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EX-32.2 - CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350 - EINSTEIN NOAH RESTAURANT GROUP INCdex322.htm
EX-32.1 - CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350 - EINSTEIN NOAH RESTAURANT GROUP INCdex321.htm
EX-31.2 - CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 - EINSTEIN NOAH RESTAURANT GROUP INCdex312.htm
EX-32.3 - CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING OFFICER PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350 - EINSTEIN NOAH RESTAURANT GROUP INCdex323.htm
EX-31.1 - CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 - EINSTEIN NOAH RESTAURANT GROUP INCdex311.htm
EX-23.1 - CONSENT OF GRANT THORNTON LLP - EINSTEIN NOAH RESTAURANT GROUP INCdex231.htm
EX-21.1 - LIST OF SUBSIDIARIES - EINSTEIN NOAH RESTAURANT GROUP INCdex211.htm
EX-10.24 - RHONDA J. PARISH OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT DATED JANUARY 13, 2010 - EINSTEIN NOAH RESTAURANT GROUP INCdex1024.htm
EX-10.23 - GUARANTY AND SECURITY AGREEMENT - EINSTEIN NOAH RESTAURANT GROUP INCdex1023.htm
10-K - FORM 10-K - EINSTEIN NOAH RESTAURANT GROUP INCd10k.htm

Exhibit 10.22

 

 

 

EXECUTION COPY

Published CUSIP Number: 28257RAA9

CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of December 20, 2010

among

EINSTEIN NOAH RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.

as the Borrower,

THE OTHER LOAN PARTIES PARTY HERETO,

THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO,

and

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer,

with

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Syndication Agent,

REGIONS BANK AND BBVA COMPASS,

as Co-Documentation Agents,

and

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED and

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Co-Lead Arrangers and Co-Book Managers

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Section

        Page  

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

     1   

1.01.

  

Defined Terms

     1   

1.02.

  

Other Interpretive Provisions

     31   

1.03.

  

Accounting Terms

     32   

1.04.

  

Rounding

     33   

1.05.

  

Times of Day

     33   

1.06.

  

Letter of Credit Amounts

     33   

ARTICLE II THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS

     33   

2.01.

  

The Loans

     33   

2.02.

  

Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans

     34   

2.03.

  

Letters of Credit

     35   

2.04.

  

Swing Line Loans

     44   

2.05.

  

Prepayments

     47   

2.06.

  

Termination or Reduction of Commitments

     49   

2.07.

  

Repayment of Loans

     50   

2.08.

  

Interest

     51   

2.09.

  

Fees

     52   

2.10.

  

Computation of Interest and Fees

     52   

2.11.

  

Evidence of Debt

     53   

2.12.

  

Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback

     53   

2.13.

  

Sharing of Payments by Lenders

     55   

2.14.

  

Cash Collateral

     56   

2.15.

  

Defaulting Lenders

     57   

2.16.

  

Increase in Revolving Credit Facility

     59   

2.17.

  

Increase in Term Facility

     61   

ARTICLE III TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

     63   

3.01.

  

Taxes

     63   

3.02.

  

Illegality

     66   

3.03.

  

Inability to Determine Rates

     67   

3.04.

  

Increased Costs; Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans

     68   

 

i


3.05.

  

Compensation for Losses

   69

3.06.

  

Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders

   70

3.07.

  

Survival

   70

ARTICLE IV CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS

   70

4.01.

  

Conditions of Initial Credit Extension

   70

4.02.

  

Conditions to all Credit Extensions

   74

ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

   75

5.01.

  

Existence, Qualification and Power

   75

5.02.

  

Authorization; No Contravention

   75

5.03.

  

Governmental Authorization; Other Consents

   75

5.04.

  

Binding Effect

   76

5.05.

  

Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect

   76

5.06.

  

Litigation

   77

5.07.

  

No Default

   77

5.08.

  

Ownership of Property

   77

5.09.

  

Environmental Compliance

   77

5.10.

  

Insurance

   78

5.11.

  

Taxes

   78

5.12.

  

ERISA Compliance

   79

5.13.

  

Subsidiaries; Equity Interests

   79

5.14.

  

Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act

   80

5.15.

  

Disclosure

   80

5.16.

  

Compliance with Laws

   81

5.17.

  

Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.

   81

5.18.

  

Solvency

   81

5.19.

  

Labor Matters

   81

5.20.

  

Collateral Documents

   81

5.21.

  

Unit Locations; Franchised Unit Locations

   81

5.22.

  

Franchise Agreements; License Agreements

   82

5.23.

  

Leases

   82

5.24.

  

Material Contracts

   82

5.25.

  

Use of Proceeds

   82

5.26.

  

Inactive Subsidiaries

   82

 

ii


5.27.

  

Compliance with OFAC Rules and Regulations

     83   

5.28.

  

Foreign Assets Control Regulations, Etc.

     83   

ARTICLE VI AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

     83   

6.01.

  

Financial Statements

     83   

6.02.

  

Compliance Certificates and Certain Reports Sent to Other Parties

     84   

6.03.

  

Notices

     87   

6.04.

  

Payment of Taxes, Other Claims Resulting in Liens and Material Obligations

     87   

6.05.

  

Preservation of Existence, Permits, Licenses, Etc.

     88   

6.06.

  

Maintenance of Properties

     88   

6.07.

  

Maintenance of Insurance

     88   

6.08.

  

Compliance with Laws

     88   

6.09.

  

Books and Records

     89   

6.10.

  

Inspection Rights

     89   

6.11.

  

Use of Proceeds

     89   

6.12.

  

Covenant to Guarantee Obligations and Give Security

     89   

6.13.

  

Compliance with Environmental Laws

     92   

6.14.

  

Compliance with Terms of Leaseholds

     92   

6.15.

  

Material Contracts

     92   

6.16.

  

Control Agreements

     93   

6.17.

  

Cash Collateral Accounts

     93   

6.18.

  

Further Assurances

     93   

6.19.

  

Interest Rate Hedging

     93   

ARTICLE VII NEGATIVE COVENANTS

     94   

7.01.

  

Liens

     94   

7.02.

  

Indebtedness

     95   

7.03.

  

Investments

     97   

7.04.

  

Fundamental Changes

     99   

7.05.

  

Dispositions

     100   

7.06.

  

Restricted Payments

     101   

7.07.

  

Change in Nature of Business

     103   

7.08.

  

Transactions with Affiliates

     103   

7.09.

  

Burdensome Agreements

     103   

 

iii


7.10.

  

Use of Proceeds

     104   

7.11.

  

Financial Covenants

     104   

7.12.

  

Capital Expenditures

     105   

7.13.

  

Amendments of Organization Documents

     105   

7.14.

  

Accounting Changes

     105   

7.15.

  

Amendment, Etc. of Indebtedness and Material Contracts

     105   

7.16.

  

Inactive Subsidiaries

     106   

7.17.

  

Sale-Leaseback Transactions

     106   

ARTICLE VIII EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

     106   

8.01.

  

Events of Default

     106   

8.02.

  

Remedies Upon Event of Default

     108   

8.03.

  

Application of Funds

     109   

ARTICLE IX ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

     110   

9.01.

  

Appointment and Authority

     110   

9.02.

  

Rights as a Lender

     111   

9.03.

  

Exculpatory Provisions

     111   

9.04.

  

Reliance by Administrative Agent

     112   

9.05.

  

Delegation of Duties

     112   

9.06.

  

Resignation of Administrative Agent

     113   

9.07.

  

Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders

     113   

9.08.

  

No Other Duties, Etc.

     114   

9.09.

  

Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim

     114   

9.10.

  

Collateral and Guaranty Matters

     115   

9.11.

  

Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements

     115   

ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS

     116   

10.01.

  

Amendments, Etc.

     116   

10.02.

  

Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communications

     118   

10.03.

  

No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement

     120   

10.04.

  

Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver

     121   

10.05.

  

Payments Set Aside

     123   

10.06.

  

Successors and Assigns

     123   

10.07.

  

Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality

     127   

10.08.

  

Right of Setoff

     128   

 

iv


10.09.

  

Interest Rate Limitation

     129   

10.10.

  

Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness

     129   

10.11.

  

Survival of Representations and Warranties

     130   

10.12.

  

Severability

     130   

10.13.

  

Replacement of Lenders

     130   

10.14.

  

Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

     131   

10.15.

  

Waiver of Jury Trial

     132   

10.16.

  

No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility

     132   

10.17.

  

Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents

     133   

10.18.

  

USA PATRIOT Act

     133   

10.19.

  

Advertisement, Promotion and Marketing

     133   

10.20.

  

ENTIRE AGREEMENT

     133   

 

v


SCHEDULES

2.01

  

Commitments and Applicable Percentages

2.03

  

Certain Letters of Credit

5.03

  

Certain Authorizations

5.08(b)

  

Owned Real Property

5.08(c)

  

Leased Real Property (Lessee/Lessor)

5.09

  

Environmental Matters

5.12(d)

  

Pension Plans

5.13

  

Subsidiaries and Other Equity Investments; Loan Parties

5.17

  

Intellectual Property Matters

5.21

  

Unit Locations; Franchised Unit Locations

5.22

  

Franchise Agreements; License Agreements

5.23

  

Leases

5.26

  

Inactive Subsidiaries

7.01(b)

  

Existing Liens

7.02(d)

  

Existing Indebtedness

7.03(f)

  

Existing Investments

7.09

  

Burdensome Agreements

10.02

  

Administrative Agent’s Office, Certain Addresses for Notices

EXHIBITS

Form of

A

  

Committed Loan Notice

B

  

Swing Line Loan Notice

C-1

  

Term Note

C-2

  

Revolving Credit Note

D

  

Compliance Certificate

E-1

  

Assignment and Assumption

E-2

  

Administrative Questionnaire

 

vi


CREDIT AGREEMENT

This CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of December 20, 2010, among EINSTEIN NOAH RESTAURANT GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), each other Loan Party (as defined herein) party hereto, each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “Lenders” and individually, a “Lender”), and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer.

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS:

The Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide a term loan facility and a revolving credit facility, and the Lenders have indicated their willingness to lend and the L/C Issuer has indicated its willingness to issue letters of credit, in each case, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.

In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree 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:

Account Control Agreement” means any deposit account control agreement, securities account control agreement or similar agreement entered into by a Loan Party, the Administrative Agent and the applicable financial institution, granting to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a perfected, first priority Lien and “control” (as defined in the UCC) in the applicable deposit account or securities account of a Loan Party.

Act” has the meaning specified in Section 10.18.

Administrative Agent” means Bank of America in its capacity as sole administrative agent and collateral agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent and collateral agent.

Administrative Agent’s Office” means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 10.02, or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify to the Borrower and the Lenders.

Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in substantially the form of Exhibit E-2 or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

Affiliate” means, with respect to any 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.

 

1


Agent Fee Letter” means that certain letter agreement dated October 29, 2010 by and among Bank of America, MLPF&S (as successor by merger to Banc of America Securities LLC) and the Borrower.

Aggregate Commitments” means the Commitments of all the Lenders.

Aggregate Credit Exposures” means, at any time, in respect of (a) the Term Facility, the aggregate principal amount of the Term Loans outstanding at such time and (b) in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility, the sum of (i) the unused portion of the Revolving Credit Facility at such time and (ii) the Total Revolving Credit Outstandings at such time.

Agreement” means this Credit Agreement.

Applicable Percentage” means (a) in connection with the Term Facility, with respect to any Term Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Term Facility represented by the principal amount of such Term Lender’s Term Loans at such time, subject to adjustment as provided in Sections 2.15 and 2.17, and (b) in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility, with respect to any Revolving Credit Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Revolving Credit Facility represented by such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment at such time, subject to adjustment as provided in Sections 2.15 and 2.16. If the commitment of each Revolving Credit Lender to make Revolving Credit Loans and the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02, or if the Revolving Credit Commitments have expired, then the Applicable Percentage of each Revolving Credit Lender in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility shall be determined based on the Applicable Percentage of such Revolving Credit Lender in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility most recently in effect, giving effect to any subsequent assignments. The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender in respect of each Facility is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender became a party hereto, as applicable.

Applicable Rate” means the following percentages per annum, based upon the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.02(a):

 

Applicable Rate
Pricing
Level
  

Consolidated

Leverage Ratio

  

Eurodollar

Rate Loans

and Letter of

Credit Fees

  

Base Rate

Loans

  

Commitment

Fee

1    >2.25:1    3.00%    2.00%    0.50%
2    >1.50:1 but <2.25:1    2.75%    1.75%    0.45%
3    <1.50:1    2.50%    1.50%    0.40%

 

2


Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the first Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a); provided, however, that if a Compliance Certificate is not delivered when due in accordance with such Section, then Pricing Level 1 shall apply as of the first Business Day after the date on which such Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered and shall remain in effect until the date on which such Compliance Certificate is delivered. The Applicable Rate in effect from the Closing Date through the first Business Day immediately following the date the Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a) for the Fiscal Quarter ended on or about June 30, 2011, shall be determined based upon Pricing Level II; provided that, if at any time during such period, Pricing Level I would otherwise be applicable in accordance with the terms hereof (notwithstanding the foregoing), then the Applicable Rate shall be determined based upon Pricing Level I.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this definition, the determination of the Applicable Rate for any period shall be subject to the provisions of Sections 2.08(b) and 2.10(b).

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

Appropriate Lender” means, at any time, (a) with respect to either the Term Facility or the Revolving Credit Facility, a Lender that has a Commitment with respect to such Facility or holds a Term Loan or a Revolving Credit Loan, respectively, at such time, (b) with respect to the Letter of Credit Sublimit, (i) the L/C Issuer and (ii) if any Letters of Credit have been issued pursuant to Section 2.03(a), the Revolving Credit Lenders, and (c) 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 Credit 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 MLPF&S and Wells Fargo, in their capacity as co-lead arrangers and co-book managers.

Arrangers Fee Letter” means that certain letter agreement dated October 29, 2010 by and among Bank of America, MLPF&S (as successor by merger to Banc of America Securities LLC), Wells Fargo and the Borrower.

Assignee Group” means two or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one another or two or more Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor.

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 10.06(b)), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit E-1 or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

3


Attributable Indebtedness” means, on any date of determination and without duplication, (a) in respect of any Capitalized 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, (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 Capitalized Lease and (c) all Synthetic Debt of such Person.

Audited Financial Statements” means the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries for the Fiscal Year ended December 29, 2009, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such Fiscal Year of the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries, including the notes thereto.

Availability Period” means in respect of the Revolving Credit 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 Credit Commitments pursuant to Section 2.06, and (c) the date of termination of the commitment of each Revolving Credit Lender to make Revolving Credit Loans and of the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions pursuant to Section 8.02.

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

Base Rate” means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1%, (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 Eurodollar Rate (based on clause (b) of the definition thereof) plus 1.00%. 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.

Base Rate Loan” means a Revolving Credit Loan or a Term Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the Base Rate.

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

Borrower Materials” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

Borrowing” means a Revolving Credit Borrowing, a Swing Line Borrowing or a Term 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, if such day relates to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, means any such day that is also a London Banking Day.

 

4


Capital Expenditures” means, with respect to any Person for any period, any expenditure (whether paid from operating cash or financed or made pursuant to a Capitalized Lease) in respect of amounts paid or debt incurred in connection with the purchase or lease by such Person or any of its Subsidiaries of capital assets that would be required to be capitalized and shown on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP; provided that “Capital Expenditures” shall not include (x) expenditures funded with Net Cash Proceeds received by a Loan Party with respect to (a) any Disposition by any Loan Party, or (b) any insurance or condemnation proceeds for assets being replaced, in each case, received or paid to the account of any Loan Party and referred to in Section 2.05(b)(i), so long as, in each case, the Borrower is not required to repay the Obligations with such Net Cash Proceeds in accordance with Section 2.05(b)(i), (y) expenditures funded directly with proceeds of contractual reimbursement obligations owing by landlords of the Loan Parties to the extent actually reimbursed in cash by landlords that are not Affiliates of any Loan Party and (z) for the avoidance of doubt, Permitted Acquisitions.

Capitalized Leases” means all leases that have been or should be, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as capitalized leases.

Cash Collateral Account” means a blocked, non-interest bearing deposit account of one or more of the Loan Parties for the purpose of holding Cash Collateral at Bank of America (or another commercial bank selected in compliance with Section 6.17) in the name of the Administrative Agent and under the sole dominion and control of the Administrative Agent, and otherwise established in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

Cash Collateralized Surety Bonds” means Indebtedness of the Loan Parties in respect of surety bonds permitted under Section 7.02(h), to the extent such Indebtedness is fully cash collateralized with cash or Cash Equivalents that is subject to a Lien in favor of the holders of such Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.01(f).

Cash Collateralize” means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender (as applicable) and the Lenders, as collateral for L/C Obligations, Obligations in respect of Swing Line Loans, or obligations of Lenders to fund participations in respect of either thereof (as the context may require), cash or deposit account balances or, if the L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender benefiting from such collateral shall agree in its sole discretion, other credit support, in each case pursuant to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to (a) the Administrative Agent and (b) the L/C Issuer or the 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 Equivalents” means any of the following types of Investments, to the extent owned by any Loan Party free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens created under the Collateral Documents):

(a) readily marketable obligations issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof having

 

5


maturities of not more than 360 days from the date of acquisition thereof; provided that the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged in support thereof;

(b) time deposits with, or insured certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances of, any commercial bank that (i) (A) is a Lender or (B) is organized under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia or is the principal banking Subsidiary of a bank holding company organized under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, and is a member of the Federal Reserve System, (ii) issues (or the parent of which issues) commercial paper rated as described in clause (c) of this definition and (iii) has combined capital and surplus of at least $500,000,000, in each case with maturities of not more than 180 days from the date of acquisition thereof;

(c) commercial paper issued by any Person organized under the laws of any state of the United States of America and rated at least “Prime-1” (or the then equivalent grade) by Moody’s or at least “A-1” (or the then equivalent grade) by S&P, in each case with maturities of not more than 180 days from the date of acquisition thereof;

(d) Investments, classified in accordance with GAAP as current assets of the Loan Parties, in money market investment programs registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, which are administered by financial institutions that have the highest rating obtainable from either Moody’s or S&P, and the portfolios of which are limited solely to Investments of the character, quality and maturity described in clauses (a), (b) and (c) of this definition; and

(e) fully collateralized repurchase agreements with a term of not more than thirty (30) days for securities described in clause (a) above (without regard to the limitation on maturity contained in such clause) and entered into with a financial institution satisfying the criteria described in clause (b) above or with any primary dealer and having a market value at the time that such repurchase agreement is entered into of not less than 100% of the repurchase obligation of such counterparty entity with whom such repurchase agreement has been entered into.

Cash Management Agreement” means any agreement to provide cash management services, including treasury, depository, overdraft, credit or debit card, electronic funds transfer and other cash management arrangements.

Cash Management Bank” means any Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, in its capacity as a party to a Cash Management Agreement with a Loan Party, or any Person that was a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender at the time it entered into such Cash Management Agreement or was a party to a Cash Management Agreement on the Closing Date, but has ceased to be a Lender (or whose Affiliate has ceased to be a Lender).

CERCLA” means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980.

CERCLIS” means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Information System maintained by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

 

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CFC” means a Person that is a controlled foreign corporation under Section 957 of the Code.

Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority.

Change of Control” means an event or series of events by which:

(a) any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person or its Subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) other than the Equity Investors 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, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time (such right, an “option right”)), directly or indirectly, of 30% or more of the equity securities of the Borrower entitled to vote for members of the board of directors of the Borrower (the “Board”) on a fully-diluted basis (and taking into account all such securities that such “person” or “group” has the right to acquire pursuant to any option right); or

(b) during any period of 12 consecutive months, a majority of the members of the Board cease to be composed of individuals (i) who were members of that Board on the first day of such period, (ii) whose election or nomination to that Board 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 (iii) whose election or nomination to that Board 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 (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 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); or

(c) any Person or two or more Persons (other than the Equity Investors) acting in concert shall have acquired by contract or otherwise, or shall have entered into a contract or arrangement that, upon consummation thereof, will result in its or their acquisition of the power to exercise, directly or indirectly, a controlling influence over the management or policies of the Borrower, or control over the equity securities of the Borrower entitled to vote for members of the Board on a fully-diluted basis (and taking into account all such securities that such Person or Persons have the right to acquire pursuant to any option right) representing 30% or more of the combined voting power of such securities; or

 

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(d) the Borrower shall cease, directly or indirectly, to own and control legally and beneficially all of the Equity Interests in any of its Subsidiaries, unless otherwise permitted under Section 7.05.

Class” means each separate class of Loans comprising, as the context may require, all outstanding Revolving Credit Loans at such time or all outstanding Term Loans at such time.

Closing Date” means the first date all the conditions precedent in Section 4.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 10.01.

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

Coke Beverage Marketing Agreement” means the Beverage Marketing Agreement, dated as of June 24, 2010, between the Borrower and Coca-Cola FoodService, part of the Coca-Cola Company.

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

Collateral Documents” means, collectively, each Account Control Agreement, the Guaranty and Security Agreement, the Mortgages, if any, each intellectual property security agreement, each of the mortgages, collateral assignments, security agreements, pledge agreements or other similar agreements delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.12, and each of the other agreements, instruments or documents that creates or purports to create a Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

Commitment” means a Term Commitment or a Revolving Credit Commitment, as the context may require.

Committed Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Term Borrowing, (b) a Revolving Credit Borrowing, (c) a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or (d) a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A.

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

Consolidated EBITDA” means, at any date of determination, an amount equal to Consolidated Net Income for the most recently completed Measurement Period plus (a) the following to the extent deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income: (i) Consolidated Interest Charges, (ii) income tax expense in accordance with GAAP, (iii) depreciation and amortization expense, (iv) non-cash compensation expenses arising from the issuance of Equity Interests, options to purchase Equity Interests and stock appreciation rights to the employees of the Borrower, (v) Consolidated Restaurant Pre-Opening Costs in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000 in the aggregate for such Measurement Period, (vi) charges, expenses or losses reducing such Consolidated Net Income which do not represent a cash item in such period; provided, however, that cash payments made in such period or in any future period in respect of such non-cash charges, expenses or losses shall be subtracted from Consolidated EBITDA in the

 

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period when such payments are made, (vii) any one-time costs and expenses related to the Transaction to the extent not capitalized under GAAP in an amount not to exceed $2,500,000, (in each case of or by the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for such Measurement Period), and minus (b) the following to the extent included in calculating such Consolidated Net Income: (i) Federal, state, local and foreign income tax credits and (ii) all non-cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income (in each case of or by the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for such Measurement Period).

Consolidated EBITDAR” means, at any date of determination, an amount equal to (without duplication) (a) Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently completed Measurement Period plus (b) Consolidated Rental Expense for the most recently completed Measurement Period.

Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, at any date of determination, the ratio of (a) (i) Consolidated EBITDAR, less (ii) the aggregate amount of all Maintenance Capital Expenditures, less (iii) to the extent added back to Consolidated Net Income in connection with the calculation of Consolidated EBITDAR, the aggregate amount of income tax expense in accordance with GAAP paid in cash, to (b) the sum of (i) Consolidated Interest Charges (other than any payment related to the Series Z Preferred Stock that is treated as interest under GAAP) paid in cash, (ii) the aggregate principal amount of all regularly scheduled principal payments or redemptions or similar acquisitions for value of outstanding debt for borrowed money and (iii) Consolidated Rental Expense paid in cash, in each case, of or by the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries for the most recently completed Measurement Period.

Consolidated Funded Indebtedness” means, at any date of determination, for the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the sum of (a) the outstanding principal amount of all Indebtedness, whether current or long-term, for borrowed money (including the Obligations) and all Indebtedness evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments, (b) all purchase money Indebtedness, (c) all direct obligations arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments, (d) all obligations in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business), (e) all Attributable Indebtedness, (f) without duplication, all Guarantees with respect to outstanding Indebtedness of the types specified in clauses (a) through (e) above of Persons other than the Borrower or any such Domestic Subsidiary, and (g) all Indebtedness of the types referred to in clauses (a) through (f) above of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which the Borrower or any such Domestic Subsidiary is a general partner or joint venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to the Borrower or any such Domestic Subsidiary; provided that Consolidated Funded Indebtedness shall not include the Excluded Items.

Consolidated Interest Charges” means, at any date of determination, the sum of (a) all interest, premium payments, debt discount, fees, charges and related expenses in connection with borrowed money (including capitalized interest) or in connection with the deferred purchase price of assets, in each case to the extent treated as interest in accordance with GAAP, and (b) the portion of rent expense under Capitalized Leases that is treated as interest in accordance with

 

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GAAP, in each case, of or by the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for the most recently completed Measurement Period.

Consolidated Leverage Ratio” means, at any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Funded Indebtedness as of such date to (b) Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for the most recently completed Measurement Period. For purposes of calculating Consolidated Leverage Ratio, such ratio (and any component definition thereof) shall be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis (a) in all instances hereunder, in the event that any Permitted Acquisition or Disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of a Domestic Subsidiary (to the extent permitted under Section 7.05) shall have occurred during the relevant period of determination and (b) in connection with any Specified Transaction, in the event that the provisions hereof requires Consolidated Leverage Ratio to be calculated as a condition to the making of such Specified Transaction.

Consolidated Net Income” means, at any date of determination, the net income (or loss) of the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for the most recently completed Measurement Period determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that Consolidated Net Income shall exclude (a) extraordinary gains and extraordinary losses for such Measurement Period, (b) the net income of any Subsidiary of the Borrower during such Measurement Period to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Subsidiary of such income is not permitted by operation of the terms of its Organization Documents or any agreement, instrument or Law applicable to such Subsidiary during such Measurement Period, except that the Borrower’s equity in any net loss of any such Subsidiary for such Measurement Period shall be included in determining Consolidated Net Income, and (c) any income (or loss) for such Measurement Period of any Person if such Person is not a Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower, except that the Borrower’s or any such Domestic Subsidiary’s equity in the net income of any such Person for such Measurement Period shall be included in Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate amount of cash actually distributed by such Person during such Measurement Period to the Borrower or such Domestic Subsidiary as a dividend or other distribution (and in the case of a dividend or other distribution to a Domestic Subsidiary, such Domestic Subsidiary is not precluded from further distributing such amount to the Borrower as described in clause (b) of this proviso).

Consolidated Rental Expense” means, at any date of determination, all rent expense arising under operating leases of the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries for the most recently completed Measurement Period.

Consolidated Restaurant Pre-Opening Costs” means “Start-up costs” (as such term is defined in SOP 98-5 (FASB Codification 720-10) published by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants) incurred by the Borrower and/or its Domestic Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis related to the acquisition, opening and organizing of New Operating Units, such costs to include, without limitation, the cost of feasibility studies, staff-training, and recruiting and travel costs for employees engaged in such start-up activities.

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

 

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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.

Controlled Investment Affiliate” means as to any Person, any other Person which directly or indirectly, is in Control of, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such Person and is organized primarily for making equity or debt investments in the Borrower and other portfolio companies.

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

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, an interest rate equal to (i) the Base Rate plus (ii) the Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (iii) 2% per annum; provided, however, that with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus 2% per annum and (b) when used with respect to Letter of Credit Fees, a rate equal to the Applicable Rate plus 2% per annum.

Defaulting Lender” means, subject to Section 2.15(b), any Lender that, as determined by the Administrative Agent, (a) has failed to perform any of its funding obligations hereunder, including in respect of its Loans or participations in respect of Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans, within three Business Days of the date required to be funded by it hereunder, (b) has notified the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any Lender that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations or has made a public statement to that effect with respect to its funding obligations hereunder or under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit, (c) has failed, within three Business Days after request by the Administrative Agent, to confirm in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that it will comply with its funding obligations, 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 a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or a custodian appointed for it, or (iii) taken any action in furtherance of, or indicated its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment; 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.

 

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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.

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

Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of any political subdivision of the United States.

Eligible Assignee” means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Section 10.06(b)(iii) and (v) (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 10.06(b)(iii)).

Eligible Real Estate” means real property with a value in excess of $250,000 in which any Loan Party holds a fee-owned interest for more than 180 consecutive days following its acquisition of such property.

Environmental Laws” means any and all Federal, state, local, and foreign statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements or governmental restrictions relating to pollution and the protection of the environment or the release of any materials into the environment, including those related to hazardous substances or wastes, 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 Borrower, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Subsidiaries directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (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) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

Environmental Permit” means any permit, 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.

 

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Equity Investors” means, collectively, Greenlight Capital, Inc. and its Controlled Investment Affiliates.

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control with the Borrower 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) the withdrawal of the Borrower 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 Borrower 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 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; (g) the determination that any Pension 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; 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 the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate.

Eurodollar Base Rate” has the meaning specified in the definition of Eurodollar Rate.

Eurodollar Rate” means (a) for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, a rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent pursuant to the following formula:

 

Eurodollar Rate =        Eurodollar Base Rate   
   1.00 – Eurodollar Reserve Percentage   

Where,

Eurodollar Base Rate” means, for such Interest Period, the rate per annum equal to the British Bankers Association LIBOR rate (“BBA LIBOR”), as published by Reuters (or such other commercially available source providing quotations of BBA LIBOR as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two London Banking Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, for Dollar deposits (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period. If such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the “Eurodollar Base Rate” for such Interest Period shall be the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate at which deposits in Dollars for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period in same day funds in the approximate amount of the Eurodollar Rate Loan being made, continued or converted by Bank of America and with a term equivalent to such Interest Period would be

 

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offered by Bank of America’s London Branch to major banks in the London interbank eurodollar market at their request at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time two London Banking Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period;

Eurodollar Reserve Percentage” means, for any day during any Interest Period, the reserve percentage (expressed as a decimal, carried out to five decimal places) in effect on such day, whether or not applicable to any Lender, under regulations issued from time to time by the FRB for determining the maximum reserve requirement (including any emergency, supplemental or other marginal reserve requirement) with respect to Eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency liabilities”). The Eurodollar Rate for each outstanding Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be adjusted automatically as of the effective date of any change in the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage;

or (b) for any interest calculation with respect to a Base Rate Loan on any date, the rate per annum equal to (i) BBA LIBOR, at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time two London Banking Days prior to such date for Dollar deposits being delivered in the London interbank eurodollar market for a term of one month commencing that day or (ii) if such published rate is not available at such time for any reason, the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate at which deposits in Dollars for delivery on the date of determination in same day funds in the approximate amount of the Base Rate Loan being made or maintained and with a term equal to one month would be offered by Bank of America’s London Branch to major banks in the London interbank eurodollar market at their request at the date and time of determination.

Eurodollar Rate Loan” means a Revolving Credit Loan or a Term Loan that bears interest at a rate based on clause (a) of the definition of Eurodollar Rate.

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

Excess Cash Flow” means, for any Fiscal Year of the Borrower, the excess (if any) of (a) Consolidated EBITDA for such Fiscal Year over (b) the sum (for such Fiscal Year) of (i) Consolidated Interest Charges actually paid in cash by Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries, (ii) principal repayments (including, for the avoidance of doubt, voluntary prepayments), to the extent actually made or scheduled to be made, of Term Loans and any other Indebtedness (other than repayments of intercompany loans among Loan Parties (other than Foreign Subsidiaries) and repayments of Revolving Credit Loans that are not accompanied by a corresponding commitment reduction) (iii) all income taxes actually paid in cash by Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries, (iv) fees and out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the Transaction to the extent added back to Consolidated EBITDA in such Fiscal Year, (v) Consolidated Restaurant Pre-Opening Costs to the extent added back to Consolidated EBITDA in such Fiscal Year and (vi) the amount of all cash paid by the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries to fund any transaction permitted hereunder (including, without limitation, Capital Expenditures permitted by Section 7.12 and Investments permitted by Section 7.03).

Excess Revolving Availability” means, as of any date of determination, the amount by which (a) the Revolving Credit Facility exceeds (b) the aggregate outstanding principal balance of Revolving Loans.

 

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Excluded Items” means collectively, (a) Indebtedness under the Coke Beverage Marketing Agreement to the extent such Indebtedness is permitted under Sections 7.02(d) and (i) and (b) Cash Collateralized Surety Bonds, provided, that the Coke Beverage Marketing Agreement shall only constitute an Excluded Item to the extent a default shall not have occurred and be continuing thereunder which permits The Coca-Cola Company to terminate such agreement (after giving effect to any applicable cure periods) and to cause the “Advance” or similar advances thereunder to become due and payable.

Excluded Taxes” means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of a Loan Party hereunder, (a) taxes imposed on or measured by its overall net income (however denominated), and franchise taxes imposed on it (in lieu of net income taxes), by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the Laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable Lending Office is located, (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located, (c) any backup withholding tax that is required by the Code to be withheld from amounts payable to a Lender that has failed to comply with clause (A) of Section 3.01(e)(ii), and (d) in the case of a Foreign Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 10.13), any United States withholding tax that (i) is required to be imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender pursuant to the Laws in force at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party hereto (or designates a new Lending Office) or (ii) is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s failure or inability (other than as a result of a Change in Law) to comply with clause (B) of Section 3.01(e)(ii), except to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new Lending Office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to Section 3.01(a)(ii) or (c).

Extraordinary Receipt” means any cash received by or paid to or for the account of any Person not in the ordinary course of business, including tax refunds, pension plan reversions, proceeds of insurance (other than proceeds of business interruption insurance to the extent such proceeds constitute compensation for lost earnings), condemnation awards (and payments in lieu thereof), indemnity payments, amounts received under, or in connection with, judgments or settlement of any dispute, and any purchase price adjustments; provided, however, that “Extraordinary Receipts” shall not include (i) proceeds of issuances of Equity Interests of a Loan Party, (ii) proceeds of Dispositions or of the issuance or incurrence of Indebtedness or (iii) amounts (other than proceeds of insurance, condemnation awards and purchase price adjustments) to the extent that, such amounts under this clause (iii) so received are, or are promptly to, be applied by the Loan Party for the purpose of satisfying any indemnification or similar claim, or covering or reimbursing any losses of a Loan Party, in each case arising out of the event resulting in the receipt of such amounts.

Existing Credit Agreement” means that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 28, 2007, by and among the Borrower, Wells Fargo Foothill, Inc., as administrative agent, and a syndicate of lenders.

Facility” means the Term Facility or the Revolving Credit Facility, as the context may require.

 

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

Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day; provided that (a) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%) charged to Bank of America on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent.

Fee Letters” means, collectively, the Agent Fee Letter and the Arrangers Fee Letter.

Fiscal Quarter” means each period of thirteen weeks ending on or about the Tuesday closest to March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each calendar year.

Fiscal Year” means the twelve month period ending on the Tuesday closest to December 31st of each calendar year.

Foreign Lender” means any Lender that is not a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

Foreign Subsidiary” means each Subsidiary other than a Domestic Subsidiary.

Franchise Agreements” means each of the agreements entered into from time to time by any Loan Party pursuant to which such Loan Party as Franchisor agrees to allow a Franchisee to operate a restaurant facility using the “Einstein Bros. Bagel,” “Noah’s Bagel” or “Manhattan Bagel” restaurant concepts.

Franchisee” means each third party unaffiliated restaurant operator identified as a franchisee in any Franchise Agreement.

Franchised Unit Locations” means, collectively, the property comprising Franchised Unit Locations described in Part (b) of Schedule 5.21 (as such Schedule may be updated from time to time with the written consent of the Administrative Agent).

Franchisor” means any Loan Party.

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 the L/C Issuer, such Defaulting Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the outstanding L/C Obligations other than L/C Obligations as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the

 

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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 Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof.

Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its activities.

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied.

Governmental 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).

Growth Capital Expenditures” means Capital Expenditures related to (a) the construction, acquisition or opening of New Operating Units or Unit Locations, (b) the remodeling or renovation of any existing Restaurant, (c) point of sale upgrade initiatives at existing Restaurants, (d) store relocations and (e) other growth initiatives.

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 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). Unless otherwise expressly limited by the terms of such Guarantee, 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

 

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maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith, or if less with respect to facts and circumstances arising under clause (b) only, the value of the property securing such Indebtedness or obligation. The term “Guarantee” (x) as a verb has a corresponding meaning and (y) shall not include warranties or indemnities for goods or services sold in the ordinary course of business or endorsements of instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business.

Guarantors” means, collectively, each Domestic Subsidiary (other than the Inactive Subsidiaries) and each Foreign Subsidiary (to the extent no material adverse tax consequences would result therefrom) of the Borrower that executes the Guaranty and Security Agreement or any other guaranty of the Obligations.

Guaranty and Security Agreement” means the Guaranty and Security Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among the Borrower, the Guarantors and the Administrative Agent.

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, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.

Hedge Bank” means any Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, in its capacity as a party to a Swap Contract with a Loan Party, or any Person that was a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender at the time it entered into such Swap Contract or was a party to a Swap Contract on the Closing Date, but has ceased to be a Lender (or whose Affiliate has ceased to be a Lender).

Inactive Subsidiaries” means, each of (a) Bay Area Bagel, Inc., (b) CR Bagel Leases, Inc., (c) DAB Industries, Inc. and (d) Manhattan Bagel Construction Corp., in each case, until such time that such Subsidiary becomes a Guarantor.

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) the maximum amount of 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 and, in each case, not past due for more than 90 days);

 

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(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 Capitalized Leases and Synthetic Lease Obligations of such Person and all Synthetic Debt of such Person;

(g) all obligations of such Person to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise make any payment in respect of any Equity Interest in such Person or any other Person or any warrant, right or option to acquire such Equity Interest, valued, in the case of a redeemable preferred interest, at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends, in each case only if such obligation to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise make any payment arises prior to the date that is one calendar year after the Maturity Date; and

(h) 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) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, unless (x) such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to such Person or (y) a portion of such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to such Person, in which case only such portion shall not constitute Indebtedness. The amount of any net obligation under any Swap Contract on any date of determination shall be deemed to be the Swap Termination Value thereof as of such date. The amount of any Capitalized Lease or Synthetic Lease Obligation as of any date of determination 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.

Indemnitee” has the meaning specified in Section 10.04(b).

Information” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07.

Interest Payment Date” means, (a) as to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date; provided, however, that if any Interest Period for a Eurodollar 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 Swing Line Loan, the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date.

Interest Period” means, as to each Eurodollar Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such Eurodollar Rate Loan is disbursed, or converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Rate Loan, and ending on the date one, two, three or six months thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its Committed Loan Notice; provided that:

 

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

Investment” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect acquisition or investment by such Person, whether by means of (a) the purchase or other acquisition of Equity Interests 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 interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person and any arrangement pursuant to which the investor Guarantees 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 a business unit or all or substantially all of the business 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.

IP Rights” has the meaning specified in Section 5.17.

IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

ISP” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the “International Standby Practices 1998” published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice, Inc. (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).

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 the L/C Issuer and the Borrower (or any Guarantor) or in favor of the L/C Issuer and relating to such Letter of Credit.

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.

L/C Advance” means, with respect to each Revolving Credit Lender, such Lender’s funding of its participation in any L/C Borrowing in accordance with its Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage.

 

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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 Credit Borrowing.

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 Issuer” means Bank of America in its capacity as issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, or any successor issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder in accordance with the terms hereof.

L/C Obligations” means, 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.

Lease” means, collectively each lease of real property by any Loan Party related to a Restaurant or to the operation of the business of the Loan Parties.

Lender” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto and, as the context requires, includes the Swing Line Lender.

Lending Office” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

Letter of Credit” means any standby letter of credit issued hereunder.

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 in use by the L/C Issuer.

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

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

Letter of Credit Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $20,000,000 and (b) the Revolving Credit Facility. The Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Revolving Credit Facility.

License Agreement” means each of the license agreements entered into from time to time by any Loan Party pursuant to which such Loan Party as licensor agrees to allow a licensee to operate a restaurant facility using the “Einstein Bros. Bagel,” “Noah’s Bagel” or “Manhattan Bagel” restaurant concept.

 

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Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), 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).

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

Loan Documents” means, collectively, (a) this Agreement, (b) the Notes, (c) the Collateral Documents, (d) any agreement creating or perfecting rights in Cash Collateral pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.14, (e) the Fee Letters and (f) each Issuer Document.

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

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

Maintenance Capital Expenditures” means Capital Expenditures, other than Growth Capital Expenditures.

Material Adverse Effect” means (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the operations, business, assets, properties, liabilities (actual or contingent) or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) a material impairment of the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent or any Lender under any Loan Document, or of the ability of any Loan Party to perform its obligations under any Loan Document to which it is a party, or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against any Loan Party of any Loan Document to which it is a party.

Material Contract” means, with respect to each Loan Party, any contract (including, without limitation, any Lease, License Agreement and Franchise Agreement) to which such Person is a party that the termination of which, either individually or in the aggregate, will cause a Material Adverse Effect.

Maturity Date” means December 20, 2015; provided, however, that if such date is not a Business Day, the Maturity Date shall be the next preceding Business Day.

Measurement Period” means, at any date of determination, the most recently completed four Fiscal Quarters of the Borrower.

MLPF&S” means Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and its successors.

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

 

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Mortgage” means deeds of trust, trust deeds, deeds to secure debt and mortgages, in each case, covering the Eligible Real Estate.

Multiemployer Plan” means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Borrower 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.

Multiple Employer Plan” means a Plan which has two or more contributing sponsors (including the Borrower 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 Cash Proceeds” means:

(a) with respect to any Disposition by any Loan Party, or any Extraordinary Receipt received or paid to the account of any Loan Party, the excess, if any, of (i) the sum of cash and Cash Equivalents received by any Loan Party in connection with such transaction (including any cash or Cash Equivalents received by way of deferred payment pursuant to, or by monetization of, a note receivable or otherwise, but only as and when so received) over (ii) the sum of (A) the principal amount of any Indebtedness that is secured by the applicable asset and that is required to be repaid in connection with such transaction (other than Indebtedness under the Loan Documents), (B) the reasonable and customary out-of-pocket expenses incurred by any Loan Party in connection with such transaction, (C) income taxes reasonably estimated to be actually payable within two years of the date of the relevant transaction as a result of any gain recognized in connection therewith; provided that, if the amount of any estimated taxes pursuant to subclause (C) exceeds the amount of taxes actually required to be paid in cash in respect of such Disposition, the aggregate amount of such excess shall constitute Net Cash Proceeds and (D) amounts which are required to be reserved for on the balance sheet or otherwise required to be placed in escrow in connection with such Disposition, casualty or condemnation and actually reserved for or actually placed in escrow, unless and until such amounts are no longer required to be subject to a reserve or are released to any Loan Party (at which such time, such reserved or escrowed amounts shall constitute Net Cash Proceeds); and

(b) with respect to the incurrence or issuance of any Indebtedness by any Loan Party, the excess of (i) the sum of the cash and Cash Equivalents received by any Loan Party in connection with such transaction (net of all taxes incurred by any Loan Party in connection therewith) over (ii) the underwriting discounts and commissions, and other reasonable and customary out-of-pocket expenses, incurred by any Loan Party in connection therewith.

New Operating Units” means Restaurants, the ownership or operation of which started on a date after the Closing Date.

Note” means a Term Note or a Revolving Credit Note, as the context may require.

NPL” means the National Priorities List under CERCLA.

 

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Obligations” means all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Loan Party arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan, Letter of Credit, Secured Cash Management Agreement or Secured Hedge 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 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 and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding.

OFAC” means the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.

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; 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 and 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 and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.

Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or under any other Loan Document or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

Outstanding Amount” means (a) with respect to Term Loans, Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Line Loans, on any date of determination, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Term Loans, Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Line Loans, as the case may be, occurring on such date, and (b) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date of determination, the 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 Borrower of Unreimbursed Amounts.

Participant” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(d).

PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

Pension Act” means the Pension Protection Act of 2006.

Pension Funding Rules” means the rules of the Code and ERISA regarding minimum required contributions (including any installment payment thereof) to Pension Plans and set forth in, with respect to plan years ending prior to the effective date of the Pension Act, Section 412 of the Code and Section 302 of ERISA, each as in effect prior to the Pension Act and, thereafter, Section 412, 430, 431, 432 and 436 of the Code and Sections 302, 303, 304 and 305 of ERISA.

 

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

Permitted Acquisition” means an Investment by a Loan Party permitted under Section 7.03(g).

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), maintained for employees of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or any such Plan to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is required to contribute on behalf of any of its employees.

Platform” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

Prepayment Account” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(b)(viii).

Pro Forma Basis” means, with respect to any Specified Transaction, the calculation of Consolidated Leverage Ratio (and any component definition thereof) for the Measurement Period most recently ended prior to such Specified Transaction, as if such Specified Transaction had occurred immediately prior to the first day of such Measurement Period. For purposes of making this pro forma calculation of Consolidated Leverage Ratio (and any component definition thereof), adjustments described in clauses (a), (b) and (c) below (all such adjustments to be reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent) shall be included:

(a) (i) all Indebtedness (whether under this Agreement or otherwise), other liabilities and any other balance sheet adjustments incurred, made or assumed in connection with a Specified Transaction shall be deemed to have been incurred, made or assumed as of the first day of the relevant Measurement Period, and (ii) all Indebtedness which was repaid, released or satisfied in connection with a Specified Transaction, all Indebtedness of the Person acquired or to be acquired in a Permitted Acquisition constituting a Specified Transaction or which is attributable to the business, business division, unit, restaurant or Person acquired or to be acquired or incurred in connection with such Permitted Acquisition which was or will have been repaid in connection with the consummation of such Permitted Acquisition shall be deemed to have been repaid as of the first day of the relevant Measurement Period;

(b) other reasonable specified cost savings, expenses and other income statement or operating statement adjustments which are attributable to the change in ownership resulting from a Permitted Acquisition constituting a Specified Transaction as may be approved by the Administrative Agent, in its reasonable discretion, in writing shall be deemed to have been realized on the first day of the Measurement Period most recently ended; and

 

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(c) for purposes of calculating Consolidated EBITDA for the relevant Measurement Period, the financial results of the business, business division, unit, restaurant or Person, as applicable, to be acquired in connection with a Permitted Acquisition constituting a Specified Transaction shall be calculated and included by reference to the audited (if available) or management certified (if audited results are not available) and in any event, if audited or management certified results are not available, historical financial results (so long as such results are in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent) of such business, business division, restaurant or Person, as applicable, to be so acquired.

Public Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(c).

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

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.

Request for Credit Extension” means (a) with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans, a Committed 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, as of any date of determination, Lenders holding more than 50% of the sum of the (a) Total Outstandings (with the aggregate amount of each Revolving Credit Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans being deemed “held” by such Revolving Credit Lender for purposes of this definition) and (b) aggregate unused Revolving Credit Commitments; provided that the unused Revolving Credit Commitment of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.

Required Revolving Lenders” means, at any date of determination, Revolving Credit Lenders holding more than 50% of the sum of the (a) Total Revolving Credit Outstandings (with the aggregate amount of each Revolving Credit Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans being deemed “held” by such Revolving Credit Lender for purposes of this definition) and (b) aggregate unused Revolving Credit Commitments; provided that the unused Revolving Credit Commitment of, and the portion of the Total Revolving Credit Outstandings held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Revolving Lenders.

Required Term Lenders” means, at any date of determination, Term Lenders holding more than 50% of the Term Facility on such date; provided that the portion of the Term Facility held by any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Term Lenders.

 

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Responsible Officer” means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer or controller of a Loan Party and, solely for purposes of the (a) delivery of incumbency certificates pursuant to Section 4.01, the secretary or any assistant secretary of any Loan Party and (b) Committed Loan Notices, the corporate finance manager. 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.

Restaurant” means a particular restaurant at a particular location that is owned (regardless of whether the real property is owned or leased) and operated by the Borrower or any other Loan Party.

Restricted Payment” means (a) any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any capital stock or other Equity Interest of any Person or any of its Subsidiaries, or (b) any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, defeasance, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such capital stock or other Equity Interest, or on account of any return of capital to any Person’s stockholders, partners or members (or the equivalent of any thereof), or (c) any option, warrant or other right to acquire any such dividend or other distribution or payment, or (d) any management, consulting or similar fees, allowances or similar arrangements directly or indirectly paid or payable by any Loan Party to an Affiliate thereof.

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

Revolving Credit Commitment” means, as to each Revolving Credit Lender, its obligation to (a) make Revolving Credit Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01(b), (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 amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 under the caption “Revolving Credit 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, including without limitation, pursuant to Section 2.16 hereof.

Revolving Credit Facility” means, at any time, the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Lenders’ Revolving Credit Commitments at such time. As of the Closing Date, the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments is $50,000,000.

Revolving Credit Lender” means, at any time, any Lender that has a Revolving Credit Commitment at such time.

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

 

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Revolving Credit Note” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of a Revolving Credit Lender evidencing Revolving Credit Loans made by such Revolving Credit Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit C-2.

Sanctioned Country” means a country subject to a sanctions program identified on the list maintained by OFAC and available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/programs/index.shtml, or as otherwise published from time to time.

Sanctioned Person” means (a) a Person named on the list of “Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons” maintained by OFAC available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/sdn/index.shtml, or as otherwise published from time to time, or (b) (i) an agency of the government of a Sanctioned Country, (ii) an organization controlled by a Sanctioned Country, or (iii) a person resident in a Sanctioned Country, to the extent subject to a sanctions program administered by OFAC.

S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and any successor thereto.

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 by and between any Loan Party and any Cash Management Bank.

Secured Hedge Agreement” means any interest rate or currency Swap Contract required or permitted under Article VI or VII that is entered into by and between any Loan Party and any Hedge Bank.

Secured Parties” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender, the Hedge Banks, the Cash Management Banks, each co-agent, sub-agent or attorney in fact appointed by the Administrative Agent from time to time pursuant to Section 9.05, and the other Persons the Obligations owing to which are or are purported to be secured by the Collateral under the terms of the Collateral Documents.

Series Z Preferred Stock” means any outstanding shares of Series Z Preferred Stock issued by the Borrower, par value $0.001 per share.

Solvent” and “Solvency” mean, with respect to any Person on any date of determination, that on such date (a) the fair value of the property of such Person is greater than the total amount of liabilities, including contingent liabilities, of such Person, (b) the present fair salable value of the assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured, (c) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Person’s ability to pay such debts and liabilities as they mature, (d) such Person is not engaged in business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in business or a transaction, for which such Person’s property would constitute an unreasonably small capital, and (e) such Person is able to pay its debts and liabilities, contingent obligations and other commitments as they mature in the

 

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ordinary course of business. The amount of contingent liabilities at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in the light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

Specified Transaction” means (a) a Permitted Acquisition, (b) any Restricted Payment made in accordance with Section 7.06(c), (d) or (e), (c) a Disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of a Domestic Subsidiary (to the extent permitted under Section 7.05), (d) an increase in the Revolving Credit Facility in accordance with Section 2.16 or (e) an increase in the Term Facility in accordance with Section 2.17.

Subsidiary” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of securities or other interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than securities or 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 Borrower.

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 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.

 

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Swing Line Lender” means Bank of America 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).

Swing Line Loan Notice” means a notice of a Swing Line Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.04(b), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit B.

Swing Line Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $5,000,000 and (b) the Revolving Credit Facility. The Swing Line Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Revolving Credit Facility.

Syndication Agent” means Wells Fargo.

Synthetic Debt” means, with respect to any Person as of any date of determination thereof, all obligations of such Person in respect of transactions entered into by such Person that are intended to function primarily as a borrowing of funds (including any minority interest transactions that function primarily as a borrowing) but are not otherwise included in the definition of “Indebtedness” or as a liability on the consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP; provided that, the obligations of the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries under Leases shall not be considered Synthetic Debt.

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); provided that, the obligations of the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries under Leases shall not be considered Synthetic Lease Obligations.

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

Term Commitment” means, as to each Term Lender, its obligation to make Term Loans to the Borrower on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 2.01(a) in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Term Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 under the caption “Term Commitment” or opposite such caption in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Term Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement, including without limitation, pursuant to Section 2.17 hereof.

 

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Term Facility” means, at any time, the aggregate principal amount of the Term Loans of all Term Lenders outstanding at such time, subject to adjustments pursuant to Section 2.17 hereof. As of the Closing Date, the aggregate principal amount of the Term Facility is $75,000,000.

Term Lender” means (a) at any time on or prior to the Closing Date, any Lender that has a Term Commitment at such time and (b) at any time after the Closing Date, any Lender that holds Term Loans at such time.

Term Loan” means an advance made by any Term Lender under the Term Facility.

Term Note” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of a Term Lender evidencing Term Loans made by such Term Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit C-1.

Threshold Amount” means $3,000,000.

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

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

Transaction” means, collectively, (a) the entering into by the Loan Parties and their applicable Subsidiaries of the Loan Documents, (b) the refinancing of certain outstanding Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and the termination of all commitments with respect thereto, (c) the redemption of the Series Z Preferred Stock and (d) the payment of the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the consummation of the foregoing.

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

UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York; 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 New York, “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.

Unit Locations” means, collectively, the real property comprising any Restaurant locations.

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

“Unreimbursed Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(c)(i).

Wells Fargo” means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and its successors.

1.02. Other Interpretive Provisions.

 

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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 any Organization Document) shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (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 provisions consolidating, amending, replacing or interpreting such law and any reference to any law or regulation shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified 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.

(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.”

(c) Section 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.

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 as otherwise specifically prescribed herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance with any covenant (including the computation of any financial covenant) contained herein, Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and the effects of FASB ASC 825 on financial liabilities shall be disregarded.

 

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(b) Changes in GAAP. If at any time any change in GAAP would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either the Borrower or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided that, until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP.

1.04. Rounding.

Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower 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 Eastern 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 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 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.

ARTICLE II

THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS

2.01. The Loans.

(a) The Term Borrowing. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Term Lender severally agrees to make a single loan to the Borrower on the Closing Date in an amount not to exceed such Term Lender’s Term Commitment. The Term Borrowing shall consist of Term Loans made simultaneously by the Term Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentage of the Term Facility. Amounts borrowed under this Section 2.01(a) and repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. At the Borrower’s option, Term Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein.

 

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(b) The Revolving Credit Borrowings. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Revolving Credit Lender severally agrees to make loans (each such loan, a “Revolving Credit Loan”) to the Borrower from time to time, on any Business Day during the Availability Period, in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Revolving Credit Borrowing, (i) the Total Revolving Credit Outstandings shall not exceed the Revolving Credit Facility, and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Credit Loans of any Revolving Credit Lender, plus such Revolving Credit Lender’s Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Revolving Credit Lender’s Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment. Within the limits of each Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01(b), prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.01(b). At the Borrower’s option, Revolving Credit Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein.

2.02. Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans.

(a) Each Term Borrowing, each Revolving Credit Borrowing, each conversion of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (x) three Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of, Eurodollar Rate Loans or of any conversion of Eurodollar Rate Loans to Base Rate Loans, and (y) on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans. Each telephonic notice by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written Committed Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 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 $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. Each Committed Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Term Borrowing, a Revolving Credit Borrowing, a conversion of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans are to be converted, and (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto. If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Loan in a Committed Loan Notice or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans. 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 Eurodollar Rate Loans. If the Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation

 

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of, Eurodollar Rate Loans in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month.

(b) Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage under the applicable Facility of the applicable Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans described in Section 2.02(a). In the case of a Term Borrowing or a Revolving Credit Borrowing, each Appropriate Lender shall make the amount of its Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 2:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction 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 Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of the 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 Borrower; provided, however, that if, on the date a Committed Loan Notice with respect to a Revolving Credit Borrowing is given by the Borrower, there are L/C Borrowings outstanding, then the proceeds of such Revolving Credit Borrowing, first, shall be applied to the payment in full of any such L/C Borrowings, and second, shall be made available to the Borrower as provided above.

(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, a Eurodollar Rate Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate Loan. During the existence of a Default, no Loans may be requested as, converted to, or continued as, Eurodollar Rate Loans without the consent of the Required Lenders.

(d) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Eurodollar Rate Loans upon determination of such interest rate. At any time that Base Rate Loans are outstanding, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower 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) After giving effect to all Term Borrowings, all conversions of Term Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Term Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than 8 Interest Periods in effect in respect of the Term Facility. After giving effect to all Revolving Credit Borrowings, all conversions of Revolving Credit Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Revolving Credit Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than 6 Interest Periods in effect in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility.

2.03. Letters of Credit.

(a) The Letter of Credit Commitment. (i) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (A) the L/C Issuer agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the Revolving Credit Lenders set forth in this Section 2.03, (1) from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date until the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, to issue Letters of Credit

 

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for the account of the Borrower or its Domestic Subsidiaries (other than Inactive Subsidiaries), and to amend or extend Letters of Credit previously issued by it, in accordance with Section 2.03(b), and (2) to honor drawings under the Letters of Credit; and (B) the Revolving Credit Lenders severally agree to participate in Letters of Credit issued for the account of the Borrower or its Domestic Subsidiaries (other than Inactive Subsidiaries) and any drawings thereunder; provided that after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension with respect to any Letter of Credit, (x) the Total Revolving Credit Outstandings shall not exceed the Revolving Credit Facility, (y) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Credit Loans of any Revolving Credit Lender, plus such Lender’s Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment, and (z) the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations shall not exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit. Each request by the Borrower for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be a representation by the Borrower that the L/C Credit Extension so requested complies with the conditions set forth in the proviso to the preceding sentence. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower’s ability to obtain Letters of Credit shall be fully revolving, and accordingly the 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.

(ii) The L/C Issuer shall not issue any Letter of Credit if:

(A) subject to Section 2.03(b)(iii), the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur more than twelve months after the date of issuance or last extension, unless the Required Revolving Lenders have approved such expiry date; or

(B) the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur after the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, unless all the Revolving Credit Lenders have approved such expiry date.

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

 

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

(C) except as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer, such Letter of Credit is in an initial stated amount less than $100,000 (other than the Letters of Credit listed on Schedule 2.03);

(D) such Letter of Credit is to be denominated in a currency other than Dollars;

(E) any Lender is at that time a Defaulting Lender, unless the L/C Issuer has entered into arrangements, including the delivery of Cash Collateral, satisfactory to the L/C Issuer (in its sole discretion) with the Borrower or such Lender to eliminate the L/C Issuer’s actual or potential Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 2.15(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 the L/C Issuer has actual or potential Fronting Exposure, as it may elect in its sole discretion; or

(F) such Letter of Credit contains any provisions for automatic reinstatement of the stated amount after any drawing thereunder.

(iv) The L/C Issuer shall not amend any Letter of Credit if the L/C Issuer would not be permitted at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof.

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

(vi) The L/C Issuer shall act on behalf of the Revolving Credit Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and the L/C Issuer shall have all of the benefits and immunities (A) provided to the Administrative Agent in Article IX with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by the 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 the L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions, and (B) as additionally provided herein with respect to the L/C Issuer.

(b) Procedures for Issuance and Amendment of Letters of Credit; Auto-Extension Letters of Credit. (i) Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, upon the request of the Borrower delivered to the L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) in the form of a Letter of Credit Application, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Such Letter of Credit Application must be received by the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. at least two Business Days (or such later date and time as the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer may agree in a particular

 

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instance in their sole discretion) prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be. In the case of a request for an initial issuance of a Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the L/C Issuer: (A) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (B) the amount thereof; (C) the expiry date thereof; (D) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof; (E) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (F) the full text of any certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (G) the intended purpose and nature of the requested Letter of Credit; and (H) such other matters as the L/C Issuer may reasonably require. In the case of a request for an amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the L/C Issuer (1) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (2) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (3) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (4) such other matters as the L/C Issuer may reasonably require. Additionally, the Borrower shall furnish to the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent such other documents and information pertaining to such requested Letter of Credit issuance or amendment, including any Issuer Documents, as the L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent may require.

(ii) Promptly after receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the L/C Issuer will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of such Letter of Credit Application from the Borrower and, if not, the L/C Issuer will provide the Administrative Agent with a copy thereof. Unless the L/C Issuer has received written notice from any Revolving Credit 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, the L/C Issuer shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the Borrower (or the applicable Domestic Subsidiary) or enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may be, in each case in accordance with the L/C Issuer’s usual and customary business practices. Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit, each Revolving Credit Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the L/C Issuer a risk participation in such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the product of such Revolving Credit Lender’s Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage times the amount of such Letter of Credit.

(iii) If the Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the L/C Issuer may, in its sole and absolute 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 must permit the 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 at the time such Letter of Credit is issued. Unless otherwise directed by the L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to the L/C Issuer for any such extension. Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, the Revolving Credit Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the L/C Issuer to permit the extension of such Letter of

 

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Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the Letter of Credit Expiration Date; provided, however, that the L/C Issuer shall not permit any such extension if (A) the L/C Issuer has determined that it would not be permitted at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its revised form (as extended) under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of clause (ii) of Section 2.03(a) or otherwise), or (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is seven Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date (1) from the Administrative Agent that the Required Revolving Lenders have elected not to permit such extension or (2) from the Administrative Agent, any Revolving Credit Lender or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied, and in each such case directing the L/C Issuer not to permit such extension.

(iv) Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit to an advising bank with respect thereto or to the beneficiary thereof, the L/C Issuer will also deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.

(c) Drawings and Reimbursements; Funding of Participations. (i) Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of any notice of a drawing under such Letter of Credit, the L/C Issuer shall notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent thereof. Not later than 1:00 p.m. on the date of any payment by the L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit (each such date, an “Honor Date”), the Borrower shall reimburse the L/C Issuer through the Administrative Agent in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing. If the Borrower fails to so reimburse the L/C Issuer by such time, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Revolving Credit Lender of the Honor Date, the amount of the unreimbursed drawing (the “Unreimbursed Amount”), and the amount of such Revolving Credit Lender’s Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage thereof. In such event, the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Revolving Credit Borrowing of Base Rate Loans to be disbursed on the Honor Date in an amount equal to the Unreimbursed Amount, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in Section 2.02 for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Revolving Credit Facility and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than the delivery of a Committed Loan Notice). Any notice given by the L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.03(c)(i) 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.

(ii) Each Revolving Credit Lender shall upon any notice pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) make funds available (and the Administrative Agent may apply Cash Collateral provided for this purpose) for the account of the L/C Issuer at the Administrative Agent’s Office in an amount equal to its Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of the Unreimbursed Amount not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in such notice by the Administrative Agent, whereupon, subject to the provisions of Section 2.03(c)(iii), each Revolving Credit Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Loan to the Borrower in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the L/C Issuer.

 

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(iii) With respect to any Unreimbursed Amount that is not fully refinanced by a Revolving Credit Borrowing of Base Rate Loans because the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 cannot be satisfied or for any other reason, the Borrower shall be deemed to have incurred from the L/C Issuer an L/C Borrowing in the amount of the Unreimbursed Amount that is not so refinanced, which L/C Borrowing shall be due and payable on demand (together with interest) and shall bear interest at the Default Rate. In such event, each Revolving Credit Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(ii) shall be deemed payment in respect of its participation in such L/C Borrowing and shall constitute an L/C Advance from such Lender in satisfaction of its participation obligation under this Section 2.03.

(iv) Until each Revolving Credit Lender funds its Revolving Credit Loan or L/C Advance pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) to reimburse the L/C Issuer for any amount drawn under any Letter of Credit, interest in respect of such Lender’s Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of such amount shall be solely for the account of the L/C Issuer.

(v) Each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans or L/C Advances to reimburse the L/C Issuer for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, as contemplated by this Section 2.03(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 Lender may have against the L/C Issuer, the 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, however, that each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than delivery by the Borrower of a Committed Loan Notice). No such making of an L/C Advance shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the L/C Issuer for the amount of any payment made by the L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit, together with interest as provided herein.

(vi) If any Revolving Credit Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03(c) by the time specified in Section 2.03(c)(ii), then, without limiting the other provisions of this Agreement, the 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 the L/C Issuer at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the L/C Issuer in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the 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 Credit Loan included in the relevant Revolving Credit Borrowing or L/C Advance in respect of the relevant L/C Borrowing, as the case may be. A certificate of the L/C Issuer submitted to any Revolving Credit Lender (through the

 

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Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this Section 2.03(c)(vi) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(d) Repayment of Participations. (i) At any time after the L/C Issuer has made a payment under any Letter of Credit and has received from any Revolving Credit Lender such Lender’s L/C Advance in respect of such payment in accordance with Section 2.03(c), if the Administrative Agent receives for the account of the L/C Issuer any payment in respect of the related Unreimbursed Amount or interest thereon (whether directly from the Borrower or otherwise, including proceeds of Cash Collateral applied thereto by the Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent will distribute to such Lender its Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage thereof in the same funds as those received by the Administrative Agent.

(ii) If any payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) is required to be returned under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.05 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the L/C Issuer in its discretion), each Revolving Credit Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer its Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned by such Lender, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Revolving Credit Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

(e) Obligations Absolute. The obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the L/C Issuer for each drawing under each Letter of Credit and to repay each L/C Borrowing shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all circumstances, including the following:

(i) any lack of validity or enforceability of such Letter of Credit, this Agreement, or any other Loan Document;

(ii) the existence of any claim, counterclaim, setoff, defense or other right that the Borrower 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), the 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, certificate or other document presented under such Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein 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) any payment by the L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate that does not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or any payment made by the L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit to

 

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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; or

(v) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, including any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

The 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 Borrower’s instructions or other irregularity, the Borrower will promptly notify the L/C Issuer. The Borrower shall be conclusively deemed to have waived any such claim against the L/C Issuer and its correspondents unless such notice is given as aforesaid.

(f) Role of L/C Issuer. Each Lender and the Borrower agree that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit, the L/C Issuer shall not have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than any sight draft, certificates and documents expressly required by the Letter of Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such document or the authority of the Person executing or delivering any such document. None of the L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of the L/C Issuer shall be liable to any Lender for (i) any action taken or omitted in connection herewith at the request or with the approval of the Revolving Credit Lenders or the Required Revolving Lenders, as applicable; (ii) any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct; or (iii) the due execution, effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any document or instrument related to any Letter of Credit or Issuer Document. The Borrower hereby assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee with respect to its use of any Letter of Credit; provided, however, that this assumption is not intended to, and shall not, preclude the Borrower’s pursuing such rights and remedies as it may have against the beneficiary or transferee at law or under any other agreement. None of the L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of the L/C Issuer shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in clauses (i) through (v) of Section 2.03(e); provided, however, that anything in such clauses to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrower may have a claim against the L/C Issuer, and the L/C Issuer may be liable to the Borrower, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or exemplary, damages suffered by the Borrower which the Borrower proves were caused by the L/C Issuer’s willful misconduct or gross negligence or the L/C Issuer’s willful failure to pay under any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary of a sight draft and certificate(s) strictly complying with the terms and conditions of a Letter of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, the L/C Issuer may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, and the L/C Issuer shall not be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason.

 

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(g) Applicability of ISP. Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the L/C Issuer and the Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued, the rules of the ISP shall apply to each Letter of Credit.

(h) Letter of Credit Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Credit Lender in accordance with its Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage a Letter of Credit fee (the “Letter of Credit Fee”) for each Letter of Credit equal to the Applicable Rate times the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit; provided, however, any Letter of Credit Fees otherwise payable for the account of a Defaulting Lender with respect to any Letter of Credit as to which such Defaulting Lender has not provided Cash Collateral satisfactory to the L/C Issuer pursuant to this Section 2.03 shall be payable, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable Law, to the other Revolving Credit Lenders in accordance with the upward adjustments in their respective Applicable Revolving Credit Percentages allocable to such Letter of Credit pursuant to Section 2.15(a)(iv), with the balance of such fee, if any, payable to the L/C Issuer for its own account. 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 last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand and (ii) computed on a quarterly basis 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. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, upon the request of the Required Revolving Lenders, while any Event of Default exists, all Letter of Credit Fees shall accrue at the Default Rate.

(i) Fronting Fee and Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to L/C Issuer. The Borrower shall pay directly to the L/C Issuer, for its own account, a fronting fee with respect to each Letter of Credit in an amount equal to 0.25% per annum times the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. Such fronting fee shall be (i) due and payable on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December in respect of 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, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand and (ii) computed on a quarterly basis in arrears. 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 Borrower shall pay directly to the L/C Issuer for its own account the customary issuance, presentation, amendment and other processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of the 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.

(j) 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.

 

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(k) Letters of Credit Issued for Domestic 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 Domestic Subsidiary, the Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the L/C Issuer hereunder for any and all drawings under such Letter of Credit. The Borrower hereby acknowledges that the issuance of Letters of Credit for the account of Domestic Subsidiaries inures to the benefit of the Borrower, and that the Borrower’s business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of such Domestic Subsidiaries.

2.04. Swing Line Loans.

(a) The Swing Line. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swing Line Lender, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Lenders set forth in this Section 2.04, may in its sole discretion make loans (each such loan, a “Swing Line Loan”) to the Borrower from time to time on any Business Day during the Availability Period in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of the Swing Line Sublimit, notwithstanding the fact that such Swing Line Loans, when aggregated with the Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Credit Loans and L/C Obligations of the Lender acting as Swing Line Lender, may exceed the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Swing Line Loan, (i) the Total Revolving Credit Outstandings shall not exceed the Revolving Credit Facility at such time, and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Credit Loans of any Revolving Credit Lender at such time, plus such Revolving Credit Lender’s Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations at such time, plus such Revolving Credit Lender’s Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans at such time shall not exceed such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment, and provided further that the Borrower shall not use the proceeds of any Swing Line Loan to refinance any outstanding Swing Line Loan. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.04, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.04. Each Swing Line Loan shall be a Base Rate Loan. Immediately upon the making of a Swing Line Loan, each Revolving Credit 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 Revolving Credit Lender’s Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage times the amount of such Swing Line Loan.

(b) Borrowing Procedures. Each Swing Line Borrowing shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. on the requested borrowing date, and shall specify (i) the amount to be borrowed, which shall be a minimum of $100,000, and (ii) the requested borrowing date, which shall be a Business Day. Each such telephonic notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent of a written Swing Line Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Promptly after receipt by the Swing Line Lender of any telephonic 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)

 

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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 Revolving Credit Lender) prior to 2:00 p.m. on the date of the proposed Swing Line Borrowing (A) directing the Swing Line Lender not to make such 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 (B) 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 will, not later than 3:00 p.m. on the borrowing date specified in such Swing Line Loan Notice, make the amount of its Swing Line Loan available to the Borrower by crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of the Swing Line Lender in immediately available funds.

(c) Refinancing of Swing Line Loans. (i) The Swing Line Lender at any time in its sole and absolute discretion may request, on behalf of the Borrower (which hereby irrevocably authorizes the Swing Line Lender to so request on its behalf), that each Revolving Credit Lender make a Base Rate Loan in an amount equal to such Lender’s Applicable Revolving Credit 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 Committed 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 Revolving Credit Facility and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02. The Swing Line Lender shall furnish the Borrower with a copy of the applicable Committed Loan Notice promptly after delivering such notice to the Administrative Agent. Each Revolving Credit Lender shall make an amount equal to its Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of the amount specified in such Committed Loan Notice available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds (and the Administrative Agent may apply Cash Collateral available with respect to the applicable Swing Line Loan) for the account of the Swing Line Lender at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the day specified in such Committed Loan Notice, whereupon, subject to Section 2.04(c)(ii), each Revolving Credit Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Loan to the 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 Revolving Credit Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.04(c)(i), 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 Credit Lenders fund its risk participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan and each Revolving Credit 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 Credit 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 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

 

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Line Lender at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Swing Line Lender in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Swing Line Lender 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 Credit Loan included in the relevant Revolving Credit 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.

(iv) Each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Credit 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 Lender may have against the Swing Line Lender, the 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, however, that each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02. No such funding of risk participations shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to repay Swing Line Loans, together with interest as provided herein.

(d) Repayment of Participations. (i) At any time after any Revolving Credit 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 Credit Lender its Applicable Revolving Credit 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 10.05 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Swing Line Lender in its discretion), each Revolving Credit Lender shall pay to the Swing Line Lender its Applicable Revolving Credit 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 Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. The Administrative Agent will make such demand upon the request of the Swing Line Lender. The obligations of the Revolving Credit 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 Borrower for interest on the Swing Line Loans. Until each Revolving Credit Lender funds its Base Rate Loan or risk participation pursuant to this Section 2.04 to refinance such Revolving Credit Lender’s Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of any Swing Line Loan, interest in respect of such Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage shall be solely for the account of the Swing Line Lender.

 

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(f) Payments Directly to Swing Line Lender. The 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) The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Term Loans and Revolving Credit Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (A) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. (1) three Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans and (2) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Loans; (B) any prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof; and (C) 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 and amount of such prepayment and the Type(s) of Loans to be prepaid and, if Eurodollar 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 Applicable Percentage of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Borrower, the 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 Loan pursuant to this Section 2.05(a) shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05. Each prepayment of the outstanding Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(a) shall be applied to the principal installments thereof on a pro-rata basis, and each such prepayment shall be paid to the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages in respect of each of the relevant Facilities.

(ii) The Borrower may, upon notice to the Swing Line Lender (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 such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. on the date of the prepayment. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower 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 any Loan Party Disposes of any property or assets (other than any Disposition of any property permitted by Section 7.05(a) through Section 7.05(i)) which results in the realization by such Person of Net Cash Proceeds or such Loan Party receives Net Cash Proceeds from insurance or condemnation proceeds, the Borrower shall prepay an aggregate principal amount of Loans equal to 100% of such Net Cash Proceeds in excess of $250,000 per occurrence or $1,000,000 (in the aggregate for such Net Cash Proceeds during the term of this Agreement) upon receipt thereof by such Person (such prepayments to be applied as set forth in clauses (v) and (vii) below); provided, however, that, with respect to any Net Cash Proceeds described in this Section 2.05(b)(i), at the election of the Borrower (as notified by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date of such Disposition or receipt of insurance or condemnation proceeds), and so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred

 

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and be continuing, such Loan Party may reinvest all or any portion of such Net Cash Proceeds in assets used or useful in the business so long as within 180 days (or within 365 days if the applicable Loan Party has entered into a binding contract for reinvestment within 180 days of receipt of such proceeds) after the receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds, such purchase shall have been consummated (in each case, as certified by the Borrower in writing to the Administrative Agent); and provided further, however, that any such Net Cash Proceeds not subject to such definitive agreement or so reinvested shall be immediately applied to the prepayment of the Loans as set forth in this Section 2.05(b)(i).

(i) Upon the incurrence or issuance by any Loan Party of any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness expressly permitted to be incurred or issued pursuant to Section 7.02), the Borrower shall prepay an aggregate principal amount of Loans equal to 100% of all Net Cash Proceeds received therefrom immediately upon receipt thereof by such Loan Party (such prepayments to be applied as set forth in clauses (v) and (vii) below).

(ii) Upon any Extraordinary Receipt received by or paid to or for the account of any Loan Party, and not otherwise included in clause (i) or (ii) of this Section 2.05(b), the Borrower shall prepay an aggregate principal amount of Loans equal to 100% of all Net Cash Proceeds received therefrom in excess of $250,000 per occurrence or $1,000,000 (in the aggregate for such Net Cash Proceeds during the term of this Agreement) immediately upon receipt thereof by such Person (such prepayments to be applied as set forth in clauses (v) and (vii) below); provided, however, that, with respect to any Net Cash Proceeds described in this Section 2.05(b)(iii), at the election of the Borrower (as notified by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date of receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds), and so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, such Loan Party may reinvest all or any portion of such Net Cash Proceeds in assets used or useful in the business so long as within 180 days (or within 365 days if the applicable Loan Party has entered into a binding contract for reinvestment within 180 days of receipt of such proceeds) after the receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds, such purchase shall have been consummated (in each case, as certified by the Borrower in writing to the Administrative Agent); and provided further, however, that any such Net Cash Proceeds not subject to such definitive agreement or so reinvested shall be immediately applied to the prepayment of the Loans as set forth in this Section 2.05(b)(iii).

(iii) [Intentionally omitted].

(iv) Each prepayment of Loans pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.05(b) shall be applied, first, to the Term Loan Facility (and the principal installments thereof on a pro rata basis) and second to the Revolving Credit Facility in the manner set forth in clause (vii) of this Section 2.05(b) (without a reduction of the aggregate commitments thereunder). Each prepayment of Loans pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.05(b) shall be (A) accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05 and (B) paid to the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages in respect of each of the relevant Facilities.

 

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(v) If for any reason the Total Revolving Credit Outstandings at any time exceed the Revolving Credit Facility at such time, the Borrower shall immediately prepay Revolving Credit Loans, Swing Line Loans and L/C Borrowings and/or Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations (other than the L/C Borrowings) in an aggregate amount equal to such excess.

(vi) Prepayments of the Revolving Credit Facility made pursuant to this Section 2.05(b), first, shall be applied ratably to the L/C Borrowings and Swing Line Loans, second, shall be applied ratably to the outstanding Revolving Credit Loans, and, third, shall be used to Cash Collateralize the remaining L/C Obligations. Upon the drawing of any Letter of Credit that has been Cash Collateralized, the funds held as Cash Collateral shall be applied (without any further action by or notice to or from the Borrower or any other Loan Party) to reimburse the L/C Issuer or the Revolving Credit Lenders, as applicable.

(vii) Amounts to be applied as provided in this Section 2.05(b) to the prepayment of Loans of any Class shall be applied first to reduce outstanding Base Rate Loans of such Class. Any amounts remaining after each such application shall, at the option of the Borrower, be applied to prepay Eurodollar Rate Loans of such Class immediately and/or shall be deposited in a separate Prepayment Account for the Loans of such Class. The Administrative Agent shall apply any cash deposited in the Prepayment Account for any Class of Loans to prepay Eurodollar Rate Loans of such Class on the last day of their respective Interest Periods (or, at the direction of the Borrower, on any earlier date) until all outstanding Loans of such Class have been prepaid or until all the allocable cash on deposit in the Prepayment Account for such Class has been exhausted. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Prepayment Account” for any Class of Loans shall mean an account established by the Borrower with the Administrative Agent and over which the Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal for application in accordance with this Section 2.05(b). The Prepayment Accounts shall not bear interest. If the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated pursuant Section 8.02, the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, apply such funds to satisfy any of the Obligations in accordance with Section 8.03. The Borrower hereby pledges and assigns to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties and to secure the Obligations, each Prepayment Account so established.

2.06. Termination or Reduction of Commitments.

(a) The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate the Revolving Credit Facility, the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit, or from time to time permanently reduce the Revolving Credit 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 1:00 p.m. three Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction, (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $1,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, (iii) any prepayment of a Revolving Credit Loan or Swing Line Loan or termination, cancellation or cash collateralization of any L/C Obligations necessary to effectuate a reduction under this Section 2.06 shall be accompanied by payment of (A) accrued interest (or fees) on the amount prepaid to the date of prepayment and (B) any additional amounts required

 

49


pursuant to Section 3.05 and (iv) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce (A) the Revolving Credit Facility if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Total Revolving Credit Outstandings would exceed the Revolving Credit 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. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any such notice of termination or reduction of the Revolving Credit Facility, the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit. Any such reduction shall be applied to the Revolving Credit Commitment of each Appropriate Lender according to its Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage. All fees accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Aggregate Commitments shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.

(b) If after giving effect to any reduction or termination of Revolving Credit Commitments under this Section 2.06, the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit exceeds the Revolving Credit Facility at such time, the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit, as the case may be, shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such excess.

2.07. Repayment of Loans.

(a) Term Loans. The Borrower shall repay to the Term Lenders the aggregate principal amount of all Term Loans outstanding on the following dates in the respective amounts set forth opposite such dates (which amounts shall be reduced as a result of the application of prepayments in accordance with the order of priority set forth in Section 2.05):

 

Date

   Amount  

March 31, 2011

   $ 1,875,000.00   

June 30, 2011

   $ 1,875,000.00   

September 30, 2011

   $ 1,875,000.00   

December 31, 2011

   $ 1,875,000.00   

March 31, 2012

   $ 1,875,000.00   

June 30, 2012

   $ 1,875,000.00   

September 30, 2012

   $ 1,875,000.00   

December 31, 2012

   $ 1,875,000.00   

March 31, 2013

   $ 2,343,750.00   

June 30, 2013

   $ 2,343,750.00   

September 30, 2013

   $ 2,343,750.00   

December 31, 2013

   $ 2,343,750.00   

March 31, 2014

   $ 2,812,500.00   

June 30, 2014

   $ 2,812,500.00   

September 30, 2014

   $ 2,812,500.00   

December 31, 2014

   $ 2,812,500.00   

March 31, 2015

   $ 2,812,500.00   

June 30, 2015

   $ 2,812,500.00   

September 30, 2015

   $ 2,812,500.00   

 

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provided, however, that the final principal repayment installment of the Term Loans shall be repaid on the Maturity Date and in any event shall be in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of all Term Loans outstanding on such date.

(b) Revolving Credit Loans. The Borrower shall repay to the Revolving Credit Lenders on the Maturity Date the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Credit Loans outstanding on such date.

(c) Swing Line Loans. The Borrower shall repay each Swing Line Loan on the earlier to occur of (i) the date ten Business Days after such Loan is made and (ii) the Maturity Date for the Revolving Credit Facility.

2.08. Interest.

(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.08(b), (i) each Eurodollar Rate Loan under a Facility shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate for such Facility; (ii) each Base Rate Loan under a Facility shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate for such Facility and (iii) each 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 Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate for the Revolving Credit Facility.

(b) (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 the 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) While any Event of Default exists under Section 8.01(f) or (g), all Obligations shall 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.

(iv) Upon the request of the Required Lenders, while any other Event of Default exists, the Borrower shall pay interest on the principal amount of all outstanding Obligations at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

(v) 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 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.

2.09. Fees.

In addition to certain fees described in Sections 2.03(h) and (i):

(a) Commitment Fee. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Credit Lender in accordance with its Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage, a commitment fee equal to the Applicable Rate for Commitment Fee times the actual daily amount by which the Revolving Credit Facility exceeds the sum of (i) the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Credit Loans and (ii) the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.15. 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. The Borrower shall pay to each of the Arrangers and the Administrative Agent for their own respective accounts fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the Fee Letters. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

2.10. Computation of Interest and Fees.

(a) All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans (including Base Rate Loans determined by reference to the Eurodollar 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 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). 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 of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

(b) If, as a result of any restatement of or other adjustment to the financial statements of the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries or for any other reason, the Borrower or the Lenders determine that (i) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as calculated by the Borrower as of any applicable date was inaccurate and (ii) a proper calculation of the Consolidated Leverage Ratio would have resulted in higher pricing for such period, the Borrower shall immediately and

 

52


retroactively be obligated to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Lenders or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, promptly on demand by the Administrative Agent (or, after the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, automatically and without further action by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer), an amount equal to the excess of the amount of interest and fees that should have been paid for such period over the amount of interest and fees actually paid for such period. This Section 2.10(b) shall not limit the rights of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, under Section 2.03 (c)(iii), 2.03(h) or 2.08(b) or under Article VIII. The Borrower’s obligations under this Section 2.10(b) shall survive the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all other Obligations.

2.11. Evidence of Debt.

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

(b) 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 Agent’s Clawback.

(a) General. All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars and in immediately available funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified herein. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its Applicable Percentage in respect of the relevant Facility (or other applicable

 

53


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 after 2:00 p.m. shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue. If any payment to be made by the Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected on 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 Eurodollar 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 Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the 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 greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, 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 the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans. If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing. Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

(ii) Payments by Borrower; Presumptions by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Appropriate Lenders or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Appropriate Lenders or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, in immediately available 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 greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate

 

54


determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this subsection (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 as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Article II, and such funds are not made available to the 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 Term Loans, Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Line Loans, to fund participations in Letters of Credit and to make payments pursuant to Section 10.04(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 10.04(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 10.04(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) Insufficient Funds. If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, L/C Borrowings, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first, toward payment of interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties, and (ii) second, toward payment of principal and L/C Borrowings then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal and L/C Borrowings then due to such parties.

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 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 Facilities due and payable to all Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents at such time) of payments on account of the Obligations in respect of the Facilities 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 any of the Facilities owing (but not due and payable) to such

 

55


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 Facilities 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 Facilities 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 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 Facilities 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 2.13 shall not be construed to apply to (A) any payment made by or on behalf of the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement (including the application of funds arising from the existence of a Defaulting Lender), (B) the application of Cash Collateral provided for in Section 2.14 or (C) 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 Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section 2.13 shall apply).

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

2.14. Cash Collateral.

(a) Certain Credit Support Events. Upon the request of the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer (i) if the 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, or (ii) if, as of the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, any L/C Obligation for any reason remains outstanding, the Borrower shall, in each case, immediately Cash Collateralize the then Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations. At any time that there shall exist a Defaulting Lender, immediately upon the request of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent Cash Collateral in an amount sufficient to cover all Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 2.15(a)(iv) and any Cash Collateral provided by the Defaulting Lender).

 

56


(b) Grant of Security Interest. 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 Borrower, and to the extent provided by any Lender, such Lender, hereby grants to (and subjects to the control of) the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders (including the Swing Line 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 2.13(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 as herein provided, or that the total amount of such Cash Collateral is less than the applicable Fronting Exposure and other obligations secured thereby, the Borrower or the relevant Defaulting Lender 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.

(c) Application. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Cash Collateral provided under any of this Section 2.14 or Sections 2.03, 2.04, 2.05, 2.15 or 8.02 in respect of Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans shall be held and applied to the satisfaction of the specific L/C Obligations, Swing Line Loans, obligations to fund participations therein (including, as to Cash Collateral provided by 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 be provided for herein.

(d) Release. Cash Collateral (or the appropriate portion thereof) provided to reduce Fronting Exposure or 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 Lender (or, as appropriate, its assignee following compliance with Section 10.06(b)(vi))) or (ii) the Administrative Agent’s good faith determination that there exists excess Cash Collateral; provided, however, (x) that Cash Collateral furnished by or on behalf of a Loan Party shall not be released during the continuance of a Default or Event of Default (and following application as provided in this Section 2.14 may be otherwise applied in accordance with Section 8.03), and (y) the Person providing Cash Collateral and the L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as applicable, may agree that Cash Collateral shall not be released but instead held to support future anticipated Fronting Exposure or other obligations.

2.15. 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:

(i) Waivers and Amendments. That 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 Section 10.01.

 

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(ii) Reallocation of Payments. Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of that Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article VIII or otherwise, and including any amounts made available to the Administrative Agent by that Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 10.08), 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 that Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by that Defaulting Lender to the L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender hereunder; third, if so determined by the Administrative Agent or requested by the L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, to be held as Cash Collateral for future funding obligations of that Defaulting Lender of any participation in any Letter of Credit or Swing Line Loan; fourth, as the Borrower may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which that Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; fifth, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in a non-interest bearing deposit account and released in order to satisfy obligations of that Defaulting Lender to fund Loans under this Agreement; sixth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender against that Defaulting Lender as a result of that 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 Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against that Defaulting Lender as a result of that Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and eighth, to that Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or L/C Borrowings in respect of which that Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share and (y) such Loans or L/C Borrowings were made 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 Borrowings 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 Borrowings owed to, that Defaulting Lender. 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 2.15(a)(ii) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by that Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

(iii) Certain Fees. That Defaulting Lender (x) shall not be entitled to receive any commitment fee pursuant to Section 2.08(a) for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Borrower shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender) and (y) shall be limited in its right to receive Letter of Credit Fees as provided in Section 2.03(h).

(iv) Reallocation of Applicable Percentages to Reduce Fronting Exposure. During any period in which there is a Defaulting Lender, for purposes of computing the amount of the obligation of each non-Defaulting Lender to acquire, refinance or fund participations in Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans pursuant to Sections 2.03 and

 

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2.04, the “Applicable Percentage” of each non-Defaulting Lender shall be computed without giving effect to the Commitment of that Defaulting Lender; provided, that, (i) each such reallocation shall be given effect only if, at the date the applicable Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, no Default or Event of Default exists; and (ii) the aggregate obligation of each non-Defaulting Lender to acquire, refinance or fund participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans shall not exceed the positive difference, if any, of (1) the Revolving Credit Commitment of that non-Defaulting Lender minus (2) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Credit Loans of that Lender.

(b) Defaulting Lender Cure. If the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender and the L/C Issuer agree in writing in their sole discretion that a Defaulting Lender should no longer be deemed to be 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 that portion of outstanding Loans of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Loans 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 Applicable Percentages (without giving effect to Section 2.15(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 Borrower 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.

2.16. Increase in Revolving Credit Facility.

(a) Request for Increase. Provided there exists no Default, upon notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Revolving Credit Lenders), the Borrower may, from time to time request an increase in the Revolving Credit Facility by an amount (for all such requests including any requests under Section 2.17 hereof) not exceeding $50,000,000; provided that (i) any such request for an increase shall be in a minimum amount of $20,000,000, and (ii) the Borrower may make a maximum of two such requests (for all such requests including any requests under Section 2.17 hereof). At the time of sending such notice, the Borrower (in consultation with the Administrative Agent) shall specify the time period within which each Revolving Credit Lender is requested to respond (which shall in no event be less than ten Business Days from the date of delivery of such notice to the Revolving Credit Lenders). Each Revolving Credit Lender shall be offered an opportunity to increase its Revolving Credit Commitment by an amount at least equal to its Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of such requested increase.

(b) Lender Elections to Increase. Each Revolving Credit Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent within such time period whether or not it agrees to increase its Revolving Credit Commitment and, if so, whether by an amount equal to, greater than, or less than its Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of such requested increase. Any Revolving Credit

 

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Lender not responding within such time period shall be deemed to have declined to increase its Revolving Credit Commitment. For the avoidance of doubt, no Revolving Credit Lender shall be obligated to participate in such increase and the decision to participate in such increase shall be in the sole discretion of the applicable Revolving Credit Lender.

(c) Notification by Administrative Agent; Additional Revolving Credit Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and each Revolving Credit Lender of the Revolving Credit 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 Issuer and the Swing Line Lender (which approvals shall not be unreasonably withheld), the Borrower may also invite additional Eligible Assignees to become Revolving Credit Lenders pursuant to a joinder agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.

(d) Effective Date and Allocations. If the Revolving Credit Facility is increased in accordance with this Section 2.16, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall determine the effective date (the “Revolving Credit Increase Effective Date”) and the final allocation of such increase. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Revolving Credit Lenders of the final allocation of such increase and the Revolving Credit Increase Effective Date.

(e) Conditions to Effectiveness of Increase. As a condition precedent to such increase, (i) the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of each Loan Party dated as of the Revolving Credit Increase Effective Date (in sufficient copies for each Lender) signed by a Responsible Officer of such Loan Party (A) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by such Loan Party approving or consenting to such increase, and (B) in the case of the Borrower, certifying that, before and after giving effect to such increase, (x) the representations and warranties contained in Article V and the other Loan Documents are true and correct on and as of the Revolving Credit 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 as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 2.16, 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, (y) no Default exists and (z) the Borrower shall have complied with the (1) covenant set forth in Section 7.11(a) on a Pro Forma Basis and (2) covenant contained in Section 7.11(b) on a pro forma basis, and, in each case, attaching such supporting documentation and financial information as requested by the Administrative Agent and (ii) commitments from applicable Lenders or Eligible Assignees shall have been received in an amount no less than the amount of such requested increase. So long as the Borrower shall have complied with all other conditions contained in this Section 2.16, the Lenders hereby consent, without the need for further or subsequent consent but subject to Section 2.16(b), to an amendment to this agreement to the extent necessary to evidence and document an increase in the Revolving Credit Facility so long as any terms applicable to any such increase are on the same terms as the existing Revolving Credit Facility. Any such amendment shall only require the consent of the Loan Parties and the Administrative Agent and the Lenders or lenders participating in such increase. Each Loan Party shall acknowledge and agree that the Obligations of such Loan Party extend to and include the Obligations after giving effect to such increase. The Administrative Agent shall

 

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have received such other assurances, certificates, documents or opinions as the Administrative Agent reasonably may require, including such assurances, certificates, documents or opinions as may be required to evidence such increase, the validity and enforceability of the Obligations and the validity, perfection and first priority Lien securing the Obligations after giving effect to such increase. The Borrower shall prepay any Revolving Credit Loans outstanding on the Revolving Credit Increase Effective Date (and pay any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05) to the extent necessary to keep the outstanding Revolving Credit Loans ratable with any revised Applicable Revolving Credit Percentages arising from any nonratable increase in the Revolving Credit Commitments under this Section 2.16.

(f) Conflicting Provisions. This Section 2.16 shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.13 or 10.01 to the contrary.

(g) Use of Proceeds. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the proceeds of any increase in the Revolving Credit Facility pursuant to this Section 2.16 shall be used solely to fund Permitted Acquisitions.

2.17. Increase in Term Facility.

(a) Request for Increase. Provided there exists no Default, upon notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Term Lenders), the Borrower may from time to time, request an increase in the Term Loans by an amount (for all such requests including requests under Section 2.16 hereof) not exceeding $50,000,000; provided that (i) any such request for an increase shall be in a minimum amount of $20,000,000, and (ii) the Borrower may make a maximum of two such requests (for all such requests including any requests under Section 2.16 hereof). At the time of sending such notice, the Borrower (in consultation with the Administrative Agent) shall specify the time period within which each Term Lender is requested to respond (which shall in no event be less than ten Business Days from the date of delivery of such notice to the Term Lenders). Each Term Lender shall be offered an opportunity to increase its Term Loans by an amount at least equal to its Applicable Percentage of such requested increase.

(b) Lender Elections to Increase. Each Term Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent within such time period whether or not it agrees to increase its Term Loans and, if so, whether by an amount equal to, greater than, or less than its ratable portion (based on such Term Lender’s Applicable Percentage in respect of the Term Facility) of such requested increase. Any Term Lender not responding within such time period shall be deemed to have declined to increase its Term Loans. For the avoidance of doubt, no Term Lender shall be obligated to participate in such increase and the decision to participate in such increase shall be in the sole discretion of the applicable Term Lender

(c) Notification by Administrative Agent; Additional Term Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and each Term Lender of the Term 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 (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld), the Borrower may also invite additional Eligible Assignees to become

 

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Term Lenders pursuant to a joinder agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.

(d) Effective Date and Allocations. If the Term Loans are increased in accordance with this Section 2.17, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall determine the effective date (the “Term Increase Effective Date”) and the final allocation of such increase. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Term Lenders of the final allocation of such increase and the Term Increase Effective Date.

(e) Conditions to Effectiveness of Increase. As a condition precedent to such increase, (i) the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of each Loan Party dated as of the Term Increase Effective Date (in sufficient copies for each Lender) signed by a Responsible Officer of such Loan Party (A) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by such Loan Party approving or consenting to such increase, and (B) in the case of the Borrower, certifying that, before and after giving effect to such increase, (x) the representations and warranties contained in Article V and the other Loan Documents are true and correct on and as of the Term 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 as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 2.17, 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, (y) no Default exists, and (z) the Borrower shall have complied with the (1) covenant set forth in Section 7.11(a) on a Pro Forma Basis and (2) covenant contained in Section 7.11(b) on a pro forma basis, and, in each case, attaching such supporting documentation and financial information as requested by the Administrative Agent and (ii) commitments from Term Lenders or Eligible Assignees shall have been received in an amount no less than the amount of such requested increase. So long as the Borrower shall have complied with all other conditions contained in this Section 2.17, the Lenders hereby consent, without the need for further or subsequent consent but subject to Section 2.17(b), to an amendment to this agreement to the extent necessary to evidence and document an increase in the Term Loans so long as any terms applicable to any such increase are on the same terms as the existing Term Loans; provided that as of the Term Increase Effective Date, the amortization schedule for the Term Loans set forth in Section 2.07(a) shall be amended to increase the then-remaining unpaid installments of principal by an aggregate amount equal to the additional Term Loans being made on such date, such aggregate amount to be applied to increase such installments ratably in accordance with the amounts in effect immediately prior to the Term Increase Effective Date. Any such amendment shall only require the consent of the Loan Parties and the Administrative Agent and the Lenders or lenders participating in such increase. Each Loan Party shall acknowledge and agree that the Obligations of such Loan Party extend to and include the Obligations after giving effect to such increase. The Administrative Agent shall have received such other assurances, certificates, documents or opinions as the Administrative Agent reasonably may require, including such assurances, certificates, documents or opinions as may be required to evidence such increase, the validity and enforceability of the Obligations and the validity, perfection and first priority Lien securing the Obligations after giving effect to such increase. The additional Term Loans shall be made by the Term Lenders participating therein pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 2.02.

 

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(f) Conflicting Provisions. This Section 2.17 shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.13 or 10.01 to the contrary.

(g) Use of Proceeds. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the proceeds of any increase in the Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.17 shall be used solely to fund Permitted Acquisitions.

ARTICLE III

TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

3.01. Taxes.

(a) Payments Free of Taxes; Obligation to Withhold; Payments on Account of Taxes. (i) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall to the extent permitted by applicable Laws be made free and clear of and without reduction or withholding for any Taxes. If, however, applicable Laws require the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to withhold or deduct any Tax, such Tax shall be withheld or deducted in accordance with such Laws as determined by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, upon the basis of the information and documentation to be delivered pursuant to subsection (e) below.

(ii) If the Borrower or the Administrative Agent shall be required by the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes, including both United States Federal backup withholding and withholding taxes, from any payment, then (A) the Borrower or the Administrative Agent shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to be required based upon the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e) below, (B) the Borrower or the Administrative Agent shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with the Code, and (C) to the extent that the withholding or deduction is made on account of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, the sum payable by the Borrower 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 Administrative Agent, Lender or L/C Issuer, as the case may be, receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such withholding or deduction been made.

(b) Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower. Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) above, the Borrower shall timely pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Law.

(c) Tax Indemnifications. (i) Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) or (b) above, and without duplication of any obligations of the Borrower under Section 3.01(a), the Borrower shall and hereby does indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the L/C Issuer, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 3.01) withheld or deducted by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent or paid by the Administrative

 

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Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. The Borrower shall also, and does hereby, indemnify the Administrative Agent, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, for any amount which a Lender or the L/C Issuer for any reason fails to pay indefeasibly to the Administrative Agent as required by clause (ii) of this subsection. A certificate as to the amount of any such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender or the L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender or the L/C Issuer, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(ii) Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) or (b) above, each Lender and the L/C Issuer shall, and does hereby, indemnify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, against any and all Taxes and any and all related losses, claims, liabilities, penalties, interest and expenses (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Borrower or the Administrative Agent) incurred by or asserted against the Borrower or the Administrative Agent by any Governmental Authority as a result of the failure by such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to deliver, or as a result of the inaccuracy, inadequacy or deficiency of, any documentation required to be delivered by such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (e). Each Lender and the L/C Issuer hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this clause (ii). The agreements in this clause (ii) shall survive the resignation and/or replacement of the Administrative Agent, any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender or the L/C Issuer, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all other Obligations.

(d) Evidence of Payments. Upon request by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, after any payment of Taxes by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to a Governmental Authority as provided in this Section 3.01, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent or the Administrative Agent shall deliver to the Borrower the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of any return required by Laws to report such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be.

(e) Status of Lenders; Tax Documentation. (i) Each Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and to the Administrative Agent, at the time or times prescribed by applicable Laws or when reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable Laws or by the taxing authorities of any jurisdiction and such other reasonably requested information as will permit the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, to determine (A) whether or not payments made hereunder or under any other Loan Document are subject to Taxes, (B) if

 

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applicable, the required rate of withholding or deduction, and (C) such Lender’s entitlement to any available exemption from, or reduction of, applicable Taxes in respect of all payments to be made to such Lender by the Borrower, as the case may be pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise to establish such Lender’s status for withholding tax purposes in the applicable jurisdiction.

(ii) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if the Borrower is resident for tax purposes in the United States,

(A) any Lender that is a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent two properly completed and executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 or such other documentation or information prescribed by applicable Laws or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements; and

(B) each Foreign Lender that is entitled to, or eligible for, under the Code or any applicable treaty, an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax with respect to payments hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as indicated below or 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 request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, but only if such Foreign Lender is legally entitled to do so), whichever of the following is applicable:

(I) two properly completed and executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN claiming eligibility for benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party,

(II) two properly completed and executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI,

(III) two properly completed and executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY and all required supporting documentation,

(IV) 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 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not (A) a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (B) a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or (C) a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code and (y) two properly completed and executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN, or

 

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(V) executed originals of any other form prescribed by applicable Laws as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in United States Federal withholding tax together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable Laws to permit the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made.

(iii) Each Lender shall promptly (A) notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of any change in circumstances which would modify or render invalid any claimed exemption or reduction, and (B) take such steps as shall not be materially disadvantageous to it, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, and as may be reasonably necessary (including the re-designation of its Lending Office) to avoid any requirement of applicable Laws of any jurisdiction that the Borrower or the Administrative Agent make any withholding or deduction for taxes from amounts payable to such Lender.

(f) 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 the L/C Issuer, or have any obligation to pay to any Lender or the L/C Issuer, any refund of Taxes withheld or deducted from funds paid for the account of such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be. If the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer determines, in its sole discretion, that it has received a refund of any Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the Borrower or with respect to which the Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section, it shall pay to the Borrower an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Borrower under this Section 3.01 with respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer, 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 the Borrower, upon the request of the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer in the event the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. This subsection shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes that it deems confidential) to the Borrower or any other Person.

3.02. Illegality.

If any Lender determines 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 Loans whose interest is determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurodollar 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 in the London interbank eurodollar market, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, (i) any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Eurodollar Rate Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to Eurodollar

 

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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 Eurodollar 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 Eurodollar Rate component of the Base Rate, in each case until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, (x) the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if the option to convert is available, convert all Eurodollar Rate Loans of such Lender 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 Eurodollar 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 Eurodollar Rate Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans and (y) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate, the Administrative Agent shall, during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the Eurodollar Rate component thereof until the Administrative 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 Eurodollar Rate. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted. Any Lender that requires a prepayment or conversion of existing outstanding Eurodollar Rate Loans, or notifies the Borrower of a suspension of its obligation to make or continue Eurodollar Rate Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to Eurodollar Rate Loans, in each case pursuant to this Section 3.02, shall, upon the Borrower’s request, provide the Borrower evidence of the applicable Law or applicable assertion or imposition by a Governmental Authority resulting in such prepayment, conversion or suspension.

3.03. Inability to Determine Rates.

If the Required Lenders determine that for any reason in connection with any request for a Eurodollar Rate Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof that (a) Dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank eurodollar market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Eurodollar Rate Loan, (b) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the Eurodollar Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan or in connection with an existing or proposed Base Rate Loan, or (c) the Eurodollar Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar 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 Borrower and each Lender. Thereafter, (x) the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended and (y) in the event of a determination described in the preceding sentence with respect to the Eurodollar Rate component of the Base Rate, the utilization of the Eurodollar Rate component in determining the Base Rate shall be suspended, in each case, until the Administrative Agent (upon the instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein.

 

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3.04. Increased Costs; Reserves on Eurodollar 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 reflected in the Eurodollar Rate or the L/C Issuer;

(ii) subject any Lender or the L/C Issuer to any tax of any kind whatsoever with respect to this Agreement, any Letter of Credit, any participation in a Letter of Credit or any Eurodollar Rate Loan made by it, or change the basis of taxation of payments to such Lender or the L/C Issuer in respect thereof (except for Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes covered by Section 3.01 and the imposition of, or any change in the rate of, any Excluded Tax payable by such Lender or the L/C Issuer); or

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

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining any Loan the interest on which is determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to increase the cost to such Lender or the 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 the L/C Issuer hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender or the L/C Issuer, the Borrower will pay to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

(b) Capital Requirements. If any Lender or the L/C Issuer determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or the L/C Issuer or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company, if any, regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or the 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 held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by the L/C Issuer, to a level below that which such Lender or the L/C Issuer or such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the L/C Issuer or such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

 

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(c) Certificates for Reimbursement. A certificate of a Lender or the L/C Issuer setting forth evidence of such Change in Law and the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or the L/C Issuer or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in subsection (a) or (b) of this Section 3.04 and delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.

(d) Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or the 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 the L/C Issuer’s right to demand such compensation, provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or the L/C Issuer pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.04 for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than nine months prior to the date that such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or the 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 Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense incurred by it as a result of:

(a) 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);

(b) any failure by the 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 Borrower; or

(c) any assignment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 10.13;

including any loss of anticipated profits and any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained. The Borrower shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.

For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under this Section 3.05, each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Eurodollar Rate Loan made by it at the Eurodollar Base Rate used in determining the Eurodollar Rate for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the London interbank eurodollar market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such Eurodollar Rate Loan was in fact so funded.

 

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3.06. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

(a) Designation of a Different Lending Office. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender, the L/C Issuer, or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender or the L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, then such Lender or the 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 the 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 the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender or the 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 if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, the Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 10.13.

3.07. Survival.

All of the Borrower’s obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, repayment of all other Obligations, and resignation of the Administrative Agent.

ARTICLE IV

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS

4.01. Conditions of Initial Credit Extension.

The obligation of the L/C Issuer and each Lender to make its initial Credit Extension hereunder is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent, unless waived by the Administrative Agent:

(a) The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals, telecopies or electronic copies (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each, to the extent signed by a Loan Party, 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 of the Lenders:

(i) duly executed counterparts of this Agreement, sufficient in number for distribution to the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Borrower;

 

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(ii) a Note executed by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting a Note;

(iii) duly executed counterparts of each other Loan Document sufficient in number for distribution to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, together with:

(A) certificates, if any, representing the pledged equity interest referred to in the Guaranty and Security Agreement accompanied by undated transfer powers executed in blank and instruments evidencing any pledged debt, indorsed in blank,

(B) proper Financing Statements in form appropriate for filing under the Uniform Commercial Code of all jurisdictions that the Administrative Agent may deem necessary in order to perfect the Liens created under the Guaranty and Security Agreement, covering the Collateral described in the Guaranty and Security Agreement,

(C) results of searches (including, without limitation, intellectual property and lien searches), dated on or before the date of the initial Credit Extension, together with copies of such other supporting documentation as may be necessary or desirable showing that the Liens created by the Collateral Documents are the only Liens upon the Collateral, except Liens permitted pursuant to Section 7.01 and Liens to be discharged on or prior to the Closing Date,

(D) evidence of the completion of all other actions, recordings and filings of or with respect to the Collateral Documents that the Administrative Agent may deem necessary in order to perfect the Liens on the Collateral,

(E) evidence that all other action that the Administrative Agent may deem necessary in order to perfect the Liens created under the Guaranty and Security Agreement has been taken (including receipt of duly executed payoff letters and UCC-3 termination statements),

(F) [intentionally omitted], and

(G) intellectual property security agreement supplements pursuant to the Guaranty and Security Agreement, duly executed by each Loan Party, together with evidence that all action that the Administrative Agent may deem necessary in order to perfect the Liens in intellectual property created under the Guaranty and Security Agreement has been taken;

(iv) [intentionally omitted];

(v) certificates executed by a Responsible Officer of each Loan Party attaching resolutions or other action authorizing the actions under the Loan Documents, incumbency certificates, copies of the Organization Documents of such Loan Party, certified to be true, accurate and complete and in effect on the Closing Date and such

 

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other documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that each Loan Party is duly organized or formed, and that each Loan Party is validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except to the extent that failure to do so, either individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(vi) a favorable opinion of Holme Roberts & Owen, LLP, counsel to the Loan Parties, addressed to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, as to the matters concerning the Loan Parties and the Loan Documents as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, in form, scope and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

(vii) a favorable opinion of Brach Eichler L.L.C., local New Jersey counsel to the Loan Parties, addressed to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, as to the matters concerning the Loan Parties and the Loan Documents as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, in form, scope and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

(viii) a certificate of a Responsible Officer of each Loan Party either attaching copies of all consents, licenses and approvals required in connection with the consummation by such Loan Party of the Transaction (other than those delivered pursuant to clause (v) above), and 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;

(ix) a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying (A) that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied, and (B) that there has been no event or circumstance since December 29, 2009 that has had or would be reasonably expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;

(x) a certificate attesting to the Solvency of the Loan Parties before and after giving effect to the Transaction, from the Borrower’s chief financial officer;

(xi) certificates of insurance and endorsements demonstrating coverage reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and naming the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, as an additional insured or loss payee, as the case may be, under all insurance policies maintained with respect to the assets and properties of the Loan Parties that constitute Collateral;

(xii) evidence of the redemption in full, on or before the Closing Date, of the Series Z Preferred Stock and of the cancellation and discharge of the Series Z Preferred Stock to the satisfaction of the Administrative Agent;

(xiii) evidence that the Existing Credit Agreement has been, or concurrently with the Closing Date is being, terminated and all Liens securing obligations under the

 

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Existing Credit Agreement have been, or concurrently with the Closing Date are being, released;

(xiv) financial statements of the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries for the fiscal month ended October 26, 2010, each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

(xv) forecasts prepared by management of the Borrower of consolidated balance sheets and statements of income or operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries on a quarterly basis for the first Fiscal Year of the Borrower following the Closing Date, each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

(xvi) a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries as at the end of the Fiscal Quarter ended on or about September 30, 2010, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations and cash flows for such Fiscal Quarter and for the portion of the Borrower’s Fiscal Year then ended, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding Fiscal Quarter of the previous Fiscal Year and the corresponding portion of the previous Fiscal Year (provided that the balance sheet will be compared to the balance sheet from the prior Fiscal Year end), all in reasonable detail, such consolidated statements to be certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower as fairly presenting, in all material respects, the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;

(xvii) executed copies of any relevant Committed Loan Notices and Letter of Credit Applications; and

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

(b) (i) All fees and expenses then due and owing to the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers and required to be paid on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid and (ii) all fees and expenses then due and owing to the Lenders and required to be paid on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid.

(c) Unless waived by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall have paid all reasonable 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 Borrower and the Administrative Agent and counsel to the Administrative Agent).

(d) The Administrative Agent shall have received an executed funds flow statement in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

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(e) There shall not exist any action, suit, investigation, litigation or proceeding pending or threatened in any court or before any arbitrator or governmental authority that, either individually or in the aggregate, has or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, the Transaction, the Term Facility, the Revolving Credit Facility or any of the other transactions contemplated hereby.

(f) The Administrative Agent and the Arrangers shall be reasonably satisfied with the Borrower’s capital structure as of the Closing Date.

(g) The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate satisfactory thereto, for the benefit of itself and the Lenders, provided by each Loan Party that sets forth information required by the Act including the identity of such Loan Party, the name and address of such Loan Party and other information that will allow the Administrative Agent or any Lender, as applicable, to identify such Loan Party in accordance with the Act.

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.

4.02. Conditions to all Credit Extensions.

The obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans) is subject to the following conditions precedent:

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

(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 L/C Issuer shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.

 

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Each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Loans to the other Type or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans) submitted by the Borrower 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

Each Loan Party represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

5.01. Existence, Qualification and Power.

Each Loan Party (a) is duly organized or formed, validly existing and, as applicable, in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (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 and consummate the Transaction, and (c) is duly qualified and is licensed and, as applicable, in good standing 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; except in each case referred to in clause (b)(i) or (c), to the extent that failure to do so, either individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse 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 any Lien under, or require any payment to be made under (i) any Contractual Obligation to which such Person is a party of affecting such Person or the properties of such Person 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 Law.

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, or for the consummation of the Transaction, (b) the grant by any Loan Party of the Liens granted by it pursuant to the Collateral Documents, (c) the perfection or maintenance of the Liens created under the Collateral Documents (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 Collateral Documents, except for the authorizations, approvals, actions, notices and filings listed on Schedule 5.03, all of which have been duly obtained, taken, given or made and are in full

 

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force and effect. All applicable waiting periods in connection with the Transaction have expired without any action having been taken by any Governmental Authority restraining, preventing or imposing materially adverse conditions upon the Transaction or the rights of the Loan Parties freely to transfer or otherwise dispose of, or to create any Lien on, any properties now owned or hereafter acquired by any of them.

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, enforceable against each Loan Party that is party thereto in accordance with its terms.

5.05. Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.

(a) 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 Borrower and its Domestic 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 Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries as of the date thereof, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness.

(b) The unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries delivered in connection with Section 6.01(b), and the related consolidated statements of income or operations and cash flows for the Fiscal Quarter ended on the date thereof (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 Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations 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.

(d) The financial statements delivered pursuant to Sections 4.01(a)(xiv) and (xvi) fairly present the financial condition of the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby, subject to the absence of footnotes and to normal year-end audit adjustments.

(e) The consolidated forecasted balance sheet, statements of income and cash flows of the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries delivered pursuant to Section 4.01(a)(xv) and Section 6.01(d) were prepared in good faith on the basis of the assumptions stated therein, which assumptions were reasonable at the time prepared in light of the conditions existing at such time, and represented, at the time of delivery, the Borrower’s reasonable estimate of its future financial

 

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condition and performance (it being understood that projections by their nature are inherently uncertain, actual results may differ from projections and such differences may be material).

5.06. Litigation.

There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of each Loan Party, threatened or contemplated, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against any Loan Party or against any of their properties or revenues that (a) purport to affect or pertain to this Agreement, any other Loan Document or the consummation of the Transaction, 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 any Loan Party nor any Subsidiary thereof is in default under or with respect to, or a party to, any Contractual Obligation that could, 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.

(a) Each Loan Party has good record and marketable title in fee simple 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 each Loan Party is subject to no Liens, other than Liens permitted by Section 7.01.

(b) Schedule 5.08(b) sets forth a complete and accurate list of all real property owned by each Loan Party as of the date hereof (or, to the extent such schedule is amended pursuant to Section 6.02(h), as of the date of such amendment), showing as of the date hereof (or, to the extent such schedule is amended pursuant to Section 6.02(h), as of the date of such amendment) the street address, county or other relevant jurisdiction, state, record owner and book and fair value thereof. Each Loan Party has good, marketable and insurable fee simple title to the real property owned by such Loan Party free and clear of all Liens, other than Liens permitted by Section 7.01.

(c) Schedule 5.08(c) sets forth a complete and accurate list of all Leases of any Loan Party as of the date hereof (or, to the extent such schedule is amended pursuant to Section 6.02(h), as of the date of such amendment), identifying whether such Person is the lessee or lessor under such Lease and showing as of the date hereof (or, to the extent such schedule is amended pursuant to Section 6.02(h), as of the date of such amendment) the street address, county or other relevant jurisdiction, state, lessor, lessee, expiration date and annual rental cost thereof. Each such Lease is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Loan Party thereto, enforceable in accordance with its terms.

5.09. Environmental Compliance.

 

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(a) The Loan Parties are in compliance with existing Environmental Laws and, to the best of their knowledge, are not subject to any claims alleging potential liability or responsibility for violation of any Environmental Law on their respective businesses, operations and properties, except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 5.09 or except where the failure to comply therewith would not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Except as otherwise set forth in Schedule 5.09, (i) none of the properties currently or formerly owned or operated by any Loan Party is listed or proposed for listing on the NPL or on the CERCLIS or any analogous foreign, state or local list or is adjacent to any such property, (ii) there are no and never have been any underground or above-ground storage tanks or any surface impoundments, septic tanks, pits, sumps or lagoons in which Hazardous Materials are being or have been treated, stored or disposed on any property currently owned or operated by any Loan Party or, to the best of the knowledge of the Loan Parties, on any property formerly owned or operated by any Loan Party, (iii) there is no asbestos or asbestos-containing material on any property currently owned or operated by any Loan Party and (iv) Hazardous Materials have not been released, discharged or disposed of on any property currently or formerly owned or operated by any Loan Party, except for any of the foregoing that, either individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) Except as otherwise set forth in Schedule 5.09, (i) no Loan Party is undertaking, and has not completed, either individually or together with other potentially responsible parties, any investigation or assessment or remedial or response action relating to any actual or threatened release, discharge or disposal of Hazardous Materials at any site, location or operation, either voluntarily or pursuant to the order of any Governmental Authority or the requirements of any Environmental Law and (ii) all Hazardous Materials generated, used, treated, handled or stored at, or transported to or from, any property currently or formerly owned or operated by any Loan Party have been disposed of in a manner not reasonably expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

5.10. Insurance.

The properties of each Loan Party 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 engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in localities where such Loan Party operates.

5.11. Taxes.

Each Loan Party has 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 it or its 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 any Loan Party thereof that would, if made, either individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. No Loan Party is party to any tax sharing agreement.

 

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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 Pension Plan that is intended to be a qualified plan under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service to the effect that the form of such Plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code and the trust related thereto has been determined by the Internal Revenue Service to be exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(a) of the Code, or an application for such a letter is currently being processed by the Internal Revenue Service. To the knowledge of the Borrower, nothing has occurred that would prevent or cause the loss of such tax-qualified status.

(b) There are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan that, either individually or in the aggregate, would 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 Plan that, either individually or in the aggregate, has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) (i) No ERISA Event has occurred, and neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate is aware of any fact, event or circumstance that would reasonably be expected to constitute or result in an ERISA Event with respect to any Pension Plan; (ii) the Borrower and each ERISA Affiliate has met all applicable requirements under the Pension Funding Rules in respect of each Pension Plan, and no waiver of the minimum funding standards under the Pension Funding Rules has been applied for or obtained; (iii) 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 neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate knows of any facts or circumstances that would reasonably be expected to cause the funding target attainment percentage for any such plan to drop below 60% as of the most recent valuation date; (iv) neither the Borrower 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; (v) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could reasonably be expected to be subject to Section 4069 or Section 4212(c) of ERISA; and (vi) 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 would reasonably be expected to cause the PBGC to institute proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate any Pension Plan.

(d) Neither the Borrower 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 (A) on the Closing Date, those listed on Schedule 5.12(d) hereto and (B) thereafter, Pension Plans not otherwise prohibited by this Agreement.

5.13. Subsidiaries; Equity Interests.

No Loan Party has any Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed in Part (a) of Schedule 5.13, except for Subsidiaries created after the Closing Date to the extent permitted by this Agreement and Inactive

 

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Subsidiaries, and all of the outstanding Equity Interests in such Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by a Loan Party in the amounts specified on Part (a) of Schedule 5.13 free and clear of all Liens except those created under the Collateral Documents. No Loan Party has any equity investments in any other corporation or entity other than those specifically disclosed in Part (b) of Schedule 5.13, except for Subsidiaries created after the Closing Date to the extent permitted by this Agreement. All of the outstanding Equity Interests in the Borrower have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable. Set forth on Part (c) of Schedule 5.13 is a complete and accurate list of all Subsidiaries as of the date hereof (or, to the extent such schedule is amended pursuant to Section 6.02(h), as of the date of such amendment), showing as of the Closing Date (or, to the extent such schedule is amended pursuant to Section 6.02(h), as of the date of such amendment), as to each Subsidiary, the jurisdiction of its incorporation, the address of its principal place of business and its U.S. taxpayer identification number or, in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary that does not have a U.S. taxpayer identification number, its unique identification number issued to it by the jurisdiction of its incorporation. The copy of the charter of each Loan Party and each amendment thereto provided pursuant to Section 4.01(a)(v) is a true and correct copy of each such document, each of which is valid and in full force and effect.

5.14. Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act.

(a) No Loan Party is engaged and will not engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock (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 25% of the value of the assets (either of the Borrower only or of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis) subject to the provisions of Section 7.01 or Section 7.05 or subject to any restriction contained in any agreement or instrument between a Loan Party 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) Neither a Loan Party, nor any Person Controlling a Loan Party, is or is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

5.15. Disclosure.

No written report, financial statement, certificate or other 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 information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits any material fact necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information and other forward looking information, each Loan Party represents only that such information was prepared in good faith on the basis of the assumptions stated therein, which assumptions were reasonable at the time prepared in light of the conditions existing at such time, and represented, at the time of delivery, such Loan Party’s reasonable estimate of its future financial condition and performance (it being understood that projections by their nature are inherently uncertain, actual results may differ from projections and such differences may be material).

 

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5.16. Compliance with Laws.

Each Loan Party is in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of all 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.

Each Loan Party owns or possesses the right to use, all of the trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, patents, patent rights, franchises, licenses and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “IP Rights”) that are reasonably necessary for the operation of its respective businesses, without conflict with the rights of any other Person, and Schedule 5.17 sets forth a complete and accurate list of all such IP Rights owned or used by each Loan Party as of the date hereof (or, to the extent such schedule is amended pursuant to Section 6.02(h), as of the date of such amendment). To the best knowledge of each Loan Party, no slogan or other advertising device, product, process, method, substance, part or other material now employed, or now contemplated to be employed, by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries infringes upon any rights held by any other Person, except for such infringements which, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 5.17, no claim or litigation regarding any of the foregoing is pending or, to the best knowledge of each Loan Party, threatened, which, either individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.18. Solvency.

The Loan Parties are, on a consolidated basis, Solvent.

5.19. Labor Matters.

There are no collective bargaining agreements or Multiemployer Plans covering the employees of the Loan Parties as of the Closing Date and no Loan Party has suffered any strikes, walkouts, work stoppages or other material labor difficulty within the last five years, in each case except as did not, either individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.20. Collateral Documents.

The provisions of the Collateral Documents are effective to create in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties a legal, valid and enforceable first priority Lien (subject to Liens permitted by Section 7.01) on all right, title and interest of the respective Loan Parties in the Collateral described therein. Except for filings completed prior to the Closing Date and as contemplated hereby and by the Collateral Documents, no additional filings will be necessary to perfect or protect such Liens.

5.21. Unit Locations; Franchised Unit Locations.

 

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Part (a) of Schedule 5.21 sets forth a complete and accurate list of all Unit Locations held by any Loan Party as of the Closing Date (or, to the extent such schedule is amended pursuant to Section 6.02(h), as of the date of such amendment). Part (b) of Schedule 5.21 sets forth a complete and accurate list of all Franchised Unit Locations franchised by any Loan Party as Franchisor to any Franchisee as of the Closing Date (or, to the extent such schedule is amended pursuant to Section 6.02(h), as of the date of such amendment).

5.22. Franchise Agreements; License Agreements.

(a) Schedule 5.22 sets forth a complete and accurate list of all Franchise Agreements and License Agreements as of the Closing Date (or, to the extent such schedule is amended pursuant to Section 6.02(h), as of the date of such amendment).

(b) Each Franchise Agreement and License Agreement is in full force and effect, without any amendment or modification from the form or copy delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders except for amendments permitted hereunder.

5.23. Leases.

There is a Lease in force for each Unit Location which is ground leased or space leased by any Loan Party. To the extent requested in writing by the Administrative Agent, a correct and complete copy of each Lease has been delivered to the Administrative Agent and each Lease is in full force and effect without amendment or modification from the form or copy delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders except for amendments that, either individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No default by any party exists under any such Lease that would reasonably be expected to result in termination of such Lease, nor has any event occurred which, with the passage of time or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute such a default, except in each case, to the extent any such default, either individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Schedule 5.23 contains a complete and correct listing of all Leases as of the Closing Date (or, to the extent such schedule is amended pursuant to Section 6.02(h), as of the date of such amendment)

5.24. Material Contracts.

No default by any Loan Party, or to the knowledge of any Loan Party, by any other party, exists under any Material Contract, other than defaults that would not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.25. Use of Proceeds.

The proceeds of the Loans shall be used in accordance with Section 6.11.

5.26. Inactive Subsidiaries.

Except as set forth in Schedule 5.26, none of the Inactive Subsidiaries engages in any business or activity or owns any assets or has incurred any Indebtedness or any other liability other than (a) maintenance of its organizational existence, (b) tax and accounting administrative activities, and (c) activities incidental to the businesses or

 

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activities described in clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 5.26.

5.27. Compliance with OFAC Rules and Regulations.

No Loan Party or, to any Loan Party’s knowledge, any Affiliate of a Loan Party (a) is a Sanctioned Person, (b) has any of its assets in Sanctioned Countries, or (c) derives any of its operating income from investments in, or transactions with Sanctioned Persons or Sanctioned Countries. No part of the proceeds of any Loan hereunder will be used directly or indirectly to fund any operations in, finance any investments or activities in or make any payments to, a Sanctioned Person or a Sanctioned Country.

5.28. Foreign Assets Control Regulations, Etc.

No Loan Party is an “enemy” or an “ally of the enemy” within the meaning of Section 2 of the Trading with the Enemy Act of the United States of America (50 U.S.C. App. §§ 1 et seq.), as amended. No Loan Party is in violation of (a) the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, (b) any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) or any enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto or (c) the Act. No Loan Party (i) is a blocked person described in Section 1 of the Anti-Terrorism Order or (ii) to the best of any Loan Party’s knowledge, engages in any dealings or transactions, or is otherwise associated, with any such blocked person.

ARTICLE VI

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation (other than Obligations arising solely out of any Secured Cash Management Agreement or Secured Hedge Agreement) shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, each Loan Party shall:

6.01. Financial Statements.

Deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and detail satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

(a) as soon as available, but in any event within 90 days after the end of each Fiscal Year of the Borrower, a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries as at the end of such Fiscal Year, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for such Fiscal Year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous Fiscal Year, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, such consolidated statements to be audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of an independent certified public accountant of nationally recognized standing reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall not be subject to any “going concern” or like qualification or exception or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit;

 

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(b) as soon as available, but in any event within 45 days after the end of each of the first three Fiscal Quarters of each Fiscal Year of the Borrower, an unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries as at the end of such Fiscal Quarter, and the related unaudited consolidated statements of income or operations and cash flows for such Fiscal Quarter and for the portion of the Borrower’s Fiscal Year then ended, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding Fiscal Quarter of the previous Fiscal Year and the corresponding portion of the previous Fiscal Year (provided that the balance sheet will be compared to the balance sheet from the prior Fiscal Year end), all in reasonable detail, such consolidated statements to be certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower as fairly presenting, in all material respects, the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;

(c) as soon as available, but in any event within 30 days after the end of the first two fiscal months of each Fiscal Quarter of the Borrower (commencing with the fiscal month ending on or about January 31, 2011, an unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries as of the end of such month, and the related unaudited consolidated statements of income or operations and cash flows for such month and for the portion of the Borrower’s Fiscal Year then ended setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding month of the previous Fiscal Year and the corresponding portion of the previous Fiscal Year (provided that the balance sheet will be compared to the balance sheet from the prior Fiscal Year end), all in reasonable detail, such statements to be certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower as fairly presenting, in all material respects, the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes; and

(d) as soon as available, but in any event within 45 days after the end of each Fiscal Year of the Borrower (commencing with the Fiscal Year ending on or about December 31, 2011), an annual business plan and budget of the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, including (i) forecasts prepared by management of the Borrower and (ii) assumptions made in the formulation of such budget, in form satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders, of consolidated balance sheets and statements of income or operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries on a quarterly basis for the immediately following Fiscal Year.

As to any information contained in materials furnished pursuant to Section 6.02(c), the Borrower shall not be separately required to furnish such information under Section 6.01(a) or (b) above, but the foregoing shall not be in derogation of the obligation of the Borrower to furnish the information and materials described in Sections 6.01(a) and (b) above at the times specified therein.

6.02. Compliance Certificates and Certain Reports Sent to Other Parties.

Deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

 

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(a) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(a) and (b), (i) a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower and (ii) a copy of management’s discussion and analysis with respect to such financial statements;

(b) promptly after any request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, copies of any detailed audit reports, management letters or recommendations submitted to the board of directors (or the audit committee of the board of directors) of any Loan Party by independent accountants in connection with the accounts or books of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, or any audit of any of them;

(c) promptly after the same are available, copies of each annual report, proxy or financial statement or other report or communication sent to the holders of public equity securities of the relevant Loan Party, and copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which such Loan Party has filed with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or with any national securities exchange, and in any case not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto;

(d) to the extent applicable, promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any statement or report furnished to any holder of debt securities of any Loan Party in excess of the Threshold Amount pursuant to the terms of any indenture, loan or credit or similar agreement and not otherwise required to be furnished to the Lenders pursuant to Section 6.01 or any other clause of this Section 6.02;

(e) promptly, and in any event within 5 Business Days after receipt thereof by any Loan Party, copies of each notice or other correspondence received from the SEC (or comparable agency in any applicable non-U.S. jurisdiction) concerning any investigation or possible investigation or other inquiry by such agency regarding financial or other operational results of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof, unless, in the case of an inquiry only, such inquiry relates to an event or circumstance that would not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect ;

(f) within 30 days after the end of each Fiscal Year of the Borrower, a report summarizing the insurance coverage (specifying type, amount and carrier) in effect for each Loan Party and its Subsidiaries and containing such additional information as the Administrative Agent, or any Lender through the Administrative Agent, may reasonably specify;

(g) promptly after the assertion or occurrence thereof, notice of any action or proceeding against or of any noncompliance by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries with any Environmental Law or Environmental Permit that would (i) reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) cause any property described in the Mortgages to be subject to any restrictions on ownership, occupancy, use or transferability under any Environmental Law;

(h) within 30 days after the end of each Fiscal Year of the Borrower (i) a report supplementing Schedules 5.08(b), 5.08(c), 5.13, 5.17, 5.21, 5.22, 5.23 and a description of such

 

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other changes in the information included in such Schedules as may be necessary for such Schedules to be accurate and complete, each such report to be signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower and to be in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; provided that such report shall not constitute an amendment or modification of such Schedules without the written consent of the Administrative Agent; and

(i) promptly after request therefor, such additional information regarding the business, financial, legal or corporate affairs of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may from time to time reasonably request.

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 Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 10.02; (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); or (iii) on which the Borrower provides written notice to the Lenders that such documents are available on the website of the SEC at http://www.sec.gov (to the extent such documents are available as described in such notice); provided that: (x) the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent or any Lender upon its request to the Borrower to deliver such paper copies until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent or such Lender and (y) the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender (by telecopier or electronic mail) of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents. 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 Borrower 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.

The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Arrangers will make available to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”) and (b) certain of the Lenders (each, a “Public Lender”) may have personnel who do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its Affiliates, or the respective securities of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Persons’ securities. The Borrower hereby agrees that so long as the Borrower 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, (w) all Borrower Materials that are intended by the Borrower for distribution 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; (x) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the

 

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Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the L/C Issuer 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 Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 10.07); (y) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Side Information;” and (z) the Administrative Agent 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.”

6.03. Notices.

Promptly notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

(a) of the occurrence of any Default of which a Responsible Officer of the Borrower has knowledge;

(b) of the determination by any Responsible Officer of any Loan Party that any matter or change has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;

(c) of the occurrence of any ERISA Event;

(d) of any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices by any Loan Party or any Domestic Subsidiary thereof;

(e) of the (i) occurrence of any Disposition of property or assets, or the receipt of any insurance proceeds or condemnation awards, for which a Loan Party is required to make a mandatory prepayment pursuant to Section 2.05 (b)(i), (ii) incurrence or issuance of any Indebtedness for which a Loan Party is required to make a mandatory prepayment pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(ii), and (iii) receipt of any Extraordinary Receipt for which a Loan Party is required to make a mandatory prepayment pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(iii); and

(f) of any notice of termination, non-renewal or default under any Material Contract.

Each notice pursuant to this Section 6.03 (other than Section 6.03(e)) shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the relevant Loan Party setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action such Loan Party 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.

6.04. Payment of Taxes, Other Claims Resulting in Liens and Material Obligations.

Pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable, all of its obligations and liabilities, including (a) all tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it

 

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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 relevant Loan Party or Subsidiary thereof, (b) all lawful claims which, if unpaid, would by Law become a Lien upon its property, unless such Lien is permitted under Section 7.01 and (c) all Indebtedness in excess of the Threshold Amount, 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, Permits, Licenses, 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 or formation except in a transaction permitted by Section 7.04 or 7.05, (b) preserve or renew all of its registered patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade names and service marks, the non-preservation of which, either individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (c) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges, permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, including, without limitation, any and all approvals by any Federal, state or local food authority necessary for the continued operation of any Restaurant operated by any Loan Party, except to the extent that failure to do so, either individually or in the aggregate, would not 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 necessary in the operation of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, (b) make all necessary repairs thereto and renewals and replacements thereof except where the failure to do so, either individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (c) use the standard of care typical in the industry in the operation and maintenance of its facilities.

6.07. Maintenance of Insurance.

(a) Maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Borrower, 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 and (b) use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such insurance companies to provide not less than 30 days’ prior notice to the Administrative Agent of termination, lapse or cancellation of such insurance.

6.08. Compliance with Laws.

Comply in all material respects with the requirements of all 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,

 

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either individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

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 each Loan Party and (b) maintain such books of record and account in material conformity with all applicable requirements of any Governmental Authority having regulatory jurisdiction over such Loan Party.

6.10. Inspection Rights.

Permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent to visit and inspect any of its properties, to examine its organizational, financial and operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and independent public accountants, all at the expense of the Borrower and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice to the relevant Loan Party; provided, however, that the Borrower shall only be required to reimburse the expenses of the Administrative Agent for two such inspections and examinations in any Fiscal Year, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, in which case the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of its respective representatives or independent contractors) (x) shall not be so limited and (y) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrower at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice.

6.11. Use of Proceeds.

Use the proceeds of the Credit Extensions (a) in the case of the Loans made on the Closing Date, to refinance (i) the facilities under the Existing Credit Agreement and to redeem the Series Z Preferred Stock, and (ii) to pay fees and expenses incurred in connection with the foregoing and with the Facilities on the Closing Date and (b) in the case of the Loans under the Revolving Credit Facility made after the Closing Date, for working capital and general corporate purposes (including acquisitions and Capital Expenditures permitted by this Agreement), in all cases, not in contravention of any Law or of any Loan Document.

6.12. Covenant to Guarantee Obligations and Give Security.

(a) Upon the formation or acquisition of any new direct or indirect Domestic Subsidiary of any Loan Party or, to the extent no material adverse tax consequence would result, upon the formation or acquisition of any new direct or indirect Foreign Subsidiary of any Loan Party, then the relevant Loan Party shall, at the Borrower’s expense:

(i) within 10 days after such formation or acquisition, furnish to the Administrative Agent a description of the real and personal properties of such Subsidiary, in detail satisfactory to the Administrative Agent,

 

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(ii) within 15 days after such formation or acquisition, cause such Domestic Subsidiary and each direct and indirect parent of such Domestic Subsidiary (if it has not already done so) or cause such Foreign Subsidiary (to the extent no material adverse tax consequence would result therefrom) to duly execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a joinder to the Guaranty and Security Agreement and the Mortgages with respect to any Eligible Real Estate, and other security and pledge agreements (including, in the case of a Foreign Subsidiary (to the extent no material adverse tax consequence would result therefrom), such local Law guaranties, mortgages, security and pledge agreements), as specified by and in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (including delivery of all pledged Equity Interests in and of such Subsidiary, and other instruments of the type specified in Section 4.01(a)(iii)(A) or the local law equivalents thereto), securing payment of all the Obligations and constituting Liens on all such real and personal properties,

(iii) within 30 days after such formation or acquisition, cause such Domestic Subsidiary and each direct and indirect parent of such Domestic Subsidiary (if it has not already done so) or cause such Foreign Subsidiary (to the extent no material adverse tax consequence would result therefrom) to take whatever action (including the recording of Mortgages with respect to any Eligible Real Estate, the filing of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements (or equivalent filing in the jurisdiction of formation of the relevant Foreign Subsidiary), filings with applicable copyright, trademark and patent registration offices, the giving of notices and the endorsement of notices on title documents or the local law equivalents thereto and any other documents and information of the types specified in Section 4.01(a)(iii)(B)-(G) and (v)) as may be necessary in the opinion of the Administrative Agent to vest in the Administrative Agent (or in any representative of the Administrative Agent designated by it) valid and subsisting Liens on the properties purported to be subject to the deeds of trust, trust deeds, deeds to secure debt, Mortgages, joinders to the Guaranty and Security Agreement and security and pledge agreements delivered pursuant to this Section 6.12, enforceable against all third parties in accordance with their terms,

(iv) within 60 days after such formation or acquisition, deliver to the Administrative Agent, upon the request of the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion, a signed copy of a favorable opinion, addressed to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, of counsel for the Loan Parties acceptable to the Administrative Agent as to the matters contained in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above, and as to such other matters as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, and

(v) as promptly as practicable after such formation or acquisition, deliver, upon the request of the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion, to the Administrative Agent with respect to each parcel of Eligible Real Estate owned or held by the entity that is the subject of such formation or acquisition title reports, American Land Title Association Lender’s Extended Coverage title insurance policies, surveys and engineering, soils and other reports, and environmental assessment reports, each in scope, form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; provided, however, that to the extent that any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries shall have otherwise received any

 

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of the foregoing items with respect to such real property, such items shall, promptly after the receipt thereof, be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

(b) Upon the formation or acquisition of any new first tier Foreign Subsidiary by any Loan Party, then the relevant Loan Party shall, at the Borrower’s expense, duly execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a pledge agreement in which 66% of the voting ownership interest in such Foreign Subsidiary and 100% of any non-voting Equity Interests in such Foreign Subsidiary is pledged to secure payment of all the Obligations and to take all such other actions as may be necessary in the opinion of the Administrative Agent to vest in the Administrative Agent (or in any representative of the Administrative Agent designated by it) valid and subsisting Liens on such ownership interest.

(c) Upon the acquisition of any property by any Loan Party (other than leasehold interests), if such property, in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent, shall not already be subject to a perfected security interest in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, then such Loan Party shall, at the Borrower’s expense:

(i) within 10 days after such acquisition, furnish to the Administrative Agent a description of such property so acquired in detail satisfactory to the Administrative Agent,

(ii) within 15 days after such acquisition, duly execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent, a joinder to the Guaranty and Security Agreement, Mortgages for any Eligible Real Estate, and other security and pledge agreements, as specified by and in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, securing payment of all the Obligations of the applicable Loan Party under the Loan Documents and constituting Liens on all such properties,

(iii) within 30 days after such acquisition, take whatever action (including the recording of Mortgages with respect to any Eligible Real Estate, the filing of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements, filings with applicable copyright, trademark and patent registration offices, the giving of notices and the endorsement of notices on title documents and any other documents and information of the types specified in Section 4.01(a)(iii)(B)-(G) and (v)) may be necessary in the opinion of the Administrative Agent to vest in the Administrative Agent (or in any representative of the Administrative Agent designated by it) valid and subsisting Liens on such property, enforceable against all third parties,

(iv) within 60 days after such acquisition, deliver to the Administrative Agent, upon the request of the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion, a signed copy of a favorable opinion, addressed to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, of counsel for the Loan Parties acceptable to the Administrative Agent as to the matters contained in clauses (ii) and (iii) above and as to such other matters as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, and

(v) as promptly as practicable after any acquisition of Eligible Real Estate, deliver, upon the request of the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion, to the

 

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Administrative Agent with respect to such Eligible Real Estate title reports, American Land Title Association Lender’s Extended Coverage title insurance policies, surveys and engineering, soils and other reports, and environmental assessment reports, each in scope, form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; provided, however, that to the extent that any Loan Party shall have otherwise received any of the foregoing items with respect to such real property, such items shall, promptly after the receipt thereof, be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

(d) At any time upon the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent, promptly execute and deliver any and all further instruments and documents and take all such other action as the Administrative Agent may deem necessary in obtaining the full benefits of, or (as applicable) in perfecting and preserving the Liens of, such guaranties, joinders to the Guaranty and Security Agreement, Mortgages with respect to Eligible Real Estate, and other security and pledge agreements.

(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 6.12 or elsewhere in this Agreement, no Loan Party shall be required to deliver or procure any leasehold mortgage or landlord consent or waiver.

6.13. Compliance with Environmental Laws.

Comply, and cause all lessees and other Persons operating or occupying its properties to comply, in all material respects, with all applicable Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits; obtain and renew all Environmental Permits necessary for its operations and properties; and 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 Environmental Laws; provided, however, that no Loan Party shall be required to undertake any such cleanup, removal, remedial or other action to the extent that its obligation to do so is being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings and appropriate reserves are being maintained with respect to such circumstances in accordance with GAAP.

6.14. Compliance with Terms of Leaseholds.

Make all payments and otherwise perform all obligations in respect of all Leases to which any Loan Party is a party, keep such leases in full force and effect and not allow such leases to lapse or be terminated or any rights to renew such leases to be forfeited or cancelled, notify the Administrative Agent of any default by any party with respect to such leases and cooperate with the Administrative Agent in all respects to cure any such default, except, in any case, where the failure to do so, either individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

6.15. Material Contracts.

Perform and observe all the terms and provisions of each Material Contract to be performed or observed by it, maintain each such Material Contract in full force and effect, enforce each such Material Contract in accordance with its terms, take all such action to such end as may be from time to time requested by the Administrative Agent and, upon request of the

 

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Administrative Agent, make to each other party to each such Material Contract such demands and requests for information and reports or for action as any Loan Party is entitled to make under such Material Contract, except, in any case, where the failure to do so, whether individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

6.16. Control Agreements.

Upon the request of the Administrative Agent, deliver Account Control Agreements and such other agreements, documents and instruments as may be necessary, in the Administrative Agent’s determination, to grant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a perfected, first priority (subject to Liens permitted under Section 7.01 and entitled to priority pursuant to applicable Law) Lien and “control” (as defined in the UCC) on all deposit accounts and securities accounts of a Loan Party (other than any account in which the aggregate amount of cash and Cash Equivalents in such account does not exceed $25,000 at any time).

6.17. Cash Collateral Accounts.

Maintain all Cash Collateral Accounts with Bank of America or another commercial bank located in the United States, which has accepted the assignment of such accounts to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties pursuant to the terms of the Guaranty and Security Agreement.

6.18. Further Assurances.

Promptly upon the reasonable request by the Administrative Agent, or any Lender through the Administrative Agent, (a) correct any typographical or scrivener’s 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, or any Lender through the Administrative Agent, may reasonably require from time to time in order to (i) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, subject any Loan Party’s properties, assets, rights or interests to the Liens now or hereafter intended to be covered by any of the Collateral Documents, (ii) perfect and maintain the validity, effectiveness and priority of any of the Collateral Documents and any of the Liens intended to be created thereunder and (iii) 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 is or is to be a party.

6.19. Interest Rate Hedging.

Enter into before February 28, 2011 (or such later date to which the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion), and maintain at all times for a period of at least two years thereafter, interest rate Swap Contracts on terms and with Persons reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, covering a notional amount of not less than 50% of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loan from time to time.

 

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ARTICLE VII

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation (other than Obligations arising solely out of any Secured Cash Management Agreement or Secured Hedge Agreement) hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, no Loan Party shall (nor permit any Inactive Subsidiary to), directly or indirectly:

7.01. Liens.

Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or sign, file or authorize the filing under the Uniform Commercial Code of any jurisdiction a financing statement that names such Loan Party as debtor, other than the following:

(a) Liens pursuant to any Loan Document;

(b) Liens existing on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 7.01(b) and any renewals or extensions thereof; provided that (i) the property covered thereby is not changed, (ii) the amount secured or benefited thereby is not increased except as contemplated by Section 7.02(d), (iii) the direct or any contingent obligor with respect thereto is not changed, and (iv) any renewal or extension of the obligations secured or benefited thereby is permitted under Section 7.02(d);

(c) Liens for taxes not yet due or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person in accordance with GAAP;

(d) carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business which are not overdue for a period of more than 30 days or, if more than 30 days, which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person;

(e) pledges or deposits in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation, other than any Lien imposed by ERISA;

(f) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts and leases (other than Indebtedness), statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(g) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions (including zoning restrictions) and other similar encumbrances or title defects affecting real property which, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount, and which do not in any case materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the applicable Person;

 

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(h) Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 8.01(h) (or securing appeal or other surety bonds related to such judgments);

(i) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.02(f); provided that (i) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed by such Indebtedness and (ii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the cost or fair market value, whichever is lower, of the property being acquired on the date of acquisition;

(j) Liens not otherwise permitted by this Section so long as (i) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the obligations secured thereby does not exceed $2,000,000 at any time and (ii) the aggregate fair market value (determined as of the date such Lien is incurred) of the assets encumbered thereby does not exceed (as to the Loan Parties) $3,000,000 at any one time;

(k) Liens on property of a Person existing at the time such Person is merged into or consolidated with the Borrower or any Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower or becomes a Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower; provided that such Liens were not created in contemplation of such merger, consolidation or Investment, do not extend to any assets other than those of the Person merged into or consolidated with the Borrower or such Domestic Subsidiary or acquired by the Borrower or such Domestic Subsidiary and are not for Consolidated Funded Indebtedness (other than purchase money indebtedness permitted under Section 7.02(f));

(l) Liens arising in the ordinary course of business in favor of one or more financial institutions in which any Loan Party maintains one or more deposit accounts in the ordinary course of business securing usual and customary fees and expenses (but not attorneys fees and expenses) directly relating to such deposit accounts, provided that such Liens secure amounts outstanding for not more than thirty days from the date of incurrence;

(m) precautionary Liens arising from filing UCC financing statements in respect of operating leases, provided that such Liens do not extend to any assets other than those subject of such operating lease;

(n) Liens attaching to brokerage or securities accounts with respect to Investments permitted by Section 7.03 to secure usual and customary fees incurred in the ordinary course in connection with the maintenance of such brokerage or securities accounts; and

(o) to the extent constituting a Lien, non-exclusive licenses of IP Rights of a Loan Party in the ordinary course of business and substantially consistent with past practices for terms not exceeding five (5) years;

provided, however, that this Section 7.01 shall not apply to treasury stock of the Borrower to the extent constituting margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U of the FRB).

7.02. Indebtedness.

 

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Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:

(a) obligations (contingent or otherwise) 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 either (x) directly mitigating risks associated with fluctuations in interest rates or foreign exchange rates or (y) forward purchasing commodities at a fixed price in connection with any Loan Party’s operations and not for speculative purposes, 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;

(b) Indebtedness of (i) the Borrower owed to a Guarantor that is a Domestic Subsidiary or (ii) a Guarantor that is a Domestic Subsidiary owed to the Borrower or another Guarantor that is a Domestic Subsidiary;

(c) Indebtedness constituting the Obligations;

(d) Indebtedness outstanding on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 7.02(d) and any refinancings, refundings, renewals or extensions thereof; provided that the amount of such Indebtedness is not increased at the time of such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension except by an amount equal to a reasonable premium or other reasonable amount paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such refinancing and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder and the direct or any contingent obligor with respect thereto is not changed, as a result of or in connection with such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension; and provided, further, that 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 Indebtedness being refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended and the interest rate applicable to any such refinancing, refunding, renewing or extending Indebtedness does not exceed the then applicable market interest rate;

(e) Guarantees of the Borrower or any Guarantor in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of the Borrower or any other Guarantor;

(f) Indebtedness in respect of Capitalized Leases, Synthetic Lease Obligations and purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets within the limitations set forth in Section 7.01(i); provided, however, that the aggregate amount of all such Indebtedness at any one time outstanding shall not exceed $5,000,000;

(g) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument inadvertently drawn by the Borrower or any other Loan Party in the ordinary course of business against insufficient funds, so long as such Indebtedness is repaid within three (3) Business Days;

(h) Indebtedness resulting from surety and appeal bonds incurred in the ordinary course of business which, in each case, is consistent with past practices;

 

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(i) Indebtedness incurred after the Closing Date under the Coke Beverage Marketing Agreement (as in effect on the date hereof) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $1,000,000 at any one time outstanding; and

(j) additional Indebtedness of the Loan Parties (not otherwise permitted under this Section 7.02) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $10,000,000 at any one time outstanding.

7.03. Investments.

Make or hold any Investments, except:

(a) Investments in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents;

(b) advances to officers, directors and employees of the Borrower and Guarantors in an aggregate amount not to exceed $500,000 at any time outstanding, for travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes;

(c) (i) Investments by the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries in their respective Domestic Subsidiaries outstanding on the date hereof, (ii) additional Investments by the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries in Loan Parties that are Domestic Subsidiaries, and (iii) Investments by the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries in Foreign Subsidiaries in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000;

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

(e) Guarantees permitted under Section 7.02(e);

(f) Investments existing on the date hereof (other than those referred to in Section 7.03(c)(i)) and set forth on Schedule 7.03(f);

(g) the purchase or other acquisition, in a single or a series of related transactions, of all of the Equity Interests in, or all or substantially all of the property of, or all or substantially all of a business line or division from, any Person that, upon the consummation thereof, will (in the case of an acquisition of the Equity Interests in a Person) be wholly-owned directly by the Borrower or one or more of the Guarantors (including as a result of a merger or consolidation or as a result of the purchase or other acquisition from a franchisee or licensee of a Loan Party of any restaurant operated by such franchisee or licensee under a Franchise Agreement or License Agreement as an “Einstein Bros Bagels,” “Manhattan Bagel” or “Noah’s Bagel” concept); provided that, with respect to each purchase or other acquisition made pursuant to this Section 7.03(g):

 

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(i) any such newly-created or acquired Subsidiary shall comply with the requirements of Section 6.12 and/or, with respect to any newly-acquired assets, the Borrower or such Guarantor shall comply with the requirements of Section 6.12;

(ii) the lines of business of the Person to be (or the property of which is to be) so purchased or otherwise acquired shall comply with Section 7.07;

(iii) (A) such purchase or other acquisition shall not include or result in any contingent liabilities that would reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, and (B) the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) of the Borrower or such Guarantor, as the case may be, is approving such transaction on a non-hostile basis;

(iv) (A) immediately before and after giving pro forma effect to any such purchase or other acquisition, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (B) immediately after giving effect to such purchase or other acquisition, the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries shall be in pro forma compliance with the covenant set forth in Section 7.11(b), such compliance to be determined on the basis of the financial information most recently delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) as though such purchase or other acquisition had been consummated as of the first day of the fiscal period covered thereby;

(v) immediately before and after giving effect to any such purchase or other acquisition, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio for the Measurement Period most recently completed, on a Pro Forma Basis, shall be 0.25 less than the Consolidated Leverage Ratio required for such Measurement Period in accordance with Section 7.11(a), such compliance to be determined on the financial information most recently delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b);

(vi) (A) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, at least 5 Business Days prior to the date on which any such purchase or other acquisition is to be consummated, a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders, certifying that all of the requirements set forth in this clause (g) have been satisfied or will be satisfied on or prior to the consummation of such purchase or other acquisition, which such certificate shall be accompanied by such supporting documentation as may be required to demonstrate compliance with clauses (iv),(v) and (vii) herein; and (B) all financial information in respect of such purchase or other acquisition reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent shall be in form, scope and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

(vii) after giving effect to such purchase or other acquisition, the Excess Revolving Availability shall not be less than $15,000,000;

(viii) any and all consents and approvals of any Governmental Authority or landlord consents, in each case required or necessary for the consummation of such purchase or other acquisition, shall have been received;

 

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(ix) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent and each Lender at least 5 Business Days prior to the consummation of such purchase or other acquisition, copies, certified by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower to be true and complete of the purchase and sale documents, together with a complete set of schedules, exhibits, side letters and all other documents, instruments and other material agreements executed in connection with such purchase or other acquisition in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

(x) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that all liens and encumbrances with respect to the property purchased or otherwise acquired, other than Liens permitted under Section 7.01, have been discharged in full or arrangements therefor reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent have been made;

(h) Investments under any Swap Agreement permitted under Section 7.02(a);

(i) any repurchase of shares of the Borrower’s Equity Interests permitted under Section 7.06;

(j) Investments consisting of pledges and deposits permitted under Section 7.01;

(k) Investments consisting of endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices;

(l) Investments resulting from non-cash consideration received in connection with Dispositions permitted by Section 7.05 so long as the amount of such non-cash consideration is permitted by Section 7.05;

(m) any Loan Party may create a new Subsidiary, subject to Section 6.12;

(n) (i) loans to franchisees and area developers in an amount not to exceed $250,000 in the aggregate in any Fiscal Year and (ii) existing loans to franchisees not to exceed $250,000 in the aggregate; and

(o) other Investments not exceeding $1,000,000 in the aggregate in any Fiscal Year of the Borrower.

7.04. Fundamental Changes.

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 or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of any action described below or would result therefrom:

(a) any Guarantor that is a Domestic Subsidiary may merge or consolidate with (i) the Borrower; provided that the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person, or (ii) any one or more other Guarantors that are Domestic Subsidiaries.

 

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(b) any Loan Party (other than the Borrower) may Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to the Borrower or to another Loan Party that is a Domestic Subsidiary;

(c) in connection with any purchase or acquisition permitted under Section 7.03(g), any Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower may merge into or consolidate with any other Person or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it; provided that the Person surviving such merger shall be the Borrower or, if the other Person is not the Borrower, another Loan Party that is a Domestic Subsidiary.

(d) any Loan Party may dissolve any Inactive Subsidiary.

7.05. Dispositions.

Make any Disposition or enter into any agreement to make any Disposition, except:

(a) Dispositions of obsolete or worn out property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business or other assets (including abandonment of any IP Rights) to the extent the Loan Parties have determined in their reasonable business judgment that such assets are no longer useful in the business of the Loan Parties;

(b) Dispositions of inventory in the ordinary course of business;

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

(d) Dispositions of property by the Borrower or any Guarantor to the Borrower or to another Guarantor that is a Domestic Subsidiary;

(e) [intentionally omitted];

(f) non-exclusive licenses of IP Rights in the ordinary course of business and substantially consistent with past practice for terms not exceeding five (5) years;

(g) sales or discounts without recourse of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising in the ordinary course of business;

(h) leases and subleases of real property entered into by Loan Parties and their Domestic Subsidiaries, as lessors or sublessors, in the ordinary course of business at arm’s length and on market terms;

(i) so long as no Event of Default is then existing or would resulting therefrom, licenses of IP Rights to a present or future franchisee of any Loan Party, subject to franchisee and royalty arrangements entered into on an arm’s length basis and in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(j) Dispositions of the Equity Interests or the assets of any Inactive Subsidiary; and

(k) Dispositions of assets not otherwise permitted under clauses (a)-(j) above not to exceed (A) $10,000,000 in the aggregate for any calendar year and (B) $30,000,000 in the aggregate during the term of this Agreement.

provided, however, that (x) any Disposition pursuant to this Section 7.05 (other than clause (d)) shall be for fair market value, (y) at least eighty percent (80%) of the consideration received by the Loan Parties in connection with any Disposition pursuant to this Section 7.05 (other than clause (d)) shall be in the form of cash received on the consummation of such Disposition and (z) this Section 7.05 shall not apply to treasury stock of the Borrower to the extent constituting margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U of the FRB).

7.06. Restricted Payments.

Declare or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, or incur any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to do so, or, in the case of any Subsidiary of the Borrower, issue or sell any Equity Interests, except that:

(a) each Subsidiary of the Borrower may make Restricted Payments to the Borrower and any Subsidiaries of the Borrower that are Guarantors, ratably according to their respective holdings of the type of Equity Interest in respect of which such Restricted Payment is being made;

(b) the Borrower and each of its Domestic Subsidiaries may declare and make dividend payments or other distributions payable solely in the common stock or other common Equity Interests of such Person;

(c) so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of any action described below or would result therefrom, the Borrower may purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, Equity Interests issued by it in an amount which shall not exceed $20,000,000 in the aggregate during the term of this Agreement; provided that (i) immediately after giving effect to such transactions, (x) the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries shall be in pro forma compliance with the financial covenant set forth in Section 7.11(b), such compliance to be determined on the financial information most recently delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) as though such transactions had been consummated as of the first day of the fiscal period covered thereby, (y) the Excess Revolving Availability shall not be less than $25,000,000, and (z) on a Pro Forma Basis, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio for the Measurement Period most recently completed shall be the lesser of (1) 2.25:1.00 and (2) 0.25 less than the Consolidated Leverage Ratio required for such Measurement Period in accordance with Section 7.11(a), such compliance to be determined on the financial information most recently delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b), (ii) prior to consummating such transactions pursuant to this clause (c), the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent (x) evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that the conditions set forth herein shall have been met, (y) all financial information in respect of such transactions reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, which shall be in form, scope and substance

 

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reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (z) a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying that the conditions contained in this clause (c), as applicable, have been satisfied and after giving pro forma effect to such payment, attesting as to the Solvency of the Loan Parties on a consolidated basis;

(d) so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of any action described below or would result therefrom, the Borrower may declare and pay cash dividends to the holders of its Equity Interests in an amount which shall not exceed $10,000,000 in the aggregate during the term of this Agreement; provided that (i) immediately after giving effect to such dividend, (x) the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries shall be in pro forma compliance with the financial covenant set forth in Section 7.11(b), such compliance to be determined on the financial information most recently delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) as though such dividend had been paid as of the first day of the fiscal period covered thereby, (y) the Excess Revolving Availability shall not be less than $25,000,000, and (z) on a Pro Forma Basis, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio for the Measurement Period most recently completed shall be the lesser of (1) 2.25:1.00 and (2) 0.25 less than the Consolidated Leverage Ratio required for such Measurement Period in accordance with Section 7.11(a), such compliance to be determined on the financial information most recently delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b), (ii) the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent (x) evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that the conditions set forth herein shall have been met, (y) all financial information in respect of such dividend reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, which shall be in form, scope and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (z) a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying that the conditions contained in this clause (d), as applicable, have been satisfied and after giving pro forma effect to such dividend, attesting as to the Solvency of the Loan Parties on a consolidated basis;

(e) so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of any action described below or would result therefrom, the Borrower may, exclusive of any transactions permitted by clauses (c) and (d) above, in the 2012 Fiscal Year and in any Fiscal Year thereafter, purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, Equity Interests issued by it and may declare and pay cash dividends to the holders of its Equity Interests in an amount which shall not exceed in the aggregate, as to all such transactions and dividend payments made in any Fiscal Year (commencing with the 2012 Fiscal Year) in accordance with this clause (e), an amount equal to 100% of Excess Cash Flow for the immediately prior Fiscal Year (commencing with the 2011 Fiscal Year); provided that (i) immediately after giving effect to such transaction and/or dividend, (x) the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries shall be in pro forma compliance with the financial covenant set forth in Section 7.11(b), such compliance to be determined on the financial information most recently delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) as though such transaction and/or dividend had been consummated and/or paid as of the first day of the fiscal period covered thereby, (y) the Excess Revolving Availability shall not be less than $25,000,000, and (z) on a Pro Forma Basis, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio for the Measurement Period most recently completed shall be the lesser of (1) 2.25:1.00 and (2) 0.25 less than the Consolidated Leverage Ratio required for such Measurement Period in accordance with Section 7.11(a), such compliance to be determined on the financial information most recently delivered to the

 

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Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b), (ii) any unused portion of the amount permitted to fund such transactions and/or dividends in any Fiscal Year (commencing with the 2012 Fiscal Year) as set forth above may be carried over for the purpose of funding such transactions and/or dividends in successive Fiscal Years; and (iii) the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent (x) evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that the conditions set forth herein shall have been met, (y) all financial information in respect of such transactions and/or dividend reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, which shall be in form, scope and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (z) a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying that the conditions contained in this clause (e), as applicable, have been satisfied and after giving pro forma effect to such transactions and/or dividend, attesting as to the Solvency of the Loan Parties on a consolidated basis; and

(f) so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of any action described below or would result therefrom, the Borrower may make management fees to the Equity Investors so long as (i) such management fees are subject to subordination provisions satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (ii) such management fees do not exceed $1,000,000 on an annual basis.

7.07. Change in Nature of Business.

Engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by any Loan Party on the date hereof or any business substantially related or incidental thereto. Own, operate or franchise any restaurant concept other than an “Einstein Bros. Bagels,” “Noah’s Bagels” or “Manhattan Bagel” restaurant concept.

7.08. Transactions with Affiliates.

Enter into any transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of the Borrower, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, other than on fair and reasonable terms substantially as favorable to the relevant Loan Party as would be obtainable by such Loan Party at the time in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate of the Borrower, except that any Loan Party (other than a Foreign Subsidiary) may enter into any transaction with any other Loan Party (other than a Foreign Subsidiary) to the extent permitted under this Agreement.

7.09. Burdensome Agreements.

Enter into or permit to exist any Contractual Obligation (other than this Agreement or any other Loan Document) that (a) limits the ability (i) of any Subsidiary of the Borrower to make Restricted Payments to the Borrower or any Guarantor or to otherwise transfer property to, repay Indebtedness owing to, or invest in the Borrower or any Guarantor, except for any agreement in effect on the date hereof and set forth on Schedule 7.09, (ii) of any Subsidiary of the Borrower to Guarantee the Indebtedness of the Borrower or (iii) of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on property of such Person; provided, however, that this clause (iii) shall not prohibit (x) any negative pledge incurred or provided in favor of any holder of Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.02(f) solely to the extent any such negative

 

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pledge relates to the property financed by or the subject of such Indebtedness, (y) restrictions on assets subject to agreements for permitted Dispositions under Section 7.05 (such restrictions to be limited to the assets subject to such Dispositions) and (z) restrictions in lease agreements restricting the Loan Parties from assigning or pledging their rights under such lease agreements; 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.

7.10. Use of Proceeds.

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.

7.11. Financial Covenants.

(a) Consolidated Leverage Ratio. Permit the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as at the end of any Fiscal Quarter of the Borrower ending during the periods set forth below to be greater than the ratio set forth below opposite such applicable period:

 

Period

   Maximum
Consolidated
Leverage Ratio

Closing Date through the ending date of the third Fiscal Quarter of 2011

   2.75:1.00

The first day of the fourth Fiscal Quarter of 2011 through the ending date of the third Fiscal Quarter of 2012

   2.50:1.00

The first day of the fourth Fiscal Quarter of 2012 through the ending date of the third Fiscal Quarter of 2013

   2.25:1.00

The first day of the fourth Fiscal Quarter of 2013 through the ending date of each Fiscal Quarter thereafter

   2.00:1.00

(b) Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. Permit the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio as of the end of any Fiscal Quarter of the Borrower ending during the period set forth below to be less than the ratio set forth opposite such applicable period:

 

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Period

   Minimum
Consolidated
Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio

Closing Date through the ending date of the third Fiscal Quarter of 2012

   1.25:1.00

The first day of the fourth Fiscal Quarter of 2012 through the ending date of the third Fiscal Quarter of 2013

   1.30:1.00

The first day of the fourth Fiscal Quarter of 2013 through the ending date of each Fiscal Quarter thereafter

   1.35:1.00

7.12. Capital Expenditures.

Make or become legally obligated to make any Capital Expenditure, except for Capital Expenditures in the ordinary course of business not exceeding, in the aggregate for the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries (a) during Fiscal Year 2010, $20,000,000 for such year, (b) during Fiscal Year 2011, $35,000,000 for such year and (c) $32,000,000 per Fiscal Year for each Fiscal Year thereafter; provided, however, that if as of the last day of any Fiscal Year, the Loan Parties have not made Capital Expenditures during such Fiscal Year in an aggregate amount equal to the maximum amount permitted to be made for such Fiscal Year in accordance with clauses (a), (b) and (c) above (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any unused amounts carried over from the Fiscal Year prior to such Fiscal Year), then so long as no Event of Default is then continuing (or, if an Event of Default is continuing as of the last day of the relevant Fiscal Year, at such time as the relevant Event(s) of Default are no longer continuing), an amount equal to the lesser of (i) 50% of the unused portion of such permitted Capital Expenditure for such Fiscal Year (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any unused amounts carried over from the Fiscal Year prior to such Fiscal Year) and (ii) 25% of the amount of Capital Expenditures permitted to be made during such Fiscal Year in accordance with clauses (a), (b) and (c) above (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any unused amounts carried over from the Fiscal Year prior to such Fiscal Year), may be carried over for expenditure in the immediately following Fiscal Year.

7.13. Amendments of Organization Documents.

Amend any of its Organization Documents in a manner adverse to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders.

7.14. Accounting Changes.

Make any change in (a) accounting policies or reporting practices, except as required by GAAP, or (b) its Fiscal Year or Fiscal Quarters.

7.15. Amendment, Etc. of Indebtedness and Material Contracts.

(a) Amend, modify or change in any manner any term or condition of any Indebtedness set forth in Schedule 7.02(d) in a manner adverse to the Administrative Agent or

 

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the Lenders, except for any refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension thereof permitted under Section 7.02(d) and (b) take any action, including, without limitation, the cancellation, termination, amendment, modification or change of any Franchise Agreement or License Agreement that would reasonably be expected to result, either individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect.

7.16. Inactive Subsidiaries.

Permit any Inactive Subsidiary to engage in any business or activity or own any assets or incur any Indebtedness or other liabilities other than (a) maintaining its organizational existence, (b) participating in tax and accounting administrative activities, and (c) activities incidental to the businesses or activities described in clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 7.16.

7.17. Sale-Leaseback Transactions.

Enter into, or create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any obligation in respect of any sale-leaseback transaction.

ARTICLE VIII

EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

8.01. Events of Default.

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation (except Obligations arising solely out of any Secured Cash Management Agreement or Secured Hedge Agreement; provided that the exception contained in this parenthetical shall not apply to clause (a) below which shall, in the event triggered, constitute an Event of Default if any Obligation remains unpaid or unsatisfied (including Obligations arising out of any Secured Cash Management Agreement or Secured Hedge Agreement)) hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, any of the following shall constitute an Event of Default:

(a) Non-Payment. The Borrower or any other Loan Party fails to (i) pay when and as required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Loan or any L/C Obligation or deposit any funds as Cash Collateral in respect of L/C Obligations, or (ii) pay within three (3) Business Days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan or on any L/C Obligation, or any fee due hereunder, or (iii) pay within 5 days after the same becomes due, any other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document; or

(b) Specific Covenants. Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in (i) any of Section 6.03(a), 6.05(a), 6.07, 6.10, 6.11, 6.15, 6.17, or Article VII, or (ii) any of Section 6.01, 6.02, 6.03 (other than clause (a) thereof), 6.08, or 6.12 and such failure shall continues for three (3) Business Days;

(c) Other Defaults. Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in Section 8.01(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 should have known of such failure or (ii) the

 

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date upon which notice thereof is given to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent or any Lender; or

(d) Representations and Warranties. Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower or any other Loan Party 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 (except that such materiality qualifier will not be applicable to any representation, warranty, statement or certification that is already qualified or modified by materiality in the text thereof) when made or deemed made; or

(e) Cross-Default. (i) Any Loan Party (A) fails to make any payment when due (after the expiration of any applicable grace or cure periods set forth therein) (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 the Threshold Amount, 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 occurs, the effect of which default or other event 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 a Loan Party is the Defaulting Party (as defined in such Swap Contract) or (B) any Termination Event (as defined in such Swap Contract) under such Swap Contract as to which a Loan Party is an Affected Party (as defined in such Swap Contract) and, in either event, the Swap Termination Value owed by such Loan Party or such Subsidiary as a result thereof is greater than the Threshold Amount; or

(f) Insolvency Proceedings, Etc. Any Loan Party 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 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

(g) Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment. (i) Any Loan Party becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any

 

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material part of the property of any such Person and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within 45 days after its issue or levy; or

(h) Judgments. There is entered against any Loan Party (i) one or more final judgments or orders for the payment of money in an aggregate amount (as to all such judgments and orders) exceeding $5,000,000 (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer is rated at least “A” by A.M. Best Company, has been notified of the potential claim and does not dispute coverage), or (ii) any one or more non-monetary final judgments that have, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and, in either case, (A) enforcement proceedings are commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order, or (B) there is a period of 20 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect; or

(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 Borrower or an ERISA Affiliate under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount, or (ii) the Borrower 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 the Threshold Amount; or

(j) Invalidity of Loan Documents. Any provision of any Loan Document, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder or satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect; or any Loan Party or any other Person contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any provision of any Loan Document; or any Loan Party denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under any provision of any Loan Document, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any provision of any Loan Document; or

(k) Change of Control. There occurs any Change of Control; or

(l) Collateral Documents. Any Collateral Document after delivery thereof pursuant to Section 4.01 or 6.12 shall for any reason (other than pursuant to the terms thereof) cease to create a valid and perfected first priority Lien (subject to Liens permitted under Section 7.01) on the Collateral purported to be covered thereby.

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 the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;

 

108


(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 Borrower;

(c) require that the Borrower Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to the then Outstanding Amount thereof); and

(d) exercise on behalf of itself, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer all rights and remedies available to it, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer under the Loan Documents;

provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the 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 Borrower 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.

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), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall, subject to the provisions of Sections 2.13 and 2.14 be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:

First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent and amounts payable under Article III) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;

Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal, interest and Letter of Credit Fees) payable to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders and the L/C Issuer) arising under the Loan Documents and amounts payable under Article III, ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;

Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid Letter of Credit Fees and interest on the Loans, L/C Borrowings and other Obligations arising under the Loan Documents, ratably among the Lenders and the L/C Issuer in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;

Fourth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans, L/C Borrowings and Obligations then due and owing under Secured Hedge Agreements and Secured Cash Management Agreements, ratably among the Lenders, the L/C Issuer, the

 

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Hedge Banks and the Cash Management Banks in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them;

Fifth, to the Administrative Agent for the account of the 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 Borrower pursuant to Sections 2.03 and 2.14;

Sixth, to all other Obligations; and

Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.

Subject to Sections 2.03(c) and 2.14, amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Fifth 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 Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Obligations arising under Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements shall be excluded from the application described above if the Administrative Agent has not received written notice thereof, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, from the applicable Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank, as the case may be. Each Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank not a party to 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) Each of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer hereby irrevocably appoints 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 IX are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, and neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.

(b) 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 and a potential Cash Management Bank) and the L/C Issuer hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to act as the agent of such Lender and the L/C Issuer for purposes of acquiring, holding and enforcing any and all Liens on Collateral granted by any of the Loan

 

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Parties to secure any of the 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 Collateral Documents, or for exercising any rights and remedies thereunder at the direction of the Administrative Agent), shall be entitled to the benefits of all provisions of this Article IX and Article XI (including Section 10.04(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.

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, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of 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.

9.03. Exculpatory Provisions.

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

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

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

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

(d) shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under

 

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the circumstances as provided in Sections 10.01 and 8.02) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, a Lender or the L/C Issuer; and

(e) shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (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 Collateral Documents, (v) the value or the 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 not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or the L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or the L/C Issuer unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or the 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.

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 co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys in fact appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such co-agent, sub-agent and attorney in fact 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 IX shall apply to any such co-agent, sub-agent and attorney in fact and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such co-agent, sub-agent and attorney in fact, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities of the Administrative Agent.

 

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9.06. Resignation of Administrative Agent.

The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, with the consent of the Borrower, to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may on behalf of the Lenders and L/C Issuer, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above; provided that if the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (a) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and (b) 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 as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above in this Section 9.06. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section). The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article IX and Section 10.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys in fact and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent.

Any resignation by Bank of America as Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 9.06 shall also constitute its resignation as L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, (i) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender, (ii) the retiring L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender shall be discharged from all of its respective duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, and (iii) 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 retiring L/C Issuer to effectively assume the obligations of the retiring L/C Issuer with respect to such Letters of Credit.

9.07. Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders.

 

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

9.08. No Other Duties, Etc.

Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Arrangers, co-book managers, co-lead arrangers, co-documentation agents or syndication agents listed on the cover page hereto 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 the L/C Issuer hereunder.

9.09. Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim.

In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any 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 the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, L/C Obligations and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.03(h) and (i), 2.09 and 10.04) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

(b) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and the 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 Issuer, 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 10.04.

 

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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 the L/C Issuer any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or the L/C Issuer to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender or the L/C Issuer or in any such proceeding.

9.10 Collateral and Guaranty Matters.

Each of the Lenders (including in its capacities as a potential Cash Management Bank and a potential Hedge Bank) and the L/C Issuer irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion:

(a) to release any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document (i) upon termination of the Aggregate Commitments and payment in full of all Obligations (other than (A) contingent indemnification obligations and (B) obligations and liabilities under Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements as to which arrangements satisfactory to the applicable Cash Management Bank of Hedge Bank shall have been made) and the expiration or termination of all Letters of Credit (other than Letters of Credit as to which other arrangements satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer shall have been made), (ii) that is sold or to be sold as part of or in connection with any sale permitted hereunder or under any other Loan Document, or (iii) if approved, authorized or ratified in writing in accordance with Section 10.01;

(b) to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty and Security Agreement if such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary as a result of a transaction permitted hereunder; and

(c) 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(i).

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 and Security Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.10. In each case as specified in this Section 9.10, the Administrative Agent will, at the Borrower’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 Collateral Documents or to subordinate its interest in such item, or to release such Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty and Security Agreement, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents and this Section 9.10.

9.11. Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements.

No Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank that obtains the benefits of Section 8.03, the Guaranty and Security Agreement, or any Collateral by virtue of the provisions hereof or of the Guaranty and Security Agreement or any Collateral Document shall have any right to notice of any action or to consent to, direct or object to any action hereunder or under any other Loan

 

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Document or otherwise in respect of the Collateral (including the release or impairment of any Collateral) other than in its capacity as a Lender and, in such case, only to the extent expressly provided in the Loan Documents. Notwithstanding any other provision of 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, Obligations arising under Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements unless the Administrative Agent has received written notice of such Obligations, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may request, from the applicable Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank, as the case may be.

ARTICLE X

MISCELLANEOUS

10.01. Amendments, Etc.

No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Borrower or any other Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and the Borrower 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:

(a) waive any condition set forth in Section 4.02 as to any Credit Extension under (i) the Revolving Credit Facility without the written consent of the Required Revolving Lenders or (ii) the Term Facility without the written consent of the Required Term Lenders;

(b) 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;

(c) 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;

(d) 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 10.01) 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 the Required Lenders shall be necessary (i) to amend the definition of “Default Rate” or to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest or Letter of Credit Fees at the Default Rate or (ii) to amend any financial covenant hereunder (or any defined term used therein) even if the effect of such amendment would be to reduce the rate of interest on any Loan or L/C Borrowing or to reduce any fee payable hereunder;

(e) change (i) Section 2.13 or Section 8.03 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender or (ii) the order of application of any reduction in the Commitments or any prepayment of Loans among the Facilities from the application thereof set forth in the applicable provisions of Section 2.05(b) in

 

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any manner that materially and adversely affects the Lenders under a Facility without the written consent of (i) if such Facility is the Term Facility, the Required Term Lenders, and (ii) if such Facility is the Revolving Credit Facility, the Required Revolving Lenders;

(f) change (i) any provision of this Section 10.01 or the definition of “Required 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 (other than the definitions specified in clause (ii) of this Section 10.01(f)), without the written consent of each Lender or (ii) the definition of “Required Revolving Lenders,” or “Required Term Lenders” without the written consent of each Lender under the applicable Facility;

(g) release all or substantially all of the Collateral in any transaction or series of related transactions, without the written consent of each Lender;

(h) release all or substantially all of the value of the guaranty under the Guaranty and Security Agreement, without the written consent of each Lender, except to the extent the release of any Domestic Subsidiary from the Guaranty and Security Agreement is permitted pursuant to Section 9.10 (in which case such release may be made by the Administrative Agent acting alone); or

(i) impose any greater restriction on the ability of any Lender under a Facility to assign any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the written consent of (i) if such Facility is the Term Facility, the Required Term Lenders and (ii) if such Facility is the Revolving Credit Facility, the Required Revolving Lenders;

and provided, further, that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the L/C Issuer in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the 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 and 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. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except that (x) the Commitment of any Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender and (y) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects any Defaulting Lender more adversely than other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender.

Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, but subject to Sections 2.16 and 2.17 to the extent applicable, this Agreement may be amended with the written consent of the

 

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Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (i) to add one or more additional revolving credit or term loan facilities to this Agreement and to permit the extensions of credit and all related obligations and liabilities arising in connection therewith from time to time outstanding to share ratably (or on a basis subordinated to the existing facilities hereunder) in the benefits of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with the obligations and liabilities from time to time outstanding in respect of the existing facilities hereunder, and (ii) in connection with the foregoing, to permit, as deemed appropriate by the Administrative Agent and approved by the Required Lenders, the Lenders providing such additional credit facilities to participate in any required vote or action required to be approved by the Required Lenders or by any other number, percentage or class of Lenders hereunder.

10.02. Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communications.

(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 telecopier 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 any Loan Party, any Inactive Subsidiary, the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02; and

(ii) if to any other Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic 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 telecopier shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient). Notices and other communications delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in subsection (b) below shall be effective as provided in such subsection (b).

(b) Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or the L/C Issuer pursuant to Article II if such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or any Loan Party may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant

 

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to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement); provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.

(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 Borrower, any Lender, the 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 Borrower’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of Borrower Materials through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided, however, that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages).

(d) Change of Address, Etc. Each Loan Party, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer 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, telecopier number and electronic 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

 

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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 Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal or state securities Laws.

(e) Reliance by Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer and Lenders. The Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Committed Loan Notices and Swing Line Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of any Loan Party 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. Each Loan Party shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, the 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 such Loan Party. 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.

10.03. No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement.

No failure by any Lender, the L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under 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 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.

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 Issuer; 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) the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender from exercising the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as 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 10.08 (subject to the terms of Section 2.12), 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

 

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in clauses (b), (c) and (d) of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.12, 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.

10.04. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

(a) Costs and Expenses. The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel for the Administrative Agent and all costs and expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its counsel in connection with the perfection and priority of the security interests and Liens granted to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Loan Documents, which may include complete UCC and other lien searches and requests for information listing the financing statements referenced in Section 4.01(a)(iii)(B) and post filing confirmatory searches and any amendments or modifications thereto), in each case, 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, waivers or other supplements of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), the due diligence undertaken in connection therewith and any other aspect of the Transaction, (ii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of Wells Fargo associated with syndication of the credit facilities (including the reasonable fees, disbursements and charges of counsel to Wells Fargo, in an amount not to exceed $10,000), (iii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the L/C Issuer in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iv) all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer (including the fees, charges and disbursements of counsel), 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 10.04, or (B) in connection with 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 Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any co-agent, sub-agent and attorney in fact thereof), the Arrangers, each Lender and the 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 expenses arising out of or relating to the Transaction (including, without limitation, the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee and any settlement costs), and shall indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee from all fees and time charges and disbursements for attorneys who may be employees of any Indemnitee, incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance 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 co-agent, sub-agent and attorney in fact thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including in respect of any matters addressed in

 

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Section 3.01), (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by the 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 or operated by any 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 the Borrower or any other Loan Party or any of the Borrower’s or such Loan Party’s directors, shareholders or creditors, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto, provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or (y) result from a claim brought by the Borrower or any other Loan Party against an Indemnitee for a breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if the Borrower or such Loan Party has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.

(c) Reimbursement by Lenders. To the extent that the Borrower for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section 10.04 to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent (or any co-agent, sub-agent or attorney in fact thereof), the L/C Issuer or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such co-agent, sub-agent or attorney in fact), the L/C Issuer or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount; provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such co-agent, sub-agent or attorney in fact) or the L/C Issuer in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such co-agent, sub-agent or attorney in fact) or L/C Issuer 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 Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or 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 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 nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

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(e) Payments. All amounts due under this Section 10.04 shall be payable not later than 10 Business Days after demand therefor.

(f) Survival. The agreements in this Section 10.04 shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent and the 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.

10.05 Payments Set Aside.

To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower is made to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent, the 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, the 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 the 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 Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

10.06. Successors and Assigns.

(a) Successors and Assigns Generally. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that neither the Borrower nor any other 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 10.06(b), (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.06(d), or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of Section 10.06(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 subsection (d) of this Section 10.06 and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

(b) Assignments by Lenders. Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a

 

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portion of its Commitment(s) and the Loans (including for purposes of this Section 10.06(b), participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans) at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

(i) Minimum Amounts.

(A) in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment under any Facility and the Loans at the time owing to it under such Facility 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 subsection (b)(i)(A) of this Section 10.06, 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, unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided, however, that concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee Group and concurrent assignments from members of an Assignee Group to a single Eligible Assignee (or to an Eligible Assignee and members of its Assignee Group) will be treated as a single assignment for purposes of determining whether such minimum amount has been met.

(ii) Proportionate Amounts. Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans or the Commitment assigned, except that this clause (ii) shall not apply to the Swing Line Lender’s rights and obligations in respect of Swing Line Loans (it being understood that any assignment by a Lender hereunder shall consist of a pro rata portion of both its Revolving Credit Commitments and its outstanding Term Loans);

(iii) Required Consents. No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by subsection (b)(i)(B) of this Section 10.06 and, in addition:

(A) the consent of the Borrower (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 Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within five (5) Business Days after having received notice thereof;

 

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(B) the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for assignments in respect of (1) any Term Commitment or Revolving Credit Commitment if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender with a Commitment in respect of the applicable Facility, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender or (2) any Term Loan to a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; and

(C) the consent of the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment under the Revolving Credit Facility.

(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 Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries, or (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.

(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 Borrower 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 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 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 (iv), then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section 10.06, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to

 

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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 10.04 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment. Upon request, the Borrower (at its 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 10.06(d).

(c) Register. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower (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 and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal 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, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. In addition, the Administrative Agent shall maintain on the Register information regarding the designation, and revocation of designation, of any Lender as a Defaulting Lender. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

(d) Participations. Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person, a Defaulting Lender or the Borrower or any of the Borrower’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) 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 Issuer shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section 10.01 that affects such Participant. Subject to subsection (e) of this Section 10.06, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 to the same extent (and subject to the same limitations) as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section 10.06(b). To the extent permitted by Law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.08 as though it were a

 

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Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.12 as though it were a Lender.

(e) Limitations upon Participant Rights. 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 Borrower’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 Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, 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, 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.

(g) Resignation as 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 Credit Commitment and Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to Section 10.06(b), Bank of America may, (i) upon 30 days’ notice to the Borrower and the Lenders, resign as L/C Issuer and/or (ii) upon 30 days’ notice to the Borrower, resign as Swing Line Lender. In the event of any such resignation as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, the Borrower 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 Borrower to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of Bank of America as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be. If Bank of America resigns as L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to make Revolving Credit 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, 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.

10.07. Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality.

 

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Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates’ respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, advisors and representatives (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable Laws or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) 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, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section 10.07, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or any Eligible Assignee invited to be a Lender pursuant to Section 2.16(c) and Section 2.17(c) or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to any Loan Party and its obligations, (g) with the consent of the Borrower or (h) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 10.07 or (ii) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower. For purposes of this Section 10.07, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries relating to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section 10.07 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 the event that any Lender is required to disclose Information pursuant to clauses (b) or (c) above, such Lender agrees, to the extent that it is commercially reasonable and not in violation of applicable Law, to provide the Borrower with prior notice of such required disclosures.

Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer acknowledges that (a) the Information may include material non-public information concerning the Borrower or a Subsidiary thereof, as the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and (c) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws.

10.08. Right of Setoff.

If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, the 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, the L/C Issuer or any such

 

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Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower or any other Loan Party against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower or such other Loan Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or the L/C Issuer shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrower or such other Loan Party may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Lender or the L/C Issuer different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness; provided, that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.15 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. The rights of each Lender, the L/C Issuer and their respective Affiliates under this Section 10.08 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, the L/C Issuer or their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

10.09. 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 maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “Maximum Rate”). If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrower. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum 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.

10.10. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness.

This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents 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

 

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page of this Agreement by telecopy or other electronic imaging means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

10.11. 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, the L/C Issuer and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer 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.

10.12. 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 10.12, if and to the extent that the enforceability of any provisions in this Agreement relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer, then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited.

10.13. Replacement of Lenders.

If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, if any Lender fails to approve an amendment, consent or waiver hereunder that requires the approval of all Lenders and which is approved by the Required Lenders, or if any other circumstance exists hereunder that gives the Borrower the right to replace a Lender as a party hereto, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 10.06), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that:

(a) the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee specified in Section 10.06(b);

 

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(b) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to 100% of 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 Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);

(c) 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; and

(d) such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws.

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

10.14. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

(a) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF (OTHER THAN SECTIONS 5-1401 AND 5-1402 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW).

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

(c) WAIVER OF VENUE. THE BORROWER AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST

 

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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 10.14. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

(d) SERVICE OF PROCESS. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 10.02. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW

10.15. 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 10.15.

10.16. 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 of the Borrower and each other Loan Party acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that: (i) (A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Borrower and its respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers, on the other hand, (B) each Loan Party has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) each 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 and the Arrangers 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 the Loan Parties or any of their respective Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) neither the Administrative Agent nor any

 

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Arranger has any obligation to the Loan Parties 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, the Arrangers, and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent nor any Arranger has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Loan Parties or any of their respective Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by law, each Loan Party hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent or the Arrangers with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

10.17. Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents.

The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption or in any amendment or other modification hereof (including waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable Law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

10.18. 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 Loan Parties 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 each Loan Party, which information includes the name and address of each Loan Party and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify each Loan Party in accordance with the Act. Each Loan Party shall, promptly following a request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide all documentation and other 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.

10.19. Advertisement, Promotion and Marketing.

The Administrative Agent and each Lender may, upon receipt of the prior written consent of the Borrower, include references to any Loan Party, and utilize any logo or other distinctive symbol associated with any Loan Party, in connection with any advertising, promotion or marketing undertaken by the Administrative Agent or such Lender.

10.20. 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

 

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SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THE PARTIES.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

EINSTEIN NOAH RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.
By:    
Name:  
Title:  
[GUARANTORS]


BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent
By:    
Name:  
Title:  


BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender, L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender
By:    
Name:  
Title:  


[OTHER LENDERS]