otherwise from any legal action, suit or proceeding;

(9) any Amortization Event described in Section 7.1(g);

(10) any failure of the Seller to acquire and maintain legal and equitable title to, and ownership of any Receivable and the Related Security and Collections with respect thereto from any Originator, free and clear of any Adverse Claim (other than as created hereunder); or any failure of the Seller to give reasonably equivalent value to the applicable Originator under the Sale Agreement in consideration of the transfer by it of any Receivable, or any attempt by any Person to void such transfer under statutory provisions or common law or equitable action;

(11) any failure to vest and maintain vested in the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Investor Parties legal and equitable title to, and ownership of, a perfected ownership interest or a first priority perfect security interest in the Purchased Assets, free and clear of any Adverse Claim (except as created by the Transaction Documents);

(12) the failure to have filed, or any delay in filing, financing statements or other similar instruments or documents under the UCC of any applicable jurisdiction or other applicable laws with respect to any Purchased Assets, whether on the date hereof or at any subsequent time, except to the extent such failure or delay is caused by the Administrative Agent;

(13) any action or omission by any Seller Party which reduces or impairs the rights of any of the Investor Parties with respect to any Purchased Assets or the value of any Purchased Assets;

(14) any attempt by any Person to void any Investment or the security interest in the Purchased Assets granted hereunder, whether under statutory provision, common law or equitable action; and

 

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(15) the failure of any Receivable included in the calculation of the Net Pool Balance as an Eligible Receivable to be an Eligible Receivable at the time so included.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Indemnified Amounts shall not include any amount arising out of any Investor Party’s bearing the Credit Risk of any Obligor to pay amounts lawfully owed in respect of a Purchased Asset.

(b) After receipt by an Indemnified Party of notice of any investigative, administrative or judicial proceeding (collectively, a “Proceeding”) involving such Indemnified Party, such Indemnified Party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the Seller hereunder, promptly notify the Seller in writing, and in reasonable detail, of such Proceeding. Upon receipt of notice from an Indemnified Party seeking indemnification hereunder with respect to any such Proceeding, the Seller shall be entitled to assume the defense of any such Proceeding with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (or, in the case of an Indemnified Party that is or is affiliated with a Purchaser, the applicable Purchaser). Upon the Seller’s assumption of the defense of any such Proceeding, the Indemnified Party shall have the right to participate in such Proceeding and to retain its own counsel, but the Seller shall not be liable for any legal expenses of other counsel subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with the defense thereof unless (x) the Seller agrees in writing to pay such fees and expenses, (y) the Seller fails to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (or, in the case of an Indemnified Party that is or is affiliated with a Purchaser, the applicable Purchaser) in a timely manner, or (z) the Indemnified Party shall have been advised by counsel that there are actual or potential conflicting interests between the Seller, on the one hand, and the Indemnified Party, on the other hand, including situations in which there are one or more legal defenses available to the Indemnified Party that are different from or additional to those available to the Seller; provided, however, that the Seller shall not in any event be responsible hereunder for the fees and expenses of more than one counsel (plus local counsel, where necessary) for all Indemnified Parties in connection with any Proceeding. The Seller shall have the sole authority to settle any claim for monetary damages and, if the Seller chooses not to assume the defense of any such Proceeding, no Indemnified Party will consent to a settlement of, or the entry of any judgment arising from, any Proceeding without the Seller’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

Section 8.2. Indemnities by the Servicer. (a) Without limiting any other rights that any of the Investor Parties may have hereunder or under applicable law, the Servicer hereby agrees to indemnify (and pay upon demand to) each Indemnified Party from and against any and all damages, losses, claims, liabilities, costs, reasonable expenses and for all other amounts payable, including reasonable fees and disbursements of external counsel (all of the foregoing being collectively referred to as “Servicer Indemnified Amounts”) awarded against or incurred by any of them arising out of or as a result of the Servicer’s failure to duly and punctually perform its obligations under this Agreement excluding, however, in all of the foregoing instances:

(A) Servicer Indemnified Amounts to the extent a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction holds that such Servicer Indemnified Amounts resulted from gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of an Indemnified Party; and

 

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(B) Servicer Indemnified Amounts to the extent the same includes losses in respect of Receivables that are uncollectible on account of the insolvency, bankruptcy or lack of creditworthiness or financial inability or unwillingness to pay (other than a dispute giving rise to a Dilution) of the related Obligor;

provided, however, that nothing contained in this sentence shall limit the liability of the Servicer or limit the recourse of the Investor Parties to the Servicer for Collections received by the Servicer and required to be remitted by it under the terms of this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing indemnification, the Servicer shall indemnify the Indemnified Parties for Servicer Indemnified Amounts (including, without limitation, losses in respect of uncollectible Receivables, regardless of whether reimbursement therefor would constitute recourse to the Servicer) relating to or resulting from:

(i) any representation or warranty made by the Servicer (or any officers of the Servicer) under or in connection with this Agreement, any other Transaction Document or any other information or report delivered by any such Person pursuant hereto or thereto, which shall have been false or incorrect when made or deemed made;

(ii) the failure by the Servicer to comply with any applicable law, rule or regulation with respect to the collection of any Receivable or Related Security;

(iii) any failure of the Servicer to perform its duties, covenants or other obligations in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document;

(iv) the commingling by the Servicer of Collections of Receivables or funds or other assets arising therefrom at any time with other funds;

(v) any investigation, litigation or proceeding relating to the Servicer in which any Indemnified Party becomes involved as a result of any of the transactions contemplated hereby;

(vi) any Amortization Event of the described in Section 7.1(g) with respect to the Servicer; and

(vii) any action or omission by the Servicer relating to its obligations hereunder which reduces or impairs the rights of the Administrative Agent or the Purchasers with respect to any Receivable or the value of any such Receivable.

(b) After receipt by an Indemnified Party of notice of any Proceedings involving such Indemnified Party, such Indemnified Party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against Servicer hereunder, promptly notify the Servicer in writing, and in reasonable detail, of such Proceeding. Upon receipt of notice from an Indemnified Party seeking indemnification hereunder with respect to any such Proceeding, the Servicer shall be entitled to assume the defense of any such Proceeding with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (or, in the case of an Indemnified Party that is or is affiliated with any Purchaser, the applicable Purchaser). Upon the Servicer’s assumption of the defense of any such Proceeding, the Indemnified Party shall have the right to participate in such Proceeding and to

 

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retain its own counsel but the Servicer shall not be liable for any legal expenses of other counsel subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with the defense thereof unless (x) the Servicer agrees in writing to pay such fees and expenses, (y) the Servicer fails to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (or, in the case of an Indemnified Party that is or is affiliated with a Purchaser, the applicable Purchaser) in a timely manner, or (z) the Indemnified Party shall have been advised by counsel that there are actual or potential conflicting interests between the Servicer, on the one hand, and the Indemnified Party, on the other hand, including situations in which there are one or more legal defenses available to the Indemnified Party that are different from or additional to those available to the Servicer; provided, however, that the Servicer shall not in any event be responsible hereunder for the fees and expenses of more than one counsel (plus local counsel, where necessary) for all Indemnified Parties in connection with any Proceeding. The Servicer shall have the sole authority to settle any claim for monetary damages and, if the Servicer chooses not to assume the defense of any such Proceeding, no Indemnified Party will consent to a settlement of, or the entry of any judgment arising from, any Proceeding without the Servicer’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

Section 8.3. Increased Costs and Reduced Return. If any Funding Source shall be charged any fee, expense or increased cost on account of the adoption after the date hereof of any applicable law, rule or regulation (including any applicable law, rule or regulation regarding capital adequacy and any accounting principles) or any change after the date hereof in any applicable law, rule or regulation, or any change after the date hereof in the interpretation or administration of any applicable law, rule or regulation by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or any Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any such authority, central bank or comparable agency (a “Regulatory Change”): (a) that subjects any Funding Source to any Taxes — other than Indemnified Taxes (which are governed by Section 8.5(a)) and Excluded Taxes (which are governed by Section 8.5(b)) — on its Investments, loans, loan principal, commitments or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto, (b) that imposes, modifies or deems applicable any reserve, assessment, insurance or other insurance-related charge, special deposit or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of a Funding Source, or credit extended or any commitments to extend credit by a Funding Source pursuant to this Agreement, or (c) that imposes any other condition the result of which is to increase the cost to a Funding Source of performing its obligations under this Agreement, or to reduce the rate of return on a Funding Source’s capital as a consequence of its obligations under this Agreement , or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by a Funding Source under this Agreement or to require any payment calculated by reference to the amount of interests or loans held or interest received by it, then, upon demand by the related Funding Source, the Seller shall pay to such Funding Source, such amounts charged to such Funding Source or such amounts to otherwise compensate such Funding Source for such increased cost or such reduction; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act adopted on July 21, 2010 and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Regulatory Change”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued. For the avoidance of doubt, payments under this Section 8.3 in respect of increased taxes shall be without duplication of any Taxes payable pursuant to Section 8.5.

 

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Section 8.4. Other Costs and Expenses. The Seller shall pay to the Administrative Agent, on demand, all reasonable and documented costs and out-of-pocket expenses in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and other transactions contemplated hereby and the other documents to be delivered hereunder, including without limitation, the cost of auditors auditing the books, records and procedures of the Seller, reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses of external legal counsel for the Administrative Agent with respect thereto and with respect to advising each of the Administrative Agent as to its rights and remedies under the Transaction Documents to which it is a party. The Seller shall pay to the Administrative Agent and the Purchasers, on demand, any and all of their reasonable costs and out-of-pocket expenses, if any, including reasonable and documented external counsel fees and out-of-pocket expenses in connection with (i) any amendments, any waivers or the enforcement of this Agreement and the other documents delivered hereunder and (ii) any restructuring or workout of this Agreement or such documents, or the administration of this Agreement following an Amortization Event.

Section 8.5. Taxes.

(a) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Seller under any Transaction Document shall be made without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by applicable law. If any applicable law (as determined in the good faith discretion of the Seller) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by the Seller, then the Seller shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the Seller 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 8.5) the applicable Indemnified Party receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.

(b) The Seller shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law, or at the written request of the applicable Indemnified Party timely reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes.

(c) The Seller shall indemnify each Indemnified Party, on the first Settlement Date which is at least 45 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 8.5) payable or paid by such Indemnified Party and any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. Each Indemnified Party will promptly notify the Seller of any event of which it has knowledge, which will entitle such Indemnified Party to compensation pursuant to this Section 8.5; provided, however, that failure of any Indemnified Party to demand indemnification for any Taxes shall not constitute a waiver of such right to indemnification, except that the Seller shall not be required to indemnify an Indemnified Party for Taxes under this Section 8.5 unless such Indemnified Party notifies the Seller of such claim no later than 45 days after such Indemnified Party has knowledge of such Taxes being imposed or arising. Any notice claiming compensation under this Section 8.5 shall set forth in reasonable detail the additional amount or amounts to be paid to it hereunder and shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.

 

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(d) Each Indemnified Party agrees that it will use reasonable efforts to reduce or eliminate any claim for indemnity pursuant to this Section 8.5, including, subject to applicable law, a change in the funding office of such Indemnified Party; provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall obligate any Indemnified Party to take any action that imposes on such Indemnified Party any material additional costs or imposes material legal or regulatory burdens, nor which, in such Indemnified Party’s reasonable opinion, would have a material adverse effect on its business, operations or financial condition.

(e) If any Indemnified Party receives a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 8.5 (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 8.5), it shall pay to the Seller an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such Indemnified Party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund). The Seller, upon the request of such Indemnified Party, shall repay to such Indemnified Party the amount paid over pursuant to this clause (e) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event that such Indemnified Party is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this clause (e), in no event will the Indemnified Party be required to pay any amount to the Seller pursuant to this clause (e) 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 Seller or any other Person.

(f) If any Purchaser is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding or backup withholding tax (“Withholding Tax”) with respect to any payments under any Transaction Document, it shall deliver to the Seller and Servicer, on or prior to the date on which such Purchaser becomes a Purchaser under this Agreement and as otherwise prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Seller, such valid, properly completed and duly executed forms, certificates, and documentation (including Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI, W-8BEN-E, W-8IMY or W-9 or successor form of the foregoing), along with any applicable attachments (including, in case of a Person claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, a certificate reasonably satisfactory to the Seller to the effect that such Person is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Seller within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code), prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Seller, the Servicer, the Administrative Agent or any Administrator as will permit such payments to be made without or at a reduced rate of withholding. Each Purchaser agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires

 

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or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Seller, Servicer and Administrative Agent, in writing of its legal inability to do so. Each Purchaser shall replace or update such forms when necessary to maintain any applicable exemption and as requested by the Administrative Agent, any Purchaser or the Seller, as applicable. Each Purchaser agrees to hold the Administrative Agent, the Servicer and the Seller harmless from any Withholding Taxes relating to payments by the Seller to such Purchaser or such indemnitee arising from such Purchaser’s failure to comply with this Section 8.5(f).

(g) If a payment made to any of the Investor Parties or the Servicer hereunder would be subject to U.S. federal Withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such payee were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, as applicable), such payee shall deliver to the Seller at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Seller, such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Seller as may be necessary for the Seller to comply with its obligations under FATCA and to determine that such payee has complied with such payee’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment.

ARTICLE IX.

THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

Section 9.1. Appointment.

(a) Each Purchaser hereby irrevocably designates and appoints WFB, as Administrative Agent hereunder, and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of the Transaction Documents and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms of the Transaction Documents, together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary elsewhere in this Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein, or any fiduciary relationship with any Purchaser, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities on the part of the Administrative Agent shall be read into this Agreement or otherwise exist against the Administrative Agent.

(b) The provisions of this Article IX are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Purchasers, and neither of the Seller Parties shall have any rights as a third-party beneficiary or otherwise under any of the provisions of this Article IX (other than as provided in Section 9.9), except that this Article IX shall not affect any obligations which the Administrative Agent, any Administrator or any Purchaser may have to either of the Seller Parties under the other provisions of this Agreement.

(c) In performing its functions and duties hereunder, the Administrative Agent shall act solely as the Administrative Agent of the Purchasers and does not assume nor shall be deemed to have assumed any obligation or relationship of trust or agency with or for either of the Seller Parties or any of their respective successors and assigns.

 

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Section 9.2. Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may execute any of its duties under the applicable Transaction Documents by or through agents or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agents or attorneys-in-fact selected by it with reasonable care.

Section 9.3. Exculpatory Provisions. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its directors, officers, agents or employees shall be (i) liable for any action lawfully taken or omitted to be taken by it or them or any Person described in Section 9.2 under or in connection with the Transaction Documents (except for its, their or such Person’s own bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct), or (ii) responsible in any manner to any of the Purchasers or other agents for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties made by the Seller contained in any Transaction Document or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received under or in connection with, any Transaction Document or for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other document furnished in connection herewith, or for any failure of either of the Seller Parties to perform its respective obligations hereunder, or for the satisfaction of any condition specified in Article IV, except receipt of items required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall not be under any obligation to any Purchaser to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements or covenants contained in, or conditions of, any Transaction Document, or to inspect the properties, books or records of the Seller Parties. This Section 9.3 is intended solely to govern the relationships between the Administrative Agent, on the one hand, and the Purchasers, on the other.

Section 9.4. Reliance by the Investor Parties.

(a) Each of the Investor Parties shall in all cases be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any note, writing, resolution, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, cablegram, telegram, telecopy, telex or teletype message, statement, order or other document or conversation believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person or Persons and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including, without limitation, counsel to the Seller Parties), independent accountants and other experts selected by such Investor Party. The Administrative Agent shall in all cases be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under this Agreement or any other document furnished in connection herewith unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of each Purchaser (except where another provision of this Agreement specifically authorizes the Administrative Agent to take action based on the instructions of less than all of the Purchasers).

(b) Any action taken by the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 9.4(a) shall be binding upon all of the Purchasers.

Section 9.5. Notice of Amortization Events. None of the Investor Parties shall be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Amortization Event or Potential Amortization Event unless it has received notice from another party hereto referring to this Agreement, stating that an Amortization Event or a Potential Amortization Event has occurred hereunder and describing such Amortization Event or Potential Amortization Event. In the event that any of the Investor Parties receives such a notice, it shall promptly give notice thereof to the other Investor Parties. The Administrative Agent shall take such action with respect to such Amortization Event or Potential Amortization Event as shall be directed by any Purchaser.

 

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Section 9.6. Non-Reliance on the Other Investor Parties. Each of the Purchasers expressly acknowledges that neither the Administrative Agent, any Administrator nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or Affiliates has made any representations or warranties to it and that no act by the Administrative Agent or any Administrator hereafter taken, including, without limitation, any review of the affairs of the Seller Parties, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by the Administrative Agent or such Administrator. Each of the Purchasers also represents and warrants to the other Investor Parties that it has, independently and without reliance upon any such Person (or any of such Person’s Affiliates) and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of, and investigation into, the business, operations, property, prospects, financial and other conditions and creditworthiness of the Seller Parties and made its own decision to enter into this Agreement. Each of the Purchasers also represents that it will, independently and without reliance upon any of the other Investor Parties, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement, and to make such investigation as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, operations, property, prospects, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Seller Parties. None of the Investor Parties, nor any of their respective Affiliates, shall have any duty or responsibility to provide any party to this Agreement with any credit or other information concerning the business, operations, property, prospects, financial and other condition or creditworthiness of the Seller Parties which may come into the possession of such Person or any of its respective officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or affiliates.

Section 9.7. Indemnification of Administrative Agent. Each Purchaser agrees to indemnify the Administrative Agent and its officers, directors, employees, representatives and agents (to the extent not reimbursed by the Seller Parties and without limiting the obligation of the Seller Parties to do so), ratably in accordance with their respective Percentages or Capital, from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent or such Person in connection with any investigative, administrative or judicial proceeding commenced or threatened, whether or not WFB in its capacity as Administrative Agent or such Person shall be designated a party thereto) that may at any time be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent or such Person as a result of, or arising out of, or in any way related to or by reason of, any of the transactions contemplated hereunder or the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or any other document furnished in connection herewith (but excluding any such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulting solely from the bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Administrative Agent or such Person as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction).

 

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Section 9.8. Administrative Agent in its Individual Capacity. The Administrative Agent in its individual capacity and its Affiliates may make loans to, accept deposits from and generally engage in any kind of business with the Seller Parties and their Affiliates as though it were not the Administrative Agent or an Administrator, as the case may be, hereunder. With respect to its Investments, if any, the Administrative Agent shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any Purchaser and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent or an Administrator, as the case may be, and the terms “Purchaser” and “Purchasers” shall include the Administrative Agent in its individual capacity.

Section 9.9. Successor Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent, upon thirty (30) days’ notice to the Seller Parties and the Purchasers may voluntarily resign and may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the Purchasers. If the Administrative Agent shall voluntarily resign or be removed as Administrative Agent under this Agreement, then the remaining Purchasers shall jointly appoint a Purchaser to become the successor Administrative Agent, whereupon such successor Administrative Agent shall succeed to the rights, powers and duties of the Administrative Agent and the term “Administrative Agent” shall mean such successor Administrative Agent. Upon resignation or replacement of any Administrative Agent in accordance with this Section 9.9, the retiring Administrative Agent shall execute or authorize the filing of such UCC-3 assignments and amendments, and assignments and amendments of the Transaction Documents, as may be necessary to give effect to its replacement by a successor Administrative Agent. After any retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder as Administrative Agent, the provisions of Article VIII and this Article IX shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Administrative Agent under this Agreement.

Section 9.10. UCC Filings. Each of the Purchasers hereby expressly recognizes and agrees that the Administrative Agent may be designated as the secured party of record on the various UCC filings required to be made under this Agreement and the party entitled to amend, release and terminate the UCC filings under the Sale Agreement in order to perfect their respective interests in the Receivables, Collections and Related Security, that such designation shall be for administrative convenience only in creating a record or nominee holder to take certain actions hereunder on behalf of the Purchasers and that such listing will not affect in any way the status of the Purchasers as the true parties in interest with respect to the Purchased Assets. In addition, such listing shall impose no duties on the Administrative Agent other than those expressly and specifically undertaken in accordance with this Article IX.

ARTICLE X.

ASSIGNMENTS; PARTICIPATIONS

Section 10.1. Assignments; Pledge to Federal Reserve Bank.

(a) (i) Any Purchaser may at any time and from time to time, with the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (in each case, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, denied or delayed), assign to one or more Eligible Assignees (each, an “Assignee Purchaser”) all or any part of its rights and obligations under this Agreement pursuant to an assignment agreement (an “Assignment Agreement”) executed by such Assignee Purchaser and such selling Purchaser and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Seller; and (ii) so long as no Amortization Event shall have occurred and be continuing, the consent of the Seller (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, denied or delayed) shall be required

 

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prior to the effectiveness of any such assignment other than to an existing Purchaser. Upon delivery of the executed Assignment Agreement to the Administrative Agent, such selling Purchaser shall be released from its obligations hereunder to the extent of such assignment. Thereafter, upon recordation in the Register, the Assignee Purchaser shall for all purposes be a Purchaser party to this Agreement and shall have all the rights and obligations of a Purchaser under this Agreement to the same extent as if it were an original party hereto and thereto, and no further consent or action by the Seller, the Purchasers or the Administrative Agent shall be required. Neither the Seller nor the Servicer shall have the right to assign its rights or obligations under this Agreement. The Purchasers may not assign all or any part of their rights or obligations under this Agreement other than as permitted by this Section 10.1.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, any Purchaser may at any time pledge or grant a security interest in all or any portion of its rights (including, without limitation, rights to payment of principal and interest) under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Purchaser to a Federal Reserve Bank located in the United States of America, without notice to or consent of any other party hereto; provided that no such pledge or grant of a security interest shall release such Purchaser from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or grantee for such Purchaser as a party hereto.

(c) The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Seller, shall maintain a copy of each Assignment Agreement delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Purchasers and each Purchaser’s interest in this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Seller, the Administrative Agent and the Purchasers shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Purchaser hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Seller and any Purchaser, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. The parties intend for the Investments (for federal, state and local income and franchise tax purposes, as set forth in Section 1.12) evidenced by this Agreement to be in registered form for tax purposes.

Section 10.2. Participations. Any Purchaser may, without the consent of any other party to this Agreement (but with notice by such Purchaser to the Administrative Agent and the Seller at least 5 business Days prior to any such sale), in the ordinary course of its business at any time sell to one or more Persons (each a “Participant”) participating interests in its Commitment (if applicable), its Investments. Notwithstanding any such sale by a Purchaser of a participating interest to a Participant, such Purchaser’s rights and obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, such Purchaser shall remain solely responsible for the performance of its obligations hereunder, and each of the parties hereto shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Purchaser in connection with such Purchaser’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. Each Purchaser agrees that any agreement between such Purchaser and any such Participant in respect of such participating interest shall not restrict such Purchaser’s right to agree to any amendment, supplement, waiver or modification to this Agreement, except for any amendment, supplement, waiver or modification described in Section 12.1(b)(i). Each Purchaser that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Seller, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and such Participant’s interest in the rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents (the “Participant

 

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Register”); provided that no Purchaser 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 rights or obligations under any Transaction Document) to any Person except (i) to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such rights and obligations are in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations and (ii) to the Seller upon the reasonable request of the Seller. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Purchaser 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.

Section 10.3. Replacement of a Purchaser. If (i) the Seller becomes obligated to pay additional amounts to any Purchaser pursuant to Section 8.3 or Section 8.5, (ii) any Purchaser becomes a Defaulting Purchaser, or (iii) any Purchaser does not consent to any matter requiring its consent under Section 12.1 when the Required Purchasers have otherwise consented to such matter, then the Administrative Agent or CMC may, within 90 days thereafter, designate another bank or financial institution meeting the requirements of an Eligible Assignee (or otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent) (such other institution being called a “Replacement Purchaser”) to purchase the Capital of such Purchaser and such Purchaser’s rights hereunder, without recourse to or warranty by, or expense to, such Purchaser, for a purchase price equal to the outstanding Capital and accrued Yield payable to such Purchaser plus any accrued but unpaid fees owed to such Purchaser and any other amounts payable to such Purchaser under this Agreement, and to assume all the obligations of such Purchaser hereunder, all in compliance with Section 10.1; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent shall have the right to consent to any Replacement Purchaser proposed by Seller, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, and, unless an Amortization Event shall have occurred and be continuing, the Seller shall have the right to consent to any Replacement Purchaser selected by the Administrative Agent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Upon such purchase and assumption (pursuant to an Assignment Agreement), such Purchaser shall no longer be a party hereto or have any rights hereunder (other than rights with respect to indemnities and similar rights applicable to such Purchaser prior to the date of such purchase and assumption) and shall be relieved from all obligations to the Seller hereunder, and the Replacement Purchaser shall succeed to the rights and obligations of such Purchaser hereunder.

ARTICLE XI.

GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST

Section 11.1. Grant of Security Interest. In addition to any ownership interest which the Administrative Agent may from time to time acquire pursuant hereto, the Seller hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Investor Parties, a continuing security interest in all of the Seller’s right, title and interest in, to and under the Purchased Assets, prior to all other liens on and security interests therein to secure the prompt and complete payment of the Aggregate Unpaids and the performance of all of the Seller’s obligations under the Transaction Documents. The Administrative Agent is hereby authorized to file a financing statement naming the Seller as the debtor and/or the Seller and describing the collateral covered thereby as “all personal property and the proceeds thereof”, “all assets and the proceeds thereof” or words of similar effect. The Investor Parties shall have, in addition to the rights and remedies that they may have under this Agreement, all other rights and remedies provided to a secured creditor under the UCC and other applicable law, which rights and remedies shall be cumulative.

 

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ARTICLE XII.

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 12.1. Waivers and Amendments.

(a) No failure or delay on the part of any of the Investor Parties in exercising any power, right or remedy under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such power, right or remedy preclude any other further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other power, right or remedy. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and nonexclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law. Any waiver of this Agreement shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given.

(b) No provision of this Agreement may be amended, supplemented, modified or waived except in writing in accordance with the provisions of this Section 12.1(b). This Agreement and the provisions hereof may be amended, supplemented, modified or waived only in a writing signed by the Seller, the Servicer, the Administrative Agent and the Required Purchasers; provided, however, that (i) the Investor Parties may enter into amendments to modify any of the terms or provisions of Article IX of this Agreement without the consent of the Seller or Servicer, provided that such amendment has no negative impact upon the Seller or Servicer, and (ii) without the consent of each Purchaser directly affected thereby, no such amendment supplement, modification or waiver shall (A) extend the Facility Termination Date or the date of any payment or deposit of Collections by the Seller or the Servicer, (B) reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of Yield (or any component of Yield), (C) reduce any fee payable to the Administrative Agent or to or for the benefit of any Purchaser, (D) change the Capital of any Investment, (E) amend, modify or waive any provision of the definition of Required Purchasers or this Section 12.1(b), (F) consent to or permit the assignment or transfer by the Seller or Servicer of any of its respective rights and obligations under this Agreement, (G) change the definition of “Commitment” or “Purchased Assets Coverage Percentage” or (H) amend or modify any defined term (or any defined term used directly or indirectly in such defined term) used in clauses (A) through (G) above in a manner that would circumvent the intention of the restrictions set forth in such clauses. Any modification or waiver made in accordance with this Section 12.1 shall be binding upon each of the parties hereto.

Section 12.2. Notices. Except as provided in this Section 12.2, all communications and notices provided for hereunder shall be in writing (including by letter, facsimile, electronic mail or similar writing) and shall be given to the other parties hereto at their respective addresses or telecopy numbers set forth on the signature pages hereof or at such other address or telecopy number as such Person may hereafter specify for the purpose of notice to each of the other parties hereto. Each such notice or other communication shall be effective (a) if given by facsimile or electronic mail, upon the receipt thereof, (b) if given by mail, five (5) Business Days after the time

 

52


such communication is deposited in the mail with first class postage prepaid or (c) if given by any other means, when received at the address specified in this Section 12.2. The Seller hereby authorizes each of the Investor Parties to effect Investments based on telephonic notices made by any Person whom such Investor Party in good faith believes to be acting on behalf of the Seller. The Seller agrees to deliver promptly to the Purchasers a written confirmation of each telephonic notice signed by an Authorized Officer of the Seller; provided, however, the absence of such confirmation shall not affect the validity of such notice. If the written confirmation differs from the action taken by any of the Investor Parties, the records of the Administrative Agent shall govern absent manifest error.

Section 12.3. Ratable Payments. If any Purchaser, whether by setoff or otherwise, has payment made to it with respect to any portion of the Aggregate Unpaids owing to such Purchaser (other than payments received pursuant to Section 8.3 or 8.4) in a greater proportion than that received by any other Purchaser entitled to receive a ratable share of such Aggregate Unpaids, such Purchaser agrees, promptly upon demand, to purchase for cash without recourse or warranty a portion of such Aggregate Unpaids held by the other Purchasers so that after such purchase each Purchaser will hold its ratable proportion of such Aggregate Unpaids; provided that if all or any portion of such excess amount is thereafter recovered from such Purchaser, such purchase shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, but without interest.

Section 12.4. Protection of Ownership and Security Interests.

(a) The Seller agrees that from time to time, at its expense, it will promptly execute and deliver all instruments and documents, and take all actions, that may be necessary or desirable, or that the Administrative Agent or any Administrator may reasonably request, to perfect, protect or more fully evidence the Administrative Agent’s (on behalf of the Investor Parties) ownership of or security interest in the Purchased Assets, or to enable the Investor Parties to exercise and enforce their rights and remedies hereunder. At any time after the occurrence of an Amortization Event, the Administrative Agent may, or the Administrative Agent may direct the Seller or the Servicer to, notify the Obligors of Receivables, at the Seller’s expense, of the ownership or security interests of Investor Parties under this Agreement and may also direct that payments of all amounts due or that become due under any or all Receivables be made directly to the Administrative Agent or its designee. The Seller or the Servicer (as applicable) shall, at any Investor Party’s request, withhold the identity of such Investor Party in any such notification.

(b) If any Seller Party fails to perform any of its obligations hereunder, any Investor Party may (but shall not be required to) perform, or cause performance of, such obligations, and such Investor Party’s costs and expenses incurred in connection therewith shall be payable by the Seller as provided in Section 8.4. Each Seller Party irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent at any time and from time to time in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent, and appoints the Administrative Agent as its attorney-in-fact, to act on behalf of such Seller Party (i) to execute on behalf of the Seller as debtor (if required) and to file financing statements necessary or desirable in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion to perfect and to maintain the perfection and priority of the ownership or security interest of the Investor Parties in the Purchased Assets, including, financing statements describing as the collateral covered thereby “all of debtor’s personal property or assets” or words to that effect, notwithstanding that such wording may be broader in scope than the Purchased Assets described in this Agreement and (ii) to file a carbon,

 

53


photographic or other reproduction of this Agreement or any financing statement with respect to the Receivables as a financing statement in such offices as the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion deems necessary or desirable to perfect and to maintain the perfection and priority of the interests of the Purchasers in the Receivables. This appointment is coupled with an interest and is irrevocable.

Section 12.5. Confidentiality.

(a) Each of the parties hereto shall maintain and shall cause each of its employees and officers to maintain the confidentiality of the Fee Letter, the Administrative Agent’s Fee Letter and the other nonpublic, confidential or proprietary information with respect to the Originators, the Seller Parties, the Funding Sources and their respective businesses obtained by it or them in connection with the structuring, negotiating and execution of the transactions contemplated herein, except that such party and its directors, officers and employees may disclose such information (i) to such party’s external accountants, attorneys, investors, potential investors and credit enhancers and the agents or advisors of such Persons, and (ii) as required by any applicable law or regulation or by any court, regulatory body or agency having jurisdiction over such party (including, without limitation, the filing of this Agreement with the SEC as an exhibit to an annual or quarterly report under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934); and provided, further, that such party shall have no obligation of confidentiality in respect of any information which may be generally available to the public or becomes available to the public through no fault of such party.

(b) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, each Seller Party hereby consents to the disclosure of any nonpublic information with respect to it and any Originator (i) to each of the Funding Sources, (ii) to any prospective or actual assignee or participant of any of the Funding Sources, (iii) to a nationally recognized statistical rating organization in compliance with Rule 17g-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (or to any other rating agency in compliance with any similar rule or regulation in any relevant jurisdiction), and (iv) to any officers, directors, employees, outside accountants, advisors and attorneys of any of the foregoing, provided each such Person is advised of the confidential nature of such information and (except in the case of a Person described in clauses (iii) and (iv) above) agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Section 12.5. In addition, each of the Investor Parties may (A) disclose any such nonpublic information pursuant to any law, rule, regulation, direction, request or order of any judicial, administrative or regulatory authority or proceedings (whether or not having the force or effect of law), and (B) disclose the existence and principal terms of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents (including the type and size of the transaction, the company logo, names and respective roles of the Seller, the Servicer, the Administrative Agent and the Purchasers in connection therewith) for the purpose of conducting and marketing their respective businesses.

Section 12.6. Limitation of Liability. Except with respect to any claim arising out of the willful misconduct or gross negligence of any of the Investor Parties, no claim may be made by any Seller Party or any other Person against any of the Investor Parties or its respective Affiliates, directors, officers, employees, attorneys or agents for any special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages in respect of any claim for breach of contract or any other theory of liability arising out of or related to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or any act, omission or event occurring in connection therewith; and each Seller Party hereby waives, releases, and agrees not to sue upon any claim for any such damages, whether or not accrued and whether or not known or suspected to exist in its favor.

 

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Section 12.7. CHOICE OF LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO THE CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF OTHER THAN SECTIONS 5-1401 AND 5-1402 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW WHICH SHALL APPLY HERETO) EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT THE PERFECTION OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S SECURITY INTEREST IN THE COLLATERAL OR REMEDIES HEREUNDER IN RESPECT THEREOF ARE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF A JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Section 12.8. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY UNITED STATES FEDERAL OR STATE COURT SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, NEW YORK, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY DOCUMENT EXECUTED BY SUCH PERSON PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN ANY SUCH COURT AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE AS TO THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN SUCH A COURT OR THAT SUCH COURT IS AN INCONVENIENT FORUM. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL LIMIT THE RIGHT OF ANY OF THE PARTIES TO BRING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST ANY OTHER PARTY IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING BY ANY PARTY AGAINST ANY OTHER PARTY HERETO OR ANY AFFILIATE OF ANY PARTY HERETO INVOLVING, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ANY MATTER IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR CONNECTED WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY DOCUMENT EXECUTED BY SUCH PARTY PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE BROUGHT ONLY IN A COURT IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, NEW YORK.

Section 12.9. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING INVOLVING, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ANY MATTER (WHETHER SOUNDING IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR CONNECTED WITH THIS AGREEMENT, ANY DOCUMENT EXECUTED BY ANY PARTY HERETO PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE RELATIONSHIP ESTABLISHED HEREUNDER OR THEREUNDER.

Section 12.10. Integration; Binding Effect; Survival of Terms.

(a) This Agreement and each other Transaction Document contain the final and complete integration of all prior expressions by the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and shall constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof superseding all prior oral or written understandings.

 

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(b) This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns (including any trustee in bankruptcy). This Agreement shall create and constitute the continuing obligations of the parties hereto in accordance with its terms and shall remain in full force and effect until terminated in accordance with its terms; provided, however, that the rights and remedies with respect to (i) any breach of any representation and warranty made by any Seller Party pursuant to Article V, (ii) the indemnification and payment provisions of Article VIII, and Sections 12.6 through and including 12.9 shall be continuing and shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

Section 12.11. Counterparts; Severability; Section References. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which when taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. Any provisions of this Agreement which are prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. Unless otherwise expressly indicated, all references herein to “Article,” “Section,” “Schedule” or “Exhibit” shall mean articles and sections of, and schedules and exhibits to, this Agreement.

Section 12.12. PATRIOT Act. Each Investor Party that is subject to the requirements of the Patriot Act hereby notifies the Seller and the Servicer that pursuant to the requirements of the Patriot Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Seller Parties, the Originators and their respective Subsidiaries, which information includes the name and address of the Seller Parties, the Originators their respective Subsidiaries and other information that will allow such Purchasers to identify such parties in accordance with the Patriot Act.

Section 12.13. Recourse Against Certain Parties. No recourse under or with respect to any obligation, covenant or agreement (including, without limitation, the payment of any Fees or any other obligations) of any Seller Party contained in this Agreement or any other agreement, instrument or document entered into by it pursuant hereto or in connection herewith shall be had against any incorporator, affiliate, stockholder, officer, partner, member, manager, employee or director of any Seller Party by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding, by virtue of any statute or otherwise; it being expressly agreed and understood that the agreements of the Seller Parties contained in this Agreement and all of the other agreements, instruments and documents entered into by it pursuant hereto or in connection herewith are, in each case, solely the corporate or limited liability company obligations of the Seller Parties, and that no personal liability whatsoever shall attach to or be incurred by the Seller Parties, or any incorporator or organizer, stockholder, affiliate, officer, partner, member, manager, employee or director thereof under or by reason of any of the obligations, covenants or agreements of the Seller Parties contained in this Agreement or in any other such instruments, documents or agreements, or that are implied therefrom. By way of clarification, the foregoing sentence shall not limit recourse to any Seller Party for its respective obligations under this Agreement.

<Signature pages follow>

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed and delivered by their duly authorized officers as of the date hereof.

CMC RECEIVABLES, INC., AS THE SELLER

By:                                                                          

Name:

Title:

Address for Notices:

6565 N. MacArthur Blvd., Suite 844a

Irving, TX 75039

Attn:     Treasurer

Email:  [email protected]

Phone: (972) 308-4724

COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY, AS THE SERVICER

By:                                                                          

Name:

Title:

Address for Notices:

6565 N. MacArthur Blvd., Suite 800

Irving, TX 75039

Attn:     Treasurer

Email:  [email protected]

Phone: (972) 308-4724

 

S-1


WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.,

INDIVIDUALLY AS A PURCHASER AND AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

By:                                                              

Name:

Title:

Address for Notices:

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

1100 Abernathy Road, N.E., Suite 1600

Atlanta, GA 30328-5657

Attention: Michaela Rankins

Email:      [email protected]; Michaela.

                 [email protected]

Phone: (770) 508-1320

 

S-2


TRUIST BANK, AS A PURCHASER

By:                                                          

Name:

Title:

Address for Notices:

Truist Bank

Mail Code GA-ATL-3950

3333 Peachtree Road NE

10th Floor East

Atlanta, GA 30326

Attention: Jason Meyer

Phone: (404)-926-5505

Email: [email protected], [email protected];

   If funding-related please include: [email protected]

 

S-3


EXHIBIT I

DEFINITIONS

Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein, are used with the meanings attributed thereto in Agreement or, if not defined therein, in the Sale Agreement.

Except as otherwise specified in this Agreement, all references in this Agreement (i) to any Person (other than the Seller) shall be deemed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, and (ii) to any law, agreement, statute or contract specifically defined or referred to in this Agreement shall be deemed references to such law, agreement, statute or contract as the same may be supplemented, amended, waived, consolidated, replaced or modified from time to time, but only to the extent permitted by, and effected in accordance with, the terms thereof. The words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in this Agreement, shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any provision of this Agreement, and references to “Article,” “Section,” “paragraph,” “Exhibit,” “Schedule” and “Appendix” are references to this Agreement unless otherwise specified. Whenever the context so requires, words importing any gender include the other gender. Any of the defined terms may, unless the context otherwise requires, be used in the singular or the plural depending on the reference; the singular includes the plural and the plural includes the singular. The word “or” shall not be exclusive.

Each reference to this Agreement, any other Transaction Document, or any other agreement shall be a reference to such agreement together with all exhibits, schedules, attachments and appendices thereto, in each case as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof and hereof. References to “writing” include electronic mail, facsimile transmission, printing, typing, lithography and other means of reproducing words in a tangible visible form including computer-generated information accessible in tangible visible form. References to “written” include printed, typed, lithographed and other means of reproducing words or symbols in a tangible visible form consistent with the preceding sentence. The words “including,” “includes” and “include” shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”.

All terms used in Article 9 of the UCC and not specifically defined in this Agreement shall be defined herein and in the Transaction Documents as such terms are defined in the UCC as in effect in the State of New York.

All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP applied on a consistent basis, as in effect from time to time, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing CMC’s and its Subsidiaries’ audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2020, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein.

 

Exhibit I-1


If at any time any change in GAAP (including the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards) would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Transaction Document, and either CMC or the Required Purchasers shall so request, the Investor Parties and CMC shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Purchasers); provided that, until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) CMC shall provide to the Investor Parties financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP. Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, leases shall continue to be classified and accounted for on a basis consistent with that reflected in the audited financial statements of CMC dated August 31, 2019 for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any change in GAAP related thereto.

Any financial ratio required to be maintained in Section 7.1(p) or Section 7.1(q) shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearer number).

For purposes of determining any ratio or making financial calculations hereunder that include a reference to one or more months in such determination, such reference shall be deemed a reference to a calendar month.

Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, any period of time ending on a day which is not a Business Day shall end on the next succeeding Business Day, and any notice or report which is not received by the time specified in this Agreement, shall be deemed to have been received on the next Business Day. Unless otherwise stated in this Agreement, in the computation of a period of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including” and the words “to” and “until” each means “to but excluding.

In addition, as used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings (such meanings to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):

Adjusted Dilution Ratio” means, at any time, the rolling average of the Dilution Ratio for the 12 Calculation Periods then most recently ended.

Adverse Claim” means a Lien, security interest, charge or encumbrance, or other right or claim in, of or on any Person’s assets or properties in favor of any other Person.

Administrative Agent” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

Administrative Agent’s Account means account no. [***], or any other account or accounts as the Administrative Agent may indicate from time to time.

 

Exhibit I-2


Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with, such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person. A Person shall be deemed to control another Person if the controlling Person owns 10% or more of any class of voting securities of the controlled Person or possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of the controlled Person, whether through ownership of stock, by Contract or otherwise.

“Affiliated Obligor” means any Obligor that is an Affiliate of another Obligor.

Aggregate Capital” means, on any date of determination, the aggregate amount of Capital of all Investments outstanding on such date.

Aggregate Reduction has the meaning specified in Section 1.4(a).

Aggregate Unpaids” means, at any time, the sum of the Aggregate Capital and all Required Amounts.

Agreement” means this Receivables Purchase Agreement, as it may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time.

Alternate Base Rate” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the sum of (a) the higher as of such day of (i) the Prime Rate, or (ii) one-half of one percent (0.50%) above the Federal Funds Rate, plus (b) the Applicable Margin. For purposes of determining the Alternate Base Rate for any day, changes in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Rate shall be effective on the date of each such change.

Amortization Date” means the earliest to occur of (a) the Business Day immediately prior to the occurrence of an Amortization Event set forth in Section 7.1(g)(ii) or (iii) or the actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to any Seller Party under the Federal Bankruptcy Code, (b) the Business Day specified in a written notice from the Administrative Agent or any Purchaser following the occurrence and during continuation of any other Amortization Event, and (c) the date which is five (5) Business Days after the Administrative Agent’s receipt of written notice from the Seller that it wishes to terminate the facility evidenced by this Agreement.

Amortization Event” has the meaning specified in Section 7.1.

“Anti-Corruption Laws” has the meaning specified in the Sale Agreement.

“Anti-Money Laundering Laws” has the meaning specified in the Sale Agreement.

Applicable Margin” has the meaning set forth in the Fee Letter.

Assignee Purchaser” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1.

Assignment Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1.

Attributable Indebtedness” means, on any date, (a) in respect of any Capital Lease of any Person, the capitalized amount thereof that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP, and (b) in respect of any Synthetic Lease Obligation, the capitalized amount of the remaining lease payments under the relevant lease that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP if such lease were accounted for as a capital lease.

 

Exhibit I-3


Authorized Officer” means, with respect to any Person, its chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer or controller.

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

Business Day” means (i) any day on which banks are not authorized or required to close in New York, New York or Atlanta, Georgia, and (ii) if the applicable Business Day relates to any computation or payment to be made with respect to the LMIR, any day on which dealings in dollar deposits are carried on in the London interbank market.

Calculation Period means a calendar month.

Capital” means, with respect to any Purchaser, the aggregate amount paid to (or for the benefit of) the Seller in respect of Investments by such Purchaser, as reduced from time to time by Collections distributed and applied on account of such Capital pursuant to Section 2.1(d) of the Agreement; provided that if such Capital shall have been reduced by any distribution and thereafter all or a portion of such distribution is rescinded or must otherwise be returned for any reason, such Capital shall be increased by the amount of such rescinded or returned distribution as though it had not been made.

Capital Securities” means, with respect to any Person, all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated, whether voting or non-voting) of such Person’s capital, whether now outstanding or hereafter issued.

Capital Settlement Date means the first Business Day after any Settlement Report revealing an Investment Excess is delivered.

Capital Lease” means, as of any date, any lease of property, real or personal, the obligations of the lessee in respect of which are required in accordance with GAAP to be capitalized on the balance sheet of the lessee.

Capitalized Rentals” means, for any Person and as of any date of any determination, the amount at which the aggregate Rentals due and to become due under all Capital Leases under which such Person is a lessee would be reflected as a liability on a consolidated balance sheet of such Person.

“Cash Purchase Price” means, for any Investment, the aggregate amount of cash requested to be paid to the Seller for such Investment.

“Certification of Beneficial Owner(s)” means a certificate in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent regarding beneficial ownership of the Seller as required by the Beneficial Ownership Rule.

Change of Control” means:

 

Exhibit I-4


(a) any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person or its subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except that a person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all securities that such person or group has the right to acquire (such right, an “option right”), whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of 35% or more of the Voting Stock of such Person;

(b) during any period of 12 consecutive calendar months, a majority of the members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of such Person cease to be composed of individuals (i) who were members of that board or equivalent governing body on the first day of such period, (ii) whose election or nomination to that board or equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clause (i) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body or (iii) whose election or nomination to that board or other equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body (excluding, in the case of both clause (ii) and clause (iii), any individual whose initial nomination for, or assumption of office as, a member of that board or equivalent governing body occurs as a result of an actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents for the election or removal of one or more directors by any person or group other than a solicitation for the election of one or more directors by or on behalf of the board of directors);

(c) any Person or two or more Persons acting in concert shall have acquired by contract or otherwise (including, without limitation, through the acquisition of securities convertible into Voting Stock of CMC), or shall have entered into a contract or arrangement that, upon consummation, will result in its or their acquisition of the power to exercise, directly or indirectly, a controlling influence over the management or policies of CMC;

(e) any Material Originator ceases to be a wholly-owned Subsidiary of CMC; or

(f) CMC ceases to own directly at least 99% of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Seller.

Charged-Off Receivable” means a Receivable: (a) as to which the Obligor thereof has taken any action, or suffered any event to occur, of the type described in Section 7.1(g) (as if references to any Seller Party therein refer to such Obligor); (b) as to which the Obligor thereof, if a natural person, is deceased, (c) which, consistent with the Credit and Collection Policy, would be written off the Seller’s books as uncollectible, or (d) which has been identified by the Seller as uncollectible.

Closing Date” means April 5, 2011.

CMC” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Exhibit I-5


Collection Notice” means, with respect to a Lock-Box Agreement, a notice given by the Administrative Agent to the related Lock-Box Bank in substantially the form attached to such Lock-Box Agreement or otherwise pursuant to which the Administrative Agent exercises its right to direct the disposition of funds on deposit in the Lock-Box Account in accordance with such Lock-Box Agreement.

Collections” means, with respect to any Receivable, all cash collections and other cash proceeds in respect of such Receivable, including, without limitation, all yield, Finance Charges or other related amounts accruing in respect thereof, and all cash proceeds of Related Security with respect to such Receivable.

Commitment” means, for each Purchaser, the maximum aggregate amount which such Purchaser is obligated to pay hereunder on account of all Investments in an amount not to exceed in the aggregate, the amount set forth opposite such Purchaser’s name on Schedule A to this Agreement or in the Assumption Agreement or other agreement pursuant to which it became a Purchaser, as such amount may be modified in accordance with the terms hereof.

Concentration Limit” means, at any time:

(a) in relation to all Earned but Unbilled Receivables so long as they have not remained unbilled 45 or more days after they are earned, 15% of total billed Receivables as of the last day of the prior Calculation Period,

(b) with respect to the aggregate Outstanding Balance of Eligible Receivables owing from the 4 Largest NR/NIG Obligors and their Affiliated Obligors, 13.0% of the Outstanding Balance of all Eligible Receivables, and

(c) in relation to the aggregate Outstanding Balance of Receivables owed by any other single Obligor and its Affiliated Obligors (if any), the applicable concentration limit shall be determined as follows for Obligors who have a non-credit-enhanced, senior unsecured long-term debt rating currently assigned to them by S&P and Moody’s (or in the absence thereof, the equivalent short term unsecured senior debt ratings), the applicable concentration limit shall be determined according to the following table:

 

Exhibit I-6


Concentration
Limit Level

  S&P Short-
Term Rating
(if no long-
term rating is
available)
  Moody’s
Short-Term
Rating (if no
long-term rating
is available)
  S&P Rating
Long-Term
Rating
  Moody’s
Long-Term
Rating
  Allowable % of
Eligible
Receivables
 
1   A-1+   P-1   AA or
better
  Aa2 or
better
    12.50
2   A-1   P-1   ³ A   ³ A2     10.00
3   A-2   P-2   ³ BBB   ³ Baa2     8.00
4   A-3   P-3   BBB-   Baa3     6.00
5   Below A-3
or Not
Rated by
S&P
  Below P-3 or
Not Rated by
Moody’s
  Below
BBB- or
Not Rated
by S&P
  Below Baa3

or Not Rated
by Moody’s

    3.25

; provided, however, that (i) if any Obligor has a split rating, the applicable rating will be the higher of the two (if there is only one rating level difference), one rating below the higher rating (if there are two rating levels difference), and one rating above the lower of the two (if there are more than two rating levels difference), (ii) if any Obligor is not rated by either S&P or Moody’s, the applicable Concentration Limit shall be the one set forth in the last line of the table above, (iii) if any Obligor does not have any rating, concentration limit level 5 shall apply and (iv) subject to the sole discretion of all Purchasers and/or an increase in the Required Reserve Factor Floor, upon the Seller’s request from time to time, all of the Purchasers may agree to a higher percentage of Eligible Receivables for a particular Obligor and its Affiliates (each such higher percentage, a “Special Concentration Limit”), it being understood that any Special Concentration Limit may be cancelled by any Purchaser upon not less than five (5) Business Days’ written notice to the Seller and the Administrative Agent.

Consolidated EBITDA” means Consolidated Net Income plus, without duplication and to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income, (a) interest expense, (b) income taxes, and (c) depreciation and amortization expense, which will include any non-recurring, non-cash write-offs, impairments, or other charges on any asset that otherwise in the normal course would have been depreciated or amortized over its useful life including any write-off of good will, in each case of the Performance Guarantor and its Subsidiaries and computed on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Funded Debt” means all Funded Debt of the Performance Guarantor and its consolidated Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis and eliminating intercompany items.

Consolidated Interest Expense” means interest expense of the Performance Guarantor and its consolidated Subsidiaries, computed on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP.

 

Exhibit I-7


Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, for the Performance Guarantor and its consolidated Subsidiaries computed on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, the net income of the Performance Guarantor and its Subsidiaries.

Consolidated Net Worth” means the total shareholders’ equity of the Performance Guarantor and its consolidated Subsidiaries, calculated in accordance with GAAP and reflected on the most recent balance sheet of the Performance Guarantor.

Contract” means, with respect to any Receivable, any and all instruments, agreements, invoices or other writings pursuant to which such Receivable arises or which evidences such Receivable.

“Contract Year” means each period beginning on the Closing Date or any anniversary thereof prior to the Final Payout Date and ending on March 31st of the succeeding year.

Controlled Group” means the Servicer, the Guarantors (as defined in the Senior Credit Agreement) and any Person that for purposes of Title IV of ERISA is a member of the controlled group of or under common control (within the meaning of Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code) with the Servicer or any such Guarantor.

Credit and Collection Policy” means the Originators’ credit and collection policies and practices relating to Contracts and Receivables existing on the date hereof and summarized in Exhibit VII hereto, as modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

“Credit Risk” means credit losses on Purchased Assets incurred by any Investor Party as a result of the risk of bankruptcy, insolvency, other financial or credit condition resulting in an inability to pay in respect of an Obligor.

Cut-Off Date means for any Monthly Report or monthly computation, the last day of each Calculation Period, and for any Interim Report or related computation, the last day of the period covered by such Interim Report, as applicable.

Days Sales Outstanding” means, as of any day, an amount equal to the product of (a) 91, multiplied by (b) the amount obtained by dividing (i) the aggregate Outstanding Balance of all Receivables as of the most recent Cut-Off Date, by (ii) the aggregate amount of Receivables created during the three (3) Calculation Periods including and immediately preceding such Cut-Off Date.

Debt to Capitalization Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, for the Performance Guarantor and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Funded Debt as of such date to (b) Total Capitalization as of such date.

Deemed Collections” means the aggregate of all amounts the Seller shall have been deemed to have received as a Collection of a Receivable. The Seller shall be deemed to have received a Collection of a Receivable if any Dilution occurs with respect to such Receivable. The amount of the Collection which the Seller shall be deemed to have received shall equal, in the case of clauses (a)-(d) of the definition of “Dilution,” the amount by which the Outstanding Balance of such Receivable was reduced as a result thereof and, in the case of clause (e) of the definition of “Dilution, the Outstanding Balance of such Receivable.

 

Exhibit I-8


Default Horizon Ratio” means, as of any Cut-Off Date, the ratio (expressed as a decimal) computed by dividing (i) the aggregate sales generated by the Originators, during the last three months ending on such Cut-Off Date (or such other period as the Administrative Agent may determine based on a Review), by (ii) the Net Pool Balance as of such Cut-off Date.

Default Ratio” means, as of any Cut-Off Date, the ratio (expressed as a percentage) computed by dividing (a) the total amount of Receivables, which became Defaulted Receivables during the month that includes such Cut-Off Date, by (b) the aggregate sales generated by the Originators during the month occurring three months prior to the month ending on such Cut-Off Date.

Defaulted Receivable” means a Receivable: (a) as to which the Obligor thereof has suffered an event of bankruptcy; (b) which, consistent with the Credit and Collection Policy, should be written off as uncollectible; or (c) as to which any payment, or part thereof, remains unpaid for more than 60 days past due.

“Defaulting Purchaser” has the meaning specified in Section 1.13.

Delinquency Ratio” means, at any time, a percentage equal to (a) the aggregate Outstanding Balance of all Receivables that were Delinquent Receivables at such time divided by (b) the aggregate outstanding principal balance of all Receivables at such time.

Delinquent Receivable” means a Receivable as to which any payment, or part thereof, remains unpaid for more than 60 days or more from the due date.

“Designated Funding Office” has the meaning specified in Section1.13.

Dilution” means the amount of any reduction or cancellation of the outstanding principal balance of a Receivable due to (a) any defective or rejected goods or services, any cash discount or any other adjustment by any Originator or any Affiliate thereof (other than as a result of any Collections), or as a result of any governmental or regulatory action, (b) any setoff in respect of any claim by the Obligor thereof (whether such claim arises out of the same or a related or an unrelated transaction), (c) any warranty claim, rebate or refund, (d) any misstatement of the amount thereof, or (e) any misrepresentation.

Dilution Horizon Ratio” means, as of any Cut-off Date, a ratio (expressed as a decimal), computed by dividing (a) the aggregate sales generated by the Originators during the month ending on such Cut-Off Date plus 50% of the aggregate sales generated by the Originators during the month which is one month prior to the month ending on such Cut-Off Date, by (b) the Net Pool Balance as of such Cut-Off Date, or, in each case, a longer period if it is determined during the most recently completed field examination that the average lag between the issuance of credit memoranda and the date of the related invoice is longer than 45 days.

 

Exhibit I-9


Dilution Ratio” means, as of any Cut-Off Date, a ratio (expressed as a percentage), computed by dividing (a) the total amount of decreases in outstanding principal balances of Receivables due to Dilution during the month ending on such Cut-Off Date, by (b) the aggregate sales generated by the Originators during the month ending two months prior to the month ending on such Cut-Off Date.

Dilution Reserve” means, for any month, the product (expressed as a percentage) of: (a) the sum of (i) 2.00 times the Adjusted Dilution Ratio as of the immediately preceding Cut-Off Date, plus (ii) the Dilution Volatility Component as of the immediately preceding Cut-Off Date, times (b) the Dilution Horizon Ratio as of the immediately preceding Cut-Off Date.

Dilution Volatility Component” means, at any time, the product (expressed as a percentage) of (i) the difference between (a) the highest monthly rolling average Dilution Ratio over the 12 month period then most recently ended and (b) the Adjusted Dilution Ratio, and (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is equal to the amount calculated in (i)(a) of this definition and the denominator of which is equal to the amount calculated in (i)(b) of this definition.

“Dollar” or “$” means lawful money of the United States.

Dominion Date has the meaning specified in Section 6.4(b).

“Earned but Unbilled Receivable” means a Receivable which meets the criteria for an Eligible Receivable but which is not yet evidenced by a final invoice.

Eligible Assignee” means any bank or other financial institution organized under the laws of the United States or a political subdivision thereof having a combined capital and surplus of at least $250,000,000.

Eligible Receivable” means a Receivable:

(a) the Obligor of which (i) is not an Affiliate of any Originator or Performance Guarantor; (ii) is not a government or a governmental subdivision or agency (unless the Assignment of Claims Act of 1940, as amended, has been complied with); and (iii) is not a Sanctioned Person,

(b) which is not a Delinquent Receivable or Defaulted Receivable or owing from an Obligor as to which more than 50% of the aggregate Outstanding Balance of all Receivables owing from such Obligor are Defaulted Receivables,

(c) which by its terms is due and payable within 90 days of the original billing date therefor, or such later date as may be reasonably agreed to by the Purchasers, provided, however, in no event will cash on delivery (C.O.D.) or cash in advance (C.I.A.) Receivables be Eligible Receivables,

(d) which is an “account” or a “payment intangible” as defined in section 9-102 of the UCC of all applicable jurisdictions,

 

Exhibit I-10


(e) which is denominated and payable only in United States dollars in the United States and is not an Excess Foreign Receivable,

(f) which arises under a Contract, invoice or other written contractual obligation which, together with such Receivable, is in full force and effect and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the related Obligor enforceable against such Obligor in accordance with its terms,

(g) which arises under a Contract (whether or not constituting an invoice) or other written contractual obligation that contains an obligation to pay a specified sum of money, contingent only upon the sale of goods or the provision of services by the applicable Originator,

(h) which, together with the Contract related thereto, does not contravene any law, rule or regulation applicable thereto (including, without limitation, any law, rule and regulation relating to truth in lending, fair credit billing, fair credit reporting, equal credit opportunity, fair debt collection practices and privacy) and with respect to which no part of the Contract related thereto is in violation of any such law, rule or regulation,

(i) which satisfies in all material respects all applicable requirements of the Credit and Collection Policy,

(j) which was generated in the ordinary course of the applicable Originator’s business,

(k) which arises solely from the sale of goods or the provision of services to the related Obligor by the applicable Originator, and not by any other Person that is not an Originator (in whole or in part),

(l) which is not subject to (A) any right of rescission or set-off, or (B) any currently asserted counterclaim or other defense (including defenses arising out of violation of usury laws) or any other Adverse Claim of the applicable Obligor against the applicable Originator (i.e., the Obligor with the right, claim or defense has such right claim or defense directly against the Originator rather than against an affiliate of such Originator), and the Obligor thereon holds no right as against the applicable Originator to cause such Originator to repurchase the goods or merchandise the sale of which gave rise to such Receivable (except with respect to sale discounts effected pursuant to the Contract, or defective, rejected or returned goods in accordance with the terms of the Contract); provided, however, that (1) if such rescission, set-off, counterclaim, defense or repurchase right affects only a portion of the Outstanding Balance of such Receivable, then such Receivable may be deemed an Eligible Receivable to the extent of the portion of such Outstanding Balance which is not so affected (i.e., the amount of the outstanding claim or the amount the Obligor is entitled to set-off against the applicable Originator based on the amount which such Originator owes the applicable Obligor) would be netted against the applicable Receivable, but the excess of the Receivable over such outstanding claim or set-off would be included as an Eligible Receivable) and (2) Receivables of any Obligor which has any accounts payable from the applicable Originator (thus giving rise to a potential offset against such Obligor’s Receivables) may be treated as Eligible Receivable to the extent that such Obligor has agreed pursuant to a written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, that such Receivable shall not be subject to such offset,

 

Exhibit I-11


(m) as to which the applicable Originator has satisfied and fully performed all obligations on its part with respect to such Receivable required to be fulfilled by it, and no further action is required to be performed by any Person with respect thereto other than payment thereon by the applicable Obligor,

(n) as to which all right, title and interest to and in which has been validly transferred by the applicable Originator directly or indirectly to the Seller pursuant to the Sale Agreement, and the Seller has good and marketable title thereto free and clear of any Adverse Claim (other than pursuant to the Transaction Documents), and

(o) is required to be paid into a Lock-Box or Lock-Box Account that is the subject to a Lock-Box Agreement.

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and any successor statute thereto of similar import, together with the regulations thereunder, in each case as in effect from time to time. References to sections of ERISA also refer to any successor sections thereto.

ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control with Performance Guarantor within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code (and Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the Code).

ERISA Event” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) a withdrawal by Performance Guarantor or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by Performance Guarantor or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization; (d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, the treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 or 4041A of ERISA; (e) the institution of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (f) an event or condition which constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (g) the determination that any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan is considered an at-risk plan or a plan in endangered or critical status within the meaning of Sections 430, 431 and 421 of the Code or Sections 303, 304 and 305 of ERISA; or (h) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon Performance Guarantor or any ERISA Affiliate.

Excess Availability means, on any date of determination, the excess, if any, over the Aggregate Capital outstanding, of the difference between the Net Pool Balance and the Required Reserves as of the date of the most recent Settlement Report.

 

Exhibit I-12


“Excess Foreign Receivable” means all or any portion of the Outstanding Balance of a Foreign Receivable that, if added to all other Foreign Receivables then included as Eligible Receivables for purposes of computing the Net Pool Balance, would cause the aggregate Outstanding Balance of all such included Foreign Receivables to exceed 5% of the aggregate Outstanding Balance of all Receivables.

Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to any Indemnified Party or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to an Indemnified Party: (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however determined), franchise Taxes and branch profits Taxes, in each case (i) imposed as a result of such Indemnified Party being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Purchaser, its Designated Funding Office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Purchaser, U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Purchaser with respect to its interest in any Investment or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Purchaser acquires such interest in the Investment or Commitment, or (ii) such Purchaser changes its Designated Funding Office, except, in each case, to the extent that, pursuant to Section 8.5, amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Purchaser’s assignor immediately before such Purchaser became a party hereto or to such Purchaser immediately before it changed its Designated Funding Office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Indemnified Party’s failure to comply with Section 8.5(e) or Section 8.5(f), and (d) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed pursuant to FATCA.

Facility Termination Date” means the earlier of (i) March 31, 2023, and (ii) the Amortization Date.

“FATCA” means Section 1471 through 1474 of the Internal Revenue Code and any regulations or official interpretations thereof (including any revenue ruling, revenue procedure, notice or similar guidance issued by the Internal Revenue Service thereunder as a precondition to relief or exemption from taxes under such Sections, regulations and interpretations) any agreements entered into pursuant to section 1471(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or official practices adopted pursuant to any published intergovernmental agreement entered into in connection with the implementation of the foregoing.

“FCPA” has the meaning specified in the Sale Agreement.

Federal Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code entitled “Bankruptcy,” as amended and any successor statute thereto.

Federal Funds Rate” means, for any period, a fluctuating interest rate per annum for each day during such period equal to (i) the weighted average of the rates on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by federal funds brokers, as published for such day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, for the preceding Business Day) by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in the Composite Closing Quotations for U.S. Government Securities; or (ii) if such rate is not so published for any day which is a Business Day, the average of the quotations at approximately 11:30 a.m. (New York City time) for such day on such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

 

Exhibit I-13


Fee Letter” means that certain Fee Letter dated as of April 1, 2021 by and among the Seller and the Investor Parties, as the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

Fees means, collectively, any fees payable pursuant to the Fee Letter.

Final Payout Date means the date on or after the Facility Termination Date on which (i) the Purchase Limit and all Commitments have been reduced to zero ($0), and (ii) all Aggregate Unpaids have been paid in full.

Finance Charges” means, with respect to a Contract, any finance, interest, late payment charges or similar charges owing by an Obligor pursuant to such Contract.

“Fiscal Year” means any period of twelve consecutive calendar months ending on August 31; references to a Fiscal Year with a number corresponding to any calendar year (e.g., the “2021 Fiscal Year”) refer to the Fiscal Year ending on August 31 of such calendar year.

Foreign Receivable” means any Receivable the Obligor of which is not organized under the laws of the United States or Canada or any political subdivision of either of the foregoing.

“4 Largest NR/NIG Obligors” means, for any period of determination, the NR/NIG Obligors of Receivables with the four (4) largest aggregate Outstanding Balances of all Receivables of any NR/NIG Obligor and its Affiliated Obligors (considered as if they were one and the same NR/NIG Obligor).

Funded Debt of any Person means, as of the date of determination and without duplication (a) all Indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money (other than any Receivables Facility Attributed Indebtedness of such Person) or which has been incurred in connection with the acquisition of plant, property and equipment, (b) all Capitalized Rentals (as defined in the Senior Credit Agreement) of such Person, and (c) all Guaranties (as defined in the Senior Credit Agreement) by such Person of Funded Debt of others. For the avoidance of doubt, Receivables Facility Attributed Indebtedness of any Person shall not be included as Funded Debt of such Person.

GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles in effect in the United States of America from time to time.

Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States of America or any other nation, or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank, or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government, and any accounting board or authority (whether or not a part of government) which is responsible for the establishment or interpretation of national or international accounting principles, in each case whether foreign or domestic.

 

Exhibit I-14


Guarantee” means, as to any Person, any (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation payable or performable by another Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance of such Indebtedness or other obligation, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity or level of income or cash flow of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation, or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any assets of such Person securing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness to obtain any such Lien). The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith. The term “Guarantee” as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

Impermissible Qualification” means any qualification or exception to the opinion or certification of any independent public accountant as to any financial statement of the Performance Guarantor:

(a) which is of a “going concern” or similar nature;

(b) which relates to the limited scope of examination of matters relevant to such financial statement;

(c) which relates to the treatment or classification of any item in such financial statement and which, if adjusted in the manner deemed appropriate by the Performance Guarantor’s independent public accountants, would have the effect of causing an Amortization Event.

Incremental Investment means an Investment that increases the total outstanding Aggregate Capital hereunder.

Indebtedness” means, as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all of the following, whether or not included as indebtedness or liabilities in accordance with GAAP:

(a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money and all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments;

 

Exhibit I-15


(b) all direct or contingent obligations of such Person arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments;

(c) net obligations of such Person under any Swap Contract;

(d) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business);

(e) indebtedness (excluding prepaid interest thereon) secured by a Lien on property owned or being purchased by such Person (including indebtedness arising under conditional sales or other title retention agreements), whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse;

(f) Capital Leases and Synthetic Lease Obligations;

(g) obligations in respect of Redeemable Stock of such Person;

(h) any amounts outstanding under this Agreement or any other receivables facility; and

(i) all Guarantees of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing.

For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company or similar limited liability entity) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer and for whose Indebtedness such Person is directly or indirectly liable, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to such Person. The amount of any net obligation under any Swap Contract on any date shall be deemed to be the Swap Termination Value thereof as of such date. The amount of any Capital Lease or Synthetic Lease Obligation as of any date shall be deemed to be the amount of Attributable Indebtedness in respect thereof as of such date.

“Indemnified Taxes” means Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of the Seller under any Transaction Document.

Independent Director/Manager” means a director or manager of the Seller who (a) shall not have been at the time of such Person’s appointment or at any time during the preceding five years and shall not be as long as such person is a director or manager of the Seller (i) a director, officer, employee, partner, shareholder, member, manager or Affiliate of any of the following Persons (collectively, the “Independent Parties”): the Performance Guarantor, the Servicer, any Originator, or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates (other than the Seller or another special purpose entity which is a Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Performance Guarantor or an Originator), (ii) a supplier to any of the Independent Parties or the Seller, (iii) the beneficial owner (at the time of such individual’s appointment as an Independent Director/Manager or at any time thereafter while serving as an Independent Director/Manager) of any of the outstanding membership or other equity interests of the Seller, the Servicer any Originator, the Performance

 

Exhibit I-16


Guarantor or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates, having general voting rights, (iv) a Person controlling or under common control with any director, officer, employee, partner, shareholder, member, manager, affiliate or supplier of any of the Independent Parties or the Seller, or (v) a member of the immediate family of any director, officer, employee, partner, shareholder, member, manager, affiliate or supplier of any of the Independent Parties or the Seller; (b) has not less than three (3) years’ experience in serving as an independent director or manager for special purpose vehicles engaged in securitization and/or structured financing transactions, and (c) is employed by AMACAR Group, LLC, Lord Securities Corporation, Global Securitization Services LLC, Organization Services, Inc., a subsidiary of Wilmington Trust, or CSC Entity Services, LLC. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Independent Director’s/Manager’s fiduciary duty in respect of any decision on any matter requiring the unanimous vote of the Seller’s directors or managers (including the Independent Director/Manager) shall be to the Seller and its creditors rather than solely to the Seller’s equity holders. In furtherance of the foregoing, when voting on matters subject to the vote of the directors or managers, including any matter requiring the unanimous vote of the Seller’s directors or managers (including the Independent Director/Manager), notwithstanding that the Seller is not then insolvent, the Independent Director/Manager shall take into account the interests of the creditors of the Seller as well as the interests of the Seller.

Interest Coverage Ratio” means, as of the end of each fiscal quarter, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDA to (b) Consolidated Interest Expense, in each case for then-most recently concluded period of four consecutive fiscal quarters.

Interim Report means a report in substantially the form of Exhibit VIII hereto (appropriately completed), furnished by the Servicer to the Administrative Agent and the Purchasers pursuant to Section 6.6.

Interim Reporting Date means any Business Day (other than a Monthly Reporting Date) specified by the Required Purchasers, upon reasonable prior notice to the Administrative Agent and the Seller Parties (i) upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Amortization Event and (ii) if deemed necessary or advisable in the reasonable judgment of the Required Purchasers following (a) an adverse change in financial condition or circumstances of the Performance Guarantor, or (b) the occurrence of a Collateral Event or Collateral Reinstatement Event, in each case, under and as defined in the Senior Credit Agreement.

“Investment” means each purchase of an Undivided Interest.

Investment Date” means the Business Day on which an Investment occurs pursuant to this Agreement.

Investment Excess means, on any Business Day, that (a) the Aggregate Capital hereunder exceeds the Purchase Limit, or (b) the Purchased Assets Coverage Percentage shall exceed 100%.

Investment Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.3(b).

“Investor Parties” means the Administrative Agent and the Purchasers, and “Investor Party” means any of them.

 

Exhibit I-17


IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

“LIBOR” means the rate per annum equal to the London Interbank Offered Rate as administered by ICE Benchmark Administration (or any other Person that takes over the administration of such rate for Dollars for a period equal in length to one month)

“LIBOR Market Index Rate” means, for any day, the LIBOR Screen Rate on such date, or if such day is not a Business Day, then the immediately preceding Business Day (or if not so reported, then as determined by the Administrative Agent from another recognized source for interbank quotation), in each case, changing when and as such rate changes; provided, however, that if LIBOR shall be less than zero, both LIBOR and the LIBOR Market Index Rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

“LIBOR Replacement Date” has the meaning specified in Section 1.14(c).

“LIBOR Screen Rate” means LIBOR, as reported on the Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page or any other page that may replace such page from time to time for the purpose of displaying offered rates of leading banks for London interbank deposits in Dollars, as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such date, or if such day is not a Business Day, then the immediately preceding Business Day.

“LIBOR Successor Rate” has the meaning specified in Section 1.14(c).

“LIBOR Successor Rate Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any proposed LIBOR Successor Rate, any conforming changes to the definition of Alternate Base Rate, timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest and other technical, administrative or operational matters (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the definition of Business Day, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices and length of lookback periods) as may be appropriate, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, to reflect the adoption and implementation of such LIBOR Successor Rate and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent determines that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or that no market practice for the administration of such LIBOR Successor Rate exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent determines is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and any other Transaction Document).

Lien” means any security interest, mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or otherwise), charge against or interest in property, or other priority or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever.

“Liquidation Period” means the period beginning on the Facility Termination Date and ending on the date thereafter when all Aggregate Unpaids have been paid in full and all Commitments have been terminated.

LMIR” means, on any date of determination, a rate per annum equal to the sum of (a) the LIBOR Market Index Rate plus (b) the Applicable Margin.

 

Exhibit I-18


Lock-Box” means each locked postal box with respect to which a bank who has executed a Lock-Box Agreement has been granted exclusive access for the purpose of retrieving and processing payments made on the Receivables and which is listed on Exhibit IV.

Lock-Box Account” means each concentration account, depositary account, lock-box account or similar account in which any Collections are collected or deposited and which is listed on Exhibit IV.

Lock-Box Agreement” means, in respect of any Lock-Box Account(s), an agreement among the Originator that is the owner of such Lock-Box Account(s), the Administrative Agent, as assignee of the Seller’s security interest therein, and the applicable Lock-Box Bank, perfecting the Administrative Agent’s security interest in such Lock-Box Account(s).

Lock-Box Bank” means, at any time, any of the banks holding one or more Lock-Box Accounts.

Loss Reserve” means, for any Calculation Period, the product (expressed as a percentage) of (a) 2.00, times (b) the highest three-month rolling average Default Ratio during the 12 Calculation Periods ending on the immediately preceding Cut-Off Date, times (c) the Default Horizon Ratio as of the immediately preceding Cut-Off Date.

Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the financial condition or operations of (i) the Seller, (ii) the Performance Guarantor and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (iii) any Originator, (b) the ability of any Seller Party to perform its obligations under this Agreement or the Sale Agreement or the ability of Performance Guarantor to perform its obligations under the Performance Undertaking, (c) the legality, validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, (d) the Administrative Agent’s or any Purchaser’s interest in any material portion of the Receivables, the Related Security or the Collections with respect thereto, or (e) the collectability of any material portion of the Receivables.

Material Indebtedness means, without duplication, any Indebtedness or Guarantee of the Performance Guarantor or any Originator having an aggregate outstanding principal amount of more than $25,000,000.

Material Originator means any Originator originating more than 10% of the Receivables during any twelve months period.

Material Subsidiary has the meaning set forth in the Senior Credit Agreement as of the date hereof.

Monthly Payment Date” means the fifth Business Day of each Calculation Period.

Monthly Report means a report in substantially the form of Exhibit IX hereto (appropriately completed), furnished by the Servicer to the Administrative Agent and the Purchasers pursuant to Section 6.6.

Monthly Reporting Date means the 15th day of each month hereafter (or, if any such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day thereafter).

 

Exhibit I-19


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

Multiemployer Plan” means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which Performance Guarantor or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the preceding five plan years, has made or been obligated to make contributions.

Net Pool Balance means, at any time, the aggregate Outstanding Balance of all Eligible Receivables at such time minus the aggregate amount by which the Outstanding Balance of Earned but Unbilled Receivables exceeds the Concentration Limit therefor and minus the aggregate amount by which the Outstanding Balance of all Eligible Receivables of each Obligor and its Affiliates exceeds the Concentration Limit or Special Concentration Limit therefor.

“NR/NIG Obligor” means an Obligor described in Concentration Limit Level 5 of the table in the definition of “Concentration Limit.”

Obligor” means a Person obligated to make payments pursuant to a Contract.

OFAC” has the meaning specified in the Sale Agreement.

Organic Document means, relative to any Person, its certificate or articles of incorporation or formation, its by-laws, its partnership agreement, its memorandum and articles of association, its limited liability company agreement and/or operating agreement, share designations or similar organization documents and all shareholder agreements, voting trusts and similar arrangements applicable to any of its authorized Capital Securities.

Originator” has the meaning provided in the Sale Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, a Person that ceases to be an “Originator” in accordance with the Transaction Documents shall cease to constitute an Originator for all purposes of the Transaction Documents.

“Other Connection Taxes” means, with respect to any Indemnified Party, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Indemnified Party and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Indemnified Party having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Transaction Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Investment or Transaction Document).

“Other Taxes” means all stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under any Transaction Document from the execution, deliver, performance, enforcement or registration of any Transaction Document, except any such Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment.

Outstanding Balance” of any Receivable at any time means then outstanding principal balance thereof.

Participant” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.2.

 

Exhibit I-20


Participant Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.2.

PATRIOT Act” has the meaning specified in the Sale Agreement.

PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and any Person succeeding to any or all of its functions under ERISA.

Pension Plan” means a “Plan” as such term is defined in the Senior Credit Agreement as of the date hereof.

Percentage means as to each Purchaser, the ratio (expressed as a percentage) of its Commitment to the aggregate of the Commitments of all Purchasers party to this Agreement.

Performance Guarantor” means CMC.

Performance Undertaking” means a performance undertaking in the form of Exhibit X hereto, duly executed by the Performance Guarantor in favor of the Seller, as the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time with the consent of the Seller and the Purchasers.

Person” means an individual, partnership, corporation (including a business trust), limited liability company, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture or other entity, or a government or any political subdivision or agency thereof.

Potential Amortization Event” means an event which, with the passage of any applicable cure period or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute an Amortization Event.

Prime Rate” means a rate per annum equal to the prime rate of interest announced from time to time by WFB (which is not necessarily the lowest rate charged to any customer), changing when and as said prime rate changes.

Proposed Reduction Date has the meaning specified in Section 1.4(a).

Purchase” each Incremental Investment and each Reinvestment.

Purchase Limit” means $150,000,000, as such amount may be reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 1.10 of the Agreement; provided, however, that in the event that (a) the Seller notifies the Purchasers that it wishes to increase the Purchase Limit to $200,000,000, (b) no Amortization Event or Potential Amortization Event exists and is continuing, (c) the Seller obtains sufficient additional commitments from existing or new Purchasers, and (d) the Administrative Agent consents in its sole discretion, the Purchase Limit may be increased to $200,000,000 (or, if less, to an aggregate amount not to exceed the total Commitments after giving effect to such new commitments).

Purchased Assets” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2(a).

Purchased Assets Coverage Percentage” means, at any time and subject to Section 1.5 of the Agreement, the percentage computed as:

 

Exhibit I-21


                    Aggregate Capital + Required Reserve                    

Net Pool Balance

The Purchased Assets Coverage Percentage shall be determined from time to time in accordance with Section 1.5 of the Agreement.

Purchaser” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement and shall include their respective successors and permitted assigns.

Receivable” means the indebtedness and other obligations owed (at the time it arises, and before giving effect to any transfer or conveyance contemplated under the Transaction Documents) to an Originator, whether constituting an account, chattel paper, an instrument or a general intangible, arising from the sale of goods or provision of services by a division of such Originator listed on Schedule C hereto and includes, without limitation, the obligation to pay any Finance Charges with respect thereto. Indebtedness and other rights and obligations arising from any one transaction, including, without limitation, indebtedness and other rights and obligations represented by an individual invoice, shall constitute a Receivable separate from a Receivable consisting of the indebtedness and other rights and obligations arising from any other transaction.

“Receivables Facility Attributed Indebtedness” means the amount of obligations outstanding under a receivables purchase facility on any date of determination that would be characterized as principal if such facility were structured as a secured lending transaction rather than as a purchase transaction.

Records” means, with respect to any Receivable, all Contracts and other documents, books, records and other information (including, without limitation, computer programs, tapes, disks, punch cards, data processing software and related property and rights) relating to such Receivable, any Related Security therefor and the related Obligor.

Redeemable Stock” means any Capital Securities of the Performance Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries which prior to the Facility Termination Date is or may be (a) mandatorily redeemable, (b) redeemable at the option of the holder thereof or (c) convertible into Indebtedness.

Reduction Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.4(a).

Reinvestment” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(c).

Related Security” means, with respect to any Receivable:

(i) all right, title and interest (if any) in the goods, the sale of which gave rise to such Receivable, and any and all insurance contracts with respect thereto,

(ii) all other security interests or liens and property subject thereto from time to time, if any, purporting to secure payment of such Receivable, whether pursuant to the invoice or other Contract related to such Receivable or otherwise, together with all financing statements and security agreements describing any collateral securing such Receivable,

 

Exhibit I-22


(iii) all guaranties, insurance and other supporting obligations, agreements or arrangements of whatever character from time to time supporting or securing payment of such Receivable whether pursuant to the invoice related to such Receivable or otherwise,

(iv) all Records related to such Receivables, and

(vi) all proceeds of any of the foregoing.

When used in this Agreement, the term “Related Security shall also include (a) all right, title and interest of the Seller in, to and under the Sale Agreement, (b) all of the Seller’s rights and remedies under the Performance Undertaking, and (c) the proceeds of the foregoing.

“Relevant Governmental Body” means the Federal Reserve Board and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Rentals” means and includes as of the date of any determination thereof all fixed payments (including as such all payments which the lessee is obligated to make to the lessor on termination of the lease or surrender of the property) payable by the Performance Guarantor or a Material Subsidiary, as lessee or sublessee under a lease of real or personal property but shall be exclusive of any amounts required to be paid by the Performance Guarantor or a Material Subsidiary (whether or not designated as rents or additional rents) on account of maintenance, repairs, insurance, taxes and similar charges. Fixed rents under any so-calledpercentage leases” shall be computed solely on the basis of the minimum rents, if any, required to be paid by the lessee regardless of sales volume or gross revenues.

Reportable Event” means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than events for which the 30-day notice period has been waived.

Required Amounts means, on any date of determination, collectively, the sum of (a) any Investment Excess that then exists, plus (b) all accrued and unpaid Yield and Fees, the Indemnified Amounts, the Servicer Indemnified Amounts, and any and all other amounts (other than Aggregate Capital) payable to any or all of the Investor Parties under the Transaction Documents.

Required Purchasers means:

(a) at any time, there is only one Purchaser, such Purchaser,

(b) at any time, there are only two Purchasers, (i) solely for purposes of Section 7.2 of this Agreement, either Purchaser, and (ii) for all other purposes, both Purchasers, and

(c) at all other times, Purchasers with Commitments in excess of 66-2/3% of the aggregate of all Commitments (or, if no Commitments are outstanding, Purchasers with outstanding Capital in excess of 66-2/3% of the outstanding Aggregate Capital).

Required Reserve means, on any day during a month, the product of (a) the greater of (i) the Required Reserve Factor Floor and (ii) the sum of the Loss Reserve, the Yield Reserve, the Dilution Reserve and the Servicing Reserve, times (b) the Net Pool Balance as of the Cut-Off Date immediately preceding such month.

 

Exhibit I-23


Required Reserve Factor Floor” means, for any month, the sum (expressed as a percentage) of (a) 13% (or such higher percentage as may be specified by the Purchasers in connection with granting a Special Concentration Limit) plus (b) the product of the Adjusted Dilution Ratio and the Dilution Horizon Ratio, in each case, as of the immediately preceding Cut-Off Date, plus (c) the Yield Reserve, plus (d) the Servicing Reserve.

Restricted Junior Payment” means (i) any dividend or other distribution, direct or indirect, on account of any share of stock of any class of the Seller now or hereafter outstanding, except a dividend payable solely in shares of the Seller of that class or any junior class, (ii) any redemption, retirement, sinking fund or similar payment, purchase or other acquisition for value, direct or indirect, of any membership interest of the Seller now or hereafter outstanding, (iii) any payment or prepayment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest, fees or other charges on or with respect to, and any redemption, purchase, retirement, defeasance, sinking fund or similar payment and any claim for rescission with respect to the Subordinated Loans, (iv) any payment made to redeem, purchase, repurchase or retire, or to obtain the surrender of, any outstanding warrants, options or other rights to acquire shares of any stock of the Seller now or hereafter outstanding, and (v) any payment of management fees by the Seller (except for reasonable management fees to an Originator or its Affiliates in reimbursement of actual management services performed).

Review” shall have the meaning specified in Section 5.1(d) of this Agreement.

“Revolving Purchase Period” means the period from and after the Closing Date to but excluding the Facility Termination Date.

Sale Agreement means that certain Receivables Sale Agreement, dated as of April 5, 2011, by and between the Originators, as the Sellers, and CMC Receivables, Inc., as buyer, as the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

“Sanctioned Entity” has the meaning specified in the Sale Agreement.

“Sanctioned Person” has the meaning specified in the Sale Agreement.

“Sanctions” has the meaning specified in the Sale Agreement.

S&P means Standard & Poor’s, a Standard & Poor’s Business Services LLC business.

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Seller” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

Seller Parties” means, collectively, (a) the Seller, and (b) at any time that CMC is acting as the Servicer or the Performance Guarantor, CMC.

 

Exhibit I-24


Senior Credit Agreement” means that certain Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of April 1, 2021, by and among CMC and CMC International Finance S.à R.L., as borrowers, each lender from time to time party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, swing line lender and letter of credit issuer.

Servicer” means at any time the Person (which may be the Administrative Agent) then authorized pursuant to Article VI to service, administer and collect Receivables.

Servicing Fee” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.7.

Servicing Reserve means, the product (expressed as a percentage) of (a) 1%, times (b) a fraction, the numerator of which is the highest Days Sales Outstanding for the most recent 12 months and the denominator of which is 360.

Settlement Date” means either a Monthly Payment Date or a Capital Settlement Date.

Settlement Report means a Monthly Report or an Interim Report.

“SOFR” with respect to any Business Day means the secured overnight financing rate published for such day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, as the administrator of the benchmark (or a successor administrator) on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s website (or any successor source) at approximately 8:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the immediately succeeding Business Day and, in each case, that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body.

Subordinated Loan means each loan or advance evidenced by a Subordinated Note.

Subordinated Note” means each “Note” under and as defined in the Sale Agreement.

Subsidiary” of a Person means (i) any corporation more than 50% of the outstanding securities having ordinary voting power of which shall at the time be owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more of its Subsidiaries or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries, or (ii) any partnership, association, limited liability company, joint venture or similar business organization more than 50% of the ownership interests having ordinary voting power of which shall at the time be so owned or controlled. Unless otherwise expressly provided, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” shall mean a Subsidiary of CMC.

Swap Contract” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing

 

Exhibit I-25


(including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.

Swap Termination Value” means, in respect of any one or more Swap Contracts, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Swap Contracts, (a) for any date on or after the date such Swap Contracts have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market value(s) for such Swap Contracts, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Swap Contracts (which may include a lender under the Senior Credit Agreement or any Affiliate of such lender).

Synthetic Lease Obligation” means the monetary obligation of a Person under (a) a so-called synthetic, off-balance sheet or tax retention lease, or (b) an agreement for the use or possession of property creating obligations that do not appear on the balance sheet of such Person but which, upon the insolvency or bankruptcy of such Person, would be characterized as the indebtedness of such Person (without regard to accounting treatment).

Tangible Assets” means as of the date of any determination thereof the total amount of all assets of the Performance Guarantor and its consolidated Subsidiaries (less depreciation, depletion and other properly deductible valuation reserves) after deducting Intangible Assets.

“Taxes” means all taxes, charges, fees, levies or other assessments (including income, gross receipts, profits, withholding, excise, property, sales, use, license, occupation and franchise taxes and including any related interest, penalties or other additions) imposed by any taxing authority (whether foreign or domestic).

“Term SOFR” means the forward-looking term rate for any period that is approximately one month long that is based on SOFR and that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body, in each case as published on an information service as selected by the Administrative Agent from time to time in its reasonable discretion.

Termination Day means: (a) each day on which the conditions set forth in Article IV of this Agreement are not satisfied or (b) each day that occurs on or after the Facility Termination Date.

Total Capitalization” means, as of any date of determination, for the Performance Guarantor and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the sum of (a) Consolidated Net Worth as of such date and (b) Consolidated Funded Debt as of such date.

 

Exhibit I-26


Transaction Documents” means, collectively, this Agreement, each Investment Notice, the Sale Agreement, each Lock-Box Agreement, the Fee Letter, the Administrative Agent’s Fee Letter, any Subordinated Note issued pursuant to the Sale Agreement, the Performance Undertaking, and all other instruments, documents and agreements required to be executed and delivered pursuant hereto.

“Truist” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

Truist’s Account means account no. [***], or any other account or accounts as Truist may indicate from time to time.

UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as from time to time in effect in the specified jurisdiction.

“Undivided Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 1.2(a).

Unfunded Pension Liability” means the excess of a Pension Plan’s benefit liabilities under Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA, over the current value of that Pension Plan’s assets, determined in accordance with the assumptions used for funding the Pension Plan pursuant to Section 412 of the Code for the applicable plan year.

Volcker Rulemeans Section 13 of the U.S. Bank Holding Company Act of 1956.

Voting Stock” means, with respect to any Person, Capital Securities of any class or kind ordinarily having the power to vote for the election of directors, managers or other voting members of the governing body of such Person.

WFB” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

Yield” means for each day for each Purchaser, an amount equal to the product of the applicable Yield Rate multiplied by the Capital of such Purchaser, annualized on a 360-day basis.

Yield Rate” means, on any day, a rate per annum equal to the LMIR (or, if the LMIR is not available, the Alternate Base Rate or the LIBOR Replacement Rate, as applicable).

Yield Reserve” means for any Calculation Period, the product (expressed as a percentage) of (i) 1.5 times (ii) the Alternate Base Rate as of the immediately preceding Cut-Off Date times (iii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the highest Days Sales Outstanding for the most recent 12 Calculation Periods and the denominator of which is 360.

All accounting terms not specifically defined herein shall be construed in accordance with GAAP. All terms used in Article 9 of the UCC in the State of New York, and not specifically defined herein, are used herein as defined in such Article 9.

 

Exhibit I-27


Omnibus Amendment No. 4

 

EXHIBIT B

RECEIVABLES SALE AGREEMENT, AS AMENDED AND RESTATED HEREBY

[See Attached]

 


EXHIBIT B TO OMNIBUS AMENDMENT NO. 4

 

RECEIVABLES SALE AGREEMENT

DATED AS OF APRIL 5, 2011

AS AMENDED AND RESTATED IN OMNIBUS AMENDMENT NO. 4 DATED AS OF APRIL 1, 2021

between

COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY,

STRUCTURAL METALS, INC.,

CMC STEEL FABRICATORS, INC.,

SMI STEEL LLC,

OWEN ELECTRIC STEEL COMPANY OF SOUTH CAROLINA,

AHT, INC.,

CMC STEEL OKLAHOMA, LLC,

CMC STEEL US, LLC

TAMCO,

AND

CMC POST OKLAHOMA, LLC,

as the Originators,

and

CMC RECEIVABLES, INC.,

as the Buyer

 

Receivables Sale Agreement


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         PAGE  

Article I Amounts and Terms

     2  

Section 1.1.

  Purchase and Contribution of Receivables      2  

Section 1.2.

  Payment for the Purchase      3  

Section 1.3.

  Purchase Price Credit Adjustments      4  

Section 1.4.

  Payments and Computations, Etc.      5  

Section 1.5.

  Transfer of Records      5  

Section 1.6.

  Characterization      6  

Article II Representations and Warranties

     6  

Section 2.1.

  Representations and Warranties of Each of the Originators      6  

Article III Conditions of Purchase

     11  

Section 3.1.

  Conditions Precedent to Closing      11  

Section 3.2.

  Conditions Precedent to Subsequent Payments      11  

Article IV Covenants

     11  

Section 4.1.

  Affirmative Covenants of Each of the Originators      11  

Section 4.2.

  Negative Covenants of the Each of the Originators      15  

Article V Termination Events

     16  

Section 5.1.

  Termination Events      16  

Section 5.2.

  Remedies      17  

Article VI Indemnification

     17  

Section 6.1.

  Indemnities by the Each of the Originators      17  

Section 6.2.

  Other Costs and Expenses      19  

Article VII Miscellaneous

     20  

Section 7.1.

  Waivers and Amendments      20  

Section 7.2.

  Notices      20  

Section 7.3.

  Protection of Ownership Interests of the Buyer      20  

Section 7.4.

  Confidentiality      21  

Section 7.5.

  Bankruptcy Petition      22  

Section 7.6.

  Amounts to be paid by Buyer      22  

Section 7.7.

  Setoff      22  

Section 7.8.

  CHOICE OF LAW      22  

Section 7.9.

  CONSENT TO JURISDICTION      22  

Section 7.10.

  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL      23  

Section 7.11.

  Integration; Binding Effect; Survival of Terms      23  

Section 7.12.

  Counterparts; Severability; Section References      24  

Section 7.13.

  PATRIOT Act      24  

 

 

Receivables Sale Agreement

i


Exhibits

Exhibit I   Definitions
Exhibit II   Jurisdiction of Organization; Organizational Identification Number; Principal Places of Business; Chief Executive Office; Locations of Records; Federal Employer Identification Number; Other Names
Exhibit III   Lock-Boxes; Collection Accounts; Lock-Box Banks
Exhibit IV   Form of Compliance Certificate
Exhibit V   Form of Subordinated Note
Exhibit VI   Form of Purchase Report
Schedules
Schedule A   Documents Delivered to Buyer on or Prior to the applicable Closing Date
Schedule B   Provisions to be included in any pledge

 

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ii


RECEIVABLES SALE AGREEMENT

THIS RECEIVABLES SALE AGREEMENT, dated as of April 5, 2011 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Agreement”), is by and among COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (“CMC”), STRUCTURAL METALS, INC., a Texas corporation (“SMI”), CMC STEEL FABRICATORS, INC., a Texas corporation (“CMC Steel”), SMI STEEL LLC, an Alabama limited liability company (“SMI Steel”), OWEN ELECTRIC STEEL COMPANY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, a South Carolina corporation (Owen Electric), AHT, INC., a Pennsylvania corporation (“AHT”), CMC STEEL OKLAHOMA, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company(Oklahoma), CMC STEEL US, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (CMC-US), TAMCO, a California corporation (TAMCO), and CMC POST OKLAHOMA, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (Post and together with CMC, SMI, CMC Steel, SMI Steel, Owen Electric, Oklahoma, CMC-US and TAMCO, the “Originators” and each of the Originators other than CMC, a Subsidiary Originator), and CMC RECEIVABLES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Buyer”). Unless defined elsewhere herein, capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in Exhibit I attached hereto (or, if not defined in Exhibit I attached hereto, the meanings assigned to such terms in Exhibit I to the Purchase Agreement).

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS

The Originators now own, and from time to time hereafter will own, certain Receivables. Upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, (a) CMC wishes (i) to sell and assign to the Buyer, and the Buyer wishes to purchase from CMC, all of CMC’s right, title and interest in and to all of CMC’s existing and future Receivables (other than Contributed Receivables), together with the Related Security and Collections with respect thereto and all proceeds of the foregoing and (ii) to contribute to the Buyer’s capital all of CMC’s right, title and interest in and to all of CMC’s existing and future Contributed Receivables, together with the Related Security and Collections with respect thereto and all proceeds of the foregoing, and the Buyer wishes to accept such capital contributions, and (b) each Subsidiary Originator wishes to sell and assign to the Buyer, and the Buyer wishes to purchase from such Subsidiary Originator, all of each such Subsidiary Originator’s right, title and interest in and to all existing and future Receivables, together with the Related Security and Collections with respect thereto and all proceeds of the foregoing.

Each Originator and the Buyer intend the transactions contemplated hereby to be true sales (and, solely in the case of any contribution by CMC pursuant to clause (a)(ii) of the immediately preceding paragraph, true contributions) of the Receivables Assets from the Originators to the Buyer, providing the Buyer with the full benefits of ownership of the Receivables Assets, and none of the Originators and the Buyer intend these transactions to be, or for any purpose to be characterized as, loans from the Buyer to any Originator secured by the Receivables Assets.

Immediately following its acquisition of the Receivables Assets from the Originators, the Buyer will sell the Receivables to certain purchasers pursuant to that certain Receivables Purchase Agreement dated as of April 5, 2011 (as the same may from time to time hereafter be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified, the “Purchase Agreement”) among the Buyer, the Servicer, the Purchasers and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for the Purchasers (together with its successors and permitted assigns in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”).

 

Receivables Sale Agreement

 


NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein contained and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

Article I

Amounts and Terms

Section 1.1. Purchase and Contribution of Receivables.

(a) Effective as of the applicable Closing Date: (i) CMC hereby contributes, assigns, transfers and otherwise conveys to the Buyer’s capital, without recourse to CMC (except to the extent expressly provided herein), and the Buyer hereby accepts, all of CMC’s right, title and interest in and to all of CMC’s Receivables existing as of the close of business on the applicable Initial Cutoff Date and thereafter arising through and including August 14, 2014; and (ii) CMC hereby contributes, assigns, transfers and otherwise conveys to the Buyer’s capital, without recourse to CMC (except to the extent expressly provided herein), and the Buyer hereby accepts, all of CMC’s right, title and interest in and to all of CMC’s Receivables existing as of the close of business on the August 15, 2014 and thereafter arising through and including the Termination Date to the extent necessary to cause the Outstanding Balance of the contributed Receivables to be equal to the Required Contributed Amount (the Receivables described in clauses (i) and (ii), collectively, the Contributed Receivables), together with all Related Security and Collections associated therewith (collectively, the Contributed Receivables Assets). Effective as of August 15, 2014 (in the case of CMC) and effective as of the applicable Closing Date (in the case of each Subsidiary Originator), in consideration for the Purchase Price and upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, each of the Originators hereby sells, assigns, transfers and otherwise conveys to the Buyer, without recourse (except to the extent expressly provided herein), and the Buyer hereby purchases from each Originator, all of such Originators’ right, title and interest in and to all Receivables (other than Contributed Receivables) existing as of the close of business on the applicable Initial Cutoff Date and all Receivables (other than Contributed Receivables) thereafter arising through and including the Termination Date (collectively, the Purchased Receivables), together, in each case, with all Related Security relating thereto and all Collections thereof (collectively, the Purchased Receivables Assets”, together with the Contributed Receivables Assets, the “Receivables Assets”). In accordance with the preceding sentence, on the applicable Closing Date the Buyer shall acquire all of the Originators’ right, title and interest in and to the Contributed Receivables Assets and the Purchased Receivables Assets. The Buyer shall be obligated to pay the Purchase Price for each Receivable purchased from each Originator hereunder in accordance with Section 1.2.

(b) On the Monthly Reporting Date, the Originators shall (or shall require the Servicer to) deliver to the Buyer a report in substantially the form of Exhibit VI hereto (each such report, a “Purchase Report”) with respect to the Receivables sold and/or contributed by the Originators to the Buyer during such Calculation Period.

(c) It is the intention of the parties hereto that each transfer of Receivables hereunder shall constitute a true sale and/or contribution, which sale and/or contribution, as the case may be, is absolute and irrevocable and provides the Buyer with the full benefits of ownership of the Receivables and the associated Related Security and Collections. Except for the Purchase Price Credits owed pursuant to Section 1.3, each transfer of Receivables Assets hereunder is made without recourse to any of the Originators; provided, however, that (i) each Originator shall be liable to the Buyer for all representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities made by it pursuant to the terms of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, and (ii) such transfer does not constitute and is not intended to result in an assumption by the Buyer or any assignee thereof of any obligation of the Originators or any other Person arising in connection with the Receivables Assets or any other obligations of the Originators. In view of the intention

 

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2


of the parties hereto that each purchase and contribution shall constitute a true sale and/or true contribution of Receivables and the associated Related Security and Collections, rather than a loan secured thereby, each Originator agrees that it will, on or prior to the applicable Closing Date and in accordance with Section 4.1(e)(ii), mark its master data processing records relating to the Receivables with a legend acceptable to the Buyer and to the Administrative Agent (as the Buyer’s assignee), evidencing that the Buyer has acquired such Receivables as provided in this Agreement and to note in its financial statements that its Receivables have been absolutely sold or contributed to the Buyer. Upon the request of the Buyer or the Administrative Agent (as the Buyer’s assignee), each Originator will execute (if required) and file or authorize the filing of such financing statements, continuation statements, and amendments thereto or assignments thereof, and such other instruments or notices, as may be necessary or appropriate to perfect and maintain the perfection of the Buyer’s ownership interest in the Receivables Assets, or as the Buyer or the Administrative Agent (as the Buyer’s assignee) may reasonably request.

Section 1.2. Payment for the Purchase.

(a) Prior to August 15, 2014, all Receivables were paid for in accordance with the terms of this Agreement as in effect without giving effect to Omnibus Amendment No. 2.

(b) On each Payment Date on and after August 15, 2014, the Purchase Price for each Purchased Receivable shall become owing in full by the Buyer to the applicable Originator or its designee on the date each such Receivable comes into existence and shall be paid to the applicable Originator as follows:

(i) on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Purchase Agreement, the Buyer shall pay to CMC, for the ratable account of the applicable Originators, in immediately available funds, to the extent of Available Cash on such date, in the following order:

first, the Purchase Price for the Receivables sold by each Originator hereunder on such Payment Date; and

second, to reduce the principal amount outstanding under each Originator’s Subordinated Note to zero;

(ii) to the extent that any portion of the Purchase Price owing to an Originator remains unpaid, the principal amount outstanding under such Originator’s Subordinated Note shall be automatically increased by an amount equal to the remaining unpaid portion of such Purchase Price, but subject to the limitations set forth in Section 1.2(c); and

(iii) to the extent that the Buyer is entitled to any Purchase Price Credit pursuant to Section 1.3 in respect of Receivables sold by an Originator and the amount of such Purchase Price Credit exceeds the Purchase Price that would have been owed by such Buyer to such Originator under clause (i) above without taking such Purchase Price Credit into the calculation of such price, the principal amount outstanding under such Originator’s Subordinated Note shall be automatically decreased (to a balance not less than zero).

(c) To the extent that the Buyer does not have sufficient Available Cash to pay in full the Purchase Price for all Receivables purchased on any Payment Date, each Originator agrees to advance a Subordinated Loan in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the lesser of (A) the unpaid portion of the Purchase Price of all Purchased Receivables sold by such Originator remaining following the payments specified in clause (b) (i) above and (B) the maximum loan (each such loan, a “Subordinated Loan”) that could be borrowed by the Buyer from the applicable Originator without rendering the Buyer’s Net Worth

 

Receivables Sale Agreement

3


less than the Required Capital Amount. Each Originator irrevocably agrees to advance each Subordinated Loan requested by the Buyer prior to the Termination Date. Each Subordinated Loan shall be evidenced by and shall be payable in accordance with the terms and provisions of a Subordinated Note and shall be payable solely from Available Cash. Each Originator is hereby authorized by the Buyer to endorse on the schedule attached to its Subordinated Note an appropriate notation evidencing the date and amount of each advance thereunder, as well as the date of each payment with respect thereto, provided that the failure to make such notation shall not affect any obligation of the Buyer thereunder. The Servicer shall make all appropriate record keeping entries with respect to each Subordinated Note to reflect the increases, payments and reductions made in respect of such Subordinated Note pursuant to Sections 1.2(b) and 1.3, and the Servicer’s books and records shall constitute rebuttable presumptive evidence of the principal amount of, and accrued interest on, each Subordinated Note at any time. Each Originator hereby irrevocably authorizes the Servicer to mark its Subordinated Note “CANCELED” and to return such Subordinated Note to the Buyer upon the final payment thereof after the occurrence of the Termination Date.

(d) Although the Purchase Price for each Receivable purchased after the date hereof shall be due and payable by the Buyer to the applicable Originator on the Payment Date therefor, a precise reconciliation of the Purchase Prices between Buyer and each Originator shall be effected on a Monthly Settlement Date with respect to all Receivables sold or contributed during the Calculation Period most recently ended prior to such Monthly Settlement Date and based on the information contained in the Purchase Report delivered pursuant to Section 1.1(b) above. Although such reconciliation shall be effected on Monthly Settlement Dates, increases or decreases in the principal balance of each Subordinated Note and any contribution of capital by CMC to the Buyer made pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to have occurred and shall be effective as of the date that the Purchase Price is due and payable; provided, that the interest due and owing on each Subordinated Note on any Monthly Settlement Date shall continue to be calculated based on the principal amount outstanding as of the prior Monthly Settlement Date. On each Monthly Settlement Date, each Originator shall determine the net increase or the net reduction in the outstanding principal amount of its Subordinated Note and, in the case of CMC, the amount of any capital contributions occurring during the immediately preceding calendar month and shall account for such net increase or net reduction in its books and records.

Section 1.3. Purchase Price Credit Adjustments.

If on any day:

(a) the Outstanding Balance of a Receivable originated by any Originator is:

(i) reduced as a result of any defective or rejected or returned goods or services, any cash discount or any adjustment or otherwise by such Originator or any Affiliate thereof, or

(ii) reduced or canceled as a result of a setoff in respect of any claim by any Person (whether such claim arises out of the same or a related transaction or an unrelated transaction), or

(iii) reduced on account of the obligation of such Originator or any Affiliate thereof to pay the related Obligor any rebate or refund, or

(iv) less than the amount included in the calculations in any Purchase Report, or

(b) any of the representations and warranties set forth in Section 2.1(h), Section 2.1(i), Section 2.1(j), Section 2.1(q), Section 2.1(r), Section 2.1(s) or Section 2.1(t) is not true when made or deemed made with respect to any Receivable,

 

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4


then, in such event, the Buyer shall be entitled to a credit (each, a “Purchase Price Credit”) against the Purchase Price otherwise payable hereunder equal to (A) in the case of clauses (a)(i)-(iv) above, the amount of such reduction or cancellation or the difference between the actual Outstanding Balance and the amount included in calculating the Net Pool Balance, as applicable; and (B) in the case of clause (b) above, in the amount of the Outstanding Balance of such Receivable (calculated before giving effect to the applicable reduction or cancellation). If, on any day, such Purchase Price Credit exceeds the outstanding principal balance of the Subordinated Note of the applicable Originator on such day, then CMC shall be deemed to have contributed additional Contributed Receivables to the Buyer having a value equal to the otherwise unpaid amount of such Purchase Price Credit owed by such Originator on such day; provided, further, that no Purchase Price Credit shall include any amount to the extent the same represents losses in respect of Receivables that are uncollectible on account of the insolvency, bankruptcy, lack of creditworthiness or other financial or credit condition of the related Obligor resulting in the inability to pay in respect of an Obligor. Purchase Price Credits owing from CMC relating to Contributed Receivables shall be reflected solely as reductions of CMC’s equity in Buyer.

Section 1.4. Payments and Computations, Etc.

All amounts to be paid or deposited by the Buyer hereunder shall be paid or deposited in accordance with the terms hereof on the day when due in immediately available funds to the account of CMC, on behalf of the applicable Originators, designated from time to time by CMC or as otherwise directed by CMC. CMC shall retain the ratable portion of funds due to CMC, as an Originator, pursuant to Section 1.2(b)(i), and CMC shall pay to each applicable Subsidiary Originator, in cash or by way of credit to such Subsidiary Originator in the appropriate intercompany account, the ratable portion of the funds received from the Buyer due to such Subsidiary Originator pursuant to Section 1.2(b)(i); it being further agreed that (a) each purchase of each Receivable and Related Security with respect thereto shall be deemed to be made on the date such Receivable is created, and (b) CMC shall settle from time to time each such credit to the account of such Subsidiary Originator, by way of payments in cash or by way of credits in amounts equal to cash expended, obligations incurred or the value of services or property provided by or on behalf of CMC, in each case for the benefit of such Subsidiary Originator in accordance with CMC’s and such Subsidiary Originator’s cash management and accounting policies. In the event that any payment owed by any Person hereunder becomes due on a day that is not a Business Day, then such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day. If any Person fails to pay any amount hereunder when due, such Person agrees to pay, on demand, the Default Fee in respect thereof until paid in full; provided, however, that such Default Fee shall not at any time exceed the maximum rate permitted by applicable law. All computations of interest payable hereunder shall be made on the basis of a year of 360 days (or, in the case of any calculation thereof based upon the Prime Rate, 365 or 366 days, as applicable) for the actual number of days (including the first but excluding the last day) elapsed.

Section 1.5. Transfer of Records.

(a) In connection with any sale or contribution of Receivables hereunder, each Originator hereby contributes, sells, transfers, assigns and otherwise conveys to the Buyer all of its right and title to and interest in the Records relating to all Receivables sold or contributed hereunder, without the need for any further documentation in connection with such sale or contribution. In connection with such transfer, each Originator hereby grants to each of the Buyer, the Administrative Agent and the Servicer an irrevocable, non-exclusive license to use, without royalty or payment of any kind, all software used by such Originator to account for the Receivables, to the extent necessary to administer the Receivables, whether such software is owned by the applicable Originator or is owned by others and used by any Originator under license agreements with respect thereto, provided that should the consent of any licensor of such software be required for the grant of the license described herein, to be effective, each Originator hereby agrees that upon the request of the Buyer (or the Buyer’s assignee), such Originator will use its reasonable efforts to obtain the consent of such third-party licensor. The license granted hereby shall be irrevocable until the indefeasible payment in full of the Aggregate Unpaids and shall terminate on the date this Agreement terminates in accordance with its terms.

 

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5


(b) Each Originator (i) shall take such action requested by the Buyer and/or the Administrative Agent (as Buyer’s assignee), from time to time hereafter, that may be necessary or appropriate to ensure that the Buyer and its assigns under the Purchase Agreement have an enforceable ownership interest in the Records relating to the Receivables purchased from any Originator hereunder, and (ii) shall use its reasonable efforts to ensure that each of the Buyer, the Administrative Agent and the Servicer has an enforceable right (whether by license or sublicense or otherwise) to use all of the computer software used to account for the Receivables and/or to re-create such Records.

Section 1.6. Characterization.

If, notwithstanding the intention of the parties expressed in Section 1.1(c), any transfer by any Originator to the Buyer of Receivables hereunder shall be characterized in any manner other than a true sale or true contribution or such transfer for any reason shall be ineffective or unenforceable, then this Agreement shall be deemed to constitute a security agreement under the applicable UCC and other applicable law. For this purpose and without being in derogation of the parties’ intention that each transfer shall constitute a true sale or true contribution and absolute assignment thereof, each of the Originators hereby grants to the Buyer a security interest in all of such Originator’s right, title and interest in, to and under (i) all Receivables existing as of the close of business on the applicable Initial Cutoff Date or thereafter arising from time to time prior to the Termination Date, and all rights and payments relating thereto, (ii) all Related Security relating thereto, whether existing on the applicable Initial Cutoff Date or thereafter arising, (iii) all Collections thereof, whether existing on the applicable Initial Cutoff Date or thereafter arising, (iv) each Lock-Box and each Lock-Box Account, whether existing on the applicable Initial Cutoff Date or thereafter arising, and (v) all proceeds of any of the foregoing, whether existing on the applicable Initial Cutoff Date or thereafter arising (collectively, the “Originator Collateral”), to secure the prompt and complete payment of a loan deemed to have been made by the Buyer to each Originator in an amount equal to the aggregate Purchase Price for the Purchased Receivables originated by such Originator (and, in the case of CMC, the Purchase Price that would have been payable for its Contributed Receivables had they not been contributed to the Buyer’s capital), together with all other obligations of such Originator hereunder, which security interest, each of the Originators hereby represents and warrants, is valid, duly perfected and prior to all Adverse Claims. The Buyer and its assigns shall have, in addition to the rights and remedies which they may have under this Agreement, all other rights and remedies provided to a secured creditor under the UCC and other applicable law, which rights and remedies shall be cumulative.

Article II

Representations and Warranties

Section 2.1. Representations and Warranties of Each of the Originators.

Each of the Originators hereby represents and warrants to the Buyer on the applicable Closing Date and on each date on which a Receivable comes into existence prior to the Termination Date:

(a) Existence and Power. (i) Each of the Originators is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, and is a “registered organization” as defined in the UCC as in effect in such jurisdiction; (ii) each of the Originators has all requisite corporate or limited liability company power and authority to own its property and assets and to carry on its business as now

 

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conducted; (iii) each of the Originators is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing (where relevant) in every jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to so qualify could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (iv) each of the Originators has the requisite corporate or limited liability company power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party. Each Originator’s jurisdiction of organization, organizational identification number and federal employer identification number are correctly set forth in Exhibit II attached hereto.

(b) Due Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party (i) have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate and, if required, stockholder action, (ii) will not violate any provision of (A) any applicable law, statute, rule or regulation or order of any Governmental Authority, where such violation would result in a Material Adverse Effect, (B) its Organic Documents, (C) the Senior Credit Agreement, or (D) any other indenture, agreement or other instrument by which any Originator is a party or by which any of them or any of their property is bound, (iii) will not be in conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute (alone or with notice or lapse of time or both) a default under or give rise to any right to require the prepayment, repurchase or redemption of any obligation under (A) the Senior Credit Agreement, or (B) any such other indenture, agreement or other instrument, or (iv) result in the creation or imposition of any Adverse Claim upon or with respect to the Originator Collateral.

(c) Enforceability. This Agreement and each other Transaction Document to which any Originator is a party have been duly executed and delivered by such Originator. This Agreement and each other Transaction Document to which any Originator is a party delivered on the applicable Closing Date constitutes, and each other such Transaction Document when executed and delivered by such Originator will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of each Originator enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, receivership, moratorium or similar laws of general applicability relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally or by general equity principles. No transaction contemplated hereby requires compliance with any bulk sales act or similar law.

(d) Governmental Approvals. No action, consent or approval of, registration or filing with or any other action by any Governmental Authority is necessary or will be required in connection with the Transaction Documents, except for (a) filings and registrations necessary to perfect the Buyer’s ownership interest in the Originator Collateral and the Administrative Agent’s security interests therein, and (b) such as have been made or obtained and are in full force and effect.

(e) Litigation; Compliance with Laws.

(i) There are no actions, suits or proceedings at law or in equity or by or before any Governmental Authority now pending or, to the knowledge of any Originator, threatened in writing against any such Originator or any business, property or rights of any such Person that is reasonably likely to be adversely determined, and which determination would have a Material Adverse Effect.

(ii) Neither any of the Originators or any of their respective material properties is in violation of any applicable law, rule or regulation, or is in default with respect to any judgment, writ, injunction, decree or order of any Governmental Authority, a breach of which, individually or in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(f) Taxes. Each of the Originators (or the Performance Guarantor on their behalf) has filed or caused to be filed all Federal, state and other Tax returns required to have been filed by it and has paid, caused to be paid, or made provisions for the payment of all Taxes due and payable by it and all assessments received by it, except for the filing of such returns or the payment of such Taxes and assessments, in each case, that are not overdue by more than 30 days, or if more than 30 days overdue, the amount or validity of which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which the applicable Originator or the Performance Guarantor, as applicable, shall have set aside on its books adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP.

(g) Accuracy of Information. To the knowledge of each of the Originators, the information, reports, financial statements, exhibits and schedules furnished (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) by or on behalf of the Performance Guarantor or any Originator to the Buyer, the Administrative Agent or the Purchasers (other than projections and other forward looking information and information of a general economic or industry specific nature) on or prior to the applicable Closing Date in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby (taken as a whole) did not and, as of the applicable Closing Date, does not contain any material misstatement of fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading.

(h) Use of Proceeds. None of the Originators is engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock. No part of the proceeds of any purchase will be used (i) to purchase or carry any Margin Stock or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any Margin Stock or (ii) for a purpose in violation of Regulation U or Regulation X issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

(i) Good Title. Each Receivable constitutes an “account” or a “payment intangible” within the meaning of the UCC. Immediately prior to its transfer hereunder and upon the creation of each Receivable coming into existence after the applicable Initial Cutoff Date, each of the Originators owns and has good and marketable title thereto, free and clear of any Adverse Claim, except as created by the Transaction Documents.

(j) Perfection.

(i) If any transfer by any Originator to the Buyer of Receivables hereunder shall be characterized in any manner other than a true sale or true contribution or such transfer for any reason shall be ineffective or unenforceable, this Agreement creates a valid and continuing security interest (as defined in the UCC) in all right, title and interest of each of the Originators in the Originator Collateral in favor of the Buyer, which security interest is prior to all other Adverse Claims and is enforceable as such as against creditors and purchasers from any of the Originators.

(ii) If any transfer by any Originator to the Buyer of Receivables hereunder shall be characterized in any manner other than a true sale or true contribution or such transfer for any reason shall be ineffective or unenforceable, there have been duly filed all financing statements or other similar instruments or documents necessary under the UCC (or any comparable law) of all appropriate jurisdictions to perfect the Buyer’s ownership interest and security interest in the Originator Collateral.

(k) Liens. Other than the security interest granted to the Buyer pursuant to this Agreement, none of the Originators has pledged, assigned, sold, granted a security interest in, or otherwise conveyed, any of the Originator Collateral.

 

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(l) Places of Business and Locations of Records. The Originators’ principal places of business, chief executive offices and the offices where each of the Originators keeps all of its Records are located at the address(es) listed on Exhibit II attached hereto or such other locations of which the Buyer has been notified in accordance with Section 4.2(a) in jurisdictions where all action required by Section 4.2(a) has been taken and completed.

(m) Collections. The conditions and requirements set forth in Section 4.1(i) have at all times been satisfied and duly performed. The names and addresses of all Lock-Box Banks, together with the account numbers of its Collection Accounts at each Lock-Box Bank and the post office box number of each Lock-Box, are listed on Exhibit III attached hereto. None of the Originators has granted any Person, other than the Buyer (and its assigns), as contemplated by this Agreement, dominion and control of any Lock-Box or Collection Account, or the right to take dominion and control of any such Lock-Box or Collection Account at a future time or upon the occurrence of a future event. Each of the Originators has complied with the terms of each, and not made changes (without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent) to any Lock-Box Agreement. All Obligors have been directed by it to make payments on their Receivables to a Lock-Box listed on Exhibit III attached hereto.

(n) Names. The name in which each of the Originators has executed this Agreement is identical to its name as indicated on the public record of its jurisdiction of incorporation (as contemplated by § 9-503(a)(1) of the UCC) and in the past five (5) years, it has not used any corporate names, trade names or assumed names other than the name in which it has executed this Agreement and as listed on Exhibit II attached hereto.

(o) Ownership of the Buyer. CMC owns, directly or indirectly, 100% of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Buyer, free and clear of any Adverse Claim (subject to Section 4.2(i), other than Adverse Claims granted in connection with any amendment of refinancing of the Senior Credit Agreement). Such Equity Interests are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and there are no options, warrants or other rights to acquire securities of the Buyer.

(p) Not an Investment Company. None of the Originators is an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or any successor statute.

(q) Compliance with Credit and Collection Policy. Each of the Originators has complied with the Credit and Collection Policy in all material respects with regard to each Receivable and the related Contract, and has not made any change to such Credit and Collection Policy, except such change as to which the Buyer (or its assigns) has been notified in accordance with Section 4.1(a)(iv).

(r) Fair Value. With respect to each Receivable purchased hereunder by the Buyer, (i) the consideration received by the applicable Originator represents adequate consideration and fair and reasonably equivalent value for such Purchased Receivable as of the date of its acquisition hereunder and (ii) such consideration is not less than the fair market value of such Purchased Receivable as of the date of its acquisition hereunder. With respect to each Receivable contributed hereunder by CMC to the Buyer, (i) the consideration received by CMC represents adequate consideration and fair and reasonably equivalent value for such Contributed Receivable as of the date of its contribution hereunder and (ii) such consideration is not less than the fair market value of such Contributed Receivable as of the date of its contribution hereunder.

(s) Enforceability of Contracts. Each Contract with respect to each Receivable is effective to create, and has created, a valid and binding obligation of the related Obligor to pay the Outstanding Balance of such Receivable created thereunder and any accrued interest thereon, enforceable against such Obligor in accordance with its terms, except as such enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar laws relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

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(t) Eligible Receivables. Each Receivable identified as an Eligible Receivable on any Purchase Report was an Eligible Receivable on the date it was acquired from the applicable Originator hereunder.

(u) Accounting. In its stand-alone financial statements and unconsolidated worksheets, each Originator accounts for the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as true sales of the Receivables to the Buyer and/or as contributions of the Receivables to the Buyer’s equity capital and not as loans secured thereby.

(v) No Material Adverse Effect. Since August 31, 2020, no event, change or condition has occurred that (individually or in the aggregate) has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, an Material Adverse Effect.

(w) No Termination Event. No event has occurred and is continuing and no condition exists or could result from any sale or contribution hereunder or from the application of the proceeds therefrom, that constitutes a Termination Event.

(x) OFAC; Sanctions; Anti-Corruption Laws; Anti-Money Laundering Laws. None of the Performance Guarantor, the Originators or any of their respective Subsidiaries is in violation of any applicable Sanctions or, in any material respect, any Anti-Corruption Law or Anti-Money Laundering Law, in each case in jurisdictions in which such Person is domiciled or conducts business. None of the Performance Guarantor, the Originators or any of their respective Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of such Person, any director, officer, employee, agent or Affiliate of the Performance Guarantor, such Originator or such Subsidiary is a Sanctioned Person or a Sanctioned Entity. The Performance Guarantor, the Originators or any of their respective Subsidiaries have conducted their businesses in compliance with all applicable Sanctions in jurisdictions in which such Persons are domiciled or conduct business. Each of the Performance Guarantor, the Originators and their respective Subsidiaries has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance with applicable Sanctions, Anti-Corruption Laws and Anti-Money Laundering Laws, in each case in jurisdictions in which such Originator is domiciled or conducts business. The Originators shall not use the proceeds of any sale hereunder directly or (to the knowledge of any Originator) indirectly to fund any operations in, finance any investments or activities in, or make any payments to, a Sanctioned Person or a Sanctioned Entity, or otherwise used in any manner that would result in a violation of any applicable Sanction, Anti-Corruption Law or Anti-Money Laundering Law, in each case applicable to jurisdictions in which such Originator is domiciled or conducts business, by any Person that is Party to this Agreement (including the Administrative Agent and the Purchasers).

(y) PATRIOT Act. To the extent applicable, each of the Performance Guarantor and the Originators is in compliance, in all material respects, with the (a) Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, and each of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) and any other enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto, and (b) the PATRIOT Act.

 

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Article III

Conditions of Purchase

Section 3.1. Conditions Precedent to Closing.

The occurrence of the applicable Closing Date under this Agreement is subject to the conditions precedent that (a) the Buyer shall have received on or before the applicable Closing Date those documents listed on Schedule A attached hereto and (b) all of the conditions to the effectiveness of the Purchase Agreement shall have been satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms thereof.

Section 3.2. Conditions Precedent to Subsequent Payments.

The Buyer’s obligation to pay for any Purchased Receivable or accept the contribution of any Contributed Receivable coming into existence after the applicable Initial Cutoff Date shall be subject to the conditions precedent that: (a) the Facility Termination Date shall not have occurred under the Purchase Agreement; and (b) on the date such Receivable came into existence, the following statements shall be true (and acceptance of the proceeds of any payment for such Receivable shall be deemed a representation and warranty by each of the Originators that such statements are then true):

(i) the representations and warranties set forth in Article II are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date such Receivable came into existence as though made on and as of such date (except to the extent such representations and warranties refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date); and

(ii) no Termination Event is continuing.

Notwithstanding the foregoing conditions precedent, upon payment of the Purchase Price for any Receivable (whether by payment of cash, through an increase in the amounts outstanding under a Subordinated Note, by offset of amounts owed to the Buyer and/or by offset of capital contributions), title to such Receivable and the other related Receivables Assets shall vest in the Buyer, whether or not the conditions precedent to the Buyer’s obligation to pay for such Receivable were in fact satisfied. The failure of any of the Originators to satisfy any of the foregoing conditions precedent, however, shall give rise to a right of the Buyer to rescind the related purchase and direct the applicable Originator to pay to the Buyer an amount equal to the Purchase Price payment that shall have been made with respect to any Receivables related thereto.

Article IV

Covenants

Section 4.1. Affirmative Covenants of Each of the Originators.

Until the date on which this Agreement terminates in accordance with its terms, each of the Originators hereby covenants as set forth below:

(a) Financial Reporting. Each of the Originators will maintain, for itself and each of its Subsidiaries, a system of accounting established and administered in accordance with GAAP, and will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Buyer (or its assigns):

 

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(i) Originators’ Compliance Certificates. A compliance certificate in the form of Exhibit IV hereto, duly executed by an Authorized Officer of each of the Originators.

(ii) Performance Guarantor Statements and Reports. Copies of all financial statements, reports, registration statements and certificates furnished by the Performance Guarantor pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

(iii) Copies of Notices. Promptly upon its receipt of any notice, request for consent, financial statements, certification, report or other communication under or in connection with any Lock-Box Agreement or other Transaction Document from any Person other than the Buyer, the Purchasers, any Administrator or the Administrative Agent, copies of the same.

(iv) Change in Credit and Collection Policy. At least thirty (30) days prior to the effectiveness of any change in or amendment to the Credit and Collection Policy, a copy of the Credit and Collection Policy then in effect and a notice (A) indicating such proposed change or amendment, and (B) if such proposed change or amendment could be reasonably likely to adversely affect the collectability of the Receivables or decrease the credit quality of any newly created Receivables, requesting the Buyer’s (and the Administrative Agent’s, as the Buyer’s assignee) consent thereto.

(v) Other Information. Promptly, from time to time, such other information, documents, records or reports relating to the Receivables or the condition or operations, financial or otherwise, of each of the Originators as the Buyer (or its assigns) may from time to time reasonably request in order to protect the interests of the Buyer (and its assigns) under or as contemplated by this Agreement.

(b) Notices. Each of the Originators will notify the Buyer in writing of any of the following promptly upon learning of the occurrence thereof, describing the same and, if applicable, the steps being taken with respect thereto:

(i) Termination Events or Unmatured Termination Events. The occurrence of each Termination Event and each Unmatured Termination Event, by a statement of its Authorized Officer.

(ii) Defaults Under Other Agreements. The occurrence of a default or an event of default under any other financing arrangement pursuant to which it is a debtor or an obligor; provided that no notice shall be required under this clause (ii) with respect to any default involving less than $50,000,000.

(c) Compliance with Laws and Preservation of Existence. Each of the Originators will comply in all respects with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, orders, writs, judgments, injunctions, decrees or awards to which it may be subject, except where the failure to comply is not reasonably likely to result in an Material Adverse Effect. Each of the Originators will do or cause to be done all things reasonably necessary to preserve, renew and maintain its legal existence, rights, franchises and privileges in the jurisdiction of its incorporation, and qualify and remain qualified in good standing as a foreign entity in each jurisdiction where its business is conducted, except where the failure to do so would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(d) Audits. Each of the Originators will furnish to the Buyer (or the Administrative Agent) from time to time such information with respect to it and the Receivables as the Buyer (or the Administrative Agent) may reasonably request. Each of the Originators will, from time to time during regular business hours as reasonably requested by the Buyer (or the Administrative Agent), upon at least 5 (five) Business Days’ notice and at its sole cost, permit the Buyer (and the Administrative Agent) or their respective agents or representatives (i) to examine and make copies of and abstracts from all Records in its possession or under its control relating to the Receivables and the Related Security, including, without limitation, the related Invoices and Contracts, and (ii) to visit its offices and properties for the purpose of examining such materials described in clause (i) above, and to discuss matters relating to its financial condition or the Receivables and the Related Security or its performance under any of the Transaction Documents or its performance under the Contracts and, in each case, with any of its officers or employees having knowledge of such matters (each such visit, a “Review”); provided that, so long as no Termination Event has occurred and is continuing, the Originators shall only be responsible for the costs and expenses of two (2) such Reviews in any one Contract Year.

(e) Keeping and Marking of Records and Books.

(i) Each of the Originators will maintain and implement administrative and operating procedures (including, without limitation, an ability to recreate records evidencing Receivables in the event of the destruction of the originals thereof), and keep and maintain all documents, books, records and other information reasonably necessary or advisable for the collection of all Receivables (including, without limitation, records adequate to permit the immediate identification of each new Receivable and all Collections of and adjustments to each existing Receivable). Each of the Originators will give the Buyer (or its assigns) notice of any change in the administrative and operating procedures referred to in the previous sentence.

(ii) Each of the Originators will (A) on or prior to the date hereof, mark its master data processing records and other books and records relating to the Receivables with a legend, acceptable to the Buyer (and the Administrative Agent), describing the Buyer’s ownership interests in the Receivables and further describing ownership interests in the Receivable of the Administrative Agent (on behalf of the Purchasers) under the Purchase Agreement and (B) upon the reasonable request of the Buyer (or its assigns) following the occurrence of a Termination Event hereunder: (1) mark each Contract with a legend describing the Buyer’s ownership interests in the Receivables and further describing ownership interests in the Receivable of the Administrative Agent (on behalf of the Purchasers), and (2) deliver to the Buyer (or its assigns) all Contracts (including, without limitation, all multiple originals of any such Contract) relating to the Receivables that are in any of the Originators’ possession.

(f) Compliance with Contracts and Credit and Collection Policy. Each of the Originators will timely and fully (i) perform and comply in all material respects with all provisions, covenants and other promises required to be observed by it under the Contracts related to the Receivables, and (ii) comply in all material respects with the Credit and Collection Policy in regard to each Receivable and the related Contract.

(g) Ownership. Each of the Originators will take all necessary action to establish and maintain, irrevocably in the Buyer, (i) legal and equitable title to the Receivables and the Collections and (ii) all of its right, title and interest in the Related Security associated with the Receivables, in each case, free and clear of any Adverse Claims other than Adverse Claims in favor of the Buyer (and its assigns) (including, without limitation, the filing of all financing statements or other similar instruments or documents necessary under the UCC (or any comparable law) of all appropriate jurisdictions to perfect the Buyer’s security interest in the Receivables Assets and such other action to perfect, protect or more fully evidence the security interest of Buyer as Buyer (or its assigns) may reasonably request).

 

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(h) Separateness. Each of the Originators acknowledges that the Administrative Agent and the Purchasers are entering into the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement in reliance upon the Buyer’s identity as a legal entity that is separate from the Performance Guarantor, any of the Originators and any of their Affiliates. Therefore, from and after the date of execution and delivery of this Agreement, each of the Originators will take all reasonable steps including, without limitation, all steps that the Buyer or any assignee of the Buyer may from time to time reasonably request to maintain the Buyer’s identity as a separate legal entity and to make it manifest to third parties that the Buyer is an entity with assets and liabilities distinct from those of the Performance Guarantor, any of the Originators and their Affiliates and not just a division of any of the foregoing. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing and in addition to the other covenants set forth herein, each of the Originators (i) will not hold itself out to third parties as liable for the debts of the Buyer nor purport to own the Receivables Assets, (ii) will take all other actions necessary on its part to ensure that the Buyer is at all times in compliance with the “separateness covenants” set forth in Section 5.1(i) of the Purchase Agreement and (iii) will cause all tax liabilities arising in connection with the transactions contemplated herein or otherwise to be allocated between it and the Buyer on an arm’s-length basis and in a manner consistent with the procedures set forth in U.S. Treasury Regulations §§1.1502-33(d) and 1.1552-1.

(i) Collections. Each of the Originators will cause (i) all proceeds from all Lock-Boxes to be directly deposited by a Lock-Box Bank into a Collection Account and (ii) each Lock-Box and Collection Account to be subject at all times to a Lock-Box Agreement that is in full force and effect. In the event any payments relating to Receivables or Related Security are remitted directly to it or any of its Affiliates, it will remit (or will cause all such payments to be remitted) directly to a Lock-Box Bank and deposited into a Collection Account within one (1) Business Day following receipt thereof and, at all times prior to such remittance, it will itself hold or, if applicable, will cause such payments to be held for the exclusive benefit of the Buyer and its assigns. Each of the Originators will transfer exclusive ownership, dominion and control of each Lock-Box and Collection Account to the Buyer and shall not grant the right to take dominion and control of any Lock-Box or Collection Account at a future time or upon the occurrence of a future event to any Person, except to the Buyer (or its assigns) as contemplated by this Agreement and the Purchase Agreement.

(j) Taxes. To the extent not done by the Performance Guarantor, each of the Originators will file all Tax returns and reports required by law to be filed by it and promptly pay all Taxes and governmental charges at any time owing, except any such taxes which are not yet delinquent or are being diligently contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP shall have been set aside on its books. Each of the Originators will pay when due any Taxes payable in connection with the Receivables, exclusive of Taxes on or measured by income or gross receipts of the Buyer and its assigns.

(k) Accuracy of Information. All information hereinafter furnished by any of the Originators or any of its Affiliates to the Buyer or the Administrative Agent (or any Purchaser) for purposes of or in connection with this Agreement, any of the other Transaction Documents or any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby will be true and accurate on the date such information is stated or certified and will not contain any material misstatement of fact or omit to state a material fact or any fact necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading.

(l) OFAC; Sanctions, Anti-Corruption Laws and Anti-Money Laundering Laws. Each of the Originators will implement and maintain in effect policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance with applicable Sanctions, Anti-Corruption Laws and Anti-Money Laundering Laws, in each case in jurisdictions in which such Originator is domiciled or conducts business.

 

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Section 4.2. Negative Covenants of the Each of the Originators.

Until the date on which this Agreement terminates in accordance with its terms, each of the Originators hereby covenants that:

(a) Change in Name, Jurisdiction of Incorporation, Offices and Records. It will not change (i) its name as it appears in the official public record in the jurisdiction of its incorporation (as contemplated by Section 9-503(a)(1) of the UCC), (ii) its status as a “registered organization” (within the meaning of Article 9 of any applicable enactment of the UCC), (iii) its organizational identification number, if any, issued by its jurisdiction of incorporation, or (iv) its jurisdiction of incorporation unless it shall have: (A) given the Buyer (or its assigns) at least thirty (30) days’ prior written notice thereof; (B) at least ten (10) days prior to such change, delivered to the Buyer (or its assigns) all financing statements, instruments and other documents reasonably requested by the Buyer (or its assigns) in connection with such change or relocation and (C) caused an opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to the Buyer and its assigns to be delivered to the Buyer and its assigns that the Buyer’s security interest is perfected and of first priority, such opinion to be in form and substance similar to the related opinion delivered on the applicable Closing Date and otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Buyer and its assigns.

(b) Change in Payment Instructions to Obligors. It will not add or terminate any bank as a Lock-Box Bank, or make any change in the instructions to Obligors of Receivables regarding payments to be made to any Lock-Box or Collection Account, unless the Buyer (or its assigns) shall have received, at least twenty (20) days before the proposed effective date therefor, (i) written notice of such addition, termination or change and (ii) with respect to the addition of a Lock-Box Bank or a Collection Account or Lock-Box, an executed Lock-Box Agreement with respect to the new Collection Account or Lock-Box; provided, however, that it may make changes in instructions to Obligors regarding payments if such new instructions require such Obligor to make payments to another existing Collection Account and/or Lock-Box subject to a Lock-Box Agreement.

(c) Modifications to Contracts and Credit and Collection Policy. It will not make any change in or amendment to the Credit and Collection Policy that could reasonably be expected to decrease the credit quality of any newly created Receivable or materially adversely affect the collectability of the Receivables. Except as otherwise permitted in its capacity as Servicer pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, it will not extend, amend or otherwise modify the terms of any Receivable or any Contract related to such Receivable in any material respect other than in accordance with the Credit and Collection Policy.

(d) Sales, Liens. Subject to Section 4.2(i) and other than the ownership and security interests contemplated by the Transaction Documents, it will not sell, assign (by operation of law or otherwise) or otherwise dispose of, or grant any option with respect to, or create or suffer to exist any Adverse Claim upon (including, without limitation, the filing of any financing statement) or with respect to, any Receivables Asset, or upon or with respect to any Contract under which any Receivable arises, or any Lock-Box or Collection Account, or assign any right to receive income with respect thereto (other than, in each case, the creation of a security interest therein in favor of the Buyer provided for herein), and it will defend the right, title and interest of the Buyer in, to and under any of the foregoing property, against all claims of third parties claiming through or under it. None of the Originators shall create or suffer to exist any Adverse Claim on any of its inventory, the financing or lease of which gives rise to any Receivable.

(e) Accounting for Purchase. It will not account for or treat (whether in financial statements or otherwise) the transactions contemplated hereby in any manner other than the sale and/or contribution and absolute assignment of the Receivables and the Related Security by it to the Buyer or in any other respect account for or treat the transactions contemplated hereby in any manner other than as a sale and/or contribution and absolute assignment of the Receivables and the Related Security by it to the Buyer except to the extent that such transactions are not recognized on account of consolidated financial reporting in accordance with GAAP.

 

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(f) OFAC; Sanctions; Anti-Corruption Laws; Anti-Money Laundering Laws. It will not use the proceeds of any sale hereunder directly or (to the knowledge of any Originator) indirectly to fund any operations in, finance any investments or activities in, or make any payments to, a Sanctioned Person or a Sanctioned Entity, or otherwise used in any manner that would result in a violation of any applicable Sanction, Anti-Corruption Law or Anti-Money Laundering Law, in each case applicable to jurisdictions in which such Originator is domiciled or conducts business, by any Person that is Party to this Agreement (including the Administrative Agent and the Purchasers). the proceeds of any sale hereunder directly or (to the knowledge of any Originator) indirectly (i) to fund any operations in, finance any investments or activities in, or make any payments to, a Sanctioned Person or a Sanctioned Entity, or otherwise in any manner that would result in a violation of any applicable Sanction, Anti-Corruption Law or Anti-Money Laundering Law by any Person that is party to this Agreement (including the Administrative Agent and the Purchasers), or (ii) directly or (to the knowledge of any Originator) indirectly, to make any payments to any governmental official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political office, or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of (i) the FCPA, (ii) the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, and each of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) and any other enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto and/or (iii) the PATRIOT Act.

(g) Deposits to Lock-Boxes and Collection Accounts. It will not deposit or otherwise credit, or cause or knowingly permit to be so deposited or credited, to any Collection Account or Lock-Box cash or cash proceeds other than Collections.

(h) Pledge and Security Agreements. It will not enter into any agreement to pledge the capital stock of the Buyer or the Subordinated Notes unless the provisions of such pledge agreement are consistent with the provisions set forth in Schedule B hereto.

(i) Divisions of each Originator. Without giving the Buyer and the Administrative Agent at least fifteen (15) Business Days’ prior written notice, (i) it will not change or otherwise modify (or permit or consent to any change or other modification of) any division listed on Schedule C of the Purchase Agreement in a manner adversely affecting the security interest of the Administrative Agent or the perfection thereof or (ii) it will not change or otherwise modify (or permit or consent to any change or other modification of) the name of any such division listed on Schedule C of the Purchase Agreement.

Article V

Termination Events

Section 5.1. Termination Events.

The occurrence of any one or more of the following events shall constitute a Termination Event:

(a) Any representation, warranty, certification or statement made or deemed made by any of the Originators in this Agreement, any other Transaction Document or in any other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto shall prove to have been false or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed made; provided that the materiality threshold in this subsection shall not be applicable with respect to any representation or warranty which itself contains a materiality threshold.

 

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(b) Any of the Originators shall fail to make any payment or deposit required hereunder when due and such failure shall continue for one (1) Business Day.

(c) Any of the Originators shall fail to perform any covenant contained in Section 1.1(b) or 4.2 when due and, in the case of a failure to perform under Section 4.2, such failure shall continue for five (5) Business Days after discovery thereof by the applicable Originator.

(d) Any of the Originators shall fail to perform or observe any other term, covenant or agreement under any of the Transaction Documents and continues for thirty (30) days from the date that is the earlier of (i) notice thereof to the applicable Originator by any Person and (ii) discovery thereof by the applicable Originator.

(e) An Event of Bankruptcy shall occur with respect to any of the Originators.

(f) (i) A Performance Undertaking Default shall occur, (ii) the Performance Undertaking shall cease to be effective or to be the legally valid, binding and enforceable obligation of the Performance Guarantor, or (iii) the Performance Guarantor shall repudiate its obligations thereunder.

(g) The Internal Revenue Service shall file notice of a lien pursuant to Section 6323 of the Code with respect to amounts in excess of $500,000 with regard to any of the Receivables or Related Security and such lien shall not have been released within thirty (30) days.

Section 5.2. Remedies.

Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of a Termination Event, the Buyer may take any of the following actions: (a) declare the Termination Date to have occurred, whereupon the Termination Date shall forthwith occur, without demand, protest or further notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by each of the Originators; provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an Event of Bankruptcy with respect to any of the Originators or the Performance Guarantor, or of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to any of the Originators or the Performance Guarantor, under the Federal Bankruptcy Code, the Termination Date shall automatically occur, without demand, protest or any notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by each of the Originators and (b) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, declare that the Default Fee shall accrue with respect to any amounts then due and owing by any of the Originators to the Buyer. The aforementioned rights and remedies shall be without limitation and shall be in addition to all other rights and remedies of the Buyer and its assigns otherwise available under any other provision of this Agreement, by operation of law, at equity or otherwise, all of which are hereby expressly preserved, including, without limitation, all rights and remedies provided under the UCC, all of which rights shall be cumulative.

Article VI

Indemnification

Section 6.1. Indemnities by the Each of the Originators.

Without limiting any other rights that the Buyer may have hereunder or under applicable law, each of the Originators hereby agrees to indemnify (and to pay, within thirty (30) days after receipt of a reasonably detailed invoice, to) the Buyer, the Administrative Agent, the Purchasers, and their respective Related Parties (each of the foregoing, an “Indemnified Party”) from and against any and all damages, losses, claims, Taxes, liabilities, costs, reasonable expenses and for all other amounts payable, including reasonable fees and disbursements of external counsel (including local counsel) to the Indemnified Parties, awarded against or incurred by any of them arising out of or as a result of this Agreement or the acquisition, either directly or indirectly, by the Buyer of the Receivables (all of the foregoing being collectively referred to as “Indemnified Amounts”), excluding, however, in all of the foregoing instances:

 

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(a) Indemnified Amounts to the extent a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction holds that such Indemnified Amounts resulted from the gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct on the part of such Indemnified Party or any of its Related Parties;

(b) Indemnified Amounts to the extent the same includes losses in respect of Receivables that are uncollectible on account of the insolvency, bankruptcy or lack of creditworthiness or financial inability or unwillingness to pay (other than a dispute giving rise to a Purchase Price Credit) of the related Obligor; or

(c) Excluded Taxes;

provided, however, that nothing contained in this sentence shall limit the liability of any of the Originators or limit the recourse of the Buyer to any of the Originators for amounts otherwise specifically provided to be paid by the applicable Originator under the terms of this Agreement, and provided, further, that none of the Originators shall have an obligation to reimburse any Indemnified Party for Indemnified Amounts unless such Indemnified Party, if requested, provides the applicable Originator with an undertaking in which such Indemnified Party agrees to refund and return any and all amounts paid by the applicable Originator to such Indemnified Party in respect of any amounts described in the foregoing clauses (a), (b) and (c). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing indemnification, but subject in each case to clauses (a), (b) and (c) above, any of the Originators shall indemnify the Buyer for Indemnified Amounts relating to or resulting from:

(i) any representation or warranty made by any of the Originators (or any officers of such Originators) under or in connection with any Purchase Report, this Agreement, any other Transaction Document or any other information or report delivered by the applicable Originator pursuant hereto or thereto for which the Buyer has not received a Purchase Price Credit that shall have been false or incorrect when made or deemed made;

(ii) the failure by any Originator to comply with any applicable law, rule or regulation with respect to any Receivable, Invoice or Contract related thereto, or the nonconformity of any Receivable, Invoice or Contract included therein with any such applicable law, rule or regulation or any failure of any Originator to keep or perform any of its obligations, express or implied, with respect to any Contract;

(iii) any failure of any Originator to perform its duties, covenants or other obligations in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document (subject to applicable grace periods);

(iv) any products liability, environmental liability, personal injury or damage, suit or other similar claim arising out of or in connection with merchandise, insurance or services that are the subject of any Contract or any Receivable;

(v) any dispute, claim, offset or defense (other than discharge in bankruptcy of the Obligor) of the Obligor to the payment of any Receivable (including, without limitation, a defense based on such Receivable or the related Contract not being a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Obligor enforceable against it in accordance with its terms), or any other claim resulting from the sale of the merchandise or service related to such Receivable or the furnishing or failure to furnish such merchandise or services;

 

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(vi) the commingling of Collections of Receivables at any time by any Originator or any of its Affiliates with other funds;

(vii) any investigation, litigation or proceeding related to or arising from this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, the transactions contemplated hereby, the use of the proceeds of any sale hereunder, the ownership of the Receivables or any other investigation, litigation or proceeding relating to any Originator in which any Indemnified Party becomes involved as a result of any of the transactions contemplated hereby;

(viii) any Event of Bankruptcy with respect to any Originator or the Performance Guarantor;

(ix) any failure to vest in the Buyer legal and equitable title to, and ownership of, the Receivables and the Collections, and all of any Originators’ right, title and interest in the Related Security associated with the Receivables, in each case, free and clear of any Adverse Claim (except as created by the Transaction Documents);

(x) the failure to have filed, or any delay in filing, financing statements or other similar instruments or documents under the UCC of any applicable jurisdiction or other applicable laws with respect to any Originator Collateral with respect thereto, and the proceeds of any thereof, whether at the time of its acquisition or at any subsequent time, except to the extent such failure or delay is caused by the Buyer or its assigns;

(xi) any action or omission by any Originator which reduces or impairs the rights of the Buyer with respect to any Originator Collateral or the value of any Receivable;

(xii) any attempt by any Person to void any sale or contribution hereunder under statutory provisions or common law or equitable action; and

(xiii) the failure of any Receivable reflected as an Eligible Receivable on any Purchase Report to be an Eligible Receivable at the time acquired by the Buyer.

To the extent permitted by applicable law, none of the Originators shall assert and each Originator hereby waives any claim against any Indemnified Party on any theory of liability for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement or any other Transaction Document. The provisions of this Section 6.1 shall survive termination of this Agreement and the Purchase Agreement.

Section 6.2. Other Costs and Expenses.

Each of the Originators shall pay to the Buyer on demand all reasonable and documented fees, costs and out-of-pocket expenses in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby and the other documents to be delivered hereunder, and any amendments to or waivers of the foregoing. Each of the Originators shall pay to the Buyer on demand any and all reasonable fees, costs and expenses of the Buyer, if any, and the Administrative Agent (as Buyer’s assignee), including reasonable and documented counsel fees and expenses in connection with the enforcement of the Transaction Documents and in connection with any restructuring or workout of the Transaction Documents or the administration of the Transaction documents following a Termination Event.

 

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Article VII

Miscellaneous

Section 7.1. Waivers and Amendments.

(a) No failure or delay on the part of the Buyer (or its assigns) in exercising any power, right or remedy under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such power, right or remedy preclude any other further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other power, right or remedy. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and nonexclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law. Any waiver of this Agreement shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given.

(b) No provision of this Agreement may be amended, supplemented, modified or waived except in writing signed by each of the Originators, the Buyer and the Administrative Agent and, to the extent required under the Purchase Agreement, the Purchasers or the Required Purchasers. No provision of any Subordinated Note be amended, supplemented, modified or waived except in writing signed by the applicable Originator, the Buyer and the Administrative Agent and, to the extent required under the Purchase Agreement, the Purchasers or the Required Purchasers.

Section 7.2. Notices.

All communications and notices provided for hereunder shall be in writing (including email, bank wire, or electronic facsimile transmission or similar writing) and shall be given to the other parties hereto at their respective addresses or facsimile numbers set forth on the signature pages hereof or at such other address or facsimile number as such Person may hereafter specify for the purpose of notice to each of the other parties hereto. Each such notice or other communication shall be effective (a) if given by facsimile, upon the receipt thereof, (b) if given by mail, three (3) Business Days after the time such communication is deposited in the mail with first class postage prepaid or (c) if given by electronic mail, upon delivery thereof to the last known valid electronic mail address of the related recipient or (d) if given by any other means, when received at the address specified in accordance with this Section 7.2.

Section 7.3. Protection of Ownership Interests of the Buyer.

(a) Each of the Originators agrees that from time to time, at its expense, it will promptly execute and deliver all instruments and documents, and take all actions, that may be necessary or desirable, or that the Buyer (or its assigns) may reasonably request, to perfect, protect or more fully evidence the interest of the Buyer (or its assigns) hereunder, or to enable the Buyer (or its assigns) to exercise and enforce their rights and remedies hereunder. At any time following the occurrence of a Termination Event or an Unmatured Termination Event hereunder, the Buyer (or its assigns) may, at any Originator’s sole cost and expense, direct any Originator to notify the Obligors of Receivables of the ownership interest of the Buyer under this Agreement and may also direct that payments of all amounts due or that become due under any or all Receivables be made directly to the Buyer or its designee.

(b) If, following the occurrence of a Termination Event or an Unmatured Termination Event hereunder, any of the Originators fails to perform any of its obligations hereunder, the Buyer (or its assigns) may (but shall not be required to) perform, or cause performance of, such obligations, and the Buyer’s (or such assigns’) costs and expenses incurred in connection therewith shall be payable by the Originators as provided in Section 6.2. Each of the Originators irrevocably authorizes the Buyer (and its assigns) at any time and from time to time in the sole discretion of the Buyer (or its assigns), and appoints the Buyer (and its assigns) as its attorney(ies)-in-fact, to act on behalf of each of the Originators (i) to file on behalf of each

 

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of the Originators as debtors financing statements necessary or desirable in the Buyer’s (or its assigns’) sole discretion to perfect and to maintain the perfection and priority of the interest of the Buyer in the Originator Collateral and associated Related Security and Collections and (ii) to file a carbon, photographic or other reproduction of this Agreement or any financing statement with respect to the Receivables as a financing statement in such offices as the Buyer (or its assigns) in their sole discretion deem necessary or desirable to perfect and to maintain the perfection and priority of the Buyer’s security interest in the Originator Collateral. This appointment is coupled with an interest and is irrevocable.

(c) (i) Each of the Originators hereby authorizes the Buyer (or its assigns) to file financing statements and other filing or recording documents with respect to the Receivables and Related Security (including any amendments thereto, or continuation or termination statements thereof), without the signature or other authorization of any of the Originators, in such form and in such offices as the Buyer (or any of its assigns) reasonably determines appropriate to perfect or maintain the perfection of the ownership or security interests of the Buyer (or its assigns) hereunder, (ii) each of the Originators acknowledges and agrees that it is not authorized to, and will not, file financing statements or other filing or recording documents with respect to the Receivables or Related Security (including any amendments thereto, or continuation or termination statements thereof), without the express prior written approval by the Administrative Agent (as the Buyer’s assignee), consenting to the form and substance of such filing or recording document, and (iii) each of the Originators hereby approves, authorizes and ratifies any filings or recordings made by or on behalf of the Administrative Agent (as the Buyer’s assign) in connection with the perfection of the ownership or security interests in favor of the Buyer or the Administrative Agent (as the Buyer’s assign).

Section 7.4. Confidentiality.

(a) Each of the Originators shall maintain and shall cause each of its employees and officers to maintain the confidentiality of this Agreement, the Fee Letter and the other confidential or proprietary information with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Administrator and the Purchasers and their respective businesses obtained by it or them in connection with the structuring, negotiating and execution of the transactions contemplated herein that has been identified to the Seller Parties as confidential or proprietary, except that any Originator and such Originators’ Affiliates, officers and employees may disclose such information to such Originator’s (or such Affiliates’) external accountants, consultants and attorneys and as required by any applicable law, Governmental Authority or order of any judicial or administrative proceeding.

(b) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, each Originator hereby consents to the disclosure of any nonpublic information with respect to it (i) to the Buyer, the Administrative Agent or the Purchasers by each other, (ii) by the Buyer, the Administrative Agent or the Purchasers to any prospective or actual assignee or participant of any of them and (iii) if applicable, by the Purchasers and the Administrative Agent to any rating agency, Commercial Paper dealer or provider of a surety, guaranty or credit or liquidity enhancement to any entity organized for the purpose of purchasing, or making loans secured by, financial assets for which any Purchaser or one of its Affiliates, acts as the administrative agent and to any officers, directors, employees, outside accountants, attorneys, financial advisors and consultants of any of the foregoing and (iv) by the Purchasers and the Administrative Agent to any judicial, administrative or regulatory authority or in connection with proceedings (whether or not having the force or effect of law) pursuant to any law, rule, regulation, direction, request or order of any such judicial, administrative or regulatory authority or issued in proceedings.

 

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(c) The Buyer shall maintain and shall cause each of its employees and officers to maintain the confidentiality of this Agreement and the other confidential or proprietary information with respect to each of the Originators, the Obligors and their respective businesses obtained by it in connection with the due diligence evaluations, structuring, negotiating, execution and administration of the Transaction Documents, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and any other activities of the Buyer arising from or related to the transactions contemplated herein provided, however, that each of the Buyer and its employees and officers shall be permitted to disclose such confidential or proprietary information: (i) to the Administrative Agent and the initial Purchasers, (ii) to any officers, directors, employees, outside accountants and attorneys of any of the foregoing who need to know such information and who are instructed to maintain the confidentiality of such information in conformity with this Section 7.4, and (iii) to the extent required pursuant to any applicable law, rule, regulation, direction, request or order of any judicial, administrative or regulatory authority or proceedings with competent jurisdiction (whether or not having the force or effect of law).

Section 7.5. Bankruptcy Petition.

Each of the Originators covenants and agrees that, prior to the date that is one year and one day after the payment in full of all outstanding obligations of the Buyer under the Purchase Agreement, it will not institute against, or join any other Person in instituting against, the Buyer or any commercial paper conduit that hereafter becomes a Purchaser under the Purchase Agreement, any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceedings or other similar proceeding under the laws of the United States or any state of the United States.

Section 7.6. Amounts to be paid by Buyer.

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Buyer shall not have any obligation to pay any amount required to be paid by it hereunder in excess of any amount available to it after paying or making provision for the payment of its obligations under the Purchase Agreement. All payment obligations of the Buyer hereunder are contingent on the availability of funds in excess of the amounts necessary to pay its obligations under the Purchase Agreement.

Section 7.7. Setoff.

(a) None of the Originators’ obligations under this Agreement shall be affected by any right of setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right the applicable Originator may have against the Buyer, any of the Purchasers, the Administrative Agent or any assignee, all of which setoff rights are hereby waived by each of the Originators as against such obligations.

(b) The Buyer shall have the right to set-off against each of the Originators any amounts to which any of the Originators may be entitled and to apply such amounts to any claims the Buyer may have against the applicable Originator from time to time under this Agreement. Upon any such set-off, the Buyer shall give notice of the amount thereof and the reasons therefor to the applicable Originator.

Section 7.8. CHOICE OF LAW.

THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.

Section 7.9. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION.

EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY UNITED STATES FEDERAL OR NEW YORK STATE COURT SITTING IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY DOCUMENT EXECUTED BY ANY PARTY

 

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PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT, AND EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN ANY SUCH COURT AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE AS TO THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN SUCH A COURT OR THAT SUCH COURT IS AN INCONVENIENT FORUM. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL LIMIT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO (OR ITS ASSIGNS) TO BRING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST ANY OTHER PARTY HERETO IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING BY ANY PARTY HERETO AGAINST ANY OTHER PARTY HERETO OR ANY AFFILIATE THEREOF INVOLVING, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ANY MATTER IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR CONNECTED WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY DOCUMENT EXECUTED BY ANY PARTY HEETO PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE BROUGHT ONLY IN A COURT IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK.

Section 7.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING INVOLVING, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ANY MATTER (WHETHER SOUNDING IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR CONNECTED WITH THIS AGREEMENT, EACH OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENT, ANY DOCUMENT EXECUTED BY ANY OF THE PARTIES HERETO PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE RELATIONSHIP ESTABLISHED HEREUNDER OR THEREUNDER.

Section 7.11. Integration; Binding Effect; Survival of Terms.

(a) THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENT CONTAIN THE FINAL AND COMPLETE INTEGRATION OF ALL PRIOR EXPRESSIONS BY THE PARTIES HERETO WITH RESPECT TO THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF AND SHALL CONSTITUTE THE ENTIRE AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES HERETO WITH RESPECT TO THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF SUPERSEDING ALL PRIOR OR CONTEMPORANEOUS ORAL OR WRITTEN UNDERSTANDINGS. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES HERETO WITH RESPECT TO THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS.

(b) This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of each Originator, the Buyer and their respective successors and permitted assigns (including any trustee in bankruptcy). No Originator may assign any of its rights and obligations hereunder or any interest herein without the prior written consent of the Buyer. The Buyer may assign at any time its rights and obligations hereunder and interests herein to any other Person without the consent of any of the Originators. Without limiting the foregoing, each Originator acknowledges that the Buyer, pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, may assign to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Purchasers, its rights, remedies, powers and privileges hereunder and that the Administrative Agent may further assign such rights, remedies, powers and privileges to the extent permitted in the Purchase Agreement. Each of the Originators agrees that the Administrative Agent, as the assignee of the Buyer, shall, subject to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, have the right to enforce this Agreement and to exercise directly all of the Buyer’s rights and remedies under this Agreement (including, without limitation, the right to give or withhold any consents or approvals of the Buyer to be given or withheld hereunder) and each of the Originators agrees to cooperate fully with the Administrative Agent in the exercise of such rights and remedies. This Agreement shall create and constitute the continuing obligations of the parties hereto in accordance with its terms and shall remain in full force and effect until terminated in accordance with its terms; provided, however, that the rights and remedies with respect to (i) any breach of any representation and warranty made by any of the Originators pursuant to Article II; (ii) the indemnification and payment provisions of Article VI; and (iii) Section 7.5 shall be continuing and shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

 

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Section 7.12. Counterparts; Severability; Section References.

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which when taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page by facsimile shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement. Any provisions of this Agreement which are prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. Unless otherwise expressly indicated, all references herein to “Article,” “Section,” “Schedule” or “Exhibit” shall mean articles and sections of, and schedules and exhibits to, this Agreement.

Section 7.13. PATRIOT Act.

The Administrative Agent, as the Buyer’s assignee, hereby notifies you on behalf of the Purchasers that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act, Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001), as amended (the “PATRIOT Act”), the Administrative Agent and the Purchasers may be required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each of the Originators and the Performance Guarantor, which information includes the name, address, tax identification number and other information regarding each of the Originators and the Performance Guarantor that will allow the Administrative Agent and the Purchasers to identify each of the Originators and the Performance Guarantor in accordance with the PATRIOT Act. This notice is given in accordance with the requirements of the PATRIOT Act. Each of the Originators agrees to provide the Administrative Agent, from time to time prior to and after the applicable Closing Date, with all documentation and other information required by bank regulatory authorities under “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the PATRIOT Act.

<Signature pages follow>

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed and delivered by their duly authorized officers as of the date hereof.

 

COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY,

as an Originator

By:  

                     

Name:  
Title:  
Address for Notices:
6565 N. MacArthur Blvd., Suite 800
Irving, TX 75039
Attn:               Treasurer
Email:               [email protected]
Phone:               (972) 308-4724

 

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STRUCTURAL METALS, INC.,

as an Originator

By:  

                     

Name:  
Title:  
Address for Notices:
6565 N. MacArthur Blvd., Suite 800
Irving, TX 75039
Attn:               Treasurer
Email:               [email protected]
Phone:               (972) 308-4724

 

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CMC STEEL FABRICATORS, INC.,

as an Originator

By:  

                     

Name:  
Title:  
Address for Notices:
6565 N. MacArthur Blvd., Suite 800
Irving, TX 75039
Attn:               Treasurer
Email:               [email protected]
Phone:               (972) 308-4724

 

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SMI STEEL LLC,

as an Originator

By:  

                     

Name:  
Title:  
Address for Notices:
6565 N. MacArthur Blvd., Suite 800
Irving, TX 75039
Attn:               Treasurer
Email:               [email protected]
Phone:               (972) 308-4724

 

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OWEN ELECTRIC STEEL COMPANY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, as an Originator
By:  

                     

Name:  
Title:  
Address for Notices:
6565 N. MacArthur Blvd., Suite 800
Irving, TX 75039
Attn:               Treasurer
Email:               [email protected]
Phone:               (972) 308-4724

 

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AHT, INC.,

as an Originator

By:  

                     

Name:  
Title:  
Address for Notices:
6565 N. MacArthur Blvd., Suite 800
Irving, TX 75039
Attn:               Treasurer
Email:               [email protected]
Phone:               (972) 308-4724

 

CMC STEEL OKLAHOMA, LLC

as an Originator

By:  

                     

Name:  
Title:  
Address for Notices:
6565 N. MacArthur Blvd., Suite 800
Irving, TX 75039
Attn:               4 Treasurer
Email:               [email protected]
Phone:               (972) 308-4724

 

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CMC STEEL US, LLC,

as an Originator

By:  

                     

Name:  
Title:  
Address for Notices:
6565 N. MacArthur Blvd., Suite 800
Irving, TX 75039
Attn:               Treasurer
Email:               [email protected]
Phone:               (972) 308-4724

 

TAMCO,

as an Originator

By:  

                     

Name:  
Title:  
Address for Notices:
6565 N. MacArthur Blvd., Suite 800
Irving, TX 75039
Attn:               Treasurer
Email:               [email protected]
Phone:               (972) 308-4724

 

CMC POST OKLAHOMA, LLC,

as an Originator

By:  

                     

Name:  
Title:  
Address for Notices:
6565 N. MacArthur Blvd., Suite 800
Irving, TX 75039
Attn:               Treasurer
Email:               [email protected]
Phone:               (972) 308-4724

 

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CMC RECEIVABLES, INC.,

as the Buyer

By:  

                     

Name:  
Title:  
Address for Notices:
6565 N. MacArthur Blvd., Suite 1036
Irving, TX 75039
Attn:               Treasurer
Email:               [email protected]
Phone:               (972) 308-4724

 

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Exhibit I

Definitions

This is Exhibit I to the Agreement (as hereinafter defined). As used in the Agreement and the Exhibits and Schedules thereto, capitalized terms have the meanings set forth in this Exhibit I (such meanings to be equally applicable to the singular and plural forms thereof). If a capitalized term is used in the Agreement, or any Exhibit or Schedule thereto, and is not otherwise defined therein or in this Exhibit I, such term shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Exhibit I to the Purchase Agreement (hereinafter defined).

“Additional Contributed Receivables” has the meaning specified in Section 1.2(b)(iii).

Administrative Agent” has the meaning specified in the Preliminary Statements.

Agreement” has the meaning specified in the preamble.

Anti-Corruption Laws means the FCPA, the U.K. Bribery Act of 2010, as amended, and all other applicable laws and regulations or ordinances concerning or relating to bribery or corruption in any jurisdiction in which the Performance Guarantor, any Originator or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates is located or is doing business.

“Anti-Money Laundering Laws” means the applicable laws or regulations in any jurisdiction in which the Performance Guarantor, any Originator or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates is located or is doing business that relates to money laundering, or any financial record keeping and reporting requirements related thereto.

“Available Cash” means, on any date of determination, cash available to the Buyer from any source that is not required to be paid to or set aside for the benefit of the Administrative Agent or the Purchasers under the Purchase Agreement.

Buyer” has the meaning specified in the preamble.

“Closing Date” means, as to CMC, April 5, 2011, and as to each Subsidiary Originator, the Business Day after its Initial Cutoff Date.

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

Collection Account means a Lock-Box Account under and as defined in the Purchase Agreement in which Buyer has been granted a security interest under Section 1.6 of this Agreement.

Collections means, with respect to any Receivable, all cash collections and other cash proceeds of such Receivable, including, without limitation, all Finance Charges, if any, all cash proceeds of Related Security with respect to such Receivable and all Purchase Price Credits now or hereafter owing in connection with such Receivable.

Contract means a written agreement, pursuant to or under which an Obligor shall be obligated to pay for merchandise purchased or services rendered and including all items and provisions incorporated or implied by applicable law, including, without limitation, the relevant UCC.

 

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“Contributed Receivables” has the meaning specified in Section 1.1(a).

“Contributed Receivables Assets” has the meaning specified in Section 1.1(a)

Contributed Value means the Outstanding Balance of a Contributed Receivable.

Default Fee” means a per annum rate of interest equal to the sum of (i) the Yield Rate plus (ii) 2.00% per annum.

Discount Factor” means a percentage calculated to provide the Buyer with a reasonable return on its investment in the Receivables after taking account of (i) the time value of money based upon the anticipated dates of collection of the Receivables and the cost to the Buyer of financing its investment in the Receivables during such period and (ii) the risk of nonpayment by the Obligors. Each of the Originators and the Buyer may agree from time to time and at any time to change the Discount Factor based on changes in one or more of the items affecting the calculation thereof, provided that any change to the Discount Factor shall take effect as of the commencement of a Calculation Period, shall apply only prospectively and shall not affect the Purchase Price payment made prior to the Calculation Period during which each of the Originators and the Buyer agree to make such change. As of April 1, 2021, the Discount Factor is 2.0%.

Equity Interests” means Capital Securities and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Securities, but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Securities.

Event of Bankruptcy means, with respect to any Person, (i) that such Person (a) shall generally not pay its debts as such debts become due or (b) shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally or (c) shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; (ii) any proceeding shall be instituted by or against such Person seeking to adjudicate it as bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking liquidation, winding up, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, protection, relief or composition of it or its debts under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors, or seeking the entry of an order for relief or the appointment of a receiver, trustee or other similar official for it or any substantial part of its property, and, if instituted against such Person, shall remain undischarged for a period of 60 days; or (iii) such Person or any Subsidiary shall take any corporate or similar action to authorize any of the actions set forth in the preceding clauses (i) or (ii).

“FCPA” means the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

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

Initial Cutoff Date” means (a) solely as to CMC-US and Tamco, October 31, 2019, (b) solely as to CMC Steel Oklahoma, LLC, August 31, 2018, (c) solely as to Owen Electric Company of South Carolina, April 30, 2013, (d) solely as to Post, March 31, 2021, and (e) as to all other Originators, March 31, 2010.

Invoice means a written or electronic invoice, bill or statement of account evidencing a Receivable, pursuant to or under which an Obligor shall be obligated to pay for merchandise purchased or services rendered and including all items and provisions incorporated or implied by applicable law, including, without limitation, the relevant UCC.

 

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Margin Stock has the meaning assigned to this term in Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as in effect from time to time.

“Monthly Settlement Date” means the second Business Day after delivery of each Purchase Report hereunder.

Net Worth” means, as of the last Business Day of each Calculation Period preceding any date of determination, the excess, if any, of (i) the aggregate Outstanding Balance of the Receivables at such time, over (ii) the sum of (A) the Aggregate Invested Amount outstanding at such time, plus (B) the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the Subordinated Loans (including any Subordinated Loan proposed to be made on the date of determination).

OFAC” means The United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Organic Documents” means, for any Person, the documents for its formation and organization, which, for example, (i) for a corporation are its articles of incorporation, certificate of incorporation or other corporate charter document, as applicable, and its bylaws, (ii) for a partnership are its certificate of partnership (if applicable) and partnership agreement, (iii) for a limited liability company are its certificate of formation or organization and its operating agreement, regulations or the like and (iv) for a trust is the trust agreement, declaration of trust, indenture or bylaws under which it is created.

Original Balance” means, with respect to any Receivable coming into existence after the date hereof, the Outstanding Balance of such Receivable on the date it was created.

Originators” has the meaning specified in the preamble.

Originator Collateral” has the meaning specified in Section 1.6.

“PATRIOT Act” has the meaning specified in Section 7.13.

Payment Date” means each Business Day on which an Originator is open for business.

Performance Guarantor means Commercial Metals Company, a Delaware corporation, and its successors.

Performance Undertaking Default has the meaning specified in the Performance Undertaking.

Purchase Agreement” has the meaning specified in the Preliminary Statements.

Purchase Price” means, with respect to any sale of Purchased Receivables by an Originator hereunder, the aggregate price to be paid by the Buyer to the applicable Originator in accordance with Section 1.2 for the Purchased Receivables Assets being sold to the Buyer, which price shall equal on any date (i) the product of (A) the Outstanding Balance of the Purchased Receivables on such date, multiplied by (B) one minus the Discount Factor in effect on such date, minus (ii) any Purchase Price Credits to be credited against the Purchase Price otherwise payable in accordance with Section 1.2.

Purchase Price Credit” has the meaning specified in Section 1.3.

Purchase Report” has the meaning specified in Section 1.1(b).

 

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Purchased Receivables” has the meaning specified in Section 1.1(a).

Purchased Receivables Assets” has the meaning specified in Section 1.1(a).

Related Parties means, with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees, trustees, agents and advisors of such Person and its Affiliates.

Required Capital Amount” means, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to the greater of (i) 50% of the Purchase Limit under the Purchase Agreement, and (ii) the product of (A) 1.5 times the product of the Default Ratio times the Default Horizon Ratio, each as determined from the most recent Monthly Report received from the Servicer under the Purchase Agreement, and (B) the Outstanding Balance of all Receivables as of such date, as determined from the most recent Monthly Report or Interim Report received from the Servicer under the Purchase Agreement.

Required Contributed Amount” means, as of any date of determination, the amount, if positive, by which the Required Capital Amount exceeds the Buyer’s Net Worth.

“Sanctioned Entity” means any country or territory to the extent that such country or territory itself is the subject of any Sanction.

“Sanctioned Person” means, at the time of determination (a) any Person named on the list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons maintained by OFAC, OFAC’s consolidated “Non-SDN” list or any other Sanctions-related list maintained by any Governmental Authority, in each case that would constitute a violation of applicable laws, (b) a Person that is a target of Sanctions, (c) any Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Entity.

“Sanctions” means individually and collectively, respectively, any and all economic sanctions, trade sanctions, financial sanctions, sectoral sanctions, secondary sanctions, trade embargoes anti-terrorism laws and other sanctions laws, regulations or embargoes, to the extent imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by: (a) the United States of America, including those administered by OFAC, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Commerce, or through any existing or future executive order, (b) the United Nations Security Council, (c) the European Union or any European Union member state, (d) Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom, or (d) any other Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over the Originators and the Buyer or any of their respective Subsidiaries.

Subordinated Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 1.2(c).

Subordinated Note” means any promissory note in substantially the form of Exhibit V as more fully described in Section 1.2, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

“Subsidiary Originator” means each Originator other than CMC.

Taxes means any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, charges, liabilities or withholdings imposed by any Governmental Authority.

Termination Date” means the earliest to occur of (i) the Facility Termination Date (as defined in the Purchase Agreement), (ii) the Business Day immediately prior to the occurrence of an Event of Bankruptcy with respect to any of the Originators or the Performance Guarantor, (iii) the Business Day specified in a written notice from the Administrative Agent as the Buyer’s assignee to any Originator following the occurrence of any other Termination Event, and (iv) the date which is 10 Business Days after the Buyer’s receipt of written notice from the Originators that it wishes to terminate the facility evidenced by this Agreement.

 

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Termination Event” has the meaning specified in Section 5.1.

Transaction Documents means, collectively, this Agreement, the Purchase Agreement, the Fee Letter, the Lock-Box Agreements, the Subordinated Notes, the Performance Undertaking and all of the other instruments, documents, certificates and other agreements executed and delivered by any Originator or the Performance Guarantor in connection with any of the foregoing, in each case, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

UCC” mean, with respect to any jurisdiction, the Uniform Commercial Code as from time to time in effect in such jurisdiction.

Unmatured Termination Event” means an event which, with the passage of time or the giving of notice, or both, could constitute a Termination Event.

All accounting terms not specifically defined herein shall be construed in accordance with GAAP. All terms used in Article 9 of the UCC in the State of New York, and not specifically defined herein, are used herein as defined in such Article 9.

 

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Omnibus Amendment No. 4

 

EXHIBIT C

PERFORMANCE UNDERTAKING, AS AMENDED AND RESTATED HEREBY

[See Attached]

 


EXHIBIT C TO OMNIBUS AMENDMENT NO. 4

PERFORMANCE UNDERTAKING

[AS AMENDED AND RESTATED BY OMNIBUS AMENDMENT NO. 4 DATED AS OF APRIL 1, 2021]

THIS PERFORMANCE UNDERTAKING (as amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Undertaking”), dated as of April 5, 2011, as amended and restated in Omnibus Amendment No. 4, by Commercial Metals Company, a Texas corporation (“CMC” or “Provider”), in favor of CMC Receivables, Inc., a Delaware corporation (together with its successors and assigns, “Recipient”).

RECITALS

1. STRUCTURAL METALS, INC., a Texas corporation (“SMI”), CMC STEEL FABRICATORS, INC., a Texas corporation (“CMC Steel”), SMI STEEL LLC, an Alabama limited liability company (“SMI Steel”), OWEN ELECTRIC STEEL COMPANY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, a South Carolina corporation (Owen Electric), AHT, INC., a Pennsylvania corporation (“AHT”), CMC STEEL OKLAHOMA, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (Oklahoma), CMC STEEL US, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (CMC-US), and TAMCO, a California corporation (TAMCO) and CMC POST OKLAHOMA, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (Post and together with CMC, SMI, CMC Steel, SMI Steel, Owen Electric, Oklahoma, CMC-US, and TAMCO, the “Originators” and each of the Originators other than CMC, a Subsidiary Originator), CMC and Recipient have entered into a Receivables Sale Agreement, dated as of April 5, 2011 (as amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Sale Agreement”), pursuant to which CMC and the Subsidiary Originators, subject to the terms and conditions contained therein, are selling their right, title and interest in certain of their accounts receivable to Recipient.

2. Each of the Subsidiary Originators is a Subsidiary of Provider, and Provider is expected to receive substantial direct and indirect benefits from the sale of accounts by the Subsidiary Originators to the Recipient pursuant to the Sale Agreement (which benefits are hereby acknowledged).

3. As an inducement for Recipient to purchase the Subsidiary Originators’ accounts pursuant to the Sale Agreement, Provider has agreed to guaranty the due and punctual performance by the Subsidiary Originators of their respective obligations under the Sale Agreement.

4. Provider wishes to guaranty the due and punctual performance by the Subsidiary Originators of their respective obligations to Recipient under or in respect of the Sale Agreement as provided herein.

AGREEMENT

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which Provider hereby acknowledges, Provider hereby agrees as follows:

Section 1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the respective meanings assigned thereto in the Sale Agreement or, if not defined in the Sale Agreement, in the Purchase Agreement (as hereinafter defined). In addition:

“Agreements” means, collectively, the Sale Agreement and the Purchase Agreement.

Contractual Obligation” of any Person shall mean any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or undertaking under which such Person is obligated or by which it or any of the property owned by it is bound.

 

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Obligations” means, collectively, all covenants, agreements, terms, conditions and indemnities to be performed and observed by any Subsidiary Originator under and pursuant to the Sale Agreement and each other document executed and delivered by such Subsidiary Originator pursuant to the Sale Agreement, including, without limitation, the due and punctual payment of all sums which are or may become due and owing by such Subsidiary Originator under the Sale Agreement, whether for fees, expenses (including counsel fees), indemnified amounts or otherwise, whether upon any termination or for any other reason.

“Purchase Agreement” means that certain Receivables Purchase Agreement dated as of April 5, 2011 among Recipient, as Seller, Provider, as initial Servicer, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., individually, and the other purchasers from time to time party thereto (each, together with its successors and permitted assigns, a “Purchaser” and, together with its successors and assigns, the “Purchasers”), the Administrators from time to time party thereto, and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for the Purchasers (in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns, the “Administrative Agent”), as the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

Performance Undertaking Default means the occurrence of any of the following:

(a) Any representation, warranty, certification or statement made or deemed made by any of the Provider in this Undertaking or in any other document delivered pursuant hereto shall prove to have been false or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed made; provided that the materiality threshold in this subsection shall not be applicable with respect to any representation or warranty which itself contains a materiality threshold;

(b) Any Termination Event shall occur under the Sale Agreement; or

(c) An Event of Bankruptcy shall occur with respect to the Provider.

Requirements of Law” for any Person shall mean the articles or certificate of incorporation and bylaws or other organizational or governing documents of such Person, and any law, treaty, rule or regulation, or determination of an arbitrator or a court or other governmental authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.

Section 2. Guaranty of Performance of Obligations. Provider hereby guarantees to Recipient, the full and punctual payment and performance by the Subsidiary Originators of their respective Obligations. This Undertaking is an absolute, unconditional and continuing undertaking of the full and punctual performance of all of the Obligations and each other document executed and delivered by any Subsidiary Originator pursuant to the Sale Agreement and is in no way conditioned upon any requirement that Recipient first attempt to collect any amounts owing by any Subsidiary Originator to Recipient, the Administrative Agent, or the Purchasers from any other Person or resort to any collateral security, any balance of any deposit account or credit on the books of Recipient, the Administrative Agent, or any Purchaser in favor of any Subsidiary Originator or any other Person or other means of obtaining payment. Should any Subsidiary Originator default in the payment or performance of any of the Obligations, Recipient (or its assigns) may cause the immediate performance by Provider of the Obligations of such Subsidiary Originator and cause any payment Obligations to become forthwith due and payable to Recipient (or its assigns), without demand or notice of any nature (other than as expressly provided herein), all of which are hereby expressly waived by Provider. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Undertaking is not a guarantee of the collection of any of the Receivables and Provider shall not be responsible for any Obligations to the extent the failure to perform such Obligations by any Subsidiary Originator results from Receivables being uncollectible on account of the insolvency, bankruptcy or lack of creditworthiness or

 

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other financial or credit condition resulting in the inability to pay in respect of an Obligor or unwillingness to pay (other than a dispute giving rise to a Purchase Price Credit) of the related Obligor; provided that nothing herein shall relieve any Subsidiary Originator from performing in full its Obligations or Provider of its undertaking hereunder with respect to the full performance of such duties.

Section 3. Provider’s Further Agreements to Pay. Provider further agrees, as the principal obligor and not as a guarantor only, to pay to Recipient (and its assigns), forthwith upon demand in funds immediately available to Recipient, all reasonable costs and expenses (including court costs and reasonable legal expenses) incurred or expended by Recipient in connection with the Obligations, this Undertaking and the enforcement thereof, together with interest on amounts recoverable under this Undertaking from the time when such amounts become due until payment, at a rate of interest (computed for the actual number of days elapsed based on a 360 day year) equal to the lesser of (a) LMIR per annum and (b) the maximum interest rate permitted by applicable law.

Section 4. Waivers by Provider. Provider waives notice of acceptance of this Undertaking, notice of any action taken or omitted by Recipient (or its assigns) in reliance on this Undertaking, and any requirement that Recipient (or its assigns) be diligent or prompt in making demands under this Undertaking, giving notice of the Termination Date, any Amortization Event, any other default or omission by any Subsidiary Originator or asserting any other rights of Recipient under this Undertaking. Provider warrants that it has adequate means to obtain from each Subsidiary Originator, on a continuing basis, information concerning the financial condition of such Subsidiary Originator, and that it is not relying on Recipient to provide such information, now or in the future. Provider also irrevocably waives all defenses (i) that at any time may be available in respect of the Obligations by virtue of any statute of limitations, valuation, stay, moratorium law or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or (ii) that arise under the law of suretyship, including impairment of collateral. Recipient (and its assigns) shall be at liberty, without giving notice to or obtaining the assent of Provider and without relieving Provider of any liability under this Undertaking, to deal with each Subsidiary Originator and with each other party who now is or after the date hereof becomes liable in any manner for any of the Obligations, in such manner as Recipient in its sole discretion deems fit, and to this end Provider agrees that the validity and enforceability of this Undertaking, including without limitation, the provisions of Section 8 hereof, shall not be impaired or affected by any of the following: (a) any extension, modification or renewal of, or indulgence with respect to, or substitutions for, the Obligations or any part thereof or any agreement relating thereto at any time (except that such extension, modification or renewal of, or indulgence with respect to, or substitutions for, the Obligations, if duly granted or agreed to be granted in accordance with the Transaction Documents, shall be given effect in determining the extent of the Obligations which the Undertaking is required to perform or cause to be performed); (b) any failure or omission to enforce any right, power or remedy with respect to the Obligations or any part thereof or any agreement relating thereto, or any collateral securing the Obligations or any part thereof; (c) any waiver of any right, power or remedy or of the Termination Date, any Amortization Event or any default with respect to the Obligations or any part thereof or any agreement relating thereto (except that such waiver, if duly granted, agreed to be granted or made in accordance with the Transaction Documents, shall be given effect in determining the extent of the Obligations which the Undertaking is required to perform or cause to be performed); (d) any release, surrender, compromise, settlement, waiver, subordination or modification, with or without consideration, of any other obligation of any person or entity with respect to the Obligations or any part thereof (except that such release, surrender, compromise, settlement, waiver, subordination or modification, if duly granted, agreed to be granted or made in accordance with the Transaction Documents, shall be given effect in determining the extent of the Obligations which the Undertaking is required to perform or cause to be performed); (e) the enforceability or validity of the Obligations or any part thereof or the genuineness, enforceability or validity of any agreement relating thereto or with respect to the Obligations or any part thereof; (f) the application of payments received from any source to the payment of any payment Obligations or any part thereof or amounts which are not covered by this Undertaking even though Recipient (or its assigns) might lawfully

 

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have elected to apply such payments to any part or all of the payment Obligations or to amounts which are not covered by this Undertaking; (g) the existence of any claim, setoff or other rights which Provider may have at any time against any Subsidiary Originator in connection herewith or any unrelated transaction; (h) any assignment or transfer of the Obligations or any part thereof; or (i) any failure on the part of any Subsidiary Originator to perform or comply with any term of the Sale Agreement or any other document executed in connection therewith or delivered thereunder, all whether or not Provider shall have had notice or knowledge of any act or omission referred to in the foregoing clauses (a) through (i) of this Section 4.

Section 5. Unenforceability of Obligations Against Subsidiary Originators. Notwithstanding (a) any change of ownership of any Subsidiary Originator or the insolvency, bankruptcy or any other change in the legal status of any Subsidiary Originator; (b) the change in or the imposition of any law, decree, regulation or other governmental act which does or might impair, delay or in any way affect the validity, enforceability or the payment when due of the Obligations; (c) the failure of any Subsidiary Originator or Provider to maintain in full force, validity or effect or to obtain or renew when required all governmental and other approvals, licenses or consents required in connection with the Obligations or this Undertaking, or to take any other action required in connection with the performance of all obligations pursuant to the Obligations or this Undertaking; or (d) if any of the moneys included in the Obligations have become irrecoverable from the applicable Subsidiary Originator for any other reason other than final payment in full of the payment Obligations in accordance with their terms, this Undertaking shall nevertheless be binding on Provider. This Undertaking shall be in addition to any other guaranty or other security for the Obligations, and it shall not be rendered unenforceable by the invalidity of any such other guaranty or security. In the event that acceleration of the time for payment of any of the Obligations is stayed upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of any Subsidiary Originator or for any other reason with respect to any Subsidiary Originator, all such amounts then due and owing with respect to the Obligations under the terms of the Sale Agreement, or any other agreement evidencing, securing or otherwise executed in connection with the Obligations, shall be immediately due and payable by Provider.

Section 6. Representations and Warranties. Provider hereby represents and warrants to Recipient that:

(a) Organizational Existence; Compliance with Law. Provider (i) is duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, (ii) has the corporate or other organizational power and authority and the legal right to own and operate its property and to conduct its business, (iii) is duly qualified as a foreign corporation or other organization and in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where a failure to be so qualified would not have a Material Adverse Effect, and (iv) is in compliance with all Requirements of Law except where the failure to be in compliance would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Organizational Power; Authorization. Provider has the corporate or other organizational power and authority to make, deliver and perform this Undertaking and has taken all necessary corporate or other organizational action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Undertaking. No consent or authorization of, or filing with, any Person (including, without limitation, any governmental authority) is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by Provider, or the validity or enforceability against Provider of this Undertaking, other than such consents, authorizations or filings which have been made or obtained.

(c) Enforceable Obligations. This Undertaking has been duly executed and delivered, and this Undertaking constitutes legal, valid and binding obligations of Provider, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity. The execution and delivery of this Undertaking do not result in the creation or imposition of any Adverse Claim on assets of Provider.

 

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(d) No Material Litigation. No litigation, investigations or proceedings of or before any courts, tribunals, arbitrators or governmental authorities are pending or, to the knowledge of Provider, threatened in writing by or against Provider or any of its Subsidiaries, or against any of their respective properties or revenues, existing or future which, if adversely determined, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(e) No Legal Bar. The execution, delivery and performance by Provider of this Undertaking will not violate any material Requirements of Law or cause a breach or default under any of its material Contractual Obligations, where such violation would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(f) Disclosure and Material Adverse Effect. No representation or warranty contained in this Undertaking or in any other document furnished from time to time pursuant to the terms of this Undertaking, contains or will contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omits or will omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements herein or therein not misleading as of the date made or deemed to be made. Except as may be set forth herein, there is no fact known to Provider or any of its Subsidiaries which has had, or is reasonably expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.

(g) Compliance with Law. Provider is in compliance with all Requirements of Law, except where the failure to be in compliance would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

(h) Financial Condition. On the date hereof and after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, (i) the assets of Provider and its Subsidiaries, at fair valuation and based on their present fair saleable value, will exceed Provider’s or such Subsidiary’s debts, including contingent liabilities, (ii) the remaining capital of Provider or such Subsidiary will not be unreasonably small to conduct Provider’s or such Subsidiary’s business, and (iii) neither Provider nor any of its Subsidiaries will have incurred debts, or have intended to incur debts, beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature. For purposes of this Section 6(h), “debt” means any liability on a claim, and “claim” means (a) the right to payment, whether or not such right is reduced to judgment, liquidated, unliquidated, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, legal, equitable, secured or unsecured, or (b) the right to an equitable remedy for breach of performance if such breach gives rise to a right to payment, whether or not such right to an equitable remedy is reduced to judgment, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, secured or unsecured.

(i) Payment of Taxes and Claims, Etc. Provider has, and has caused each of its Subsidiaries to, pay (i) all taxes, assessments and governmental charges imposed upon it or upon its property, and (ii) all claims (including, without limitation, claims for labor, materials, supplies or services) which might, if unpaid, become a material Adverse Claim upon its property, unless, in each case, the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and adequate reserves have been maintained with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP.

Section 7. [Reserved.]

Section 8. Subrogation; Subordination. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, until the Obligations are paid in full, Provider: (a) will not enforce or otherwise exercise any right of subrogation to any of the rights of Recipient, the Administrative Agent or any Purchaser against any Subsidiary Originator, (b) hereby waives all rights of subrogation until the date after the Facility Termination Date on which all of the Aggregate Unpaids shall have been paid and performed in full

 

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(whether contractual, under Section 509 of the United States Bankruptcy Code, at law or in equity or otherwise) to the claims of Recipient, the Administrative Agent and the Purchasers against any Subsidiary Originator and all contractual, statutory or legal or equitable rights of contribution, reimbursement, indemnification and similar rights and “claims” (as that term is defined in the United States Bankruptcy Code) which Provider might now have or hereafter acquire against any Subsidiary Originator that arise from the existence or performance of Provider’s obligations hereunder, (c) will not claim any setoff, recoupment or counterclaim against any Subsidiary Originator in respect of any liability of Provider to such Subsidiary Originator and (d) waives any benefit of and any right to participate in any collateral security which may be held by the Administrative Agent or the Purchasers. The payment of any amounts due with respect to any indebtedness of any Subsidiary Originator now or hereafter owed to Provider is hereby subordinated to the prior payment in full of all of the Obligations. Provider agrees that, after the occurrence of any default in the payment or performance of any of the Obligations, Provider will not demand, sue for or otherwise attempt to collect any such indebtedness of any Subsidiary Originator to Provider until all of the Obligations shall have been paid and performed in full. If, notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, Provider shall collect, enforce or receive any amounts in respect of such indebtedness while any Obligations are still unperformed or outstanding, such amounts shall be collected, enforced and received by Provider as trustee for Recipient (and its assigns) and be paid over to Recipient (or its assigns) on account of the Obligations without affecting in any manner the liability of Provider under the other provisions of this Undertaking. The provisions of this Section 8 shall be supplemental to and not in derogation of any rights and remedies of Recipient under any separate subordination agreement which Recipient may at any time and from time to time enter into with Provider.

Section 9. Termination of Performance Undertaking. Provider’s obligations hereunder shall continue in full force and effect until all Obligations are finally paid and satisfied in full and the Sale Agreement is terminated, provided that this Undertaking shall continue to be effective or shall be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment or other satisfaction of any of the Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned upon the bankruptcy, insolvency, or reorganization of any Subsidiary Originator or otherwise, as though such payment had not been made or other satisfaction occurred, whether or not Recipient (or its assigns) is in possession of this Undertaking. No invalidity, irregularity or unenforceability by reason of the federal bankruptcy code or any insolvency or other similar law, or any law or order of any government or agency thereof purporting to reduce, amend or otherwise affect the Obligations shall impair, affect, be a defense to or claim against the obligations of Provider under this Undertaking.

Section 10. Effect of Bankruptcy. This Performance Undertaking shall survive the insolvency of any Subsidiary Originator and the commencement of any case or proceeding by or against any Subsidiary Originator under the federal bankruptcy code or other federal, state or other applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization statutes. No automatic stay under the federal bankruptcy code with respect to any Originator or other federal, state or other applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization statutes to which such Originator is subject shall postpone the obligations of Provider under this Undertaking.

Section 11. Setoff. Regardless of the other means of obtaining payment of any of the Obligations, Recipient (and its assigns) is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, without notice to Provider (any such notice being expressly waived by Provider) and to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any deposits and other sums against the obligations of Provider under this Undertaking, whether or not Recipient (or any such assign) shall have made any demand under this Undertaking unless such Obligations are contingent or unmatured.

 

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Section 12. Taxes. All payments to be made by Provider hereunder shall be made free and clear of any deduction or withholding. If Provider is required by law to make any deduction or withholding on account of tax or otherwise from any such payment, the sum due from it in respect of such payment shall be increased to the extent necessary to ensure that, after the making of such deduction or withholding, Recipient receives a net sum equal to the sum which it would have received had no deduction or withholding been made.

Section 13. Further Assurances. Provider agrees that it will from time to time, at the request of Recipient (or its assigns), provide information relating to the business and affairs of Provider as Recipient may reasonably request. Provider also agrees to do all such things and execute all such documents as Recipient (or its assigns) may reasonably consider necessary or desirable to give full effect to this Undertaking and to perfect and preserve the rights and powers of Recipient hereunder.

Section 14. Successors and Assigns. This Performance Undertaking shall be binding upon Provider, its successors and permitted assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Recipient and its successors and assigns. Provider may not assign or transfer any of its obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each of Recipient and the Administrative Agent (with the consent of all Purchasers). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, Recipient may assign or otherwise transfer the Sale Agreement, any other documents executed in connection therewith or delivered thereunder or any other agreement or note held by it evidencing, securing or otherwise executed in connection with the Obligations, or sell participations in any interest therein, to any other entity or other person, and such other entity or other person shall thereupon become vested, to the extent set forth in the agreement evidencing such assignment, transfer or participation, with all the rights in respect thereof granted to the Recipient herein.

Section 15. Amendments and Waivers. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Undertaking nor consent to any departure by Provider therefrom shall be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by Recipient, the Administrative Agent (with the consent of the Required Purchasers) and Provider. No failure on the part of Recipient to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right.

Section 16. Notices. All notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be made in writing and shall be addressed as follows: if to Provider, at the address set forth beneath its signature hereto, and if to Recipient, at the addresses set forth beneath its signature hereto, or at such other addresses as each of Provider or any Recipient may designate in writing to the other. Each such notice or other communication shall be effective (1) if given by telecopy, upon the receipt thereof, (2) if given by mail, three (3) Business Days after the time such communication is deposited in the mail with first class postage prepaid or (3) if given by any other means, when received at the address specified in this Section 16.

Section 17. GOVERNING LAW. THIS UNDERTAKING SHALL BE GOVERNED AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STATE OF NEW YORK (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION SECTION 5-1401 OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK BUT OTHERWISE WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES).

Section 18. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. EACH OF PROVIDER AND RECIPIENT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY UNITED STATES FEDERAL OR NEW YORK STATE COURT SITTING IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, NEW YORK, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS UNDERTAKING, THE AGREEMENTS OR ANY OTHER DOCUMENT EXECUTED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH OR DELIVERED THEREUNDER AND EACH OF

 

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PROVIDER AND RECIPIENT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN ANY SUCH COURT AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE AS TO THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN SUCH A COURT OR THAT SUCH COURT IS AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.

Section 19. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH OF PROVIDER AND RECEPIENT HEREBY WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING INVOLVING, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ANY MATTER (WHETHER SOUNDING IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR CONNECTED WITH THIS UNDERTAKING, ANY DOCUMENT EXECUTED BY PROVIDER OR RECIPIENT PURSUANT TO THIS UNDERTAKING OR THE RELATIONSHIP ESTABLISHED HEREUNDER OR THEREUNDER.

Section 20. Bankruptcy Petition. Provider hereby covenants and agrees that, prior to the date that is one year and one day after the payment in full of all outstanding senior Indebtedness of Recipient, it will not institute against, or join any other Person in instituting against, Recipient any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceedings or other similar proceeding under the laws of the United States or any state of the United States.

Section 21. Miscellaneous. This Undertaking constitutes the entire agreement of Provider with respect to the matters set forth herein. The rights and remedies herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law or any other agreement, and this Undertaking shall be in addition to any other guaranty of or collateral security for any of the Obligations. The provisions of this Undertaking are severable, and in any action or proceeding involving any state corporate law, or any state or federal bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other law affecting the rights of creditors generally, if the obligations of Provider hereunder would otherwise be held or determined to be avoidable, invalid or unenforceable on account of the amount of Provider’s liability under this Undertaking, then, notwithstanding any other provision of this Undertaking to the contrary, the amount of such liability shall, without any further action by Provider or Recipient, be automatically limited and reduced to the highest amount that is valid and enforceable as determined in such action or proceeding. Any provisions of this Undertaking which are prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. Unless otherwise specified, references herein to “Section” shall mean a reference to sections of this Undertaking.

Section 22. Counterparts. This Undertaking may be executed in two or more counterparts and by different parties on separate counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Provider has caused this Undertaking to be executed and delivered as of the date first above written.

 

COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
By:  

         

Name:  
Title:  

 

Address for Notices:
6565 N. MacArthur Blvd., Suite 800
Irving, TX 75039
Attn:   Treasurer
Email:   [email protected]
Phone:           (972) 308-4724

 

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Agreed to and accepted as of the date first above written:
CMC RECEIVABLES, INC.
By:  

         

Name:  
Title:  

 

Address for Notices:
6565 N. MacArthur Blvd., Suite 800
Irving, TX 75039
Attn:   Treasurer
Email:   [email protected]
Phone:           (972) 308-4724

 

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